U.S.-France Cooperative Research on Directed Mutagenesis of Sorghum PEP Carboxylase: Phosphorylation and Active-Site Domains

这个为期三年的奖项支持内布拉斯加州大学的Raymond Chollet和巴黎大学（南）植物分子生理学实验室的Jean Vidal在植物生理学方面的合作研究。研究人员将研究控制c4叶PEPC的功能特性和生物合成的光调节机制。PEPC是光合作用的关键酶。利用诱变技术，他们将在玉米和高粱样品上替代磷酸化位点上的特定氨基酸，并评估其对酶的调节和催化性能的影响。法国人将在这个项目中加入分子遗传学的维度。他们在PEPC的制图和克隆方面经验丰富，而美国研究人员拥有大规模PEPC分离和蛋白质测序的仪器和广泛的生化专业知识。该项目将受益于这种相互作用的分子遗传和生化方法。PEPC的研究将扩展我们对光调节C4光合作用的认识，并增强我们对蛋白质磷酸化的理解。

This three-year award supports cooperative research in plant physiology between Raymond Chollet of the University of Nebraska and Jean Vidal of the Laboratory for Plant Molecular Physiology, University of Paris (South). The investigators will examine the photoregulatory mechanism that controls the functional properties and biosynthesis of C4-leaf PEPC. PEPC is a key enzyme in photosynthesis. Using mutagenesis techniques on maize and sorghum specimens, they will substitute specific amino acids on the phosphorylation sites and assess their effects on the enzyme's regulatory and catalytic properties. The French will add a molecular genetic dimension to the project. They are experienced in mapping and cloning of PEPC while the U.S. investigators have the instrumentation and extensive biochemical expertise for large-scale PEPC isolation and protein sequencing. The project will benefit from this interactive, molecular-genetic and biochemical approach. PEPC studies will extend our knowledge of light regulation C4 photosynthesis and enhance our understanding of protein phosphorylation.