肿瘤坏死因子信号传导的分子机理

肿瘤坏死因子(tumor necrosis factor,TNF)是一种具有多种生物学效应的细胞因子,其生物学效应包括促进细胞生长、分化、凋亡及炎症诱发等.TNF的生物学效应都是通过细胞表面的两种TNF受体引发的.TNF的信号传导通路主要包括细胞凋亡及转录因子NF-kB和JNK蛋白激酶的激活.这3条信号传导通路之间及各通路内部含有各种调节机制,使TNF的各种生物学功能协调发挥出来.从1994年到现在,对肿瘤坏死因子信号传导通路的分子机理研究取得了一系列突破性进展,在细胞信号传导研究领域中树立了成功的典范.     

生长素调控种子的休眠与萌发

植物种子的休眠与萌发,是植物生长发育过程中的关键阶段,也是生命科学领域的研究热点。种子从休眠向萌发的转换是极为复杂的生物学过程,由外界环境因子、体内激素含量及信号传导和若干关键基因协同调控。大量研究表明,植物激素脱落酸(Abscisic acid, ABA)和赤霉素(Gibberellin acid, GA)是调控种子休眠水平,决定种子从休眠转向萌发的主要内源因子。ABA与GA在含量和信号传导两个层次上的精确平衡,确保了植物种子能以休眠状态在逆境中存活,并在适宜的时间启动萌发程序。生长素(Auxin)是经典植物激素之一,其对向性生长和组织分化等生物学过程的调控已有大量研究。但最近有研究证实,生长素对种子休眠有正向调控作用,这表明生长素是继ABA之后的第二个促进种子休眠的植物激素。本文在回顾生长素的发现历程、阐释生长素体内合成途径及信号传导通路的基础上,重点综述了生长素通过与ABA的协同作用调控种子休眠的分子机制,并对未来的研究热点进行了讨论和展望。     

植物赤霉素生物合成和信号传导的分子生物学

赤霉素 (GAs)在植物的种子萌发、茎的伸长和花的发育等许多方面起着非常重要的作用。最近几年 ,对GA生物合成及其信号传导途径相关基因的研究取得了惊人的进展。这些进展促进了对其生物合成及其信号传导途径的认识。GA生物合成相关基因的表达受到多种内源和外源因子的调控 ,其中研究较多的是发育阶段、激素水平和光信号等内源及环境因子的调控。GA信号传导通常处于抑制状态 ,GA信号通过去抑制作用激活该传导途径而促进GA刺激植物生长和发育。     

植物MPK信号通路与信号分子H2O2和NO之间的相互关系

促分裂原活化蛋白激酶(MPK)级联途径是真核细胞中普遍存在且保守的信号传导通路,广泛参与植物生长发育和植物抵抗生物和非生物胁迫的防御反应。过氧化氢(H2O2)和一氧化氮(NO)作为重要的信使分子也广泛参与植物生长发育和防御反应的信号传导。近年来,研究也表明MPK信号通路与信号分子H2O2和NO之间存在着多种复杂的关系。一方面,在一些刺激的信号传递过程中,MPK信号通路参与了信号分子H2O2和NO的产生、清除或其信号的向下传递等过程;另一方面,在有些刺激的信号传递过程中,它们位于不同的信号传递途经中,行使不同的功能。本文就目前植物MPK信号通路与H2O2和NO之间相互关系的研究现状进行了综述和分析,并指出了该研究领域存在的问题。     

植物赤霉素生物合成和信号传导的分子生物学

赤霉素(GAs)在植物的种子萌发、茎的伸长和花的发育等许多方面起着非常重要的作用。最近几年,对GA生物合成及其信号传导途径相关基因的研究取得了惊人的进展。这些进展促进了对其生物合成及其信号传导途径的认识。GA生物合成相关基因的表达受到多种内源和外源因子的调控, 其中研究较多的是发育阶段、激素水平和光信号等内源及环境因子的调控。GA信号传导通常处于抑制状态, GA信号通过去抑制作用激活该传导途径而促进GA刺激植物生长和发育。     

