Functional Analysis of Genes Controlling Secretion of Phytochemicals in Arabidopsis Thaliana

根渗出是植物向土壤中分泌各种化学物质的过程，是根际植物与生物相互作用的主要调节器。尽管根渗出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。本项目将以拟南芥为模式植物，提供参与根渗出的atp结合盒（ABC）转运体基因的详细表征。ABC转运基因存在于所有生物体内，其编码的蛋白质负责跨细胞膜运输多种关键物质。至少25个参与根渗出的ABC转运基因将被鉴定。这些基因的组织特异性表达将在已知影响代谢活性和根分泌的诱导条件下通过分子和生化技术的结合进行研究。所获得的信息将汇集到一个公共数据库中，其中特定的根渗出化学物质及其合成途径将与相应的转运体联系起来。通过这些研究获得的知识将有助于填补对植物如何产生和分泌特定化学物质的理解的基本空白，这些化学物质可用于诸如设计工具以过度诱导作物分泌防御化合物以对抗病原体和杂草等农业增强项目。该项目将为博士后科学家、研究生和本科生提供多学科和富有成效的研究氛围。它还将用于招募少数族裔学生进行暑期实习。此外，将通过秘鲁国际马铃薯中心（CIP）的研究和教育经验促进国际合作，建立一个由从事植物ABC转运体研究的国际同事组成的网络。最后，实验室培训和高中学生和教师的教育活动将纳入该项目，以便增加公众对植物生物学和当前研究技术的了解。

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.