Molecular Genetics of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Stress Responses and Remediation by Arabidopsis Thaliana

IBN-0343856 Adan Colon-Carmona马萨诸塞州大学，波士顿植物修复项目 该项目旨在探索多环芳烃（PAH）诱导植物响应的分子机制及其潜在的生物降解途径。 多环芳烃是一种有机污染物，会导致人类健康问题，如癌症。 多环芳烃是来自石油生产的污染物。一些植物物种，包括向日葵、大豆、豌豆和胡萝卜等作物，可以在中等程度的原油污染土壤上生长。然而，在分子水平上对PAH的吸收和降解机制，甚至是调节PAH应激反应的细胞信号转导途径知之甚少。 更好地了解多环芳烃胁迫生理将导致污染清理和生物监测的植物修复策略的产生。本研究的主要目的是：1）研究拟南芥对多环芳烃的生理反应; 2）鉴定多环芳烃诱导的植物反应的信号通路; 3）筛选多环芳烃诱导的植物生长反应缺陷的基因突变群体; 4）通过细菌筛选鉴定可用于多环芳烃降解的植物cDNA。这些研究的长期目标是利用有关多环芳烃诱导的反应在拟南芥的工程树木或作物植物广泛的根系，用于生物降解和生物监测的多环芳烃污染的信息。

IBN-0343856Adan Colon-Carmona University of Massachusetts, BostonPhytoremediation Program The proposed project explores the underlying molecular mechanisms for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-induced responses in plants, as well as their potential biodegradation pathways. PAHs are organic pollutants that cause human health problems such as cancer. PAHs are contaminants resulting from oil-based manufacturing. Some plant species, including crop plants such as sunflower, soybean, pea and carrot, can grow on moderate levels of crude oil-contaminated soil. Yet, very little is known at the molecular level about the mechanisms of PAH uptake and degradation, or even cell signaling pathways regulating PAH stress responses. A better understanding of PAH stress physiology will lead to the generation of phytoremediation strategies in pollution clean-up and biomonitoring. The aims of this proposal are the following: 1) to characterized the physiological responses to PAHs in Arabidopsis thaliana, 2) to identify the signaling pathways that mediate the various PAH-induced plant responses, 3) to screen genetically mutagenized populations for plants that are defective in PAH-induced growth responses, and 4) to identify, through bacterial screens, plant cDNAs that can be used in PAH degradation. The long term goal of these studies are to utilize the information regarding PAH-induced responses in Arabidopsis to engineer trees or crop plants with extensive root systems for their use in biodegradation and biomonitoring of PAH contamination.