Arabino(Glucurono)Xylan Biosynthetic Genes Involved in Endosperm Cell Wall Elaboration in Wheat

植物细胞壁对人类有益的谷物的使用具有最大的影响，因为这些谷物中的主要营养物质、淀粉和蛋白质被封闭在种子内的胚乳细胞壁内。胚乳细胞壁主要由阿拉伯木聚糖（AGX，70%）和混合连接的葡聚糖（MLG，20%）组成。这些聚合物在胚乳发育过程中的沉积是高度有序的，这使得小麦胚乳成为用于鉴定AGX生物合成相关基因的优良系统。尚未鉴定出AGX生物合成基因。因此，成功鉴定参与这一过程的多肽将为作物改良开辟新的途径，并有助于植物育种计划。本研究的目的是鉴定和分析小麦中参与AGX生物合成的候选基因，即木聚糖合成酶（TaXylS）基因的功能。这项工作将导致AGX生物合成的基本理解，因为它涉及到细胞壁的生物合成和种子的生长。结果可能提供一个初步的工程植物细胞壁性能的改善，以满足木材，造纸，纺织，燃料和食品工业的需求。该项目将为本科生和研究生提供宝贵的研究和培训机会。所有学生将接受细胞，发育，分子和计算生物学的培训。 俄亥俄州大学位于俄亥俄州东南部的阿巴拉契亚山脉山麓，主要是农村地区，从俄亥俄州和西弗吉尼亚州的阿巴拉契亚地区周边吸引了25%的本科生。

The plant cell wall has the greatest impact on the use of cereal grains for human benefit because the major nutrients, starch, and proteins in these grains are enclosed within endosperm cell walls within the seed. Endosperm cell walls are composed mainly of arabino(glucuron)xylan (AGX, 70%) and mix-linked glucan (MLG, 20%). The deposition of these polymers during endosperm development is highly ordered, which makes wheat endosperm an excellent system to use for the identification of genes involved in AGX biosynthesis. No AGX-biosynthetic genes have been identified. Therefore, success in identifying the polypeptides involved in this process will open new avenues to crop improvement and contribute to plant-breeding programs. The objective of this project is to identify and analyze the function of candidate genes, namely xylan synthase (TaXylS) genes involved in AGX biosynthesis in wheat. This work will lead to a basic understanding of AGX biosynthesis as it relates to cell wall biosynthesis and growth of seeds. Results may provide an initial step for engineering plants with improved cell wall properties to meet the needs of the wood, paper, textile, fuel, and food industries. This project will provide valuable research and training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students. All students will be trained in cell, developmental, molecular and computation biology. Ohio University is located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in southeast Ohio, a predominantly rural setting, and draws 25% of its undergraduate population from the surrounding Appalachian region of Ohio and West Virginia.