我们前期研究表明，拟南芥WRKY8转录因子在植物抗病反应中发挥着非常重要的调控作用，然而WRKY8调控植物抗病反应的分子机制仍不清楚。我们最新研究发现WRKY8能与VQ12和VQ29蛋白相互作用。有趣的是，WRKY8相关的VQ12和VQ29蛋白还能自身或彼此之间相互作用形成同源或异源蛋白复合物。初步功能分析表明，VQ12和VQ29受病原菌的强烈诱导表达，且负调控植物对真菌Botrytis cinerea的抗性，暗示它们可能参与调控WRKY8介导的抗病信号途径。在原有研究基础上，本项目将采用遗传学、分子生物学及基因功能分析的方法和手段，系统地研究WRKY8相互作用蛋白VQ12和VQ29调控植物抗病反应的生物学功能，并重点阐明它们相互作用形成蛋白复合物的调控功能（即对WRKY8功能的影响），从而揭示VQ12和VQ29蛋白复合物调控WRKY8介导的抗病信号途径及植物抗病反应的功能和分子机制。

In previous studies, we showed that Arabidopsis WRKY8 transcription factor plays a critical role in regulating plant defense responses; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying its involvement in defense responses remain to be investigated. Recently, we found that WRKY8 transcription factor physically interacts with VQ12 and VQ29, two VQ-motif containing proteins. Interestingly, based on yeast two-hybrid assays, the WRKY8-associated proteins VQ12 and VQ29 were found to form homocomplexes and heterocomplexes. Expression analyses showed that both VQ12 and VQ29 genes are strongly induced by pathogen Pseudomonas syringae or Botrytis cinerea infection. To determine their biological functions, we isolated loss-of-function T-DNA insertion mutants and generated RNAi transgenic plants. Phenotype analyses showed that disruption VQ12 or VQ29 renders plants more tolerant to B. cinerea, indicating that they may negatively modulate plant defense responses. In this project, we will undertake a molecular and genetic approach to further clarify the roles of VQ12 and VQ29 in mediating plant defense responses. Moreover, we will investigate the regulatory relationship between VQ12 or VQ29 and their interacting partner WRKY8, and finally explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the involvement of VQ12 and VQ29 complexes in regulating WRKY8-mediated signaling pathways and plant defense responses.