The dihydrolipoamide S-acetyltransferase subunit of the mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex from maize contains a single lipoyl domain.

The dihydrolipoamide S-acetyltransferase (E2) subunit of the maize mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) was postulated to contain a single lipoyl domain based upon molecular mass and N-terminal protein sequence (Thelen, J. J., Miernyk, J. A., and Randall, D. D. (1998) Plant Physiol. 116, 1443-1450). This sequence was used to identify a cDNA from a maize expressed sequence tag data base. The deduced amino acid sequence of the full-length cDNA was greater than 30% identical to other E2s and contained a single lipoyl domain. Mature maize E2 was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to a specific activity of 191 units mg(-1). The purified recombinant protein had a native mass of approximately 2.7 MDa and assembled into a 29-nm pentagonal dodecahedron as visualized by electron microscopy. Immunoanalysis of mitochondrial proteins from various plants, using a monoclonal antibody against the maize E2, revealed 50-54-kDa cross-reacting polypeptides in all samples. A larger protein (76 kDa) was also recognized in an enriched pea mitochondrial PDC preparation, indicating two distinct E2s. The presence of a single lipoyl-domain E2 in Arabidopsis thaliana was confirmed by identifying a gene encoding a hypothetical protein with 62% amino acid identity to the maize homologue. These data suggest that all plant mitochondrial PDCs contain an E2 with a single lipoyl domain. Additionally, A. thaliana and other dicots possess a second E2, which contains two lipoyl domains and is only 33% identical at the amino acid level to the smaller isoform. The reason two distinct E2s exist in dicotyledon plants is uncertain, although the variability between these isoforms, particularly within the subunit-binding domain, suggests different roles in assembly and/or function of the plant mitochondrial PDC.     

野生种马铃薯SpPHYB基因的克隆与表达分析

采用RT-PCR技术从野生种马铃薯中克隆到一个光敏色素基因PHYB,其cDNA全长为3470bp。含有一个3393 bp的完整开放阅读框,编码一条长1130个氨基酸的蛋白,分子量为125kDa,等电点为5.6。该基因编码的蛋白序列与栽培种马铃薯、番茄和烟草同源基因编码的氨基酸序列一致性分别为98%、95%、92%,命名为SpPHYB.半定量PCR分析表明,根、茎、叶和芽中SpPHYB表达水平较高且相似,但在花和块茎成熟器官中表达量稍低.     

Tissue-specific,light-regulated and plastid-regulated expression of the single-copy nuclear gene encoding the chloroplast Rieske FeS protein of Arabidopsis thaliana

The single-copy PetC gene encoding the chloroplast Rieske FeS protein of Arabidopsis thaliana consists of five exons interrupted by four introns and encodes a protein of 229 amino acid residues with extensive sequence similarity to the chloroplast Rieske proteins of other higher plants. The N-terminal 50 amino acid residues constitute a presequence for targeting to the chloroplast and the remaining 179 amino acid residues make up the mature protein. Three of the introns are in identical positions in the PetC gene of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, suggesting that they are of ancient origin. RNA-blot hybridisation showed that the gene was expressed in shoots, but not roots, and was light regulated and repressed by sucrose. The expression of chimeric genes consisting of PetC promoter fragments fused to the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene was examined in A. thaliana and tobacco. In A. thaliana, GUS activity was detected in leaves, stems, flowers and siliques, but not in roots, and showed a strong correlation with the presence of chloroplasts. In transgenic tobacco, low levels of GUS activity were also detected in light-exposed roots. GUS activity in transgenic tobacco seedlings was light regulated and was decreased by norflurazon in the light suggesting regulation of PetC expression by plastid signals.     

