Examining the Role of the Endomebrane in Transcription Factor Movement

检查内膜在转录因子运动中的作用

• 批准号: 1243945
• 负责人: Doris Wagner
• 金额: $ 61.65万
• 依托单位: University of Pennsylvania
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-02-01 至 2017-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1243945&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Examining; Role; Endomebrane; Transcription; Factor

INTELLECTUAL MERITIn order for organisms to develop and function properly, cells within the organism must be able to communicate with each other. In plants, communication can occur through specialized intercellular channels called plasmodesmata. Nearly all cells in the plant are connected through plasmodesmata, which allow for the direct exchange of proteins between cells. This means that proteins made by one cell can travel into the neighboring cell and influence the behavior and/or developmental fate of the neighbor. An important question in cell signaling is how this type of protein movement is regulated. Recently the primary investigator identified a protein that she has called SIEL (for SHORT-ROOT INTERACTING EMBRYONIC LETHAL) that promotes the movement of a plant-encoded transcription factor called SHORT-ROOT (SHR) between cells. Movement of SHR is required for the proper formation and growth of the plant root and therefore overall growth of the plant. In addition to SHR, SIEL also interacts with several other mobile transcription factors that are important for plant growth. It is likely that SIEL promotes the movement of other key proteins in plant growth as mutations that cause SIEL not to be produced result in death of the plant early in embryo development. Current data suggest that SIEL acts as an intracellular shuttle that promotes plasmodesmata-dependent movement of proteins through associations with intercellular membranes (specifically endosomes) and the microtubule cytoskeleton. The goal of this project is to determine how SIEL functions in the cell-to-cell transport of proteins during plant development. This research has obvious relevance to plant development and cell biology. In addition, as plant viruses are thought to exploit endogenous plant pathways for intercellular movement, there is relevance to plant disease resistance and agriculture where viral infections can decimate crop yields. BROADER IMPACTSThe primary investigator runs a laboratory in which research participation by students at all levels is highly encouraged. She has hosted students from the local middle schools and high schools and has both high school and undergraduate students actively working in her laboratory on a daily basis. In addition she has actively engaged with local teachers and a Penn education major to develop laboratory exercises that can be performed with materials inexpensively and readily available online or in local grocery or gardening stores. These laboratory exercises meet Pennsylvania standards and benchmarks for science education.

智力优势为了使生物体正常发育和发挥功能，生物体内的细胞必须能够相互交流。在植物中，通讯可以通过称为胞间连丝的细胞间通道进行。植物中几乎所有的细胞都通过胞间连丝连接，这使得细胞之间的蛋白质直接交换成为可能。这意味着由一个细胞产生的蛋白质可以进入相邻细胞并影响邻居的行为和/或发育命运。细胞信号传导中的一个重要问题是如何调节这种类型的蛋白质运动。最近，主要研究人员发现了一种蛋白质，她称之为SIEL（短根相互作用胚胎致死），它促进了植物编码的转录因子短根（SHR）在细胞之间的运动。SHR的运动是植物根的适当形成和生长以及因此植物的整体生长所必需的。除了SHR，SIEL还与其他几种对植物生长重要的移动的转录因子相互作用。SIEL可能促进植物生长中其他关键蛋白的运动，因为导致SIEL不产生的突变导致植物在胚胎发育早期死亡。目前的数据表明，SIEL作为一种细胞内穿梭，通过与细胞间膜（特别是内体）和微管细胞骨架的关联促进蛋白质的胞间连丝依赖性运动。该项目的目标是确定SIEL在植物发育过程中蛋白质的细胞间运输中的功能。这项研究对植物发育和细胞生物学具有明显的相关性。此外，由于植物病毒被认为利用内源性植物途径进行细胞间运动，因此与植物抗病性和农业相关，其中病毒感染可大量减少作物产量。更广泛的影响主要研究者运行一个实验室，在该实验室中，高度鼓励各级学生参与研究。她接待了来自当地中学和高中的学生，并有高中和本科学生每天积极在她的实验室工作。此外，她还积极与当地教师和宾夕法尼亚大学教育专业的学生合作，开发实验室练习，这些练习可以在网上或当地杂货店或园艺店以低廉的价格和现成的材料进行。这些实验室练习符合宾夕法尼亚州科学教育的标准和基准。