Function of Arabidopsis Small RNA-ARGONAUTE Complexes

拟南芥小RNA-ARGONAUTE复合物的功能

• 批准号: 0956526
• 负责人: James Carrington
• 金额: $ 90万
• 依托单位: Oregon State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-03-01 至 2012-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0956526&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Function; Arabidopsis; Small; RNA; ARGONAUTE

Intellectual Merit:The genomes of plants and animals have evolved to control the function of genes required for development, response to environmental change, and invasive pathogens. Many of the genes within these organisms are controlled by tiny RNA molecules, called microRNA (miRNA) and short-interfering RNA (siRNA), through a process called gene silencing. The small RNA delivers proteins in the ARGONAUTE (AGO) family to target RNA molecules by functioning as sequence-specific guides. The AGO protein can then cause degradation, mislocalization, or repression of the target RNA, thereby achieving gene regulation. The model plant Arabidopsis contains up to 10 functional AGO proteins, roughly one-half of which have been assigned at least some function or shown to interact with a set of specific small RNA. Extensive analyses have revealed highly abundant, complex landscape of multiple small RNAs (generally 21-24 nucleotides) corresponding to sequences across the plant genome. However, small RNA activity, rather than simply accumulation, is key to understanding small RNA-based silencing on a genome-wide scale. Once small RNA are formed, how and to what extent are AGO-small RNA complexes formed? Once these complexes form, which are active to target other RNA molecules? For the major AGO proteins (AGO1 and AGO10), how are target RNA pools affected at the stabilization and translational repression levels? This project addresses each of these three questions by focusing on how silencing information is processed and managed. Understanding how gene silencing works at the molecular and genome-wide levels will shed light on how plants use and control a large amount of genetic information. Broader Impacts:The project will have significant broader impact beyond the actual scientific results. The project involves front-line participation of undergraduate students in research. Two student researchers will be supported for the duration of the project. The project also provides a clear mentoring plan for two postdoctoral scientists, and involves participation in an outreach collaboration with the Scientists and Teachers Education Partnerships (STEPS, www.steps.org), an Oregon State University-based program that provides training to K-12 teachers and exposure of students to experimental science. The P.I.s work with the STEPS Program Coordinator for Grades 6-12, Dr. Kari Van Zee, to develop summer workshops in the Advances in Biotechnology series. This provides teachers with professional development workshops, lectures, and hands-on training for school-appropriate laboratory experiments. The Arabidopsis Small RNA Project Database, the primary portal for information and data generated by the previous NSF-funded project, will continue to operate in the public domain for anyone seeking genome-wide small RNA data. Programs developed to process and analyze high-throughput sequencing data, such as CASHX and TargetFinder, will continue to be made available through the ASRP website. Finally, this project is leading to better ways to use the inherent genetic potential of plants for our food, fiber, and energy needs.

智力优点：动植物的基因组已经发展为控制开发，对环境变化和侵入性病原体所需的基因功能。这些生物中的许多基因都通过称为基因沉默的过程来控制小的RNA分子，称为microRNA（miRNA）和短裂RNA（siRNA）。 小的RNA通过用作序列特异性指南来靶向RNA分子，从而在Argonaute（AGO）家族中传递蛋白质。然后，AGO蛋白会导致靶RNA的降解，错误定位或抑制，从而实现基因调节。 模型植物拟南芥包含多达10个功能性的AGO蛋白质，其中大约一半被分配了至少一些功能或显示与一组特定的小RNA相互作用。广泛的分析表明，与整个植物基因组序列相对应的多个小RNA（通常为21-24个核苷酸）的高度丰富，复杂的景观。但是，小的RNA活性，而不是简单地积累，是理解基于基因组范围的小基于RNA的沉默的关键。一旦形成了小的RNA，如何形成如何以及在多大程度上形成small RNA复合物？ 一旦这些复合物形成，它们的活性以靶向其他RNA分子？对于主要的AGO蛋白（AGO1和AGO10），目标RNA池如何在稳定和翻译抑制水平上影响？ 该项目通过关注如何处理和管理沉默信息来解决这三个问题中的每一个。 了解基因沉默如何在分子和全基因组水平上起作用，将阐明植物如何使用和控制大量遗传信息。更广泛的影响：该项目将超出实际科学结果，具有更大的影响。 该项目涉及本科生参与研究的一线参与。 在该项目期间，将支持两名学生研究人员。该项目还为两位博士后科学家提供了一个明确的指导计划，并涉及与科学家和教师教育合作伙伴关系（Step，www.steps.org）的宣传合作，这是一项基于俄勒冈州立大学的计划，该计划为K-12的培训提供了对K-12的培训，并将学生与学生接触实验科学。 P.I.S与6至12年级的Steps计划协调员Kari van Zee博士合作，在生物技术的进步系列中开发夏季讲习班。 这为教师提供了专业发展研讨会，讲座和适合学校实验实验的动手培训。拟南芥小型RNA项目数据库，该数据库是前NSF资助项目生成的信息和数据的主要门户，该数据库将继续在寻求全基因组小RNA数据的任何人的公共领域中运行。 为处理和分析高通量测序数据（例如Cashx和TargetFinder）开发的程序将继续通过ASRP网站提供。最后，该项目导致了更好的方法，将植物固有的遗传潜力用于我们的食物，纤维和能源需求。