植保素是植物感知病原菌后诱导合成的一类低分子量次生代谢物，在抵抗病原菌的入侵中起重要作用。我们的最新研究发现，植物防御激素乙烯和茉莉酸能够协同调控拟南芥中植保素的合成，然而协同调控的机制还不清楚。以前期工作为基础，本研究拟系统分离和鉴定乙烯和茉莉酸信号途径中协同调控拟南芥植保素合成的转录因子，进而结合遗传和生化等手段研究所鉴定的转录因子调控植保素合成的机制，旨在揭示乙烯和茉莉酸通过下游关键转录因子协同调控植保素合成的机制，对于认识乙烯和茉莉酸介导植物抗病性的分子机制及植保素合成的调控机理都具有重要意义。申请人近几年一直从事植物抗病相关研究，研究结果以第一作者发表在《PNAS》、《The Plant Journal》、《Journal of Experimental Botany》等杂志上，同时积累了一批研究材料，建立了系统的研究体系，为开展本申请中的工作奠定了坚实的基础。

Phytoalexins are low-molecular-weight secondary metabolites, which play important roles in plant disease resistance. Phytoalexin biosynthesis is induced by pathogen attacks. Our recent studies show that ethylene and jasmonic acid signaling pathways act synergistically to regulate phytoalexin biosynthesis, whereas the mechanism of such regulation is unknown. Based on our preliminary data, we propose a systematic strategy to isolate and identify transcription factors downstream of ethylene and jasmonic acid signaling pathways that synergistically regulate phytoalexin biosynthesis. Furthermore, genetic and biochemical approaches will be utilized to elucidate how these transcription factors function in regulating phytoalexin biosynthesis. This study will elucidate the mechanical roles of ethylene and jasmonic acid signaling pathways in regulation of phytoalexin biosynthesis. The applicant has productive publications in the area of plant defense during the past several years, and as a result accumulated a number of useful materials, and constructed effective research systems, which will significantly facilitate the research work in this proposal.