Structure and Function of Plant Protein Synthesis Initiation Factors: eIF4F and eIFiso4F

mRNA翻译成蛋白质是细胞代谢的重要分子过程。植物蛋白质的合成与其他真核生物相似，但也存在差异。 eIF4F的同工酶形式的存在和明显缺乏4E结合蛋白（哺乳动物翻译的主要调控点）的调节表明，植物有一些根本的差异，特别是在翻译起始的调节。 阐明eIF4F在植物中的作用将有助于更好地了解植物如何调节蛋白质的产生，从而改善植物抵抗环境侵害或病毒感染的能力，并为食品提供更优质的蛋白质。 该研究项目将用于高中，社区学院，本科，研究生和博士后学生的培训，并通过出版物和拟南芥翻译因子（FIAT）网站传播结果。 本科生的培训将通过新生研究计划（FRI）进行。FRI教授大一新生关于研究的知识，并训练他们在所谓的“研究流”中进行研究。PI是25名新生的流领导者。 学生接受与PI研究相关的方法培训，并为PI的整体研究做出贡献，特别是将为拟议的项目做出贡献。FRI的目标之一是吸引和留住科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）学科的学生。

Translation of mRNA into protein is an essential molecular process of cellular metabolism. Plant protein synthesis is similar to that of other eukaryotes, but there are differences. The presence of the isozyme form of eIF4F and the apparent lack of regulation by 4E binding proteins (primary regulatory point in mammalian translation) suggest that plants have some fundamental differences, particularly in the regulation of initiation of translation. Elucidating the roles of the isoforms of eIF4F in plants will provide a better understanding of how plants regulate the production of proteins which will lead to improved plants that resist environmental insults or virus infection, and provide better quality protein for food. This research project will be used for the training of high school, community college, undergraduate, graduate and post-doctoral students and the results disseminated through publication and the Factors In Arabidopsis Translation (FIAT) website. The training of undergraduates will be through the Freshman Research Initiative (FRI). The FRI teaches freshman about research and trains them to do research in what are called "research streams". The PI is a stream leader for 25 freshmen students. The students are trained in methods relevant to the PI's research and contribute to the PI's overall research and specifically will contribute to the proposed project. One of the goals of the FRI is to attract and retain students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines.