Molecular Characterization of Plant Plasmodesmal & Non-Cell-Autonomous Potein Pathway Components

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。PI LUCAS提案IOS-0918433。在进化过程中，细胞特化需要发展具有固有可塑性的信号通路矩阵，为生物体提供对广泛输入的响应能力。由此产生的信号系统可分为两类。第一种涉及信号制剂，其作用局限于启动特定信号过程的单个细胞；也就是说，这些分子在行为上是细胞自主的。第二组涉及到超越其生产地点的信号；也就是说，这些信号制剂以非细胞自主的方式起作用，可能涉及激素、代谢物、肽和大分子。这些信号可以通过细胞外途径传递，这是所有生物共同的途径，或者，在植物界，它们可以通过称为胞间连丝（PD）的高度独特的结构在细胞间传递。现在已经确定PD介导蛋白质的转运，如转录因子和RNA分子。然而，对帕金森病的分子组成知之甚少。在这个项目中，研究人员将使用生化、分子和遗传工具的组合来分离和表征一组PD蛋白。智力优势：这个项目将大大增加我们对参与细胞间蛋白质和RNA运输的分子成分的理解。了解PD通路将有助于我们理解植物如何在细胞、组织和器官水平上协调发育和生理事件。该项目还将进一步了解病毒如何在植物内传播；这应该导致新的防御战略的工程，从而导致加强粮食安全。更广泛的影响：该项目将培训代表性不足/少数民族的本科生和高中生。一名高中科学老师也将参与这个项目。最后，研究人员将通过向地方、国家和国际团体举办研讨会和讲座的方式传播该项目令人兴奋的发现。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).ABSTRACT PI LUCAS Proposal IOS-0918433. During the process of evolution, cellular specialization required the development of a matrix of signaling pathways with inherent plasticity to provide organisms with the capacity to respond to a wide range of inputs. The resultant signaling systems can be divided into two categories. The first involves signaling agents whose actions are confined to the individual cells in which the specific signaling process was initiated; i.e., these molecules are cell-autonomous in behavior. The second group involves signals that act beyond their sites of production; i.e., these signaling agents function in a non-cell-autonomous manner and can involve hormones, metabolites, peptides and macromolecules. Such signals can move either via the extracellular pathway, which is common to all organisms, or, in the plant kingdom, they can traffic from cell to cell through highly unique structures, termed plasmodesmata (PD). It is now well established that PD mediate trafficking of proteins, such as transcription factors, and RNA molecules. However, little is known regarding the molecular constituents of PD. In this project, the investigators will use a combination of biochemical, molecular and genetic tools to isolated and characterize a set of PD proteins. Intellectual Merit: This project will add significantly to our understanding of the molecular components involved in the cell-to-cell trafficking of proteins and RNA. Knowledge of this PD pathway will clearly contribute to our understanding of how plants coordinate developmental and physiological events at the cellular, tissue and organ level. The project will also yield additional insights into how viruses spread within plants; this should lead to the engineering of novel defense strategies, thereby leading to enhance food security. Broader Impacts: The project will train underrepresented/minority undergraduate students and high school students. A high school science teacher will also work on the project. Finally, the investigators will disseminate the exciting discoveries resulting from this project by seminars and lectures given to local, national and international groups.