Collaborative Research: Protective Interaction of a Small Heat-Shock Protein with Photosystem II

9728041 Heckathorn热应激降低作物生产力，限制植物的存活和分配，这在很大程度上是通过减少光合作用来实现的。我们最近发现，叶绿体小分子热休克蛋白(HSP)在热胁迫下保护光合作用，在光合作用适应热的过程中起着重要作用。在本研究中，我们将通过以下三个目标来研究叶绿体小热休克蛋白如何保护光合作用：(1)确定哪些光合蛋白与叶绿体热休克蛋白相互作用，(2)确定叶绿体热休克蛋白功能域的哪个区域是保护功能所需的区域，以及(3)检测叶绿体小热休克蛋白的功能效率是不同光合作用的耐热性不同的物种。这些研究将加深我们对热胁迫对光合作用的影响以及热休克蛋白在高温下保护光合作用的作用的理解。这些信息将增加我们关于植物如何生存和适应高温胁迫和温暖生境的知识，并将有助于生物工程和作物育种，以提高耐热性。

9728041 Heckathorn Heat stress decreases crop productivity and limits plant survival and distribution, in large part by reducing photosynthesis. We have recently shown that the chloroplast small heat-shock protein (HSP) protects photosynthesis during heat stress and is important in acclimation of photosynthesis to heat. In the present research, we will investigate how the chloroplast small HSP protects photosynthesis by addressing the following three objectives: (1) determine which photosynthetic protein interacts with the chloroplast HSP, (2) determine which region of functional domain of the chloroplast HSP is needed for protective function, and (3) examine the functional efficiency of the chloroplast small HSP is species that differ in the heat tolerance of photosynthesis. These studies will increase our understanding of the effects of heat stress on photosynthesis and the role that HSPs play in protecting photosynthesis at high temperatures. Such information will add to our knowledge of how plants survive and adapt to heat stress and warm habitats and will help in the bioengineering and breeding of crop plants for improved thermotolerance.