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Updated: Jun 24, 2026
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Measuring Gene Expression in Bombarded Barley Aleurone Layers with Increased Throughput
Published on: March 30, 2018
A roadmap for zinc trafficking in the developing barley grain based on laser capture microdissection and gene
Birgitte Tauris1, Søren Borg, Per L Gregersen
1University of Aarhus, Facultry of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, Forsøgsvej 1, 4200 Slagelse, Denmark.
Journal of Experimental Botany
|March 20, 2009
Summary
Researchers identified key transporters and chelating agents involved in zinc deposition in barley grains. This study provides a working model for zinc translocation from the phloem to storage sites within the developing grain.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Nutrient transport to cereal grains faces significant barriers.
- Understanding zinc deposition is crucial for grain quality and yield.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify transporters and chelating agents involved in zinc transport and deposition in barley grain.
- To develop a model for zinc translocation within the developing grain.
Main Methods:
- Laser capture microdissection (LCM) was used to isolate specific barley grain tissues (transfer cells, aleurone, endosperm, embryo).
- RNA was amplified and hybridized to Affymetrix 22K Barley GeneChips for expression profiling.
- A normalization approach accounting for probe position was employed due to transcript length variations.
Main Results:
- Expression profiles of four distinct tissue types were generated.
- Metal homeostasis genes' expression levels were analyzed.
- A working model for zinc translocation was proposed based on expression data.
Conclusions:
- Specific transporters and chelating agents likely play critical roles in zinc deposition in barley.
- The proposed model elucidates the pathway of zinc from phloem to grain storage sites.
