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Reprogramming Plant Gene Regulatory Networks for Source-to-Sink Carbon Allocation


EMSL Project ID
50446

Abstract

The regulation of carbon partitioning between source and sink tissues plays a critical role in plant growth and development. Plant productivity is enhanced by sink strength and source activity, which are regulated by a complex signaling network encompassing sugars, phytohormones, and environmental factors. In this proposed work, we aim to identify the key factors that control the expression of genes involved in regulating leaf (as source tissue) -to-root (as sink tissue) sugar transport in poplar. We will employ omics and genome editing approaches to decipher the sequence of molecular events that control Carbon allocation to root system by characterizing primary carbohydrate metabolism-associated genes and transcription factors. For that, we will test the role of putative cis-regulatory elements controlling important differentially expressed genes associated with carbohydrate-specific genetic programs localized to particular plant organs. Overall, the output of this work will shed light on the complex gene regulatory network that control source-sink communication in plant systems, which eventually could lead to higher biomass yield in strategic bioenergy crops like poplar.

Project Details

Start Date
2018-10-11
End Date
2020-09-30
Status
Closed

Team

Principal Investigator

Amir Ahkami
Institution
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Team Members

Albert Rivas-Ubach
Institution
Spanish National Research Council - CSIC

Yuliya Farris
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Tanya Winkler
Institution
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Robert Egbert
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Dusan Velickovic
Institution
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Joseph Brown
Institution
University of Utah

Christer Jansson
Institution
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Christopher Anderton
Institution
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Lye Meng Markillie
Institution
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Ziyu Dai
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Galya Orr
Institution
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Related Publications

Balasubramanian V.K., Jansson C., Baker S.E., Ahkami A.H. (2021) Molecular Mechanisms of Plant?Microbe Interactions in the Rhizosphere as Targets for Improving Plant Productivity. In: Gupta V., Sharma A. (eds) Rhizosphere Biology: Interactions Between Microbes and Plants. Rhizosphere Biology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-6125-2_14