lncRNA11介导木薯响应低温和干旱胁迫的分子调控机理研究

Cassava (Manihot esculenta) is an important tropical and subtropical root crop and has a specific drought tolerance mechanism, but is sensitive to low temperature. Improving tolerance to cold and/or drought stress of cassava is an important objective for breeding of high yield and quality. We identified 318 high-confidence cold- and/or drought-responsive long non-coding RNA(lncRNA) based on analysis of strand-specific RNA-seq data from cassava leaves under cold, drought stress and control conditions. Among them, lncRNA11 was co-induced by both cold and drought treatment. In order to examine how lncRNA11 are involved in cold and/or drought stress response, we will construct their over-expression and low-expression transgenic plants in cassava. Recently, we have obtained 10 lncRNA11 overexpression transgenic cassava lines. Then, we will identify down-stream genes, molecular function and signaling transduction pathway of lncRNA11. The achievements of this project will be useful to understanding the cold and drought responses mechanism in cassava, supply the gene resource for cassava molecular breeding, and provides a valuable reference to the study of abiotic stress response mechanism in other crops.

木薯是热带和亚热带地区重要的块根作物，对干旱具有独特的适应机制，但是对低温敏感。提高木薯的抗低温和干旱能力，是其高产优质育种的主要目标之一。通过对木薯叶片低温、干旱处理前后的链特异性RNA测序数据分析，我们鉴定到318个低温和/或干旱响应的木薯长链非编码RNA（lncRNA）。其中lncRNA11的表达同时受低温和干旱胁迫的诱导。为了探究木薯lncRNA11参与低温和干旱胁迫响应的分子机制，本项目拟通过构建过表达和低表达转基因木薯材料对lncRNA11的功能进行研究。目前我们已经获得lncRNA11过量表达的转基因木薯株系，进一步，我们将鉴定lncRNA11调控的下游基因，分析lncRNA11的分子作用机理并构建相应的调控网络。研究成果将有助于揭示木薯响应低温和干旱的分子机制，为木薯分子定向育种提供基因资源，并对其它作物的非生物胁迫响应机制研究具有参考价值。

木薯是热带和亚热带地区重要的经济和粮食作物，对干旱具有较强的耐受能力，但是对低温敏感。提高木薯的抗低温能力，是其高产优质育种的主要目标之一。通过对木薯叶片低温、干旱处理前后的链特异性RNA测序数据分析，我们鉴定到一个受低温诱导木薯lncRNA，命名为CRR2。为了探究木薯CRR2参与低温胁迫响应的分子机制，本项目以CRR2过表达转基因木薯为材料，鉴定了CRR2调控的下游基因及遗传通路，发现CRR2调控了mRNA的剪接过程，并鉴定到CRR2的结合蛋白MeCSP。研究成果有助于揭示lncRNA介导木薯响应低温的分子机制，为木薯抗低温、高产育种提供基因资源和种质材料，并对其它作物的非生物胁迫响应机制研究具有参考价值。