Mechanisms controlling organization of the plant acentriolar microtubule array.

在植物中，细胞功能与细胞形状紧密相连，细胞壁决定细胞形状并维持植物的物理结构。创造细胞形状需要小心地扩大细胞壁，这一过程涉及纤维素纤维在细胞壁中的图案化沉积和细胞壁酶的受控激活。细胞内聚合物被称为微管，是植物生长过程中纤维素沉积的关键模式生成器。该项目研究了推动这些微管组织成特定阵列模式的分子和细胞生物学机制，并试图确定植物激素，如生长素和油菜素类固醇，如何协调微管模式与细胞扩张，以影响形态发生程序。通过了解微管形成模式的机制，研究人员有朝一日可能能够设计植物形态发生并创造智能纤维材料。该项目将通过培训综合新生学习体验荣誉项目的本科生研究人员产生更广泛的影响，该项目与印第安纳大学的住宿STEM项目联系在一起，有50名女性注册。代表人数不足的学生将通过SACNAS和ABRCMS计划招收，以帮助扩大在这一STEM领域的参与。由于微管直接将纤维素纤维沉积到细胞壁中，这是创造植物细胞形状所必需的，因此该项目试图了解微管模式控制的分子机制。使用多学科方法，该项目将集成遗传筛选、计算建模、活细胞成像和质谱学，以识别和表征假想的基因，以控制不同微管阵列模式之间的动态转换，并发现微管是如何在细胞内的特定位置产生的。时间进程成像将被用来研究微管细胞骨架的信息是如何以及以什么容量被转移到细胞壁材料上以控制扩张各向异性。其他工作将集中在两个先前发现的基因上，这两个基因改变了微管的动态特性，导致了微管阵列图案化中的缺陷，并随后出现了细胞形态缺陷。总而言之，该项目寻求在细胞水平上定义推动植物形态发生的核心分子机制。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Cell function is tightly coupled to cell shape in plants where the cell wall defines cell shape and maintains the physical structure of the plant. Creating cell shape requires carefully expanding the cell walls, a process that involves the patterned deposition of cellulose fibers into the cell wall and the controlled activation of cell wall enzymes. Intracellular polymers, termed microtubules, serve as critical pattern generators for cellulose deposition during plant growth. This project examines the molecular and cell biological mechanisms driving the organization of these microtubules into specific array patterns and seeks to determine how plant hormones, such as auxin and brassinosteroids, coordinate microtubule patterning with cell expansion to affect a morphogenetic program. By understanding the mechanisms by which microtubules form patterns, researchers may one day be able to engineer plant morphogenesis and create smart cellulosic materials. This project will have broader impacts through training undergraduate researchers in the Integrated Freshman Learning Experience honors program, which is linked to Indiana University's residential STEM programs that have 50 women enrolled. Underrepresented students will be recruited through the SACNAS and ABRCMS programs to help broaden participation in this STEM field. Because microtubules direct the deposition of cellulose fibers into the cell wall that are required for creating plant cell shape, this project seeks to understand the molecular mechanisms by which microtubule patterning is controlled. Using a multi-disciplinary approach, this project will integrate genetic screens, computational modeling, live-cell imaging, and mass-spectrometry to identify and characterize genes hypothesized to control the dynamic transitions between the different microtubule array patterns, as well as to discover how microtubules are created in specific positions within the cell. Time-course imaging will be employed to examine how, and in what capacity, information from the microtubule cytoskeleton is transferred to cell wall materials for controlling expansion anisotropy. Additional work will focus on two previously identified genes that alter the dynamic properties of the microtubules, leading to defects in microtubule array patterning with subsequent cell morphology defects. In summary, the project seeks to define the central molecular mechanisms driving plant morphogenesis at the cellular level.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.