小麦盐华南象草PpCAD基因的亚细胞定位及其在转基因烟草中的异源表达迫相关基因的克隆与表达分析

该研究根据已克隆的华南象草(Pennisetum purpureum cv.Huanan)肉桂醇脱氢酶(CAD)基因PpCAD的cDNA序列,构建亚细胞定位载体pAN580-PpCAD,用PEG介导法转化象草原生质体,以探究PpCAD蛋白在细胞内的定位;同时构建植物过表达载体pBA002-PpCAD,通过农杆菌介导法在烟草中异源表达,以研究PpCAD基因与植物木质素合成的关系。结果显示:(1)PpCAD定位在象草原生质体的细胞质内;(2)过表达载体pBA002-PpCAD转化烟草后获得27株转基因烟草,其中25株PCR鉴定为阳性;(3)半定量RT-PCR检测6株转基因烟草后发现,PpCAD基因在不同植株的表达量存在差异,通过Southern杂交检测后发现该差异与目的基因插入的拷贝数有关;(4)6株转基因烟草和野生型烟草表型上没有明显差异,除目的基因多拷贝插入的植株OEC6外,木质素含量有不同程度的提高,最高比野生型提高了56.50%。研究表明,PpCAD是一个细胞质蛋白,在烟草中过表达PpCAD能够提高植株木质素含量,表明PpCAD基因参与了植物的木质素合成,可用于象草的木质素调控研究。     

华南象草PpCAD基因的亚细胞定位及其在转基因烟草中的异源表达

该研究根据已克隆的华南象草(Pennisetum purpureum cv.Huanan)肉桂醇脱氢酶(CAD)基因PpCAD的cDNA序列,构建亚细胞定位载体pAN580-PpCAD,用PEG介导法转化象草原生质体,以探究PpCAD蛋白在细胞内的定位;同时构建植物过表达载体pBA002-PpCAD,通过农杆菌介导法在烟草中异源表达,以研究PpCAD基因与植物木质素合成的关系。结果显示:(1)PpCAD定位在象草原生质体的细胞质内;(2)过表达载体pBA002-PpCAD转化烟草后获得27株转基因烟草,其中25株PCR鉴定为阳性;(3)半定量RT-PCR检测6株转基因烟草后发现,PpCAD基因在不同植株的表达量存在差异,通过Southern杂交检测后发现该差异与目的基因插入的拷贝数有关;(4)6株转基因烟草和野生型烟草表型上没有明显差异,除目的基因多拷贝插入的植株OEC6外,木质素含量有不同程度的提高,最高比野生型提高了56.50%。研究表明,PpCAD是一个细胞质蛋白,在烟草中过表达PpCAD能够提高植株木质素含量,表明PpCAD基因参与了植物的木质素合成,可用于象草的木质素调控研究。     

蒙古冰草Lhcb1基因克隆及干旱胁迫下的表达分析

利用同源序列从蒙古冰草(Agropyron mongolicum Keng)克隆得到1个光合作用叶绿体结合a/b基因,命名为MwLhcb1。MwLhcb1基因cDNA全长1 138bp,包含801bp开放阅读框,编码267个氨基酸,蛋白分子量为28.21kD,等电点4.92。该蛋白二级结构中具有Lhcb基因家族的保守结构域。MwLhcb1蛋白氨基酸序列与其他物种同类蛋白相似性均在87%以上,其中与小麦同类蛋白相似性程度最高达99%。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,MwLhcb1基因主要在茎叶中表达,在根中表达量极少,干旱胁迫影响MwLhcb1基因表达。该研究结果为进一步研究MwLHcb1在蒙古冰草光合作用与抗旱性中的功能奠定了基础,并从基因遗传进化角度证实了蒙古冰草是小麦野生近缘种的观点,从而提出蒙古冰草是小麦抗性改良的理想基因供体。     

