Collaborative Research: Functional Characterization of Diphospho- and Triphospho-Inositol Phosphates in Plants

一组由肌醇组成的新化合物与多个磷酸基团相连，在许多不同类型的生物体的代谢和应激反应中起着关键作用。初步数据显示，这些化合物（这里称为PPx-InsPs）也存在于植物中，但对它们的合成和潜在功能知之甚少。本研究将验证PPx-InsPs作为植物代谢和胁迫传感器，在种子发育和生长过程中对基本代谢至关重要的假设。为了验证这些假设，本项目将1)确定并准确测量植物组织中PPx-InsPs的浓度；2)鉴定和鉴定调控PPx-InsPs水平的植物酶；3)描述了植物对PPx-InsPs水平调控酶基因改变的胁迫反应。这个合作项目的长期目标是了解这些独特的PPx-InsP分子如何在植物中被调节，以及它们如何帮助控制代谢、植物胁迫和磷酸盐感知。更广泛的影响。本项目将支持培养3名研究生、1名博士后和若干名本科生。三位合作者（分别在大学和美国农业部研究实验室工作）的不同兴趣和背景为协同互动提供了独特的机会。研究人员（包括博士后研究员和学生）将在实验室之间进行交换，提供接触不同研究项目和在大型研究团队中工作的经验。该团队的成员将参加两个旨在促进青年科学家发展的项目。在一个项目中（植物研究与教育伙伴关系，简称PREP），研究将通过捐赠来自该项目的植物品系，并与PREP的工作人员和高中生一起进行探究式学习项目，将研究纳入高中科学课程。在第二个项目中，研究团队将与每年在弗吉尼亚理工大学举行的儿童科技大学的400多名小学生一起开发和参与实践活动。

A novel set of compounds that consist of inositol linked to multiple phosphate groups play critical roles in the metabolism and stress responses of many different types of organisms. Preliminary data reveal that these compounds (here called PPx-InsPs) are also present in plants, but very little is known about their synthesis and potential functions. This research will test the hypotheses that PPx-InsPs act as sensors of metabolism and stress in plants, and are critical for basic metabolism during seed development and growth. To test these hypotheses this project will 1) identify and accurately measure the concentrations of PPx-InsPs in plant tissues; 2) identify and characterize plant enzymes that regulate the levels of PPx-InsPs; and 3) characterize the stress responses of plants that contain genetic alterations in the enzymes that regulate the levels of PPx-InsPs. The long-term goals of this collaborative project are to understand how these unique PPx-InsP molecules are regulated in plants and how they help control metabolism, plant stress and phosphate sensing.Broader Impacts. This project will support the education and training of three graduate students, one postdoctoral fellow, and a number of undergraduate students. The diverse interests and backgrounds of the three collaborators (who serve at universities and a USDA research laboratory) offer unique opportunities for synergistic interactions. An exchange of investigators (including postdoctoral fellows and students) will occur between laboratories, providing exposure to different research programs and the experience of working in a large research team. Members of this team will participate in two programs designed to foster the development of young scientists. In one program (Partnership for Research and Education in Plants, or PREP) the research will be integrated into the high school science curriculum by donating plant strains from this project and by working with PREP staff and high school students in inquiry-based learning projects. In the second program, the research team will develop and participate in hands-on activities with over 400 elementary school students in the Kid's Tech University which is held at Virginia Tech each year.