Physiology of Isoprene Emission from Plants

更多的碳氢化合物以异戊二烯的形式从植物中排放到大气中，而不是从任何其他单一来源。异戊二烯的排放受天气影响，其排放可以保护叶片免受短期高温的影响。然而，异戊二烯也参与大气化学，导致臭氧和可能的气溶胶，对人类健康产生不利影响的颗粒。异戊二烯的排放量在不同植物之间差异很大，有些物种的排放量比其他物种大得多。这项研究将使用分子生物学工具来确定植物细胞用于控制异戊二烯合成的方法。这项研究还将解决为什么有些植物会产生异戊二烯，而另一些则不会，植物如何获得产生异戊二烯的能力，以及天气如何影响植物细胞中导致异戊二烯合成的生化反应。将通过使用细菌表达这些酶来研究在异戊二烯合成中被发现是重要的酶的调节。大部分研究的研究生物将是模式树种黑白杨（Populus ducarpa），其基因已被完全测序。这项研究将提供所需的信息，以了解如何控制树木的异戊二烯排放，无论我们是想让一些树木停止制造异戊二烯来保护大气，还是想让一些作物制造异戊二烯来保护它们免受高温损害。更广泛的影响：异戊二烯的研究很重要，因为它有助于了解大气反应，包括臭氧和气溶胶的产生，两者都对人体健康有显著影响。这项研究将用于吸引本科生进行研究。高中生将通过暑期科学学院参加，这是一个为期七周的住宿计划。大约70%的参与者是来自科学研究中代表性不足的群体的学生。异戊二烯的研究通常对学生来说很有趣，他们喜欢与现实世界的问题联系起来。

More hydrocarbon enters the atmosphere as isoprene emitted from plants than from any other single source. Isoprene emission is affected by weather and its emission can protect leaves from short high temperature episodes. However, isoprene also participates in atmospheric chemistry leading to ozone, and possibly aerosols, particles that adversely affect human health. Isoprene emission varies widely among plants, with some species emitting much larger amounts than other species. This research will use molecular biology tools to determine the methods plant cells use to control the synthesis of isoprene. The research will also address why some plants make isoprene while others do not, how plants gain the ability to make isoprene, and how weather affects the biochemical reactions in plant cells that lead to the synthesis of isoprene. Regulation of enzymes found to be important in isoprene synthesis will be investigated by using bacteria to express those enzymes. The study organism for most of the research will be the model tree species black poplar (Populus trichocarpa) whose genes have been fully sequenced. This research will provide information needed to know how to manipulate isoprene emission from trees, whether we want to make some trees stop making isoprene to protect the atmosphere or if we want to make some crops make it to protect them against high temperature damage.Broader Impacts: Isoprene research is important because it contributes to understanding atmospheric reactions including the production of ozone and aerosols, both of which have significant effects on human health. This research will be used to attract undergraduate students to research. High school students will participate through the Summer Science Institute, which is a seven week residential program. About 70% of its participants are students from groups underrepresented in scientific research. Isoprene research is generally interesting to students and they like the connection to real-world problems.