A functional link between ethylene biosynthesis and autophagy

乙烯是一种植物激素，在调节果实成熟、衰老、抗病和逆境反应等重要农艺性状方面起着至关重要的作用。另一方面，自噬是一个细胞过程，在这个过程中，细胞循环并分解自己的成分，以获得能量和积木，特别是在压力条件下。本项目的目的是研究这两个重要的细胞通路的相互作用，并了解它们在正常植物发育和逆境下的分子和生理后果。通过更深入地了解植物激素，如乙烯，如何与自噬相互作用，我们可以在不同的农业环境中优化作物表现。该研究项目为博士后科学家、研究生和本科生提供了宝贵的研究培训机会。此外，该项目还包括针对普通公众的外联活动，重点是通过实习和既定的暑期研究计划针对当地高中生。这些活动包括让学生参与动手实验室练习和研究演示，为他们提供在植物生物学研究领域的直接和身临其境的体验。植物激素和自噬通过调节生长、生理或细胞能量水平，在调节植物对环境的适应方面起着至关重要的作用。然而，尽管对它们各自的调控机制进行了广泛的研究，但这些途径在植物生物学中的整合仍然知之甚少。本研究项目旨在通过研究自噬如何调节乙烯的生物合成以及1-氨基环丙烷-1-羧酸(ACC)在自噬中的信号作用来弥合这一知识差距。第一个目标是揭示自噬调节乙烯生物合成的机制，重点是自噬介导的ACS蛋白稳定性调节和乙烯-自噬串扰的功能含义。初步研究结果表明，这些通路之间存在串扰。第二个目标是从遗传学角度研究ACC作为信号分子在自噬和ACS蛋白周转中的作用。利用跨越遗传学、细胞生物学、生物化学和生理学的跨学科方法，该项目旨在阐明乙烯和自噬之间的功能和结构联系。最终，这些调查将为植物激素和自噬之间的相互作用提供新的见解，并揭示ACC在植物生物学中以前未知的功能。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Ethylene is a plant hormone that plays a vital role in regulating important agronomic traits such as fruit ripening, senescence, disease resistance, and stress responses. Autophagy, on the other hand, is a cellular process in which cells recycle and break down their own components to obtain energy and building blocks, particularly during stressful conditions. The objective of this project is to investigate the interaction of these two important cellular pathways and understand their molecular and physiological consequences during normal plant development and under stress. By gaining a deeper understanding of how plant hormones, like ethylene, interact with autophagy, we can optimize crop performance in diverse agricultural settings. The research project offers valuable research training opportunities for postdoctoral scientists, graduate students, and undergraduate students. Additionally, the project includes outreach activities targeting the general public, with a focus on local high school students through internships and established summer research programs. These activities involve engaging students in hands-on laboratory exercises and research presentations, providing them with direct and immersive experiences in the field of plant biology research. Plant hormones and autophagy play crucial roles in regulating plant adaptation to their environment by modulating growth, physiology, or cellular energy levels. However, the integration of these pathways in plant biology remains poorly understood despite extensive research on their individual regulatory mechanisms. This research project aims to bridge this knowledge gap by investigating how autophagy regulates ethylene biosynthesis and the signaling role of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) in autophagy. The first objective is to uncover the mechanisms by which autophagy regulates ethylene biosynthesis, focusing on autophagy-mediated ACS protein stability regulation and the functional implications of ethylene-autophagy crosstalk. Initial findings suggest the existence of crosstalk between these pathways. The second objective is to genetically investigate the role of ACC as a signaling molecule in autophagy and ACS protein turnover. Using interdisciplinary approaches spanning genetics, cell biology, biochemistry, and physiology, this project aims to elucidate the functional and structural connections between ethylene and autophagy. Ultimately, these investigations will provide new insights into the interplay between plant hormones and autophagy, as well as shed light on the previously unknown functions of ACC in plant biology.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.