# Genetic Biochemical Studies of Plant Steroid Signaling

> **NIH NIH R01** · CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON, D.C. · 2023 · $16,017

## Abstract

R01GM066258: Genetic Biochemical Studies of Plant Steroid Signaling.
PI: Zhiyong Wang
Modified Project Summary/Abstract Section
The long-term goal of this project is to understand the molecular networks through which
hormones, environmental factors, and nutrients together control plant growth and
development. Plants have evolved robust cellular signaling systems to regulate growth
and metabolism according to internal status and environmental conditions. Dissecting
these plant regulatory systems is important not only for food security and environmental
sustainability, but also for understanding cellular regulation in general, as many
mechanisms are highly conserved in animals and plants. This research program focuses
on the cellular signaling and regulatory network impinged upon by the steroid hormone
brassinosteroid (BR), a major growth-promoting hormone that impact a wide range of
developmental and physiological processes. Using a combination of genetic, genomic,
biochemical, and proteomic approaches in the Arabidopsis model system, we have
elucidated molecular mechanisms by which BR binding to receptor kinase BRI1 leads to
activation of transcription factor BZR1 through the evolutionarily conserved BSU1 family
of phosphatases and GSK3-like kinases. Furthermore, we have revealed at molecular
level how the BR signaling pathway is integrated with many other signaling pathways
into regulatory networks that control gene transcription program driving cell elongation
and various specific developmental programs. Our ongoing research has uncovered
many posttranslational mechanisms by which BR signaling directly modulates cellular
reorganization and metabolic programs through direct protein-protein interactions and
posttranslational modifications. We proposed to focus on these mechanisms that link
signaling pathways with major cellular activities such as membrane trafficking, cell
division, and carbon metabolism. In addition, we will investigate how BR signaling cross
talks with other signaling pathways to balance metabolism with growth demand and to
program cellular differentiation in plant development. The research outlined in this
proposal will continue to use combinations of genetic and proteomic approaches and will
significantly advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cellular signal
integration and information processing.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10810090
- **Project number:** 3R01GM066258-21S2
- **Recipient organization:** CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON, D.C.
- **Principal Investigator:** ZHIYONG WANG
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $16,017
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2002-08-01 → 2024-07-14

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10810090

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10810090, Genetic Biochemical Studies of Plant Steroid Signaling (3R01GM066258-21S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10810090. Licensed CC0.

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