Institute of Plant Science and Resources

Atmospheric Stress Unit
Group of Cytomolecular Biochemistry
Associate Professor Haruyoshi Konno
Associate Professor Manabu Sugimoto
Plants are sensitive to various environmental stimuli. They respond to physical,
chemical, and biological stress factors. Consequently, plants can undergo changes in their
development, morphology, and physiology during their life cycle.
We have elucidated the physiological function and stress tolerance mechanisms of
plant cells under stress conditions using biochemical techniques.
Current research includes
1) Functions of genes and proteins expressed in plants exposed to a space environment
and oxidative stress, and their application to the development of stress-tolerant plants.
2) Mechanisms of metal tolerance in wild plants.
3) Characteristics of plant cell walls and their degrading enzymes.
a
b
CNASA
Two-dimensional gel profiles of proteins extracted from roots
of salt-tolerant barley (a) and salt-sensitive barley (b). Specific
protein spots located in salt-tolerant barley (arrows).
CIBMP
Fern (L) and moss (R) grown in a copper-rich medium.
Gene expression of plants grown in the
plant growth chamber onboard Russian
segment of the International Space Station.