Function and Regulation of Metacaspases in Plant Cell Death

后半胱天冬酶在植物细胞死亡中的功能和调节

• 批准号: 1258071
• 负责人: Eric Lam
• 金额: $ 56.56万
• 依托单位: Rutgers University New Brunswick
• 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: 2013-09-15 至 2018-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1258071&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Function; Regulation; Metacaspases; Plant; Cell

Programmed cell death (PCD) is found in all eukaryotes and plays critical roles in important processes such as tissue/organ morphogenesis, elimination of unwanted/damaged cells, pathogen defense, and stress responses. Metacaspases belong to a family of specialized cysteine proteases that are found to be highly conserved regulators of this important process in plants, fungi and protozoa but their mode of regulation and downstream targets remain obscure in most cases. This project will carry out genetic and molecular studies aimed at elucidating the mechanisms by which the activation and desensitization of metacaspases may be controlled. Furthermore, the investigators will deploy a novel technology to define the intracellular targets for three different metacaspases in order to uncover the potential pathways that are regulated by these proteases. In addition to the direct contributions toward our understanding of PCD regulation in higher plants, this project will shed light on the mechanisms of how the conserved metacaspases could be regulated. These advances can facilitate future design of novel strategies to activate cell death in pathogenic protozoa strains and fungi, as well as to suppress cell death in crop plants during stresses for improved productivity. Results generated from this project will be communicated to the public via peer-reviewed journals, and the resources produced, such as new mutant lines and DNA constructs, will be freely shared with other investigators upon request. From the pedagogical perspective, this project will provide diversified, interdisciplinary training to postdoctoral researchers and students at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. It will expose team members to a diverse array of disciplines, including genetics, genomics, molecular cloning, biochemistry and cell biology. This broad-based training will provide a rich environment that is conducive to creative approaches for solving complex problems in biology and for leveraging innovative technologies for novel solutions.

程序性细胞死亡（PCD）存在于所有真核生物中，在组织/器官形态发生、消除不需要的/受损的细胞、病原体防御和应激反应等重要过程中发挥关键作用。 Metacaspases属于一个专门的半胱氨酸蛋白酶家族，被发现是植物，真菌和原生动物中这一重要过程的高度保守的调节剂，但在大多数情况下，它们的调节模式和下游靶点仍然不清楚。该项目将进行遗传和分子研究，旨在阐明控制后半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶的激活和脱敏的机制。 此外，研究人员将部署一种新技术来定义三种不同的metacaspase的细胞内靶点，以揭示这些蛋白酶调节的潜在途径。除了对我们理解高等植物中PCD调控的直接贡献外，该项目还将揭示保守的后半胱氨酸蛋白酶如何被调控的机制。这些进展可以促进未来设计新的策略来激活病原性原生动物菌株和真菌中的细胞死亡，以及抑制作物植物在胁迫期间的细胞死亡以提高生产力。该项目产生的结果将通过同行评议的期刊向公众传播，产生的资源，如新的突变株系和DNA构建体，将根据要求与其他研究人员免费共享。 从教学的角度来看，该项目将为博士后研究人员和研究生和本科生提供多样化的跨学科培训。它将使团队成员接触到各种学科，包括遗传学，基因组学，分子克隆，生物化学和细胞生物学。这种基础广泛的培训将提供一个丰富的环境，有利于创造性的方法来解决生物学中的复杂问题，并利用创新技术的新的解决方案。