title: Application of GFP technique for cytoskeleton visualization onboard the International Space Station.
abstract: Cytoskeleton recently attracted wide attention of cell and molecular biologists due to its crucial role in gravity sensing and trunsduction. Most of cytoskeletal research is conducted by the means of immunohistochemical reactions, different modifications of which are beneficial for the ground-based experiments. But for the performance onboard the space vehicles, they represent quite complicated technique which requires time and special skills for astronauts. In addition, immunocytochemistry provides only static images of the cytoskeleton arrangement in fixed cells while its localization in living cells is needed for the better understanding of cytoskeletal function. In this connection, we propose a new approach for cytoskeletal visualization onboard the ISS, namely, application of green fluorescent protein (GFP) from Aequorea victoria, which has the unique properties as a marker for protein localization in vivo. The creation of chimerical protein-GFP gene constructs, obtaining the transformed plant cells possessed protein-GFP in their cytoskeletal composition will allow receiving a simple and efficient model for screening of the cytoskeleton functional status in microgravity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Botany, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine. cell@svitonline.com
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Kordyum
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Shevchenko
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Yemets
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Nyporko
authors.forename: Ya B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Blume
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D003063:Cnidaria; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005453:Fluorescence; D018466:Gravity Sensing / Q000502:physiology*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018518:Plant Root Cap / Q000648:ultrastructure; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013026:Space Flight; D014893:Weightlessness
chemical_list: D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; C485192:green fluorescent protein, Aequorea victoria; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins