Molecular Characterization of Plant Plasmodesmal & Non-Cell-Autonomous Potein Pathway Components

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。摘要PI LUCAS提案IOS-0918433。在进化过程中，细胞特化需要发展具有内在可塑性的信号通路矩阵，以提供生物体对广泛输入做出反应的能力。由此产生的信令系统可以分为两类。第一种涉及信号传导剂，其作用仅限于启动特定信号传导过程的单个细胞;即，这些分子在行为上是细胞自主的。第二组涉及在其产生地点之外起作用的信号;即，这些信号传导剂以非细胞自主的方式起作用，并且可以涉及激素、代谢物、肽和大分子。这些信号可以通过所有生物体共有的细胞外途径移动，或者在植物界中，它们可以通过称为胞间连丝（PD）的高度独特的结构在细胞间进行运输。现在已经确定PD介导蛋白质如转录因子和RNA分子的运输。然而，关于PD的分子组成知之甚少。在该项目中，研究人员将使用生物化学，分子和遗传工具的组合来分离和表征一组PD蛋白。智力优势：这个项目将大大增加我们对蛋白质和RNA在细胞间运输中所涉及的分子组分的理解。这一PD途径的知识将有助于我们了解植物如何协调在细胞，组织和器官水平的发育和生理事件。该项目还将对病毒如何在植物中传播产生更多的见解;这将导致新的防御策略的工程设计，从而提高粮食安全。更广泛的影响：该项目将培训代表性不足/少数民族的本科生和高中生。一名高中科学教师也将参与该项目。最后，研究人员将通过向地方、国家和国际团体举办研讨会和讲座，传播该项目的令人兴奋的发现。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).ABSTRACT PI LUCAS Proposal IOS-0918433. During the process of evolution, cellular specialization required the development of a matrix of signaling pathways with inherent plasticity to provide organisms with the capacity to respond to a wide range of inputs. The resultant signaling systems can be divided into two categories. The first involves signaling agents whose actions are confined to the individual cells in which the specific signaling process was initiated; i.e., these molecules are cell-autonomous in behavior. The second group involves signals that act beyond their sites of production; i.e., these signaling agents function in a non-cell-autonomous manner and can involve hormones, metabolites, peptides and macromolecules. Such signals can move either via the extracellular pathway, which is common to all organisms, or, in the plant kingdom, they can traffic from cell to cell through highly unique structures, termed plasmodesmata (PD). It is now well established that PD mediate trafficking of proteins, such as transcription factors, and RNA molecules. However, little is known regarding the molecular constituents of PD. In this project, the investigators will use a combination of biochemical, molecular and genetic tools to isolated and characterize a set of PD proteins. Intellectual Merit: This project will add significantly to our understanding of the molecular components involved in the cell-to-cell trafficking of proteins and RNA. Knowledge of this PD pathway will clearly contribute to our understanding of how plants coordinate developmental and physiological events at the cellular, tissue and organ level. The project will also yield additional insights into how viruses spread within plants; this should lead to the engineering of novel defense strategies, thereby leading to enhance food security. Broader Impacts: The project will train underrepresented/minority undergraduate students and high school students. A high school science teacher will also work on the project. Finally, the investigators will disseminate the exciting discoveries resulting from this project by seminars and lectures given to local, national and international groups.