Role of ULTRAPETALA1 in Regulating Arabidopsis Floral Meristem Function

弗莱彻，詹妮弗C.提案#0718843超PETALA 1在调节拟南芥花分生组织功能中的作用？植物和动物一样，含有对其生长和发育至关重要的干细胞。植物干细胞存在于发育中的芽和花的顶端，在称为分生组织的结构中，并为新器官如叶子和花瓣的形成提供细胞。 主要研究目标是了解控制茎和花中干细胞活性的分子机制，从而确定整体植物结构。 该项目继续研究来自模式植物拟南芥的ULTRAPETALA1（ULT1）基因，该基因用于调节由芽和花产生的干细胞的数量。 将利用遗传学、分子生物学和生物化学技术分析该基因的生物学功能。 由ULT1基因直接控制的其他基因的身份，ULT1蛋白的活性机制，以及对维持花干细胞活性的遗传因素的更透彻的理解是这项研究的预期结果。这些研究将深入了解植物如何能够不断形成新的器官，并为优化观赏植物和作物的结构奠定基础。 该项目的一个重要组成部分是在实验室环境中整合研究和教育。来自传统上在科学领域代表性不足的群体的本科生和当地社区学院的学生将通过协助该项目首次接触科学研究，并将由博士后学者和研究生监督，提供宝贵的培训和指导经验。

Fletcher, Jennifer C.Proposal #0718843Role of ULTRAPETALA1 in Regulating Arabidopsis Floral Meristem Function?Plants, like animals, contain stem cells that are critical for their growth and development. Plant stem cells are found at the apex of developing shoots and flowers, in structures called meristems, and provide cells for the formation of new organs such as leaves and petals. The main research objective is to understand the molecular mechanisms that control stem cell activity in shoots and flowers, and thus specify overall plant architecture. This project continues studies of the ULTRAPETALA1 (ULT1) gene from the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana that acts to regulate the number of stem cells that are made by shoots and flowers. Genetic, molecular and biochemical techniques will be used to analyze the biological function of this gene. The identity of other genes that are directly controlled by the ULT1 gene, the mechanism of activity of the ULT1 protein, and a more thorough understanding of the genetic factors that maintain flower stem cell activity are the expected results of this research. These studies will provide insights into how plants are able to continuously form new organs, and will establish a basis for optimizing the architecture of both ornamental and crop plants. An important component of this project is to integrate research and education in a laboratory environment. Undergraduates from groups traditionally under-represented in science and local community college students will obtain their first exposure to scientific research by assisting with the project, and will be supervised by postdoctoral scholars and graduate students to provide valuable training and mentoring experience.