This National Science Foundation (NSF) Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074) award of $239,602 to Texas Tech University System, awarded on April 1, 2025, will fund research to study the evolutionary dynamics and functional significance of polycistronic gene expression in the plant kingdom. The project aims to:
- Generate a comprehensive map of the polycistron landscape across key species in the Archaeplastida (plant) lineage using long-read sequencing and bioinformatics approaches.
- Investigate the evolutionary dynamics of polycistronic transcripts through ribosome profiling to assess active translation.
- Elucidate the mechanisms of polycistron translation using in vivo and in vitro experiments.
The research will test the hypothesis that polycistronic gene expression is evolutionarily conserved in Archaeplastida. The project also integrates educational and outreach activities, including science discussion seminars, hands-on student activities, and the development of a public database documenting polycistronic sequences across plant species. The outcomes of this 5-year project are expected to advance understanding of gene organization and expression in plants, with potential implications for plant breeding and biotechnology.
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