植物鞘脂介导的信号传导研究

Sphingolipids are major components of cell membranes and can also serve as bioactive regulator in multiple cellular processes. Disorders in sphingolipids metabolism and signaling pathway cause a few diseases in human. The receptors, effector proteins and downstream factors in sphingolipid-mediated signaling pathway have been identified and studied in mammals. Thus, the mechanisms of sphingolipid-mediated signaling transduction have been elucidated in mammals. Although sphingolipids have been implicated in signaling transduction in plants, the knowledge of sphingolipid metabolism, signaling and functions are still very limited in plants. Based on previous studies, we hypothesize that sphingolipids interact with effector proteins to regulate cellular functions in plants. This proposal aims to elucidate the mechanisms of sphingolipid-mediated signaling pathway in plants by investigating: 1) how sphingolipids regulate plant growth and stress responses; 2) screen and identify sphingolipid-interacting proteins; and 3) determine how sphingolipids affect effector proteins to transduce signal to downstream pathways. The results will have significant impact on the plant sphingolipid research and help us understand the mechanism of sphingolipid-mediated signaling pathway and their related functions in plants.

鞘脂是细胞膜的重要组成成分，同时作为生物活性分子参与调控多种细胞活动。鞘脂代谢紊乱和鞘脂信号传导通路的缺陷导致了人类的多种疾病。动物中鞘脂介导的信号传导路径中的受体，靶蛋白和下游因子被大量鉴定和研究，动物中鞘脂传导的机制已经基本被阐明。已有的研究表明，鞘脂在植物中也参与信号传导过程并发挥着重要的作用，但是植物中关于鞘脂代谢，信号传导和相关的功能研究都很有限。在前面研究的基础上，我们提出植物中鞘脂通过与靶蛋白相互作用来调节细胞功能的假设。本项目将通过以下的研究来阐明植物中鞘脂信号传导的机制：1) 鞘脂对植物生长和抗逆的影响; 2) 筛选和鉴定鞘脂信号分子的靶蛋白；3) 研究鞘脂如何通过调控靶蛋白来传导信号到下游路径。本项目取得的研究结果对植物鞘脂研究具有重大的意义，可以帮助我们理解植物鞘脂信号传导的机制及相关功能。

鞘脂是细胞膜的重要组成成分，同时部分鞘脂可以作为生物活性分子参与调控多种细胞活动。前人研究表明，鞘脂在植物中参与信号传导过程并调控植物的生长和抗逆性，但是植物鞘脂代谢和相关的生物学功能研究都很有限。本项目开展的研究包括：植物中鞘脂分析方法的建立；鞘脂代谢网络中基因响应非生物逆境分析；鞘脂对植物生长和抗逆的影响；利用蛋白质组筛选和鉴定鞘脂结合的蛋白；鞘脂通过调控靶蛋白来调控植物生长和抗逆的机制。研究结果表明LCBP在非生物逆境胁迫下显著升高，参与鞘脂代谢的关键酶基因例如LCBK表达在非生物逆境胁迫下也显著上升，初步研究结果表明鞘脂代谢对植物抗逆性具有重要的调控作用。本项目取得的研究结果为解析植物鞘脂介导的信号传导奠定了重要基础，可以帮助我们理解植物鞘脂信号传导的作用机制。