Award Abstract # 1930101
Mechanisms of Transport Through Plasmodesmata

NSF Org: IOS
Division Of Integrative Organismal Systems
Recipient: COLD SPRING HARBOR LABORATORY
Initial Amendment Date: July 2, 2019
Latest Amendment Date: July 14, 2021
Award Number: 1930101
Award Instrument: Continuing Grant
Program Manager: Aruna Kilaru
IOS
 Division Of Integrative Organismal Systems
BIO
 Directorate for Biological Sciences
Start Date: August 1, 2019
End Date: January 31, 2023 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $728,165.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $728,165.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2019 = $240,000.00
FY 2020 = $246,562.00

FY 2021 = $241,603.00
History of Investigator:
  • David Jackson (Principal Investigator)
    jacksond@cshl.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
1 BUNGTOWN RD
COLD SPG HBR
NY  US  11724-2202
(516)367-8307
Sponsor Congressional District: 03
Primary Place of Performance: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
1 Bungtown Road
Cold Spring Harbor
NY  US  11724-1009
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
03
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): GV31TMFLPY88
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): Cellular Dynamics and Function,
Physiol Mechs & Biomechanics
Primary Program Source: 01001920DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
01002021DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT

01002122DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s): 7465, 9178, 9179
Program Element Code(s): 111400, 765800
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.074

ABSTRACT

Living organisms are made up of smaller units called cells, and these cells need to communicate with each other to coordinate how they grow and develop. Plants have evolved a way to communicate by making tiny channels to connect their cells. Many different types of molecules pass through these channels to feed growing tissues and to instruct the plant how to grow. This project aims to understand how the passage of signals through the channels is controlled, by studying a newly discovered factor that controls this process. It will also screen for new factors that influence the way in which the channels instruct the growth of special types of cells called stem cells that are essential for plant growth. These studies have the potential to make significant improvements to agricultural productivity, and to limit the spread of plant diseases, which sometimes use the channels to spread through the plant. In addition to the scientific and technological advances detailed above, this project will train young scientists at various levels, as well as developing resources to involve high school students in cutting edge biology research. The PI directs the Partners For the Future Program at CSHL, which immerses local high school students in active research at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. He will also develop an educational exchange with an all-female minority serving high school in Brooklyn, New York. This activity will expose the excitement and applications of molecular biology to students who otherwise have little exposure to scientific research.

Plasmodesmata are microscopic channels that connect plant cells to integrate growth, development and nutrient availability, providing organism wide connectivity. Plant development relies on pluripotent stem cells in specialized niches called meristems, and the movement, or "trafficking", of homeodomain transcription factors through plasmodesmata is required to maintain the stem cells. This research will develop and adapt state of the art methods in protein-RNA interactions, RNA localization and proteomic analyses to study a newly identified RNA binding protein that is required for trafficking of stem cell regulatory proteins. It will also test the hypothesis that the newly identified protein interacts in a protein-mRNA complex to facilitate passage of transcription factors through the plasmodesmata. In an independent approach, the research will also use a proteomic screen to identify new factors that control PD trafficking. Movement of protein and RNA signals in plants is critical for their development, as well as how plants respond to the environment. The results of this project could therefore allow the manipulation of plants to improve agricultural productivity. The project will also integrate training of junior scientists, including minority high school students, in molecular genetics research.

This award was co-funded by the Physiological Mechanisms and Biomechanics Program in the Division of Integrative Organismal Systems and the Cellular Dynamics and Function Cluster in the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences.

This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH

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Kitagawa, Munenori and Balkunde, Rachappa and Bui, Huyen and Jackson, David "An Aminoacyl tRNA Synthetase, OKI1, Is Required for Proper Shoot Meristem Size in Arabidopsis" Plant and Cell Physiology , 2019 https://doi.org/10.1093/pcp/pcz153 Citation Details
Kitagawa, Munenori and Wu, Peipei and Balkunde, Rachappa and Cunniff, Patrick and Jackson, David "An RNA exosome subunit mediates cell-to-cell trafficking of a homeobox mRNA via plasmodesmata" Science , v.375 , 2022 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abm0840 Citation Details
Kitagawa, Munenori and Xu, Xiaosa and Jackson, David "Trafficking and localization of KNOTTED1 related mRNAs in shoot meristems" Communicative & Integrative Biology , v.15 , 2022 https://doi.org/10.1080/19420889.2022.2095125 Citation Details
Lindsay, P and Ackerman, A and Jian, Y and Artz, O and Rosado, D and Skopelitis, T and Kitagawa, M and Pedmale, UV and Jackson, D. "Rapid expression of COVID-19 proteins by transient expression in tobacco." bioRxiv , 2020 Citation Details
Tran, Thu M. and DemesaArevalo, Edgar and Kitagawa, Munenori and GarciaAguilar, Marcelina and Grimanelli, Daniel and Jackson, David "An Optimized WholeMount Immunofluorescence Method for Shoot Apices" Current Protocols , v.1 , 2021 https://doi.org/10.1002/cpz1.101 Citation Details

PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT

Disclaimer

This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.

Living organisms are made up of building blocks called cells, and communication between cells is important for their physiology and growth.  Plants have evolved a special form of cell-to-cell communication using molecular signals made up of protein and RNA molecules that are transported through tiny channels called plasmodesmata. These channels control how plants grow, metabolize and defend themselves against disease, but how they control passage of signals between cells is not well understood. The project used different approaches to understand how RNA messages important for plant growth are able to pass between cells. An experiment called a genetic screen was used to discover genes that are important for cell-to-cell trafficking. The Jackson lab identified and studied a new gene function using this approach. This gene makes a protein that binds to RNA, and controls how RNA messages are able to move between cells.  This discovery helps in understanding how critical information passes between plant cells. The new knowledge may be useful in creating new varieties of agricultural plants that are more productive and sustainable. 

As well as making new scientific discoveries, this project also trained junior scientists and helped educate high school students in modern biology research. The PI directs the Partners For the Future Program at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. This program immerses high school students in active research labs, and brought exposure to the excitement and applications of research to 36 high school seniors who otherwise have little opportunity for contact with cutting edge biological research.

 


Last Modified: 06/01/2023
Modified by: David P Jackson

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