microRNA在中国特有海菜花属植物物种分化中的作用研究

异质性的生态环境因子及其歧化选择作用在物种分化及形成的过程中具有重要作用。基因表达及其调控的改变是物种对异质性生态环境适应的重要方式。目前对基因表达调控在生态物种形成及分化过程中的作用的认识仍十分有限。本项目拟从microRNA（miRNA）的基因表达调控着手，以分布于云贵高原及其邻近地区的中国特有海菜花属植物为研究对象，开展miRNA调控网络在物种间的进化分析，鉴定每一类群中有显著调控关系的“miRNA-靶基因对”；通过对不同自然生境下各类群的这些“miRNA-靶基因对”的表达模式的比较分析，并通过室内控制实验验证，筛选出表达模式与环境因子变化显著相关的“miRNA-靶基因对”；揭示不同类群对环境因子变化发生一致性表达响应的“miRNA-靶基因对”其对应的基因组区域的遗传分化程度，最终阐明miRNA在中国特有海菜花属植物物种分化中的作用，为我们深入揭示生态物种形成机制提供新的视野。

Heterogeneous environmental factors and their divergent selections play important roles in species diversification and speciation. Gene expression variations among populations reflect the species’ adaptation to heterogeneous environments. To date, the role of gene expression regulation in adaptive differentiation of species and ecological speciation is still poorly understood. In this study, we investigate the potential role of microRNA (miRNA) regulation in the diversification of Chinese endemic plant species in Ottelia from the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and its adjacent areas. Basing on the data of the miRNA and mRNA transcriptomes from the representative plants of each endemic taxon generated by this study, we will analyze the evolution of miRNA regulatory network among species, and identify the “miRNA-target gene pairs” with negatively correlated expression level. We will further screen the “miRNA-target gene pairs” being sensitive to the environmental factors, which display congruent expression patterns in both natural populations and greenhouse experiment. Combining genome resequencing data generated previously by our research group, we will also unveil the genetic differentiation of these “miRNA-target gene pairs”. Collectively, we will clarify the role of miRNA in the diversification of the Chinese endemic Ottelia species, and our findings will provide new insights into the mechanism of plant speciation and adaptive evolution.