The role of the R2R3-MYB gene family in stomatal signalling

气孔是存在于叶表面的气孔。通过控制气孔孔的孔径，植物能够最大限度地吸收二氧化碳进行光合作用，并减少植物的水分流失。气孔孔由两个叫做保卫细胞的细胞包围。当它们膨胀时，毛孔张开，二氧化碳吸收和水分损失发生。或者，当细胞收缩时，气体的吸收和损失就会被阻止。控制植物和大气之间的气体交换对植物非常重要，因为它允许植物在干旱时期保存水分，并最大限度地吸收二氧化碳以支持生长和发育。气孔综合来自环境的信号(光照强度、大气二氧化碳、湿度和植物激素)来设置最优的气孔开度，以适应普遍的环境条件。最近，我们发现了一种新的蛋白质，它有助于控制气孔运动。这种蛋白质被称为转录因子，它属于被称为MYB的相关转录因子大家族。本申请的目的是确定其他MYB家族成员中的哪些成员也参与气孔开度的控制。这些蛋白质很有趣，因为它们有助于控制气孔开度，因此了解它们的工作原理可能有助于我们培育出更好地适应全球变暖和干旱等环境压力的作物。

Stomata are pores found in the surface of leaves. By controlling the aperture of the stomatal pore, plants are able to optimise the uptake of carbon dioxide for photosynthesis and the loss of water by the plant. The stomatal pore is bounded by two cells called guard cells. When these swell the pore gapes open and carbon dioxide uptake and water loss takes place. Alternatively, when the cells shrink the uptake and loss of gas is prevented. Controlling the exchange of gasses between the plant and the atmosphere is very important to the plant because it allows the plant to conserve water in times of drought and also to maximise carbon dioxide uptake to support growth and development. Stomata integrate signals from the environment (light intensity, atmospheric carbon dioxide, humidity and plant hormones) to set the optimum stomatal aperture to suit the prevailing environmental conditions. Recently we have discovered a new protein that helps to control stomatal movement. This protein is called a transcription factor and it belongs to a large family of related transcription factors called MYBs. The objective of this application is to determine which of the other MYB family members are also involved in the control os stomatal aperture. These proteins are interesting as they help to control stomatal aperture so understanding how they work might help us to breed crops better equipped to tolerate global warming and environmental stresses such as drought.