Research Initiation Award: Functional Characterization of Arabidopsis RmlC-like Cupins Superfamily Proteins

历史黑人学院和大学-本科项目(HBCU-UP)研究启动奖(RIA)为HBCU的STEM初级教员提供支持，他们开始建立研究项目，以及为职业生涯中期可能在担任行政职位后重返教职队伍或需要重新定向和重建研究项目的教师提供支持。教职员工可以在他们的家乡机构、NSF资助的中心、研究密集型机构或国家实验室进行研究。RIA项目有望帮助教师进一步提高研究能力和效率，改善其所在机构的研究和教学，并让本科生参与研究体验。在国家科学基金会的支持下，西弗吉尼亚州立大学(WVSU)将进行研究，以提供有关调节种子贮藏化合物的分子机制的深入知识，包括鉴定和表征调节种子中脂肪、淀粉和蛋白质储存的基因。该项目将加强西弗吉尼亚州立大学的植物生物科学研究计划，确保学生在研究方面取得成就，并创造一条毕业生管道，他们将继续在植物科学领域从事STEM职业。此外，该项目将加强机构内和机构间的跨学科研究协作，并为学生提供协作指导。本项目的目的是利用拟南芥模型阐明CuBins及其相关基因网络在植物养分代谢和贮藏途径中的作用机制。具体地说，本研究的目的是：1)确定在拟南芥中是否需要Cuins来调节种子贮藏化合物；2)确定Cuins在拟南芥中的异位表达是否改变了种子化合物的产生以及植物的生理和生长；3)表征产生不同水平种子贮藏化合物的野生型和Cupin突变体拟南芥植物的转录组特征。这项工作的发现将确定Cuins是否是种子储存化合物新陈代谢的主要调节器。Cuins是一种以前未被识别的蛋白质网络。Cupins可能会显著减少当前农业做法对环境的负面影响，包括过度使用耕地和水以及增加化肥和杀虫剂的使用。这项工作将与内布拉斯加州大学林肯分校合作进行。研究和教育活动将推动西华大学的学术使命。

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities-Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) Research Initiation Awards (RIAs) provide support to STEM junior faculty at HBCUs who are starting to build a research program, as well as for mid-career faculty who may have returned to the faculty ranks after holding an administrative post or who need to redirect and rebuild a research program. Faculty members may pursue research at their home institution, at an NSF-funded Center, at a research intensive institution or at a national laboratory. The RIA projects are expected to help further the faculty member's research capability and effectiveness, to improve research and teaching at his or her home institution, and to involve undergraduate students in research experiences. With support from the National Science Foundation, West Virginia State University (WVSU) will conduct research to provide in-depth knowledge on the molecular mechanisms that regulate seed storage compounds, including the identification and characterization of genes that regulate the storage of lipids, starch, and proteins in seeds. This project will strengthen WVSU's plant biosciences research program, ensure student achievement in research, and the creation of a pipeline of graduates who will go on to pursue STEM careers in the plant sciences. In addition, this project will enhance intra-and inter-institutional interdisciplinary research collaborations and provide collaborative mentoring of students. The objective of this project is to elucidate the mechanisms of action of cupins and their associated gene networks in plant nutrient metabolism and storage pathways using the Arabidopsis model. Specifically, this study aims to: 1) determine whether cupins are required for seed storage compound regulation in Arabidopsis, 2) determine if ectopic expression of cupins in Arabidopsis alters the production of seed compounds and plant physiology and growth, and 3) characterize the transcriptome signature of wild-type and cupin mutant Arabidopsis plants that produce varying levels of seed storage compounds. Findings from this work will determine whether cupins, a previously unidentified network of proteins, are master regulators of seed storage compound metabolism. Cupins may significantly reduce the negative effects of current agricultural practices on the environment, including overuse of arable land and water and increased use of fertilizers and pesticides. This work will be conducted in collaboration with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The research and educational activities will advance the academic mission of WVSU.