BRC-BIO: Investigation of the role of the plant hormone, abscisic acid, in stomatal formation using a novel drought-tolerant mutant

BRC-BIO：使用新型耐旱突变体研究植物激素脱落酸在气孔形成中的作用

基本信息

批准号：
2217757
负责人：
xingyun qi
金额：
$ 44.57万
依托单位：
Rutgers University Camden
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Standard Grant
财政年份：
2022
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2022-08-01 至 2025-07-31
项目状态：
未结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2217757&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
BRC BIO Investigation role plant

项目摘要

In the wake of changing climate, drought has become a major environmental threat that impairs crop productivity worldwide. Stomata, micro-pores on the leaf surfaces of terrestrial plants, can open and close to allow carbon dioxide into the leaf and water vapor to escape. Water evaporation via these structures is estimated to explain over 90% of water loss from plants. Thus, a detailed understanding of how plants respond to drought to mediate water loss can inform approaches to reduce crop loss due to drought. Stomatal conductance is an overall measure of the exchange of carbon dioxide or water vapor via the stomata; it responds to both the number of stomata and how open they are, thus providing an indicator of drought stress. The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) is a stress-related hormone that directly responds to drought stress by regulating stomatal conductance. While the role of ABA in signaling stomata to close has been extensively explored, the mechanisms by which ABA signals the plant to increase or decrease the number of stomata remains elusive. The research aims of this study are designed to provide insight into plant drought tolerance by exploring the ABA function in stomatal formation. Much of the research will be conducted by four undergraduate students from underserved communities. These students will be mentored by the PI and a graduate student and will serve as peer mentors to each other. Production of the genetically engineered plants generated in this study, and the phenotypic analyses thereof, will serve as the basis for development of a new undergraduate laboratory course. Students taking this course will receive extensive hands-on training in a complete set of widely used techniques, which will promote their science identity and better prepare them for professional STEM careers.The PI’s group has identified a drought-tolerant mutant, which produces stomata more slowly under drought conditions than when well-watered. Analysis of the mutant under drought stress has revealed that ABA signaling is enhanced and a transcription factor that promotes stomatal formation is preferentially inhibited. The PI hypothesizes that ABA mediates drought-triggered stomatal inhibition by targeting stomatal-associated transcription factors in the mutant. This hypothesis will be tested by two aims to: 1) examine the role of ABA in drought-triggered stomatal inhibition in the mutant, and (2) identify the transcription factor targeted by the ABA signal in the stomatal developmental pathway in the mutant. The results have the potential to provide new insights into how drought controls stomatal numbers.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.

在气候变化之后，干旱已成为损害全球农作物生产力的主要环境威胁。气孔，陆生植物叶片表面上的微por，可以打开并靠近以使二氧化碳进入叶片和水蒸气中逸出。估计通过这些结构蒸发来解释植物中水分流失的90％以上。这是对植物如何应对干旱以调解水分流失的详细理解可以为减少干旱造成的作物损失的方法提供信息。气孔电导是通过气孔交换二氧化碳或水蒸气的总体量度。它响应了气孔的数量和开放程度，从而提供了干旱压力的指标。植物马匹脱甲酸酸（ABA）是一种与应激相关的马烯，通过控制气孔电导直接应对干旱应激。尽管广泛探索了ABA在信号传导中的作用。这项研究的研究目的旨在通过探索气孔形成的ABA功能来洞悉植物干旱的耐受性。大部分研究将由来自服务不足社区的四名本科生进行。这些学生将受到PI和研究生的指导，并将互相担任同伴导师。本研究中产生的一般工程植物以及其表型分析的生产将成为开发新的本科实验室课程的基础。参加本课程的学生将通过一套全面使用的技术接受广泛的动手培训，这将促进其科学身份，并更好地为专业的STEM职业做好准备。对干旱应力下突变体的分析表明，ABA信号传导增强，并且优选抑制促进气孔形成的转录因子。 PI假设ABA通过靶向突变体中与垂直相关的转录因子来介导干旱触发的降水抑制。该假设将通过两个目的来检验：1）检查ABA在突变体中的干旱触发的气孔抑制中的作用，以及（2）确定由ABA信号在突变体中ABA信号靶向的转录因子。结果有潜力提供有关干旱控制道具数字的新见解。该奖项反映了NSF的坚定使命，并使用基金会的知识分子优点和更广泛的影响标准，被视为通过评估来获得宝贵的支持。