转录抑制子AtOFP1调控拟南芥器官形态发生的机制

AtOFP1是拟南芥卵形蛋白家族（AtOFPs）的一员，可以从多方面调控植物器官的形态发生，但其作用机理并不清楚。我们前期的研究工作已证明AtOFP1是转录抑制子，并通过微点阵数据分析发现了129个基因的表达受AtOFP1的调控。但由于AtOFP1本身没有明显的DNA结合域，其对基因的表达调控需要通过与具有DNA结合域的蛋白结合而实现，而一些研究结果也已表明AtOFP1能够和其它转录因子结合。本研究将以上述研究结果为基础，综合运用分子生物学、遗传学、生物信息学等多学科技术与方法，鉴定AtOFP1的直接靶基因，研究其对拟南芥器官形态发生的影响，并分析AtOFP1如何通过和其它转录因子结合而调控其靶基因的表达，从而深入探究AtOFP1调控拟南芥器官形态发生的机理，揭示植物重要器官和性状形成的调控机制，为进一步通过基因改良的方法进行农作物的遗传改良提供理论基础。

AtOFP1 is a member of the Arabidopsis thaliana Ovate Family Proteins (AtOFPs), a previously uncharacterized transcription factor family found exclusively in plants. AtOFP1 controls multiple aspects of plant growth and development. Despite recent progresses, the molecular function of AtOFP1 is still poorly understood. We have previously identified more than 100 genes whose expression is suppressed by AtOFP1. Because AtOFP1 does not possess an apparent DNA binding domain, it is likely it may interact with other transcription factors to form a protein complex to control the expression of its target genes. In order to investigate the mechanism involved in the regulation of plant growth and development by AtOFP1, we propose to identify AtOFP1's primary target genes, to validate AtOFP1's interacting partners and to elucidate the biological significance of their interactions with AtOFP1 by taking molecular, biochemical, genetic and bioinformatics approaches. The proposed research will provide insights into the mechanism underlying plant organ shaping and information gained may lead to improvement of crop quality through genetic modification.