Melatonin in plant morphogenesis and development

褪黑激素最为人所知的是作为松果体激素，其主要发出黑暗信号，但也调节人类和其他脊椎动物的许多神经和生理功能。由于在预防神经系统疾病、癌症和许多与年龄有关的疾病方面的潜在健康益处，对植物褪黑激素的兴趣正在迅速增长。褪黑激素在植物中的存在最近已有报道，但其在植物发育中的作用尚不清楚。该实验室的研究表明，褪黑激素存在于一系列植物物种中，它的存在与自然和受控生长环境中的形态发生和植物发育有关。与内源褪黑激素及其前体5-羟色胺水平密切相关的反应包括高再生能力、花和种子形成以及植物对冷胁迫的适应。这些观察结果导致的假设，在植物中的各种形态发生和发育过程是由激素或环境压力，并进一步介导的褪黑激素诱导的级联调节信号。拟议的研究计划的重点是阐明褪黑激素在细胞，器官和整个植物水平的作用机制的生理，生化和分子基础。具体的研究方面将包括分析褪黑激素及其代谢产物的压力下施加的生长调节剂和高温或低温和发展的植物具有高抗氧化活性以及低和高内源褪黑激素含量。该研究模型代表了一种新的方法来了解褪黑激素在植物形态发生调控中的作用，并具有显着的潜力，开发一个模型，以产生耐温植物。此外，由于褪黑激素的多种健康益处，富含褪黑激素的植物可能为加拿大和国际市场提供新的天然健康产品。

Melatonin is best known as a pineal hormone which primarily signals darkness but also regulates a number of neurological and physiological functions in human and other vertebrates. Interest in plant melatonin is growing rapidly due to potential health benefits in the prevention of neurological disorders, cancer, and many age-related conditions. The occurrence of melatonin in plants has been reported recently, but its role in plant development is not yet understood. Research in this laboratory has shown that melatonin is present in a range of plant species and that its existence is associated with morphogenesis and plant development both in natural and controlled growth environments. The responses which were found closely linked with endogenous levels of melatonin and its precursor serotonin included high regenerative capacities, flower and seed formation, and adaptation of plants to cold stress. These observations led to the hypothesis that various morphogenetic and developmental processes in plants are induced by hormonal or environmental stresses and are further mediated by melatonin induced cascade of regulatory signals. The proposed research program is focused on elucidation of the physiological, biochemical, and molecular basis of the mechanisms of action of melatonin at the cellular, organ, and whole plant levels. Specific research aspects will include analysis of melatonin and its metabolites under stress imposed by growth regulators and high or low temperatures and development of plants with high antioxidant activity as well as low and high endogenous melatonin content. This research model represents a novel approach to understand the role of melatonin in the regulation of plant morphogenesis and has significant potential for developing a model to generate temperature-tolerant plants. Also, due to multiple health benefits of melatonin, melatonin-rich plants may provide novel natural health products for the Canadian and international market.