玉米钼辅助因子硫酸化酶基因启动子的克隆与功能验证

为克服组成型启动子启动外源基因过量表达引起的诸多问题,同源克隆(Mo-molybdopterin cofactor sulfurase)基因（ABA3）的启动子(ABA3s)序列,并用PlantCARE软件分析其非生物逆境应答元件, 实时定量PCR检测ABA3基因在非生物逆境诱导下的差异表达后。然后,用该启动子构建启动GUS（β-glucuronidase）基因的表达载体, 基因枪法转化玉米愈伤组织。经组织化学染色法检测其表达后, 在高渗、高盐、低温胁迫处理及ABA诱导下检测GUS酶荧光值与荧光素酶(内参)发光值的比值(GUS/LUC), 以此评价ABA3s启动子在非生物逆境胁迫下的启动活性。结果表明, ABA3基因在模拟干旱、低温、高温、高盐胁迫及ABA、乙稀诱导下差异表达, 说明该基因的启动子(ABA3s)具有非生物逆境诱导活性。序列分析表明, ABA3s启动子全长777 bp, 含有ARE、HSE、MBS、TGA、Circadian等多种非生物逆境胁迫应答元件。用ABA3s启动GUS基因构建的表达载体转化的玉米愈伤组织, 响应干旱、低温、高温、高盐胁迫等多种非生物逆境胁迫, 及ABA和乙稀诱导, GUS检测呈阳性。在8%甘露醇高渗条件下, GUS/LUC比值比空白对照高6倍。上述结果表明, ABA3s启动子具有非生物逆境诱导特性, 经进一步验证其功能后, 可用于玉米抗逆转基因研究。     

Isolation and characterization of a dehydrin gene from Cicer pinnatifidum, a drought-resistant wild relative of chickpea

Chickpea is an important legume crop of the tropics and subtropics. As it is cultivated mostly during the dry season, drought is the major cause of poor chickpea yields. A wild relative of chickpea, Cicer pinnatifidum , is more tolerant than chickpea itself to various abiotic stresses, including drought. A cDNA clone encoding a dehydrin gene, cpdhn1 , was isolated from a cDNA bank prepared from ripening seeds of C. pinnatifidum . Dehydrins are proteins which accumulate in seeds during late embryogenesis and also during stress brought about by drought and other abiotic factors in many plants. The polypeptide deduced to correspond to this gene, cpdhn1 , consists of 195 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 20.4 kDa. The polypeptide is a Y₂K dehydrin exhibiting two conserved 'Y'-segments in the amino-terminal region and one conserved 'K'-segment close to the carboxy terminus. Northern blot analyses showed that cpdhn1 expression was induced not only during seed development, but also in leaves in response to drought, chilling and salinity and also to treatment with ABA or methyl jasmonate. The induction of cpdhn1 expression by methyl jasmonate and ABA indicates that the gene may also be involved in the response to biotic stress. The CpDHN1 protein may thus improve the tolerance of chickpea to a variety of environmental stresses, both abiotic and biotic.     

水稻含有B-box锌指结构域的OsBBX25蛋白参与植物对非生物胁迫的响应

锌指蛋白在调控植物生长发育和应对逆境过程中发挥着重要作用.为进一步研究锌指类蛋白参与植物非生物胁迫响应的分子机制,对水稻(Oryza sativa)中一个编码含有B-box锌指结构域蛋白的OsBBX25基因进行了功能分析.OsBBX25受盐、干旱和ABA诱导表达.异源表达OsBBX25的转基因拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)与野生型相比对盐和干旱的耐受性增强,且盐胁迫条件下转基因植物中KIN1、RD29A和COR15的表达上调,干旱胁迫下KIN1、RD29A和RD22的表达上调.外源施加ABA时,转基因植物的萌发率与野生型之间没有明显差异.OsBBX25可能作为转录调控的辅助因子调节胁迫应答相关基因的表达,进而参与植物对非生物胁迫的响应.     

