KatNat_Elucidating the multifaceted functions of protein acetyltransferases in plant stress response and regulation of metabolism.

植物必须不断地对包括胁迫在内的各种信号做出反应，以协调它们在动态环境中的发育和生存。实现这一点的一种方法是通过蛋白质的化学修饰，允许蛋白质组的灵活和快速变化，以改变细胞和生理输出。蛋白质乙酰化是一种这样的修饰，其发生在许多蛋白质的N-末端（Nt）和内部赖氨酸（K）上。尽管它的流行，并与其他充分研究的修改（例如，由于蛋白质的磷酸化（例如磷酸化），我们严重缺乏以下知识：（i）蛋白质乙酰化的调节、特异性和可塑性，以及（ii）其对蛋白质活性和生理学的下游功能后果。因此，阐明蛋白质乙酰化的多方面功能并开辟植物分子生物学的这一新领域是非常及时的，欧洲有能力通过ERA-CAPS战略资金在世界上处于领先地位。 KatNat项目的总体目标是提供植物蛋白乙酰化的机制理解，特别关注研究催化这种修饰的酶（Nt-和K-乙酰转移酶）以及对蛋白质稳定，光合作用和代谢的影响。至关重要的是，这项工作将在农艺相关压力的背景下进行。KatNat由四个相互关联的目标，将回答广泛的问题：（1）非生物胁迫如何调节全球Nt-和K-乙酰组？(2)乙酰转移酶的特异性、作用靶点和应激反应动力学是什么？(3)蛋白质乙酰化如何影响蛋白质的稳定性和周转？(4)质体中的蛋白质乙酰化如何调节光合作用和代谢？通过回答这些相关的问题，KatNat不仅将改变该领域的前沿，还将为植物如何感知和应对环境变化提供监管机制和基本见解。最后但并非最不重要的是，所获得的信息将为未来开发上级作物确定关键的新目标。KatNat财团汇集了五个欧洲团体，他们都对蛋白质乙酰化的研究有显著的，可证明的兴趣，并且在质谱方面具有高度互补的专业知识，蛋白质生物化学和分子植物生物学需要在最高的国际水平进行这项原创性研究。联合会成员在这一领域已经处于世界领先地位，一些成员目前正在进行非正式合作。我们合作的协同价值将是开发和利用植物科学的一个未充分研究的领域，对农业至关重要。拟议的研究具有高度创新性，与ERA-CAPS的优先主题密切相关，并具有可衡量和有影响力的成果，将揭示这一新兴，令人兴奋和重要的植物生物学新领域

Plants must constantly respond to a wide range of signals, including stresses, in order to coordinate their development and survival within a dynamic environment. One way in which this is achieved is through chemical modifications of proteins, allowing flexible and rapid changes of the proteome to alter cellular and physiological outputs. Protein acetylation is one such modification, which occurs on the N-termini (Nt) and internal lysines (K) of many proteins. Despite its prevalence, and in contrast to other well-studied modifications (e.g., phosphorylation), our knowledge of: (i) the regulation, specificity and plasticity of protein acetylation, and (ii) its downstream functional consequences on protein activity and physiology are severely lacking. It is therefore extremely timely to elucidate the multifaceted functions of protein acetylation and open up this new area of plant molecular biology, in which Europe has the capacity to take a world lead through strategic ERA-CAPS funding. The overarching aim of the KatNat project is to provide a mechanistic understanding of protein acetylation in plants, with a particular focus on investigating the enzymes that catalyze this modification (Nt- and K-acetyltransferases) and the resultant effects on proteostasis, photosynthesis, and metabolism. Crucially, this work will be carried out within the context of agronomically relevant stresses. KatNat consists of four interrelated objectives that will answer broad questions: (1) How does abiotic stress regulate the global Nt- and K-acetylome?; (2) What are the specificities, targets and stress-responsive dynamics of the acetyltransferases?; (3) How does protein acetylation impact protein stability and turnover?; (4) How does protein acetylation in plastids regulate photosynthesis and metabolism? By answering these connected questions, KatNat will not only shift the forefront of the field but will provide regulatory mechanisms and fundamental insight into how plants sense and respond to environmental changes. Last but not least, the obtained information will identify key new targets for the future development of superior crops.The KatNat consortium brings together five European groups, who all have a significant, demonstrable interest in the study of protein acetylation, and who have the highly complementary expertise in mass spectrometry, protein biochemistry and molecular plant biology required to carry out this original research at the highest international level. Consortium members already have a world lead in this field, and several members currently collaborate informally. The synergistic value of our collaboration will be the development and exploitation of an understudied area of in plant science, with key importance to agriculture. The proposed research is highly innovative, aligns closely with ERA-CAPS priority themes and has measurable and impactful outcomes that will shed light onto this emerging, exciting and important new area of plant biology