盐芥和条叶兰芥共享平衡选择基因的研究

抗逆物种的适应性进化在生态环境的改善中有着极其重要的意义，是分子生态学一直以来备受关注的问题。平衡选择能够使有利变异在群体中稳定遗传，且受到平衡选择的基因对物种适应环境都起到非常重要的作用。抗逆模式物种在自然生境中的群体基因组系统是研究这一科学问题的最佳模式，是适应性进化研究急需发展的重要方向。本项目拟以盐生植物盐芥和已分化上千万年的条叶兰芥为主要研究对象，利用群体遗传学、比较基因组学及各种生物统计方法鉴定它们的共享平衡选择基因。首先利用群体基因组数据获得共享平衡选择区域，研究这些区域所含基因的性质、相互作用途径等，进一步构建平衡选择多态性与两个物种不同生态型适应高盐环境、生态因子差异等之间的相关性；同时对部分共享平衡选择的等位基因进行功能验证。本研究不仅能为平衡选择作用在盐生植物适应性进化过程中的分子机制提供重要例证，而且也为利用抗逆生物寻找适应极端环境的基因资源提供新途径。

Adaptive evolution to the severe environment of organisms is a hot issue in molecular ecology because of its importance in ecological improvement. Balancing selection maintains genetic variation within a population or species and plays crucial role in adaptation to diverse environment. It is a good choice to study adaptation from the perspective of balancing selection. The best model for such an aim is to establish genomic systems at the population level of resistant species distributed in natural habitats, which is one of the critical fields in research of adaptive evolution. In this project, ancient balancing selection contributed to adaptation between two halophytes Eutrema salsugineum and Schrenkiella parvula will be examined and tested by using multiple approaches. First, we will detect “shared balancing selection regions between two species” and annotate the genes in these regions. Furthermore, we will classify the possible functions of these genes and examine the relationship between these genes and the differences in ecological adaptability. This research will not only provide a good case for studying balancing selection in halophyte plants, but also provide a new way to detect important gene resources in adaptation.