RUI: Genetic and Molecular Analysis of Photoperiod Flowering in Arabidopsis

0215504希克斯光和温度等环境因素在调节植物发育和生理方面起着主要作用，对农业生产有着重大影响。本研究以模式植物拟南芥为研究对象，探讨了光周期调控开花时间的分子和遗传基础。虽然最近的进展显着增加了对开花的光周期调节的理解，很明显，这一信号转导途径的一些关键组件仍然是未知的。EARLY FLOWAR 3基因座的突变提供了一个独特的进展，生物钟和复杂的发育过程，如花的启动和光调节之间的相互作用。新的基因，影响光周期开花将被确定和分析的elf 3突变体表型使用遗传筛选分离修饰符。功能强的elf 3 -1等位基因的修饰物，恢复光周期敏感性（突变体）可能会识别在光周期途径中ELF 3下游发挥功能的蛋白质。已经鉴定了在ELF 3功能缺失的情况下恢复光周期敏感性的许多突变。将使用基于PCR的分子标记对在该修饰基因筛选中鉴定的新基因座进行作图，并且将对至少两个修饰基因座进行定位或候选基因克隆。此外，本计画旨在了解开花的光周期调控、光形态建成与昼夜节律调控之间的关系。通过对拟南芥3 -1双突变体的表型分析，将检验这三个过程在遗传上是可分离的假设，发现影响光周期开花时间的新基因将增加已知影响生殖生长过渡的基因座库，并可能被操纵以增加农业产量。该项目的一个组成部分是对本科生的培训和指导。他们参与这项研究计划将促进实验室技能和智力能力的发展，这将丰富他们的生活，使他们能够为科学的进一步进步做出贡献。

0215504HicksEnvironmental factors such as light and temperature play a major role in regulating plant development and physiology, and have a significant impact on agricultural production. This proposal concerns the molecular and genetic basis for the regulation of flowering time by daylength, or photoperiod, focusing on the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Although recent progress has significantly increased the understanding of photoperiodic regulation of flowering, it is apparent that a number of key components of this signal transduction pathway are still unknown.Mutations at the EARLY FLOWERING 3 locus offer a unique inroad to the interactions between biological clocks and complex developmental processes such as floral initiation and light regulation. New genes that influence photoperiodic flowering will be identified and analyzed by isolating modifiers of the elf3 mutant phenotype using a genetic screen. Modifiers of the strong reduced function elf3-1 allele that restore photoperiod sensitivity (pse mutants) are likely to identify proteins that function downstream of ELF3 in the photoperiodic pathway. A number of mutations that restore photoperiod sensitivity in the absence of ELF3 function have already been identified. New loci identified in this modifier screen will be mapped using PCR-based molecular markers, and positional or candidate gene cloning will be undertaken for at least two modifier loci. In addition, this project aims to understand the links between photoperiodic regulation of flowering, photomorphogenesis, and circadian regulation. Phenotypic analysis of pse elf3-1 double mutants will test the hypothesis that these three processes are genetically separable.The discovery of new genes that influence photoperiodic flowering time will add to the repertoire of loci that are known to affect the transition to reproductive growth and might be manipulated to increase agricultural yield. An integral component of this project is the training and mentoring of undergraduate students. Their involvement in this research program will foster the development of laboratory skills and intellectual abilities that will enrich their lives and enable them to contribute to further progress in science.