Mitochondrial Cell Death Signaling in S Male-Sterile Maize

S 雄性不育玉米中的线粒体细胞死亡信号

• 批准号: 0816782
• 负责人: Christine Chase
• 金额: $ 29.85万
• 依托单位: University of Florida
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-09-01 至 2011-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0816782&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Mitochondrial; Cell; Death; Signaling; Male

The regulated, or programmed, death of cells is central to normal development, and to disease and defense response, in both plants and animals. Despite the importance of programmed cell death, little is known about this process in plants. This project seeks to identify the molecular and cellular events leading to genetically controlled cell death in maize pollen. A particular gene, part of the maternally inherited mitochondrial genome, is suspected to cause cell death associated with the S-type of pollen sterility in maize. To unequivocally identify the responsible gene, the University of Florida investigators will use genetic transformation to introduce the products of suspect or candidate genes into the mitochondria of normal maize pollen. They expect that the death of the genetically transformed pollen will identify the gene for this pollen sterility trait. To determine whether problems with mitochondrial function precede pollen cell death, these researchers will introduce protective gene products into the mitochondria of S-type pollen. Here, they expect that the rescue of pollen function will confirm links between specific mitochondrial events and programmed cell death in plants. The Bennett College for Women collaborators will use genetic transformation to introduce a highly regulated form of the cell death gene into plant cell cultures, such that cell death events can be induced and studied at will in the laboratory. The broader scientific impacts of this project include new tools and insights to better understand and manipulate cell death pathways for plant improvement. Educational impacts include not only the training of undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral students at the University of Florida, but also the establishment of a research program involving undergraduates at Bennett College for Women. Bennett College for Women is one of only two colleges that historically served black women. This project will therefore establish a legacy, engaging students who are members of underrepresented groups in the scientific process.

细胞的调节性或程序性死亡是植物和动物正常发育、疾病和防御反应的核心。尽管程序性细胞死亡很重要，但人们对植物中的这一过程知之甚少。该项目旨在确定导致玉米花粉中遗传控制的细胞死亡的分子和细胞事件。一种特定的基因（母系遗传线粒体基因组的一部分）被怀疑会导致与玉米S型花粉不育相关的细胞死亡。为了明确地确定负责基因，佛罗里达大学的研究人员将使用遗传转化将可疑或候选基因的产物引入正常玉米花粉的线粒体中。他们希望通过基因转化花粉的死亡来确定这种花粉不育性状的基因。为了确定线粒体功能问题是否先于花粉细胞死亡，这些研究人员将保护性基因产物引入S型花粉的线粒体。在这里，他们希望花粉功能的拯救将证实植物中特定线粒体事件和程序性细胞死亡之间的联系。班尼特女子学院的合作者将使用遗传转化将细胞死亡基因的高度调控形式引入植物细胞培养物中，从而可以在实验室中随意诱导和研究细胞死亡事件。该项目更广泛的科学影响包括新的工具和见解，以更好地理解和操纵细胞死亡途径，以改善植物。教育方面的影响不仅包括在佛罗里达大学培训本科生、研究生和博士后，还包括在班尼特女子学院设立一个有本科生参加的研究方案。班尼特女子学院是历史上仅有的两所为黑人妇女服务的学院之一。因此，该项目将建立一个遗产，吸引学生谁是在科学过程中代表性不足的群体的成员。