Experiment

The third session of CsPINs experiment completed

All times are Japan Standard Time (JST)

The third session of Dynamism of Auxin Efflux Facilitators, CsPINs, Responsible for Gravity-regulated Growth and Development in Cucumber (CsPINs)*, which has been performed using the Cell Biology Experiment Facility (CBEF) on board Kibo, was completed.

*Principal Investigator (PI): Hideyuki Takahashi, Professor, Tohoku University

CsPINs experiment sessions consist of a total of eight experiments in four sessions. This is the third session, and it was started on April 5, 2012, and ended at 6:53 p.m. on April 6, 2012.

CsPINs is a protein group that controls activity and distribution of Auxin, a plant hormone, which has an essential role in coordination of a plant growth. This experiment focuses on CsPIN1, which is assumed to be involved in gravimorphogenesis in plant, and CsPIN5, which is assumed to be involved in hydrotropism, and aims at the understanding of their activities.

If these protein activities are understood, the findings will be applied to the root growth orientation control or plant organ formation control. It is hoped that the control techniques will eventually be applied to the agricultural technology for space plant factories in the future.

Special Message from PI, Prof. Hideyuki Takahashi, Tohoku University

We were relieved when this session on the root hydrotropism was successfully completed. This experiment is also important in terms of an excellent example for viewing life phenomena which is nearly impossible on the ground. I hope the obtained samples will safely return to the Earth. We would like to extend my gratitude to astronaut Pettit and all the operation staff.

*All times are Japan Standard Time (JST)