Functional Analysis of Genes Controlling Secretion of Phytochemicals in Arabidopsis Thaliana

根分泌物是植物向土壤中分泌各种化学物质的过程，是植物与根际生物相互作用的主要调节因素。尽管根分泌物对植物生物学及其对农业的影响很重要，但驱动这一过程的分子和生化机制仍然知之甚少。这个项目将以拟南芥为模式植物，详细描述参与根分泌物的三磷酸腺苷结合盒(ABC)转运蛋白基因。ABC转运蛋白基因存在于所有王国的生物体中，编码负责通过细胞膜运输各种关键物质的蛋白质。至少25个与根分泌物有关的ABC转运蛋白基因将被鉴定。这些基因的组织特异性表达将通过结合分子和生物化学技术，在已知影响代谢活动和根分泌的诱导条件下进行研究。所获得的信息将被汇编到一个公共数据库中，在该数据库中，特定的根分泌物及其合成途径将与相应的转运体相连。通过这些研究获得的知识将有助于填补了解植物如何产生和分泌特定化学物质的根本空白，这些化学物质可用于农业增强项目，如设计工具，过度诱导作物中防御化合物的分泌，以对抗病原体和杂草。该项目将在多学科和富有成效的研究氛围中为博士后科学家、研究生和本科生提供培训。它还将被用来招募少数民族学生参加暑期实习。此外，将通过秘鲁国际马铃薯中心(CIP)的研究和教育经验，通过发展从事植物ABC转运体工作的国际同事网络，促进国际合作。最后，针对高中生和教师的实验室培训和教育活动将纳入该项目，以增加公众对植物生物学和当前研究技术的知识。

Root exudation, the process by which plants secrete various chemicals into the soil, is the primary regulator of interactions between plants and organisms in the rhizosphere. Despite the importance of root exudation to plant biology and its implications for agriculture, the molecular and biochemical mechanisms that drive this process are still poorly understood. This project will provide a detailed characterization of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter genes involved in root exudation, using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model plant. The ABC transporter genes, found in organisms in all kingdoms, encode the proteins responsible for the transport of a wide variety of critical substances across cellular membranes. At least 25 ABC transporter genes involved in root exudation will be characterized. The tissue-specific expression of these genes will be investigated under inducing conditions known to affect metabolic activity and root secretion by using a combination of molecular and biochemical techniques. The information obtained will be assembled into a public database in which specific root-exuded chemicals and their synthesis pathways will be linked to the corresponding transporters. The knowledge gained by these studies will help fill a fundamental gap in the understanding of how plants produce and secrete specific chemicals that could be used for such agriculture-enhancing projects as designing tools to over-induce the secretion of defense compounds in crops to fight pathogens and weeds.This project will provide training for postdoctoral scientists, graduate and undergraduate students in a multidisciplinary and productive research atmosphere. It will also be used to recruit minority students for summer internships. In addition, international collaborations will be fostered through research and educational experiences at the International Potato Center (CIP) in Peru by developing a network of international colleagues who are working on plant ABC transporters. Finally, laboratory training and educational activities for high school students and teachers will be incorporated into this project so that public knowledge of plant biology and of current research techniques will be increased.