Wheat 14-3-3 Protein Conferring Growth Retardation in Arabidopsis

14-3-3 proteins belong to a family of phosphoserine/threonine-binding modules and participate in a wide array of signal transduction and regulatory events. Our previous study demonstrated that Ta14-3-3 was significantly down-regulated in leaf and root tissues of hybrid wheat at the tillering stage. In this paper, three homoeologous Ta14-3-3 genes were cloned from common wheat (Triticum aestivum L., 2n=6x=42, AABBDD) and mapped on chromosomes 2A, 2B, and 2D, respectively. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants ectopically overexpressing Ta14-3-3 displayed shorter primary roots, delayed flowering and retarded growth rates, indicating that Ta14-3-3 acted as a growth inhibitor in Arabidopsis. In wheat, Ta14-3-3 was down-regulated in roots and leaves of hybrids as compared to their parental lines. We proposed that Ta14-3-3 proteins might regulate growth vigor in hybrid wheat.     

A wheat gene TaSAP17-D encoding an AN1/AN1 zinc finger protein improves salt stress tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis

The stress-associated protein (SAP) multigene family is conserved in both animals and plants. Its function in some animals and plants are known, but it is yet to be deciphered in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). We identified the wheat gene TaSAP17-D, a member of the SAP gene family with an AN1/AN1 conserved domain. Subcellular localization indicated that TaSAP17-D localized to the nucleus, cytoplasm, and cell membrane. Expression pattern analyses revealed that TaSAP17-D was highly expressed in seedlings and was involved in NaCl response, polyethylene glycol (PEG), cold, and exogenous abscisic acid (ABA). Constitutive expression of TaSAP17-D in transgenic Arabidopsis resulted in enhanced tolerance to salt stress, confirmed by improved multiple physiological indices and significantly upregulated marker genes related to salt stress response. Our results suggest that TaSAP17-D is a candidate gene that can be used to protect crop plants from salt stress.     

过表达玉米ZmSC1基因增强转基因拟南芥的耐盐性

旨在从玉米中克隆耐盐相关基因ZmSC1,分析其分子特征并在拟南芥中研究其耐盐性的生物学功能。以玉米B73为试验材料,克隆ZmSC1全长序列,与其他物种进行同源性比对,解析其盐诱导表达模式和亚细胞定位情况,将ZmSC1转入到拟南芥突变体atsc和野生型中,观察在盐处理下种子萌发率和主根根长情况,利用荧光定量PCR分析相关逆境（140 mmol·L^-1胁迫）基因的表达量。结果表明,ZmSC1基因全长为423 bp,编码141个氨基酸,ZmSC1和小麦、拟南芥中已知的TaSC1、AtSC1具有较高保守性。烟草细胞瞬时表达、玉米原生质体亚细胞定位研究表明ZmSC1定位于细胞膜中。生物学功能研究发现在140 mmol·L^-1的NaCl的盐处理下,相比较于拟南芥突变体,回补植株拟南芥的种子萌发率和主根根长得到了明显改善,这说明ZmSC1基因可以回补拟南芥同源基因AtSC1突变体植株在盐胁迫下的表型。ZmSC1基因过表达拟南芥植株的种子萌发率和主根根长也显著高于野生型植株。荧光定量PCR结果显示相较于野生型,在过表达植株中AtRD29A、AtSOS2、AtSOS3、AtCDPK1等胁迫相关基因的表达量也明显增强。研究结果表明TaSC1、AtSC1的同源基因ZmSC1对提高拟南芥的耐盐性具有重要作用。     

Identification of the DEAD-box RNA helicase family members in grapevine reveals that VviDEADRH25a confers tolerance to drought stress

Grapevine growing areas are increasingly affected by drought,which has greatly limited global wine production and quality.DEAD-box is one of the largest subfamilies of the RNA helicase family,and its members play key roles in the growth and development of plants and their stress responses.Previous studies have shown the potential of DEAD-box genes in the drought stress responses of Arabidopsis and tomato,rice,and other crop species.However,information about DEAD-box genes in grapevine remains li...     

Genome-wide analysis of OVATE family proteins in cucumber (Cucumissativus L.)

OVATE family proteins(OFPs) are plant-specific proteins with a conserved OVATE domain that regulate plant growth and development.Although OFPs have been studied in several species,their biological functions remain largely unknown in cucumber(Cucumis sativus L.).This study identified 19 Cs OFPs distributed on seven chromosomes in cucumber.Most Cs OFP genes were expressed in reproductive organs,but with different expression patterns.Ectopic expression of Cs OFP12-16c in Arabidopsis resulted in sho...     

