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

IBN-0343856Adan Colon-Carmona of Massachusetts，Boston植物修复计划拟议的项目探索多环芳烃(PAH)在植物中诱导反应的潜在分子机制，以及它们潜在的生物降解途径。多环芳烃是一种有机污染物，会导致癌症等人类健康问题。多环芳烃是以石油为基础的制造过程中产生的污染物。一些植物物种，包括向日葵、大豆、豌豆和胡萝卜等农作物，可以在中等水平的原油污染土壤上生长。然而，在分子水平上对多环芳烃的摄取和降解机制以及调控多环芳烃应激反应的细胞信号通路知之甚少。更好地了解多环芳烃的胁迫生理将导致在污染清理和生物监测中产生植物修复策略。这一建议的目的如下：1)表征拟南芥对多环芳烃的生理反应，2)确定介导多环芳烃诱导的各种植物反应的信号通路，3)筛选在多环芳烃诱导的生长反应中存在缺陷的植物的遗传突变群体，以及4)通过细菌筛选来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在拟南芥中诱导的反应的信息来工程具有广泛根系的树木或作物，以用于多环芳烃的生物降解和生物监测。

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.