目前ROS作为一种信号分子参与植物生长发育和逆境响应已引起研究者们的广泛重视，但是有关ROS和植物激素相互作用的研究还非常少。本实验室利用T-DNA插入技术获得一个拟南芥线粒体FtSH蛋白酶基因ELS的缺失突变体，els突变体植株矮化，表现出生长素缺陷突变体的表型，并且els突变体中H2O2含量明显上升，莲座叶明显早衰。本项目主要围绕ELS基因如何介导H2O2和生长素的相互作用来调控植物叶片衰老这一科学问题，利用细胞生物学、分子生物学、生物化学方法和技术，分析ELS基因在调控拟南芥叶片衰老中的功能，并进一步分析ELS基因与H2O2、生长素之间的相互作用，初步阐明ELS基因介导H2O2和生长素相互作用调控植物叶片衰老的分子机制,为作物的遗传改良提供基因资源。

ROS act as a signal molecule in plant development and stress response and has attracted extensive attention to the researchers at present, but the research on the interaction between plant hormones and ROS is still very little. A loss-function mutant, named as els (Early Leaf Senescence, ELS), of one Arabidopsis mitochondria FtSH protease gene, has been obtained using the T-DNA insertion technique. The els mutant showed an auxin deficiencies mutant phenotype by displaying severe dwarf phenotype. The H2O2 level in the els mutant was significantly increased. And the els rosette leaves were significantly premature aging. This project mainly focus on the study about how the ELS gene-mediated interaction of H2O2 and auxin to regulate leaf senescence. We will identify the function of ELS gene in regulating leaf senescence, and demonstrate the interaction between the ELS gene with H2O2 and auxin, using the methods and techniques of cell biology, molecular biology as well as biochemistry. Our results will help to understand the molecular mechanism of the ELS gene-mediated interaction of H2O2 and auxin in controlling the plant leaf senescence and also provide new gene resources for the genetic engineering of crops.