核糖体rRNA是细胞内丰度最高的非编码RNA，作为核糖体重要的结构组成，参与蛋白质合成。核糖体生物合成是细胞中最基本的生物学过程之一，受到细胞精密调控。对核糖体生物合成过程及其调控机制的研究一直是当今生物学研究的热点之一。相对于单细胞酵母，我们对高等植物中rRNA生物合成过程及其调控网络的认知仍然有限。本项目前期工作发现，小RNA生物合成因子TOUGH特异地参与rRNA的转录后加工调控。本项目以模式植物拟南芥为材料，围绕高等植物核糖体生物合成的调控机理这一关键科学问题，综合多种技术手段探索TOUGH蛋白调控高等植物rRNA前体转录后加工的分子机制，探索小RNA和rRNA这两类重要的非编码RNA在生物合成过程中新的相互调控关系。本研究有助于进一步解析高等植物核糖体生物合成及其调控过程，为我们深入了解核糖体合成相关的生长发育缺陷和多种疾病的作用机制提供新思路。

Ribosomal RNA is the most abundant cellular non-coding RNA and the essential structural component of ribosome for translation. As an essential, complicated and energy-intensive process, ribosome biogenesis is strictly regulated in vivo. It is always one of the most popular fields in biological research to investigate the regulatory mechanism of ribosome biogenesis. However, compared to monocellular yeast, much remain unclear about ribosome biogenesis and its regulatory network in higher plants. Our preliminary work suggests that the RNA binding protein TOUGH plays unexpected role in proper pre-rRNA processing, which is different from other well-known miRNA biogenesis factors. In this project, we will apply comprehensive approaches to determine the molecular mechanism that TOUGH regulates rRNA post-transcriptional processing, as well as the potential cross-talk between small RNA biogenesis and rRNA biogenesis. This project will extend our knowledge about ribosome biogenesis in higher plants and provide new clues to better understand ribosome biogenesis associated developmental defects and human diseases.