RUI: Cell Wall Associated Protein Kinases

植物是由一系列细胞组成的，这些细胞的不同形状决定了整个植物的最终形状，大小和生长特征。每个细胞都被称为细胞壁的结构所包围，细胞壁由细胞制造的碳水化合物和蛋白质组成。细胞壁在细胞生长和分裂过程中必须扩大和修改，其生产和修改的调节和监测对植物的形态和功能至关重要。这项工作研究了一种名为WAK的分子，该分子位于植物细胞表面，允许细胞与细胞壁之间的连接和通信，从而可以正确调节细胞的生长和形状。WAK是一种蛋白质，它从细胞内部穿越到细胞外部，在细胞外部它结合细胞壁中的果胶。缺乏WAK的植物在细胞生长方面有缺陷。使用拟南芥（一种快速生长的实验性易处理植物）的实验将包括WAK和WAK结合分子的生物化学和遗传分析，以了解细胞及其壁是如何连接的，以及信息传递的机制。这项工作将在本科院校进行，参与的学生将获得科学的综合方法，并为毕业后研究生和专业学校的挑战做好准备。

Plants are composed of a collection of cells whose varied shapes determines the final shape, size and growth characteristics of the entire plant. Each cell is surrounded by a structure called the cell wall, which is made up of carbohydrates and proteins manufactured by the cells. This cell wall must enlarge and be modified during cell growth and division, and the regulation and monitoring of its production and modification is critical to plant form and function. This work investigates a molecule, called WAK for Wall Associated Kinase, that is on the surface of plant cells that allows connection and communication between the cell and its cell wall, so that the cell growth and shape can be correctly regulated. WAK is a protein that traverses from the interior of cells to the outside where it binds pectins in the cell wall. Plants that lack WAK are deficient in cell growth. Experiments using Arabidopsis, a rapidly growing experimentally tractable plant, will include biochemical and genetic analysis of WAKs and WAK binding molecules to understand how the cell and its wall are connected, and the mechanism of information transfer. The work will be carried out at an undergraduate institution where the participating students will be provided with an integrative approach to science, and be prepared for the challenges of graduate and professional schools upon graduation.