curcas is not currently being
cultivated as a crop, since
no commercial cultivars
exist. Therefore the
development of J. curcas
cultivars with improved
characteristics is highly
desirable. Such studies can
contribute to the
development of US-based
new cultivars of an
alternative energy crop that
can be readily available to
U.S. farmers while
contributing towards energy
independence from fossil
fuel sources. Microgravity
might be able to induce
genetic changes that result in positive characteristics for the development of superior Jatropha
cultivars. That would be a means of accelerating the breeding and genetic improvement
of Jatropha towards the commercialization of such superior jatropha cultivars.
SPACE BENEFITS
This investigation is a part of a series of investigations to be conducted aboard the International
Space Station (ISS) to provide the foundation for use of the ISS as a National Laboratory
following assembly complete.
RESULTS
NLP-CELLS
NLP-Cells assessed the effects of spaceflight on the liver’s characteristic cells to differentiate
into either monolayers of liver cells or cells lining the vessels that carry bile. In comparing flight
vs. ground control cultures, no differences were found between the cultures with the exception
being that some genes were differentially expressed. By light microscopy both young and older
cultures, flight and ground, had grown and differentiated normally in the Opticell culture
vessels. The PICM-19 cells grew to approximately 75% confluency (coverage of the petri dish),
with few signs of cell death. The cells differentiated into either monolayer patches of liver cells
with bile ducts visible between the cells or into 3-D bile ducts with well-defined lumens, the
inside space of a tubular structure. Structural features between flight and ground samples were
similar with PICM-19 cells. Flight PICM-19 cells produced more urea in response to added
ammonia, although there was no apparent difference when compared to the ground control
culture samples. The enzyme activities investigated were also found to be similar between
ground and flight samples.
Fluid Processing Apparatus (FPA) containing cell suspensions of J. curcas.
The FPAs are assembled into the Group Activation Pack, which is
transported to the International Space Station for microgravity studies. Dr.
Wagner A. Vendrame image, University of Florida, Homestead, Florida.