U.S. Czech Plant Research on Subcellular Compartmentation of Phytohormone Conjugation

由密歇根州立大学的Natasha Raikhel博士和位于布尔诺的捷克生物物理研究所的Bretislav Brzobohaty博士合作开展的这项美国-捷克研究项目将研究介导植物发育特征的植物激素。具体来说，研究人员打算研究亚细胞区隔在调节植物激素活性中的作用。利用克隆的玉米细胞分裂素葡萄糖苷酶（cDNA, Zm-p60.1）进行可逆偶联。在此过程中测定细胞分裂素的释放程度，并分析释放的细胞分裂素引起的观察到的生理反应。初步发现将有助于研究小组努力构建和分子表征在不同亚细胞区室中表达Zm-p60.1积累的转基因植物。这项研究有望提高我们对细胞分裂素在植物从营养阶段到生殖阶段的发育转换中的作用的基本认识。释放的细胞分裂素对花卉转变、根系发育、种子生产和光合能力等活动的各种影响的新知识可能会导致控制作物一些重要农业性状的结果。该植物细胞科学项目通过使美国和东欧的领先专家在共同感兴趣和能力的领域结合互补的人才和集中研究资源，实现了推进科学知识的计划目标。？?

INT 9600462 Raikhel This U.S.-Czech research project between Dr. Natasha Raikhel of Michigan State University and Dr. Bretislav Brzobohaty of the Czech Institute of Biophysics, Brno, will examine plant hormones that mediate features of plant development. Specifically, the researchers intend to study the role played by subcellular compartmentation in regulation of phytohormone activity. This will be done by reversible conjugation, using a cloned maize cytokinin glucosidase (cDNA, Zm-p60.1). The extent of the cytokinin release will be determined in the process and the observed physiological responses caused by the released cytokinins will be analyzed. Initial findings will contribute to the research team's efforts to construct and molecularly characterize transgenic plants that express accumulations of Zm-p60.1 in various subcellular compartments. The research is expected to improve our fundamental understanding of the cytokinin role in the developmental switch in plants from the vegetative to the reproductive phase. New knowledge of various effects of released cytokinins on activities such as floral transition, root development, seed production, and photosynthetic capacity may lead to results that permit control of some agriculturally important traits in crops. This project in plant cellular science fulfills the program objective of advancing scientific knowledge by enabling leading experts in the United States and Eastern Europe to combine complementary talents and pool research resources in areas of mutual interests and competence. ??