Novel roles and mechanisms of action of the ABI3 transcription factor and its interactors as 'gatekeeper' during the plant lifecycle and in stress conditions in conifers and angiosperms

ABI3蛋白是一种转录因子，在调节植物对激素ABA的反应中起中介作用。本研究基于以下假设：在针叶树和被子植物中，ABI3与AIPs （ABI3相互作用蛋白）共同调控植物生命周期中的关键转变，包括从种子发育到发芽和幼苗生长，从营养生长到芽休眠和随后的芽爆裂。ABI3可以维持植物当前的发育阶段，防止植物过早进入下一个发育阶段，不同发育阶段的AIP作用不同。此外，ABI3可能在非生物胁迫的感知和反应中发挥重要作用。拟议的项目将研究ABI3的这些多重功能背后的机制。本项目的目标是研究(1)ABI3及其相互作用因子在调节植物生命周期重要转变中的作用和机制；(2)ABI3及其相互作用因子在逆境条件下作为保障的作用；(3)ABI3在设定靶基因表观遗传状态中的作用。这项研究将揭示ABI3在植物中作用的机制水平上的新发现，并将对林业和农业具有重要意义，在这些领域，种子质量、幼苗活力和抗胁迫能力以及对芽休眠的理解至关重要。

ABI3 proteins are transcription factors that act as intermediaries in regulating the response to the plant hormone ABA. The proposed research is based on the hypothesis that ABI3 acts together with AIPs (ABi3 Interacting Proteins) to regulate key transitions during the plant lifecycle in conifers and angiosperms, including the transition from seed development to germination and seedling growth and from vegetative growth to bud dormancy and subsequent bud burst. ABI3 may maintain the current developmental stage and prevent plants from entering the next stage prematurely, with distinct AIP action depending on the developmental stage. In addition, ABI3 may play an important role in sensing of and reaction to abiotic stress. The proposed project will look at mechanisms underlying these multiple functions of ABI3. The objectives of this project are to investigate (1) the role and mechanisms of ABI3 and its interactors in regulating important transitions of the plant lifecycle, (2) the role of ABI3 and its interactors as a safeguard in stress conditions and (3) the role of ABI3 in setting the epigenetic status of target genes. This research will uncover novel findings at a mechanistic level of the role of ABI3 in plants and will have significance to forestry and agriculture, where seed quality, seedling vigour and the ability to resist stress as well as an understanding of bud dormancy are of utmost importance.