磷是植物生长和发育必需的一种大量元素。植物在低磷条件下生长时， 会做出一系列形态发育和生理生化的反应， 以更好地适应这一不良的营养环境。其中一个重要的应答反应是诱导和分泌酸性磷酸酶。根部分泌的酸性磷酸酶可以分解环境中的有机磷化合物， 从而增加可供植物吸收用的磷酸根离子的浓度。 但目前人们对调控这一应答反应的分子机理并不清楚。 本研究以模式植物拟南芥为材料， 运用分子遗传学的方法，通过对已获得的对低磷响应反应异常的突变体的分析， 来探索低磷胁迫诱导酸性磷酸酶的分子机理。本研究的结果不但有助于我们深入了解外界营养信号调控植物生理过程的分子基础，还有可能为运用基因工程来培育磷高效的转基因新品种提供理论依据。

Phosphorus is an essential macronutrient for plant growth and development. When grown under phosphate (Pi) deficiency condition, plants will display an array of develomental, biochemical, and physiological responses to cope with this nutritional stress. One major reponse is induction and secretion of acid phosphatases. The secreted acid phosphatases from roots can release Pi group from organophosphates in the environments, thus increase the avaliability of Pi for plant uptake. The molecular mechanism regulating this response, however, remains largely unknown. The aim of this research is to explore such mechanism through genetic and molecular analysis of the Arabidopsis mutants with altered reponses to Pi starvation. The results obtained from this study may not only help us better understand the molecular mechanism of how environment factors regulate plant physiological process, but also provide some means for engineering new crops with high P utilization efficiency.