油料作物油脂合成调控研究进展

植物油脂不仅是人类可食用油的主要来源,也是人类生产生活中重要的可再生原料。本文概述了植物油脂的生物合成途径,从母体效应、QTL、GWAS等多个方面总结了油料作物油脂合成的遗传学研究进展,同时探讨了已知的油脂合成调控相关基因的功能。本文综述了该领域的研究现状,为深入了解油料作物油脂合成调控网络提供了参考,也为油料作物的分子改良和遗传育种提供了理论基础。     

OsHemA gene,encoding glutamyl-tRNA reductase(GluTR) is essential for chlorophyll biosynthesis in rice(Oryza sativa)

Chlorophyll(Chl) biosynthesis is essential for photosynthesis and plant growth. Glutamyl-tRNA reductase(GluTR) catalyzes glutamyl-tRNA into glutamate-1-semialdehyde(GSA) and initiates the chlorophyll biosynthesis. Even though the main role of GluTR has been established, the effects caused by natural variations in its corresponding gene remain largely unknown. Here, we characterized a spontaneous mutant in paddy field with Chl biosynthesis deficiency, designated as cbd1. With intact thylakoid lamellar structure, the cbd1 plant showed light green leaves and reduced Chl and carotenoids(Cars) content significantly compared to the wild type. By map-based gene cloning, the mutation was restricted within a 57-kb region on chromosome 10, in which an mPingA miniature inverted-repeat transposable element(MITE) inserted in the promoter region of OsHemA gene. Both leaf color and the pigment contents in cbd1 were recovered in a complementation test, confirming OsHemA was responsible for the mutant phenotype. OsHemA was uniquely predicted to encode GluTR and its expression level was dramatically repressed in cbd1. Transient transformation in protoplasts demonstrated that GluTR localized in chloroplasts and a signal peptide exists in its N-terminus. A majority of Chl biosynthesis genes, except for POR and CHLG, were down-regulated synchronously by the repression of OsHemA, suggesting that an attenuation occurred in the Chl biosynthesis pathway. Interestingly, we found major agronomic traits involved in rice yield were statistically unaffected, except for the number of full grains per panicle was increased in cbd1. Collectively, OsHemA plays an essential role in Chl biosynthesis in rice and its weak allele can adjust leaf color and Chls content without compromise to rice yield.     

独脚金内酯的生物合成及其调控

为了解独脚金内酯生物合成最新研究进展，本研究以“独脚金内酯”为关键词，检索了2000—2020年NCBI数据库发表的相关文献资料，综述了近20年来独脚金内酯的生物合成通路和相关基因的功能研究进展，并对独脚金内酯在非生物胁迫作用中的功能以及与其他激素的相互作用进行概括。结果表明:1)独脚金内酯生物合成的通路是保存的，并可能与其他通路有交互作用；2)独脚金内酯的功能是多样的，在植物生长和发育的多个阶段发挥作用；3)独脚金内酯生物合成相关基因不仅是生物合成的关键基因，还可以与其他激素互作参与调控作用。在独脚金内酯生物合成及其调控作用的研究取得了重要突破的基础上，今后着重的研究方向可能是在产量形成机制、形态建成以及激素的调控作用机理等方面的研究。     

烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸(NAD)合成途径和水稻叶片早衰

叶片是植物进行光合作用的主要场所,其衰老由内源遗传发育信号和外界环境胁迫所启动,是一个非常复杂有序的调控过程。烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸(nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide,NAD)是脱氢酶的辅酶,在糖酵解、糖异生、三羧酸循环以及呼吸链等代谢中发挥着不可替代的作用。最新研究表明,水稻NAD生物合成参与调控沉默信息调控因子Sirtuins的生物活性、组蛋白H3K9去乙酰化、植物激素茉莉酸(JA)和叶片衰老。本文综述了有关水稻叶片衰老的细胞生理特征、Sirtuins酶活、NAD生物合成以及水稻早衰的OsSRT1-NAD调控途径和OsSRT1-Me OH-JA调控途径,以期阐明水稻叶片衰老的分子机理及其调控途径,为高产育种提供相应的理论参考。     