ABA Inducible Rice Protein Phosphatase 2C Confers ABA Insensitivity and Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Arabidopsis

Arabidopsis PP2C belonging to group A have been extensively worked out and known to negatively regulate ABA signaling. However, rice (Oryza sativa) orthologs of Arabidopsis group A PP2C are scarcely characterized functionally. We have identified a group A PP2C from rice (OsPP108), which is highly inducible under ABA, salt and drought stresses and localized predominantly in the nucleus. Genetic analysis revealed that Arabidopsis plants overexpressing OsPP108 are highly insensitive to ABA and tolerant to high salt and mannitol stresses during seed germination, root growth and overall seedling growth. At adult stage, OsPP108 overexpression leads to high tolerance to salt, mannitol and drought stresses with far better physiological parameters such as water loss, fresh weight, chlorophyll content and photosynthetic potential (Fv/Fm) in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. Expression profile of various stress marker genes in OsPP108 overexpressing plants revealed interplay of ABA dependent and independent pathway for abiotic stress tolerance. Overall, this study has identified a potential rice group A PP2C, which regulates ABA signaling negatively and abiotic stress signaling positively. Transgenic rice plants overexpressing this gene might provide an answer to the problem of low crop yield and productivity during adverse environmental conditions.     

JcLEA,a Novel LEA-Like Protein from Jatropha curcas,Confers a High Level of Tolerance to Dehydration and Salinity in Arabidopsis thaliana

Jatropha curcas L. is a highly drought and salt tolerant plant species that is typically used as a traditional folk medicine and biofuel crop in many countries. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that underlie the response to various abiotic environmental stimuli, especially to drought and salt stresses, in J. curcas could be important to crop improvement efforts. In this study, we cloned and characterized the gene for a late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) protein from J. curcas that we designated JcLEA. Sequence analyses showed that the JcLEA protein belongs to group 5, a subgroup of the LEA protein family. In young seedlings, expression of JcLEA is significantly induced by abscisic acid (ABA), dehydration, and salt stress. Subcellular localization analysis shows that that JcLEA protein is distributed in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. Moreover, based on growth status and physiological indices, the overexpression of JcLEA in transgenic Arabidopsis plants conferred increased resistance to both drought and salt stresses compared to the WT. Our data suggests that the group 5 JcLEA protein contributes to drought and salt stress tolerance in plants. Thus, JcLEA is a potential candidate gene for plant genetic modification.     

Identification and expression analysis of group 3 LEA family genes in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

Sorghum with its remarkable adaptability to drought and high temperature provides a model system for grass genomics and resource for gene discovery especially for abiotic stress tolerance. Group 3 LEA genes from barley and rice have been shown to play crucial role in abiotic stress tolerance. Here, we present a genome-wide analysis of LEA3 genes in sorghum. We identified four genes encoding LEA3 proteins in the sorghum genome and further classified them into LEA3A and LEA3B subgroups based on the conservation of LEA3 specific motifs. Further, expression pattern of these genes were analyzed in seeds during development and vegetative tissues under abiotic stresses. SbLEA3A group genes showed expression at early stage of seed development and increased significantly at maturity, while SbLEA3B group genes expressed only in matured seeds. Expression of SbLEA3 genes in response to abiotic stresses such as soil moisture deficit (drought), osmotic, salt, and temperature stresses, and exogenous ABA treatments was also studied in the leaves of 2-weeks-old seedlings. ABA and drought induced the expression of all LEA3 genes, while cold and heat stress induced none of them. Promoter analysis revealed the presence of multiple ABRE core cis-elements and a few low temperature response (LTRE)/drought responsive (DRE) cis-elements. This study suggests non-redundant function of LEA3 genes in seed development and stress tolerance in sorghum.     

水稻NHX1基因启动子和C末端的调控功能研究

为了解水稻Na+/H+逆向转运蛋白(OsNHX1)在植物应答非生物胁迫中的分子调控机制,采用RT-PCR方法克隆OsNHX1基因上游2 000bp的启动子序列,并通过基因枪轰击瞬时转化洋葱表皮细胞,检测不同非生物胁迫下启动子的活性和表达模式;同时,分别克隆全长和C末端缺失的OsNHX1基因,通过花序浸染法转化拟南芥,研究OsNHX1基因及其C末端的功能。结果显示:OsNHX1启动子受逆境胁迫诱导,在盐、干旱、脱落酸胁迫处理下GUS表达活性明显升高;过表达OsNHX1的转基因拟南芥中,种子萌发率、根长、丙二醛含量和相对含水量的测定结果均显示其胁迫耐受性得到改善,但过表达OsNHX1C末端缺失基因对转基因植株的胁迫耐受性无明显影响。研究表明,Na+/H+逆向转运蛋白有助于提高植物耐盐性,且其C末端区域对该转运蛋白活性的发挥具有关键作用。     

