Cause and Consequences of Maize Neocentromere Activity

玉米新着丝粒活性的原因和后果

• 批准号: 0951091
• 负责人: R Kelly Dawe
• 金额: $ 53.99万
• 依托单位: University of Georgia Research Foundation Inc
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-03-15 至 2015-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0951091&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Cause; Consequences; Maize; Neocentromere; Activity

Intellectual Merit:Chromosomes, the packaging units for genetic information, cannot be transmitted from generation to generation unless they interact with microtubule-based spindles. Normally, the centromere (constricted region of a chromosome) binds to the spindles. This allows the spindles to pull pairs of chromosomes apart, so that one copy of each chromosome ends up in the new, daughter cell during meiosis. This project will investigate neocentromeres, which are specialized chromosomal regions that can be used to study how chromosomes interact with spindles. In maize, neocentromeres can dramatically change genetic inheritance. One aim of this work will focus on the maize abnormal chromosome 10 that regulates natural neocentromere activity. Genes that regulate neocentromeres will be identified using a combination of modern sequencing methods. The second aim will focus on long arrays of binding sites that have been added to different positions on chromosomes arms. Known microtubule-based motor proteins (known as kinesins) will be tethered to the binding sites, causing the arrays to interact with microtubules. This novel system will make it possible to better understand how neocentromeres alter genetic inheritance. Both approaches address fundamental questions in genetics and will facilitate the development of new methods for improving crops by transgenic methods.Broader Impacts:Maize is a classic American crop that naturally appeals to students of all ages. To broaden the impact of the research, the project includes travel and student training at a small university [Kentucky Wesleyan College (KWC)] that serves a rural farming community. Activities will include summer training for Professor Evelyn Hiatt and three undergraduates over a three-year period. Visiting undergraduate students will receive in-lab training and field experience, as well as exposure to a research setting in a major research university. The tools and methodologies used during the project will serve as a basis to improve coursework and training at KWC.

知识分子优点：染色体是遗传信息的包装单元，除非它们与基于微管的纺锤体相互作用，否则不能产生一代。 通常，丝粒（染色体的狭窄区域）与纺锤体结合。 这使纺锤体可以将成对的染色体分开，因此每个染色体的一个副本在减数分裂过程中最终进入了新的女子细胞。 该项目将研究新中心粒，它们是专门的染色体区域，可用于研究染色体如何与纺锤体相互作用。 在玉米中，新中心粒可以极大地改变遗传遗传。 这项工作的一个目的将集中于调节自然新中心活性的玉米异常的染色体。 将使用现代测序方法的组合来鉴定调节新中心粒的基因。 第二个目标将集中在较长的绑定位点上，这些结合位点已添加到染色体臂上的不同位置。 已知的基于微管的运动蛋白（称为驱动蛋白）将被束缚到结合位点，从而导致阵列与微管相互作用。这个新型系统将使更好地了解新中心粒如何改变遗传遗传。 两种方法都解决了遗传学中的基本问题，并将促进通过转基因方法改善农作物的新方法。BRODER的影响：玉米是一种经典的美国作物，自然吸引了所有年龄段的学生。 为了扩大研究的影响，该项目包括在一所小型大学（肯塔基州卫斯理学院（KWC））的旅行和学生培训，该大学服务于农村农业社区。 活动将包括对伊夫林·希亚特教授的夏季培训和三年的三名本科生。 来访的本科生将获得LAB培训和现场经验，并接触一所主要研究的研究环境。 该项目期间使用的工具和方法将作为改善KWC的课程和培训的基础。