| Problem. The Arabidopsis thaliana oxt6 line was isolated due to its tolerance to oxidative stress. Oxt6 has a mutation on a gene that encodes a protein subunit involved in RNA metabolism. This subunit, a cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor (CPSF30), possesses a calcium-calmodulin binding domain. These studies will examine the role of this protein in plants using a variety of genetic constructs to target oxidative signaling via calcium/calmodulin.;Methods. Three independent studies (drought, heat, and root stress) were performed in growth chambers. Growth performance of wild type, oxt6, and modified forms of AtCPSF30 with a functional and non-functional calmodulin-binding domain were assessed.;Results. AtCPSF30 and modified forms of the proteins display specific responses to oxidative stress signaling via calcium/calmodulin.;Conclusions. AtCPSF30 plays a subtle, though not essential, role in plant response and development under normal conditions. Calcium/calmodulin signaling is involved in specific responses to ROS with this protein. |
