Location: Plant, Soil and Nutrition Research
Project Number: 8062-21000-047-002-I
Project Type: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement
Start Date: Dec 1, 2015
End Date: Nov 30, 2019
Objective:
Chromoplasts are special organelles that develop unique mechanisms to accumulate massive amounts of carotenoids. However, very little information is available for chromoplast biogenesis except our discovery of the Or gene, the only known gene that governs chromoplast differentiation. In order to provide novel mechanistic insights into chromoplast biogenesis, the objectives of this proposed research are: 1) biochemically and genetically analyze the interactions between OR and components associated with the plastid protein-import pathway; 2) determine the mechanism by which the BoORHis mediates chromoplast biogenesis and carotenoid accumulation; and 3) Identify additional components in the chromoplast biogenesis pathway.
Approach:
To accomplish the specific objectives, a combination of genetic, molecular and biochemical approaches will be employed to dissect the mechanism underlying chromoplast biogenesis.
