番茄生长素反应基因在表皮毛发育过程中的调控机理研究

Tomato trichomes are multicellular glands and non-glandular tissue and its main functions are to reduce the loss of heat and moisture in plants and protect the plants against insects and pathogens invasion. Until now, the molecular regulation mechanism of trichome development is poorly understood. Our previous study showed that tomato SlIAA15, an Aux/IAA family gene, highly expressed in trichome. SlIAA15 gene is involved in formation of tomato trichome. We also found that down-regulation of SlIAA15 gene in tomato also affected the expression of R2R3 MYB family genes. This project will find out the auxin response factors ARF interacting with SlIAA15 by using yeast two hybrid method and analyse the function of ARF in regulation of tomato trichome formation and development. We will also find out the R2R3 MYB transcription factor involved in trichome formation and development. The final purpose of this project is to identify the interaction between SlIAA15, ARF and R2R3 MYB in tomato trichome formation and development. This project will provide new clues for exploring the molecular mechanism of tomato trichome development. The project will also be helpful for regulation of trichome development and improvement of plant tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses.

番茄表皮毛是多细胞腺体和非腺体组织，其主要功能是减少热量和水分的散失，保护植物免受昆虫和病原体的侵害等。目前人们对番茄表皮毛形成与发育过程的分子调控机理研究较少。我们前期的研究表明番茄生长素反应基因Aux/IAA家族基因SlIAA15调节了番茄表皮毛的形成过程，同时发现抑制SlIAA15基因的表达影响了转录因子R2R3 MYB基因的表达。本项目将通过酵母双杂交等技术在表皮毛cDNA文库中筛选与SlIAA15相互作用的生长素反应因子ARF，并采用RNAi干扰技术研究ARF在表皮毛形成与发育中的作用，同时筛选与ARF相互作用的R2R3 MYB转录因子，确定其在表皮毛中的作用，最终明确SlIAA15，ARF和R2R3 MYB蛋白因子在表皮毛形成与发育过程中的相互作用关系。本项目的研究为探索番茄表皮毛发育的分子调控机理提供新的线索，也为基因工程手段调节表皮毛的发育，提高植物抗逆性奠定基础。