叶色突变是一类具有明显表型特点且与叶绿体发育相关的突变体类型，它不仅在高等植物叶绿素的生物代谢、叶绿体分化与发育过程等相关基因功能研究具有重要意义，尤其在彩叶园林树种育种实践中具有潜在的应用价值。本项目以外源基因插入突变体-黄叶桦为试材，采用TAIL-PCR技术分离插入位点的侧翼序列，定位与克隆突变基因，构建该基因的组成型表达载体及RNA干涉载体，利用农杆菌介导法开展黄叶突变株及野生型白桦的遗传转化，进而分析转基因株系的叶色及叶绿素含量等性状，明确突变基因的功能。采用酵母单杂交系统，鉴定与该基因启动子顺式作用元件相结合的转录调控因子。采用酵母双杂交系统，筛选与该基因产物互作的蛋白，探讨该基因在叶绿素代谢途径中的调控机制，研究结果为提高白桦光合性能创造生产上有价值的林木新品种提供指导，也为园林绿化创造彩叶树基因工程新品种提供基因资源。

Color of leaves is a typical character of plants that associate with the development of chloroplast. It plays important roles in metabolism, differentiation and development of chloroplast of higher plants. Leaf color has many potential applications in landscapes. We obtained a birch etiolation mutant in our prior study. In this project we will locate and clone genes controlling etiolation of birch using TAIL-PCR. We will overexpress and suppress these genes in birch using agrobacterium mediated transformation, and analyze leaf color and chloroplast content of transgenic birch. In this project, we will identify identify the interacting protein and transcription factors of these genes using yeast two-hybrid and one-hybrid. Finally, we will analyze the function and mechanism of the etiolation genes in chloroplast metabolism. The results of this project will improve the photosynthetic performance of birch, provide guidance on creation of tree species, and provide gene resources for genetic engineering of colored-leaf.