Intersection of the Plant Epigenome and Bioenergetics in Phenotypy

植物表观基因组与表型生物能学的交叉点

• 批准号: 1126935
• 负责人: Sally Mackenzie
• 金额: $ 60万
• 依托单位: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-09-01 至 2013-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1126935&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Intersection; Plant; Epigenome; Bioenergetics; Phenotypy

S. Mackenzie, PI, University of NebraskaM. Fromm, coPI, University of NebraskaB. Yu, coPI, University of NebraskaA. Lorenz, coPI, University of NebraskaD. Wang, collaborator, University of NebraskaJ.-J. Riethoven, collaborator, University of NebraskaMitochondria and chloroplasts serve as bioenergetic focal points of the cell, compartmenting the metabolic underpinnings of cellular function. Likewise, they act as key environmental stress sensors, and are vital to processing plant defense responses. Yet, their integration to a systems model for the plant cell has been complicated by inability to perturb their functions with adequate specificity. This research team has implemented an elegant approach to alter mitochondrial and chloroplast properties that focuses on manipulation of a single nuclear gene, MSH1 (MutS homolog 1). Loss of MSH1 function produces organelle changes to condition distinct plant growth phenotypes without altering genotype of the plant. These include dramatic changes in growth rate, flowering time, reproduction, chloroplast development, and biotic and abiotic stress responses. it is postulated, as the central hypothesis to this research, that the msh1-associated organelle alterations cause heritable, programmed changes to the plant epigenome. The planned investigations capitalize on recent key observations involving MSH1, and implement cross-species comparative analysis in transcript profile-based dissection of emergent phenotypes. The project tests for msh1 effects on small RNA and DNA methylation changes, using Arabidopsis as an initial model for future tests in sorghum and soybean. The collaboration combines expertise in organelle biology, quantitative genetics, epigenetics and next-gen sequence technologies to investigate the influence of organelle signals on the plant epigenome. These studies address major unanswered questions in biology regarding the mode of trans-generational transmission of stress signals and the role of organelles as stress sensing components of the plant cell.Broader impacts. Since Darwin's time, geneticists have speculated about the underlying basis of hybrid vigor and trans-generational adaptations to stress. While more recent evidence has suggested an epigenetic nature to these phenomena, direct investigation of the process linking bioenergetic or environmental sensing with epigenetic programs in the cell has generally been intractable. The system we investigate may prove invaluable in addressing these processes. Consequently, this research could have important implications for the plant breeding process and for our understanding of plant defense and adaptation. These studies will incorporate high school and undergraduate students in summer research activities, as part of our program to encourage careers in science research.

S.Mackenzie，PI，内布拉斯加州大学。弗洛姆，科比，内布拉斯加州大学B。Yu，Copi，内布拉斯加州大学。洛伦兹，科比，内布拉斯加州大学。内布拉斯加州大学的合作者王-J.里特芬，内布拉斯加州大学的合作者，线粒体和叶绿体作为细胞的生物能量焦点，划分了细胞功能的代谢基础。同样，它们也是关键的环境压力传感器，对处理植物防御反应至关重要。然而，由于无法以足够的特异性干扰它们的功能，它们与植物细胞的系统模型的整合已经变得复杂。这个研究小组实施了一种改变线粒体和叶绿体属性的优雅方法，专注于操纵单个核基因MSH1(MutS同源1)。MSH1功能的丧失会产生细胞器的变化，以适应不同的植物生长表型，而不会改变植物的基因。这些变化包括生长速度、开花时间、生殖、叶绿体发育以及生物和非生物胁迫反应的显著变化。作为这项研究的中心假设，假设msh1相关的细胞器改变会导致植物表观基因组的可遗传的程序性变化。计划中的调查利用了最近涉及MSH1的关键观察结果，并在基于转录谱的紧急表型剖析中实施跨物种比较分析。该项目使用拟南芥作为未来在高粱和大豆上进行测试的初始模型，测试msh1对小RNA和DNA甲基化变化的影响。这项合作结合了细胞器生物学、数量遗传学、表观遗传学和下一代序列技术的专业知识，以研究细胞器信号对植物表观基因组的影响。这些研究解决了生物学中尚未回答的主要问题，即逆境信号的跨代传递方式以及细胞器作为植物细胞的逆境感应组件的作用。自达尔文时代以来，遗传学家就一直在推测杂交活力和跨代适应压力的潜在基础。虽然最近的证据表明这些现象具有表观遗传性质，但直接研究将生物能量或环境感知与细胞中的表观遗传程序联系起来的过程通常是困难的。我们调查的系统在解决这些过程中可能被证明是无价的。因此，这项研究可能对植物育种过程和我们对植物防御和适应的理解具有重要的意义。这些研究将包括高中生和本科生参加暑期研究活动，作为我们鼓励科学研究职业计划的一部分。