植物中的核质转运相关蛋白

细胞内各个生命过程的有序进行需要生物大分子在细胞核与细胞质之间有选择、有控制地转运.而细胞核膜的存在为大分子的自由穿梭设置了屏障,因此生物大分子在细胞核与细胞质之间的转运要依赖于一些受体蛋白.输入蛋白β(importinβ)是首先从人类细胞中发现的生物大分子向细胞核输入的受体,其后相继鉴定出多个与输入蛋白β具有同源性的细胞核转运受体,命名为类输入蛋白β.这些转运受体介导的转运过程在生物有机体之间高度保守,在动物及酵母中调控核质穿梭以及各个信号过程的组分与分子机制研究较为清楚,但在植物中相对匮乏.本文在介绍细胞核转运受体共有结构特点和转运机制基础上,重点综述了植物细胞核转运受体的最新研究进展以及这些受体在植物信号转导中的重要调节作用.     

植物核质运输与其先天免疫研究进展

植物为了抵御病原菌的侵染而进化出一套独特的先天免疫系统,它主要通过定位在细胞膜或细胞质上的受体介导并激活下游抗病基因表达而实现,但在这些信号传递过程中,细胞质的信号向核传递需要核质运输相关元件的参与。虽然目前只有个别核质运输的信号元件被证实参与了植物的先天免疫信号传递过程,但越来越多的研究表明核质运输是连接抗病基因表达和信号识别受体的一个主要方式。研究发现,病原菌的效应因子也可以利用植物核质运输机制侵入到宿主细胞核内,调控敏感基因的表达,干扰植物的免疫反应。该文对近年来国内外有关植物的核质运输机制、各层次免疫反应需要核质运输作用、核质运输相关蛋白在免疫反应中的作用等方面对核质运输参与植物先天免疫反应研究的研究进展进行综述,并指出该领域未来研究的主要内容和方向。     

核定位信号及其在病毒感染机制中的研究进展

核定位信号介导的蛋白入核是细胞内信号传递网络中核内外物质信息交流的重要一环,绝大多数病毒蛋白进入细胞核均需要核质转运受体识别和结合入核蛋白携带的核定位信号序列。病毒蛋白的入核转运机制在病毒感染过程中起着至关重要的作用,对于病毒的复制、毒力具有重要意义,针对该机制的研究有利于新的抗病毒靶点的发现。本文对核定位信号的分类信息进行了总结,并对不同的核质转运受体及其介导的入核机制进行了比较分析,概述了病毒入核蛋白及其核定位信号在病毒感染机制中的研究发现。     

植物病毒蛋白核质转运的研究进展

植物病毒编码一些含有核定位信号(nuclear localization signal,NLS)或者核输出信号(nuclear export signal,NES)的核质转运蛋白,这些已被验证的转运蛋白有三种类型:核输入蛋白、核输出蛋白和核质穿梭蛋白。它们通过识别寄主核质转运受体Importinα和Importinβ,介导含有经典核定位信号的蛋白质入核过程,以及寄主蛋白Ran参与,由XPO1介导的富含亮氨酸核输出信号的蛋白质出核过程。植物病毒核质转运蛋白利用寄主的转运机制,进出细胞核发挥相应功能,如介导病毒基因组的核输入和核输出、介导病毒长距离运输及系统侵染、抵抗寄主细胞启动的RNA沉默、调节寄主细胞转录活性、调控病毒的复制及表达和参与病毒症状的形成等。对植物病毒蛋白核质转运的相关研究进展进行综述,着重介绍植物病毒蛋白核质转运类型、核输入和输出信号、转运机制和生物学意义,以及寄主蛋白介导的互作等研究的最新成果。     

通过核质转运调节细胞凋亡的蛋白质

凋亡,也称Ⅰ型程序性细胞死亡,是细胞在面临严重威胁时发起的保护性主动死亡机制. 凋亡对于个体的生长发育及各种生理功能具有不可或缺的作用. 作为涉及整个细胞的复杂过程,凋亡的顺利进行有赖于众多凋亡相关因子的协调合作与精确调控. 细胞受到凋亡刺激后,核内的某些蛋白质转运出核,将凋亡信号传递到核外,胞质内的多种蛋白质则转运入核,在细胞核这一信息整合的大本营直接发挥作用. 这种双向交流机制在胞核与胞质间建立起密切的联系,同时使得相关蛋白质在特定场所发挥促进或抑制凋亡的作用,确保凋亡信号及时、通畅、有序地传递. 因此,蛋白质的核质转运作为介导胞核与胞质物质交换、信号交流的关键机制,在凋亡过程中就显得尤为重要. 本文主要就核质转运的机制、通过核质转运调节凋亡的蛋白质及其作用机理作一综述.     

