NASA/NSF Collaborative Research: Calcium-Mediated Mechano- Sensory Signal Transduction in Plants

本研究的重点是探索钙依赖性蛋白激酶（CDPKs）在机械感觉信号转导中的作用。三个具体目标是：1)确定CDPK依赖信号转导途径的底物；2)验证CDPK异构体AK1的活性对机械感觉反应至关重要的假设；3)开发荧光标记系统，以监测活细胞膜/细胞骨架系统在物理刺激下的动态变化。由于许多机械感觉反应似乎涉及钙信号，因此确定CDPKs在这些现象中所起的作用是很重要的。本研究以CDPK信号转导通路为重点，强调开发独特的合作和新工具，对植物细胞生物学领域的研究具有深远的意义。例如，鉴定CDPK底物的具体目标将涉及来自植物生物学各个领域的研究人员的合作。在第二个具体目标中，表达突变CDPK的转基因植物将成为所有研究人员寻找植物对环境信号反应中涉及的信号转导途径的工具。最后，希望在第三个特定目标中开发的工具，GFP标记的膜/细胞骨架系统，将为研究细胞结构动力学的强大新方法提供基础。* * *

9416038 Harper This research is focused on exploring the role of Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinases (CDPKs) in mechano-sensory signal transduction. The three specific aims are to: 1) Identify substrates for CDPK- dependent signal transduction pathway, 2) Test the hypothesis that the activity of CDPK isoform AK1 is critical to a mechano-sensory response, and 3) Develop a fluorescent tagging system to monitor dynamic changes in the membrane/cytoskeletal systems of live cells in response to physical stimulation. Since many mechano-sensory responses appear to involve calcium signals, it is important to determine what role CDPKs are playing in these phenomena. Using a CDPK signal transduction pathway as a focus, this research emphasizes the development of unique collaborations and new tools with far reaching implications for research in the field of plant cell biology. For example, the specific aim to identify CDPK substrates will involve a collaboration of researchers from all areas of plant biology. In the second specific aim, the transgenic plants expressing a mutant CDPK will be made available as a tool to all researchers seeking to define the signal transduction pathways involved in a plant's response to an environmental signal. Finally, it is hoped that the tool developed in the third specific aim, GFP tagged membrane/cytoskeletal systems, will provide a foundation for a powerful new approach in investigating the dynamics of cell structure. ***