Collaborative Research: Calcium/Calmodulin-mediated Transcriptional Networks in Arabidopsis

本研究涉及拟南芥中参与胁迫信号传导的钙/钙调素介导的转录网络的基因功能的确定。 钙信使系统在感知和转导外部和内部刺激中起着关键作用。 钙调素（CaM）是细胞内主要的钙受体，通过与靶蛋白结合并改变靶蛋白的活性来传递钙信号。 利用钙调素进行的全基因组筛选表明，拟南芥中至少有12个信号响应性钙调素结合转录因子（CaMBTF）。 本研究的目标是研究在植物中的功能意义的CaMBTF使用协作的方法，涉及科学家从华盛顿州立大学，普渡大学和科罗拉多州立大学。 这些研究人员在研究钙/钙调素介导的信号及其在植物响应生物和非生物胁迫中的作用方面有着共同的兴趣。 据推测，钙/钙调素在植物响应生物和非生物胁迫中起着重要的作用，通过调节CaMBTF。 具体目标是：（1）利用功能缺失遗传学方法研究CaMBTF的功能意义;（2）利用功能获得和钙调素结合域定点突变体分析CaMBTF的功能;（3）鉴定顺式元件和下游靶基因。 更好地了解这些CaMBTF的功能将增加我们对植物如何响应生物和非生物胁迫的了解，并有助于生产改良的作物。 该项目的另一个方面包括将这些研究结果纳入更广泛的教育竞技场。 除了培训本科生、研究生和博士后外，该项目还将涉及高中科学教师及其学生。 项目数据将公开，突变种子将存放在拟南芥生物资源中心。

This research pertains to the determination of gene function of the calcium/calmodulin-mediated transcriptional networks involved in stress signaling in Arabidopsis. The calcium messenger system plays a critical role in the perception and transduction of external and internal stimuli. Calmodulin (CaM), a primary intracellular calcium receptor, transduces calcium signals by binding to and altering the activity of the target proteins. Genome-wide screening with CaM has revealed that Arabidopsis has at least 12 signal-responsive CaM-binding transcription factors (CaMBTFs). The goal of this research is to study the in planta functional significance of the CaMBTFs using a collaborative approach involving scientists from Washington State University, Purdue University and Colorado State University. These investigators share a common interest in studying calcium/CaM-mediated signaling and its role in plant response to biotic and abiotic stresses. It is hypothesized that calcium/CaM plays an important role in plant response to biotic and abiotic stresses by regulating CaMBTFs. Specific goals are: (1) The functional significance of CaMBTFs using loss-of-function genetic approaches; (2) The functional analysis of CaMBTFs using gain-of-function as well as site-directed mutants in the calmodulin-binding domain; and (3) Identify the cis-elements and downstream target genes. A better understanding of the function(s) of these CaMBTFs will increase our knowledge of how plants respond to biotic and abiotic stresses, and help in the production of improved crop plants. Another aspect of this project includes integrating these findings into the broader educational arena. Apart from training undergraduates, graduate students and postdocs, this project will also involve high school science teachers and their students. The project data will be publicly available and the mutant seeds will be deposited at the Arabidopsis Biological Resource Center.