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

由康涅狄格大学的Carol Auer和来自捷克科学院实验植物学研究所的布拉格同行Vaclav Motyka和Radomira Vandova领导的两个美国-捷克研究项目参与了该项目。他们合作的特点是检测一组被称为细胞分裂素的植物激素，这种激素会影响植物的生长。植物调节组织和细胞内活跃的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，调节机制是细胞分裂素可逆或不可逆地结合到糖分子上。美国-捷克的这项工作着眼于下调细胞内活跃的细胞分裂素水平的不可逆结合。目标是对N-葡萄糖基转移酶(N-GT)进行生化表征，以便我们了解它在细胞分裂素动态平衡和植物发育中的功能。萝卜和拟南芥是主要的实验材料。捷克合作伙伴将确定调控途径的生化特性和酶(S)，而突变株的分离和最终参与N-GT的基因克隆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发展农作物的努力。这个植物激素研究的国际项目通过使美国和中欧的专家能够结合互补的人才并在共同感兴趣和能力很强的领域共享研究资源来实现促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.