Research Starter Grant: Functional analysis of the Arabidopsis heterotrimer G-protein beta subunit, AGB1 and putative AGB1-interacting proteins in mediating stress responses

拟南芥异源三聚体G蛋白β亚基、AGB 1及其相互作用蛋白在介导胁迫应答中的功能分析在对环境胁迫的应答中，植物的生长、发育和/或产量会受到不利影响。最近，拟南芥异源三聚体G蛋白β亚基（AGB 1）已被链接到拟南芥种子生产响应水的可用性和AGB 1相互作用蛋白已被链接到拟南芥的易感性细菌病原体。随着拟南芥G蛋白相互作用组的释放，由于AGB 1在很大程度上是未知的，因此人们非常期待AGB 1在非生物胁迫和生物胁迫响应中的作用将被确定。该资助项目将研究假定的AGB 1相互作用蛋白对植物适应性的作用，以应对干旱条件和细菌和病毒感染。利用各种拟南芥遗传背景，功能遗传学方法加上生物化学和分子方法将被用来检测改变激素和信号转导途径，响应压力刺激。该方案的智力价值包括以下内容：（1）破译拟南芥AGB 1信号通路响应干旱/非生物胁迫和病原体/生物胁迫和（2）确定功能的作用，假定拟南芥AGB 1相互作用蛋白介导这些反应。这项研究的范围更广，包括进一步推动植物科学举措，以增加能源应用，农业，林业和其他有益需求的基本植物产品的产量。该资助项目将提供众多的研究机会，以增加学生的数量，包括来自Chowan大学和周边社区的少数民族和妇女，他们进入科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）职业，包括植物科学。此外，该资助项目将有助于加强Chowan大学的STEM课程，并进一步促进本科生和当地初中/高中学生在跨学科学习方面的进步。Chowan大学是一所小型的本科院校，位于北卡罗来纳州东北部的农村和欠发达地区，少数民族入学人数不断增加。

Functional analysis of the Arabidopsis heterotrimer G-protein beta subunit, AGB1 and putative AGB1-interacting proteins in mediating stress responsesIn response to environmental stress, plant growth, development and/or yield can be adversely affected. Recently, the Arabidopsis thaliana heterotrimer G-protein beta subunit (AGB1) has been linked to Arabidopsis seed production in response to water availability and an AGB1-interacting protein has been linked to Arabidopsis susceptibility to a bacterial pathogen. With the release of the Arabidopsis G-protein interactome, it is greatly anticipated that the role of AGB1 in abiotic stress and biotic stress responses will be determined, since it is largely unknown. The funded project will examine the role of putative AGB1-interacting proteins toward plant fitness in response to drought conditions and in response to bacterial and viral infections. Using various Arabidopsis genetic backgrounds, a functional genetics approach coupled with biochemical and molecular approaches will be used to detect altered hormonal and signaling pathways in response to stress stimuli. The intellectual merit of this proposal consists of the following: (1) deciphering the Arabidopsis AGB1 signaling pathway in response to drought/abiotic stress and pathogen/biotic stress and (2) identifying the functional roles of putative Arabidopsis AGB1-interacting proteins in mediating these responses. The broader scope of this research includes furthering plant science initiatives to increase the yield of essential plant products for energy applications, agriculture, forestry and other beneficial needs. The funded project will provide numerous research opportunities to increase the number of students including minorities and women from Chowan University and surrounding communities that enter science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers including the plant sciences. In addition, the funded project will help strengthen the STEM curriculum at Chowan University and further undergraduate student and local middle school/high school student advancement in interdisciplinary learning. Chowan University is a small primarily undergraduate institution with a growing minority enrollment located in a rural and underdeveloped section of northeastern North Carolina.