桃Pp4CL2基因的克隆及抗寒功能验证

基于‘丁家坝李光桃’抗寒转录组数据,采用RT PCR技术克隆桃4 香豆酸辅酶A连接酶基因(Pp4CL2),并对其进行生物信息学及转化模式植物拟南芥和烟草的抗寒分析,以解析‘丁家坝李光桃’的抗寒机制。结果显示：(1)成功克隆获得桃Pp4CL2基因(登录号：LOC18792923),其cDNA序列为1 635 bp,编码544个氨基酸残基,具有4CL基因家族保守结构域。(2)二级结构分析显示,Pp4CL2蛋白由4种状态的二级结构组成,其中α螺旋占30.51%、β 折叠占7.35%、不规则卷曲及延伸链分别占41.54%和20.59%。(3)顺式作用元件分析发现,Pp4CL2基因上游启动子区含有光、低温以及多种激素响应元件。(4)序列系统进化分析显示,桃Pp4CL2与杏(Prunus armeniaca)、欧洲甜樱桃(Prunus avium)和梅(Prunus mume)的蛋白相似性最高,分别为99.08%、97.98%和96.14%。(5)成功构建转化载体Pp4CL2 pRI101,对拟南芥和烟草进行遗传转化并通过PCR鉴定获得转基因拟南芥和烟草。(6)与野生型相比,低温胁迫下转基因拟南芥和烟草的Pp4CL2基因相对表达量高,受冷害程度轻,具有更高的渗透调节物质含量和抗氧化酶活性,对低温具有更强的耐受性。研究表明,过表达Pp4CL2基因可增强植物对低温的耐受性,推测Pp4CL2基因在‘丁家坝李光桃’响应低温胁迫过程中具有重要作用。     

亚麻4CL基因克隆及RNAi遗传转化

该实验以前期克隆的亚麻4CL基因片段为靶序列,利用RACE方法克隆其全长cDNA序列(1 957bp),GenBank登录号为KC832864,该序列含有1 650bp完整的开放阅读框。系统进化树分析表明,亚麻4CL基因与盐芥4CL基因亲缘关系较近,而与禾本科的水稻(Oryza sativa)等亲缘关系最远。其编码蛋白预测分析结果显示,亚麻4CL基因由549个氨基酸组成,相对分子量为60kD,等电点为5.3,蛋白质二级结构以无规则卷曲比例最多,其次是α-螺旋。以亚麻4CL基因编码区413bp靶标序列作为干扰区段,扩增其正反向基因片段,构建植物干扰表达载体p1301M-4CL。通过农杆菌介导转入亚麻,DNA及RNA水平上分子检测发现,RNAi结构已经转入亚麻中,并显著降低了其4CL基因的表达量。     

UGPase和反义4CL基因对转基因烟草纤维素和木质素合成的调控

用根癌农杆菌介导法将源于紫穗槐的尿苷二磷酸葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶（UGPase）基因、反义4-香豆酸辅酶A连接酶（4CL）基因以及两者的双价基因分别转移至烟草中。PCR和Southern杂交检测证实外源基因已整合到转基因烟草基因组中。测定全纤维素和Klason木质素含量的结果显示,增强UGPase基因的表达可提高转基因植株的纤维素含量,但对木质素含量没有影响;抑制4CL基因的表达可显著降低转基因植株的木质素含量,但对纤维素含量没有影响;转移双价基因的转基因植株中纤维素含量增加而木质素含量降低。     

油葵含油量相关基因在烟草中的表达

采用RT-PCR和RACE技术从油葵(Helianthus annuus L.)种子中克隆了DGAT基因的cDNA全长序列,命名为HaDl(GenBank登录号为HM 015632).将HaDl与CaMV 35S组成型启动子融合,构建植物表达载体pBI-HaDl,通过根癌农杆菌介导转化烟草.对转基因植株进行GUS及PCR检测,同时采用气相色谱-质谱法(GC-MS)分析转基因烟草叶片中脂肪酸各成分的含量.结果表明:HaDl基因cDNA全长1 936 bp,最大开放阅读框为1 524 bp,编码507个氨基酸;推测的氨基酸序列与其它植物已报道的DGAT1基因的氨基酸序列一致性为70%～80%,具有DGAT1蛋白保守的二酰甘油结合基序"HKWIVRHLYFP",因此HaDl基因属于DGAT1基因家族.GUS活性染色及PCR检测均证明外源HaDl整合到烟草基因组并成功表达.转基因烟草叶片脂肪酸含量测定发现,油酸、软脂酸和硬脂酸的含量得到提高,推测HaDl是植物油脂合成相关的重要基因.     

转PcLIPH8基因水稻的构建及其相关表型分析

利用黄孢原毛平革菌木质素过氧化物酶基因(PcLIPH8),构建植物双元表达载体35S∷PcLIPH8,并遗传转化水稻野生型品种Kitaake,对转基因水稻进行分子鉴定、酶活及木质素含量测定、表型观察等分析。结果表明：(1) 成功构建了植物双元表达载体35S∷PcLIPH8,获得3个独立的转PcLIPH8水稻株系,但在苗期转基因水稻与野生型对照无明显表型差异。(2) 酶活及木质素含量测定结果表明,转基因水稻的木质素过氧化物酶活性增加3.06%~5.07%,而木质素含量显著低于野生型对照,苗期降低11.44%~14.97%,成熟期降低13.83%~20.05%。(3) 成熟期表型分析表明,转基因水稻较野生型对照的株高增加了28.37%~39.78%,穗谷粒数增多110%~120%,生物量增大18.61%~22.97%,而千粒重减小12.86%~13.34%,谷粒长度变短6.67%~7.15%。该研究结果为利用PcLIPH8基因降低木质素含量,提高生物产量,从而改善植物品质奠定了前期基础。     

