Arabidopsis TSO1 in Floral Organ Differentiation and Meristem Function

智力优势：为了使多细胞生物体生长成最终的大小和形状，精确的控制机制必须调节细胞分裂周期的数量，并协调生长与分化。该项目研究了一个名为TSO 1的基因如何控制和协调开花植物拟南芥中的这些过程。由于动物和植物在其发育和再生能力方面表现出显着差异，它们可能具有不同的调节和协调生长与分化的机制。对TSO 1功能的研究将为这些过程以及动物和植物之间的关键差异提供进一步的见解。基于tso 1突变体表型，TSO 1被假设为是植物细胞周期控制与器官发生和分化的关键集成者。TSO 1和动物Mip 120/LIN 54蛋白之间的序列相似性表明，TSO 1可能在染色质复合物中起作用，影响染色质组装、DNA复制和转录程序。该项目将首先使用基因组方法鉴定由TSO 1直接调控的基因。然后将使用遗传分析来表征一组选择性的靶基因和途径。此外，三种蛋白质，AtRBR，AtALY和AtMSI 1，其对应物已知在动物中以类似过程起作用，将测试其与TSO 1的直接相互作用。将进行诱变筛选以鉴定其他TSO 1相互作用蛋白。更广泛的影响：除了确定可能构成植物生长和发育显著可塑性基础的新机制外，该项目还为一名博士后研究员、一名博士生、几名来自代表性不足背景的本科生以及高中生提供基因组学和遗传学培训。博士后将遵循职业发展计划，鼓励独立思考，发展沟通技巧和学生指导。该项目的科学家将继续参加当地一所小学的“与科学家共进午餐”计划。这些活动将影响多层次和不同背景的学生。最后，由于拟南芥与其他植物物种之间基因及其调控机制的保守性，从拟南芥研究中获得的知识可以应用于包括作物在内的其他植物物种以提高作物产量。

Intellectual Merit:In order for multicellular organisms to grow into their final size and shape, precise control mechanisms must regulate the number of cell division cycles and coordinate growth with differentiation. This project investigates how a gene named TSO1 controls and coordinates these processes in a flowering plant, Arabidopsis thaliana. As animals and plants exhibit significant differences in their development and ability to regenerate, they may possess different mechanisms for regulating and coordinating growth with differentiation. Investigation of TSO1 function will provide further insights into these processes and the key differences between animals and plants. Based on the tso1 mutant phenotype, TSO1 is hypothesized to be a key integrator of cell cycle control with organogenesis and differentiation in plants. The sequence similarity between TSO1 and the animal Mip120/LIN54 proteins suggests that TSO1 may act in a chromatin complex to affect chromatin assembly, DNA replication, and transcription programs. The project will first identify genes directly regulated by TSO1 using genomic approaches. Genetic analysis will then be used to characterize a selective set of target genes and pathways. Additionally, three proteins, AtRBR, AtALY, and AtMSI1, whose counterparts are known to act in similar processes in animals, will be tested for their direct interactions with TSO1. A mutagenesis screen will be conducted to identify other TSO1-interacting proteins. Broader impacts:In addition to identifying novel mechanisms that may underlie the significant plasticity in the growth and development of plants, the project provides training in genomics and genetics to a postdoctoral fellow, a PhD student, several undergraduate students from under-represented backgrounds, as well as high school students. The postdoctoral fellow will follow a career development plan that encourages independent thinking, development of communication skills, and student mentoring. The scientists in the project will continue participating in the "lunch with a scientist" program at a local elementary school. The activities will impact students at multiple levels and from diverse backgrounds. Finally, due to the conservation in genes and their regulatory mechanisms between Arabidopsis and other plant species, knowledge gained from studying Arabidopsis can be applied to other plant species including crop plants to improve crop yields.