Isolation and Extraction of a Vacuolar Transmembrane protein Two-Pore Channel 1 (TPC1) from the Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula)

Presentation Year

2026

College or Department

College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Short Description of your Research or Creative Project (700 characters or less)

In the plant kingdom, movement is a basic physiological characteristic that is essential for plants to adapt and respond to their environment. The Venus flytrap, Dionaea muscipula, utilizes movement to capture its prey. This movement is reliant on the functioning TPC1. Two-Pore Channel 1 (TPC1) is a non-selective voltage-dependent and calcium-regulated potassium channel that is localized to plant vacuolar membranes. Our study was the first to isolate and identify the TPC1 protein in venus flytrap vacuolar membranes. We performed this extraction via sucrose gradient, ultracentrifugation, ion exchange chromatography, and protein assays. Although the venus flytrap TPC1 is used for rapid response to environmental stimuli, all plants rely on TPC1 to actively adapt to changes in light, metabolism, and pH. The further study of TPC1 can have a wide variety of environmental, agricultural, and pathologic applications as it is expressed in animal and fungal cells as well.

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Yes

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chemistry-duckett-cadence-199783-2x3.pdf (14.6 KB)

Primary Contact: First Name

Cadence

Primary Contact: Last Name

Duckett

Primary Contact: Email

CD217@humboldt.edu

Primary Contact: I am a

Undergraduate Student

Primary Contact: Phone Number

5123485030

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3'x2'