Summary
This project will investigate how small molecules produced in plant cells regulate gene activity. Plants produce a vast diversity of metabolites that are essential for growth, environmental responses, and the synthesis of valuable natural products, but their production must be tightly regulated in cells to avoid wasting energy or overaccumulation of harmful compounds. This research focuses on how small-molecule metabolites trigger feedback regulation of gene expression, a fundamental but poorly understood process in biology. Using petunia flowers as a model system, the project will examine how
