Integrated understanding of organogenesis in plants

了解多细胞生物如何形成它们的形状是发育生物学中的一个关键问题。尽管器官发生的遗传基础被广泛研究，我们才刚刚开始揭示分子指令是如何转化为生物形状的。将基因与几何图形联系起来，需要精确测量生长动态和发育器官中基因表达的时间。最近，由于实时成像技术的进步，这样的技术壮举成为可能。本研究的长期目标是利用拟南芥花作为模型系统，揭示器官形成的机制。我的目标是解剖花器官的发育，并了解如何微调图案，生长，分化和组织力学产生不同的形状。我要问的主要问题是，在成熟的花器官中，一小群未分化的细胞是如何产生截然不同的形状的。发育模式的保存和多样化程度如何，它们是如何通过分子和物理输入在空间和时间上协调的。为了实现这一目标，我计划将尖端的高分辨率共聚焦显微镜和基于细胞的4D图像分析与遗传学，生物力学和建模方法相结合。该建议分为若干个子项目，其短期目标如下：(a)将器官发生的发展模式分解为其构成要素；(b)将发育模式与分子调节器联系起来；(c)评估机械反馈对器官形状的影响；(d)将生物、生化和物理输入整合到器官发生的综合模型中。实现这些目标是理解植物如何塑造其器官的核心。它最终将为统一理解多细胞生物的发展和形式多样化铺平道路。这类知识不仅是植物发育的一个基本方面，而且为将来改良经济上重要的作物奠定了必要的基础。

Understanding how multi-cellular organisms generate their shapes is a key question in developmental biology. Although the genetic basis of organogenesis is extensively studied, we have only just begun to uncover how molecular instructions are translated into biological shapes. Linking genes with geometries requires precise measurements of growth dynamics and gene expression in developing organs over time. Recently, such a technical feat became possible thanks to the progress in live-imaging techniques. The long-term goal of this research is to uncover the mechanisms shaping organ forms using Arabidopsis thaliana flowers as a model system. I aim to dissect the development of floral organs and understand how fine-tuning of patterning, growth, differentiation and tissue mechanics generates divergent shapes. The major question I shall ask is how can small groups of undifferentiated cells give rise to the dramatically different shapes within mature floral organs. What is the level of conservation and diversification of developmental patterns, and how are they coordinated both in space and time by molecular and physical inputs. To achieve this, I am planning to combine cutting-edge, high-resolution confocal microscopy and cell-based 4D image analysis of growth with genetics, biomechanical and modeling approaches. The proposal is divided into sub-projects with the following short-term objectives: (a) dissection the developmental patterns underlying organogenesis into their constitutive elements; (b) linking developmental patterns with molecular regulators; (c) assessing influence of mechanical feedbacks on organ shapes; and (d) integration of biological, biochemical and physical inputs into comprehensive models of organogenesis. Achieving these objectives is central to understand how plants shape their organs. It will ultimately pave the way toward a unified comprehension of the development and diversification of forms in multicellular organisms. This type of knowledge is not only a fundamental aspect of plant development but also prepares the essential ground for future improvements of economically important crops.