捻转血矛线虫血红素运输途径是其生长发育必需的代谢通路，能为新型环保高效抗虫药的开发提供有效的药物靶位点，但目前相关研究极少。前期研究获得的新基因Hc-hrg-1与秀丽线虫血红素运输跨膜蛋白基因Ce-hrg-1高度同源，且其编码蛋白存在保守的跨膜结合位点，推测Hc-HRG-1与Ce-HRG-1具有相似的生物学功能。本项目拟采用体外表达系统和血红素结合试验分析Hc-HRG-1与血红素的结合能力；并通过酵母血红素合成缺陷株拯救试验初步验证Hc-hrg-1的功能；进而利用秀丽线虫过表达和突变株拯救试验探究Hc-hrg-1可能的生物学特性；最终回归捻转血矛线虫本体，利用RNAi技术，结合时空特异性分析、ZnMP摄取和致病力试验，阐明Hc-hrg-1参与捻转血矛线虫血红素运输的生物学功能。研究结果将为捻转血矛线虫乃至寄生性线虫的血红素运输分子机制研究奠定基础，并为新型抗虫药物的研发提供新靶标。

Heme transport is essential for development of Haemonchus contortus. Genes involved in this pathway could provide effective drug targets for development of new drugs. However, researches about heme transport pathway in H. contortus is rare. We already cloned a novel gene Hc-hrg-1 in the process of studying on the development of H. contortus. The results of primary bioinformatic analysis of Hc-hrg-1 showed that it was a homologous gene of Ce-hrg-1, which could encode a transmembrane protein with an important role in heme transport in Caenorhabditis elegans. The putative Hc-hrg-1 encoded protein also had a transmembrane binding site, thus indicating that Hc-hrg-1 may also play an important role in heme transport, therefore affect the development of H. contortus. Our research aims to analyze the heme binding ability of reconstructive Hc-HRG-1 expressed via E. coli BL21system and heme binding assay in vitro, and verify the function of the gene through rescue assay of heme synthesize defectient mutant strain of yeast. Over-expression of Hc-hrg-1 in C. elegans and rescue assay of Ce-hrg-1 mutant strain will be applied to further characterize gene function. Together with RNAi and other methods, including expression pattern analysis, ZnMP uptake assay and pathogenicity test, we would like to finally clarify the exact function of Hc-hrg-1 and explain the role this gene played in heme transport pathway of H. contortus. The prospective results would lay a foundation for the explanation of heme transport pathway in H. contortus or even in parasitic nematodes, and provide a possible new drug target for anthelmintic development.