Asymmetric division of the zygote and suspensor formation in Arabidopsis

在高等植物中，受精卵的分裂是不对称的，并建立了两种根本不同的细胞类型：受精卵的较小的女儿承担胚胎细胞命运，而较大的女儿形成主要的胚外胚柄。这项研究的长期目标是了解负责这一基本细胞命运决定的信号事件。P.I.之前的工作已经发现了一种名为YDA的丝裂原激活蛋白激酶基因，它的功能是调节胚胎外细胞命运的分子开关的一部分。本项目将通过以下方法进一步描述模式植物拟南芥中的YDA信号转导途径：(1)用标准的分子生物学和组织学方法鉴定YDA功能与细胞表面受体激活有关的受体样蛋白激酶基因SSP；(2)用遗传和生化方法鉴定信号链中未知的成分。这项研究将阐明植物胚胎发育的一个基本方面，对在培养中有效生产植物胚胎和幼苗具有潜在的重要结果。该项目将为博士后研究员以及本科生和高中生提供尖端分子生物学和遗传学方面的培训机会。

In higher plants, the division of the zygote is asymmetric and establishes two fundamentally different cell types: the smaller daughter of the zygote assumes an embryonic cell-fate, while the larger daughter forms the mainly extra-embryonic suspensor. The long-term goal of this research is to understand the signaling events responsible for this fundamental cell-fate decision. Previous work by the P.I. has led to the discovery of a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase gene, YDA, that functions as part of a molecular switch to regulate extra-embryonic cell fates. This project will further characterize the YDA signal transduction pathway in the model plant Arabidopsis by: (1) characterizing the receptor-like protein kinase gene SSP, which is predicted to link YDA function to the activation of a cell surface receptor, with standard methods of molecular biology and histology; (2) identifying as yet unknown components of the signaling chain with genetic and biochemical approaches. This research will elucidate a fundamental aspect of plant embryonic development with potentially important results for the efficient production of plant embryos and seedlings in culture. The project will provide training opportunities for a postdoctoral researcher as well as undergraduate and high school students in cutting edge molecular biology and genetics.