Allele-specific receptor-ligand interactions in Brassica self-incompatibility

Genetic self-incompatibility in Brassica is determined by alleles of the transmembrane serine-threonine kinase SRK, which functions in the stigma epidermis, and of the cysteine-rich peptide SCR, which functions in pollen. Using tagged versions of SRK and SCR as well as endogenous stigma and pollen proteins, we show that SCR binds the SRK ectodomain and that this binding is allele specific. Thus, SRK and SCR function as a receptor-ligand pair in the recognition of self pollen. Specificity in the self-incompatibility response derives from allele-specific formation of SRK-SCR complexes at the pollen-stigma interface.     

The male determinant of self-incompatibility in Brassica

In the S locus-controlled self-incompatibility system of Brassica, recognition of self-related pollen at the surface of stigma epidermal cells leads to inhibition of pollen tube development. The female (stigmatic) determinant of this recognition reaction is a polymorphic transmembrane receptor protein kinase encoded at the S locus. Another highly polymorphic, anther-expressed gene, SCR, also encoded at the S locus, fulfills the requirements for the hypothesized pollen determinant. Loss-of-function and gain-of-function studies prove that the SCR gene product is necessary and sufficient for determining pollen self-incompatibility specificity, possibly by acting as a ligand for the stigmatic receptor.     

A breakdown of Brassica self-incompatibility in ARC1 antisense transgenic plants

Self-incompatibility, the rejection of self pollen, is the most widespread mechanism by which flowering plants prevent inbreeding. In Brassica, the S receptor kinase (SRK) has been implicated in the self-incompatibility response, but the molecular mechanisms involving SRK are unknown. One putative downstream effector for SRK is ARC1, a protein that binds to the SRK kinase domain. Here it is shown that suppression of ARC1 messenger RNA levels in the self-incompatible Brassica napus W1 line is correlated with a partial breakdown of self-incompatibility, resulting in seed production. This provides strong evidence that ARC1 is a positive effector of the Brassica self-incompatibility response.     

芸薹属自交不亲和功能因子及分子机制研究进展

芸薹属的自交不亲和性受S位点基因控制,其上的SRK基因和SCR/SP11基因是自交不亲和反应中的两个关键因子,另外所发现的其他因子也对自交不亲和发挥了重要作用。文章介绍了影响自交不亲和的功能因子及其分子结构特征和功能,对自交不亲和反应的分子机制作了进一步阐述,同时对这些功能基因在芸薹属植物甘蓝染色体组上的定位研究作出展望。     

MAP kinase phosphatase as a locus of flexibility in a mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling network

Intracellular signaling networks receive and process information to control cellular machines. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) 1,2/protein kinase C (PKC) system is one such network that regulates many cellular machines, including the cell cycle machinery and autocrine/paracrine factor synthesizing machinery. We used a combination of computational analysis and experiments in mouse NIH-3T3 fibroblasts to understand the design principles of this controller network. We find that the growth factor-stimulated signaling network containing MAPK 1, 2/PKC can operate with one (monostable) or two (bistable) stable states. At low concentrations of MAPK phosphatase, the system exhibits bistable behavior, such that brief stimulus results in sustained MAPK activation. The MAPK-induced increase in the amounts of MAPK phosphatase eliminates the prolonged response capability and moves the network to a monostable state, in which it behaves as a proportional response system responding acutely to stimulus. Thus, the MAPK 1, 2/PKC controller network is flexibly designed, and MAPK phosphatase may be critical for this flexible response.     

An insulin-stimulated protein kinase similar to yeast kinases involved in cell cycle control

A protein kinase characterized by its ability to phosphorylate microtubule-associated protein-2 (MAP2), is thought to be an early intermediate in an insulin-stimulated phosphorylation cascade and in a variety of other mammalian cell responses to extracellular signals. A complementary DNA that encodes this protein serine-threonine kinase has been cloned, and the protein designated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1). ERK1 has striking similarity to two protein kinases, KSS1 and FUS3, from yeast. The yeast kinases function in an antagonistic manner to regulate the cell cycle in response to mating factors. Thus, ERK1 and the two yeast kinases constitute a family of evolutionarily conserved enzymes involved in regulating the response of eukaryotic cells to extracellular signals.     

