Role of ULTRAPETALA1 in Regulating Arabidopsis Floral Meristem Function

超etala1在拟南芥花分生组织功能调控中的作用？和动物一样，植物也含有对其生长发育至关重要的干细胞。植物干细胞位于正在发育的芽和花的顶端，其结构被称为分生组织，并为形成新的器官（如叶子和花瓣）提供细胞。主要研究目的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，该基因调节由芽和花产生的干细胞的数量。遗传、分子和生化技术将被用来分析该基因的生物学功能。确定ULT1基因直接控制的其他基因，ULT1蛋白的活性机制，更深入地了解维持花干细胞活性的遗传因素，是本研究的预期成果。这些研究将为植物如何能够不断形成新的器官提供见解，并将为优化观赏植物和作物植物的结构奠定基础。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大学生将通过协助该项目获得第一次接触科学研究的机会，并将由博士后学者和研究生指导，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.