Identification of Cell Wall Synthesis Regulatory Genes Controlling Biomass Characteristics and Yield in Rice (Oryza_sativa)
Cost efficient conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into bioethanol requires an improvement in cell wall characteristics and yield.
Cost efficient conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into bioethanol requires an improvement in cell wall characteristics and yield. Plant molecular biology and genetic engineering studies have shown that manipulation of the regulatory genes, particularly the transcriptional factors, is a very effective approach in modulating metabolic pathways. The Poaceae family, represented by rice, holds great promise to the bio-fuel industry, which include all cereals and several high potential alternative sugar and lignocellulosic crops. In this proposal, we aim to identify the regulatory genes in rice cell wall synthesis pathways using a cell wall removal and regeneration system that we have established. Both genomic and proteomic approaches will be used to study the cell wall removal and recover processes. The function of the putative regulatory genes in cell wall synthesis and regulation will be further investigated using reverse genetics, biochemistry, and genomic approaches. The specific objectives are: 1) Identification of genes, particularly transcription factors, whose expression profiles correlate with cell wall synthesis activities during cell wall and cell wall component(s) removal and regeneration. A 45K oligo nucleotide array chip will be used. 2) Identification of proteins whose differential expression patterns correlate with cell wall synthesis activities during cell wall and cell wall component(s) removal and regeneration. Comparative proteome approaches will be used. 3) Identification of proteins whose phosphorylation patterns correlate with cell wall synthesis activities. 4) Identification and characterization of rice mutants of the genes encoding transcription factors and other putative regulatory proteins identified in the studies above. At least 50 rice mutants will be generated and characterized.
