Expressed Nuclear Genes in the Plant Family Solanaceae: Unification of Phylogenetic Inference with Character Evolution

茄科植物是世界上最重要的经济植物之一，因为它含有番茄、土豆、茄子、辣椒和烟草。由于它的重要性，许多研究都致力于对该科进行基于进化的分类；然而，需要进行更多的调查来解决先前研究中存在的模糊之处。基于进化的分类是必要的，因为它们提供了有价值的框架，可以用来预测可能提供有价值的化学物质的物种，这些化学物质具有重要的医学意义，或者可能对作物育种者有用的特征。西密歇根大学的Todd Barkman博士的这个项目的第一个目标是使用编码蛋白质水杨酸甲基转移酶(SAMT)的DNA序列来测试和完善现有的基于进化的番茄家族分类。SAMT酶对植物的生存和繁殖至关重要，因为它会产生一种化学物质，参与病原体和食草动物的防御，此外，在一些植物中，花还会产生一种气味化合物，以吸引传粉者。由于该蛋白在番茄家族中扮演着多种重要的角色，本项目的第二个目标是确定叶片和花中SAMT的激活模式，以确定植物如何进化出调控该蛋白以实现这些不同功能的能力。这一新的方法结合了基因序列数据和基因激活数据，为了解植物如何在抵御病原体和食草动物的同时吸引昆虫授粉提供了一条途径。拟议的研究项目将对旨在通过人工育种或基因工程增强SAMT激活的作物改良计划产生影响，从而提高烟草、番茄、马铃薯、茄子和辣椒对病原体的天然抗性。此外，该项目旨在培训西密歇根大学(WMU)的学生使用最先进的研究方法。事实上，这个项目的大部分初步数据都是由一个代表不足的少数族裔本科生收集的。这名学生去年已经在三次全国会议上发表了她的研究成果，并准备在未来几个月内提交一份手稿，发表在同行评议的期刊上。这些资金将使她能够完成她在这个项目上的工作，并为她在植物科学领域奠定基础。该项目不仅将培训本科生在传统的课堂环境中使用最先进的分子方法，还将包括在严格的研究环境中培训本科生和研究生，以提供对改善作物生产至关重要的数据。

The plant family Solanaceae is one of the most economically important in the world because it contains tomato, potato, eggplant, peppers, and tobacco. Because of its great importance, many studies have been directed towards producing evolutionary-based classifications of the family; however, additional investigations are required to resolve existing ambiguities from previous research. Evolutionary-based classifications are necessary because they provide valuable frameworks that can be used to predict species that may provide valuable chemicals that are medicinally important or traits that could be useful to crop breeders. The first objective of this project by Dr. Todd Barkman of Western Michigan University is to use DNA sequences coding for the protein salicylic acid methyl transferase (SAMT) to test and refine existing evolutionary-based classifications of the tomato family. The SAMT enzyme is critical for plant survival and reproduction because it makes a chemical that is involved in pathogen and herbivore defense, and in addition in some plants, is produced by flowers as a scent compound for pollinator attraction. Because of the multiple important roles this protein plays in the tomato family, the second objective of this project is to characterize SAMT activation patterns in leaves and flowers to determine how plants have evolved the ability to manipulate the regulation of this protein for these distinct functions. This novel approach combines gene sequence data with gene activation data to provide an avenue into understanding how plants defend themselves against pathogens and herbivores but at the same time attract insects for pollination.The proposed research project will have implications for crop improvement programs aimed at enhancing activation of SAMT by artificial breeding or genetic engineering thereby leading to increased natural resistance to pathogens in tobacco, tomato, potato, eggplant, and pepper. Additionally, this project is geared towards training students in state-of-the-art research methods at Western Michigan University (WMU). In fact, much of the preliminary data for this project has been collected by an underrepresented minority undergraduate student. This student has already presented her results at 3 national meetings in the last year and is preparing to submit a manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed journal within the coming months. These funds will allow her to complete her work on this project and serve to establish her in the field of plant science. This project will not only train undergraduates to use state-of-the-art molecular methods in a traditional classroom setting, it will involve training of undergraduate and graduate students in a rigorous research setting to provide data that will be important for improving crop plant production.