Integration of developmental signals by plant ARGONAUTES

小RNA引导的过程对真核生物的发育、抗病毒防御和基因组完整性的维持至关重要。这些microRNA被发现是动物发育时间的调节因子，也被发现调节植物的发育时间。影响植物幼叶向成叶转变和叶极性特化的突变体植物对于RNA沉默组分的发现特别重要，包括结合小RNA并控制其调节作用的ARGONAUTE（AGO）蛋白。大多数植物至少有10个AGO基因具有专门的功能，小RNA结合偏好和表达模式。该项目将使用新的基因组资源和工具，特别是自动化和高通量测序，以阐明AGO在控制植物发育的更广泛的基因调控网络中的作用。这项研究将阐明控制AGO表达模式的信号，确定AGO蛋白如何以及在何处与其靶标相互作用，并测量AGO-小RNA-靶标相互作用如何导致下游转录变化。因此，该项目将解决围绕基因调控的基本问题，并提供对农业重要性状（如叶结构）的深入了解。将通过教育推广、人力资源开发以及开发可公开获得的软件工具和数据库来扩大该项目的影响。外联部分将是实验室的延续？目前，该中心正在与丹佛斯中心的科学教育和推广主任特里伍德福德-托马斯博士合作，开发一个生物信息学和RNA-seq模块，作为非常成功的“技术主干”计划的一部分。生物信息学/RNA-Seq主干将探索基因表达分析和功能基因组学背后的技术和生物信息学。两个培训讲习班将提供给参加技术干线计划的高中教师。此外，拟议的研究项目将提供培训和指导机会，在高中，本科，研究生和博士后水平，包括代表性不足的群体。这将与圣路易斯当地的学生和教师作为研究科学家（STARS）计划，丹福斯中心的NSF资助的本科生暑期研究体验（REU）计划合作，并通过丹福斯中心定期举办的职业技能和负责任的研究工作坊来完成。最后，在该项目期间开发的所有基因组规模数据集和分析工具将通过一个公共门户网站提供。

Integration of Developmental Signals by Plant ARGONAUTESIntellectual MeritSmall RNA-guided processes are central to eukaryotic development, antiviral defense and maintenance of genome integrity. These microRNAs were discovered as regulators of developmental timing in animals, and found to also regulate developmental timing in plants. Mutant plants affecting the plant juvenile-to-adult transition and the specification of leaf polarity have been particularly important for the discovery of RNA silencing components, include the ARGONAUTE (AGO) proteins that bind small RNAs and control their regulatory effects. Most plants have at least ten AGO genes with specialized functions, small RNA binding preferences, and expression patterns. This project will use new genomic resources and tools, particularly automation and high-throughput sequencing, to clarify the roles of AGOs in broader gene regulatory networks controlling plant development. This research will elucidate the signals controlling AGO expression patterns, determine how and where AGO proteins interact with their targets, and measure how AGO-small RNA-target interactions lead to downstream transcriptional changes. The project will thus address fundamental questions surrounding gene regulation and provide insight into agriculturally important traits such as leaf architecture. Broader ImpactsThe impact of this project will be broadened through educational outreach, development of human resources, and development of publicly available software tools and databases. The outreach component will be a continuation of the lab?s ongoing collaboration with the Danforth Center's Science Education and Outreach Director, Dr. Terry Woodford-Thomas, to develop a bioinformatics and RNA-seq module as part of the highly successful "Tech Trunk" Program. The Bioinformatics/RNA-Seq trunk will explore the technology and bioinformatics behind gene expression analysis and functional genomics. Two training workshops will be provided to high school teachers that participate in the Tech Trunk program. Additionally, the proposed research project will provide training and mentoring opportunities at the high school, undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels, including for underrepresented groups. This will be accomplished in collaboration with the local Students and Teachers As Research Scientists (STARS) program in St. Louis, the NSF-funded Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program at the Danforth Center, and through regular Danforth Center workshops on career skills and responsible conduct of research. Lastly, all of the genome-scale datasets and analysis tools developed during this project will made easily accessible through a public web portal.