桃果皮毛长度性状的评价及其与几个主要农艺性状的关系

选择6份不同类型的桃种质,测定其果实发育期果皮毛长度的变化,评价238份桃种质成熟期果实表皮毛长度,探讨其与其他几个主要农艺性状的关系。结果表明,在花后30 d时,果皮毛长度急剧下降,最后呈缓慢下降趋势直至果实成熟。果实成熟期,供试材料果皮毛长度分布在106.3～343.3μm间,平均值为193.9μm,果皮毛最短的种质为‘霞晖2号’,最长的为‘白芒蟠桃’。此外,不同果形、粘/离核、果实成熟期和地理类群种质的果皮毛长度间有明显差异,其中果形可能与果皮毛发育有一定的内在联系。     

褪黑素的生物合成及对繁殖性能的影响

褪黑素是一种广泛存在于动物体内的激素,不仅能够调节动物昼夜节律,还能够从多方面影响动物的繁殖性能,对于季节性繁殖动物,褪黑素根据日照时长的变化表现出抑制或促进繁殖性能的作用。对于幼年动物,褪黑素表现出抑制发情的作用,体成熟后则表现促进发情的作用。褪黑素主要通过下丘脑-垂体-性腺轴调控动物繁殖活动,除此之外,褪黑素还能够直接作用于生殖系统甚至早期胚胎,通过提高组织及细胞抗炎及抗氧化功能来改善动物繁殖性能。目前,褪黑素能够用于治疗精神疾病及炎症、促进畜禽繁殖和调节昼夜节律,是相关研究领域的热门话题。本文详细描述了褪黑素的生物合成以及分泌调控,并结合褪黑素的生理功能,阐述了对动物繁殖性能以及辅助生殖的影响。     

The genetic organization of the capsular polysaccharide biosynthesis region of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 14

The genetic organization of the gene involved in the capsular polysaccharide (CPS) biosynthesis of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 14 has been determined. The DNA region for the CPS biosynthesis of serotype 14 (cps14) comprised 9 open reading frames, designated as cps14AB₁B₂B₃CDEFG genes, encoding Cps14A to Cps14G protein, respectively. Cps14A was similar to CpsA of A. pleuropneumoniae serotypes 1, 4 and 12; the Cps14B₁ and Cps14B₂ were similar to CpsB of A. pleuropneumoniae serotypes 1, 4 and 12, suggesting that CPS structure of A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 14 would belong to Group I including A. pleuropneumoniae serotypes 1, 4, 12 and 15. Surprisingly, the overall nucleotide sequence, deduced amino acid sequence, and the genetic organization of the cps14 were nearly identical to those of Actinobacillus suis. This study will provide the molecular basic knowledge for development of diagnostics and vaccine of A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 14.     

New ways and new hopes for IGR development

Insect Growth Regulators (IGRs) represent advanced, bio-rational insecticides. This Special Issue reflects progress in IGR development that has been enabled by insight into the molecular principles of biosynthetic or hormone signaling pathways. The unifying principle is aiming at processes and molecular targets that are unique to arthropods and ideally to narrower insect taxa representing pests or disease vectors. While some strategies of obtaining the desired compounds for chemical intervention rely on rational, structure-based design or computational power, others exploit technologies allowing automated, high-throughput screening of large chemical libraries. All avenues leading to selective and environmentally safe pest control are valid as we face the imminent threat of the declining world insect population.     

Investigation of Interspecies Interactions within Marine Micromonosporaceae Using an Improved Co-Culture Approach

With respect to bacterial natural products, a significant outcome of the genomic era was that the biosynthetic potential in many microorganisms surpassed the number of compounds isolated under standard laboratory growth conditions, particularly among certain members in the phylum Actinobacteria. Our group, as well as others, investigated interspecies interactions, via co-culture, as a technique to coax bacteria to produce novel natural products. While co-culture provides new opportunities, challenges exist and questions surrounding these methods remain unanswered. In marine bacteria, for example, how prevalent are interspecies interactions and how commonly do interactions result in novel natural products? In an attempt to begin to answer basic questions surrounding co-culture of marine microorganisms, we have tested both antibiotic activity-based and LC/MS-based methods to evaluate Micromonosporaceae secondary metabolite production in co-culture. Overall, our investigation of 65 Micromonosporaceae led to the identification of 12 Micromonosporaceae across three genera that produced unique metabolites in co-culture. Our results suggest that interspecies interactions were prevalent between marine Micromonosporaceae and marine mycolic acid-containing bacteria. Furthermore, our approach highlights a sensitive and rapid method for investigating interspecies interactions in search of novel antibiotics, secondary metabolites, and genes.