Functional Genomics of Maize Chromatin

在真核发育过程中，染色质在基因表达中起着核心作用，并介导表观遗传现象。我们的目标是利用玉米来确定有助于基于染色质控制基因表达的机制，玉米是这些研究的主要模型。越来越清楚的是，了解染色质水平对植物基因表达的控制不能从其他真核生物中推断出来。相反，需要在植物中进行直接实验。了解染色质如何控制玉米的基因表达，将为精确和有效地操纵玉米和其他重要作物的基因表达和表型提供新的知识和分子工具。我们将鉴定更多的玉米染色质基因，包括基于RNA的沉默基因；完成一套新的玉米染色质突变(包括RNA干扰系和隐性突变)；通过分析1)突变和表观遗传变异；2)转基因沉默；3)印记丢失；4)DNA甲基化；5)重复元件的组蛋白修饰；6)基因和转座子表达谱的变化；以及6)染色体细胞学来测试功能。新载体将使细胞定位和蛋白质相互作用的高通量筛选成为可能。不同类型的功能数据的组合将提供基因表达染色质水平调控的综合图景。该项目将有助于在参与研究小组工作的学生和博士后的教育和培训。此外，植物基因组学将成为理科教师和本科生实习生课程的重点。在亚利桑那大学，高中教师将加入植物基因组实验室，参加一个为期8周的暑期项目，内容是个人实验室工作和基因组学模块的开发，以便在高中科学课上使用。在密苏里大学，科学教师将参加一个名为“染色质：全部结束”的为期一天的研讨会，这是为期一年的系列研讨会的一部分，重点是植物遗传学和基因组学的不同方面。密苏里大学还将接待来自全国各地的本科生参加为期8周的暑期实习，这是植物基因组学实习@MU计划的一部分。所有这些教育计划都积极地从代表性不足的群体中寻找参与者。获得项目成果所有资源将通过玉米遗传资源合作组织获得(http://w3.aces.uiuc.edu/maize-coop/)和数据将通过植物染色质数据库(ChromDB：http://www.chromdb.org/).)获得

Chromatin plays a central role in gene expression during eukaryotic development and mediates epigenetic phenomena. Our goal is to determine the mechanisms that contribute to chromatin-based control of gene expression using maize, a premier model for these studies. It is becoming increasingly clear that understanding chromatin-level control of gene expression in plants cannot be extrapolated from other eukaryotes. Rather, direct experimentation in plants is needed. Understanding how chromatin controls gene expression in maize will provide new knowledge and molecular tools for precisely and effectively manipulating gene expression and phenotypes in this and other important crop plants. We will identify additional maize chromatin genes, including RNA-based silencing genes; complete a new set of chromatin mutants for maize (both RNA interference lines and recessive mutations); test function by assaying lines for 1) paramutation and epigenetic variegation; 2) transgene silencing; 3) loss of imprinting; 4) DNA methylation; 5) histone modification of repetitive elements; 6) changes in gene and transposon expression profiles; and 6) chromosome cytology. New vectors will enable high-throughput screens of cellular localization and protein-protein interactions. The combination of different types of functional data will provide an integrated picture of chromatin-level regulation of gene expression. This project will contribute to the education and training of students and postdoctoral students who will work in the participating research groups. In addition, plant genomics will be the focus of programs for science teachers and for undergraduate student interns. At the University of Arizona, high school teachers will join plant genomics labs for an 8-week summer program featuring individual lab work and development of genomics modules to use in their high school science classes. At the University of Missouri, science teachers will take part in a one-day workshop called "Chromatin: All Wrapped Up" as part of a year-long workshop series focusing on different aspects of plant genetics and genomics. The University of Missouri will also host undergraduate students from around the country to participate in 8-week summer internships as part of the Plant Genomics Internships @ MU program. All of these educational programs actively seek participants from underrepresented groups.Access to project outcomesAll resources will be available through the Maize Genetics Stock Cooperation (http://w3.aces.uiuc.edu/maize-coop/) and data will be available through The Plant Chromatin Database (ChromDB: http://www.chromdb.org/).