作物糊粉层是研究激素信号传递和植物PCD机制的极好模型。我们前期的工作发现组蛋白去乙酰基化酶（HDAC）参与了玉米糊粉层细胞的PCD，本项目用GA或组蛋白乙酰基化酶（HAT）抑制剂处理玉米糊粉层，分析其转录组，构建以HDAC为基础的基因调控网络。定量PCR和Northern blot分析候选基因随处理时间过程的表达变化，试图进一步探索这些基因之间的可能联系。研究候选基因染色质修饰与基因表达的关系及在GA介导的糊粉层PCD中的作用。在过表达HDAC基因或HAT抑制剂／GA处理的糊粉层中，分析GID1、DELLA、GAMyb和H2O2等的变化情况，探索这些分子之间的联系。结合ABA处理和HAT抑制剂处理进一步通过基因表达分析PCD信号途径中的分子成分。本研究试图阐明HDAC在GA介导的玉米糊粉层PCD中的功能和分子细胞遗传机理，将加深人们对GA信号转导途径以及植物PCD机理的新认识。

The crop aleurone layer is an established model system for studying phytohormone signaling and programmed cell death during seed germination. Our previous studies showed that histone deacetylase (HDAC) is required for GA-induced PCD in maize aleurone layers. In the present study, we will analyze the transcriptome of GA or histone acetyltransferase (HAT) inhibitor-treated maize aleurone layers and uncover signal transduction networks in respect to HDAC from high-throughput data. RT-PCR and Northern blot techniques will be used to study expression time course of these candidate genes to further investigate possible connection between these genes. The epigenetic modification status of these genes will be comparatively analyzed by ChIP-PCR to elucidate the association of gene expression and histone modification, and the functions during GA-mediated PCD. The change of GID1, DELLA, GAMyb and H2O2 will be analyzed after treatment with GA or HAT inhibitors or transformation of the HDAC construct by particle bombardment into maize aleurone layers, and the connection will be revealed between these molecules and HDAC. Following treatment with HAT inhibitors and ABA, more signaling components will be characterized. This study attempts to elucidate the function and molecular mechanism of HDAC in GA-mediated PCD of the maize aleurone layer, and the results of the study will deepen our understanding of the plant hormone GA signal transduction pathway and the mechanism of plant PCD.