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

STTR 第一阶段：提高玉米耐热性的基因工程

• 批准号: 0214789
• 负责人: Eugene Butler
• 金额: $ 10万
• 依托单位: Genetic Architecture Education Analysis (GAEA), Inc.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2002
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2002-07-01 至 2003-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0214789&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: STTR; Phase; Genetic; Engineering; Maize

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.

小企业技术转移研究（STTR）第一阶段项目提出开发转基因玉米（Zea mays L.）对热应激的耐受性增加。最近发现，编码玉米叶绿体蛋白合成延伸因子EF-Tu的基因在耐热性的形成中起作用。EF-Tu保护其他蛋白质免于热诱导的失活和聚集。该项目的总体目标是对玉米进行基因工程改造，使其在高温条件下过量生产EF-Tu，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）在实验室中评估其耐热性。第一阶段项目的成果将为后续的第二阶段和第三阶段项目奠定基础。这些项目将包括EF-Tu转基因玉米在田间的性能测试（第2阶段）和商业化（第3阶段）。该项目的商业应用将在农业领域。高温是植物生产力的一个主要限制因素，常常给国内和国际农产品市场造成重大经济损失。具有更强耐热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。