Analysis of the role of FASCIATED EAR2 (FEA2) in a signaling pathway that restricts meristem growth in maize

茎分生组织在发育过程中具有调节自身大小的能力。他们通过平衡干细胞分裂和细胞整合成新的原基来做到这一点。在拟南芥中，这种平衡由CLAVATA信号通路控制。目前的模型提出，由受体激酶CLAVATA 1和受体蛋白CLAVATA 2组成的异二聚体受体复合物限制了干细胞促进因子WUSCHEL的表达。对玉米中的扁穗2（fea 2）和厚雄穗矮化1（td 1）基因的分析表明，这一途径在被子植物中是保守的，因为它们编码具有明显保守功能的直向同源基因。我建议使用生化方法来表征FEA 2受体复合物。通过使用转基因FEA 2串联亲和纯化标记系，I将纯化复合物并通过质谱测定方法如基质辅助激光解吸/电离-飞行时间质谱法或液相色谱质谱法对其进行表征。通过表达谱分析、突变体表型分析及其与fea 2和td 1的遗传互作，对鉴定的蛋白质及其相应基因进行分析，旨在提高我们对玉米和其他被子植物分生组织大小和形态发生调控的认识。

Shoot meristems have the remarkable ability to regulate their size during development. They do this by balancing stem cell division with the incorporation of cells into new primordia. In Arabidopsis, this balance is controlled by the CLAVATA signaling pathway. The current model proposes that a heterodimeric receptor complex composed of the receptor kinase CLAVATA1 and the receptor protein CLAVATA2 limits the expression of the stem cell promoting factor WUSCHEL. Analysis of the fasciated ear2 (fea2) and thick tassel dwarf1 (td1) genes in maize suggests that this pathway is conserved among angiosperms, as they encode orthologous genes with apparently conserved functions. I propose to use biochemical approaches to characterize the FEA2 receptor complex. By using a transgenic FEA2 tandem affinity purification tag line I will purify the complex and characterize it by spectometric methods such as Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry or Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry. Identified proteins and their corresponding genes will be analysed by expression profiling, mutant phenotypes analysis and their genetic interactions with fea2 and td1, with the aim to improve our knowledge of regulation of meristem size and morphogenesis in maize and other angiosperms.