RUI: Molecular Characterization of a Gene Important for Auxin Action in Arabidopsis Embryogenesis

植物激素生长素在植物生长发育的几乎所有方面都发挥着重要作用，包括芽和根的形成以及对重力和光的反应。生长素通过调节细胞伸长、细胞分裂和细胞分化来影响这些过程。然而，生长素到底有什么作用，以及它是如何在分子水平上发挥作用的，仍然知之甚少。这项拟议的研究将通过对拟南芥AXR6基因的分子表征来增加对生长素在植物发育中作用的分子机制的了解。拟南芥是芥菜家族中被广泛研究的成员。以前的工作已经表明，AXR6基因对植物所有部分的生长素功能都很重要，特别是在胚胎中。在AXR6基因突变的植物中，胚胎发生过程中的缺陷表明该基因参与了胚胎基底部的模式形成和正常发育。AXR6基因将被分离，并使用一种结合遗传作图来确定基因的染色体位置的方法和通过拟南芥基因组计划在该区域确定的候选基因的测试来进行鉴定。一旦被分离，该基因在发育中的作用及其生化功能将通过各种方法进行研究。这项研究将从分子水平上更全面地了解植物的生理和发育，特别是生长素的作用。这样的理解从根本上是重要的，也将增强我们以令人满意的方式调控植物发育的能力。该项目还包括对硕士和本科生的培训和指导，作为一个组成部分。他们参与这一研究项目将促进实验室技能和智力的发展，这将丰富他们的生活，使他们能够为科学的进一步进步做出贡献。

The plant hormone auxin plays an important role in virtually all aspects of plant growth and development, including formation of shoots and roots and responses to gravity and light. Auxin affects these processes through regulation of cell elongation, cell division, and cell differentiation. However, exactly what auxin does and how it does it at the molecular level are still poorly understood. The proposed research will increase knowledge of the molecular mechanism of auxin action in plant development by molecular characterization of the AXR6 gene of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana, a widely-studied member of the mustard family. Previous work has shown the AXR6 gene to be important for auxin function in all parts of the plant and especially in the embryo. The defects during embryogenesis in the plants with mutations in the AXR6 gene indicate that the gene is involved in patterning and normal development of the basal region of the embryo. The AXR6 gene will be isolated and characterized using an approach combining genetic mapping to define the chromosomal location of the gene with testing of candidate genes identifed in the region by the Arabidopsis Genome Project. Once isolated, the gene's role in development and its biochemical function will be studied with a variety of approaches. This research should lead to a more complete understanding of plant physiology and development at the molecular level, and especially of the role of auxin. Such an understanding is fundamentally important, and will also enhance our ability to regulate plant development in desirable ways. This project also includes as an integral component the training and mentoring of master's and undergraduate students. Their involvement in this research project will foster the development of laboratory skills and intellectual abilities that will enrich their lives and enable them to contribute to further progress in science.