油菜素内脂信号转导研究进展（综述）

介绍油菜素内酯（BR）信号转导研究的分子生物学方法及其应用,以及BR调节基因表达的机理;综述BR信号转导机制的研究进展。     

干旱胁迫下棉花幼苗转录因子BES1/BZR1对外源油菜素内酯的响应表达特征

植物激素油菜素内酯(Brassinosteroid,BR)具有提高植物抗旱性的作用,该研究探讨干旱胁迫下外源喷施BR对棉花干旱胁迫响应基因表达的影响。采用PCR方法从棉花‘新陆早17号’幼苗克隆获得1个干旱胁迫响应转录因子基因,命名为GhBES1/BZR1(GenBank登录号KP272000)。序列分析表明GhBES1/BZR1基因开放阅读框为960bp,编码319个氨基酸,理论分子量为34.3kD,理论等电点为8.95。保守结构域分析显示,该基因编码的蛋白具有一个DUF822保守结构域。利用2.5%PEG-6000对棉花‘新陆早17号’幼苗进行干旱胁迫处理24h,再分别喷施水、BR和Z(BR抑制剂),qRT-PCR分析结果表明,PEG-6000干旱胁迫下用BR处理3h后,GhBES1/BZR1基因表达量明显提高,当BR处理6和12h时,GhBES1/BZR1基因的表达量较3h时明显下降。研究认为,在干旱胁迫下对棉花喷洒BR,GhBES1/BZR1基因能够快速表达以响应干旱胁迫,外源喷施BR有助于提高棉花的抗旱能力。     

转录因子BES1/BZR1调控植物生长发育及抗逆性

油菜素内酯(brassinosteroid, BR)是植物特有的甾体激素,在植物生长发育及逆境应答过程中起重要作用。转录因子BES1/BZR1(BRI1 EMS SUPPRESSOR 1/BRASSINAZOLE RESISTANT 1)是BR信号转导的核心成员,被BR信号激活后,结合到下游靶基因启动子区的E框(CANNTG)或BRRE元件(CGTGT/CG),调节靶基因表达。除介导BR信号,BES1/BZR1还参与脱落酸、赤霉素及光等信号转导途径,协同调控植物的生长发育。最新研究发现,BES1/BZR1还参与调控植物的抗逆性。本文对转录因子BES1/BZR1通过信号转导调控植物生长发育和抗逆性分子机制的新近研究进展进行了综述,以期为相关研究提供参考。     

巨桉BRI1基因的克隆和表达分析

为了解BRI1基因在巨桉中的功能,采用PCR技术克隆了EgrBRI1基因,分析了EgrBRI1的生物信息学和亚细胞定位,并对EgrBRI1基因响应激素和胁迫的差异表达进行了分析。结果表明,EgrBRI1基因全长3 893 bp,编码1 197个氨基酸。EgrBRI1蛋白稳定,空间结构复杂,存在3个motifs,主要定位于细胞膜。茉莉酸甲酯和油菜素内酯(BR)处理后,EgrBRI1基因在叶片中的表达上升,而水杨酸处理则没有明显的变化。盐胁迫和冷胁迫下,EgrBRI1基因表达表现为先下降后上升的趋势。因此,EgrBRI1基因能快速对外施激素做出响应,并在巨桉抗逆方面发挥重要作用,这可能是通过对BR信号的响应来实现的。     

调节TREK1对小鼠海马神经干细胞增殖和BDNF表达的影响

目的:观察调节TWIK相关的K+通道1(TREK1)对小鼠海马神经干细胞增殖和脑源性神经营养因子(brain derived neurotrophic factor,BDNF)表达的影响。方法:从孕10.5 d C57bl/6J小鼠胚胎海马中分离出神经干细胞并培养,待细胞达到70%～80%融合后,对细胞进行慢病毒干预,细胞分为sham组,Ctrl组(转染对照病毒),Plenti-TREK-1组(转染携带TREK1高表达载体病毒)和sh-TREK-1组(转染携带TREK1-shRNA病毒)。采用CCK-8法检测病毒干预后3天和7天各组神经干细胞的细胞活力,采用q RT-PCR检测病毒干预后7天各组神经干细胞TREK-1基因表达情况,并通过Elisa检测各组神经干细胞上清液BDNF表达水平。结果:与sham组相比较,(1)Plenti-TREK-1组TREK1基因表达上调,神经干细胞的神经球体积减小,细胞活力降低,细胞增殖减少,细胞上清BDNF水平下降;(2)sh-TREK-1组TREK1基因表达下调,神经干细胞的神经球体积增加,细胞活力增高,细胞增殖增加,细胞上清BDNF水平上调;(3)上述各项指标Ctrl组与sham组之间无统计学差异。结论:神经干细胞的增殖与TREK1通道密切相关,上调TREK-1可以抑制神经干细胞增殖及其BDNF的表达水平;下调TREK-1则可以促进神经干细胞增殖并上调其BDNF的表达水平。     

