Arabidopsis 2010: Functional Analysis of the WRKY Transcription Factor Gene Family From Arabidopsis

含有新型WRKY锌指基序的序列特异性dna结合蛋白是最近发现的仅在植物中发现的转录因子超家族。为数不多的功能性研究表明，WRKY蛋白在植物特有的多种生物过程中发挥重要作用，包括抗病性、衰老、种子萌发和毛状体发育。本项目旨在确定72个已鉴定的拟南芥WRKY基因在三个不同水平上的功能。首先，拟南芥WRKY基因的表达模式将在植物生长发育和对生物和非生物胁迫条件的反应中确定。其次，将产生WRKY基因的功能缺失突变体（RNAi和敲除突变体）和组成表达功能获得突变体，并分析其在生长、发育和对环境条件的反应中的表型改变。第三，将鉴定所有表达的拟南芥WRKY蛋白的相互作用蛋白，以了解单个WRKY蛋白实现其体内调节特异性的分子机制。这些研究的进展将有助于全面了解植物WRKY蛋白的生物学功能和分子活性。这些研究也将为大型基因家族的功能分析提供通用的工具和方法，特别是那些编码dna结合转录因子的基因家族。WRKY基因家族的序列和表达信息将立即通过Genbank、出版物和项目网站（http://homepage.mac.com/zchen_/）提供。该网站还将更新每个WRKY基因功能分析的实验数据。从该项目中获得的知识将增强我们对WRKY蛋白参与的各种重要植物生物学过程的分子基础的理解，并为改善作物重要农艺性状提供潜在的靶点。

Sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins containing the novel WRKY zinc finger motifs are a recently identified superfamily of transcription factors found only in plants. The few cases where functional studies are conducted indicate that WRKY proteins play important roles in various biological processes unique to plants, including disease resistance, senescence, seed germination and trichome development. This project is aimed at determining the functions of 72 identified Arabidopsis WRKY genes at three different levels. First, the expression patterns of the Arabidopsis WRKY genes will be determined during plant growth, development and responses to biotic and abiotic stress conditions. Secondly, both loss-of-function mutants (RNAi and knockout mutants) and constitutive expressing gain-of-function mutants for the WRKY genes will be produced and analyzed for altered phenotypes in growth, development and responses to environmental conditions. Thirdly, interacting proteins for all expressed Arabidopsis WRKY proteins will be identified in order to understand the molecular mechanisms by which individual WRKY proteins achieve their in vivo regulatory specificity. Progress in these studies will lead to a comprehensive understanding of the biological functions and molecular activities of plant WRKY proteins. These studies will also provide general tools and approaches useful for functional analysis of large gene families, particularly those encoding DNA-binding transcription factors. Sequence and expression information of the WRKY gene family will be made immediately available through Genbank, publications and the project website (http://homepage.mac.com/zchen_/). The website will also be updated with experimental data on functional analysis of each WRKY gene as it becomes available.The knowledge obtained from the project will enhance our understanding of the molecular basis for various important plant biological processes in which WRKY proteins are involved and provide potential targets for improving important agronomic traits in crop plants.