with Dr. Catharina Coenen
Research conducted with Dr. Coenen will characterize the regulation of peroxidase enzyme activity in plants. The student will develop a protocol for the spectrophotometric analysis of peroxidase activity in extracts from Brassica rapa (Wisconsin Fast Plants) and Nicotiana plumbaginifolia (a wild species of tobacco). The spectrophotometric assay will then be applied to characterize the regulation of plant peroxidase activity by the plant hormone auxin. This analysis will be supplemented by a characterization of peroxidase isoenzymes present in these extracts through native gel electrophoresis. The spectrophotometric assay developed through this research will also be modified for use by students in Bio 360 Plant Physiology.