2010/AFGN Collaborative Project: An exemplary calcium signaling network in plant abiotic stress responses

该项目旨在对拟南芥中由蛋白激酶（AtCIPKs）组成的中央钙解码信号网络的机制和功能进行系统分析，该网络与钙传感器蛋白（AtCBLs）相互作用。总的来说，这个项目的重点是这个复杂的CBL-CIPK相互作用网络的功能特征，以及它在非生物应激反应中整合和特异性解码各种钙信号的贡献。因此，本项目旨在：(1)探索该信号网络中信息处理的功能原理；(2)确定其组成部分的生理功能和相互作用；(3)识别和表征该信号系统的靶蛋白和过程。该项目将产生与所有真核生物相关的钙信号传导机制的见解，为植物和其他生物的蛋白质相互作用分析和敲除植物生物学不同领域的突变组合提供新的工具。最后，本项目将揭示植物对环境胁迫因子耐受的分子基础，为培育抗逆性和农艺性能增强的作物提供平台。

The proposed project aims to perform a systems analysis of the mechanisms and function of a central calcium-decoding signaling network from Arabidopsis comprising of protein kinases (AtCIPKs), which interact with calcium sensor proteins (AtCBLs). In general, this project is focused on the functional characterization of this elaborate CBL-CIPK interaction network and its contribution to integrate and specifically decode various calcium signals during abiotic stress responses. Consequently this project aims to: (1) explore the functional principles of information processing in this signaling network (2) identify the physiological function and interplay of its components (3) identify and characterize target proteins and processes of this signaling system. This project will generate insights into calcium signaling mechanisms with relevance for all eukaryotes, provide novel tools for protein-interaction analyses in plants and other organisms and knock-out mutant combinations for different areas in plant biology. Finally, this project will shed light on the molecular basis for plant tolerance to environmental stress factors, providing a platform for generating crops with enhanced stress tolerance and agronomic performance.