Structure, Binding, and Dynamics of Arabinogalactan- Proteins

一类被称为阿拉伯半乳糖蛋白(AGPs)的大分子同时存在于植物细胞的质膜外表面和细胞壁空间中，将被研究。由于AGPs具有结合碳水化合物的能力，并定位于质膜表面，因此它们可能在细胞反应的膜-细胞壁界面上发挥重要作用。本研究的主要目的是比较细胞壁上AGPs和质膜AGPs的结构，研究AGP与某些抗原的相互作用，鉴定一种破坏质膜AGPs碳水化合物结合特性的酶，并表征AGPs与质膜和细胞壁的相互作用。该项目将增加我们对植物细胞质膜的结构成分以及这些成分与细胞壁的相互作用的了解。从这方面获得的知识最终可能导致更好地理解植物细胞中的细胞黏附、保水、抗病和细胞间识别。

A class of macromolecules known as arabinogalactan-proteins (AGPs), that are present both at the outside surface of the plasma membrane and in the cell wall space of plant cells, will be investigated. Because AGPs have the ability to bind carbohydrates and are localized on the surface of the plasma membrane, they may play an important role at the membrane- cell wall interface in terms of cellular responses. The main objectives of the investigation are to compare the structure of AGPs on the cell wall with that of AGPs in plasma membrane, to study AGP interaction with some antigens, to characterize an enzyme that destroys the carbohydrate binding properties of plasma membrane AGPs, and to characterize the interaction between the AGPs and the plasma membrane with those in the cell wall. The project will increase our knowledge about the structural components of plasma membrane in plant cells and interaction of those components with the cell wall. Knowledge gained from this could eventually lead to a better understanding of cell adhesion, water retention, disease resistance and cell-cell recognition in plant cells.