Overexpression of GmBIN2, a soybean glycogen synthase kinase 3 gene,enhances tolerance to salt and drought in transgenic Arabidopsis and soybean hairy roots

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) is a kind of serine/threonine kinase widely found in eukaryotes. Many plant GSK3 kinases play important roles in regulating stress responses. This study investigated BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE 2 (GmBIN2) gene, a member of the GSK3 protein kinase family in soybean and an orthologue of Arabidopsis BIN2/AtSK21. GmBIN2 expression was increased by salt and drought stresses, but was not significantly affected by the ABA treatment. To examine the function of GmBIN2, transgenic Arabidopsis and transgenic soybean hairy roots were generated. Overexpression of GmBIN2 in Arabidopsis resulted in increased germination rate and root length compared with wild-type plants under salt and mannitol treatments. Overexpression of GmBIN2 increased cellular Ca²⁺ content and reduced Na+ content, enhancing salt tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. In the soybean hairy root assay, overexpression of GmBIN2 in transgenic roots also showed significantly higher relative root growth rate than the control when subjected to salt and mannitol treatments. Measurement of physiological indicators, including proline content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and relative electrical conductivity, supported this conclusion. Furthermore, we also found that GmBIN2 could up-regulate the expression of some stress-related genes in transgenic Arabidopsis and soybean hairy roots. Overall, these results indicated that GmBIN2 improved tolerance to salt and drought in transgenic Arabidopsis and soybean hairy roots.     

茄萼花色苷合成相关基因DFR和MYB克隆及表达分析

【目的】花色苷是一类通过类黄酮途径合成的水溶性次生代谢产物,既能使植物的不同器官呈现红、紫、蓝等颜色,还有利于人体健康。紫茄富含花色苷,但是有关茄萼花色苷生物合成的分子机制还不是很清楚。本研究旨在通过克隆茄萼花色苷合成相关基因DFR和MYB,测定其在不同发育时期不同颜色茄萼中的表达量,探究DFR和MYB在茄萼花色苷合成中的作用。【方法】选用绿萼和紫萼长茄(Solanum melongena L.)果萼为试材,测定不同p H条件下茄萼花色苷含量;通过RACE方法分离克隆DFR和MYB cDNA全长序列,分析DFR和MYB的保守结构域及序列特征;分别对DFR和MYB及其同源蛋白序列进行系统进化分析,构建系统进化树来进一步分析鉴定基因;使用Ex PASy网站提供的在线分析软件SOPMA预测蛋白质二级结构;利用实时荧光定量PCR方法检测目的基因在不同发育阶段果萼中的表达情况。【结果】从绿萼和紫萼长茄果萼中克隆了DFR和MYB片段,分别命名为ouSmDFR、dongSmDFR和ouSmMYB、dongSmMYB,Gen Bank登录号分别为:KX224250、KX224251和KX224253、KX224254。ouSmDFR和dongSmDFR全长分别为1 285 bp和1 249 bp,开放阅读框为858 bp和864 bp,分别编码285个和287个氨基酸;ouSmMYB和dongSmMYB全长分别为969 bp和959 bp,开放阅读框均为462 bp,编码153个氨基酸。蛋白质二级结构分析表明α-螺旋和无规则卷曲均为两个DFR蛋白和两个MYB蛋白的主要二级结构元件。序列比对表明DFR蛋白具有NADPH结构域(NADPH binding domain)和底物特异性结合结构域(Substrate specific binding domain),属于NADB-Rossmann超基因家族;MYB蛋白属于R2R3-MYB转录因子,具有R2、R3两个MYB结构域和b HLH结合域。ouSmDFR和dongSmDFR与St DFR和Sl DFR具有相对较高的同源性;ouSmMYB和dongSmMYB与Es MYB同源性较高。花色苷含量测定显示,紫萼果茄萼花色苷含量较高且随着果实的发育成熟而逐渐增加;而绿萼茄萼几乎检测不到花色苷。荧光实时定量PCR分析表明,DFR和MYB在紫萼长茄果萼中表达量均远高于绿萼长茄;从初蕾期到盛花期,紫萼长茄果萼中DFR和MYB表达量逐渐升高,而绿萼长茄则几乎没有变化,与两个品种茄萼颜色变化相一致。【结论】ouSmDFR和dongSmDFR属于NADB-Rossmann超基因家族,ouSmMYB和dongSmMYB为典型R2R3-MYB转录因子,DFR和MYB在紫萼长茄果萼中表达明显高于绿萼长茄。推测DFR和MYB在茄萼呈色中发挥作用,并且参与花色苷生物合成。     

