Mechanism of Plant Cell-To-Cell Communication

植物细胞间通讯的机制

• 批准号: 0445626
• 负责人: Jung-Youn Lee
• 金额: $ 45万
• 依托单位: University of Delaware
• 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: 2005-05-15 至 2009-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0445626&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Mechanism; Plant; Cell; Communication

This project focuses on how cells communicate directly with each other to survive and develop as multicellular organisms. Plants have evolved a unique system to exchange molecular information between cells by producing specialized intercellular bridges termed plasmodesmata. A significant body of evidence now supports the concept that plasmodesmata establish a unique control system by allowing a special class of proteins, including transcription factors and RNA molecules, to pass through fields of cells. These findings suggest a crucial role that plasmodesmata may play in controlling developmental and physiological processes in plants. However, very little is known as to what molecular players are involved and how they control the exchange of information across cellular boundaries. The overall hypothesis is that the transport of information molecules through plasmodesmata is a highly selective and regulated process involving protein phosphorylation. As the first step toward testing this hypothesis, a protein kinase, plasmodesmal-associated protein kinase (PAPK) has been identified that might function in regulating macromolecular trafficking. The investigators believe that PAPK will serve as a key molecular handle to dissect the mechanisms involved in this process and will pursue the following specific research objectives using a multidisciplinary approach:(1) Determine the sequence element of PAPK that is required for plasmodesmal targeting. (2) Identify proteins that are involved in the targeting of PAPK to plasmodesmata. (3) Assess the role of PAPK in controlling macromolecular trafficking between cells.Broader impacts: The new discoveries resulting from this project could provide an important insight into elucidating cell-to-cell communication mediated by plasmodesmata. This will open the door for the dissection of the mechanisms and players by which the spread of viral infectious materials and exchange of information molecules involved in orchestrating developmental programs are controlled. As plasmodesmal function is essential for both cell-to-cell communication and long-distance signaling in plants, insights provided from this project could lead to development of new agricultural technology. It will also be possible to gain a fundamental insight into how different organisms including humans have independently evolved to meet the same goal of survival as multicellular organisms. The PI's educational goals can be summarized as: (i) training students to become scientists who are capable of crossing multiple disciplines and (ii) increasing the participation of minority students in modern plant biology which applies biological, biochemical, cell biological and genetic technologies. The PI is committed strongly to training both undergraduate and graduate students from underrepresented groups. The PI will co-ordinate with the staff of a university-wide program, the University of Delaware McNair Program, to interest minority students in internships, research, and scientific seminars and to provide mentorship.

该项目的重点是细胞如何直接相互沟通，以生存和发展为多细胞生物。植物已经进化出一种独特的系统，通过产生称为胞间连丝的细胞间桥来在细胞之间交换分子信息。现在有大量的证据支持这样一种观点，即胞间连丝通过允许一类特殊的蛋白质（包括转录因子和RNA分子）穿过细胞场来建立一种独特的控制系统。这些发现表明，胞间连丝可能在控制植物的发育和生理过程中发挥着至关重要的作用。然而，对于哪些分子参与其中以及它们如何控制跨细胞边界的信息交换，人们知之甚少。总的假设是，通过胞间连丝的信息分子的运输是一个高度选择性和调节的过程，涉及蛋白质磷酸化。作为检验这一假设的第一步，已经鉴定了一种蛋白激酶，胞间连丝相关蛋白激酶（PAPK），它可能在调节大分子运输中起作用。研究人员认为，PAPK将作为一个关键的分子手柄来剖析这一过程中所涉及的机制，并将采用多学科的方法追求以下具体的研究目标：（1）确定PAPK的序列元件是胞间连丝靶向所需的。(2)鉴定参与PAPK靶向胞间连丝的蛋白质。(3)评估PAPK在控制细胞间大分子运输中的作用。更广泛的影响：该项目的新发现可以为阐明胞间连丝介导的细胞间通讯提供重要的见解。这将为解剖机制和参与者打开大门，通过这些机制和参与者控制病毒感染性物质的传播和参与协调发展程序的信息分子的交换。由于胞间连丝的功能对于植物中的细胞间通讯和长距离信号传导都是必不可少的，因此该项目提供的见解可能会导致新农业技术的发展。它也将有可能获得一个基本的洞察不同的生物体，包括人类如何独立地进化，以满足相同的生存目标作为多细胞生物。PI的教育目标可以概括为：（i）培养学生成为能够跨多个学科的科学家;（ii）增加少数族裔学生对应用生物学、生物化学、细胞生物学和遗传技术的现代植物生物学的参与。PI致力于培养来自代表性不足群体的本科生和研究生。PI将与一个大学范围的计划，特拉华州麦克奈尔计划的大学的工作人员协调，在实习，研究和科学研讨会的少数民族学生的兴趣，并提供指导。