The pepper late embryogenesis abundant protein CaLEA1 acts in regulating abscisic acid signaling,drought and salt stress response

As sessile organisms, plants are constantly challenged by environmental stresses, including drought and high salinity. Among the various abiotic stresses, osmotic stress is one of the most important factors for growth and significantly reduces crop productivity in agriculture. Here, we report a function of the CaLEA1 protein in the defense responses of plants to osmotic stress. Our analyses showed that the CaLEA1 gene was strongly induced in pepper leaves exposed to drought and increased salinity. Furthermore, we determined that the CaLEA1 protein has a late embryogenesis abundant (LEA)_3 homolog domain highly conserved among other known group 5 LEA proteins and is localized in the processing body. We generated CaLEA1‐silenced peppers and CaLEA1‐overexpressing (OX) transgenic Arabidopsis plants to evaluate their responses to dehydration and high salinity. Virus‐induced gene silencing of CaLEA1 in pepper plants conferred enhanced sensitivity to drought and salt stresses, which was accompanied by high levels of lipid peroxidation in dehydrated and NaCl‐treated leaves. CaLEA1‐OX plants exhibited enhanced sensitivity to abscisic acid (ABA) during seed germination and in the seedling stage; furthermore, these plants were more tolerant to drought and salt stress than the wild‐type plants because of enhanced stomatal closure and increased expression of stress‐responsive genes. Collectively, our data suggest that CaLEA1 positively regulates drought and salinity tolerance through ABA‐mediated cell signaling.     

The Arabidopsis LOS5/ABA3 locus encodes a molybdenum cofactor sulfurase and modulates cold stress- and osmotic stress-responsive gene expression

To understand low temperature and osmotic stress signaling in plants, we isolated and characterized two allelic Arabidopsis mutants, los5-1 and los5-2, which are impaired in gene induction by cold and osmotic stresses. Expression of RD29A-LUC (the firefly luciferase reporter gene under the control of the stress-responsive RD29A promoter) in response to cold and salt/drought is reduced in the los5 mutants, but the response to abscisic acid (ABA) remains unaltered. RNA gel blot analysis indicates that the los5 mutation reduces the induction of several stress-responsive genes by cold and severely diminishes or even completely blocks the induction of RD29A, COR15, COR47, RD22, and P5CS by osmotic stresses. los5 mutant plants are compromised in their tolerance to freezing, salt, or drought stress. los5 plants are ABA deficient, as indicated by increased transpirational water loss and reduced accumulation of ABA under drought stress in the mutant. A comparison with another ABA-deficient mutant, aba1, reveals that the impaired low-temperature gene regulation is specific to the los5 mutation. Genetic tests suggest that los5 is allelic to aba3. Map-based cloning reveals that LOS5/ABA3 encodes a molybdenum cofactor (MoCo) sulfurase. MoCo sulfurase catalyzes the generation of the sulfurylated form of MoCo, a cofactor required by aldehyde oxidase that functions in the last step of ABA biosynthesis in plants. The LOS5/ABA3 gene is expressed ubiquitously in different plant parts, and the expression level increases in response to drought, salt, or ABA treatment. Our results show that LOS5/ABA3 is a key regulator of ABA biosynthesis, stress-responsive gene expression, and stress tolerance.     

RhEXPA4, a rose expansin gene, modulates leaf growth and confers drought and salt tolerance to Arabidopsis

Drought and high salinity are major environmental conditions limiting plant growth and development. Expansin is a cell-wall-loosening protein known to disrupt hydrogen bonds between xyloglucan and cellulose microfibrils. The expression of expansin increases in plants under various abiotic stresses, and plays an important role in adaptation to these stresses. We aimed to investigate the role of the RhEXPA4, a rose expansin gene, in response to abiotic stresses through its overexpression analysis in Arabidopsis. In transgenic Arabidopsis harboring the Pro _RhEXPA4 ::GUS construct, RhEXPA4 promoter activity was induced by abscisic acid (ABA), drought and salt, particularly in zones of active growth. Transgenic lines with higher RhEXPA4 level developed compact phenotypes with shorter stems, curly leaves and compact inflorescences, while the lines with relatively lower RhEXPA4 expression showed normal phenotypes, similar to the wild type (WT). The germination percentage of transgenic Arabidopsis seeds was higher than that of WT seeds under salt stress and ABA treatments. Transgenic plants showed enhanced tolerance to drought and salt stresses: they displayed higher survival rates after drought, and exhibited more lateral roots and higher content of leaf chlorophyll a under salt stress. Moreover, high-level RhEXPA4 overexpressors have multiple modifications in leaf blade epidermal structure, such as smaller, compact cells, fewer stomata and midvein vascular patterning in leaves, which provides them with more tolerance to abiotic stresses compared to mild overexpressors and the WT. Collectively, our results suggest that RhEXPA4, a cell-wall-loosening protein, confers tolerance to abiotic stresses through modifying cell expansion and plant development in Arabidopsis.     

