CAREER: Developmental Role of the MADS-Domain Protein AGL15 During Embryogenesis

在高等植物中，早期胚胎的发育一直很难研究，因为所涉及的细胞很小，数量很少，并且在合子胚发生中，嵌入在母体组织的几层中。 因此，在分子水平上对这一发育阶段知之甚少。佩里博士的研究计划的长期目标是促进对胚胎发育过程中活跃的调控网络的理解。作为实现这一目标的第一步，P.I.建议进一步研究胚胎表达的MADS结构域蛋白AGL15（AGAMOUS样15）在发育的这一阶段发挥的作用。MADS结构域蛋白是参与真菌、动物和植物重要发育决定的调节因子。迄今为止的证据与AGL15作为DNA结合调节因子参与胚胎发育的全球方面的作用一致。为了了解AGL15在发育中的作用，必须确定由AGL15调控的基因。佩里博士的实验室将使用染色质免疫沉淀方法来获得直接结合体内AGL 15的DNA序列。因为AGL 15在序列和表达模式上都与MADS盒家族的其余部分不同，所以将使用靶检测测定来确定AGL 15识别的最佳DNA序列。还提出了进一步的实验将测试AGL15是否是胚胎模式发育所必需的。这些实验将有助于了解胚胎和种子发育过程中活跃的分子程序，这类信息对于制定提高农业生产力的分子策略至关重要。佩里博士将参与开发和教授PLS 622植物生理学I中关于植物发育和解剖学的新模块，植物生理学I是植物生理学研究生的必修核心课程，生物化学和分子生物学课程。此外，佩里博士将参加PLS 657，种子生物学，在那里她将有助于分子和遗传方法来理解种子发育过程中的讨论。私家侦探我还将担任导师，研究生和本科生和博士后研究人员谁将参与本提案的研究组成部分

Perry9984274Early embryo development in higher plants has been difficult to study because the cells involved are small, few in number, and, in zygotic embryogenesis, embedded in several layers of maternal tissues. Consequently, little is known at a molecular level about this stage of development. The long-term goal of Dr. Perry's research program is to contribute to an understanding of regulatory networks active during embryo development. As an initial step towards this goal, the P.I. proposes to further investigate the role that the embryo-expressed MADS-domain protein, AGL15 (for AGAMOUS-Like 15) plays during this phase of development. MADS-domain proteins are regulatory factors that are involved in critical developmental decisions in fungi, animals and plants. Evidence to date is consistent with a role for AGL15 as a DNA-binding regulatory factor involved in global aspects of embryo development. To understand AGL15's role in development, genes regulated by AGL15 must be identified. Dr. Perry's laboratory will use a chromatin immunoprecipitation approach to obtain DNA sequences that directly bind AGL15 in vivo. Because AGL15 is divergent from the rest of the MADS-box family, both in sequence and in expression pattern, the optimal DNA sequence that AGL15 recognizes will be determined using a target detection assay. Further experiments will test whether AGL15 is necessary for development in an embryonic mode are also proposed. The experiments will contribute to an understanding of molecular programs active during embryo and seed development, and this type of information will be essential for developing molecular strategies to increase agricultural productivity.Dr. Perry will be involved in developing and teaching a new module on Plant Development and Anatomy in PLS 622, Physiology of Plants I, a required core course for graduate students in the Plant Physiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology Program. In addition, Dr. Perry will participate in PLS 657, Seed Biology, where she will contribute to a discussion of molecular and genetic approaches to understanding processes during seed development. The P.I. will also serve as a mentor to graduate and undergraduate students and to postdoctoral researchers who will be involved in the research component of this proposal