The Arabidopsis gp91-Phox Gene Family and NADPH Oxidase Function

该项目将研究植物如何应对细菌和真菌病原体的感染。病原体和害虫导致主要作物损失，因此了解植物免疫系统如何工作具有智力和实际重要性。特别是，该项目将分析蛋白质，帮助植物细胞在攻击信号邻近植物细胞启动适当的防御反应。所使用的信号是普通氧的衍生物，一种称为超氧化物的氧自由基。超氧化物是由一种叫做NADPH氧化酶的酶在植物细胞的外表面产生的。编码这种酶的基因是该项目的重点。这项研究将使用遗传学，生物化学和细胞生物学的工具来了解超氧化物产生的调节，以应对感染。该项目的重点是一种名为拟南芥的模式植物物种，但这些研究的结果直接适用于作物。预期的结果也将描述其他蛋白质，其作用调节超氧化物的产生，并增加对植物细胞如何感知超氧化物的理解。这项工作的更广泛影响将是培养植物分子生物学的博士后，博士和本科生研究人员。此外，PI将向公众介绍植物生物学和食品转基因方面的讲座。

This project will study how plants respond to infection by bacterial and fungal pathogens. Pathogens and pests cause major crop loses and therefore an understanding of how the Plant Immune System works is of both intellectual and practical importance. In particular, this project will analyze the proteins that help plant cells under attack signal neighboring plant cells to initiate appropriate defense responses. The signal that is used is a derivative of common oxygen, an oxygen radical called superoxide. Superoxide is generated on the outer surface of the plant cell by an enzyme called NADPH oxidase. The genes encoding this enzyme are the focus of the project. The research will use tools of genetics, biochemistry and cell biology to understand the regulation of superoxide production in response to infection. The project focuses on a model plant species called Arabidopsis thaliana, but results derived from these studies are directly applicable to crop plants. The expected results will also describe other proteins whose action regulates the production of superoxide and add to the understanding of how plant cells sense superoxide. The Broader Impacts of this work will be to train post-doctoral, doctoral and undergraduate researchers in plant molecular biology. In addition the PI will present lectures to the general public on plant biology and genetic modification of foods.