9507166 Ecker The experiments described in this proposal are designed to identify new components and characterize existing components of the ethylene signal transduction pathway that link perception of the gas with changes in cell morphology and gene activation. The proposed studies will integrate genetic, molecular and biochemical approaches to unravel the actions of ethylene in sensitivity (EIN) genes in response pathway. More specifically, we aim to: 1) Continue genetic dissection of the ethylene response pathway using mutation and epistasis analysis; 2) Examine interactions among the ethylene response proteins using biochemical and yeast genetic approaches, 3) Identify new genes whose products functionally interact with EIN2 and EIN3; 4) Characterize the biochemical properties of the EIN3 gene product. %%% The application describes experiments designed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of ethylene action in plants. Plants utilize gaseous ethylene as an important stress signal to regulate both development and metabolic processes. The long-term goal of this project is to understand the mechanisms by which this simple hydrocarbon is perceived and its signal transmitted to nucleus to affect general information about signal transduction mechanisms in plants. ***
