RIG: Co-orthologous ABC Transporters: Shared Motifs, Shared Function?

本研究的目标是进一步表征拟南芥ABC转运蛋白基因AtWBC 19，这是已知的第一个赋予抗生素抗性的植物基因，并将调查扩展到其最接近的同源物。 AtWBC 19是一个植物特异性基因家族的成员，该家族包括8个拟南芥基因和5个水稻同源基因，目前只有AtWBC 19的功能已知。 由于基因家族的功能分歧和专业化通常通过适应性进化发生，我们假设这个分支的几个成员参与天然生物活性化合物的解毒。此外，在进化枝中的所有转运蛋白之间存在保守的基序表明共同的调节机制以及共同的广泛功能。为了验证这一假设，描绘保守的模体的意义，并评估在co-orthopulmonary基因，定点诱变和异源表达在酵母中的功能保守的程度将进行使用AtWBC 19作为一个模型。在更广泛的影响方面，该项目提供了两个主要的机会，连接研究和教学。首先，该研究项目将用于在埃默里大学教授一门关于运输者的课程。 这不仅是新的，但在部门课程正在大幅修订，更加强调将研究与教学联系起来的时候来了;运输的研究是谁希望追求生物学的许多领域更深入的学生的关键奋进。第二，将采取若干举措，吸引学生，特别是代表性不足的少数群体学生，并为他们提供从事研究的机会。 将与较大的亚特兰大都会区的机构（即斯派曼学院、莫尔黑德学院、福特瓦利州立大学）建立伙伴关系，从代表性不足的群体中招收至少4名学生。 这一目标是可以实现的，因为埃默里大学的暑期本科生研究计划（SURE）已经在埃默里大学实施，这有助于确定合适的导师/学生。

The goal of this research is to further characterize an Arabidopsis ABC transporter gene, AtWBC19, which is the first plant gene known to confer antibiotic resistance, and extend the investigation to its closest homologues. AtWBC19 is a member of a plant-specific gene family that includes 8 Arabidopsis and 5 rice coorthologous genes; only the function of AtWBC19 is known. Since functional divergence and specialization in gene families generally occur via adaptive evolution, we hypothesize that several members of this clade are involved in the detoxification of natural bioactive compounds. Moreover, the presence of conserved motifs among all transporters in the clade suggests common regulatory mechanisms as well as a common broad function. To test this hypothesis, delineate the significance of the conserved motifs, and assess the extent of function conservation among co-orthologous genes, site directed mutagenesis, and heterologous expression in yeast will be carried out using AtWBC19 as a model.In terms of broader impacts, the project provides two major opportunities to link research and teaching. First, the research project will be used to teach a course on transporters at Emory University. This is not only new, but comes at a time when the departmental curriculum is being significantly revised towards a stronger emphasis on linking research to teaching; the study of transporters is a critical endeavor for students who wish to pursue many areas of biology in greater depth. Second, several initiatives will be implemented to attract and provide opportunities for students, specifically under-represented minorities, to engage in research. Partnerships will be developed with institutions in the larger Atlanta metro area (i.e. Spellman College, Morehead College, Fort Valley State University) to recruit at least 4 students from underrepresented groups. This goal is obtainable because a program, Summer Undergraduate Research Program at Emory (SURE), is already in place at Emory University, which facilitates the identification of suitable mentors/students.