Official Project Description
AtWRI1 is a central transcriptional regulator of lipid biosynthesis in plants.
It acts as a key switch that drives fatty acid production and triacylglycerol accumulation by binding to the AW-box motif upstream of genes involved in late glycolysis and fatty acid synthesis.
Recent work has shown that the W74R mutation can enhance DNA binding and significantly increase oil content, motivating our goal of identifying even more effective mutants.
Although current plant molecular experiments are relatively accurate, they are often slower than comparable studies in animal or human systems.
To enable large-scale mutant screening in a more time-efficient manner, we use molecular dynamics simulations as a computational proxy for DNA-binding behavior associated with lipid production.
Ultimately, this project aims to guide the design of higher-yielding bioenergy crops, contributing to improved sustainability and energy security.