Molecular and Genetic Analysis of Petal Growth in Arabidopsis

这个项目的重点是了解植物器官如何生长并达到它们的最终形状。特别地，这项工作集中在植物拟南芥花瓣的生长。花瓣对于这类研究来说是极好的器官，因为它们很容易接近，而且对植物繁殖来说不是必需的。特别地，这个项目将研究控制花瓣生长的两个基因的作用。第一个基因是一个微rna基因（miR319a），它通过调节TCP家族的一组DNA结合转录因子基因发挥作用。第二个基因名为DORNRÖSCHEN-LIKE (DRNL)，是一种DNA结合转录因子。当miR319a或DRNL基因失活时，花瓣会发育，但不会达到正常的形状。然而，当miR319a和DRNL同时失活时，花瓣会减少到非常小的丝状结构。本项目的工作重点是了解miR319a和DRNL控制的遗传和分子途径如何共同作用，控制花瓣的生长。这个项目有几个更广泛的影响。首先，这项工作很重要，因为它将有助于我们了解植物器官是如何形成形状的。对花瓣中植物生长的更详细的了解将增加我们对农业上更重要的植物器官的生长的了解，如叶子、果实和种子，这是人类饮食的三个关键组成部分。第二，本项目将为若干研究生和本科生提供培训。第三，该项目的主要外联活动包括参加为佛蒙特州和新罕布什尔州的高中教师举办的夏季专业发展讲习班，其中许多教师来自资源不足的公立学校。

This project is focused on understanding how plant organs grow and attain their final shape. In particular, this work is focused on the growth of petals in the plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Petals are excellent organs for studies such as these because they are accessible and are not essential for plant reproduction. In particular, this project will examine the role of two genes that function to control petal growth. The first gene is a micro-RNA gene (miR319a) that functions by regulating a set of DNA binding transcription factor genes of the TCP family. The second gene, named DORNRÖSCHEN-LIKE (DRNL), is a DNA binding transcription factor. When either the miR319a or DRNL gene is inactivated, the petals develop, but do not attain the normal shape. However, when both miR319a and DRNL are inactivated together, the petals are reduced to very small filamentous structures. The work in this project is focused on understanding how the genetic and molecular pathways controlled by miR319a and DRNL function together to control the growth of petals. This project has several broader impacts. First, this work is important because it will contribute to our knowledge about how plant organs attain their shape. A more detailed understanding of plant growth in petals will increase our knowledge of the growth of more agriculturally important plant organs such as leaves, fruits, and seeds, three key components of the human diet. Second, this project will provide training for several graduate students and undergraduate students. Third, the primary outreach activity of this project involves participation in a summer professional development workshop for high school teachers from Vermont and New Hampshire, many of whom are from under-resourced public schools.