Molecular Aspects of Energy Transduction by Plants: An Integrative Approach

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GER-9553456 Vermaas With exciting advances in plant molecular biology, many graduate students in the molecular plant sciences have focused their research efforts on narrow issues that are currently in vogue; examples include detailed characterization of regulation of gene expression or identification of new genes. Consequently, graduate students who are interested in molecular biology of plant systems often do not receive sufficient training in important aspects of biochemistry, bioenergetics, cell biology, and physiology. However, integrated knowledge in these areas will be essential for further progress in the basic plant sciences. This proposal seeks to reverse the trend of narrowing the research focus of graduate students; an effort is described in which 15 PhD students will be trained to creatively and synthetically integrate various disciplines bearing on the molecular plant sciences and addressing critical questions in the field. Several of these students will be minorities. The common denominator of research areas described in this proposal is energy transduction in plants. A major emphasis is on photosynthesis and its regulation, as this is an area of particular interdisciplinary strength at Arizona State University. Our goal is to provide training that will optimally prepare graduates for truly imaginative and integrative research in the molecular plant sciences.