New Components of the Ethylene Signaling and Response Pathway

植物激素乙烯和生长素是许多生理过程的关键调节因子，包括植物生长、果实成熟、对病原体的防御和衰老。本研究旨在了解乙烯的作用机制及其与生长素的相互作用。这些知识对于控制植物对环境的反应以改善农业生产、林业和园艺的能力至关重要。在本项目中，将利用遗传和分子工具克隆三个对乙烯敏感性降低的新突变体，并剖析相应基因在乙烯和生长素相互作用中的作用。初步数据表明，新的乙烯基因参与了生长素前体生物合成的调节。这些研究有望阐明这两种荷尔蒙之间的相互作用。教育和培训部分将是该项目不可或缺的一部分。研究生、本科生和高中生将有机会直接参与这项科学工作，并在植物模式生物拟南芥分子遗传学这一激动人心的领域获得实践研究经验。该项目将允许阿隆索博士继续参与几个研究生和本科生培训计划。这些项目将有助于吸引和鼓励少数民族学生，特别是拉美裔学生对科学感兴趣，并进一步追求他们对高等教育和实验研究的抱负。

The plant hormones ethylene and auxin are key regulators of many physiological processes, including plant growth, fruit ripening, defense against pathogens, and aging. This research is directed at understanding the mechanisms of action of ethylene and its interactions with auxin. Such knowledge is crucial to the ability to manipulate plant responses to the environment for the purpose of improving agricultural production, forestry and horticulture. In this project, genetic and molecular tools will be employed to clone three novel mutants that possess reduced sensitivity to ethylene, as well as to dissect the role of the corresponding genes in the interaction between ethylene and auxin. Preliminary data imply the involvement of the new ethylene genes in the regulation of the biosynthesis of auxin precursors. These studies are expected to shed light on the cross-talk between the two hormones.The education and training components will be an integral part of this project. Graduate, undergraduate and high-school students will have the opportunity to directly participate in this scientific effort and get "hands-on" research experience in the exciting field of molecular genetics in the plant model organism Arabidopsis thaliana. This project will allow Dr. Alonso to continue with his ongoing participation in several graduate and undergraduate training programs. The programs will serve to attract and encourage students from ethnic minorities, especially Hispanics, to become interested in science and to further pursue their aspirations for higher education and experimental research.