Investigation of the Mechanism of Light-Induced Chloroplast Movements

智力上的功绩。在大多数绿色植物中观察到依赖于光的叶绿体运动。这些叶绿体运动作为一种快速机制，微调光合作用生产力，以响应光强度的变化。例如，在弱光下，叶绿体向叶细胞上下表面移动可以提高光捕获能力，而当光强较高时，叶绿体向细胞侧面移动可以保护细胞免受光损伤。该项目的重点是几个新基因的功能，这位研究人员最近发现这些基因对叶绿体运动的发生是必不可少的。遗传学、分子和生理学方法正被用来理解叶绿体运动的分子机制。这项研究有望阐明负责叶绿体运动的运动机制的细节，并对所涉及的光信号转导途径的性质提供新的见解。这些发现还将揭示对肌动蛋白细胞骨架复杂活动的基本细胞生物学的新见解。更广泛的影响。该项目将为从事研究的研究生和本科生提供培训，并向在实验室寻找研究机会的本科生提供培训。由于光诱导的叶绿体运动可以影响光合作用潜力，从这项研究中获得的知识有可能有助于提高产量和生物量积累的植物的发展。这项工作的研究成果将用于推广活动，向公众讲授植物科学。这些内容包括博物馆展品、公开演讲和基于网络的内容(例如，参见http://plantsinmotion.bio.indiana.edu)。

Intellectual Merit. Light-dependent chloroplast movements are observed in most green plants. These chloroplast movements serve as a rapid mechanism for fine-tuning photosynthetic productivity in response to changes in light intensity. For example, movement of chloroplasts to the upper and lower surfaces of leaf cells in dim light can improve light capture, whereas chloroplast movement to the sides of cells when the light intensity is high can protect them from photodamage. The project is focused on the function of several novel genes that this investigator recently identified as essential for the chloroplast movements to occur. Genetic, molecular and physiological approaches are being used to understand the molecular mechanism of chloroplast movements. The research is expected to elucidate details of the motility mechanisms responsible for chloroplast movement and provide new insight into the nature of the light signal transduction pathway involved. The findings will also reveal new insights into the basic cell biology of the complex activities of the actin cytoskeleton. Broader Impacts. This project will provide training to the graduate and postgraduate students doing the research and to undergraduates seeking research opportunities in the lab. Because light-induced chloroplast movements can impact photosynthetic potential, knowledge gained from this research has the potential to help in development of plants with improved yield and biomass accumulation. Research findings from the work will be used in outreach activities to teach about plant science to public audiences. These include museum exhibits, public lectures, and web-based content (e.g., see http://plantsinmotion.bio.indiana.edu ).