Functional characterization of a multi-enzyme complex involved in xylan synthesis in wheat

植物细胞产生一种称为细胞壁的复杂结构，主要由多糖（纤维素、半纤维素和果胶）组成。 木聚糖是草和树细胞壁中的主要半纤维素成分。 虽然木聚糖是地球上第三丰富的聚合物，但其生物合成已被证明比预期的更具有挑战性。该项目旨在克服这种缺乏理解，并建立在我们最近发现的基础上，即小麦中的木聚糖合成涉及多酶复合物（称为木聚糖合成酶复合物，XSC）。该项目的目标是使用多方面的方法，结合蛋白质组学，细胞生物学，生物化学，生物信息学和反向遗传学，以（i）识别和确定作为XSC一部分的蛋白质的功能，以及（ii）阐明这些蛋白质组装成功能复合物的机制。这项工作的结果将导致对小麦中半纤维素生物合成的基本了解，因为它与植物生长和种子发育有关，并且还可能为工程植物提供改善细胞壁特性的方法，以满足食品，木材和生物燃料行业的需求。最后，该项目将为学生和博士后研究员提供宝贵的研究和培训机会。该项目有几个独立的组成部分，可能会在本科生项目的时间范围内产生结果，并包括研究实验室中使用的常规分析。所有学生将接受细胞，发育，分子和计算生物学的培训。俄亥俄州大学位于俄亥俄州东南部，是俄亥俄州贫困率最高的农村地区。它的本科生人口来自周边的阿巴拉契亚地区的俄亥俄州和西弗吉尼亚州。PI坚信科学教育研究的使命，并尽一切努力将研究活动和当前文献纳入他在大学的教学使命。

Plant cells produce a complex structure called cell wall, composed mainly of polysaccharides (cellulose, hemicelluloses, and pectins). Xylan is a major hemicellulose constituent in cell walls from grasses and trees. Although xylan is the third most abundant polymer on earth, its biosynthesis has proven to be more challenging to elucidate than expected. This project seeks to overcome this lack of understanding and is built upon our recent discovery that xylan synthesis in wheat involves a multi-enzyme complex (called xylan synthase complex, XSC). The objective of this project is to use a multi-faceted approach that combines proteomics, cell biology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, and reverse genetics to (i) identify and determine the function of the proteins that are part of this XSC, and (ii) elucidate the mechanism of assembly of these proteins into a functional complex. Outcomes from this work will lead to a basic understanding of hemicellulose biosynthesis in wheat as it relates to plant growth and seed development, and may also provide ways for engineering plants with improved cell wall properties to meet the needs of the food, wood, and biofuel industries. Finally, this project will provide valuable research and training opportunities for students and a postdoctoral fellow. There are several stand-alone components of the project that are likely to yield results in the time frame of an undergraduate project, and would include routine analyses used in a research laboratory. All students will be trained in cell, developmental, molecular, and computational biology. Ohio University is located in southeast Ohio, a predominantly rural area with the highest poverty rate in the state of Ohio. Its undergraduate population comes from the surrounding Appalachian region of Ohio and West Virginia. The PI believes strongly in the mission of research in science education and makes every effort to incorporate research activities and current literature into his teaching mission at the university.