Investigating the biogenesis of plant peroxisomes: the role of the endoplasmic reticulum, membrane protein targeting, and pMVB formation

真核细胞的一个标志是不同代谢途径的区隔化或“分工”，形成单独的亚细胞细胞器，这一过程是由细胞内适当的蛋白质成分运输到每个细胞器来确保的。本资助申请中描述的研究旨在了解过氧化物酶体的生物发生（组装和维护）-几乎在所有真核细胞中发现的细胞器，并且在其形状，运动和代谢功能方面具有高度动态。它们也是一些病毒病原体发育的重要位点。事实上，科学家们现在认识到，过氧化物酶体参与的过程远比以前提出的要多，而且随着新发现的不断出现，过氧化物酶体的更多意想不到的作用可能会被发现。计划研究的重点是阐明植物细胞中过氧化物酶体生物发生的分子机制，特别是内质网（ER）作为形成和维持（新的）过氧化物酶体的膜模板的作用，过氧化物酶体膜蛋白的细胞内运输，以及病毒为了利用过氧化物酶体在受感染的植物细胞内复制而采用的策略。总的来说，将利用最先进的跨学科和互补的方法来提高我们对植物生物学的基本知识，包括过氧化物酶体组装的基本过程和病毒复制的机制。这些研究在更广泛的背景下也很重要，因为结果可以应用于我们对其他生物体（保守的）过氧化物酶体功能的理解，例如在人类中，过氧化物酶体生物发生缺陷是几种遗传性疾病的基础。最终，这项研究不仅将有助于未来合理设计加拿大重要的农业作物植物，以生产依赖于适当的细胞内蛋白质运输和过氧化物酶体相关功能的重要营养和工业生物产品，而且还将为科学家的发展提供良好的培训机会，这些科学家将为加拿大学术界，政府或工业界的职业生涯做好准备。

A hallmark of eukaryotic cells is the compartmentalization or "division of labor" of distinct metabolic pathways into separate subcellular organelles, a process that is ensured by the proper intracellular trafficking of protein constituents to each organelle. Research described in this grant application is aimed at gaining an understanding of the biogenesis (assembly and maintenance) of peroxisomes - organelles that are found in virtually all eukaryotic cells and are highly dynamic in regards to their shapes, motility and metabolic functions. They are also important sites for the development of some viral pathogens. Indeed, scientists now appreciate that peroxisomes participate in far more processes than previously proposed and that, as new discoveries continue to be made, even more unexpected roles for peroxisomes will likely be uncovered. The emphasis of the planned research is on elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the biogenesis of peroxisomes in plant cells, specifically the role the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as the membrane template for the formation and maintenance of (new) peroxisomes, the intracellular trafficking of peroxisomal membrane proteins, and the strategies that viruses employ in order to exploit peroxisomes for their replication within infected plant cells. Overall, state-of-the-art interdisciplinary and complementary approaches will be utilized in order to enhance our basic knowledge of plant biology, including the fundamental processes of peroxisome assembly and the mechanisms of virus replication. These studies will be important also in a broader context since the results can be applied to our understanding of (conserved) peroxisome functioning in other organisms, such as in humans where defects in peroxisome biogenesis underlie several inherited diseases. Ultimately, this research will not only aid in the future rational design of important Canadian agriculture crop plants to produce important nutritional and industrial bioproducts that rely on proper intracellular protein trafficking and peroxisome-related functions, but also provide excellent training opportunities for the development of scientists who will be well prepared for careers in Canadian academia, government or industry.