棉花漆酶基因在转基因新疆杨中的表达及其对木质素合成的影响

以新疆杨叶柄为外植体,利用农杆菌法将棉花漆酶基因GaLAC1导入新疆杨.PCR,Soutllern杂交证明外源基因已经整合到杨树基因组中.漆酶活性分析表明转基因植株中漆酶活性较非转基因对照显著提高.与对照植株相比,转基因新疆杨茎段中总木质素的含量有不同程度的增加,最高达21.5%.木质素的组织化学染色进一步证实了GaLAC1的过量表达能够导致转基因植株中总木质素含量的增加.实验结果表明GaLAC1参与了植物体内木质素的合成,这是首次成功利用转基因植物证实植物漆酶基因参与木质素合成的报道.     

昆虫特异性神经毒素基因tox34的合成及转基因烟草的获得

对来自虱状蒲螨（Pyemotestritici）的昆虫特异性神经毒素基因tox34编码成熟蛋白部分的762bp片段,依据植物的偏爱密码子进行了序列改造。将改造后的基因插入细菌表达载体pBV221,经热诱导处理后细菌总蛋白在SDS-PAGE上特异条带的表观分子量为32～33kD。将tox34基因插入植物高效表达载体后以根癌土壤杆菌（Agrobacteriumtumefaciens（SmithetTownsend）Conn）介导的方法导入烟草（NicotianatabacumL．cv．SR1）,并获得了转基因烟草植株。经PCRSouthem杂交结果证实,完整的毒素基因已整合入烟草基因组。转基因幼苗根部的组织化学检测GUS显示阳性。再生植株叶片的棉铃虫（HeliothisarmigevaHubner）饲喂实验显示对低龄幼虫有很好的毒杀作用。     

The Arabidopsis thaliana 4-coumarate:CoA ligase (4CL) gene: stress and developmentally regulated expression and nucleotide sequence of its cDNA

An Arabidopsis cDNA clone encoding 4-coumarate:CoA ligase (4CL), a key enzyme of phenylpropanoid metabolism, was identified and sequenced. The predicted amino acid sequence is similar to those of other cloned 4CL genes. Southern blot analysis indicated that 4CL is single-copy gene in Arabidopsis. Northern blots showed that 4CL expression was activated early during seedling development. The onset of 4CL expression was correlated with the onset of lignin deposition in cotyledons and roots 2–3 days after germination. The timing of the expression of a parsley 4CL1-GUS fusion in transgenic Arabidopsis seedlings was examined in parallel and was very similar to that of endogenous 4CL. In mature plants, highest 4CL expression was observed in bolting stems, where relatively large amounts of lignin accumulate. Both 4CL and 4CL1-GUS mRNA accumulation was strongly and transiently activated by wounding of mature Arabidopsis leaves. 4CL expression was specifically activated within 6 h after infiltration of Arabidopsis ecotype Columbia leaves with a Pseudomonas syringae pv. maculicola strain harboring the bacterial avirulence gene avrB, which causes in incompatible interaction. The timing of 4CL activation was identical to the previously observed activation of PAL gene expression in this interaction. No activation of 4CL expression was observed in a compatible interaction caused by a Pseudomonas syringae pv. maculicola strain without avrB.     

Multiple cis-regulatory elements regulate distinct and complex patterns of developmental and wound-induced expression of Arabidopsis thaliana 4CL gene family members

Lignin is an important biopolymer that is deposited in secondary cell walls of plant cells (e.g., tracheary elements) and in response to stresses such as wounding. Biosynthesis of lignin monomers occurs via the phenylpropanoid pathway, in which the enzyme 4-coumarate:CoA ligase (4CL) plays a key role by catalyzing the formation of hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA esters, subsequently reduced to the corresponding monolignols (hydroxycinnamoyl alcohols). 4CL is encoded by a family of four genes in Arabidopsis thaliana (At4CL1-At4CL4), which are developmentally regulated and co-expressed with other phenylpropanoid genes. We investigated in detail the wound-induced expression of At4CL1-At4CL4, and found that At4CL1 and At4CL2 mRNA accumulation follows biphasic kinetics over a period of 72 h, while At4CL4 expression is rapidly activated for a period of at least 12 h before declining. In order to localize cis-regulatory elements involved in the developmental and wound-induced regulation of the At4CL gene family members, At4CL promoter-beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene fusions were constructed and transferred into Arabidopsis plants. Analysis of these plants revealed that the promoter fragments direct discrete and distinct patterns of expression, some of which did not recapitulate expected patterns of wound-induced expression. The locations of regulatory elements associated with the At4CL2 gene were investigated in detail using a series of transgenic Arabidopsis plants containing promoter fragments and parts of the transcribed region of the gene fused to GUS. Positive and negative regulatory elements effective in modulating developmental expression or wound responsiveness of the gene were located both in the promoter and transcribed regions of the At4CL2 gene.An erratum to this article can be found at     

