GRIK - A Novel Kinase Involved in Leaf Development and Geminvirus Infection

双病毒利用宿主DNA复制酶在成熟植物细胞中复制其小DNA基因组。受感染的细胞也复制宿主染色体DNA，但不进行细胞分裂。DNA复制和细胞分裂的解偶联-或内重复-是植物和动物中常见的发育事件。总体目标是表征一种新的蛋白激酶，它发生在内复制叶细胞中，并由双病毒感染诱导。第一个目的是比较激酶和第二个密切相关的蛋白的特性，以确定它们是否在内复制和感染中起作用。第二个目的是确定改变激酶表达对叶片发育和病毒感染的影响。第三个目标是确定与激酶相互作用的蛋白质，这些蛋白质可能是磷酸化的目标。该研究将增加对控制植物发育和疾病的机制的理解，并为真核生物的基本过程提供见解。这项研究可能会带来改变植物生长的新策略，从而提高产量和缩短生长季节，以及控制双病毒病的新方法。这项研究将为各级教育的科学家提供最先进的分子、细胞和基因组技术方面的培训。

Geminiviruses replicate their small DNA genomes in mature plant cells using host DNA replication enzymes. Infected cells also replicate host chromosomal DNA but do not undergo cell division. The uncoupling of DNA replication and cell division - or endoreduplication - is a common developmental event in plants and animals. The overall goal is to characterize a novel protein kinase that occurs in endoreduplicating leaf cells and is induced by geminivirus infection. The first aim is compare the properties of the kinase and second, closely related protein to determine if one or both of them play a role in endoreduplication and infection. The second aim is to determine the impact of altering kinase expression on leaf development and viral infection. The third aim will identify proteins that interact with the kinase and may be phosphorylation targets. The research will increase understanding of the mechanisms that control plant development and disease as well provide insight into basic eukayotic processes. The research may lead to new strategies for altering plant growth, resulting higher yields and shorter growing seasons, and new methods for controlling geminivirus disease. The research will provide training in state-of-the-art molecular, cellular and genomic technologies for scientists at all levels of their education.