Award Abstract # 0344852
Essential Nature of Fatty Acid Elongation in Plant Development

NSF Org: IOS
Division Of Integrative Organismal Systems
Recipient: IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Initial Amendment Date: April 19, 2004
Latest Amendment Date: May 7, 2006
Award Number: 0344852
Award Instrument: Continuing Grant
Program Manager: Zhongchi Liu
IOS
 Division Of Integrative Organismal Systems
BIO
 Directorate for Biological Sciences
Start Date: April 15, 2004
End Date: March 31, 2008 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $375,000.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $375,000.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2004 = $115,000.00
FY 2005 = $130,000.00

FY 2006 = $130,000.00
History of Investigator:
  • Patrick Schnable (Principal Investigator)
    schnable@iastate.edu
  • Basil Nikolau (Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: Iowa State University
1350 BEARDSHEAR HALL
AMES
IA  US  50011-2103
(515)294-5225
Sponsor Congressional District: 04
Primary Place of Performance: Iowa State University
1350 BEARDSHEAR HALL
AMES
IA  US  50011-2103
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
04
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): DQDBM7FGJPC5
Parent UEI: DQDBM7FGJPC5
NSF Program(s): PLANT FUNGAL & MICROB DEV MECH
Primary Program Source: app-0104 
app-0105 

app-0106 
Program Reference Code(s): 1111, 9109, BIOT
Program Element Code(s): 111800
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.074

ABSTRACT


Very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs), those that contain 20 or more carbon units, are incorporated into a wide variety of physiologically significant phytochemicals, including cuticular waxes, cutin, suberin, sphingolipids, and some phospholipids and seed oils. Genes that encode several of the enzymes involved in the production of VLCFAs have been isolated. Based on the finding that maize mutants that block the production of one of these enzymes are embryo lethal, VLCFAs must be essential during maize embryogenesis. Mutants that block the accumulation of essential VLCFAs therefore provide an ideal experimental system to determine the essential role of VLCFA-derived phytochemicals in plant development.
The proposed project will define the essential developmental role(s) of VLCFAs, by determining the morphological differences that distinguish the development of mutant embryos from normal embryos. It will also establish which VLCFA-derived compound(s) are essential during embryo development, by comparing the accumulation of VLCFA-derived compounds in normal and mutant embryos. Finally, mutants that overcome the embryo lethality associated with genetic blocks in the production of VLCFAs will be isolated. In the long term, these mutants can be used to dissect the diverse network of biochemical pathways that utilize VLCFAs.
The proposed studies meet the challenge of understanding the complex interplay between biochemistry and development by continuing to exploit the synergy inherent in a long-term research collaboration that integrates genetic and biochemical approaches. This project will provide excellent cross-disciplinary training experiences to a diverse group of early-career scientists because it will use a combination of hypothesis-driven and genome-wide analyses, and apply cutting-edge technologies to address significant questions in plant biology that have proven recalcitrant to a mono-disciplinary approach.

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH

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Dietrich CR, MADN Perera, M Yandeau-Nelson, RB Meeley, BJ Nikolau, PS Schnable "Characterization of two gl8 paralogs reveals that the 3-ketoacyl reductase component of fatty acid elongase is essential for maize (Zea mays L.) development." Plant Journal , v.42 , 2005 , p.844

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