Arabidopsis 2010: A New Pathway for GSH Metabolism in Plants

拟南芥 2010：植物 GSH 代谢的新途径

• 批准号: 0841528
• 负责人: David Oliver
• 金额: $ 47.7万
• 依托单位: Iowa State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-05-15 至 2013-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0841528&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Arabidopsis; 2010; New; Pathway; GSH

Intellectual Merit:Plant growth and crop yields are very sensitive to toxic chemicals in their environment, including not only heavy metals and xenobiotics in the soil, but also oxygen in the air, which can react to produce destructive oxygen radicals. Glutathione (GSH) is a small molecule made from common amino acids that is key in protecting plants and animals from many toxic chemicals, and the GSH-ascorbate cycle detoxifies dangerous oxygen radicals. Creating plants that are more resistant to environmental stresses and therefore crops that maintain their yields under unfavorable conditions, requires detailed knowledge of how GSH levels are controlled, both through how it is made and how it is broken down. While a lot is known about GSH synthesis and regulation, very little is known about how GSH is broken down. This Arabidopsis 2010 research project investigates a newly discovered enzyme activity, termed gamma-glutamyl cyclotransferase, which experiments suggest catalyzes a majority of GSH break down in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Experiments in this project will define the gene and protein that are responsible for this enzyme activity in plants. A combination of protein chemistry and genomics techniques will be employed to identify the gene in Arabidopsis. Subsequent genetic experiments will be used to verify that the isolated gene is responsible for GSH turnover and how GSH turnover is regulated relative to synthesis. Information gained will enable experiments designed to engineer or select plants with elevated potential for defending themselves from environmental threats. In addition, because GSH is found in all organisms, discovery of a new branch in the pathway of GSH metabolism is transformative with regard to understanding how all organisms survive in an oxygen containing environment.Broader Impacts:To benefit the research community, data and information generated through this project will be made available through the Arabidopsis Information Resource (TAIR: www.arabidopsis.org). Seed stocks and any unique DNA materials will be made available through ABRC (http://www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/~plantbio/Facilities/abrc/abrchome.htm). To enhance education, the project will engage undergraduate students in research and professional development activities that are designed to expose them to advanced biotechnology, and enable them to continue careers in STEM disciplines. A postdoctoral research associate will be trained in research and mentoring, in preparation for a faculty career. In addition, undergraduates will work with the PI and the postdoctoral associate to develop a module on mitochondria to be included in the "Meta!Blast" virtual 3D cell, a web-based video environment designed to teach the basics of plant cell biology to precollege and beginning college students.

智力优点：植物生长和作物产量对其环境中的有毒化学物质非常敏感，不仅包括土壤中的重金属和外源物质，还包括空气中的氧气，它们可以发生反应产生破坏性的氧自由基。谷胱甘肽 (GSH) 是一种由常见氨基酸制成的小分子，对于保护动植物免受许多有毒化学物质的侵害至关重要，GSH-抗坏血酸循环可以解毒危险的氧自由基。培育对环境胁迫具有更强抵抗力的植物以及在不利条件下保持产量的作物，需要详细了解如何控制谷胱甘肽水平，包括如何制造和如何分解。虽然人们对 GSH 的合成和调节了解很多，但对 GSH 的分解方式却知之甚少。 2010 年拟南芥研究项目调查了一种新发现的酶活性，称为 γ-谷氨酰环转移酶，实验表明该酶可催化模式植物拟南芥中的大部分 GSH 分解。该项目的实验将确定植物中负责这种酶活性的基因和蛋白质。将结合蛋白质化学和基因组学技术来鉴定拟南芥中的基因。随后的基因实验将用于验证分离的基因是否负责 GSH 周转以及 GSH 周转相对于合成的调节方式。获得的信息将使旨在设计或选择具有较高潜力的植物免受环境威胁的实验成为可能。此外，由于 GSH 存在于所有生物体中，因此 GSH 代谢途径中新分支的发现对于理解所有生物体如何在含氧环境中生存具有革命性意义。 更广泛的影响：使研究界、数据和信息受益通过该项目生成的信息将通过拟南芥信息资源（TAIR：www.arabidopsis.org）提供。种子库存和任何独特的 DNA 材料将通过 ABRC (http://www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/~plantbio/Facilities/abrc/abrchome.htm) 提供。为了加强教育，该项目将让本科生参与研究和专业发展活动，旨在让他们接触先进的生物技术，并使他们能够继续从事 STEM 学科的职业生涯。 博士后研究员将接受研究和指导方面的培训，为教师职业生涯做好准备。此外，本科生将与 PI 和博士后合作开发一个线粒体模块，该模块将包含在“Meta!Blast”虚拟 3D 细胞中，这是一个基于网络的视频环境，旨在向大学预科生教授植物细胞生物学的基础知识和刚开始的大学生。