拟南芥蓝光受体CRY与bHLH类转录因子SPCH互作调控气孔发育的分子机制研究

气孔是植物在进行光合作用、呼吸作用和水分蒸腾作用等生理过程中与环境进行二氧化碳和水分交换的重要通道。光信号是促进植物气孔发育的重要环境信号，隐花素CRY（CRY1和CRY2）是介导蓝光信号促进气孔发育的重要蓝光受体，但其作用的分子调控机制目前尚不清楚。bHLH类转录因子SPCH是促进气孔发育起始的关键正调控因子。本项目前期研究发现CRY和SPCH发生直接蛋白互作，且共同调控众多下游基因的表达。此外，CRY1能够促进SPCH的转录活性。在此基础上，本项目将进一步研究CRY和SPCH之间的功能关系，以及CRY是否通过影响SPCH的DNA结合能力和SPCH的蛋白稳定性来实现对下游靶基因表达的调控。通过本项目研究，可望建立CRY介导的光信号调控植物气孔发育的信号转导途径，并揭示相关的分子调控机理。

Stomata are epidermal openings that facilitate plant-atmosphere gas and water exchange during photosynthesis, respiration, and water evaporation. Light is a critical environmental cue that regulates stomatal development. Cryptochromes(CRY, CRY1 and CRY2) are important photoreceptors that mediate blue light-regulated stomatal development. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this process is largely not understood. SPCH is a master bHLH transcription factor that determines the initiation of stomatal development. Our prelimilary studies showed that CRY interacts physically with SPCH, and that they co-regulate the expression of downstream genes. In addition, we found that CRY1 can promote the transcriptional activation of SPCH. Based on these studies, we will further verify the functional relationship between CRY and SPCH in the regulation of stomatal development, and explore whether CRY regulates the expression of SPCH-target genes by influencing the DNA-binding ability of SPCH and SPCH protein stability. We will hopefully establish the signaling pathway by which CRY mediates light regulation of stomatal development, and define the related molecular regulatory mechanisms.