STTR Phase I: Genetic Engineering of Maize for Increased Tolerance to Heat Stress

这项小型企业技术转移研究（STTR）第一阶段项目提出开发耐热性增强的转基因玉米（Zea mays L.）。最近发现，一个编码玉米叶绿体蛋白合成伸长因子EF-Tu的基因在玉米耐热性的发育中起作用。EF-Tu保护其他蛋白质免受热诱导的失活和聚集。该项目的总体目标是对高温条件下过量生产EF-Tu的玉米进行基因工程改造，并利用EF-Tu在耐热性中发挥的保护作用。第一阶段研究的主要目标包括(a)建立EF-Tu转基因玉米原生质体、拟南芥和玉米全株，以及(b)在实验室中评估它们的耐热性。一期工程的成果将为后续的二期和三期工程奠定基础。它们将包括EF-Tu转基因玉米的田间性能测试（第二阶段）及其商业化（第三阶段）。这个项目的商业应用将在农业领域。高温是植物生产力的主要限制因素，经常给国内和国际农业市场造成重大经济损失。具有更强耐热胁迫能力的转基因玉米的开发和商业化有望为美国和世界带来巨大的经济效益。

This Small Business Technology Transfer Research (STTR) Phase 1 Project proposes to develop transgenic maize (Zea mays L.) with increased tolerance to heat stress. It has recently discovered that a gene encoding the maize chloroplast protein synthesis elongation factor, EF-Tu, plays a role in the development of heat tolerance. EF-Tu protects other proteins from heat-induced inactivation and aggregation. The overall goal of this project is to genetically engineer maize that overproduces EF-Tu under high temperature conditions and to exploit the protective role that EF-Tu plays in heat tolerance. The key objectives of the Phase 1 research include (a) the creation of EF-Tu transgenic maize protoplasts, Arabidopsis and maize whole-plants and (b) the assessment of their heat tolerance in the laboratory. The results of the Phase 1 project will lay the groundwork for the follow-on Phase 2 and Phase 3 projects. They will include the testing the performance of EF-Tu transgenic maize in the field (Phase 2) and its commercialization (Phase 3). The commercial applications of this project will be in the area of agriculture. High-temperature is a major limiting factor to plant productivity, often causing significant economic losses to both domestic and international agricultural markets. The development and commercialization of transgenic maize with greater ability to tolerate heat stress is expected to have enormous economic benefits for the United States and the world.