Collaborative Research: Signals, Genes, and Metabolites in Defense Priming Mediated by 12-oxo-phytodienoate Reductases in Maize

合作研究：玉米12-氧-植物二烯酸还原酶介导的防御启动中的信号、基因和代谢物。绿叶挥发物（GLVs）是一种与植物受伤或割伤有关的气味，是一种有效的信号分子，参与调节植物对昆虫、食草动物和病原体的防御。除了激活直接反应外，暴露于GLV还使植物对实际的侵害人做出更快、更强的反应，从而为未受侵害人和病原体的后续攻击做好准备（或启动）。玉米在glv暴露下上调的基因包括12-氧-植物二烯酸还原酶（OPR）基因家族的几个成员。这伴随着启动时总OPR酶活性的增加。OPRs似乎不仅在以茉莉酸盐为终产物的十八烷类信号通路的调控中发挥重要作用，而且在其他重要的防御信号的调控中也发挥重要作用。因此，本项目的目的是综合分析6个玉米OPR家族成员在启动对虫食动物和病原体的防御反应和调节直接防御中的生化和生理作用。pi将使用转座子插入的玉米OPR突变体和在体外测试重组OPR蛋白，从生物化学、分子和遗传学角度分析这类蛋白。对昆虫食草性和病害的防御启动是植物生物学中一个令人兴奋但知之甚少的新兴领域。该项目旨在提供潜在的分子和生化机制的基本知识，并最终有助于制定环境无害的病虫害和病原体管理策略。该项目的成果将通过出版物广泛传播，纳入教科书和课程，并在当地报纸和网络期刊上发布新闻稿。该项目本质上是多学科的，将通过结合分子生物学、生物化学、昆虫学、植物病理学、化学生态学等不同领域，为参与的学生提供真正的综合体验。

Dr. Jurgen EngelberthProposal number: IOS_0925615Collaborative Research: Signals, genes, and metabolites in defense priming mediated by maize 12-oxo-phytodienoate reductases in maize.Green leafy volatiles (GLVs), the odor typically associated with wounded or cut plants, are potent signaling molecules involved in the regulation of plant defense against insect herbivores and pathogens. In addition to activating direct responses, GLV exposure also prepares (or primes) even non-infested plants for subsequent attack by pests and pathogens by allowing the plant to respond faster and stronger to the actual infestation. Among the genes up-regulated in maize in response to GLVs exposure were several members of the 12-oxo-phytodienoate reductase (OPR) gene family. This was accompanied by an increase in total OPR enzyme activity at the time of priming. OPRs seem to play a significant role not only in the regulation of the octadecanoid signaling pathway with jasmonates as its end-product, but also in the regulation of other important defense signals. The goal of this project is therefore to comprehensively analyze the biochemical and physiological roles of six maize OPR family members in the priming of defense responses to insect herbivores and pathogens and in the regulation of direct defenses. The PIs will analyze this class of proteins biochemically, molecularly, and genetically by using transposon-insertional OPR mutants of maize and by testing the recombinant OPR proteins in vitro. Defense priming to insect herbivory and diseases is an emerging exciting but little understood area in plant biology. This project aims to provide basic knowledge about potential molecular and biochemical mechanisms of priming and will eventually help to develop environmentally sound pest and pathogen management strategies. The results of this project will be broadly disseminated through publications, incorporation into textbooks and coursework, and press releases to local newspapers and web-based journals. The project is multidisciplinary in nature and will provide participating students with a truly integrative experience by combining such diverse areas as molecular biology, biochemistry, entomology, plant pathology, chemical ecology and many more.