从化学诱导型启动子激活标记系统构建的拟南芥突变体库中分离了一个对镉（Cd）胁迫耐受的突变体 vew1-D。利用Tail-PCR等技术克隆了VEW1基因，其编码一个WRKY家族中功能未知的转录因子。初步研究表明，VEW1可能通过激活编码Cd2+离子泵的AtPDR8基因转录来调控植物对Cd胁迫的耐受性；此外，利用酵母双杂系统鉴定了一个功能未知的与VEW1互作蛋白VIP1，其功能缺失导致植株对Cd胁迫耐受增加。据此推测：VIP1可能通过与VEW1互作来调节AtPDR8基因表达进而控制植物对Cd胁迫的耐受性。本项目拟进一步探讨VEW1基因功能，研究VEW1与VIP1互作及其对下游靶基因AtPDR8的调控作用，解析其信号转导途径，阐明其调控植物对Cd胁迫响应的分子机理。该研究不仅有助于揭示植物对重金属胁迫响应的信号转导机制，而且可为农作物品质遗传改良提供新的基因资源。

An Arabidopsis cadmium (Cd)-resistant vew1-1D mutant was identified in a screen for the XVE-tagging T-DNA insertion lines. VEW1 gene was cloned by using Tail-PCR and shown to encode an unkown functional WRKY transcription factor. Our preliminary studies showed that Arabidopsis VEW1 transcription factor might regulate Cd tolerance by directly activating transcription of AtPDR8 gene, which encodes a Cd2+ extrusion pump. Moreover, an unfunctional VEW1-interacting protein VIP1 was also identified by using a yeast two-hybrid system, and loss-of-function of VIP1 resulted in enhanced Cd resistance. Based these results, we postulated that VIP1 might interact with VEW1 to regulate Cd resistance by modulating VEW1-activated AtPDR8 expression in Arabidopsis. In this work, we will further study the function of VEW1 in reguting Cd resistance, confirm the interaction of VEW1 and VIP1 as well as its effect on expression of the downstream gene AtPDR8, clarify the VEW1-mediated signaling pathway, and uncover the molecular mechanisms mediated by VEW1 in response to Cd stress. These results will provide not only new insights into understanding the mechanisms involved in tolerance of plants to Cd stress but also the novel candidate gene for its application in the improvement of quality in crops.