"Where is she?" was the question coming out of everyone’s mouth last summer. For people in Arizona the question would be answered with, "She is back in Spain continuing her carpel research through BRAVO!" After hard work and several rounds of proposal writing, BRAVO! (Biomedical Research Abroad: Vistas Open!) provided me with the opportunity to continue my research, which involves collaboration between Dr. Frans Tax's lab at the University of Arizona and Dr. Cristina Ferrandiz's lab at the Instituto de Biologia Molecular y Celular de Plantas in Valencia, Spain.

The goal for this summer was to analyze a mutant affecting fruit development in Arabidopsis thaliana, which is one of several relatively fast growing plants scientists use to study how plant growth and development. In the Tax Lab, we are examining mutants in a group of genes that affect flower organ number and fruit size. The mutant I am studying transforms the fruit from containing two chambers of seeds into three or four chambers. In my first BRAVO! experience, I observed and recorded the phenotypic characteristics of the mutant from a number of seeds to size of different parts of the plant including height, leaf number and size, fruit stem length, and floral meristem size, and thickness. Besides examining these areas, the plant’s fruit were analyzed for size, shape, number of chambers, and number of seeds. From this preliminary data, we were able to focus on trying to answer whether these extra chambers come from (1) extra cells in the floral meristem, which is where floral organs derive from, or (2) whether the cells appear later in development of the fruit.

The second group of people asking that same question would be my co-workers in Spain; they could be answered with several responses. During the first month, I could be found in the green house trying to keep my plants alive. Due to an infestation of thrips, bugs that can destroy plants, and an unknown algae/disease that stopped the plants from maturing, some of my plants had no chance of surviving. Luckily a majority of them made it, and I was able to continue on with my project. At most other times I was in the microscope room learning how to slice samples and view them on the microscope.

In July, I was spending most of my time preparing samples doing critical point, which can take 2-3 hours per batch of samples. Critical point is a procedure that is done to leave only the cell structure intact without any fluid. These samples were later mounted and coated with gold or palladium for Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). SEM allowed me to view the cells that make up the floral meristem, which was one of my goals. From preliminary measurements, the mutant’s floral meristems do not seem larger or have more cells than the wild type.

August was dedicated to preparing samples for cross sections. This was a new procedure for me, which took the longest -- a whole week just to prepare the samples for slicing and one hour each for mounting. But the preparation time was well worth it; for the samples I brought back with me and a new insight on the mutation. From several cross sections of chambers, we discovered a rearrangement in patterning. Instead of two chambers connected by a middle septum there is unique alignment of two parallel septums creating three chambers. Currently we are analyzing more fruit to determine the significance and frequency of this formation.

Spain is a spectacular country with a colorful way of life, a tasty cuisine, and an open heart. Although I stayed in Valencia most of the time, I had a wonderful time attending all the festivals and celebrations during the month of July. I barely survived the humid summer days, but luckily had the sea three minutes away to cool down and get a tan! August was interesting, because everyone left for vacation, so I continued to work and took side trips to Barcelona and Madrid. I wish to thank: Dr. Frans Tax, Dr. Cristina Ferrandiz, Carol Bender, and Genevieve Kenney.


Danielle Nevarez, UBRP alum from Dr. Frans Tax's lab, Molecular & Cellular Biology