植物TOR激酶响应上游信号的研究进展

雷帕霉素靶蛋白(TOR)是真核生物中高度保守的丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶, 能整合营养、能量、生长因子及环境信号, 协调细胞增殖、生长和代谢等过程, 是真核生物生长发育的核心调控因子。近年来, 随着相关研究系统的建立, 植物TOR的功能和机制研究取得了众多突破, 发现其进化上保守的生物学功能及植物中特有的信号通路。该文概述了TOR蛋白复合体的构成, 以及植物TOR响应糖、营养元素(氮、磷和硫)、激素及逆境胁迫信号来调控下游基因转录、蛋白翻译、代谢、细胞自噬和胁迫应答等生物学过程的分子机制, 并提出了植物TOR领域一些亟待解决的科学问题, 以期为全面揭示植物TOR的生物学功能提供参考。     

TNF-α信号传导通路的分子机理

肿瘤坏死因子α（tumor necrosis factor-alpha,TNF-α）是一种具有多效生物学效应的细胞因子.TNF的生物学效应都是通过细胞表面的2种TNF受体（TNFR）引发,其信号传导通路主要包括caspase家族介导的细胞凋亡、衔接蛋白TRAF介导的转录因子NF-κB和JNK蛋白激酶的活化.TNFR1和TNFR2的生物学功能不是独立的,许多生物学活性由二者共同完成.3条信号传导通路之间及各通路内部含有各种调节机制,使TNF的各种生物学功能协调发挥出来.本文评述了3条信号传导通路最新进展、关键激酶的研究状况及其在整个信号网络中的作用机理,如IKK的激活以及重要的信号转导分子RIP、TRAF2、TRUSS的结构、相互作用的方式等     

干扰素信号传导通路与其基因组多态性网络模型的建立

通过检索Pubmed、Embase数据库, 整合文献资料, 运用Teranode Design Suite(TDS)生物软件, 建立干扰素(IFN)发挥生物学作用的信号传导通路。应用SNP Trawler软件搜索通路中相关基因的SNP信息, 并以属性形式在通路模型中给以显示。结果构建了融合基因的遗传信息尤其是SNP相关信息的IFN发挥生物学作用的信号传导通路的网络模型, 此模型共包含JAK-STAT, MAPK-p38和PI3K 3条主要传导通路, 干扰素通过不同的信号传导通路发挥不同的生物活性, 其中Ⅰ型干扰素通过这3条通路发挥抗病毒、抗细胞增殖及免疫调节等重要作用, 而Ⅱ型干扰素则通过JAK-STAT和MAPK-p38路径发挥生物学作用, Ⅲ型干扰素则仅通过PI3K通路发挥生物学作用; 这3条传导通路包含98个基因和19 693个SNPs, 组成了复杂的基因间相互作用网络。此通路模型的成功建立, 一方面为研究SNP对IFN生物学作用的影响而预测IFN疗效提供理论基础, 另一方面为实现个体化诊疗、发现新的药物作用靶点及开发新的药物奠定基础。     

独脚金内酯信号途径的新发现——抑制子也是转录因子

植物激素信号传导途径中的抑制子(repressor) DELLA、AUX/IAA、JAZ和D53/SMXL均结合下游转录因子并抑制其转录活性, 从而阻遏激素响应基因的表达; 激素分子则激活信号传导链降解抑制子、释放转录因子, 从而诱导响应基因表达并介导相应的生物学功能。中国科学院遗传与发育生物学研究所李家洋研究团队最新的研究发现, 独脚金内酯(SL)信号途径中的SMXL6、SMXL7和SMXL8是具有抑制子和转录因子双重功能的新型抑制子, 他们还通过研究SL转录调控网络发现了大量新的SL响应基因, 揭示了SL调控植物分枝、叶片伸长和花色素苷积累的分子机制。这些重要发现为探索植物激素作用机理提供了新思路, 具有重要科学意义和应用前景。     

独脚金内酯信号途径的新发现——抑制子也是转录因子

植物激素信号传导途径中的抑制子(repressor) DELLA、AUX/IAA、JAZ和D53/SMXL均结合下游转录因子并抑制其转录活性,从而阻遏激素响应基因的表达;激素分子则激活信号传导链降解抑制子、释放转录因子,从而诱导响应基因表达并介导相应的生物学功能。中国科学院遗传与发育生物学研究所李家洋研究团队最新的研究发现,独脚金内酯(SL)信号途径中的SMXL6、SMXL7和SMXL8是具有抑制子和转录因子双重功能的新型抑制子,他们还通过研究SL转录调控网络发现了大量新的SL响应基因,揭示了SL调控植物分枝、叶片伸长和花色素苷积累的分子机制。这些重要发现为探索植物激素作用机理提供了新思路,具有重要科学意义和应用前景。     

