Control of plant morphogenesis by the blade-on-petiole genes in arabidopsis

植物物种之间存在着显著程度的建筑多样性。植物发育生物学家的一个重要目标是识别控制模式形成的基因，并了解这些基因是如何塑造植物器官的。我的实验室研究基因如何控制形状和形成，重点是了解模式植物拟南芥中控制叶片和花朵图案的分子机制。目前对空间线索如何调控生长不对称性知之甚少，这是构图的一个重要方面。我最近发现了两个与病程相关的PROTEINS1(NPR1)样信号蛋白的NONEXPRESSOR，叶柄上叶片(BOP)1和2在这一过程中的作用。NPR1及其在植物防御中的作用得到了很好的研究。病原菌的攻击导致信号分子水杨酸(SA)的积累，随后改变了细胞内的氧化还原电位。NPR1通过以单体的形式进入细胞核来响应氧化还原状态的变化，并与TGA(TGACG序列特异性结合)转录因子相互作用，然后与防御基因启动子中的SA反应元件结合。这些BOP蛋白在结构上与NPR1相关，我们的初步分析表明，它们在机制上与NPR1的信号级联作用相似。我们打算进一步研究BOP信号的机制，识别与BOP1/2相互作用的蛋白质，确定BOP活性的修饰物和下游靶点。并确定BOP如何与其他调节叶片和花朵图案的基因相互作用。这项工作将为双边叶片和花朵图案的调控提供新的见解，并为可能的氧化还原控制机制提供有价值的分子细节，该机制在植物发育中发挥作用。最终，我们的工作将为操纵叶片和花的形状提供有价值的工具，并为植物结构多样性的分子基础提供见解。

A remarkable degree of architectural diversity exists between plant species. An important goal of plant developmental biologists has been to identify genes that control patterning and to understand how these genes sculpt plant organs. My laboratory studies how genes control shape and form with an emphasis on understanding the molecular mechanisms that control leaf and floral patterning in the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana. Little is currently known about how spatial cues regulate growth asymmetry, a crucial aspect of patterning.  I have recently identified a role for two NONEXPRESSOR OF PATHOGENESIS-RELATED PROTEINS1 (NPR1)-like signaling proteins, BLADE-ON-PETIOLE (BOP) 1 and 2 in this process.  NPR1 and its role in plant defense is well-studied.  Pathogen attack leads to the accumulation of a signal molecule salicylic acid (SA) followed by altered intracellular redox potential.  NPR1 responds to changes in redox-state by becoming monomeric in form, entering the nucleus, and interacting with TGA (TGACG sequence-specific binding) transcription factors which then bind to SA-response elements in the promoters of defense genes.  The BOP proteins are structurally related to NPR1 and our preliminary analyses suggest that they function in a signaling cascade that is mechanistically similar to that of NPR1.  We intend to further examine the mechanism of BOP signaling, to identify proteins that interact with BOP1/2, to identify modifiers and downstream targets of BOP activity, and to determine how BOP interacts with other genes that regulate leaf and floral patterning.  This work will provide fresh insight into how bilateral patterning of leaves and flowers is governed and give valuable molecular details about a possible redox-control mechanism that functions in plant development.  Ultimately, our work will generate valuable tools for the manipulation of leaf and floral form and provide insights into the molecular basis of plant architectural diversity.