水稻能量代谢与表观修饰的相互作用及其在生长发育和环境反应中的调控机制研究

Important energy metabolites are required for chromatin modifications such as histone acetylation, thus impact on epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Conversely, epigenetic regulators are involved in regulation of primary metabolic enzyme activities. This collaborative program between epigenetic dynamics and metabolism has to be further interconnected with environmental cues, which greatly influence plant energy and carbon metabolism. Therefore, interaction between energy metabolism and epigenetics constitutes a central axis to optimize plant growth and response to environmental variations. However, little is known on the functional interplay between metabolism and epigenetic regulation in plants. In this project, we propose to study impacts of variations of important metabolites such as acetyl-CoA and NAD+/NADH on histone acetylation enzyme activity, chromatin modification, and gene expression under various plant growth conditions in rice; to study molecular mechanism of regulation of energy metabolism by histione acetylation enzymes and thereby to understand, at energy metabolism level, plant stress defense mechanism; and to investigate other histone acylations involving other primary metabolites such as butyrate, crotonate, and succinate and their impact on rice gene expression and plant growth. The project should significantly contribute to understand the mechanism of interaction between metabolism and epigenetics in controlling rice plant growth and responses to environmental conditions.

能量代谢产物参与调控染色质表观修饰、影响基因表达；而染色质因子也能修饰和调控代谢酶的活性，控制细胞的能量代谢。同时，植物能量代谢在很大程度上受外界环境变化的影响。因此，植物能量代谢和表观遗传的相互作用是调控植物生长及对环境适应的主轴心，但是目前植物能量代谢与表观遗传的相互关系及其在调控植物生长和对环境适应中的功能还不清楚。本项目拟研究在环境变化过程中植物重要能量代谢产物的波动是否影响组蛋白乙酰化和去乙酰化酶活性、染色质修饰和基因表达；研究植物组蛋白乙酰化修饰酶调控能量代谢酶活性的机理，从能量代谢水平上探讨植物抗逆性和生长发育的表观调控机制；鉴定能量代谢产物参与的水稻组蛋白其他（除乙酰化外）修饰如丁酰化、巴豆酰化、琥铂酰化等酰基化的调控机制和对基因表达的影响。本研究结果对于解析植物能量代谢和表观调控的相互关系及其对植物生长和对环境适应性的调控机制具有十分重要的理论和实际意义。

能量代谢和表观遗传的相互作用是调控植物生长及对环境适应的重要途径。能量代谢产物与染色质因子在植物生长发育、环境胁迫适应过程中相互影响，共同参与调控染色质状态、代谢酶的活性及基因表达。本项目的实施从能量代谢水平上探讨植物抗逆性和生长发育的表观调控机制；鉴定了能量代谢产物参与的水稻组蛋白酰基化修饰如丁酰化、巴豆酰化、琥铂酰化等酰基化的调控机制和对基因表达的影响；揭示了环境变化过程中植物重要能量代谢产物的变化对组蛋白（去）乙酰化和（去）甲基化酶活性、染色质状态和基因表达的调控机理。这些研究结果对于解析植物能量代谢和表观调控的相互关系及其对植物生长和对环境适应性的调控机制十分重要， 在国际上处于引领地位。本研究在实施过程中充分体现了团队合作精神，合作博士后3名，培养研究生16名；先后25人次参加国内和国际的学生交流活动，和国内外同行进行了广泛深入地交流。