Functions of aquaporins in plants

水通道蛋白是一种在细胞膜上形成通道以促进水和其他小分子通过的蛋白质。由于水通道蛋白调节水分运输，它们也是了解植物水分关系的关键。此外，最近的研究结果指出了水通道蛋白在气体运输和参与气体交换和信号传递过程的其他分子中的功能重要性。水通道蛋白介导的运输过程的调节涉及受内部和环境因素影响的复杂过程。拟议的研究包括将在受控环境条件下进行的研究，以检查水通道蛋白的功能以及这些蛋白质在植物对环境因素的反应中的意义。本研究将采用全植物生理学、细胞生理学和分子生物学相结合的方法来解决研究问题。我的长期研究目标是：1)扩大对植物和真菌水通道蛋白功能意义的认识；2)培养研究生和博士后，使他们掌握当前最先进的水通道蛋白研究的最新知识和熟悉程度，成为这一重要科学领域的未来领导者。本研究的具体目的是：1)通过对耐盐植物水通道蛋白结构和功能特性的研究，了解其耐盐特性；2)解释了水力信号在外生菌根真菌双色拉卡菌（Laccaria bicolor）根水通道蛋白表达调控中的作用；3)确定水通道蛋白介导的二氧化碳运输在根外生菌根结构发育中的作用；4)研究不同水通道蛋白异构体在根和叶组织中的分布及其水、气输运特性；5)确定aqp介导的氧转运在植物抗洪能力中的重要性。这个项目是我的研究的直接延续，旨在了解水通道蛋白的功能，这是了解水和气体如何被植物运输、利用和保存的关键。这些知识对许多研究领域产生了重大影响，并具有重要的实际应用，特别是在农业、园艺和林业领域。

Aquaporins are proteins which form channels in cell membranes to facilitate the passage of water and other small molecules. Since aquaporins regulate water transport, they are also the key to understanding plant water relations. Additionally, recent findings point to the functional importance of aquaporins in the transport of gases and other molecules participating in gas exchange and signalling processes. Regulation of aquaporin-mediated transport processes involves complex processes that are affected by internal and environmental factors. The proposed research consists of studies that will be carried out under controlled-environment conditions to examine the functions of aquaporins and the significance of these proteins in plant responses to environmental factors. The research will use a combination of the whole plant physiology, cell physiology, and molecular biology approach to address the study questions. The long-term goals of my research are to: 1) Expand the knowledge concerning the functional significance of plant and fungal aquaporins; and 2) Train the graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to provide them with the current knowledge and familiarity of the state-of-the art aquaporin research to become future leaders in this important area of science. The specific objectives of the studies are to: 1) Understand the salt tolerance features of aquaporins in salt-resistant, halophytic, plants by examining their structural and functional properties; 2) Explain the role of hydraulic signals in regulation of root aquaporin expression by the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor; 3) Determine the role of aquaporin-mediated carbon dioxide transport in the development of root ectomycorrhizal structures; 4) Examine water and gas transport properties of different aquaporin isoforms in relation to their distribution in root and leaf tissues; and 5) Determine the importance of AQP-mediated oxygen transport in flooding tolerance of plants. The proposed project is a direct continuation of my research aimed at understanding the functions of aquaporins, which is the key to understanding how water and gases are transported, used, and conserved by plants. This knowledge has a significant impact on many research areas and has important practical applications, especially in the fields of agriculture, horticulture, and forestry.