水稻的增产性状，是作物遗传育种的重要领域。增产性状多涉及数量性状座位，这类数量性状座位的表达调控机制研究，是植物遗传学与育种应用的重要理论基础。申请人的研究团队，前期通过正向遗传学方法，在水稻中定位到一个产量相关的数量性状座位，并在该座位处克隆到一个LRK基因簇。随后在LRK基因簇上游反义链，鉴定到一个lncRNA LAIR，LAIR能够激活LRK基因簇表达，并且LAIR过表达的水稻株系也表现出了显著的增产表型。本项目以LAIR为研究对象，分析其在水稻中通过与表观修饰蛋白复合体的结合，以大分子骨架方式，调控LRK基因簇表达的分子遗传机制。目前，高等植物中报道的lncRNA激活基因簇表达的研究十分稀少，相关的表观修饰蛋白复合体多数尚未鉴定。本项目将借助前沿热点的lncRNA功能研究，阐述作物产量性状座位基因簇的表达调控机理，也为水稻的分子育种提供新的基因资源。

Yield is a crucial agronomic trait for crops’ genetic improvement. Mostly, yield involves QTL (quantitative trait loci), and the research on the expression regulation mechanism of QTL is the important theoretical basis for plant genetics and breeding application. Previously, we detected and cloned a LRK (leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase) gene cluster from a QTL through forward genetics methods. Subsequently, an lncRNA, named LAIR (LRK cluster antisense intergenic RNA), was identified from the antisense strand of the LRK gene cluster. LncRNA LAIR overexpression upregulates the expression of several LRK genes, and increases rice grain yield. In this study, the binding capacity of epigenetic modification protein complex by LAIR will be analyzed. The genetic molecular mechanism of LAIR’s regulation model on LRK gene cluster expression will be stated by lncRNA serving as molecular scaffolds. At present, studies on lncRNA activating gene clusters expression in higher plants are rare, and most of the epigenetic modification proteins have not been identified. This study will work on the expression regulation mechanism of crop yield trait’s gene cluster by lncRNA biological function, and provide new gene resources for rice molecular breeding.