Molecular Investigation into the Role Played by Tobacco and Arabidopsis NCAPP1 Genes in Plasmodesmal Function

烟草和拟南芥 NCAPP1 基因在胞间连丝功能中作用的分子研究

• 批准号: 0444725
• 负责人: William Lucas
• 金额: $ 65.11万
• 依托单位: University of California-Davis
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2005
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2005-03-01 至 2008-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0444725&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Molecular; Investigation; into; Role; Played

During the process of evolution, biological systems developed ever-increasingly sophisticated control systems to regulate the complex processes underlying cellular, developmental and physiological programs. The functioning of complex animal and plant tissues and organs required the development of a network of signaling pathways. Present day signaling systems can be divided into two categories. The first involves signaling molecules that act within the cell in which they are expressed; i.e., these molecules are said to be cell-autonomous in behavior. The second group involves signals that act beyond their sites of production; i.e., these signaling molecules act in a non-cell-autonomous manner and can involve hormones, chemical compounds, proteins and RNA molecules. Such signals can move to neighboring cells by secretion, followed by diffusion through the extra-cellular space; this pathway is common to all organisms. Alternatively, in the plant kingdom, these signals can move between cells through specialized structures termed plasmodesmata. The architecture of the plasmodesmata creates cytoplasmic channels through which these signals can move without exiting the cell. Here, it is important to note that the structure of plasmodesmata allows for the movement of proteins and RNA molecules. Signaling around the body of the organism occurs by passage through the plant vascular system. Here again, the movement of proteins and RNA is facilitated by the special properties of the plasmodesmata. The importance of these signaling pathways and signaling molecules is well-supported by published works; however, few studies have provided explicit information on the nature of the essential components. In addition, little is known about the manner in which trafficking of non-cell-autonomous signals is regulated.Solutions to these open questions are now possible through work that developed biochemical methods for the identification of plasmodesmata proteins that regulate the cell-to-cell trafficking of non-cell-autonomously functioning signaling molecules. The first gene identified using this approach was NON-CELL-AUTONOMOUS PATHWAY PROTEIN-1 (NCAPP-1). The present proposal describes experiments aimed at further characterizing the NCAPP-1 gene family. This work will involve three objectives: (a) establishing the role played by the NCAPP-1 gene family in the cell-to-cell signaling pathway; (b) isolating and characterizing proteins that interact with NCAPP1; and (c) employing an inactive form of NCAPP-1 to test whether transport of proteins through plasmodesmata plays a role in the integration of physiological and developmental processes at the whole-plant level. These studies should provide important insights into the way these proteins can influence protein delivery to neighboring cells. This knowledge would allow scientists to more fully understand the signaling networks operating at the cellular, tissue and whole-plant levels. Such progress would have direct bearing on the areas of integrative and developmental plant biology, by establishing an experimental basis for future studies on whole-plant signaling. Finally, these studies should provide new perspectives on the path taken by the plant kingdom during its evolution from single cells to complex, supracellular, organisms. Broader Impacts: This research project would be used to train junior scientists within the area of integrative plant biology. The importance of these scientists to our society would be two-fold. First they would serve as trained teachers who can educate society in the areas of the biological sciences and biotechnology. Secondly, and of equal importance, these scientists could apply this knowledge to the development of new controls over plant processes, including the way nutrients are shared between the various plant organs. Such applications could well have major ramifications in terms of agriculture and animal/human nutrition/health.

在进化过程中，生物系统发展了越来越复杂的控制系统，以调节细胞，发育和生理程序的复杂过程。 复杂的动物和植物组织和器官的功能需要一个信号通路网络的发展。 目前的信号系统可以分为两类。 第一个涉及在表达它们的细胞内起作用的信号分子;即，这些分子被认为在行为上是细胞自主的。 第二组涉及在其产生地点之外起作用的信号;即，这些信号分子以非细胞自主的方式起作用，并且可以涉及激素、化合物、蛋白质和RNA分子。 这些信号可以通过分泌转移到邻近细胞，然后通过细胞外空间扩散;这一途径是所有生物体所共有的。 或者，在植物界，这些信号可以通过称为胞间连丝的专门结构在细胞之间移动。 胞间连丝的结构创造了细胞质通道，这些信号可以通过这些通道移动而不离开细胞。 在这里，重要的是要注意，胞间连丝的结构允许蛋白质和RNA分子的运动。 生物体周围的信号通过植物维管系统传递。 在这里，蛋白质和RNA的运动也是由胞间连丝的特殊性质促进的。 这些信号通路和信号分子的重要性得到了已发表著作的充分支持;然而，很少有研究提供了关于基本组分性质的明确信息。 此外，鲜为人知的是，在其中的非细胞自主信号的贩运regulated.Solutions的方式，这些开放的问题，现在有可能通过工作，开发了生化方法，用于鉴定胞间连丝蛋白，调节细胞到细胞的非细胞自主功能的信号分子的贩运。 使用这种方法鉴定的第一个基因是非细胞自主通路蛋白-1（NCAPP-1）。 本提案描述了旨在进一步表征NCAPP-1基因家族的实验。 这项工作将涉及三个目标：（a）确定NCAPP-1基因家族在细胞间信号传导途径中所起的作用;（B）分离和表征与NCAPP-1相互作用的蛋白质;（c）采用NCAPP-1的无活性形式来测试蛋白质通过胞间连丝的运输是否在整株水平的生理和发育过程的整合中起作用。 这些研究应该为这些蛋白质如何影响蛋白质向邻近细胞的递送提供重要的见解。 这些知识将使科学家能够更全面地了解在细胞，组织和整个植物水平上运作的信号网络。 这些进展将直接影响到植物的整合和发育生物学领域，为未来的研究建立了实验基础，对整个植物信号。最后，这些研究应该提供新的视角，植物王国从单细胞进化到复杂的超细胞生物体的过程中所采取的路径。更广泛的影响：该研究项目将用于培训综合植物生物学领域的初级科学家。 这些科学家对我们社会的重要性是双重的。 首先，他们将作为训练有素的教师，在生物科学和生物技术领域教育社会。 其次，同样重要的是，这些科学家可以将这些知识应用于开发对植物过程的新控制，包括各种植物器官之间营养物质的分配方式。 这种应用很可能在农业和动物/人类营养/健康方面产生重大影响。