Pathogenesis Related (PR) 10 proteins in mediating plant responses to stress

众所周知，基因表达的变化，导致植物细胞中合成的蛋白质的量和类型的变化，伴随着植物对胁迫的反应。更深入地了解这些蛋白质中的每一种在介导这些应激反应中所起的作用，对于开发更好的、也许是更合理的方法来改善植物更好地耐受应激是至关重要的。我们实验室的研究已经鉴定出属于病程相关（PR）10蛋白家族的特定蛋白质，这些蛋白质可能具有在胁迫条件下增强发芽、早期幼苗生长和生产力的潜力。本申请中提出的研究将进一步加深我们对这些蛋白质能够引起所观察到的效应的精确机制的了解。从这些研究中获得的知识将成为开发具有更好的抵御环境压力（如盐度，干旱和极端温度）能力的植物的基础。我们的研究是及时的，有可能通过提高生产力来减轻对粮食安全构成的威胁，在环境压力的条件下，由于气候变化而变得越来越普遍。预计气候变化将对加拿大以可持续方式生产粮食的能力产生不利影响。 因此，我们的研究将转化为加拿大和世界其他地区的长期经济和社会效益，这是由于能够在次优环境条件下维持植物农业。

It is well-known that changes in gene expression, leading to changes in the amount and types of proteins that are synthesized in a plant cell, accompany plant responses to stress. A more thorough understanding of the roles played by each of these proteins in mediating those responses in stress is crucial for the development of better, and perhaps more rational, ways of improving plants to tolerate stresses better. Research in our laboratory has led to the identification of specific proteins belonging to the pathogenesis-related (PR) 10 protein family that may have potential to enhance germination, early seedling growth and productivity under conditions of stress. Research proposed in this application will further our knowledge into the precise mechanisms by which these proteins are able to elicit the observed effects. Knowledge gained from these studies will form the basis for developing plants with improved abilities to withstand environmental stresses such as salinity, drought and temperature extremes. Our research is timely and has the potential to mitigate threats posed to food security by improving productivity under conditions of environmental stress which are becoming increasingly common as a result of climate change. It is anticipated that climate change will negatively impact Canada's ability to produce food in a sustainable manner. Our research, therefore, will translate into long-term economic and social benefits for Canada and the rest of the world, brought about as a result of being able to sustain plant agriculture under sub-optimal environmental conditions.