种子老化的分子生物学研究

种子作为最基本的生产资料,是农业生产得以发展的必要条件。老化将导致种子质量下降,最终失去生命力,给生产带来巨大经济损失。因此,研究种子老化机制对寻找应对种子老化的办法具有重要的意义。目前,关于种子老化的研究大多集中在生理生化变化方面,而随着分子生物学技术的飞速发展,合理运用这些技术,必将使从更深层次解释种子老化机制成为可能。本文对近年来种子老化分子生物学方面研究取得的成果进行了综述,发现种子老化后其遗传完整性降低,与能量代谢、信号转导、刺激响应、衰老死亡以及糖酵解途径等相关的基因表达发生变化,一些与脂质过氧化及DNA损伤修复相关的基因功能已得到验证。最后对种子老化机理的研究前景做出展望,指出蛋白和mRNA定位、基因功能研究以及完善信号转导途径的重要性。

Advances in the molecular biology study of seed aging

It is necessary to develop the agricultural production of seeds which are considered as basic materials.However,seed aging leads to a decline in seed quality and ultimately to the loss of seed vitality,which causes huge economic losses in agricultural production.Thus,it is very important to conduct research on the aging mechanism,in order to identify suitable methods to control seed aging.Currently,most studies on seed aging focus on physiological and biochemical changes.It is possible to accurately determine the aging mechanism by using the techniques of molecular biotechnology,which are rapidly developing.This paper summarizes the achievements of molecular biology studies on seed aging.The genetic integrity of seeds was found to be lower after aging.Genes related to energy metabolism,signal transduction,stimulus-response,and the glycolytic pathway,among others,were differentially expressed after seed aging.Some genes that participate in lipid peroxidation and repair of DNA damage were identified.Developing trends in the study of the seed aging mechanism are also discussed.Localization of proteins and mRNAs,gene function analysis,and characterization of the signal transduction pathways will be important areas of focus in the future.