The genetic locus At1g73660 encodes a putative MAPKKK and negatively regulates salt tolerance in Arabidopsis

An Arabidopsis mutant with improved salt tolerant germination was isolated from a T-DNA insertion library and designated as AT6. This mutant also exhibited improved salt tolerance phenotype in later developmental stages. But no apparent difference was observed in response to ABA, GA or ethylene during germination between the mutant and the wildtype. The T-DNA was inserted in the At1g73660 locus that coded for a putative MAPKKK. Genetic and multiple mutant allele analyses confirmed that the knockout of this gene resulted in improved salt tolerance phenotype and provided strong evidence that the genetic locus At1g73660 negatively regulated salt tolerance in Arabidopsis. The At1g73660 was down regulated in response to salt stress in the mutants, which is consistent with its role as a negative regulator. It is therefore hypothesized that the AT1g73660 may serve as one of the off-switches of stress responses that are required for unstressed conditions.     

Dwarf and deformed flower 1, encoding an F‐box protein,is critical for vegetative and floral development in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Recent studies have shown that F‐box proteins constitute a large family in eukaryotes, and play pivotal roles in regulating various developmental processes in plants. However, their functions in monocots are still obscure. In this study, we characterized a recessive mutant dwarf and deformed flower 1‐1 (ddf1‐1) in Oryza sativa (rice). The mutant is abnormal in both vegetative and reproductive development, with significant size reduction in all organs except the spikelet. DDF1 controls organ size by regulating both cell division and cell expansion. In the ddf1‐1 spikelet, the specification of floral organs in whorls 2 and 3 is altered, with most lodicules and stamens being transformed into glume‐like organs and pistil‐like organs, respectively, but the specification of lemma/palea and pistil in whorls 1 and 4 is not affected. DDF1 encodes an F‐box protein anchored in the nucleolus, and is expressed in almost all vegetative and reproductive tissues. Consistent with the mutant floral phenotype, DDF1 positively regulates B‐class genes OsMADS4 and OsMADS16, and negatively regulates pistil specification gene DL. In addition, DDF1 also negatively regulates the Arabidopsis LFY ortholog APO2, implying a functional connection between DDF1 and APO2. Collectively, these results revealed that DDF1, as a newly identified F‐box gene, is a crucial genetic factor with pleiotropic functions for both vegetative growth and floral organ specification in rice. These findings provide additional insights into the molecular mechanism controlling monocot vegetative and reproductive development.     

水稻生长发育多效基因DDF1的遗传分析与基因定位

植物中存在许多多效性基因,它们在调控植物的营养生长与生殖发育过程中起着关键性作用。文章在籼稻育种材料中发现了一个植株显著矮化且花器官明显变异的突变体ddf1(dwarf and deformed flower 1)。遗传分析表明,该突变体由单基因隐性突变所致,这说明该基因是一个同时控制营养生长和生殖发育的多效性基因,暂命名为DDF1。为了定位该基因,将ddf1杂合体与热带粳稻品种DZ60杂交,建立了F2定位群体,利用水稻RM系列微卫星标记,通过混合分离分析(BSA)和小群体连锁分析,将DDF1初步定位在水稻第6号染色体RM588和RM587标记之间,与两标记的遗传距离分别为3.8 cM和2.4 cM。进一步利用已经公布的水稻基因组序列,在初步定位的区间内开发新的SSR标记,将DDF1定位在165 kb的区间内。该结果为克隆DDF1奠定了基础。     

Salt tolerance-related protein STO binds to a Myb transcription factor homologue and confers salt tolerance in Arabidopsis

Regulating the intracellular Na+/K+ ratio is an essential process for salinity tolerance. The yeast mutant, can, which is deficient in calcineurin, can not grow on medium containing Na+ because it is unable to regulate the intracellular Na+/K+ ratio. Expression of the STO gene of Arabidopsis thaliana in the can mutant complements the salt-sensitive phenotype. A protein of Arabidopsis, an H-protein promoter binding factor (HPPBF-1), that binds to STO protein was isolated. HPPBF-1 cDNA has a sequence encoding a Myb DNA binding-motif and its gene expression is induced by salt stress. Furthermore, HPPBF-1 protein is localized in the nucleus. Although, the expression level of STO is not induced under salt-stress conditions, overexpression of STO in a transgenic Arabidopsis plant gave it a higher salt tolerance than was observed in the wild type. When STO transgenic plants and wild-type plants were subjected to salt stress, root growth was increased by 33-70% in the transgenic plants under salt stress. These results suggest that STO is involved in salt-stress responses in Arabidopsis.     

拟南芥非生物胁迫应答基因表达的调节子研究概况

分子生物学研究表明,植物中由诸如干旱、高盐和低温等环境胁迫因子诱导的几个基因具有多种功能。大多数干旱应答基因是由植物激素脱落酸（ABA）诱导的,但也有少数基因例外。对模式植物拟南芥基因表达中的干旱应答基因的分析表明,至少存在4个独立调节系统（调节子）。对典型胁迫诱导表达的一些基因中启动子的顺势作用元件和影响这些基因表达的转录子也已进行了分析。已经分离出与脱水效应元件/C重复序列（DRE/CRT）顺势作用元件结合的转录因子,并命名为DRE结合蛋白1/C重复序列结合因子（DREB1/CBF）和DRE结合蛋白2（DREB2）。在转基因拟南芥植株中,DREB1/CBF过量表达可增加其抗寒、抗旱和抗盐碱的能力。DREB1/CBF基因已成功地在许多不同作物中得到应用,从而提高作物对非生物胁迫的耐受性。与胁迫反应相关的其他转录因子的研究也正在取得进展。     

与AtGA20ox1启动子结合的转录因子筛选分析

赤霉素(gibberellin,GA)在植物生长发育的各个时期发挥重要作用。GA20-氧化酶(Gibberellin20-oxidase,GA20ox)是赤霉素生物合成途径中关键的限速酶,因此研究调控GA20ox基因表达的转录因子对进一步阐述赤霉素生物合成及其调控具有重要意义。本研究通过酵母单杂交技术利用AtGA20ox1启动子筛选拟南芥转录因子库,筛选获得转录因子RAP2.4f;酵母单杂交和X-gal显色结果进一步证实RAP2.4能与AtGA20ox1启动子结合;CPRG定量分析发现RAP2.4f与AtGA20ox1启动子结合作用强;双荧光素酶检测结果显示RAP2.4f对AtGA20ox1的启动子活性具有抑制作用。这些研究结果表明,RAP2.4f可能参与调控AtGA20ox1的转录。