Functions of aquaporins in plants

水通道蛋白是一种蛋白质，它在细胞膜上形成通道，促进水和其他小分子的通过。由于水通道蛋白调节水分运输，它们也是了解植物水分关系的关键。此外，最近的发现指出了水通道蛋白在气体和其他参与气体交换和信号传递过程的分子的运输中的功能重要性。水通道蛋白介导的转运过程的调节涉及到受内部和环境因素影响的复杂过程。这项拟议的研究包括在受控环境条件下进行的研究，以考察水通道蛋白的功能以及这些蛋白在植物对环境因素的反应中的意义。本研究将结合整个植物生理学、细胞生理学和分子生物学的方法来解决研究问题。我研究的长期目标是：1)扩大关于植物和真菌水通道蛋白功能意义的知识；2)培训研究生和博士后研究员，为他们提供最先进的水通道研究的最新知识和熟悉度，使他们成为这一重要科学领域的未来领导者。这些研究的具体目标是：1)通过研究水通道蛋白的结构和功能特性，了解耐盐盐生植物中水通道蛋白的耐盐性特征；2)解释水力信号在外生菌根真菌双色链霉菌调控根水通道蛋白表达中的作用；3)确定水通道蛋白介导的二氧化碳运输在根外菌根结构发育中的作用；4)研究不同水通道蛋白亚型的水和气体运输特性与其在根和叶组织中的分布的关系；以及5)确定水通道蛋白介导的氧运输在植物耐涝中的重要性。这个拟议的项目是我旨在了解水通道蛋白功能的研究的直接延续，水通道蛋白是了解植物如何运输、使用和保存水和气体的关键。这一知识对许多研究领域都有重大影响，并具有重要的实际应用，特别是在农业、园艺和林业领域。

Aquaporins are proteins which form channels in cell membranes to facilitate the passage of water and other small molecules. Since aquaporins regulate water transport, they are also the key to understanding plant water relations. Additionally, recent findings point to the functional importance of aquaporins in the transport of gases and other molecules participating in gas exchange and signalling processes. Regulation of aquaporin-mediated transport processes involves complex processes that are affected by internal and environmental factors. The proposed research consists of studies that will be carried out under controlled-environment conditions to examine the functions of aquaporins and the significance of these proteins in plant responses to environmental factors. The research will use a combination of the whole plant physiology, cell physiology, and molecular biology approach to address the study questions. The long-term goals of my research are to: 1) Expand the knowledge concerning the functional significance of plant and fungal aquaporins; and 2) Train the graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to provide them with the current knowledge and familiarity of the state-of-the art aquaporin research to become future leaders in this important area of science. The specific objectives of the studies are to: 1) Understand the salt tolerance features of aquaporins in salt-resistant, halophytic, plants by examining their structural and functional properties; 2) Explain the role of hydraulic signals in regulation of root aquaporin expression by the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor; 3) Determine the role of aquaporin-mediated carbon dioxide transport in the development of root ectomycorrhizal structures; 4) Examine water and gas transport properties of different aquaporin isoforms in relation to their distribution in root and leaf tissues; and 5) Determine the importance of AQP-mediated oxygen transport in flooding tolerance of plants. The proposed project is a direct continuation of my research aimed at understanding the functions of aquaporins, which is the key to understanding how water and gases are transported, used, and conserved by plants. This knowledge has a significant impact on many research areas and has important practical applications, especially in the fields of agriculture, horticulture, and forestry.