Metal Uptake in Arabidopsis Thaliana and Rice

拟南芥对金属的吸收1/7/04铁是一种必需的营养物质，从饮食中积累铁的能力对人类健康至关重要。目前，因微量营养素缺乏而患营养不良的人多于因蛋白质或能量缺乏而营养不良的人，据估计，全世界有20多亿人患有铁缺乏。在农业中，土壤中铁的有效性在决定作物产量方面发挥着重要作用。此外，植物是世界上大部分人口的主要铁饮食来源。然而，当铁的含量较高时，对动植物也是有毒的。因此，所有细胞都必须小心地调节铁的摄取。这些研究的长期目标是了解植物如何从土壤中吸收铁，以及植物如何在植物的各种细胞/组织中保持适当的铁水平。以前，FRO2基因被认为是拟南芥铁吸收系统的关键组成部分；FRO2编码一种低铁诱导的铁螯合还原酶，负责根表面铁的还原。目前的研究旨在进一步表征FRO2以及另外三个FRO家族成员(FR03、FRO6和FRO7)。具体地说，将使用各种分子、细胞和生化方法来研究每种FRO在铁吸收和动态平衡中的作用。第二个目标集中在转录因子(BHLH29)及其在铁依赖方式控制fro基因表达中的作用。拟议的研究最终将有助于更好地了解植物对铁的吸收，并设计能够在缺铁土壤上生长并积累铁从而具有更高营养价值的植物。这一合作项目将提供独特的指导机会。南加州大学生物系共有950个专业，其中约59%是女性，33%是少数族裔学生(27%是非裔美国人)。南加州大学和达特茅斯大学之间的一项交流计划将允许有前途的南加州大学本科生在盖里诺和康诺利实验室体验研究。来自科学界代表性不足的群体的第一代低收入本科生将被招募，并接受最新的基因组、分子和生物化学方法的培训。PI和共同PI积极参与了许多指导计划，这些计划将得到这笔赠款的支持。

M.L. Guerinot and E.L. ConnollyMetal Uptake in Arabidopsis thaliana1/7/04Iron is an essential nutrient and the ability to accumulate iron from the diet is crucial for human health. Currently, more people suffer from malnutrition due to micronutrient deficiencies than from deficiencies of protein or energy and it is estimated that over 2 billion people worldwide suffer from iron deficiency. In agriculture, the availability of iron in soil plays a major part in determining crop yields. In addition, plants are the main dietary source of iron for much of the world's population. However, iron can also be toxic to both plants and animals when present at high levels. Thus, all cells must carefully regulate iron uptake. The long-range goal of these studies is to understand how plants take up iron from the soil and how plants maintain proper iron levels in the various cells/tissues of the plant. Previously, the FRO2 gene was identified as a critical component of the iron uptake system in Arabidopsis thaliana; FRO2 encodes a low iron inducible ferric chelate reductase responsible for reduction of iron at the root surface. The current studies are aimed at further characterization of FRO2 as well as three additional FRO family members (FRO3, FRO6 and FRO7). Specifically, the roles of each FRO in iron uptake and homeostasis will be examined using a variety of molecular, cellular and biochemical approaches. A second aim focuses on a transcription factor (bHLH29) and its role in controlling FRO gene expression in an iron-dependent fashion. The proposed studies will ultimately lead to a better understanding of iron uptake in plants and to the design of plants that are capable of growth on iron deficient soils and that accumulate iron and thus have a higher nutritional value.This collaborative project will provide unique mentoring opportunities. The Biology Department at USC has a total of 950 majors, of whom approximately 59% are women and 33% are minority students (27% are African American). An exchange program between USC and Dartmouth will allow promising young USC undergraduates to experience research in both the Guerinot and Connolly labs. First-generation, low-income undergraduate students from groups underrepresented in the sciences will be recruited and trained in the latest genomic, molecular and biochemical methods. The PI and co-PI are actively involved in a number of mentoring programs that will be supported by this grant.