DNase Ⅰ超敏感位点（DH位点）是染色质上对DNase I 高度敏感的特殊区域,它通常是由于调控因子的结合导致，因此与各种调控元件紧密关联。通过它可以准确地预测不同基因调控元件，也因此被称为调控元件鉴定的"金标准"。早期的DH位点研究主要基于southern杂交技术，由于检测效率低，不适合大量或基因组水平的DH位点分析。最近，基于高通量测序技术，研究者开发出一种兼具高效性和高灵敏度的DH位点分析方法-DNase-seq。这一方法实现了人们从全基因组水平高效、准确的进行DH位点鉴定及相应调控元件分析的目标。本研究将以DNase-seq为基础，结合组蛋白修饰、转录组及DNase I印记等数据，开展棉花DH位点的鉴定与分析工作。希望通过比较分析，明确不同调控元件与DH位点的内在联系；并通过预测及验证不同调控元件来检验该方法的可靠性，为棉花基因调控元件的发掘以及遗传改良应用奠定基础。

DNase I hypersensitive sites (DHSs) are specific chromatin regions, which bind with regulatory factors and cause the hypersensitivity of DNase I cleavage.Therefore, DHSs have been identified as the maker of regulatory element in chromatin. Based on the accuracy and reliability in identification of regulatory element, DHSs mapping has been long considered the gold-standard for identification of various classes of regulatory elements. In early studies,DHSs were identified using traditional Southern blot assay, which has a low through-put nature and limits analysis to small regions of the genome. Recently, a new strategy based on high-throughput sequencing (DNase-seq) was developed and used to simultaneously identify thousands of DHSs from the whole-genome-level. Results showed that it had a high efficiency and reliability in the identification of DHSs and regulatory elements. In this study, we will conduct the identification and analysis of cotton DHSs based on DNase-seq combining with the characterizing of histone modification, transcription and DNase I footprints. By comparison and analysis, we will elucidate the association between DHSs and their corresponding regulatory elements. To check its reliability, we will check the function of candidate regulatory elements by transgenic assay. We believe that this study will provide useful information and a powerful tool for identification of regulatory elements and further genetic improvement in cotton.