Comparative and functional genomics of fibre development and natural product biosynthesis

纤维发育和天然产物生物合成的比较和功能基因组学

• 批准号: 36485-2007
• 负责人: Douglas, Carl
• 金额: $ 5.76万
• 依托单位: University of British Columbia
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2008-01-01 至 2009-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=390143
• 关键词: Comparative; functional; genomics; fibre; development

The evolution of the land plant habit has culminated in the vast array of vascular plant species that now dominate terrestrial ecosystems and are essential in providing food, fibre, and energy for human activities. Key evolutionary innovations were likely required for the adaptation of land plants to the terrestrial environment, including evolution of metabolic pathways for defense, communication, and structural purposes. Furthermore, development of cellulose and lignin-rich secondary cell walls in xylem and secondary xylem (wood) was required in vascular land plants for structural support and nutrient/water transport. The focus of this proposal is on the nature and regulation of key processes such as natural product biosynthesis and fibre/secondary cell wall/wood differentiation and formation in model plants (Arabidopsis, moss, poplar) and commercially valuable (poplar, spruce) trees. Specifically, our experiments will investigate newly discovered genes encoding enzymes for a potentially novel class of natural products required for pollen viability and genes encoding enzymes for the biosynthesis of the signaling compound jasmonic acid, required for response to environmental stresses such as insect attack. We will also study regulatory genes such as transcription factors and receptor kinases involved in programming cells to differentiate into xylem and fibre cells rich in cellulose and lignin, and study a class of cell wall localized chitinase-like proteins that appear to facilitate cellulose deposition into cell walls. This research will provide basic information about these unique aspects of plant function and suggest how these processes might be modified, with potential practical spin-offs in plant fertility control and resistance to insect pests. The work on regulation of secondary cell wall formation and fibre/xylem differentiation has important implications for understanding the formation of biomaterials (fibre and wood) that will be increasingly important as energy and carbon sources in the coming decades and may suggest new ways to manipulate and/or select for plant and tree genetic variants that will be more amenable for biomass and/or biofuels applications.

陆地植物习性的演变最终导致了大量维管植物物种的出现，这些物种现在主宰着陆地生态系统，在为人类活动提供食物、纤维和能源方面至关重要。 陆地植物适应陆地环境可能需要关键的进化创新，包括防御，通信和结构目的的代谢途径的进化。此外，木质部和次生木质部（木材）中的纤维素和木质素丰富的次生细胞壁的发展需要在维管陆地植物的结构支持和营养/水分运输。该提案的重点是关键过程的性质和调节，如天然产物的生物合成和纤维/次生细胞壁/木材的分化和形成模式植物（拟南芥，苔藓，白杨）和商业价值（白杨，云杉）树木。具体来说，我们的实验将调查新发现的基因编码酶的一个潜在的新类别的天然产物所需的花粉活力和基因编码酶的生物合成的信号化合物茉莉酸，需要响应环境压力，如昆虫攻击。我们还将研究调控基因，如转录因子和受体激酶参与编程细胞分化成木质部和纤维细胞丰富的纤维素和木质素，并研究一类细胞壁局部几丁质酶样蛋白，似乎有利于纤维素沉积到细胞壁。这项研究将提供有关植物功能的这些独特方面的基本信息，并建议如何修改这些过程，并在植物育性控制和抗虫害方面具有潜在的实际副产品。调节次生细胞壁形成和纤维/木质部分化的工作对理解生物材料（纤维和木材）的形成具有重要意义，在未来几十年中，生物材料作为能源和碳源将越来越重要，并可能提出新的方法来操纵和/或选择植物和树木遗传变异，这些变异将更适合生物质和/或生物燃料应用。