RUI: Functional Analysis of VTC3, a Novel Regulator of Ascorbate Biosynthesis in Plants.

RUI：植物抗坏血酸生物合成的新型调节剂 VTC3 的功能分析。

• 批准号: 0950421
• 负责人: Patricia Conklin
• 金额: $ 34.27万
• 依托单位: SUNY College at Cortland
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-03-01 至 2014-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0950421&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RUI; Functional; Analysis; VTC3; Novel

Ascorbic acid is a small molecule that most people know as the antioxidant Vitamin C, which is a critical component of the human diet. In plants, the synthesis of ascorbic acid is a regulated process. For example, plants make little ascorbic acid in the dark and very high levels in the light in large part to detoxify oxygen free radicals produced as a by-product of photosynthesis. How such regulation is controlled is not well understood. In the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana a gene has been identified (VTC3 for Vitamin C gene number 3) that encodes a protein likely involved in the regulation of ascorbic acid biosynthesis. The VTC3 protein contains predicted domains known to be involved in signal transduction pathways. Further, mutants lacking this protein are ascorbic acid-deficient. Given the identity of these domains, the VTC3 protein may be "dual purpose" and have a role in both the positive and negative regulation of ascorbic acid biosynthesis. This project aims to define how VTC3 is involved in this regulation via an integrated molecular genetic, biochemical, and proteomics-based approach. This approach will lead to an understanding of the biochemical activity of the VTC3 protein domains and how these domains (directly or indirectly via protein binding partners) impact the expression and/or activity of plant ascorbic acid biosynthetic enzymes, and ultimately ascorbic acid levels under differing environmental conditions. Broader Impacts:This project is certain to advance the understanding of signal transduction pathways in plants, in particular with regards to the regulation of ascorbic acid biosynthesis in plants. Applications in the field of agriculture are probable considering the role of this small molecule in the protection of plants against environmentally induced stresses. One of the strongest global impacts of this project will be the effect that it has on the undergraduates that are involved. The undergraduates and high school students working directly on this project during the semester and the summer months will gain confidence in their ability to conduct scientific research and the intellectual and hands-on tools to succeed in the rapidly advancing field of biology. A subset will benefit from a multi-week international research experience in the U.K. in the laboratory of a collaborator at the University of Exeter. On a local level, the research and educational capacities of the principal investigator's department and the college as a whole will be enhanced through the purchase of new equipment and the introduction of new technologies and techniques.

抗坏血酸是一个小分子，大多数人都称为抗氧化剂维生素C，它是人类饮食的关键组成部分。 在植物中，抗坏血酸的合成是一个受调节的过程。例如，植物在黑暗中几乎没有抗坏血酸，在很大程度上在光线下，植物在很大程度上使氧气自由基排毒是光合作用的副产品。该法规的控制方式尚未得到充分理解。在模型中，已经鉴定出拟南芥拟南芥（Thaliana）的基因（维生素C基因3），该基因编码可能与抗坏血酸生物合成调节有关的蛋白质。 VTC3蛋白包含已知参与信号转导途径的预测域。此外，缺乏这种蛋白质的突变体缺乏抗坏血酸。鉴于这些结构域的身份，VTC3蛋白可能是“双重目的”，并且在抗坏血酸生物合成的正和阴性调节中起作用。该项目旨在通过基于综合的分子遗传，生化和基于蛋白质组学的方法来定义VTC3如何参与该调节。这种方法将导致对VTC3蛋白结构域的生化活性以及这些域（通过蛋白质结合伴侣直接或间接地）如何影响植物抗坏血酸生物合成酶的表达和/或活性，以及​​最终在不同环境条件下的抗坏血酸水平。更广泛的影响：该项目肯定会提高对植物中信号转导途径的理解，特别是在调节植物中抗坏血酸生物合成方面。考虑到这种小分子在保护植物免受环境诱发的应力中的作用，可能在农业领域的应用。该项目最大的全球影响之一将是它对所涉及的本科生产生的影响。在学期和夏季，本科生和高中生直接从事该项目的工作将对他们进行科学研究的能力以及在生物学快速发展领域取得成功的知识和动手工具的信心。 子集将受益于英国在埃克塞特大学合作者的实验室中的多周国际研究经验。 在地方一级，通过购买新设备以及引入新技术和技术的主要研究人员和整个学院的研究和教育能力将得到增强。