甘蓝自交不亲和细胞信号转导的功能基因研究进展

自交不亲和性是开花植物防止近亲繁殖而广泛存在的一种遗传屏障,在育种工作中意义重大,它在遗传上受一个带有复等位基因的多态性S基因座所控制。本文综述了近年来在甘蓝自交不亲和信号转导途径中相关功能基因的研究进展。SRK基因和SP11/SCR基因是控制甘蓝自交不亲和性的两个关键因子。SRK基因是雌蕊柱头中自交不亲和反应的专一决定因子,编码SP11/SCR基因的蛋白在花药壁和花粉中特异表达。编码SLG基因的蛋白在自交不亲和反应中起增强SRK活性的作用。另外也对信号传导途径中下游蛋白质的作用模式作了展望。     

The protein kinase domain of the ANP receptor is required for signaling

A plasma membrane form of guanylate cyclase is a cell surface receptor for atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). In response to ANP binding, the receptor-enzyme produces increased amounts of the second messenger, guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate. Maximal activation of the cyclase requires the presence of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) or nonhydrolyzable ATP analogs. The intracellular region of the receptor contains at least two domains with homology to other proteins, one possessing sequence similarity to protein kinase catalytic domains, the other to regions of unknown function in a cytoplasmic form of guanylate cyclase and in adenylate cyclase. It is now shown that the protein kinase-like domain functions as a regulatory element and that the second domain possesses catalytic activity. When the kinase-like domain was removed by deletion mutagenesis, the resulting ANP receptor retained guanylate cyclase activity, but this activity was independent of ANP and its stimulation by ATP was markedly reduced. A model for signal transduction is suggested in which binding of ANP to the extracellular domain of its receptor initiates a conformational change in the protein kinase-like domain, resulting in derepression of guanylate cyclase activity.     

青花菜钙依赖蛋白激酶基因BoCDPK1的克隆与表达

钙依赖蛋白激酶(calcium-dependent protein kinase,CDPK)为Ca²⁺传感蛋白,在植物生长发育和逆境响应中起着重要作用。在克隆青花菜BoCDPK1基因的基础上,开展序列分析、系统发育分析和表达分析,为后续的基因功能鉴定和抗逆育种奠定基础。该研究以青花菜为材料,利用PCR法克隆1个CDPK基因,利用生物信息学对序列进行分析,并采用qRT-PCR研究该基因在霜霉菌和核盘菌侵染下的表达模式。测序结果表明,BoCDPK1的基因组DNA全长为2 414 bp,具6个内含子,编码区全长为1 647 bp,编码548个氨基酸;BoCDPK1有1个S_TKc和4个EF手性结构域。多序列比对结果表明,BoCDPK1与芸薹属植物同源序列的相似性最高,仅个别氨基酸残基存在差异,它们在系统发育树上聚于一组。qRT-PCR结果表明,BoCDPK1的表达受霜霉菌和核盘菌的诱导,表达量均呈现先上升后下降的规律。在霜霉菌的诱导下,BoCDPK1的表达量在72 h达最大值,为对照的3.4倍;而在核盘菌侵染下,BoCDPK1的表达量在36 h达最大...     

Multiple, distinct forms of bovine and human protein kinase C suggest diversity in cellular signaling pathways

A new family of protein kinase C-related genes has been identified in bovine, human, and rat genomes. The alpha-, beta-, and gamma-type protein kinase sequences are highly homologous, include a kinase domain, and potential calcium-binding sites, and they contain interspersed variable regions. The corresponding genes are located on distinct human chromosomes; the possibility of even greater genetic complexity of this gene family is suggested by Northern and Southern hybridization analyses.     

A glial-neuronal signaling pathway revealed by mutations in a neurexin-related protein

In the nervous system, glial cells greatly outnumber neurons but the full extent of their role in determining neural activity remains unknown. Here the axotactin (axo) gene of Drosophila was shown to encode a member of the neurexin protein superfamily secreted by glia and subsequently localized to axonal tracts. Null mutations of axo caused temperature-sensitive paralysis and a corresponding blockade of axonal conduction. Thus, the AXO protein appears to be a component of a glial-neuronal signaling mechanism that helps to determine the membrane electrical properties of target axons.     

