Cuticle Biogenesis
Cuticle:
During evolution, land plants developed a hydrophobic cuticle that covers the surfaces of their aerial organs. This adaptation is essential for plant survival in the terrestrial environment, where water is scarce and plants are exposed to excess light, including ultraviolet light. The cuticle covers the primary aerial surfaces of land plants and serves as a defensive barrier against various abiotic and biotic stresses. Thus, the regulation of cuticle formation is essential for the optimal growth and development of plants under various environmental conditions. Recent advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying cuticle biosynthesis underscore the importance and complexity of its regulatory networks. One long-standing question in cuticle biology is how land plants differentially control cuticular wax biosynthesis in response to environmental changes.
During evolution, land plants developed a hydrophobic cuticle that covers the surfaces of their aerial organs. This adaptation is essential for plant survival in the terrestrial environment, where water is scarce and plants are exposed to excess light, including ultraviolet light. The cuticle covers the primary aerial surfaces of land plants and serves as a defensive barrier against various abiotic and biotic stresses. Thus, the regulation of cuticle formation is essential for the optimal growth and development of plants under various environmental conditions. Recent advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying cuticle biosynthesis underscore the importance and complexity of its regulatory networks. One long-standing question in cuticle biology is how land plants differentially control cuticular wax biosynthesis in response to environmental changes.
Cuticle Biogenesis: 육상 식물의 큐티클 층 형성 기전 연구
약 4억 7천만년 전 수생식물이 육상식물로 진화하는 과정에서 육지의 다양한 환경 스트레스에 적응하기 위하여 식물에는 여러 가지 변화가 일어났고 그 변화들 중 하나가 큐티클 구조의 발달이다. 식물의 표피세포 바깥 부분들은 큐티클 (cuticle) 층으로 둘러싸여 있고, 이 큐티클은 다양한 생물학적 비생물학적 외부 환경스트레스로부터 식물을 보호하는데 기여한다. 특히 기공 외 수분 손실과 기체 교환을 억제하는 것으로 알려져 있다. 그러므로 본 연구실에서는 수생식물 혹은 초기 육상식물들의 원시적 큐티클 구조 생성에 관여하는 유전자들을 탐색하고, 그 기능을 규명하는 연구를 수행하고 있다.
