CYTOSKELETON FUNCTION AND DYNAMICS DURING PLANT VACUOLAR AUTOPHAGY IN RESPONSE TO ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSES

自噬是指动物、植物和真菌细胞在饥饿和衰老(衰老)过程中发生的一种过程。在这个过程中，细胞成分被分解成更小的分子，作为一种循环营养物质的手段，供有机体重新利用。这种降解发生在称为液泡的细胞室内。这项拟议研究的目的是确定在模式植物拟南芥中，在营养饥饿期间，成分是如何输送到液泡中进行降解的。给药机制将使用显微镜和阻止运输的化学物质来表征。此外，还将使用遗传和生化方法分析可能参与运输过程的基因的功能。这项研究有望深入了解自噬在植物对营养饥饿的反应中的重要性，并阐明自噬过程中组分向液泡运输的机制。这将增加我们对在许多不同生物体的应激反应和疾病进展中重要的基本过程的了解。它还具有农业影响，因为作物在田间经常遇到营养缺乏的问题，而更好地了解植物对这些条件的反应可能会导致解决这种缺乏的新战略。这项建议的一个组成部分是对研究生和本科生进行研究方面的培训。该项目将通过一系列不同的项目为学生提供获得实验室经验的机会，包括旨在增加女性和少数族裔学生参与科学研究的项目。

Autophagy (meaning 'self-eating') is a process that takes place in animal, plant and fungal cells during starvation and senescence (aging). During this process, cellular components are broken down into smaller molecules as a means to recycle nutrients for re-use by the organism. This degradation takes place inside a cellular compartment called the vacuole. The aim of the proposed research is to determine how components are delivered to the vacuole for degradation during nutrient starvation in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. The mechanism of delivery will be characterized using microscopy together with chemicals that prevent transport. In addition, the function of a gene that is likely to be involved in the transport process will be analyzed using genetic and biochemical approaches. This research is expected to provide insight into the importance of autophagy in the response of plants to nutrient starvation and to elucidate the mechanism of transport of components to the vacuole during autophagy. This will add to our knowledge of a fundamental process that is important in stress responses and disease progression in many different organisms. It also has agricultural implications, as nutrient deficiency is often encountered by crop plants in the field, and a greater understanding of the response of plants to these conditions may lead to new strategies to combat the deficiency. An integral part of this proposal is the training of graduate and undergraduate students in research. This project will provide opportunities for students to gain laboratory experience through a number of different programs, including programs designed to increase the participation of women and minority students in scientific research.