Integrating the Unknowneome with abiotic stress response networks in Arabidopsis

The long-term goal of this research is to facilitate the assignment of function to every gene in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plants are sessile organisms that have evolved a large array of adaptive responses to allow them to survive and acclimate to changes in environmental conditions. To date, the function of the proteins encoded by more than 20% of plant genes is completely unknown, with the function of up to 43% of these proteins poorly characterized. mRNA-profiling experiments have revealed that about half of the genes expressed in response to abiotic stress encode proteins of unknown function (details provided below). Our research efforts are focused on genes and networks that function in abiotic stress, such as chilling, water deficit, salt, flooding, high light and oxidative environments. A plant’s survival and growth is dependent on its ability to cope with biotic and abiotic stress. It is clear that a plant’s stress response results from a complex set of changes in gene networks and metabolism.  While 1000s of genes have been linked to stress networks, in only a few cases have their biochemical and genetic functions been elucidated.  In fact, most of the stress-regulated genes identified to date have completely unknown function(s). Our specific research goals are to: 1) determine the change in abiotic stress tolerance for > 200 plant lines harboring T-DNA disruptions in genes of unknown function. 2) Determine the relationship of "unknowns" within a global protein-protein interaction network (“interactome”).  3) Over-express > 100 selected “unknowns” in plants, profile transgenic plants for changes in stress tolerance, and search for interacting protein partners. 4) Expression profile > 20 stress-response mutants grown under at least two different stress conditions. 5) Coordinate a centralized website for information on “unknowns” from Arabidopsis and provide outreach and training activities for those under privileged and underrepresented in science, on the role of science in agriculture, the environment, and human health.