The way in which plants sense, transduce and integrate environmental and endogenous signals are crucial to plant growth and development. This project aims to investigate the crosstalk between light and metabolite signal transduction pathways using a molecular genetic approach in Arabidopsis. This will be carried out by focusing on transcriptional control of the asparagine synthetase gene, ASN1. ASN1 gene expression is activated in the dark and is repressed by light and carbon. This repression is antagonized by nitrogen in the form of amino acids. A mutagenized Arabidopsis line containing the AS1-GUS/AS1- HPH reporter gene will be used in a positive genetic screen to isolate light repression insensitive (lir) mutants. Lir mutants will further be screened to identify mutants which are light and carbon repression insensitive. Phenotypic characterization of lir mutants will identify defects in light, carbon and C:N sensing and signal transduction. Finally, disruptions in genome-wide expression patterns will be investigated in the lir mutants using DNA microarrays. This mutant isolation and characterization will be extremely informative as it aims to dissect the integration of light, carbon and nitrogen sensing and signal transduction pathways.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32GM063350-02
Application #
6520526
Study Section
Biological Sciences 2 (BIOL)
Program Officer
Wolfe, Paul B
Project Start
2001-04-06
Project End
Budget Start
2002-04-06
Budget End
2003-04-05
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$38,320
Indirect Cost
Name
New York University
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
004514360
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10012
Thum, Karen E; Shin, Michael J; Gutierrez, Rodrigo A et al. (2008) An integrated genetic, genomic and systems approach defines gene networks regulated by the interaction of light and carbon signaling pathways in Arabidopsis. BMC Syst Biol 2:31
Thum, Karen E; Shin, Michael J; Palenchar, Peter M et al. (2004) Genome-wide investigation of light and carbon signaling interactions in Arabidopsis. Genome Biol 5:R10
Thum, Karen E; Shasha, Dennis E; Lejay, Laurence V et al. (2003) Light- and carbon-signaling pathways. Modeling circuits of interactions. Plant Physiol 132:440-52