Dissecting the Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Intimate Relationship between Cellulose Microfibrils and Cortical Microtubules

智力上的功绩。纤维素是一种有机化合物，存在于所有植物中，是地球上最丰富的生物材料。纤维素是生产纸板、纸张、木材和纺织品的主要原料。在不久的将来，它也是生产可再生生物燃料的主要生物质来源之一。尽管人们对此非常感兴趣，但人们对植物细胞如何制造纤维素知之甚少。纤维素是由纤维素合成酶复合体合成的。纤维素合成酶复合体长期以来一直被认为与细胞内的纤维结构成分皮质微管相互作用，最近的活细胞成像显示纤维素合成酶复合体沿着平行于下面的皮质微管的轨迹运动。然而，微管和纤维素合成酶复合体之间的分子联系缺失。首席研究人员最近发现了第一个与纤维素合成酶复合体相互作用的蛋白质，命名为CSI1，它是缺失环节的一个很好的候选者。该项目旨在研究CSI1与纤维素合成酶复合体和微管的相互作用。研究人员将使用一系列遗传和生化分析以及高端显微镜来研究纤维素合成酶复合体和微管之间的联系，并确定这些联系是如何在植物细胞内发展起来的。更广泛的影响。这一发展。开发化石燃料的替代品作为一种能源是一项紧迫的全球优先事项。以植物材料(例如，草本植物和木本植物)形式的木质纤维生物质提供了一种可再生的、相对温室气体中性的糖源，可转化为乙醇和其他液体燃料。考虑到纤维素生物质有望成为生产可再生生物燃料的主要生物质来源之一，了解植物细胞制造纤维素的机制可能会对能源生产剂产生极大的兴趣。通过了解植物如何制造纤维素而获得的基本知识将被应用于改变与生物质组成和总含量有关的特性的生物能源作物。该项目还将为包括本科生、研究生和博士后在内的年轻科学家提供很好的培训机会。该项目将允许首席调查员参加由宾夕法尼亚州立大学埃伯利科学学院提供的外展项目，为K-12教师和/或学生举办的暑期讲习班，以及旨在提高普通群体或学校以外特定学生群体的科学知识的高中科学项目。

Intellectual Merit. Cellulose, an organic compound found in all plants, is the most abundant biological material on earth. Cellulose constitutes the major raw material that is used to produce paperboard, paper, lumber, and textiles. It is also one of the main sources of biomass for the production of renewable biofuels in the near future. Despite overwhelming interest, little is known about how plant cells make cellulose. Cellulose is synthesized by cellulose synthase complexes. Cellulose synthase complexes had long been proposed to interact with cortical microtubules, fibrous structural components within cells, before recent live cell imaging showing that cellulose synthase complexes move on trajectories that parallel the underlying cortical microtubules. Yet a molecular link between microtubules and cellulose synthase complexes is missing. The principle investigator recently identified the first interacting protein of cellulose synthase complexes, named CSI1, which is an excellent candidate for the missing link. The project is aimed to characterize CSI1 with respect to its interactions with cellulose synthase complexes and microtubules. Researchers will use a battery of genetic and biochemical assays and also high-end microscopy to study the connection between cellulose synthase complexes and microtubules, and determine how these connections developed inside the plant cells. Broader Impacts. The development. of alternatives to fossil fuels as an energy source is an urgent global priority. Lignocellulosic biomass in the form of plant materials (for example, grasses and woody species) offers the opportunity of a renewable, relatively greenhouse-gas-neutral source of sugars that can be converted to ethanol and other liquid fuels. Considering cellulosic biomass are expected to become one of the main sources of biomass for the production of renewable biofuels, understanding the mechanism by which plant cells make cellulose may be of great interest for energy producing agents. The basic knowledge gained from understanding how plants make cellulose will be applied to modify bioenergy crops with regard to traits related to the composition and overall content of biomass. The project will also offer great training opportunities to young scientists including undergraduate, graduate students, and postdocs. This project will allow principal investigator to participate in outreach programs offered by Eberly College of Science at Penn State University, the summer workshop for K-12 teachers and/or students, and High-School Science Project aimed to improve the scientific knowledge of the general group or a specific student group outside of a school setting.