Characterization of EIN3/EILs in ethylene responses

描述(申请人提供)：气态植物激素，乙烯，对植物的生长和发育有深远的影响。在乙烯信号转导途径中发现了一个由转录因子EIN3启动的转录级联反应。然而，人们对EIN3如何响应传入的乙烯信号知之甚少。此外，一组新发现的EIN3同系物EILS在乙烯反应中的生物学作用在很大程度上还没有被探索。本研究旨在探讨EIN3蛋白响应乙烯信号的生化机制以及EIL基因在乙烯调控过程中的作用。在存在或不存在乙烯的情况下，将评估EIN3蛋白的蛋白质稳定性、磷酸化修饰和亚细胞定位。此外，其他调节EIN3功能的分子将通过蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用分析或EIN3抑制因子的遗传筛选来鉴定。最后，对各种eIL基因的功能缺失突变和转基因过表达植株进行分析。还将在EIN3/EIL突变体和过度表达植物中进行全基因组基因表达谱分析，以确定它们各自的靶标。阐明EIN3的作用和对EIL功能的表征将极大地提高我们对乙烯气体如何影响植物适应和适合性的理解，从而使我们能够更好地操纵这些农业重要作物的乙烯反应。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The gaseous phytohormone, ethylene, has profound effects on plant grown and development. A transcriptional cascade that is initiated by a transcription factor, EIN3, has been uncovered in the ethylene signal transduction pathway. However, little is known about how EIN3 responds to the incoming ethylene signal. In additional, the biological roles of a group of newly identified EIN3 homologs, EILs, in ethylene responses have largely been unexplored. The goal of this proposed research is to explore the biochemical mechanism of EIN3 protein in response to ethylene signaling as well as to investigate the functions of EIL genes in ethylene-regulated processes. The protein stability, phosphorylation modification, and subcellular localization of EIN3 protein will be assessed in the presence or absence of ethylene. In addition, other molecules that modulate the function of EIN3 will be identified by either protein-protein interaction assays or a genetic screen for ein3 suppressors. At last, loss-of-function mutations and transgenic overexpression plants of various EIL genes will be analyzed. A genome-wide gene expression profiling will also be conducted in ein3/eil mutants and overexpression plants to identify their respective targets. The elucidation of EIN3 action and the characterization of EIL functions will greatly improve our understanding of how ethylene gas exerts its effects on plant adaptation and fitness, and consequently enable us to favorably manipulate the ethylene responses in those agriculturally important crops.