Regulation of meristem function by AIL proteins

Beth A. Krizek提案编号：IOS-0922367提案标题：AIL蛋白对分生组织功能的调节该奖项由2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助。植物在其整个生命周期中启动器官的独特能力源于分生组织的活动。茎顶端分生组织是植物顶端的一组细胞，为侧部器官如叶和花的起始提供细胞，同时保持未分化的干细胞的中心核心。茎顶端分生组织是高度有组织的，但动态的，响应当地的信号和那些来自更远的部分的植物。分生组织内植物激素的分泌物似乎在平衡干细胞更新与器官起始方面是重要的。但目前尚不清楚这些激素梯度是如何产生的，以及它们如何转化为不同的细胞行为。本研究以模式植物拟南芥为材料，探讨激素对茎尖分生组织功能的调控。三个相关的AINTEGUMENTA样（AIL）蛋白在介导的两种植物激素（生长素和细胞分裂素）的拮抗行为在分生组织内的作用将通过遗传，分子和活体成像方法进行研究。这项工作的预期结果是这些AIL基因的整合成一个遗传框架分生组织功能，这些蛋白质如何调节激素水平/反应的分子信息，和时空图的动态相互作用之间的表达这些蛋白质和激素梯度分生组织内。由于茎尖分生组织塑造了植物的整体结构，这项工作对粮食和生物燃料作物的设计具有广泛的意义，提高了产量，并生产了观赏植物的新品种。该项目将为学生、一名博士后研究员和一名K-12教师提供培训机会。

Beth A. KrizekProposal Number: IOS-0922367Proposal Title: Regulation of meristem function by AIL proteinsThis award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).The unique ability of plants to initiate organs throughout their lifespan results from the activity of meristems. The shoot apical meristem, a group of cells at the apex of the plant, provides cells for the initiation of lateral organs such as leaves and flowers while maintaining a central core of stem cells that remain undifferentiated. The shoot apical meristem is highly organized and yet dynamic, responding to local signals and those originating from more distant parts of the plant. Gradients of plant hormones within the meristem appear to be important in balancing stem cell renewal with organ initiation. But it is not clear how these hormone gradients are generated and how they are translated into different cellular behaviors. This project will investigate the hormonal regulation of shoot apical meristem function in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. The role of three related AINTEGUMENTA-like (AIL) proteins in mediating the antagonistic behavior of two plant hormones (auxin and cytokinin) within the meristem will be investigated by genetic, molecular and live imaging approaches. The expected results from this work are an integration of these AIL genes into a genetic framework for meristem function, molecular information on how these proteins regulate hormone levels/responsiveness, and a spatiotemporal map of the dynamic interactions between the expression of these proteins and hormone gradients within the meristem. Because the shoot apical meristem shapes the overall architecture of plants, this work has broad implication for the design of food and biofuel crops with improved yields and the production of new varieties of ornamental plants. The project will provide training opportunities for students, a postdoctoral fellow and a K-12 teacher.