TRANSGENIC ARABISOPSIS GENE EXPRESSION SYSTEM (TAGES)
Research Area: Plant Biology
Expedition(s): 21, 21, 23 and 24
Principal Investigator(s): ● Anna-Lisa Paul, PhD, University of Florida, Gainesville,
Florida
● Robert J. Ferl, PhD, University of Florida, Gainesville,
Florida
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Transgenic Arabidopsis Gene Expression System (TAGES) investigation is one in a pair of
investigations that use the Advanced Biological Research System (ABRS) facility. TAGES uses
Arabidopsis thaliana, thale cress, with sensor promoter-reporter gene constructs that render
the plants as biomonitors, or an organism used to determine the quality of the surrounding
environment, using real-time nondestructive Green Fluorescent Protein imagery and traditional
postflight analyses.
EARTH BENEFITS
The miniaturization of the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) imaging apparatus as a requirement
for this spaceflight investigation has produced a device that is easily transportable and may be
used as a means for conducting in situ analysis of appropriately genetically prepared
biomonitors.
SPACE BENEFITS
TAGES along with the ABRS hardware
demonstrates the capabilities of
providing the correct environment for
plant growth aboard spacecraft. For
future long-duration exploration, crews
need to be able to grow plants for a
variety of applications.RESULTS
TAGES analyzes root morphology of
Arabidopsis grown on Petri plates while
aboard the International Space Station
(ISS). Imaging hardware delivered plant
images from the ISS providing science
without returned samples. These images revealed that in the absence of gravity with the
presence of directional light, roots continued to grow away from the light source and shoot
growth. This phenomenon was previously thought to be gravity dependent, however the TAGES
experiment proved this incorrect. Root skewing also took place while in microgravity,
identifying this process as gravity independent as well. Overall growth patterns in microgravity
mimic those from simultaneous ground studies, with slightly less uniformity. Microgravity was
also found to retard the rate of early Arabidopsis growth (Paul 2012).
ISS021E030891 - Expedition 21 Flight Engineer 4 Robert
Thirsk poses for a photo with Transgenic Arabidopsis Gene
Expression System experiment hardware.