Molecular and functional analysis of trehalose metabolism during pea seed development

种子代谢必须与内源发育因子和外源环境因子相协调。这被认为是由SnRK 1，脱落酸和海藻糖（Tre）途径介导的糖信号传导。Tre和Tre-6-P是植物中的次要糖，但代表整合和协调代谢与发育的重要信号。在这个项目中，我们计划在豌豆种子发育过程中编码Tre代谢酶的基因的分子和功能特性。具体而言，我们希望研究种子中Tre代谢基因的组织和细胞特异性基因表达。将在一组独特的转基因豌豆种子模型中监测基因表达的调控，并确定其代谢状态的变化。这些基因的启动子活性的调节将在响应营养/激素处理进行分析。此外，我们希望通过寻找蛋白质相互作用伙伴来解开II类Tre-P激酶的调节。最后，我们计划通过转基因抑制基因表达来分析豌豆种子发育过程中Tre代谢的功能。Tre-6-P水平将通过E. coli Tre-P合成酶和Tre-P磷酸酶。转基因种子将通过监测生长参数和种子组成进行表型分析。从这个项目中，我们期望更深入地了解糖代谢和贮藏产物合成的调节，特别是豌豆种子和一般的作物种子。

Seed metabolism must be coordinated with endogenous developmental and exogenous environmental factors. This is thought to be performed by sugar signalling mediated by SnRK1, abscisic acid and the Trehalose (Tre) pathway. Tre and Tre-6-P are minor sugars in plants but represent important signals to integrate and coordinate metabolism with development. In this project, we are planning a molecular and functional characterisation of genes encoding Tre metabolising enzymes during pea seed development. In detail, we want to study tissue and cell-specific gene expression of Tre metabolism genes in seeds. Regulation of gene expression will be monitored in a set of unique transgenic pea seed models with defined changes of their metabolic state. Regulation of promoter activities from these genes will be analysed in response to nutrient/hormone treatments. In addition, we want to unravel the regulation of class II Tre-P synthases by searching for protein interacting partners. Finally, we are planning a functional analysis of Tre metabolism during pea seed development by transgenic inhibition of gene expression. Levels of Tre-6-P will be modified by ectopic expression of E. coli Tre-P synthase and Tre-P phosphatase. Transgenic seeds will be subjected to phenotypic analysis by monitoring growth parameters and seed composition. From this project, we expect a more profound insight into the regulation of sugar metabolism and storage product synthesis of pea seeds in particular and of crop seeds in general.