The role of light in regulating seed dormancy and germination

Seed dormancy is an adaptive trait in plants. Breaking seed dormancy determines the timing of germination and is, thereby essential for ensuring plant survival and agricultural production. Seed dormancy and the subsequent germination are controlled by both internal cues (mainly hormones) and environmental signals. In the past few years, the roles of plant hormones in regulating seed dormancy and germination have been uncovered. However, we are only beginning to understand how light signaling pathways modulate seed dormancy and interaction with endogenous hormones. In this review, we summarize current views of the molecular mechanisms by which light controls the induction, maintenance and release of seed dormancy, as well as seed germination, by regulating hormone metabolism and signaling pathways.     

Karrikins: A new family of plant growth regulators in smoke

Karrikins are a chemically defined family of plant growth regulators discovered in smoke from burning plant material. Karrikins are potent in breaking dormancy of seeds of many species adapted to environments that regularly experience fire and smoke. The recent discovery that karrikins trigger seed germination and control seedling growth in taxa that would rarely experience fire indicates that their significance could extend far beyond fire ecology. This is exemplified by new studies showing that seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana respond sensitively and specifically to karrikins in smoke. These exciting discoveries might be explained if karrikins are produced in the environment by processes other than fire, such as by chemical or microbial degradation of vegetation in response to disturbance of the soil or removal of the plant canopy. Another hypothesis is that plants contain endogenous karrikins that function naturally in the control of seed germination and that species from fire-prone habitats have evolved to respond also to exogenous karrikins. A variant on this hypothesis is that karrikins mimic endogenous plant hormones such as terpenoids that control seed germination. The evidence for these hypotheses is discussed, but whatever the explanation karrikins are now firmly established as an important family of naturally occurring plant growth regulators.     

A high-resolution gene expression atlas of epistasis between gene-specific transcription factors exposes potential mechanisms for genetic interactions

Karrikins are a family of compounds produced by wildfires that can stimulate the germination of dormant seeds of plants from numerous families. Seed plants could have ‘discovered’ karrikins during fire-prone times in the Cretaceous period when flowering plants were evolving rapidly. Recent research suggests that karrikins mimic an unidentified endogenous compound that has roles in seed germination and early plant development. The endogenous signalling compound is presumably not only similar to karrikins, but also to the related strigolactone hormones.     

Recent advances in ABA signaling

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a major plant hormone that controls germination, seedling growth, and seed development. During the vegetative phase, ABA plays a key regulatory role in adaptive responses to common abiotic stresses, such as drought, high salinity, and cold. In seeds, ABA modulates the synthesis of storage components and prevents the precocious germination of embryos. ABA-regulated processes are critical for plant growth and survival, especially under unfavorable environmental conditions. Numerous genetic and biochemical studies to delineate signal transduction pathways have led to the identification of a large number of ABA signaling components. However, our knowledge about specific response pathways is still fragmentary. Over the past several years, significant progress has been made in identifying key regulators of early events in the ABA response. In this short review, new advances in ABA signaling research, especially those focused on ABA receptors, will be summarized.     

Complexity of SMAX1 signaling during seedling establishment

Karrikins (KARs) are small butenolide compounds identified in the smoke of burning vegetation. Along with the stimulating effects on seed germination, KARs also regulate seedling vigor and adaptive behaviors, such as seedling morphogenesis, root hair development, and stress acclimation. The pivotal KAR signaling repressor, SUPPRESSOR OF MAX2 1 (SMAX1), plays central roles in these developmental and morphogenic processes through an extensive signaling network that governs seedling responses to endogenous and environmental cues. Here, we summarize the versatile roles of SMAX1 reported in recent years and discuss how SMAX1 integrates multiple growth hormone signals into optimizing seedling establishment. We also discuss the evolutionary relevance of the SMAX1-mediated signaling pathways during the colonization of aqueous plants to terrestrial environments.     

细胞分裂素调控种子发育、休眠与萌发的研究进展

种子萌发是子代植株建立、生长和繁育的重要阶段,在种子植物生命周期中起重要作用。种子休眠是在发育过程中形成的,在生理成熟期达到峰值。种子休眠与萌发的植物激素调控可能是种子植物中一种高度保守的机制。细胞分裂素(CK)是植物体内的一种重要信号分子,调控植物生长发育的许多方面。生物活性CK的水平由其生物合成、活化、失活、再活化...