Microbial colonization and degradation of forage samples incubated in vitro at different initial pH

Microbial colonization, degradation, and gas production kinetics of tropical and temperate forage samples incubated in vitro at initial pH (pHi) of 5.5, 6.0, 6.5 and 7.0 were measured. Dried, ground samples of oat (Avena strigosa), ryegrass (Lolium multifllorum), dwarf elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum. cv. Mott.) and ricegrass (Echinochloa sp.) were used. Microbial colonization on residues and extent of degradation were higher for temperate than for tropical forage samples (P<0.05). Initial pH did not affect microbial colonization on residue, but the extent of in vitro degradation was directly related to pHi for both forage types (P<0.05). Kinetics of fermentation of temperate and tropical forage samples, however, reacted differently to both the incubation method (i.e., in vitro or in vitro/gas) and the pHi.     

Use of elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) acid hydrolysate for microbial oil production by Trichosporon cutaneum

Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) dilute acid hydrolysate contains 34.6?g/L total sugars. The potential of lipid production by oleaginous yeast Trichosporon cutaneum grown on elephant grass acid hydrolysate was investigated for the first time. During the fermentation process on the elephant grass acid hydrolysate, glucose, xylose, and arabinose could be well utilized as carbon sources by T. cutaneum. Interestingly, xylose was almost no use before glucose was consumed completely. This illustrated that simultaneous saccharification of xylose and glucose by T. cutaneum did not occur on elephant grass acid hydrolysate. The highest biomass, lipid content, lipid yield, and lipid coefficient of T. cutaneum were measured after the sixth day of fermentation and were 22.76?g/L, 24.0%, 5.46?g/L, and 16.1%, respectively. Therefore, elephant grass is a promising raw material for microbial oil production by T. cutaneum.     

Impacts of savanna trees on forage quality for a large African herbivore

Recently, cover of large trees in African savannas has rapidly declined due to elephant pressure, frequent fires and charcoal production. The reduction in large trees could have consequences for large herbivores through a change in forage quality. In Tarangire National Park, in Northern Tanzania, we studied the impact of large savanna trees on forage quality for wildebeest by collecting samples of dominant grass species in open grassland and under and around large Acacia tortilis trees. Grasses growing under trees had a much higher forage quality than grasses from the open field indicated by a more favourable leaf/stem ratio and higher protein and lower fibre concentrations. Analysing the grass leaf data with a linear programming model indicated that large savanna trees could be essential for the survival of wildebeest, the dominant herbivore in Tarangire. Due to the high fibre content and low nutrient and protein concentrations of grasses from the open field, maximum fibre intake is reached before nutrient requirements are satisfied. All requirements can only be satisfied by combining forage from open grassland with either forage from under or around tree canopies. Forage quality was also higher around dead trees than in the open field. So forage quality does not reduce immediately after trees die which explains why negative effects of reduced tree numbers probably go initially unnoticed. In conclusion our results suggest that continued destruction of large trees could affect future numbers of large herbivores in African savannas and better protection of large trees is probably necessary to sustain high animal densities in these ecosystems.     

Identification of a 4-coumarate:CoA ligase gene family in the moss, Physcomitrella patens

