Molecular Genetic Dissection of Calcium Signaling in Plants

植物钙信号传导的分子遗传学解析

• 批准号: 1244303
• 负责人: Caren Chang
• 金额: $ 88.7万
• 依托单位: University of Maryland, College Park
• 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 2018-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1244303&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Molecular; Genetic; Dissection; Calcium; Signaling

Intellectual Merit: Cellular calcium mediates diverse processes in both animal and plant cells, including gene expression, cell proliferation, cell division, metabolism, and cell movement. Stomata are microscopic pores each formed by a pair of guard cells that shrink and swell to regulate respiration. Calcium channels in the plasma membrane of these specialized cells play a crucial role in allowing an increase of cytosolic Ca2+, which causes these pores to close thus limiting water loss by the plant. Patterns of cytosolic Ca2+ dynamics encode information that impacts stomatal behavior and controls the specificity and efficiency of gene expression; however, the molecular identity of these Ca2+ channels in plants remains elusive. In addition, molecular mechanisms by which these Ca2+ patterns regulate cellular responses, including gene expression, have yet to be identified. Using Arabidopsis guard cells as a model system, the aim of this project is to investigate how a cellular Ca2+ signal is transduced by molecular components at the single-cell level. In this project, a multidisciplinary approach that includes computational modeling and molecular genetic analysis, will be used to characterize a family of putative Ca2+-permeable channel proteins in the plasma membrane and to analyze how cytosolic Ca2+ dynamics modulates gene expression in guard cells and contributes to the regulation of stomatal behavior. The results of this research will reveal novel molecular components of cellular Ca2+ signaling and provide new insights into Ca2+ dynamics-controlled cellular responses in plants.Broader Impacts: Fresh water scarcity is one of the major global problems this century, and 65% of global fresh water is used for agriculture. Plants lose over 95% of their water via transpiration through stomatal pores in the leaf surface. Since cellular calcium plays a key role in the regulation of stomatal behavior, results and knowledge arising from the proposed research will contribute to protecting the environment and to improving agricultural productivity. Two postdoctoral fellows, two graduate students and one or more undergraduate students will participate in this project. The PI and co-PI will provide extensive mentoring to prepare postdoctoral associates for their future careers. The PI and co-PI will continue making a commitment to broadening the participation of students from underrepresented groups. The PI and co-PI will give presentations and lectures to the public to stimulate general interest in science and science education. In collaboration with colleagues, the PI plans to offer an open house to local and state governmental officials to provide a non-technical explanation of our research and give these policymakers an opportunity to see first hand tax dollars at work.

智力价值：细胞钙在动物和植物细胞中调节不同的过程，包括基因表达、细胞增殖、细胞分裂、代谢和细胞运动。气孔是微小的气孔，每个气孔都由一对保卫细胞形成，它们收缩和膨胀以调节呼吸。这些特化细胞质膜上的钙通道在细胞内钙离子的增加上起着至关重要的作用，这会导致这些气孔关闭，从而限制植物的水分损失。细胞内钙离子动力学模式编码影响气孔行为的信息，并控制基因表达的特异性和效率；然而，植物中这些钙离子通道的分子特性仍然难以确定。此外，这些钙离子模式调节包括基因表达在内的细胞反应的分子机制尚未确定。本项目以拟南芥保卫细胞为模型系统，在单细胞水平上研究细胞内钙信号是如何由分子组分传递的。在这个项目中，包括计算模型和分子遗传分析在内的多学科方法将被用来描述质膜中一类可能的钙离子通透通道蛋白的特征，并分析胞内钙离子动力学如何调节保卫细胞中的基因表达并有助于气孔行为的调节。这项研究的结果将揭示细胞内钙信号的新的分子成分，并为植物中钙离子动力学控制的细胞反应提供新的见解。广泛的影响：淡水短缺是本世纪的主要全球问题之一，全球65%的淡水用于农业。植物通过叶表面的气孔孔的蒸腾作用损失了超过95%的水分。由于细胞钙在气孔行为的调节中起着关键作用，因此拟议的研究成果和知识将有助于保护环境和提高农业生产力。两名博士后研究员、两名研究生和一名或多名本科生将参与这个项目。PI和共同PI将提供广泛的指导，为他们未来的职业生涯做好博士后准备。国际和平协会和联合国际组织将继续致力于扩大来自代表性不足群体的学生的参与。国际科学协会和联合国际将向公众介绍和讲座，以激发公众对科学和科学教育的兴趣。在与同事的合作下，PI计划向地方和州政府官员提供开放参观，以提供对我们研究的非技术性解释，并让这些政策制定者有机会看到第一手税收正在发挥作用。