Building and Operating a Chemical Factory in Solanum Species

PI：Robert L.最后一个（密歇根州立大学）CoPIs：大卫R。Gang（University of Arizona），Gregg A. Howe（Michigan州立大学），A.丹尼尔·琼斯（密歇根州立大学）、伊兰·皮彻斯基（密歇根大学）和柯蒂斯·威尔克森（密歇根州立大学）合作者：金惠兰（亚利桑那大学）、肯尼斯·纳德勒（密歇根州立大学）和卡罗尔·A. Soderlund（亚利桑那大学）该项目的长期目标是奠定一个完整的“系统生物学”的理解的基因和蛋白质的整个网络参与的发展中的每一个不同类型的腺毛在番茄和相关物种的茄属和全套基因和酶负责其生物合成能力。选择腺毛作为本项目的重点，因为这些迷人的细胞表面结构使各种各样的结构和生物合成不同的小分子。这些特化（次级）产物来自许多不同的生物合成途径，并且已知或假定在胁迫适应中发挥各种作用，包括提供对重要植物害虫的防御。比较从EST序列中发现的基因和在不同腺体类型中发现的代谢物将用于发现新的生物合成酶，并且将通过体外生物化学方法和使用转基因植物的体内方法来测试这些酶的功能。将评价突变体和渐渗系的腺毛形态和化学变化，并启动遗传分析，以进一步鉴定导致这些新表型的基因。更广泛的影响这些研究应该告知育种和转基因方法，以提高农业上重要植物的抗逆性。该项目的数据将提供给基因库，SOL基因组学网络（http：//sgn.cornell.edu/），并通过项目网站提供。该项目将通过三种方式整合研究和教育：1。本科生和中学教师的暑期研究经验; 2.培养学生在跨学科和地理分散的环境中进行研究的成功方法，这对生物科学的成功变得越来越重要; 3.利用密歇根州立大学开发的Lon-CAPA网络课程管理系统，对参与者进行先进的计算机课程开发工具培训。将大力强调征聘和培训任职人数不足的少数民族和妇女。

PI: Robert L. Last (Michigan State University)CoPIs: David R. Gang (University of Arizona), Gregg A. Howe (Michigan State University), A. Daniel Jones (Michigan State University), Eran Pichersky (University of Michigan), and Curtis Wilkerson (Michigan State University)Collaborators: HyeRan Kim (University of Arizona), Kenneth Nadler (Michigan State University), and Carol A. Soderlund (University of Arizona)The long term goal of this project is to lay a foundation for a complete 'systems biology' understanding of the entire network of genes and proteins involved in the development of each of the different types of glandular trichomes found in tomato and related species in the Solanum and the full set of genes and enzymes responsible for their biosynthetic capacity. The glandular trichomes are chosen as the focus of this project because these fascinating cell-surface structures make a wide variety of structurally and biosynthetically diverse small molecules. These specialized (secondary) products come from many different biosynthetic pathways and are known or postulated to serve a variety of roles in stress adaptation, including providing defense against important plant pests. Comparison of genes found from the EST sequences and metabolites found in the different gland types will be used to discover new biosynthetic enzymes, and these will be tested for function by in vitro biochemical methods and by in vivo methods using transgenic plants. Mutants and introgression lines will be evaluated for changes in glandular trichome morphology and chemistry and genetic analysis initiated for future identification of genes that are responsible for these novel phenotypes. Broader ImpactsThese studies should inform breeding and transgenic approaches to improving stress tolerance in agriculturally important plants. The data from this project will be provided to GenBank, The SOL Genomics Network (http://sgn.cornell.edu/) and made available through a project website. This project will integrate research and education in three ways: 1. Summer research experiences for undergraduate students and secondary school teachers; 2. Training of students in successful approaches to doing research in an interdisciplinary and geographically dispersed environment, which is becoming more and more important for success in the biological sciences; 3. Training of participants in cutting-edge, computer-based curriculum development tools with the Lon-CAPA web-based course management system developed at Michigan State University. A strong emphasis will be placed on recruitment and training of underrepresented minorities and women.