Building and Operating a Chemical Factory in Solanum Species

PI: Robert L. Last（密歇根州立大学）CoPIs: David R. Gang（亚利桑那大学），Gregg A. Howe（密歇根州立大学），A. Daniel Jones（密歇根州立大学），Eran Pichersky（密歇根州立大学），Curtis Wilkerson（密歇根州立大学）合作者：HyeRan Kim（亚利桑那大学），Kenneth Nadler（密歇根州立大学）和Carol a . Soderlund（亚利桑那大学）这个项目的长期目标是为一个完整的“系统生物学”的理解奠定一个基础，这个“系统生物学”涉及到在番茄和相关物种中发现的每一种不同类型的腺毛的发育的基因和蛋白质的整个网络，以及负责其生物合成能力的全套基因和酶。之所以选择腺毛作为这个项目的重点，是因为这些迷人的细胞表面结构产生了各种各样的结构和生物合成多样化的小分子。这些特殊的（次生）产物来自许多不同的生物合成途径，已知或假设在逆境适应中发挥各种作用，包括防御重要的植物害虫。比较从EST序列中发现的基因和在不同腺体类型中发现的代谢物将用于发现新的生物合成酶，并将通过体外生化方法和体内转基因植物方法测试这些酶的功能。突变体和渗入系将评估腺毛形态和化学的变化，并为未来鉴定这些新表型的基因进行遗传分析。这些研究应该为育种和转基因方法提供信息，以提高重要农业植物的抗逆性。该项目的数据将提供给基因库，SOL基因组学网络（http://sgn.cornell.edu/），并通过项目网站提供。该项目将以三种方式整合研究和教育：1。本科生和中学教师暑期科研经历2. 培养学生在跨学科和地理分散的环境中进行研究的成功方法，这对生物科学的成功越来越重要；3. 通过密歇根州立大学开发的基于网络的loncapa课程管理系统，对参与者进行尖端计算机课程开发工具的培训。将大力强调征聘和培训人数不足的少数民族和妇女。

PI: Robert L. Last (Michigan State University)CoPIs: David R. Gang (University of Arizona), Gregg A. Howe (Michigan State University), A. Daniel Jones (Michigan State University), Eran Pichersky (University of Michigan), and Curtis Wilkerson (Michigan State University)Collaborators: HyeRan Kim (University of Arizona), Kenneth Nadler (Michigan State University), and Carol A. Soderlund (University of Arizona)The long term goal of this project is to lay a foundation for a complete 'systems biology' understanding of the entire network of genes and proteins involved in the development of each of the different types of glandular trichomes found in tomato and related species in the Solanum and the full set of genes and enzymes responsible for their biosynthetic capacity. The glandular trichomes are chosen as the focus of this project because these fascinating cell-surface structures make a wide variety of structurally and biosynthetically diverse small molecules. These specialized (secondary) products come from many different biosynthetic pathways and are known or postulated to serve a variety of roles in stress adaptation, including providing defense against important plant pests. Comparison of genes found from the EST sequences and metabolites found in the different gland types will be used to discover new biosynthetic enzymes, and these will be tested for function by in vitro biochemical methods and by in vivo methods using transgenic plants. Mutants and introgression lines will be evaluated for changes in glandular trichome morphology and chemistry and genetic analysis initiated for future identification of genes that are responsible for these novel phenotypes. Broader ImpactsThese studies should inform breeding and transgenic approaches to improving stress tolerance in agriculturally important plants. The data from this project will be provided to GenBank, The SOL Genomics Network (http://sgn.cornell.edu/) and made available through a project website. This project will integrate research and education in three ways: 1. Summer research experiences for undergraduate students and secondary school teachers; 2. Training of students in successful approaches to doing research in an interdisciplinary and geographically dispersed environment, which is becoming more and more important for success in the biological sciences; 3. Training of participants in cutting-edge, computer-based curriculum development tools with the Lon-CAPA web-based course management system developed at Michigan State University. A strong emphasis will be placed on recruitment and training of underrepresented minorities and women.