International Network of Plant Abiotic Stress

COST STSM Reference Number: COST-STSM-FA0605-7384

STSM Applicant: Ms Liina Margna, University of Tartu, Institute of Technology, Tartu(EE) , liinamar@ut.ee

STSM Topic: The usage of OST1 antibody to elucidate the amount of phosphorylated OST1 in plants

Host: Pedro L. Rodriguez Egea, Institute for Plant Molecular and Cell Biology (IBMCP) at The Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Valencia, Spain; prodriguez@ibmcp.upv.es

A short description of the STSM experience

My 5-week scientific mission carried out at the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of Plants in Valencia, Spain fulfilled all my expectations and even more. The aim was to start collaboration with the Spanish science group in order to elaborate the signalling pathways in the plant guard cells of stomata and shed light on the effect of plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) in these processes. I had the best hosts one could wish, since the scientific mission was not only covering antibody studies, but also enabled me to study other methods used in the lab of Pedro Rodriguez. All in all, I gained some new interesting data on phosphorylation patterns in stomatal signalling, but also learned many new techniques and approaches for phenotypical characterisation of Arabidopsis thaliana plants and seedlings. Cultural experiences in the country where I had never been before cannot be set aside either.