U.S.-Czech Research on Down-Regulation of Cytokinin in Plants Through the N-Glucosyltransferase Pathway

这个美国和捷克的研究项目包括康涅狄格大学的卡罗尔·奥尔领导的两个小组，以及捷克科学院实验植物学研究所的瓦茨拉夫·莫蒂卡和拉多米拉·万多瓦在布拉格领导的两个小组。他们的合作重点是研究影响植物生长的一组被称为细胞分裂素的植物激素。植物调节组织和细胞内活性细胞分裂素分子的水平，以实现正常的营养和生殖发育。在细胞分裂素稳态的复杂过程中，其调控机制是细胞分裂素与糖分子的可逆或不可逆偶联。这项美国和捷克的研究着眼于不可逆结合，降低细胞中活性细胞分裂素的水平。目的是对n -葡萄糖基转移酶（N-GT）进行生化表征，以便了解其在细胞分裂素稳态和植物发育中的作用。萝卜和拟南芥是主要的实验材料。捷克合作伙伴将确定调节途径的生化特性和酶，而突变体的分离和最终克隆涉及N-GT的基因将由美国团队成员进行。如果成功，这些发现可能适用于未来操纵植物生长和开发农作物的努力。这个国际植物激素研究项目通过使美国和中欧的专家能够在共同感兴趣和能力强的领域结合互补的人才和共享研究资源，实现了推进科学知识的计划目标。

This U.S.-Czech research project involves two teams led by Carol Auer of the University of Connecticut and her counterparts in Prague, Vaclav Motyka and Radomira Vandova, from the Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences. Their collaboration features examination of a group of plant hormones called cytokinins which influence plant growth. Plants regulate the level of active cytokinin molecules within tissues and cells to achieve normal vegetative and reproductive development. In the complex process of cytokinin homeostasis, the regulatory mechanism is the reversible or irreversible conjugation of cytokinins to sugar molecules. This US-Czech effort looks at irreversible conjugation that down-regulates active cytokinin levels in cells.The goal is to biochemicaly characterize the enzyme N-glucosyltransferase (N-GT) so that we may understand its function in cytokinin homeostasis and plant development. Radish and Arabidopsis are the primary experimental materials. The Czech partners will define the biochemical properties and enzyme(s) of the regulatory pathway while isolation of mutants and eventually cloning of genes involved in N-GT will be conducted by the U.S. team members. If successful, findings may be applicable in future efforts to manipulate plant growth and develop agricultural crops. This international project in plant hormone research fulfills the program objective of advancing scientific knowledge by enabling experts in the Untied States and Central Europe to combine complementary talents and share research resources in areas of strong mutual interest and competence.