From Genes to Lipid Polymers: Understanding Suberin Biosynthesis in Poplar

从基因到脂质聚合物：了解杨树中的木栓质生物合成

• 批准号: 418440-2012
• 负责人: Molina, Isabel
• 金额: $ 2.11万
• 依托单位: Algoma University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2013-01-01 至 2014-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=531175
• 关键词: Genes; Lipid; Polymers; Understanding; Suberin

Plants produce most of the biomass on earth, are our major source of food, and are increasingly becoming an important source of renewable fuels, chemicals and materials. However, the stability of our resource base is progressively at risk from stresses associated with climate change. In order to develop plants more resistant to stresses, we need to understand the adaptations that protect plants against stressors such as pathogens, salinity, and drought. Suberin, a polymerized lipid associated with waxes that modifies cell walls, is a ubiquitous adaptation that confers protection in higher plants. Suberin is a major component of the bark of trees and the main structure of cork from cork oaks, constituting a renewable raw material with unique properties that has been used for centuries. Although vitally important to the subsistence and performance of all agricultural and forestry species, there is a major gap in our understanding of suberin biosynthesis and structure. My NSERC Discovery research program will focus on identifying and characterizing novel genes and proteins involved in the synthesis and regulation of this protective surface barrier. We will study the effects of silencing and over-expressing these genes on the ability of plants to withstand environmental stressors. Ultimately, the transgenic plants/strategies we develop will help connect suberin biosynthesis and structure to biological function. This basic knowledge of suberin biosynthesis is crucial to devise innovative and environmentally safe strategies to improve plant resistance to biotic and climatic stresses. Furthermore, suberin and its associated waxes are composed of renewable hydrocarbons that are chemically suitable for replacement of petroleum products; thus, this fundamental knowledge of plant lipid polymers will allow the development of plants and microorganisms that produce large amounts of biopolymers or their precursors as sources of energy and chemical feedstocks. The proposed research will provide cutting-edge training of HQP in plant molecular biotechnology and analytical chemistry; this is a high demand career with numerous employment opportunities.

植物生产了地球上大部分的生物质，是我们主要的食物来源，并日益成为可再生燃料、化学品和材料的重要来源。然而，我们资源基础的稳定性正逐渐受到与气候变化相关的压力的威胁。为了培育出更具抗逆性的植物，我们需要了解保护植物免受病原体、盐分和干旱等逆境胁迫的适应。Suberin是一种与蜡质相关的聚合脂质，可以改变细胞壁，是一种普遍存在的适应，在高等植物中提供保护。Suberin是树皮的主要成分，也是软木橡木软木的主要结构，构成了一种具有独特性能的可再生原材料，已使用了几个世纪。虽然对所有农业和林业物种的生存和表现至关重要，但我们对Suberin的生物合成和结构的理解存在着重大差距。我的NSERC发现研究计划将专注于识别和表征参与这种保护性表面屏障的合成和调节的新基因和蛋白质。我们将研究沉默和过度表达这些基因对植物抵御环境胁迫能力的影响。最终，我们开发的转基因植物/策略将有助于将Suberin的生物合成和结构与生物功能联系起来。这些基础知识对于设计创新和环境安全的策略以提高植物对生物和气候胁迫的抵抗力是至关重要的。此外，Suberin及其相关蜡由化学上适合于替代石油产品的可再生碳氢化合物组成；因此，对植物脂聚合物的基础知识将使植物和微生物能够产生大量生物聚合物或其前体，作为能源和化学原料。拟议的研究将提供HQP在植物分子生物技术和分析化学方面的尖端培训；这是一个要求很高的职业，有很多就业机会。