DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Evolutionary Ecophysiology of Low Molecular Weight Heat Shock Protein Expression in Plants

通过本论文改进基金支持的工作将集中在植物热休克蛋白（HSP）反应的生态生理学和进化上。热休克蛋白反应是所有生物对热应激普遍存在的、具有良好特征的细胞反应。然而，热激蛋白表达在耐热性进化中的作用尚不清楚。PI将进行的实验包括在受控温室条件下和田间对来自沙漠和沿海环境的密切相关的植物物种进行模拟热胁迫处理。热处理后收集叶片材料进行HSP表达分析。研究表明，在气候和环境胁迫下，HSP响应的变化对陆地植物的分布、丰度和进化多样性具有重要意义。了解热休克蛋白在压力环境中生存的作用也将有助于预测植被对全球气候变化的反应。此外，这项研究的结果可能有助于基因工程师在选定的作物品种中提高耐热性。

The work supported through this dissertation improvement grant will be focused on the ecophysiology and evolution of the heat shock protein (HSP) response in plants. The heat shock protein response is a ubiquitous and well-characterized cellular response to heat stress exhibited by all organisms. However the role of HSP expression in the evolution of thermotolerance is not well understood. The experiments the PI will conduct involves simulated heat stress treatments on closely related plant species from desert and coastal environments both under controlled greenhouse conditions and in the field. After the heat treatments, leaf material will be collected and analyzed for HSP expression. The proposed experiments are necessary for understanding the significance of variation in the HSP response both for the distribution and abundance and the evolutionary diversification of land plants in relation to climate and environmental stress. Understanding the role of HSPs for survival in stressful environments will also be useful when making predictions about vegetation response to global climate change. In addition, results from this research may be useful for genetic engineers trying produce increased thermotolerance in selected crop species.