Integrated analysis of pollen recognition and double fertilization mechanisms

开花植物的受精和种子生产依赖于花粉管将两个精子输送到雌性配子上。花粉管漫长而快速的旅程的成功依赖于花粉管细胞和雌蕊细胞之间不断的信号传递。花粉管必须找到特定的细胞目标，当它们到达目标时必须破裂，它们的精子必须与雌性配子融合。这些活动都对种子生产至关重要，而种子生产对农业生产和粮食安全至关重要。我们的目标是了解介导花粉和雌蕊之间交换的分子。花粉和雌蕊之间的细胞相互作用是通过细胞外信号交换介导的，这种交换发生在多个花粉管竞争有限数量的胚珠的复杂环境中。胚珠是雌性配子发育的结构，只有在花粉管成功受精后才能成熟为种子（如稻谷和玉米粒）。当我们的科学家充分代表我们国家的多样性时，美国将能够更好地为科学进步做出贡献。该项目将为来自美国科学界传统上没有代表的群体的早期学生提供生物成像、遗传学和基因组学方面的前沿培训。这些学生将加入一个由研究生和博士后组成的团队，他们也将通过这个项目接受培训。该项目将使用独特的分子工具来定义：1)导致胚珠中停止管生长和精子释放的信号系统的花粉成分，2)配子融合所需机制的新成分，以及3)配子融合如何触发阻止多个花粉管进入单个胚珠的机制。本项目将采用综合方法对开花植物的施肥进行研究。那些必须被花粉管显示出来以供雌蜂识别的分子将被发现。该项目还将定义配子融合机制的新组成部分，并测试旨在理解配子融合如何阻止后续花粉管吸引的假设。该项目利用成像、遗传学和基因组学方面的独特专业知识，了解如何将花粉-雌蕊相互作用结合起来，以最大限度地提高种子产量。确定花粉和雌蕊之间的分子交换，最大限度地提高生殖成功率，将改变我们培育具有弹性授粉系统的新作物品种的能力。

Fertilization and seed production in flowering plants relies on the delivery of two sperm to female gametes by a pollen tube. The success of the long and rapid journey of the pollen tube relies on constant signaling between the pollen tube cell and the cells of the pistil. Pollen tubes must find specific cellular targets, they must burst when they arrive at the target, and their sperm must fuse with female gametes. These events are all essential for seed production, which is central to agricultural production and food security. Our goal is to understand the molecules that mediate exchanges between pollen and pistil. Cellular interactions between pollen and pistil are mediated by extracellular signaling exchanges occurring in a complex environment where multiple pollen tubes are competing for a limited number of ovules. Ovules are the structures where female gametes develop and that mature into seeds (e.g. rice grains and corn kernels) only after successful fertilization by a pollen tube. The United States will be better able to contribute to scientific progress when our scientists represent the full diversity of our nation. This project will provide cutting edge training in biological imaging, genetics and genomics for early-stage students from groups that have not traditionally been represented in US science. These students will join a team of graduate students and a post-doctoral researcher who will also receive training through this project.This project will use unique molecular tools to define: 1) Pollen components of the signaling system that results in cessation of tube growth and sperm release in the ovule, 2) Novel components of the mechanisms required for gamete fusion, and 3) How gamete fusion triggers a mechanism that prevents multiple pollen tubes from entering a single ovule.This project will take an integrated approach to the study of fertilization in flowering plants. The molecules that must be displayed by the pollen tube for recognition by the female will be discovered. The project will also define novel components of the gamete fusion mechanism and test hypotheses aimed at understanding how gamete fusion blocks attraction of subsequent pollen tubes. The project takes advantage of unique expertise in imaging, genetics, and genomics to understand how pollen-pistil interactions are integrated to maximize seed production. Defining the molecular exchanges between pollen and pistil that maximize reproductive success will transform our ability to generate new crop varieties with resilient pollination systems.