Synergid Cell Development and Function in Arabidopsis

拟南芥增效细胞的发育和功能

• 批准号: 0542953
• 负责人: Gary Drews
• 金额: $ 40万
• 依托单位: University of Utah
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-03-01 至 2010-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0542953&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Synergid; Cell; Development; Function; Arabidopsis

The long-term goal of the proposed work is to understand the regulatory processes controlling development and function of the synergid cells. The two synergid cells are located within the seven-celled female gametophyte and are essential for the reproductive process in flowering plants. During the fertilization process, the pollen tube grows into one of the synergid cells, ceases growth, ruptures, and releases its two sperm cells into this cell. Structural and genetic studies indicate that the synergid cells produce an attractant that guides growth of the pollen tube to the female gametophyte and that they contain factors that control arrest of pollen tube growth and release of pollen tube contents; however, these regulatory steps are not understood at the molecular level. The proposed work focuses on analysis of the MYB98 gene that encodes a MYB transcription factor, is expressed specifically in the synergid cells, and is required for pollen tube guidance. To identify factors required for pollen tube guidance, genes acting downstream of MYB98 will be identified and analyzed. To gain insight into the synergid cell gene regulatory network, genes regulated directly by MYB98 will be identified and the regulatory sequences controlling MYB98 expression in the synergid cells will be dissected. These studies should provide new insights into the mechanisms controlling synergid cell differentiation during female gametophyte development and pollen tube guidance by the mature synergid cells. Understanding these processes may allow manipulation of the reproductive process to improve crop yield. The proposed work will provide training to undergraduate and graduate investigators and includes an outreach program to provide research experience to students from the nearby community college, as well as to minority students.

本研究的长期目标是了解助细胞发育和功能的调控过程。这两个助细胞位于七细胞雌配子体中，在开花植物的生殖过程中是必不可少的。在受精过程中，花粉管生长成一个助细胞，停止生长，破裂，并释放出两个精细胞进入该细胞。结构和遗传学研究表明，助细胞产生的引诱剂，引导生长的花粉管的雌配子体，它们包含的因素，控制逮捕的花粉管生长和释放的花粉管内容物，然而，这些监管步骤是不理解的分子水平。拟议的工作重点是分析MYB 98基因，该基因编码MYB转录因子，在助细胞中特异性表达，并且是花粉管引导所需的。为了确定花粉管引导所需的因素，将鉴定和分析作用于MYB98下游的基因。为了深入了解助细胞基因调控网络，将鉴定由MYB98直接调控的基因，并解剖控制助细胞中MYB98表达的调控序列。这些研究为雌配子体发育过程中助细胞分化的调控机制和助细胞对花粉管的引导作用提供了新的认识。了解这些过程可能允许操纵生殖过程以提高作物产量。拟议的工作将为本科生和研究生调查人员提供培训，并包括一个外展计划，为附近社区学院的学生以及少数民族学生提供研究经验。