To better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying environmental response of K. laxiflora, the team will study temporal and tissue specific changes in global gene expression in response to different treatments, including temperature, light intensity, water-deficit stress and nitrogen sources. They also propose to examine the role of circadian and metabolite control over the CAM leaf transcriptome. The sequencing data generated in this project will be invaluable for resolving fundamental scientific questions related to the molecular physiology of CAM plants. More importantly, such information will facilitate the on-going DOE CAM biodesign project that seeks to engineer CAM pathway into C 3 crops to enhance WUE and stress tolerance.
Proposer: Xiaohan Yang, Oak Ridge National Laboratory