CAREER: Genetic Analysis of Epigenetic Gene Regulation in Maize.

智力价值：这个NSF-CAREER项目的重点是玉米的基因表达调控，玉米是美国一种重要的农业作物。基因表达是一个受调控的过程，它决定了在任何特定时间活细胞中存在哪些生化成分并具有活性。最近，包括玉米在内的多种生物体的基因组测序使生物科学得到了显著的发展。虽然基因序列对于了解生物体的性状、生长和发育是必不可少的，但它们只代表了影响基因表达调节的一种遗传信息。这个项目的目标是确定基因表达是如何被表观遗传因素调控的；也就是说，基因序列之外的因素。例如，在特定基因内或附近的DNA中添加甲基，以及DNA的调控区域与特定蛋白质的关联，这两者都可以是遗传信息，并可以影响哪些基因被表达。本研究将使用遗传和基因组技术来确定玉米中引入的和自然存在的基因的表观遗传基因调控所需的特定因素，并将探索表观遗传基因调控的种间差异。目前，人们对表观遗传调控对表型和适应性的重要性知之甚少，也不知道这些信息是如何代代相传的，因此该项目也将解决这些重要问题。更广泛的影响：首席研究员努力从大学预科阶段开始提高科学素养，并通过直接参与智力刺激的研究项目，为年轻科学家提供积极的研究经验，从而激励和推动他们。玉米为教授和学习遗传学提供了一个极好的系统，为观察重要的遗传学概念提供了许多机会。本项目每项实验均由博士后、研究生和本科生进行。重点将放在为科学事业做准备和指导青年科学家取得成功方面的卓越表现。此外，该项目将提供有关转基因生物中转基因基因调控的信息，并将提高对重要农艺作物中基因表达调控的理解。在未来，这些基本知识可以应用于玉米的性状和产量改进。

Intellectual Merit:The focus of this NSF-CAREER project is the regulation of gene expression in maize, an agriculturally important crop plant in the United States. Gene expression is a regulated process that determines which biochemical components are present and active at any particular time in a living cell. Recently, biological science has been dramatically advanced by the sequencing of the genomes of a wide range of organisms, including maize. Although the gene sequences are essential to understanding the traits, growth, and development of an organism, they represent only one type of heritable information that influences the regulation of gene expression. The goal of this project is to determine how gene expression is regulated by epigenetic factors; that is, factors other than the actual sequence of genes. Examples are the addition of methyl groups to the DNA in or near particular genes and the association of regulatory regions of DNA with specific proteins, either of which can be heritable information and can influence which genes are expressed. This research will use genetic and genomic techniques to identify specific factors required for epigenetic gene regulation of introduced and naturally occurring genes in maize and will explore interspecies variation in epigenetic gene regulation. Currently, relatively little is known about the importance of epigenetic regulation to phenotypes and adaptation or about how such information is passed from one generation to the next, so the project will also address these important questions. Broader Impacts:The principal investigator strives to improve scientific literacy beginning at the precollege level and to inspire and advance young scientists by providing them with positive research experiences through their direct involvement with intellectually stimulating research projects. Maize provides an excellent system through which to teach and learn genetics, presenting many opportunities to observe examples of important genetic concepts. Every experiment in this project will be conducted by postdoctoral, graduate, and undergraduate trainees. Emphasis will be placed on excellence in preparation for scientific careers and in mentoring young scientists for success. Additionally, the project will provide information about the genetic regulation of transgenes in genetically modified organisms and will improve the understanding of how gene expression is regulated in an agronomically important crop plant. In the future, this basic knowledge can be applied to trait and yield improvements in maize.