根尖干细胞维持是植物根系持续生长发育的关键。WUSCHELL (WUS)蛋白家族成员WOX5在植物根尖干细胞维持中具有非常重要的作用。最新研究发现WUS与HAIRY MERISTEM (HAM)蛋白通过蛋白质相互作用共同参与茎尖干细胞调控，但WOX5与HAM蛋白相互作用的区域、HAM在根尖干细胞调控中的作用机理等目前均不清楚。本项目将运用生物化学、遗传学和分子生物学手段，针对上述关键问题，开展WOX5与HAM蛋白之间相互作用位点鉴定、WOX5与HAM蛋白在拟南芥主根尖干细胞调控中的作用机理、WOX5和HAM与其它已知根尖干细胞调控因子间通路整合三个方面的研究。项目旨在全面揭示WOX5和HAM在植物根尖干细胞维持中的作用机理和调控网络，并查明它们与其他调控因子之间的上下游和相互调节关系。项目研究成果对揭示植物根系发育的分子机制具有重要意义，可以为农业生产中遇到的一些实际问题提供理论依据。

The maintenance of stem cells in root apical meristems of plants is fundamental to the sustained growth and development of the root system. WOX5, a member of the WUCHELL(WUS) family of proteins, plays a very important role in this process. A recent study in Arabidopsis shows that WUS directly interacts with HAIRY MERISTEM (HAM) family of proteins in the shoot apical meristem to regulate stem cell maintenance and some preliminary evidence that similar interaction may exists in the regulation of stem cells in the root apical meristem. However, it is currently unclear about the exact regions involved in the interaction between WOX5 and HAM proteins and also the exact mechanisms by which HAM proteins act in root stem cell regulation. In the current project, we will build on our preliminary work and use a combination of biochemical, genetic and molecular approaches to further investigate the above-mentioned mechanisms. Specifically, we will carry out the following three lines of investigations: the interacting regions within WOX5 and HAMs, the functional mechanism of WOX5/HAM in root meristem regulation and regulatory connections between WOX5/HAMs and other known key regulators of root stem cells. This project aims at uncovering new evidence about the regulatory properties of WOX5 and HAM and also their relative position within the regulatory networks of root stem cells in Arabidopsis root meristems. The outcome of the project will not only enhance our knowledge in plant developmental biology, but also have some potential applications in agriculture.