Two lipoyl domains in the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase chain of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex of Streptococcus faecalis

A fragment of DNA incorporating the gene, pdhC, that encodes the dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (E2) chain of the pyruvate dehydrogenase multienzyme complex of Streptococcus faecalis was cloned and a DNA sequence of 2360 bp was determined. The pdhC gene (1620 bp) corresponds to an E2 chain of 539 amino acid residues, Mr 56,466, comprising two lipoyl domains, a peripheral subunit-binding domain and an acetyltransferase domain, linked together by regions of polypeptide chain rich in alanine, proline and charged amino acids. The S. faecalis E2 chain differs in the number of its lipoyl domains from the E2 chains of all bacterial pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes hitherto described.     

Cloning, characterization and tissue specific expression of a sucrose synthase gene from tropical epiphytic CAM orchid Mokara Yellow

A full-length cDNA encoding sucrose synthase was isolated from the tropical epiphytic CAM orchid Mokara Yellow. The cDNA is 2748bp in length containing an open reading frame of 2447bp encoding 816 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 93.1 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence of M. Yellow sucrose synthase (Msus1) shares more than 80% identity with those from other monocotyledonous plants. The sucrose synthase gene was demonstrated to encode a functional sucrose synthase protein by expression as recombinant protein in Escherichia coli. Northern blot analysis showed that the expression pattern of Msus1 mRNA is tissue specific with highest levels in strong sinks such as expanding leaves and root tips, but not detectable in mature leaves and flowers. Incubation with sugars resulted in a significant increase in the steady-state Msus1 mRNA levels in shoots of seedlings.     

The chloroplast-located glutamine synthetase of Phaseolus vulgaris L.: nucleotide sequence,expression in different organs and uptake into isolated chloroplasts

Work using a full-length cDNA clone has revealed that the plastid-located glutamine synthetase (GS) of Phaseolus vulgaris is encoded by a single nuclear gene. Nucleotide sequencing has shown that this cDNA is more closely related to a cDNA encoding the plastidic GS of Pisum sativum than to cDNAs encoding three different cytosolic GS subunits of P. vulgaris. The plastid GS subunits are initially synthesized as higher M _r (47000) precursors containing an N-terminal presequence of about 50 amino acids which is structurally similar to the presequences of other nuclear-encoded chloroplast proteins. The precursor has been synthesized in vitro and is imported by isolated pea chloroplasts and processed to two polypeptides of the same size as native P. vulgaris chloroplast GS subunits (M _r 42000). Experiments with fusion proteins show that the N-terminal 68 amino acids of this precursor allow the cytosolic GS subunit also to be imported and processed by isolated chloroplasts. Polyadenylated mRNA specifically related to the plastidic GS gene is most highly abundant in chloroplast-containing organs (leaves and stems) but is also detectable in roots and nodules.     

巴西橡胶树一个编码含有C2结构域蛋白cDNA的克隆及表达分析

本研究根据从巴西橡树胶乳cDNA文库中获得的一个EST片段的序列信息设计引物,通过RACE的方法获得了橡胶树编码含有C2结构域蛋白的cDNA(命名为HbC2)。序列分析表明,HbC2长为1185bp,含有813bp的阅读框,140bp的5'-UTR和232bp的3'-UTR,编码270个氨基酸,分子量为30.9KD,等电点为6.29,含有保守的C2结构域。半定量RT-PCR分析表明HbC2在花、芽、叶、胶乳和树皮中都有表达,其中在胶乳中表达量最高。茉莉酸可抑制HbC2的表达,乙烯对HbC2的表达没有影响。此研究为进一步研究C2蛋白基因在橡胶树中的生物学功能奠定基础。     

Molecular cloning and characterization of a jasmonate biosynthetic pathway gene for allene oxide cyclase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Jatropha curcas</Emphasis>

