Kansas State University Undergraduate Research Conference

Boron Uptake in Salt Cedars via Aquaporins

Salt Cedar (Tamarix) is a dicot plant highly tolerant to the chemical boron. This is interesting because for most plants boron is an essential yet toxic metalloid. Plants have a hard time excluding it. The goal of the project is to identify a potential protein sequence (order of amino acids forming a protein) for an aquaporin that allows the transport of boron, moving through a pore. In addition to selecting the sequences, a 3D model of the protein has been constructed to see how boron is entering the cells through the channels of these proteins. A dynamic model is being made to examine the structure in a cell membrane. We have assembled 3D models of these channel proteins using computer software programs that build models based on the sequences. The sequence of a protein determines how it works. Changing the sequence changes how it works. Dynamic modeling the protein’s structure has begun, to see how the structure fluctuates. The diameter of the channel/pore is a critical value being calculated. In the static model the pore was not large enough for boron to pass through. In the dynamic model the pore should have a larger size at times. The pore size will determine if boron will fit through the channel. We expect this channel to have a lower presence in the roots of this plant, thus limiting boron uptake. This research is important because plants are currently facing boron tolerance issues across the world and particularly in the southwest region in the United States.