Molecular Genetic Dissection of Calcium Signaling in Plants

智力优势：细胞内钙离子介导动物和植物细胞的多种过程，包括基因表达、细胞增殖、细胞分裂、代谢和细胞运动。气孔是由一对保卫细胞形成的微小气孔，通过收缩和膨胀来调节呼吸作用。 这些特化细胞的质膜中的钙通道在允许胞质Ca 2+增加方面起着至关重要的作用，这导致这些孔关闭，从而限制植物的水分损失。 胞质Ca 2+动态模式编码影响气孔行为和控制基因表达的特异性和效率的信息;然而，这些Ca 2+通道在植物中的分子身份仍然难以捉摸。此外，这些Ca 2+模式调节细胞反应（包括基因表达）的分子机制尚未确定。本课题以拟南芥保卫细胞为模型系统，在单细胞水平上研究细胞内Ca ~（2+）信号是如何通过分子组分进行转导的。在这个项目中，一个多学科的方法，包括计算建模和分子遗传学分析，将被用来表征一个家庭的推定Ca 2+渗透通道蛋白质膜和分析细胞质Ca 2+动力学如何调节保卫细胞的基因表达，并有助于调节气孔行为。 这项研究的结果将揭示新的分子组成的细胞Ca 2+信号和提供新的见解Ca 2+动力学控制的细胞响应plants.Broader影响：淡水资源短缺是本世纪的主要全球性问题之一，和65%的全球淡水用于农业。植物通过叶表面气孔的蒸腾作用损失95%以上的水分。由于细胞钙在气孔行为的调节中起着关键作用，因此拟议研究的结果和知识将有助于保护环境和提高农业生产力。两名博士后研究员，两名研究生和一名或多名本科生将参加这个项目。PI和co-PI将提供广泛的指导，为博士后同事未来的职业生涯做好准备。PI和co-PI将继续致力于扩大代表性不足群体的学生的参与。PI和co-PI将向公众进行演讲和讲座，以激发公众对科学和科学教育的兴趣。PI计划与同事合作，为地方和州政府官员提供一个开放的房子，为我们的研究提供非技术性的解释，并让这些政策制定者有机会看到第一手的税收资金在工作。

Intellectual Merit: Cellular calcium mediates diverse processes in both animal and plant cells, including gene expression, cell proliferation, cell division, metabolism, and cell movement. Stomata are microscopic pores each formed by a pair of guard cells that shrink and swell to regulate respiration. Calcium channels in the plasma membrane of these specialized cells play a crucial role in allowing an increase of cytosolic Ca2+, which causes these pores to close thus limiting water loss by the plant. Patterns of cytosolic Ca2+ dynamics encode information that impacts stomatal behavior and controls the specificity and efficiency of gene expression; however, the molecular identity of these Ca2+ channels in plants remains elusive. In addition, molecular mechanisms by which these Ca2+ patterns regulate cellular responses, including gene expression, have yet to be identified. Using Arabidopsis guard cells as a model system, the aim of this project is to investigate how a cellular Ca2+ signal is transduced by molecular components at the single-cell level. In this project, a multidisciplinary approach that includes computational modeling and molecular genetic analysis, will be used to characterize a family of putative Ca2+-permeable channel proteins in the plasma membrane and to analyze how cytosolic Ca2+ dynamics modulates gene expression in guard cells and contributes to the regulation of stomatal behavior. The results of this research will reveal novel molecular components of cellular Ca2+ signaling and provide new insights into Ca2+ dynamics-controlled cellular responses in plants.Broader Impacts: Fresh water scarcity is one of the major global problems this century, and 65% of global fresh water is used for agriculture. Plants lose over 95% of their water via transpiration through stomatal pores in the leaf surface. Since cellular calcium plays a key role in the regulation of stomatal behavior, results and knowledge arising from the proposed research will contribute to protecting the environment and to improving agricultural productivity. Two postdoctoral fellows, two graduate students and one or more undergraduate students will participate in this project. The PI and co-PI will provide extensive mentoring to prepare postdoctoral associates for their future careers. The PI and co-PI will continue making a commitment to broadening the participation of students from underrepresented groups. The PI and co-PI will give presentations and lectures to the public to stimulate general interest in science and science education. In collaboration with colleagues, the PI plans to offer an open house to local and state governmental officials to provide a non-technical explanation of our research and give these policymakers an opportunity to see first hand tax dollars at work.