油菜素甾醇类与生长素的相互作用

油菜素甾醇类(brassinosteroid,BR)和生长素是两类重要的植物激素,二者在许多生理功能上存在相关性。近年来的研究表明,BR与生长素能协同调节基因表达,二者在代谢、运输和信号转导途径等不同层次上存在相互作用,并且这两种信号与其他信号转导途径,如激素信号转导途径和光信号转导途径之间也存在信号对话。现对BR与生长素之间这种复杂的相互作用进行评述。     

油菜素甾醇调控水稻盐胁迫应答的作用研究

油菜素甾醇(BR)作为植物内源激素, 广泛参与植物的生长发育过程及逆境应答。虽然BR调控生长发育的分子机制目前已相对清楚, 但在水稻(Oryza sativa)中, BR在逆境反应中的功能还鲜有报道。该研究系统分析了BR在高盐胁迫过程中的作用, 表明盐胁迫和逆境激素脱落酸可抑制BR合成基因D2和D11的表达, 典型的BR缺陷突变体(如d2-2和d61-1)则表现出对盐胁迫敏感性增强。此外, 通过对BR核心转录因子OsBZR1的过表达株系进行分析, 发现BR可显著诱导OsBZR1的去磷酸化, 盐胁迫对OsBZR1蛋白的积累水平和磷酸化状态均有调控作用。转录组数据分析表明, BR处理前后差异表达基因中有38.4%同时受到盐胁迫调控, 其中91.5%受到BR和高盐一致调控, 并显著富集在应激反应过程中。研究结果表明, BR正调控水稻的耐盐性, 而盐胁迫通过抑制BR合成来限制水稻的生长。     

细胞外基质对培养咽癌细胞增殖及p53、PCNA基因表达的影响

为探讨细胞外基质(ECM)对咽癌细胞生物学行为的影响,将两种咽癌细胞在ECM成分Ⅰ型胶原胶上进行细胞培养,通过免疫荧光染色及Western blot法对细胞增殖及p53、PCNA基因表达进行了研究。在Ⅰ型胶原上培养的细胞增殖活跃,并形成鳞状上皮样结构。PCNA表达量增加,p53表达阳性细胞主要分布于表层细胞,而基底层细胞表达少。结果说明ECM成分对咽癌细胞增殖及基因表达有调节作用。     

TGF-β1在应力介导的牙周膜成纤维细胞增殖中的作用及其机制

目的:探讨周期性张应力作用下人牙周膜成纤维细胞(HPDLF)转化生长因子β1(TGF-β1)对其细胞增殖的作用,及对其I型胶原基因表达的作用和影响.方法:在成功构建人牙周膜成纤维细胞体外培养力学刺激模型的基础上,利用多通道细胞牵张应力加载系统,对细胞分别施加2、6、12与24 h的周期性张应力,以不加力组为对照组,观察各组细胞形态变化,利用细胞计数试剂8检测细胞增殖活性,并利用ELISA试剂盒检测加力后各组TGF-β1的表达,并对加力12h组加入TGF-β1抑制剂SB431542,利用RT-PCR检测技术检测对I型胶原基因表达的影响.结果:与对照组比较,加力2h细胞增殖稍降低,6h增殖活性增强,12h达到峰值,24h增殖活性明显受到抑制;TGF-β1的表达与细胞增殖成正相关;TGF-β1受到抑制后细胞增殖受到影响,I型胶原的表达也受到影响.结论:人牙周膜成纤维细胞的增殖在一定时间的周期性张应力作用下先增加然后再抑制,其中TGF-β1参与细胞增殖,并且TGF-β1对人牙周膜成纤维细胞I型胶原的表达起促进作用.     

紫萁油菜素内酯受体cDNA的克隆及其进化分析

油菜素内酯(Brassinosteroid,BR)可促进植物生长发育并在植物木质部形成中具有重要作用。BR受体是BR发挥作用的必要桥梁而其仅存在于维管植物中,因此以蕨类植物紫萁为材料研究BR受体的功能,对研究BR受体与维管组织的发生之间的关系具有重要作用。利用本地BLAST搜索紫萁转录组数据发现一个与拟南芥BR受体序列高度同源的基因,通过5′及3′RACE-PCR获得其全长c DNA序列;利用Clustal X 1.8将其与拟南芥BR受体的蛋白序列进行多重序列比对;在Phytozome中搜索已测序物种的BR受体同源蛋白并利用MEGA5.2.1软件构建进化树。研究发现该蛋白与拟南芥BRL2(Brassinosteroid Insensitive 1 like 2)序列最相似,因此命名为Os JBRL2。Os JBRL2长3 546 bp,编码1 182个氨基酸,具有BR受体典型的亮氨酸重复序列,岛屿及激酶结构域,在已发现的BR受体中最古老。     

Activation of cell proliferation by brassinolide application in tobacco BY-2 cells: effects of brassinolide on cell multiplication, cell-cycle-related gene expression, and organellar DNA contents

