乙烯在植物生长发育、果实成熟、器官衰老及逆境胁迫反应中起关键调控作用。乙烯信号传导通路中的一些关键组分虽已被克隆，但人们对其分子调控机制所知甚少。我们前期研究中发现，利用RNAi干扰技术使乙烯突变体ein2-1中的RNA解旋酶RTE5基因沉默能恢复ein2-1的乙烯敏感性。初步分析表明，RNA解旋酶RTE5的基因沉默或基因突变（rte5-1；rte5-2）皆导致EIN2的pre-RNA剪切错误。本课题利用不同的遗传操作（RNAi基因沉默、CRESPR-Cas9基因剔除、基因过表达、基因位点突变）分析RNA解旋酶在乙烯信号传导途径中的调控功能及靶标分子；通过分析靶标基因的pre-RNA剪切及转录后修饰了解其作用机理；利用体外表达RTE5蛋白分析其ATP/GTP结合活性、双链RNA解旋活性等。这些研究为深入了解乙烯信号转导的分子调控机制提供新素材，也为利用乙烯反应改良作物品质奠定科学基础。

Ethylene plays a key role in plant growth and development, fruit maturity, organ senescence and responses to environmental stresses. Although some of the key components in the ethylene signal transduction pathway have been cloned, little is known about the mechanism of its molecular regulation. Our previous study showed that RNAi gene silencing of the RNA helicase RTE5 could restore ethylene sensitivity of the mutant ein2-1 when the RNAi was introduced into the ethylene insensitive mutant. Preliminary analysis revealed that either gene silencing of RTE5 or gene mutations (rte5-1; rte5-2) disrupted the EIN2 pre-RNA splicing. This research will apply with different genetic approaches (RNAi gene silencing, CRESPR-Cas9 gene knockout, gene overexpression, and gene mutations) to analyze the molecular function and target of RTE5, get insight into the molecular mechanism by analyzing its pre-RNA splicing and posttranscriptional modification, and examine the ATP/GTP binding activity and double stranded RNA helicase activity of the RTE5 protein by in vitro analysis. These studies will undoubtedly provide new materials for understanding of the molecular regulation mechanism of ethylene signaling, and also lay a scientific foundation for improving the quality of crop plant through ethylene reaction.