Since the early evolution of land plants from primitive green algae, phenylpropanoid compounds have played an important role. In the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids, 4-coumarate:CoA ligase (4CL; EC 6.2.1.12) has a pivotal role at the divergence point from general phenylpropanoid metabolism to several major branch pathways. Although higher plant 4CLs have been extensively studied, little information is available on the enzymes from bryophytes. In Physcomitrella patens, we have identified a 4CL gene family consisting of four members, taking advantage of the available EST sequences and a draft sequence of the P. patens genome. The encoded proteins of three of the genes display similar substrate utilization profiles with highest catalytic efficiency towards 4-coumarate. Interestingly, the efficiency with cinnamate as substrate is in the same range as with caffeate and ferulate. The deduced proteins of the four genes share sequence identities between 78% and 86%. The intron/exon structures are pair wise similar. Pp4CL2 and Pp4CL3 each consists of four exons and three introns, whereas Pp4CL1 and Pp4CL4 are characterized each by five exons and four introns. Pp4CL1, Pp4CL2 and Pp4CL3 are expressed in both gametophore and protonema tissue of P. patens, unlike Pp4CL4 whose expression could not be demonstrated under the conditions employed. Phylogenetic analysis suggests an early evolutionary divergence of Pp4CL gene family members. Using Streptomyces coelicolor cinnamate:CoA ligase (ScCCL) as an outgroup, the P. patens 4CLs are clearly separated from the spermatophyte proteins, but are intercalated between the angiosperm 4CL class I and class II. A comparison of three P. patens subspecies from diverse geographical locations shows high sequence identities for the four 4CL isoforms.     

Improvement of in-rumen digestibility of alfalfa forage by genetic manipulation of lignin O-methyltransferases

Lignin inhibits forage digestibility by ruminant animals, and lignin levels and the proportion of dimethylated syringyl (S) lignin monomers increase with progressive maturity in stems of forage crops. We generated transgenic alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) with reduced lignin content and altered lignin composition. Down-regulation of caffeic acid 3-O-methyltransferase (COMT) reduces lignin content, accompanied by near total loss of S lignin, whereas down-regulation of caffeoyl coenzyme A 3-O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT) reduces lignin content without reduction in S lignin. These changes are not accompanied by altered ratios of cell wall polysaccharides. Analysis of rumen digestibility of alfalfa forage in fistulated steers revealed improved digestibility of forage from COMT down-regulated plants, but a greater improvement in digestibility following down-regulation of CCoAOMT. The results indicate that both lignin content and composition affect digestibility of alfalfa forage, and reveal a new strategy for forage quality improvement by genetic manipulation of CCoAOMT expression.     

Genome survey sequencing of purple elephant grass (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pennisetum purpureum</Emphasis> Schum ‘Zise’) and identification of its SSR markers

Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) is a perennial grass in the Poaceae family with high tolerance and one of the best forage plants. Despite its economic importance, the inheritance information of P. purpureum has remained largely unknown. To obtain the whole reference genome, we first conducted a genome survey of P. purpureum. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) was used to perform the de novo whole genome sequencing. As a result, the estimated genome size of elephant grass was 2.01 Gb, with 71.36% repetitive elements. The heterozygosity was 1.02%, which indicates a highly heterozygous genome. The retroelements (9.36%) were the most repetitive elements, followed by DNA transposons (3.66%). In the meantime, 83,706 high-quality genomic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, in which the greatest SSR unit length was 3, were developed. Thirty pairs of SSR markers were randomly selected to verify the efficiency and all of them yielded clear amplification products, among which 28 pairs (93.3%) of the primers showed polymorphism. The genome data obtained in this research provided a large amount of gene resources for further investigating Pennisetum species.     

Selectivity Parameters and Size at First Maturity in Deep-Water Shrimps, Aristaeomorpha foliacea (Risso, 1827) and Aristeus antennatus (Risso, 1816), from the North-Western Ionian Sea (Mediterranean Sea)

Selectivity experiments were carried out during trawling targeting deep-water shrimps Aristaeomorpha foliacea (Risso, 1827) and Aristeus antennatus (Risso, 1816) (Crustacea, Decapoda, Aristeidae) in the North-Western Ionian Sea (Eastern-Central Mediterranean). Different criteria were employed to analyse maturity; however, the proportion at 50% of retained, mated and mature specimens was always used to indicate the size, expressed as Carapace Length (CL, mm), at first capture (CL_c), mating (CL_sp) and at first maturity (CL_m), respectively. In order to estimate the size at 50% maturity (CL_m) for females of both species, three criteria were adopted. In particular, CL_m was computed for the mature females not considering the presence of spermatophores, for the mature females with spermatophores and for the mature females intersected by the decreasing proportion with size of females without spermatophores. Three diamond stretched mesh codends of 40, 50 and 60 mm were tested using a cover of 20 mm. The 40-mm stretched mesh size (European Union legal size in the Mediterranean) was not selective for the sampled population of each species. The size at first capture (CL_c), calculated in both species for the two sexes combined, increased significantly with mesh size. Even for the mesh size of 60 mm, the size at first capture was still smaller than the sizes at 50% maturity, whatever the criterion adopted. Since the differences between the size at first maturity and the sizes at first capture are greater in A. foliacea than A. antennatus, the former species appears in this respect to be more vulnerable to trawling than the latter.