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are steroidal phytohormones that are essential for many processes in plant growth and development, such as cell expansion, vascular differentiation, and responses to stress. The effects of BRs on cell division are unclear, as attested by contradictory published results. To determine the effect of BRs on cell division, the tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) BY-2 cell line, which is a widely-used model system in plant cell biology, was used. It was found that brassinolide (BL) promoted cell division only during the early phase of culture and in the absence of auxin (2,4-D). This promotion of cell division was confirmed by RNA gel blot analyses using cell-cycle-related gene probes. At later stages in the culturing periods of BL-supplied and 2,4-D-supplied BY-2 cells, differences in cell multiplication and cell-cycle-related gene expression were observed. Moreover, the BL-treated BY-2 cells had morphological differences from the 2,4-D-treated cells. To determine whether suppressed organellar DNA replication limited this promotion of cell division during the early culture phase, this replication was examined and it was found that BL treatment had no effect on activating organellar (plastid- and mitochondrial-) DNA synthesis. As preferential organellar DNA synthesis, which is activated by 2,4-D, is necessary during successive cell divisions in BY-2 cells, these data suggest that the mechanism of the promotion of cell division by BL treatment is distinct from that regulated by the balance of auxin and cytokinin.     

BES1 accumulates in the nucleus in response to brassinosteroids to regulate gene expression and promote stem elongation

Plant steroid hormones, known as brassinosteroids (BRs), signal through a plasma membrane localized receptor kinase BRI1. We identified bes1, a semidominant suppressor of bri1, which exhibits constitutive BR response phenotypes including long and bending petioles, curly leaves, accelerated senescence, and constitutive expression of BR-response genes. BES1 accumulates in the nucleus in response to BRs. BES1 is phosphorylated and appears to be destabilized by the glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) BIN2, a negative regulator of the BR pathway. These results establish a signaling cascade for BRs with similarities to the Wnt pathway, in which signaling through cell surface receptors leads to inactivation of a GSK-3 allowing accumulation of a nuclear protein that regulates target gene expression.     

Anticancer and antiproliferative activity of natural brassinosteroids

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are steroid plant hormones that are essential for many plant growth and developmental processes, including cell expansion, vascular differentiation and stress responses. Up to now the inhibitory effects of BRs on cell division of mammalian cells are unknown. To determine basic anticancer structure-activity relationships of natural BRs on human cells, several normal and cancer cell lines have been used. Several of the tested BRs were found to have high cytotoxic activity. Therefore, in our next series of experiments, we tested the effects of the most promising and readily available BR analogues with interesting anticancer properties, 28-homocastasterone (1) and 24-epibrassinolide (2), on the viability, proliferation, and cycling of hormone-sensitive/insensitive (MCF-7/MDA-MB-468) breast and (LNCaP/DU-145) prostate cancer cell lines to determine whether the discovered cytotoxic activity of BRs could be, at least partially, related to brassinosteroid-nuclear receptor interactions. Both BRs inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner in the cancer cell lines. Flow cytometry analysis showed that BR treatment arrested MCF-7, MDA-MB-468 and LNCaP cells in G(1) phase of the cell cycle and induced apoptosis in MDA-MB-468, LNCaP, and slightly in the DU-145 cells. Our results provide the first evidence that natural BRs can inhibit the growth, at micromolar concentrations, of several human cancer cell lines without affecting the growth of normal cells. Therefore, these plant hormones are promising leads for potential anticancer drugs.     

Arabidopsis brassinosteroid biosynthetic mutant <Emphasis Type="Italic">dwarf7-1</Emphasis>exhibits slower rates of cell division and shoot induction

Background  

Plant growth depends on both cell division and cell expansion. Plant hormones, including brassinosteroids (BRs), are central to the control of these two cellular processes. Despite clear evidence that BRs regulate cell elongation, their roles in cell division have remained elusive.     

Brassinosteroids regulate plasma membrane anion channels in addition to proton pumps during expansion of Arabidopsis thaliana cells

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are involved in numerous physiological processes associated with plant development and especially with cell expansion. Here we report that two BRs, 28-homobrassinolide (HBL) and its direct precursor 28-homocastasterone (HCS), promote cell expansion of Arabidopsis thaliana suspension cells. We also show that cell expansions induced by HBL and HCS are correlated with the amplitude of the plasma membrane hyperpolarization they elicited. HBL, which promoted the larger cell expansion, also provoked the larger hyperpolarization. We observed that membrane hyperpolarization and cell expansion were partially inhibited by the proton pump inhibitor erythrosin B, suggesting that proton pumps were not the only ion transport system modulated by the two BRs. We used a voltage clamp approach in order to find the other ion transport systems involved in the PM hyperpolarization elicited by HBL and HCS. Interestingly, while anion currents were inhibited by both HBL and HCS, outward rectifying K+ currents were increased by HBL but inhibited by HCS. The different electrophysiological behavior shown by HBL and HCS indicates that small changes in the BR skeleton might be responsible for changes in bioactivity.