低温胁迫是我国北方地区番茄、黄瓜等喜温蔬菜作物保护地生产中的主要障碍因素之一。Whirly蛋白是植物细胞内的一种转录因子，是细胞核和叶绿体交叉对话的理想载体，对于植物的低温响应具有重要作用。克隆番茄叶绿体whirly蛋白基因（LeWhy1），获得含LeWhy1正义、反义基因的转基因番茄植株；构建原核表达载体，体外表达whirly蛋白，制备抗体；Northern和Western 杂交检测转基因植株；BN-PAGE技术检测低温胁迫下光合相关蛋白复合体的稳定性，分析PSII反应中心D1蛋白周转，测定对照植株和转基因植株光合气体交换参数、叶绿素荧光参数、抗氧化酶活性、活性氧水平等；酵母单杂交分析LeWhy1蛋白与所调控基因的互作，酵母双杂交寻找LeWhy1互作蛋白。探讨低温胁迫下番茄叶绿体leWh1y蛋白的光保护机制及其在质体信号通路中的作用。该研究对于指导喜温蔬菜栽培和抗逆育种具有重要意义。

Low temperature stress is a major factor that limits the agricultural productivity of chilling-sensitive crops in protection cultivation, such as tomato and cucumber in the north of China. As one kind of transcription factors in plant cell, whirly proteins are ideal candidates for crosstalk bewteen chloroplast and nucleus and function in response to low temperature. In this research, we are planning to clone chloroplastic whirly protein gene (LeWhy1) from tomato and to obtain sense and antisense transgenic tomato plants. A recombinant of prokaryotic expression vector will be constructed to obtain antiserum of whirly protein. Northern and western blot will be used to reveal RNA and protein signals corresponding to LeWhy1 in transgenic plants. Under chilling stress, BN-PAGE will be used to mensurate stability of photosynthetic protein complex. Turnover of D1 protein, gas exchange parameters, chlorophyll fluorescence, the activities of antioxidantive enzymes and levels of ROS will be mensurated to investigate the photoprotection function of LeWhy1. Yeast one-hybrid and two-hybrid systems will be used to screen the target gene and the interaction proteins of LeWhy1, respectively. Photoprotection mechanism and role of LeWhy1 protein as a signal between plastid and nucleus will be analyzed. These researches are important for the cultivation and breeding of chilling-sensitive vegetable plants for chilling tolerance.