MADS-box转录因子在调控被子植物发育过程中起着重要的作用，也是水稻等栽培作物花序和花器官发育和形态建成的关键调控因子之一；其序列进化与花器官形态多样性建成的关联性研究也一直是被子植物花器官形态进化分子机理研究的热点对象之一。MADS32类基因是MADS-box转录因子MIKCC型中单独的一支，但人们对该家族基因的进化史及功能知之甚少。本项目将利用OsMADS32基因，以及B类、C类、D类和E类转录因子的突变体，围绕OsMADS32调控水稻花器官发育的遗传网络、OsMADS32调控水稻花器官发育的分子网络、OsMADS32蛋白作用的生化机制研究和MADS32类转录因子的功能进化分析等几个生物学问题，进行遗传学、分子生物学、生物化学和比较基因组学等方面的深入研究，以期解析OsMADS32调控水稻花器官发育的遗传和分子机理。

MADS-box transcription factors play important roles in plant development, which are also key regulators in inflorescence and spikelet development of cereal crops, such as rice, maize and barley and so on. As one of the hot research topic, scientists always want to understand the evolutionary relationship between the sequences change of MADS-box genes and flower diversity in Angiosperms. MADS32-like genes belong to specific MIKCC subfamily of type II MADS-box genes, but the evolution and function study of this unique subfamily is still rare. In this research, double mutant between OsMADS32 and B-, C-, D-, E-class homeotic genes in rice flower development will be identified based on our previous study. We will perform genetic, bioinformatics, biochemical and transcriptome study to understand some basic biological questions including the genetic and molecular relationship between OsMADS32 and B-, C-, D-, E-class homeotic genes; the protein structure of OsMADS32 and the evolutionary mechanism of MADS32-like genes in plant development.