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.

智力优点：细胞钙介导动物和植物细胞中的各种过程，包括基因表达，细胞增殖，细胞分裂，代谢和细胞运动。气孔是微观孔，每个孔由一对缩小并膨胀以调节呼吸的电池形成。 这些专门细胞的质膜中的钙通道在允许胞质Ca2+的增加中起着至关重要的作用，这会导致这些孔闭合，从而限制了植物的水分流失。 胞质CA2+动力学的模式编码影响气孔行为并控制基因表达的特异性和效率的信息；但是，这些Ca2+通道在植物中的分子身份仍然难以捉摸。另外，这些Ca2+模式调节细胞反应（包括基因表达）的分子机制尚未鉴定。使用拟南芥保护细胞作为模型系统，该项目的目的是研究如何在单细胞水平上通过分子成分转导细胞Ca2+信号。在这个项目中，包括计算建模和分子遗传分析在内的多学科方法将用于表征质膜中推定的CA2+可渗透通道蛋白家族，并分析胞质CA2+动力学如何调节护罩细胞中的基因表达并为固有行为的调节作用。 这项研究的结果将揭示细胞Ca2+信号传导的新分子成分，并为植物中的CA2+动态控制的细胞反应提供新的见解。Broader的影响：淡水稀缺是本世纪主要的全球问题之一，而65％的全球淡水用于农业。植物通过在叶子表面的气孔孔中蒸腾而损失了超过95％的水。由于细胞钙在调节气孔行为中起关键作用，因此拟议的研究产生的结果和知识将有助于保护环境并提高农业生产率。两名博士后研究员，两名研究生和一名或多名本科生将参加该项目。 PI和Co-Pi将提供广泛的指导，以为博士后员工为未来的职业做准备。 PI和Co-Pi将继续致力于扩大代表性不足小组的学生的参与。 PI和Co-Pi将向公众发表演讲和讲座，以激发对科学和科学教育的普遍兴趣。与同事合作，PI计划向当地和州政府官员提供开放式房屋，以提供我们研究的非技术解释，并使这些决策者有机会在工作中看到第一手税收。