Arabino(Glucurono)Xylan Biosynthetic Genes Involved in Endosperm Cell Wall Elaboration in Wheat

植物细胞壁对利用谷物造福人类的影响最大，因为这些谷物中的主要营养物质、淀粉和蛋白质被包裹在种子内的胚乳细胞壁中。胚乳细胞壁主要由阿拉伯(葡醛)木聚糖(AGX，70%)和混合连接葡聚糖(MLG，20%)组成。这些聚合物在胚乳发育过程中的沉积是高度有序的，这使得小麦胚乳成为鉴定AGX生物合成相关基因的良好系统。目前还没有鉴定出AGX生物合成基因。因此，成功识别参与这一过程的多肽将为作物改良开辟新的途径，并为植物育种计划做出贡献。本项目的目的是鉴定和分析与小麦AGX生物合成相关的候选基因，即木聚糖合成酶基因(TaXylS)。这项工作将使人们对AGX的生物合成有一个基本的了解，因为它与种子的细胞壁生物合成和生长有关。这一结果可能为改善细胞壁性能的工程植物满足木材、造纸、纺织、燃料和食品工业的需求提供初步的步骤。该项目将为本科生和研究生提供宝贵的研究和培训机会。所有学生都将接受细胞、发育、分子和计算生物学方面的培训。俄亥俄大学位于俄亥俄州东南部阿巴拉契亚山脉的山脚下，以农村为主，25%的本科生来自俄亥俄州和西弗吉尼亚州周围的阿巴拉契亚地区。

The plant cell wall has the greatest impact on the use of cereal grains for human benefit because the major nutrients, starch, and proteins in these grains are enclosed within endosperm cell walls within the seed. Endosperm cell walls are composed mainly of arabino(glucuron)xylan (AGX, 70%) and mix-linked glucan (MLG, 20%). The deposition of these polymers during endosperm development is highly ordered, which makes wheat endosperm an excellent system to use for the identification of genes involved in AGX biosynthesis. No AGX-biosynthetic genes have been identified. Therefore, success in identifying the polypeptides involved in this process will open new avenues to crop improvement and contribute to plant-breeding programs. The objective of this project is to identify and analyze the function of candidate genes, namely xylan synthase (TaXylS) genes involved in AGX biosynthesis in wheat. This work will lead to a basic understanding of AGX biosynthesis as it relates to cell wall biosynthesis and growth of seeds. Results may provide an initial step for engineering plants with improved cell wall properties to meet the needs of the wood, paper, textile, fuel, and food industries. This project will provide valuable research and training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. All students will be trained in cell, developmental, molecular and computation biology. Ohio University is located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in southeast Ohio, a predominantly rural setting, and draws 25% of its undergraduate population from the surrounding Appalachian region of Ohio and West Virginia.