Functional Genomics of Root Growth and Root Signaling under Drought

亨利T. Nguyen NguyenHenry@missouri.edu（现任主要研究者）Julia Gross（现任共同主要研究者）Hans J.博纳特（现任共同主要研究者）Robert E. Sharp（现任共同主要研究者）Gordon K. Springer（现任共同主要研究者）丹尼尔P. Schachtman（现任共同主要研究者） 格鲁吉亚戴维斯（共同首席研究员目前）植物的根在水和矿物质的收购，这是植物生长和发育所必需的发挥至关重要的作用。在干旱条件下，根系可以适应继续生长，同时产生并向地上部发出“预警”信号，抑制植物在地上部的生长。成立了一个“植物根基因组学联盟”，致力于根的遗传学和生理学研究。其主要目标是了解植物根从土壤中获取水分和矿物质的分子机制，阐明根在适应干旱条件中的作用，并将其转移到植物中。 通过生物技术改良作物的知识。本项目主要研究水分亏缺条件下根系生长维持和根-冠信号传递的机制。本研究是一个跨学科的研究方法，涵盖了植物生理学、遗传学、基因组学和蛋白质组学，其具体目标是通过以下四个具体目标来确定基因和生化网络：（1）表征干旱胁迫下敏感和耐受玉米品系、脱落酸（阿坝）缺失突变体和阿坝积累不同的近等基因系的根伸长和非伸长区域的转录谱。(2)表征不同根区蛋白质谱的变化，特别是细胞壁蛋白，以确定与根生长维持和对水分亏缺的耐受性相关的因素。(3)研究根信号的产生和运输，以更好地理解干旱条件下根到地上部的信号传递。(4)开发遗传和基因组资源，以进一步研究根系生长和田间信号传导。这些知识将导致通过根系功能的遗传和代谢工程来提高玉米耐旱性的新方法。所有材料都将公开提供。一个植物根基因组学网站将与密苏里-哥伦比亚大学的玉米基因组数据库（MaizeDB）相结合。

Henry T. Nguyen NguyenHenry@missouri.edu (Principal Investigator current)Julia Gross (Co-Principal Investigator current)Hans J. Bohnert (Co-Principal Investigator current)Robert E. Sharp (Co-Principal Investigator current)Gordon K. Springer (Co-Principal Investigator current)Daniel P. Schachtman (Co-Principal Investigator current) Georgia Davis (Co-Principal Investigator current) The roots of plants play vital roles in water and mineral acquisition which are essential for plant growth and development. Under conditions of drought, roots can adapt to continue growth while at the same time producing and sending "early warning" signals to shoots which inhibit the plant growth above ground. A "Plant Root Genomics Consortium" has been formed and is dedicated to root genetics and physiology.The broad aim is to develop an understanding of the molecular mechanisms used by plant roots to acquire water and minerals from the soil, to elucidate the role roots play in adaptation to drought conditions, and to transfer this knowledge to crop improvement through biotechnology. This project focuses mechanisms of root growth maintenance and root to shoot signaling under water deficits. The research approach is interdisciplinary encompassing whole plant physiology, genetics, genomics, and proteomics.The specific aims are to identify the genes and biochemical networks: controlling the mechanisms of root growth and root to shoot communication under drought through four specific objectives:(1) Characterization of the transcript profiles in elongating and non-elongating regions of roots under water deficit in sensitive and tolerant maize lines, an abscisic acid (ABA)-deficient mutant and near-isogenic lines differing in ABA accumulation. (2) Characterization of the changes in protein profiles, especially cell wall proteins, in the different root regions to identify factors associated with root growth maintenance and tolerance to water deficit. (3) Investigation of the production and transport of root signals to provide a better understanding of root to shoot signaling under drought. (4) Development of genetic and genomic resources for further investigations of root growth and signaling in the field.This knowledge will lead to novel approaches for improving drought tolerance in maize through genetic and metabolic engineering of root functions. All materials will be made publicly available. A Plant Root Genomics Web site will be maintained and integrated with the maize genome database (MaizeDB) at the University of Missouri-Columbia.