拟南芥类受体蛋白激酶的激酶域信号传导强度研究

为了解不同类受体蛋白激酶RLKs激酶域响应病原相关分子PAMPs信号强度的差异,本研究将拟南芥FLS2的胞外域(NT)与6种不同RLKs的激酶域(KD)组合为重组RLKs(rRLKs),构建融合基因表达载体,并通过拟南芥原生质体瞬时表达的方法,将rRLKs/FLS2、35S::GUS(内参)和FRK1::Luciferase(响应报告载体)共转化到拟南芥fls2突变体叶肉原生质体细胞中;后经flg22处理后,通过对萤光素酶(Luciferase)和葡糖苷酸酶(GUS)活性的定量分析和比较,鉴定不同RLKs激酶区域信号传导的强度。结果表明:1)FLS2、EFR、PEPR1和RLK7的激酶域可明显激活抗病响应报告基因FRK1的表达,对植物抗病反应起正调控作用;FLS2和EFR的激酶域信号传导能力最强,两者无显著差异(P0.05);PEPR1和RLK7激酶域的信号传导能力稍弱,其信号传导强度分别是FLS2的57.13%和32.92%,与FLS2差异显著(P0.05);2)CERK1和NIK1的激酶域对FRK1的上调作用不明显,其信号传导强度分别仅有FLS2的9.76%和7.88%,和FLS2NT(对照)之间无显著差异(P0.05);3)PSKR1激酶域引起FRK1表达下调,对PTI起负调控作用。本研究结果有助于了解RLK家族的抗病响应作用机理,并为人工构建更高效的rRLK蛋白提供参考。     

Cl- channels in CF: lack of activation by protein kinase C and cAMP-dependent protein kinase

Secretory chloride channels can be activated by adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase in normal airway epithelial cells but not in cells from individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). In excised, inside-out patches of apical membrane of normal human airway cells and airway cells from three patients with CF, the chloride channels exhibited a characteristic outwardly rectifying current-voltage relation and depolarization-induced activation. Channels from normal tissues were activated by both cAMP-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C. However, chloride channels from CF patients could not be activated by either kinase. Thus, gating of normal epithelial chloride channels is regulated by both cAMP-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C, and regulation by both kinases is defective in CF.     

几种蛋白激酶C亚型在细胞分裂中的作用

蛋白激酶C(protein kinase C)是一种在生物体中广泛分布的丝/苏氨酸蛋白激酶超家族,在生物体多种细胞生命活动特别在细胞分裂中起重要调节作用.     

Collaborative non-self recognition system in S-RNase-based self-incompatibility

Self-incompatibility in flowering plants prevents inbreeding and promotes outcrossing to generate genetic diversity. In Solanaceae, a multiallelic gene, S-locus F-box (SLF), was previously shown to encode the pollen determinant in self-incompatibility. It was postulated that an SLF allelic product specifically detoxifies its non-self S-ribonucleases (S-RNases), allelic products of the pistil determinant, inside pollen tubes via the ubiquitin-26S-proteasome system, thereby allowing compatible pollinations. However, it remained puzzling how SLF, with much lower allelic sequence diversity than S-RNase, might have the capacity to recognize a large repertoire of non-self S-RNases. We used in vivo functional assays and protein interaction assays to show that in Petunia, at least three types of divergent SLF proteins function as the pollen determinant, each recognizing a subset of non-self S-RNases. Our findings reveal a collaborative non-self recognition system in plants.     

稻瘟病菌附着胞发育相关信号传递研究进展

附着胞的分化、形成和成熟是稻瘟病菌成功侵入寄主的前提.稻瘟病菌识别不同的胞外信号,可通过环化腺苷酸(cAMP)信号途径、丝分裂原激活蛋白激酶(Mitogen-activated protein kinase,MAPK)信号转导途径和Ca2+信号途径等不同的信号途径来调控附着胞发育.结合这些信号传递途径相关基因及其信号途径间关系的研究论述了调控稻瘟病菌附着胞分化和发育的信号传递的分子机理.     

Identification of a plant nitric oxide synthase gene involved in hormonal signaling

Nitric oxide (NO) serves as a signal in plants. An Arabidopsis mutant (Atnos1) was identified that had impaired NO production, organ growth, and abscisic acid-induced stomatal movements. Expression of AtNOS1 with a viral promoter in Atnos1 mutant plants resulted in overproduction of NO. Purified AtNOS1 protein used the substrates arginine and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate and was activated by Ca2+ and calmodulin-like mammalian endothelial nitric oxide synthase and neuronal nitric oxide synthase, yet it is a distinct enzyme with no sequence similarities to any mammalian isoform. Thus, AtNOS1 encodes a distinct nitric oxide synthase that regulates growth and hormonal signaling in plants.     

Imaging protein kinase Calpha activation in cells

Spatially resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) measured by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), provides a method for tracing the catalytic activity of fluorescently tagged proteins inside live cell cultures and enables determination of the functional state of proteins in fixed cells and tissues. Here, a dynamic marker of protein kinase Calpha (PKCalpha) activation is identified and exploited. Activation of PKCalpha is detected through the binding of fluorescently tagged phosphorylation site-specific antibodies; the consequent FRET is measured through the donor fluorophore on PKCalpha by FLIM. This approach enabled the imaging of PKCalpha activation in live and fixed cultured cells and was also applied to pathological samples.