Advanced Platform for Plant Stress Signalling Analysis

我们正在申请资金，为我们正在进行的研究项目购买设备，这些项目得到了NSERC的支持。我们在多伦多大学的细胞与系统生物学系建立了一个植物胁迫信号分析平台，该平台在过去的17年里一直支持科学发现和HQP培训。然而，两个核心设备，一个落地式离心机和一个凝胶成像系统目前出现故障，因此我们的研究受到严重影响。如果不更换现有设备，我们的NSERC资助的研究项目和相关的HQP培训将受到严重影响。该平台支持的研究旨在揭示植物胁迫信号和反应的分子机制。因为植物扎根在原地，它们不能简单地逃避不利的条件。因此，植物必须感知并响应环境。引发细胞反应的分子信号转导途径是每种植物感知和响应胁迫的能力的基础。在当今不断变化的气候条件下，加拿大的植物生态系统和作物面临着越来越多的压力，如干旱，盐和高温，病原体不断演变新的机制，导致植物疾病。 代表30多名受训人员的四个共同申请人团体正在申请资金，以更换两个核心设备，一个落地式离心机和一个最先进的成像系统。离心机将允许从细胞中分离生物分子（DNA，RNA，蛋白质和代谢物），成像系统将允许研究人员查看，表征和量化这些生物分子。 由拟议的植物胁迫信号分析平台支持的研究计划旨在通过协同方法揭示植物信号通路和植物对胁迫反应的分子机制。具体而言，这些研究计划旨在：1）剖析植物免疫信号和环境对植物免疫的影响2）通过高通量表征植物疾病进展和植物对病原体的反应，系统级分析3）揭示植物细胞壁信号传导的分子机制，以开发更具弹性的作物和改良的植物产品，4）利用大型数据集和系统-广泛的分析，以了解植物在干旱胁迫条件下的恢复能力。这些研究项目的成果包括表征植物胁迫信号转导的分子途径，了解植物对胁迫的适应机制，开发植物生物学的系统级工具，并为下一代接受过哥伦比亚培训的科学家提供高质量的指导和实践经验。这些研究成果有很大的潜力，通过提供工具来检测和减轻植物压力之前，它影响作物产量，并通过提供分子目标，通过传统的植物育种或遗传修饰开发抗逆植物，为农业实践提供信息。

We are requesting funding to purchase equipment for our on-going research programs that are supported by NSERC. We have established a Platform for Plant Stress Signaling Analysis at the Department of Cell & Systems Biology at the University of Toronto that has supported scientific discoveries and HQP training for the last 17 years. However, two core pieces of equipment, a floor model centrifuge and a gel imaging system are currently malfunctioning, thus our research is significantly affected. Without replacing existing equipment, our NSERC-funded research programs and associated HQP training will be severely impacted. Research supported by this platform aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms of plant stress signalling and responses. Because plants are rooted in place, they cannot simply escape unfavourable conditions. Therefore, plants must sense and respond to their environment. Molecular signal transduction pathways that trigger cellular responses underlie every plant's capacity to sense and respond to stresses. In today's changing climate conditions, Canadian plant ecosystems and crops are exposed to increasing levels of stresses such as drought, salt, and heat, and pathogens are continually evolving new mechanisms to cause plant diseases. Four co-applicants' groups representing over 30 trainees, are requesting funds to replace two core equipment, a floor-model centrifuge and a state-of-the-art imaging system. The centrifuge will allow to isolate biomolecules (DNA, RNA, proteins, and metabolites) from cells and the imaging system will allow researchers to view, characterize, and quantify these biomolecules. The research programs supported by the proposed Platform for Plant Stress Signalling Analysis aim to uncover molecular mechanisms of plant signalling pathways and plant responses to stress via synergistic approaches. Specifically, these research programs aim to: 1) Dissect plant immune signalling and environmental impacts on plant immunity 2) Characterize plant disease progression and plant responses to pathogens via high-throughput, systems-level analyses 3) Uncover the molecular mechanisms of plant cell wall signaling to develop more resilient crops and improved plant products and 4) Leverage large datasets and systems-wide analyses to understand plant resilience under drought stress conditions. Outcomes from these research programs include characterizing the molecular pathways of plant stress signal transduction, understanding the mechanisms of plant resilience to stress, developing systems-level tools for plant biology, and providing high-quality instruction and hands-on experiences to the next generation of Canadian-trained scientists. These research outcomes have significant potential to inform agricultural practices by providing tools to detect and mitigate plant stress before it impacts crop yield and by providing molecular targets to develop stress-resistant plants via traditional plant breeding or genetic modification.