Herein, we cloned a full-length cDNA encoding allene oxide cyclase (AOC, EC 5.3.99.6) that is a key enzyme in jasmonates (JAs) biosynthetic pathway from Jatropha curcas L., an important plant species as its seed is the raw material for biodiesels, named as JcAOC (GenBank accession no. FJ874630). The cDNA was 924 bp in length with a complete open reading frame of 750 bp, which encoded a polypeptide of 250 amino acids including a putative signal peptide of 65 amino acid residues and a mature protein of 185 amino acids with a predicted molecular mass of 20.7 kDa and a isoelectric point of 6.24. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that JcAOC belonged to the AOC superfamily. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that JcAOC mRNA was expressed in roots, stems, leaves, young seeds, endosperms, and flowers, but that the expression level was highest in leaves and lowest in seeds, and mRNA expression of JcAOC could be induced by salt stress (300 mM NaCl) and low temperature (4°C). Furthermore, the full-length coding region of JcAOC excluding signal peptide sequence was inserted into pET-30a and was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli. Overexpression of JcAOC in E. coli conferred its resistance to salt stress and low temperature.     

光皮桦中4-香豆酸辅酶A连接酶基因B14CL的克隆和表达分析

以从光皮桦茎叶组织提取的mRNA为模板,根据其他已克隆到的阔叶类树种中4-香豆酸辅酶A连接酶（4CL）基因的同源序列设计兼并引物,进行RT—PCR扩增,获得部分基因片段,然后结合5’,3’RACE方法从光皮桦中扩增出1个4CL基因的全长cDNA序列,命名为B14CL。该基因cDNA全长为1983bp（GenBank登录号FJ410448）,具有完整的开放阅读框架（69—1697bp）,编码蛋白为542个氨基酸,包含一个AMP结合功能域和一个含有12个氨基酸的功能基序。与其他植物中的4CL进行同源性比对的结果显示,B14CL蛋白与东北白桦的同源性最高,达到了98％。该基因在光皮桦的根和茎中表达量较高,而在花和叶中的表达量低。     

小麦磷酸丙糖转运器cDNA的克隆及其基因表达分析

利用RT_PCR方法以及RACE(rapidamplificationofcDNAends)策略 ,从小麦 (TriticumaestivumL .)幼苗叶片中克隆了编码磷酸丙糖转运器 (TPT)的全长cDNA。序列分析结果表明 ,小麦TPTcDNA编码 40 2个氨基酸的前体蛋白 ,其中信号肽含有 78个氨基酸。成熟蛋白部分与玉米 (ZeamaysL .)TPT有很高的同源性 (89% )。推测小麦TPT成熟蛋白有 8个跨膜区 ,形成双亲α_螺旋的跨膜结构。位于第 7个跨膜区的Arg_2 74和Lys_2 75可能是底物结合位点。比较TPT基因在小麦幼苗的根、胚芽鞘、叶片和种子中的表达差异表明 :TPT基因在叶片、胚芽鞘中均有表达 ,但在胚芽鞘中的表达量较低 ,在种子和根中未见有表达。由此看来 ,小麦TPT的基因可能只局限在绿色组织中表达。还就C3 和C4植物TPT不同的底物特异性问题进行了讨论     

小麦磷酸丙糖转运器cDNA的克隆及其基因表达分析

利用RT-PCR方法以及RACE(rapid amplification of cDNA ends)策略,从小麦(Triticum aestivum L.) 幼苗叶片中克隆了编码磷酸丙糖转运器(TPT)的全长cDNA.序列分析结果表明,小麦TPT cDNA编码402个氨基酸的前体蛋白,其中信号肽含有78个氨基酸.成熟蛋白部分与玉米(Zea mays L.)TPT有很高的同源性(89%).推测小麦TPT成熟蛋白有8个跨膜区,形成双亲α-螺旋的跨膜结构.位于第7个跨膜区的Arg-274和Lys-275可能是底物结合位点.比较TPT基因在小麦幼苗的根、胚芽鞘、叶片和种子中的表达差异表明:TPT基因在叶片、胚芽鞘中均有表达,但在胚芽鞘中的表达量较低,在种子和根中未见有表达.由此看来,小麦TPT的基因可能只局限在绿色组织中表达.还就C3和C4植物TPT不同的底物特异性问题进行了讨论.