小型的海洋甲壳类－卤虫为了适应高山盐湖极端环境经过长期进化形成了休眠胚胎的特殊生命过程。在抵御极端环境的过程中，休眠胚胎通过特殊分子机制形成了长期的细胞周期停滞和胚胎发育间歇，新陈代谢处于完全停滞状态。适宜环境条件下休眠终止并重新启动细胞分裂和胚胎发育。卤虫这种特殊的生命过程和分子机制至今尚未被阐明。本项目针对卤虫休眠过程中AMPK基因表达的基本特征，蛋白质水平的变动规律及在细胞胞质中分布开展研究。在筛选休眠胚胎特异性表达基因的基础上，结合生物信息学分析确定与AMPK调控相关的目标分子。通过基因Knock-Down和基因过表达的功能验证阐明AMPK在卤虫休眠胚胎形成过程中调控的分子途径和和作用机制。此外，开展高山盐湖在地球环境演变过程中的地质变化历史和规律的研究，结合卤虫形成休眠胚胎特殊的生命过程及进化途径，探索高山盐湖环境演化与卤虫AMPK分子的适应进化规律。

Artemia, a small crustacean which live in salt lakes on plateaus, has evolved a special process of diapause embryo during long period of stress tolerance. To cope with harsh and complex habitats such as salt lakes, Artemia are able, when the circumstances become adverse, to release their of fspring into a dormant, encysted state, rather than simply releasing swimming nauplius in order to ensure survival. The diapause embryos do not undergo cell division or DNA synthesis and remain in total cell cycle arrest. Even when diapause is terminated, the post-diapause embryos continue cell cycle arrest until the appearance of suitable environments. When external conditions improve, the cell cycle arrest terminates and the encysted embryos proceed to hatch as nauplii. In the diapause state, with reduced metabolic activity and with nucleic acid and protein synthesis turned off, the extended survival of the embryos in harsh environments is enabled. However, the molecular mechanism of the diapause formation of Artemia is still unclear up to date. .In this investigation we will first characterize the AMPK gene expression, variation and distribution of AMPK. Based on the screening of the genes that expressed specific during diapause embryo formation and bioinformatic analyzing of the encoding proteins, we will focus the target molecules related APMK regulation. This study will analyzed the molecular function by RNA interference and gene over expression, and thus clarify the molecular pathways and elucidate the molecular regulation mechanism of AMPK during the Artemia diapause formation. Besides, base upon the salt lake structure and properties of formation during environmental evolvement of the Earth, molecular mechanism of diapause formation and principal of Artemia evolution, the results will insight the special process and form of organism of Aretemia diapause embryo.