Role of BLADE-ON-PETIOLE and TGA bZIP transcription factors in regulation of plant architecture

植物物种的建筑多样性反映了形状和形态在优化生存和繁殖成功方面发挥的关键作用。植物发育生物学家的一个重要目标是识别控制植物结构的基因，并了解这些基因如何相互作用以产生结构多样性。我们的重点是叶片- on - petiole1 （BOP1）和BOP2，这是一组转录共调节因子，控制叶片、果实、花和花序等结构的确定性和边界（连接）模式。BOP蛋白与植物防御调节因子NPR1序列相关，其作用模式已被充分研究，并可作为范例。NPR1的氧化还原依赖性修饰促进其核定位并与TGACG-motif binding (TGA) bZIP转录因子相互作用，这是激活病原体防御基因所必需的。BOP1/2及其相互作用的TGA转录因子在发育中的作用尚不清楚。这些作用将在拟南芥中进行研究，拟南芥是一种简单的模式植物，适用于遗传，分子和生化方法。我们的工作将以过去五年取得的进展为基础，为学生提供各种专业领域的高级培训，包括遗传学、生物化学、分子生物学和显微镜学。我们目前的目标是：1)进一步研究BOP1/2- tgas在花分生组织终止中的作用，2)确定TGA因子在发育中的其他作用，3)从遗传学角度研究BOP1/2在幼苗分生组织-器官边界模式中的作用，4)研究BOP1/2在茎伸长和开花协调中的作用，5)进一步研究BOP1/2转录因子活性的机制。我们的工作将为植物结构多样性的分子基础提供新的见解，并确定在发育中起作用的潜在氧化还原控制机制。最终，这项工作将导致对建筑特征的直接操纵的新策略，以提高园艺和观赏作物物种的新颖性和商业价值。

Architectural diversity among plant species is a reflection of the key role that shape and form play in optimizing survival and reproductive success. An important goal of plant developmental biologists has been to identify genes that control plant architecture and to understand how these genes interact to generate structural diversity. Our focus is on BLADE-ON-PETIOLE1 (BOP1) and BOP2, a set of transcriptional co-regulators that control determinacy and boundary (junction) patterning in structures such as leaves, fruits, flowers, and the inflorescence. BOP proteins are related in sequence to the plant defense regulator NPR1, whose mode of action is well-studied and serves as a paradigm. Redox-dependent modification of NPR1 promotes its nuclear localization and interaction with TGACG-motif binding (TGA) bZIP transcription factors, necessary for activation of pathogen defense genes. The developmental roles of BOP1/2 and interacting TGA transcription factors are poorly understood. These roles will be studied in Arabidopsis thaliana, a simple model plant amenable to genetic, molecular, and biochemical approaches. Our work will build on progress made in the last five years and provide advanced training to students in a variety of specialized fields including genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology, and microscopy. Our current objectives are: 1) to further examine the role of BOP1/2-TGAs in termination of the floral meristem, 2) to identify additional roles for TGA factors in development, 3) to examine genetically how BOP1/2 contribute to meristem-organ boundary patterning in seedlings, 4) to examine the role of BOP1/2 in co-ordination of stem elongation and flowering, and 5) to further study the mechanism of BOP1/2 transcription factor activity. Our work will provide new insight into the molecular basis of plant architectural diversity and define potential redox-control mechanisms at play in development. Ultimately, this work will lead to new strategies for the directed manipulation of architectural traits to enhance the novelty and commercial valve of horticultural and ornamental crop species.