Role of the intrinsically disordered protein PIR in Polycomb silencing and environmental responses in Arabidopsis

内在无序蛋白 PIR 在拟南芥多梳沉默和环境反应中的作用

• 批准号: 1916431
• 负责人: Doris Wagner
• 金额: $ 114.09万
• 依托单位: University of Pennsylvania
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2019-07-01 至 2024-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1916431&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Role; intrinsically; disordered; protein; PIR

The goal of this project is to uncover the molecular basis for plant survival under harsh conditions, such as drought. When plants experience a dry spell, subsets of genes in the genome are turned off, or silenced, by a protein regulator called Polycomb. This silencing helps the plant conserve crucial resources to survive the drought. Some aspects of how Polycomb works to silence genes is understood, but exactly how Polycomb targets the correct genes to silence in response to drought is still a mystery. Following up on clues obtained from recent studies, this project will study a newly identified protein called PIR, which may provide the missing link between drought and Polycomb action. Understanding this connection could have broad impacts for agriculture, as the findings would help plant breeders develop crop varieties that can grow better in dry environments. The project will also have educational impact by improving structured active learning activities in classroom settings, in both introductory and advanced biology courses. In addition, we will develop and disseminate research laboratory modules for engaging high school students in authentic research experiences. The educational activities are aimed at enhancing the success and retention of diverse groups of students in science and are expected to contribute to preparation of a future STEM workforce.In plants and animals, Polycomb protein complexes have long been recognized as key developmental regulators and much is known about how they repress gene expression by histone modification and chromatin compaction. In contrast, less is understood about how these regulators control gene expression in response to exogenous cues. This project will use the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana to study how drought stress influences silencing through interaction of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) with another protein, called Polycomb Interacting Repressor (PIR). Preliminary results provided evidence that PIR is linked to drought stress response and that it interacts genetically and physically with PRC2. These observations will be followed up to explore: how drought stress influences recruitment and activity of PIR/PRC2 complexes on chromatin; whether PIR functions as a non-stoichiometric auxiliary PRC2 component; and whether drought leads PIR, which is an intrinsically disordered protein, to form membrane-less phase-separated nuclear condensates, known as polycomb bodies. Together, the results should provide new mechanistic links between drought response and chromatin-based regulation. This award was co-funded by the Genetic Mechanisms Program (Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences) and by the Plant Genome Research Program and the Physiological Mechanisms and Biomechanics Program (Division of Integrative Organismal Systems), all in the Directorate for Biological Sciences.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

该项目的目的是揭示诸如干旱之类的恶劣条件下植物生存的分子基础。 当植物经历干法时，基因组中基因的亚集被称为polycomb的蛋白质调节剂关闭或沉默。这种沉默有助于植物节省至关重要的资源，使干旱生存。了解PolyComb如何使基因沉默的某些方面被理解，但是恰恰是Polycomb如何将正确的基因靶向对干旱的沉默仍然是一个谜。跟进从最近的研究中获得的线索，该项目将研究一种名为PIR的新鉴定的蛋白质，该蛋白可能会提供干旱和多肉液作用之间缺失的联系。了解这种联系可能会对农业产生广泛的影响，因为这些发现将有助于植物育种者发展在干燥环境中可以更好地生长的农作物品种。该项目还将通过在入门和高级生物学课程中改善课堂环境中的结构化积极学习活动来产生教育影响。 此外，我们还将开发并传播研究实验室模块，以吸引高中生参与真实的研究经验。教育活动旨在增强科学领域的各种学生的成功和保留，并有望为未来的STEM劳动力做准备。相比之下，关于这些调节剂如何控制基因表达对外源线索的反应较少。 该项目将使用模型植物拟南芥来研究干旱应力如何通过polycomb抑制复合物2（PRC2）与另一种蛋白质（称为polycomb相互作用抑制剂（PIR））的相互作用来影响沉默。初步结果提供了证据表明PIR与干旱应激反应有关，并且与PRC2在遗传和物理上相互作用。 这些观察结果将进行探讨：干旱压力如何影响PIR/PRC2复合物在染色质上的募集和活动； PIR是否充当非化学计量辅助PRC2分量；干旱是否导致PIR是一种本质上无序的蛋白质，以形成无膜相分开的核冷凝物，称为PolyComb体。 总之，结果应在干旱反应和基于染色质的调节之间提供新的机械联系。该奖项是由遗传机制计划（分子和细胞生物科学的部门）以及植物基因组研究计划以及生理机制和生物力学计划（综合有机系统的部门）共同资助的，所有这些奖项都在生物学科学局中，这反映了NSF的法定任务和审查的范围。

项目成果

H2A.Z contributes to trithorax activity at the AGAMOUS locus

H2A.Z 有助于 AGAMOUS 基因座的三胸活动

• DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2022.01.005
• 发表时间: 2022
• 期刊: Molecular Plant
• 影响因子: 27.5
• 作者: Lee, Un-Sa;Bieluszewski, Tomasz;Xiao, Jun;Yamaguchi, Ayako;Wagner, Doris
• 通讯作者: Wagner, Doris

PRC2 activity, recruitment, and silencing: a comparative perspective

• DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2021.06.006
• 发表时间: 2021-10-13
• 期刊: TRENDS IN PLANT SCIENCE
• 影响因子: 20.5
• 作者: Bieluszewski, Tomasz;Xiao, Jun;Wagner, Doris
• 通讯作者: Wagner, Doris