异源表达蒙古沙冬青AmDREB1F基因提高转基因拟南芥的耐逆性

脱水应答元件结合蛋白 (Dehydration-responsive element binding proteins,DREBs) 是一类重要的植物耐逆相关转录因子。蒙古沙冬青Ammopiptanthus mongolicus是中国西北荒漠区特有的强耐逆常绿阔叶灌木。为探明其AmDREB1F基因在耐受非生物逆境中的功能和作用机理,文中对该基因编码蛋白的亚细胞定位、表达模式和转基因拟南芥的耐逆性进行了分析。结果表明：AmDREB1F编码的蛋白质定位于细胞核内;在室内培养幼苗中,该基因在正常条件下不表达,在低温和干旱胁迫下有较明显表达,在高盐和高温胁迫下仅有微弱表达,而在脱落酸 (Abscisic acid,ABA) 处理下不表达;在野外生长植株的叶片中,其表达量在秋末、冬季和早春远高于其他季节,而不同器官相比,其在根和未成熟果荚中的表达量远高于其他器官;将AmDREB1F在拟南芥中组成型表达可提高多个受DREBs调控的胁迫响应基因的转录水平,增强转基因株系对干旱、高盐和低温以及氧化胁迫的耐性,同时导致其生长发育延滞,外施赤霉素3可消除生长延滞现象;将该基因进行胁迫诱导表达也可提高转基因拟南芥对上述非生物胁迫的耐受性,而不影响其生长发育。这些结果说明AmDREB1F可能通过ABA非依赖的信号途径在响应和耐受逆境胁迫中起正调节作用。     

Overexpression of a nascent polypeptide associated complex gene (SaβNAC) of Spartina alterniflora improves tolerance to salinity and drought in transgenic Arabidopsis

Salinity and drought are the most important environmental constraints limiting crop growth and productivity. Here, we have characterized a gene 'SaβNAC' encoding the β subunit of nascent polypeptide associated complex from a halophyte Spartina alterniflora and investigated its role toward abiotic stress regulation. Expression of SaβNAC was differentially regulated by abiotic stresses, including salinity, drought, cold, and ABA in leaves and roots of S. alterniflora. Constitutive over-expression of SaβNAC in Arabidopsis exhibited normal growth under non-stress conditions but enhanced tolerance to salt and drought stresses. Transgenic SaβNAC Arabidopsis retained more chlorophyll, proline, and showed improved ionic homeostasis with less damage under stress conditions compared to WT plants. This is a first report to demonstrate the involvement of βNAC in imparting abiotic stress tolerance which might be due to protection of the newly synthesized polypeptides involved in various stress tolerance mechanisms from abiotic stress induced damage and inhibition of cell death in plant.     

Enhancing Arabidopsis salt and drought stress tolerance by chemical priming for its abscisic acid responses

Drought and salt stress tolerance of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) plants increased following treatment with the nonprotein amino acid beta-aminobutyric acid (BABA), known as an inducer of resistance against infection of plants by numerous pathogens. BABA-pretreated plants showed earlier and higher expression of the salicylic acid-dependent PR-1 and PR-5 and the abscisic acid (ABA)-dependent RAB-18 and RD-29A genes following salt and drought stress. However, non-expressor of pathogenesis-related genes 1 and constitutive expressor of pathogenesis-related genes 1 mutants as well as transgenic NahG plants, all affected in the salicylic acid signal transduction pathway, still showed increased salt and drought tolerance after BABA treatment. On the contrary, the ABA deficient 1 and ABA insensitive 4 mutants, both impaired in the ABA-signaling pathway, could not be protected by BABA application. Our data demonstrate that BABA-induced water stress tolerance is based on enhanced ABA accumulation resulting in accelerated stress gene expression and stomatal closure. Here, we show a possibility to increase plant tolerance for these abiotic stresses through effective priming of the preexisting defense pathways without resorting to genetic alterations.