Stomata are leaf structures critical for plant survival because they modulate the rate of transpiration. This study will examine a possible mode for regulating stomatal density by over-expressing NADP-dependent malic enzyme (NADP-ME), which is thought to deplete the counter-anion pool in Arabidopsis thaliana guard cells. It was hypothesized that over-expressing NADP-ME in Arabidopsis will elevate stomatal density. Scanning electron microscopy was employed to determine if any differences exist in numbers of stomatal complexes among transgenic lines and wild-type Arabidopsis. The results indicated a significant increase in stomatal numbers among some transgenic plant lines relative to the wild-type. Second, a series of molecular tests were utilized to provide NADP-ME activity and transgene expression evidence. These included western blots, tissue assay blots, enzyme activity assays, and RT-PCR reactions. Altering NADP-ME expression levels may present a putative approach for influencing stomatal development.
","abstract_html":"<p>Stomata are leaf structures critical for plant survival because they modulate the rate of transpiration. This study will examine a possible mode for regulating stomatal density by over-expressing NADP-dependent malic enzyme (NADP-ME), which is thought to deplete the counter-anion pool in Arabidopsis thaliana guard cells. It was hypothesized that over-expressing NADP-ME in Arabidopsis will elevate stomatal density. Scanning electron microscopy was employed to determine if any differences exist in numbers of stomatal complexes among transgenic lines and wild-type Arabidopsis. The results indicated a significant increase in stomatal numbers among some transgenic plant lines relative to the wild-type. Second, a series of molecular tests were utilized to provide NADP-ME activity and transgene expression evidence. These included western blots, tissue assay blots, enzyme activity assays, and RT-PCR reactions. Altering NADP-ME expression levels may present a putative approach for influencing stomatal development.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Gabor, Michael M"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Open Access Thesis","degree_discipline":"Biology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Dr. Marianne Laporte, Chair","Dr. Steven Pernecky, Member","Dr. Glenn Walker, Member"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2007,"date_issued":"2007-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2007-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:24Z","subjects":["\"Plants transpiration research\"","\"Stomata research\"","Biology"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.emich.edu/theses/42","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Dr. Marianne Laporte, Chair","Dr. Steven Pernecky, Member","Dr. Glenn Walker, Member"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Gabor, Michael M"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Biology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["\"Plants transpiration research\"","\"Stomata research\"","Biology"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/42"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Stomata are leaf structures critical for plant survival because they modulate the rate of transpiration. This study will examine a possible mode for regulating stomatal density by over-expressing NADP-dependent malic enzyme (NADP-ME), which is thought to deplete the counter-anion pool in Arabidopsis thaliana guard cells. It was hypothesized that over-expressing NADP-ME in Arabidopsis will elevate stomatal density. Scanning electron microscopy was employed to determine if any differences exist in numbers of stomatal complexes among transgenic lines and wild-type Arabidopsis. The results indicated a significant increase in stomatal numbers among some transgenic plant lines relative to the wild-type. Second, a series of molecular tests were utilized to provide NADP-ME activity and transgene expression evidence. These included western blots, tissue assay blots, enzyme activity assays, and RT-PCR reactions. Altering NADP-ME expression levels may present a putative approach for influencing stomatal development.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["A putative approach for influencing stomatal density by over-expressing NADP-dependent malic enzyme in arabidopsis"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Dr. Marianne Laporte, Chair","Dr. Steven Pernecky, Member","Dr. Glenn Walker, Member"],"dc:creator":["Gabor, Michael M"],"dc:description.abstract":["Stomata are leaf structures critical for plant survival because they modulate the rate of transpiration. This study will examine a possible mode for regulating stomatal density by over-expressing NADP-dependent malic enzyme (NADP-ME), which is thought to deplete the counter-anion pool in Arabidopsis thaliana guard cells. It was hypothesized that over-expressing NADP-ME in Arabidopsis will elevate stomatal density. Scanning electron microscopy was employed to determine if any differences exist in numbers of stomatal complexes among transgenic lines and wild-type Arabidopsis. The results indicated a significant increase in stomatal numbers among some transgenic plant lines relative to the wild-type. Second, a series of molecular tests were utilized to provide NADP-ME activity and transgene expression evidence. These included western blots, tissue assay blots, enzyme activity assays, and RT-PCR reactions. Altering NADP-ME expression levels may present a putative approach for influencing stomatal development.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/42"],"dc:subject":["\"Plants transpiration research\"","\"Stomata research\"","Biology"],"dc:title":["A putative approach for influencing stomatal density by over-expressing NADP-dependent malic enzyme in arabidopsis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Biology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:24Z"}