转录因子对木质素生物合成调控的研究进展

木质素是维管植物次生细胞壁的重要组分之一,具有重要的生物学功能。木质素分子与细胞壁中的纤维素、半纤维素等多糖分子相互交联,增加了植物细胞和组织的机械强度,其疏水性使植物细胞不易透水,利于水分及营养物质在植物体内的长距离运输。木质素与纤维素共同形成的天然物理屏障能有效阻止各种病原菌的入侵,增强了植物对各种生物及非生物胁迫的防御能力。然而木质素的存在也给人类的生产实践带来诸多负面影响,如造纸业中,由于必须使用大量化学药品去除木质素,加大了造纸成本,严重污染了环境;饲草中的高木质素含量则影响牲畜的消化吸收,降低了饲草的营养价值;过高的木质素含量也影响了人类对生物质能源的发酵利用。因此,利用基因工程改造植物木质素的可降解性意义重大。在高等植物中,木质素通过苯丙烷途径和木质素特异途径合成。在拟南芥中,NAC、MYB以及WRKY类转录因子都参与了对木质素生物合成的调控。在拟南芥中,MYB26可激活NST1/NST2的转录;WRKY12可与NST2的启动子区结合并对其表达进行负调控;SND1（NST3）和NST1主要在纤维次生壁的形成中发挥作用,两者功能有冗余;NST1和NST2在调控花药壁的次生壁的增厚中功能有冗余;VND6和VND7则主要在木质部导管的分化中起重要作用,这些NAC类转录因子通过与下游的MYB类转录因子如MYB83、MYB46及（或）MYB58、MYB63、MYB85和MYB103的结合对木质素合成基因的表达进行正调控,而MYB75对木质素生物合成进行负调控。多数MYB转录因子通过与下游木质素生物合成途径基因启动子区的AC元件（I、II和III）结合从而对其表达进行调控。研究表明,bHLH类转录因子也参与了对木质素生物合成的调控。文章综述了各类转录因子对木质素生物合成调控的最近进展,绘制了拟南芥中木质素生物合成的主要调控网络,同时也总结了其他物种（如水稻、小麦、玉米、桉树、松树和杨树等）中已发现的对木质素生物合成进行调控的转录因子。随着高通量测序技术的发展,研究者有望在更多的物种中发现参与木质素生物合成调控的关键转录因子,这些研究将对通过基因工程改造木质素的组成具有重要的借鉴意义。     

新疆红肉苹果杂种一代4个株系类黄酮含量及其合成相关基因表达分析

【目的】研究新疆红肉苹果(Malus sieversii f.neidzwetzkyana(Dieck)Langenf.)与‘富士’(M.domestica cv.Fuji)等苹果品种杂交后代株系间果实类黄酮合成差异的分子机理,为进一步完善功能型苹果育种的理论与技术体系提供科学依据。【方法】以紫红2号及红脆1、2、4号等红肉程度存在明显差异的4个苹果株系发育后期的果实为试材,进行MYB10启动子基因型鉴定,并测定类黄酮组分和含量,分析类黄酮合成相关基因的表达。【结果】红脆1、2、4号MYB10启动子基因型均是R6R1型,而紫红2号启动子类型为R6R6型。红脆1号和紫红2号果实成熟期类黄酮含量分别为3.0 mg·g~(-1)和3.1 mg·g~(-1);紫红2号花青苷含量(23.9 U·g~(-1) FW)是红脆1号(12.2 U·g~(-1) FW)的2倍,其他类黄酮组分含量(1 635.3 mg·kg~(-1))仅是红脆1号的69%。紫红2号MYB10和UFGT等转录因子及花青苷合成基因在果实发育后期(花后110—125 d)均具有较高的表达量;红脆4号的MYB10虽然在果实发育后期(花后110—125 d)表达量较高,但b HLH3、TTG1、ANS和UFGT表达量较低。红脆1、2、4号类黄酮组分含量分别为2 355.0、1 247.5和1 337.5 mg·kg~(-1),差异显著;红脆1号MYB12转录因子及FLS、LAR和ANR等类黄酮生物合成相关结构基因表达量较高,而MYB16和MYB111表达量较低;红脆2、4号MYB12转录因子及FLS、LAR和ANR等类黄酮生物合成相关结构基因表达量较低,而MYB16和MYB111转录因子表达量较高。【结论】MYB10、b HLH3和TTG1等转录因子及ANS和UFGT等花青苷生物合成结构基因在果实发育后期高水平表达,可能是导致紫红2号成熟期果肉花青苷含量高的主要原因,而MYB12、MYB16和MYB111等转录因子及DFR、FLS、LAR和ANR类黄酮生物合成相关结构基因的差异表达,可能是导致红脆1、2、4号等3个株系类黄酮组分及含量差异的主要原因。     

Overexpression of Brassica napus cytosolic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase and sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase genes significantly enhanced tobacco growth and biomass

Elevated activities of cytosolic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase(cyFBPase) and sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase(SBPase)are associated with higher yields in plants. In this study, the expression levels of the cyFBPase and SBPase genes were increased by overexpressing rape(Brassica napus) cDNA in tobacco(Nicotiana tabacum) plants. The transgenic plants coexpressing cy FBPase and SBPase(Tp FS), or expressing single cy FBPase(Tp F) or SBPase(Tp S) had 1.77-, 1.55-, 1.23-fold cyFBPase and 1.45-, 1.12-, 1...