Transcriptional Regulation by Arabidopsis LITTLE ZIPPER Proteins

III类同源域亮氨酸拉链(HD-ZIPIII)转录因子促进植物重要的形态特征，如维管形成、叶片突起、分生组织的形成和分生组织的大小。该项目研究了HD-ZIPIII蛋白活性的调节机制，推广了巴顿博士最近的发现，即HD-ZIPIII转录调控一种名为Little Zippers的新的小蛋白家族，并通过反馈循环调节HD-ZIPIII的活性。小拉链与HD-ZIPIII蛋白异源二聚体抑制或改变其结合DNA的能力的假设将被测试，以探索小拉链抑制HD-ZIPIII功能的机制。将确定拟南芥小拉链启动子中HD-ZIPIII结合的天然靶点。小拉链活性的损失对工厂的影响将被确定。最后，假设了疏水配体与HDZIPIII蛋白的结合，并将通过筛选一个小的化学文库来鉴定这种配体。这个项目将直接拓宽我们对植物发育规律的理解。这项工作的实际成果包括设计理想的调控电路的能力，以及创造具有理想形态特征的植物品种以改善粮食和能源作物的潜力。该项目将对K-12和本科教育产生重大影响。该实验室将培训博士后研究人员、本科生和高中生进行现代植物生物学研究。

Class III homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-ZIPIII) transcription factors promote important morphological attributes such as vascular patterning, outgrowth of the leaf blade, meristem formation and meristem size in plants. This project investigates mechanism through which HD-ZIPIII protein activity is modulated, extending Dr. Barton's recent discoveries that a new family of small proteins called LITTLE ZIPPERs are regulated by HD-ZIPIIIs transcriptionally, and regulate the activities of HD-ZIPIIIs through a feedback loop. The hypothesis that LITTLE ZIPPERs heterodimerize with the HD-ZIPIII proteins to either inhibit or alter their ability to bind DNA will be tested to probe the mechanism through which the LITTLE ZIPPERs inhibit HD-ZIPIII function. The native target sites for HD-ZIPIII binding in Arabidopsis LITTLE ZIPPER promoters will be identified. The consequence to the plant of loss of LITTLE ZIPPER activity will be determined. Finally, the binding of a hydrophobic ligand to the the HDZIPIII proteins is hypothesized and such ligands will be identified by screening a small chemical library. This project will directly widen our understanding of the regulation of plant development. Practical outcomes of this work include the ability to engineer desirable regulatory circuits and the potential to create plant varieties with desirable morphological features for the improvement of food and energy crops.The project will have a significant impact on K-12 and undergraduate education. The lab will train postdoctoral researchers, undergraduate and high school students in modern plant biology research.