Project

Background
Justification
Proposed Experiments
Distribution of Project Resources and Information, and Intellectual Property Issues
Outreach

Background

Justification

This proposal meets the goals of the 2010 project in two ways: 1) We shall develop new technology (BMFC) that will serve the needs both of the Arabidopsis and entire plant community. Currently, there does not exist the equivalent of a "plant two-hybrid" system to investigate protein-protein interactions in planta. This project will provide such a system. 2) This project will provide an innovative technology to investigate networks of plant genes involved in Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The proteins encoded by these genes are involved in a vast array of important cell biology functions, and knowledge of the interactions of specific protein pairs will be essential both for dissecting these functions and for understanding and improving Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.

Proposed Experiments

Distribution of Project Resources and Information, and Intellectual Property Issues

Information regarding the availability of project materials, the generation of BMFC vectors, the resulting constructions, and the cDNA libraries, as well as transgenic plant lines and he results of protein interaction studies will be posted on the project web site. The stocks (plasmids, cDNA libraries, bacterial strains, and transgenic Arabidopsis seeds) will be distributed via the ABRC. Importantly, all these resources and deliverables will be made public as soon as their quality control is completed, and our laboratory personnel will be given no priority access to the characterized genes, no matter how novel or unique their function will prove to be. These dissemination arrangements are long-term and will remain in place after the requested NSF support has ended (see attached letter from ABRC Director, Dr. Scholl).

Our BMFC vectors contain the "super-promoter", which has been patented by Purdue University and is licensed by the Biotechnology Research and Development Corporation (BRDC). The BRDC has agreed to grant a research license to any entity wishing to use these vectors. We shall not seek patent protection for any additional materials generated during the course of this project.

Outreach

The P.I.s consider the encouragement of young people, especially those from under-represented minorities, to enter a career in science an essential component of this project. To that end, we have established a relationship with Dr. Theodore Muth at Brooklyn College. Dr. Muth already has an active collaboration with Dr. Gelvin's laboratory. Dr. Muth will recruit an undergraduate student (either completing their Sophomore or Junior years); special emphasis will be placed on recruiting traditionally under-represented minority students. This student will spend 8-10 weeks at one of our laboratories during the summer learning about the BMFC system and participating in the research activities of this project. The student will also participate in activities conducted by the summer MARC/AIM programs at the respective universities. These activities include information and tutoring about taking the GRE Examinations, writing a curriculum vitae, etc. After the student returns to his/her home college, he/she will continue their research under Dr. Muth's tutelage. Thus, Dr. Muth's laboratory will develop a stable, long-term relationship with those of the P.I.s. The expectation is that students who continue working on a project throughout the academic year will be more likely to remain interested in pursuing a scientific career. Students who participate in this outreach program the summer after their Sophomore year will be encouraged to continue participation during the summer following their Junior year, thus solidifying their commitment both to the project and to a scientific career.