玉米是重要的粮食作物，而籽粒是玉米产量品质形成的基础。线粒体复合物I作为电子进入氧化呼吸链的主要通道，影响包括籽粒发育在内的诸多生物学过程。然而，植物线粒体复合物I的装配复合物（MCIA）及装配路径尚不清楚。前期获得一个玉米籽粒突变体1750，通过图位克隆及Mu插入突变体等位测试，确定其为编码线粒体复合物I装配因子的CIA30基因。本项目拟通过CRISPR敲除进一步验证CIA30基因功能；通过检测线粒体结构与功能揭示CIA30在线粒体复合物I装配过程中的作用机制；利用蛋白互作技术分析CIA30结合蛋白及其形成的MCIA复合物；结合转录组和代谢组数据分析CIA30及MCIA在线粒体复合物I装配和籽粒发育过程中的分子机制和功能进化。本研究有望首次揭示植物MCIA复合物信息，深入解析线粒体复合物I装配机制，并为玉米产量的遗传改良提供新的遗传资源和理论支撑。

Maize is the most widely grown crop in the world, and plays a critical role in food security, while kernel is the basis of maize yield formation. Mitochondrial complex I, as the main entry point for electrons into the oxidative respiratory chain, affects many biological processes including kernel development. However, little is known about the assembly pathway of mitochondrial complex I and the components of mitochondrial complex I intermediate assembly (MCIA) complex in plants. In our recent study, a maize defective kernel mutant 1750 was isolated, the mutant gene was identified as the CIA30 gene encoding mitochondrial complex I assembly factor by using map-based cloning and allelic test. This proposal aims to further verify the function of CIA30 gene by CRISPR knockout lines; reveal the mechanism of CIA30 in the assembly process of mitochondrial complex I by detecting mitochondrial structure and function; analyze potential CIA30-interacting protein(s) and the components of MCIA complex by protein-protein interaction technology; investigate CIA30 and MCIA complex involved in mitochondrial complex I assembly and its roles in kernel development by combining transcriptome and metabolome data. This study is expected to reveal the information of plant MCIA complex for the first time, gain an in-depth understanding of mitochondrial complex I assembly mechanism, and provide new genetic resources and theoretical support for the genetic improvement of maize breeding.