RUI: Genomic and integrative analysis of phytochromes E and F in tomato

该项目研究植物中光受体的生物学，特别是在茄属植物中，茄属植物家族包括农业上重要的作物，如马铃薯，番茄，辣椒和茄子。植物光受体使植物能够评估和评估其环境周围的条件，并使其能够做出确保繁殖成功的发育决定。这些决定包括，除其他外，发芽，叶片发育，开花和坐果的时间。具体而言，该项目旨在更好地了解番茄中两种光受体在决定植物结构和整体形状方面的作用。该项目在一所文理学院进行，强调为本科生提供研究方面的教育机会。该项目的一个方面是为第一学期的生物学学生开发一个以研究为基础的实验室，调查早期水果生产花园西红柿的遗传基础。通过与华盛顿中部农村地区的一所大学合作，也将向该州传统上科学基础设施欠发达地区的学生提供教育机会。本项目调查了光受体光敏色素，特别是番茄光敏色素E和F对光形态建成和发育的贡献。与模式植物拟南芥一样，番茄和其他茄属植物也有五个光敏色素基因。祖先光敏色素基因的基因复制发生在茄科从紫云英科分离之后。这导致了这两个植物家族在每组光敏色素基因的功能上的差异。到目前为止，在番茄中还没有PHYE和PHYF的功能丧失突变。我们最近使用CRISPR技术开发了这些基因的敲除突变体。在此授权期间，将构建高阶突变体并进行表型评估。为了确定光敏色素E和F在光调节信号转导中的作用，将进行与共表达网络分析偶联的RNA-seq。利用这些基因网络的信息将使我们能够制定新的可测试的假设，关于生理功能的光敏色素在nightshades.This奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过评估使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准的支持。

This project investigates the biology of light receptors in plants, specifically in the nightshades, a plant family which includes agriculturally important crops, such as potato, tomato, pepper, and eggplant. Plant light receptors enable a plant to assess and evaluate the conditions of its environmental surroundings and allows it to make developmental decisions that ensure reproductive success. Such decisions include, among others, the timing of germination, leaf development, flower production and fruit set. Specifically, this project aims to better understand the function of two light receptors in tomato in the context of their role in determining the plant’s architecture and overall shape. The project is conducted at a liberal arts college and emphasizes educational opportunities in research for undergraduates. One aspect of the project is to develop a research-based laboratory for first-semester Biology students investigating the genetic underpinnings of early fruit producing garden tomatoes. Through collaboration with a college in rural central Washington educational opportunities will also be made available to students in regions of the state with a traditionally less developed scientific infrastructure.This project investigates the contributions of the light receptor phytochrome, specifically phytochromes E and F in tomato, to photomorphogenesis and development. Like the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, tomato and other nightshades have five phytochrome genes. Gene duplications of ancestral phytochrome genes occurred after the split of the Solanaceae from the Brassicaceae. This has led to differentiation between these two plant families in the functionality of each set of phytochrome genes. To this date, loss of function mutations for PHYE and PHYF have not been available in tomato. We have recently developed knock out mutants in these genes using CRISPR technology. During this granting period higher order mutants will be constructed and phenotypically evaluated. To determine the role that phytochromes E and F play in light-regulated signal transduction, RNA-seq coupled with co-expression network analysis will be conducted. Using information from these gene networks will enable us to formulate new testable hypotheses regarding the physiological functions of phytochromes in the nightshades.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.