Mechanisms of Transport Through Plasmodesmata

通过胞间连丝的运输机制

• 批准号: 1457187
• 负责人: David Jackson
• 金额: $ 60万
• 依托单位: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2015-06-01 至 2019-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1457187&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Mechanisms; Transport; Through; Plasmodesmata

All organisms are made up of cells, a basic unit of life. While some microorganisms, such as bacteria, are single celled, most plants and animals are multicellular, composed of many billions of cells, and tens or hundreds of different cell types. Each cell type has a specialized function, for example different cell types in plants function to take up nutrients from the soil, to photosynthesize, or to promote growth. Communication between different cell types is critical for the proper growth and viability of plants. This project will study a system for cell-to-cell communication, involving the transport of signaling molecules through special channels called plasmodesmata. Genes that control the transport process have been identified, and their role in development and physiology will be studied. For example, one such gene encodes a chaperone, a protein that can unwind other molecules, to allow them to pass through plasmodesmata. These studies will provide new insights into plant biology, that could provide strategies to improve crop plant productivity. Outreach activities will target high school students from the local community, as well as underrepresented groups, to provide them training and mentorship in science. Such training is important to maintain a strong science and technology base for the U.S. workforce.An important and unique form of cell-to-cell communication in plants occurs by the trafficking of protein and RNA based signals through plasmodesmata, specialized channels that are embedded in the cell wall. Despite their central importance to plant development, physiology and defense, the general mechanism and regulation of trafficking through plasmodesmata is poorly understood. This project will use genetic, cell biological and biophysical approaches to understand how regulatory transcription factors important for plant growth are able to traffic between cells, to transmit important developmental signals. A novel genetic screen has been developed to discover genes that are involved in cell-to-cell trafficking of these proteins. The Jackson lab has already identified two genes, a chaperonin, and a GTPase, using this approach. These discoveries suggest mechanisms by which the proteins traffic, for example by partial unfolding of the protein, or by signaling by the GTPase, to allow their transport through the plasmodesmal channel. This proposal will further investigate the mechanism by which these genes facilitate transport, and will discover new factors that control the process. Studies of the trafficking mechanisms have the potential to make significant improvements to plant productivity, by providing tools to selectively regulate trafficking of developmental regulators, to limit the spread of pathogens, or to understanding the transport of metabolites into sink tissues, which is critical for plant growth. Hence, this proposal will advance knowledge in a fundamental area of plant biology, and will bring potential improvements to US agriculture. The project will also train a number of young scientists at various levels, as well as develop resources to involve high school students in modern biology research. The Principal Investigator directs the "Partners For the Future" Program at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, which allows local high school students to experience life in a research lab. He will also develop an educational exchange with a high school in Queens, New York, which predominantly serves minority students. This activity brings exposure to the excitement and applications of scientific research to students who otherwise have little opportunity for contact with scientific research.

所有生物都是由细胞组成的，这是生命的基本单位。 虽然某些微生物（例如细菌）是单细胞的，但大多数植物和动物都是多细胞的，由数十亿个细胞以及数十或数百种不同的细胞类型组成。 每种细胞类型都有一个专业的功能，例如植物中的不同细胞类型功能以吸收从土壤中吸收营养，以光合作用或促进生长。 不同细胞类型之间的通信对于植物的适当生长和生存能力至关重要。 该项目将研究一个用于细胞到细胞通信的系统，涉及信号分子通过称为plasmodesmata的特殊通道的传输。 控制了运输过程的基因，将研究其在发育和生理学中的作用。 例如，一个这样的基因编码伴侣蛋白，一种可以放弃其他分子的蛋白质，以使其通过质量瘤。 这些研究将为植物生物学提供新的见解，这些见解可以提供提高作物植物生产力的策略。 外展活动将针对当地社区的高中生以及代表性不足的群体，以提供科学培训和指导。 这种训练对于维持美国劳动力的强大科学和技术基础很重要。植物中一种重要且独特的细胞对电池通信形式是通过通过Plasmodesmata贩运蛋白质和基于RNA的信号而发生的，这是嵌入在细胞壁中的专门通道。尽管对植物发育，生理学和防御的重要性，但对通过质量的贩运的一般机制和调节知之甚少。该项目将使用遗传，细胞生物学和生物物理方法来了解对植物生长的调节转录因子如何能够在细胞之间播种，从而传递重要的发育信号。已经开发出一种新型的遗传筛选，以发现与这些蛋白质细胞到细胞运输有关的基因。杰克逊实验室已经使用这种方法鉴定了两个基因，一个伴侣蛋白和一个GTPase。这些发现提出了蛋白质流量（例如通过蛋白质的部分展开或通过GTPase信号传导）允许其通过质量通道的传输的机制。该提案将进一步研究这些基因促进运输的机制，并发现控制该过程的新因素。对贩运机制的研究有可能通过提供有选择地调节发育调节剂的贩运，限制病原体的扩散或了解代谢物向水槽组织的运输，这对于植物生长至关重要。因此，该提案将提高植物生物学基本领域的知识，并为美国农业带来潜在的改善。该项目还将在各个层面上培训许多年轻科学家，并开发资源，使高中生参与现代生物学研究。首席调查员指挥冷泉港实验室的“未来合作伙伴”计划，该计划使当地的高中生可以在研究实验室体验生活。 他还将与纽约皇后区的一所高中建立教育交流，该交流主要为少数民族学生提供服务。这项活动使科学研究的兴奋和应用使与科学研究没有机会接触的学生感到兴奋和应用。