Award details

Metabolic signalling and the partitioning of resources in plants

Reference	BBS/E/C/00004150
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Nigel Halford
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Rothamsted Research
Department	Rothamsted Research Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	1,250,705
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/1999
End date	31/03/2008
Duration	108 months

Abstract

We seek to dissect the mechanisms involved in carbon metabolite and amino acid sensing and signalling and their role in the control of resource partitioning between and within leaves, seeds and tubers. A major target for research is a homologue of the yeast protein kinase, sucrose non-fermenting 1 (SNF1). The plant protein kinase has been given the name SnRK1 (SNF1-Related Kinase-1). 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase), sucrose phosphate synthase and nitrate reductase act as substrates for SnRK1 in vitro. SnRK1 is also involved in the redox regulation of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase. SnRK1 also regulates the expression of genes, including those encoding sucrose synthase, ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, alpha-amylase and sucrose phosphate synthase. Manipulation of SnRK1 gene expression has significant effects on plant development e.g. expression of antisense SnRK1 in barley causes abnormal pollen development and male sterility. Reduced SnRK1 gene expression and activity also inhibits sprouting in potato. SnRK1-interacting proteins include SnIP1 (SnRK1-interacting protein-1) (which has some similarity with the yeast regulatory protein, SNF4) a small heat shock protein and a transcription factor of the Apetela2/ethylene-responsive element binding protein family. A potential application of this work is to uncouple biosynthetic pathways from SnRK1 control. Tobacco plants have been produced containing HMG-CoA reductases lacking a SnRK1 target site. They show an increase in seed sterols and effects on flower phenotype. Another focus for study is the plant homologue of GCN2 (general control nonderepressible 2), a yeast protein kinase fundamental to general amino acid control. We have cloned and characterised the arabidopsis GCN2 homologue, AtGCN2. We are also investigating the role of cell cycle regulation in controlling plant development, particularly cross-talk between metabolic and cell cycle signalling. Includes studentship.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Plant & Microbial Sciences (PMS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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