Spatial Transcriptomic of Wheat Grain for ion transport (TranScripION)

小麦籽粒离子传输空间转录组学 (TranScripION)

• 批准号: EP/Z000726/1
• 负责人: Philippa Borrill
• 金额: $ 24.5万
• 依托单位: John Innes Centre
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Fellowship
• 财政年份: 2025
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2025 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FZ000726%2F1
• 关键词: Spatial; Transcriptomic; Wheat; Grain; ion

Wheat grain has low levels of iron and zinc which contributes to micronutrient deficiencies in the billions of people who rely on wheat as a staple food. Biofortification has the potential to enhance micronutrient content in the human diet without the sustainability concerns and additional costs associated with conventional fortification during processing. The accumulation of micronutrients in the wheat grain is dependent on genetically regulated processes, but the mechanisms underlying the transport of micronutrients from the parent to the seed have not been extensively studied. By understanding these processes, the Borrill lab seeks to enhance micronutrient content in wheat grains. In this proposed research, I will conduct a spatial transcriptomic analysis of wheat grain filling, aiming to delineate the transcriptional profiles within specific spatial domains during the grain filling stage and identify key genes encoding micronutrient transporters. I will investigate the specific gene expression patterns within distinct cell subgroups at the maternal-filial junction and construct an electronic in situ expression atlas and generate spatiotemporal regulatory network maps. This project will enhance our understanding of wheat endosperm cell functionality and identify heterogeneity within tissues of wheat grains. Moreover, it will elucidate the mechanisms through which the maternal-filial tissues communicate and exchange nutrients and micronutrients, further expanding our knowledge in this area.

小麦谷物中的铁和锌含量较低，导致数十亿以小麦为主食的人缺乏微量营养素。生物强化有潜力提高人类饮食中的微量营养素含量，而无需担心可持续性问题，也不会产生与加工过程中传统强化相关的额外成本。小麦籽粒中微量营养素的积累取决于基因调控过程，但微量营养素从亲本运输到种子的机制尚未得到广泛研究。通过了解这些过程，博里尔实验室致力于提高小麦籽粒中的微量营养素含量。在这项拟议的研究中，我将对小麦籽粒灌浆进行空间转录组分析，旨在描绘籽粒灌浆阶段特定空间域内的转录谱，并识别编码微量营养素转运蛋白的关键基因。我将研究母子交界处不同细胞亚群内的特定基因表达模式，并构建电子原位表达图谱并生成时空调控网络图。该项目将增强我们对小麦胚乳细胞功能的理解，并识别小麦籽粒组织内的异质性。此外，它将阐明母子组织沟通和交换营养物质和微量营养素的机制，进一步扩大我们在这一领域的知识。