Structural Biochemistry of the UVR8 Photoreceptor Signaling Pathway

UVR8 光感受器信号通路的结构生物化学

• 批准号: 1330856
• 负责人: Elizabeth Getzoff
• 金额: $ 54万
• 依托单位: The Scripps Research Institute
• 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: 2013-09-01 至 2017-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1330856&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Structural; Biochemistry; UVR8; Photoreceptor; Signaling

Intellectual Merit:Plants must respond to environmental cues like light to survive and flourish. Light sensors enable plants to react to sunlight by triggering photosynthesis, UV sunscreen protection, and appropriate light-activated growth and development (photomorphogenesis). The plant UVR8 UV-B photoreceptive system initiates stress responses to promote survival using a novel tryptophan pyramid as the intrinsic chromophore, then couples signaling interactions to trigger massive gene expression changes. This light-activated system, investigated by the application of state-of-the-art biophysical techniques and a transdisciplinary approach will enable a mechanistic understanding of a prototypic biological response pathway. Building on the first crystallographic and solution structures of UVR8 determined in the Getzoff lab, this research will integrate structural biology expertise in X-ray crystallography and solution scattering; building of comprehensive biochemical models; spectroscopy to assay light-activated mechanisms and phenotypes; and strategic cross-disciplinary collaborations with plant biologists to inform and be informed by molecular genetics in plants. The results will provide plant biologists with a molecular-level appreciation of photomorphogenesis. Characterization of UVR8 partners will provide information on structure, interactions and activities of the beta-propeller WD40 domain, one of the top-ten most abundant folds in eukaryotic genomes. The resulting mechanistic understanding of how plants respond to sunlight provides insights into how crops will react to climate change and to increased radiation resulting from depletion of atmospheric ozone.Broader Impacts:This project will bring science into the classroom by providing genuine research experience to high school students. Learning molecular biology techniques in their own lab, these students participate by making structure-based mutants; growing protein crystals and seeing tangible outcomes relevant to environmental problems. Thus, students actively apply the scientific method and learn how to test biological hypotheses experimentally. This project will facilitate continued PI involvement in the interdisciplinary graduate program and support participation of underrepresented groups in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. In the lab, students and post-doctoral fellows will be trained in contributing to interdisciplinary, international collaborations and mentoring junior interns in projects involving the UVR8 plant photoresponse system.

智力优势：植物必须对光线等环境信号做出反应，才能生存和繁荣。光传感器使植物能够通过触发光合作用、紫外线防晒保护和适当的光激活生长和发育（光形态建成）来对阳光做出反应。植物UVR 8 UV-B光感受系统启动胁迫反应，以促进生存使用一种新的色氨酸金字塔作为内在发色团，然后耦合信号相互作用，触发大规模的基因表达变化。通过应用最先进的生物物理技术和跨学科方法研究这种光激活系统，将能够对原型生物反应途径进行机械理解。在Getzoff实验室确定的UVR 8的第一个晶体学和溶液结构的基础上，这项研究将整合X射线晶体学和溶液散射的结构生物学专业知识;建立全面的生物化学模型;光谱学来分析光激活机制和表型;与植物生物学家进行战略性的跨学科合作，以了解植物的分子遗传学。这些结果将为植物生物学家提供光形态建成的分子水平的评价。UVR 8伴侣的表征将提供关于β-螺旋桨WD 40结构域的结构、相互作用和活性的信息，该结构域是真核基因组中十大最丰富的折叠之一。由此产生的对植物如何对阳光做出反应的机械理解，为作物如何对气候变化和大气臭氧消耗导致的辐射增加做出反应提供了见解。更广泛的影响：该项目将通过为高中生提供真正的研究经验，将科学带入课堂。在自己的实验室学习分子生物学技术，这些学生通过制造基于结构的突变体参与;生长蛋白质晶体并看到与环境问题相关的有形成果。因此，学生积极运用科学方法，学习如何实验验证生物学假设。该项目将促进PI继续参与跨学科研究生课程，并支持科学，技术，工程和数学方面代表性不足的群体的参与。在实验室中，学生和博士后研究员将接受培训，以促进跨学科的国际合作，并指导初级实习生参与UVR 8植物光响应系统的项目。