CAREER: Novel Signaling Components For Plant Steroid Regulated Gene Expression in Arabidopsis

植物类固醇激素brassinosteroids （BRs）控制着许多不同的过程，如细胞生长、衰老和应激反应。BRs的应用已被证明可以提高作物产量，提高植物对干旱、高温和各种疾病的抗性。尽管在识别BR受体和其他信号成分方面取得了重大进展，但对植物类固醇如何调节基因表达从而控制不同的生物反应知之甚少。现代遗传学和基因组学方法将用于解决这个问题。br调控的转录因子BES1介导了许多激素反应，并为研究br调控的基因表达提供了有力的工具。为了揭示基因调控回路，我们将通过过表达和敲除技术来确定几种bes1诱导的转录因子的功能。为了确定br调控基因表达的其他信号成分，将分离出对植物类固醇反应改变的突变植物，并鉴定和表征其潜在基因。这些研究的结果将揭示BRs控制生长和对生物和非生物胁迫的反应的复杂网络。更广泛的影响：由于BRs控制许多不同的生物过程，因此能够操纵个体反应是非常可取的。例如，它有利于促进br诱导的生长和应激反应，减少br诱导的衰老。从拟议的研究中获得的知识可以用来实现这些目标。几个BR突变体将被引入到本科植物生理学实验课程，以说明类固醇如何控制植物生长。此外，来自代表性不足群体的学生将通过爱荷华州立大学的女性科学与工程项目（PWSE）被招募到该项目中。因此，综合研究和教学计划将为高中，大学，研究生和研究生提供充足的培训机会。

Yanhai Yin 0546503CAREER: Novel Signaling Components For Plant Steroid Regulated Gene Expression In Arabidopsis Plant steroid hormones called brassinosteroids (BRs) control many diverse processes such as cell growth, senescence and stress responses. Application of BRs has been shown to increase crop yield and improve plant resistance to drought, high temperature and various diseases. Although significant progress has been made in identifying BR receptors and several other signaling components, little is known about how plant steroids regulate gene expression, thereby controlling different biological responses. Modern genetic and genomic approaches will be used to address this question. A BR-regulated transcription factor BES1 mediates many of the hormone responses and provides a powerful tool to study BR-regulated gene expression. To reveal the gene regulatory circuits, the functions of several BES1-induced transcription factors will be determined by over-expression and knock-out technologies. To identify other signaling components involved in BR-regulated gene expression, mutant plants with altered responses to plant steroids will be isolated, the underlying genes will be identified and characterized. The results from these studies will reveal the complex network through which BRs control growth and responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses. Broader impacts: Since BRs control many different biological processes, it is highly desirable to be able to manipulate individual responses. For example, it would be beneficial to promote BR-induced growth and stress responses and to reduce BR-induced senescence. The acquired knowledge from the proposed research can be used to achieve these goals. Several BR mutants will be introduced into an undergraduate Plant Physiology laboratory course to illustrate how steroids control plant growth. In addition, students from underrepresented groups will be recruited to work on the project through the Program for Woman in Science and Engineering (PWSE) at Iowa State University. The integrated research and teaching program will therefore provide ample training opportunities for high school, college, graduate and postgraduate students.