参与植物天然免疫的LRR型蛋白

植物含有多种富含亮氨酸重复序列(LRRs)结构的蛋白质,它们在植物天然免疫中发挥着重要作用。参与植物防御反应的LRR型蛋白家族包括:类受体蛋白激酶、抗病基因编码蛋白质、多聚半乳糖醛酸酶抑制蛋白和伸展蛋白家族。最近,人们发现植物免疫系统包含:病原相关分子模式(PAMP)激发的免疫性(PTI),即类受体蛋白激酶识别病原菌PAMPs,启动植物防卫反应;病原菌效应子激发的免疫性(ETI),即抗病基因编码蛋白质识别效应子,启动植物防卫反应。除此之外,细胞壁是植物细胞的天然保护屏障。多聚半乳糖醛酸酶抑制蛋白和伸展蛋白通过维护细胞壁,抵御病原菌入侵。我们综述了植物中LRRs蛋白的结构特征与不同种类的LRR蛋白介导免疫反应的分子机制,讨论了LRR型蛋白在植物免疫过程中的意义及存在的问题,指出搜寻配体和下游信号分子将是LRR型蛋白研究热点。     

拟南芥灰霉病抗性相关转录因子

病原菌的侵染激发植物大量防御响应基因的表达, 其中转录因子在协调庞大的抗病防御网络中发挥重要作用。灰葡萄孢菌(Botrytis cinerea)是最具破坏力的死体营养型病原真菌之一, 在农业生产上造成严重的经济损失。文章综述了ERF(Ethylene response factors)、WRKY、MYB等家族中参与灰霉病防御反应的转录因子的功能研究进展。转录因子通过复杂的mRNA或蛋白水平的互作方式构成了精细的调控网络, 以激活下游防卫基因的表达, 从而诱导抗病反应。一部分转录因子是协调不同激素信号通路交叉响应的重要节点和调节器, 将植物抵御不同类型病原菌的分子机制联系起来。对这类转录因子的研究将为研究植物其他病原菌防御机制提供线索, 另外深入理解抗病机制将有助于研究者在作物改良和保护中更高效地利用抗病基因。     

植物核孔蛋白研究进展

核孔复合物(nuclear pore complex,NPC)位于核膜,是控制细胞核与细胞质之间进行蛋白质和mRNA等大分子物质转运的唯一通道。模式植物拟南芥的核孔复合物由30多种多拷贝的核孔蛋白(nucleoporins,NUPs)构成,根据它们参与形成的亚基可分为外环、内环、连接、跨膜、中心FG(phenylalanine-glycine)和核篮核孔蛋白。核孔蛋白不仅介导核质转运,而且在植物多个生命进程中发挥重要作用。该文综述了植物核孔蛋白参与核质转运、激素信号响应、生长发育、环境胁迫应答、免疫防御等的研究进展,为植物核孔蛋白生物学功能的系统认知及深入探索提供参考。     

RNA的核质转运

ＲＮＡ的核质转运蒋诗平（中国科学技术大学国家同步辐射实验室,合肥２３００２９）李振刚（中国科学技术大学生物系,合肥２３００２６）关键词核质转运转运信号介质前言ＲＮＡ转运是真核生物细胞核质转运的重要过程之一。核孔复合物（ｎｕｃｌｅａｒｐｏｒｅｃｏｍｐｌ...     

植物抗病蛋白研究进展

为了应对外界复杂的环境变化, 植物进化出一套复杂而精细的免疫应答调控机制。植物抗病蛋白能够特异地识别病原微生物分泌的效应蛋白, 触发免疫响应以对抗病原微生物的侵扰。该文综述了植物抗病蛋白的结构与功能及对病原菌的识别方式、在免疫响应过程中抗病蛋白的动态平衡机制及其介导的防御反应信号转导。开展植物抗病蛋白研究可为定向培育抗病作物奠定理论基础。     

Biological Significance of the Importin‐β Family‐Dependent Nucleocytoplasmic Transport Pathways

Importin‐β family proteins (Imp‐βs) are nucleocytoplasmic transport receptors (NTRs) that import and export proteins and RNAs through the nuclear pores. The family consists of 14–20 members depending on the biological species, and each member transports a specific group of cargoes. Thus, the Imp‐βs mediate multiple, parallel transport pathways that can be regulated separately. In fact, the spatiotemporally differential expressions and the functional regulations of Imp‐βs have been reported. Additionally, the biological significance of each pathway has been characterized by linking the function of a member of Imp‐βs to a cellular consequence. Connecting these concepts, the regulation of the transport pathways conceivably induces alterations in the cellular physiological states. However, few studies have linked the regulation of an importin‐β family NTR to an induced cellular response and the corresponding cargoes, despite the significance of this linkage in comprehending the biological relevance of the transport pathways. This review of recent reports on the regulation and biological functions of the Imp‐βs highlights the significance of the transport pathways in physiological contexts and points out the possibility that the identification of yet unknown specific cargoes will reinforce the importance of transport regulation.      

Protein trafficking during plant innate immunity

Plants have evolved a sophisticated immune system to fight against pathogenic microbes. Upon detection of pathogen invasion by immune receptors, the immune system is turned on, resulting in production of antimicrobial molecules including pathogenesis-related(PR) proteins.Conceivably, an efficient immune response depends on the capacity of the plant cell's protein/membrane trafficking network to deploy the right defense-associated molecules in the right place at the right time. Recent research in this area shows that while the abundance of cell surface immune receptors is regulated by endocytosis, many intracellular immune receptors, when activated, are partitioned between the cytoplasm and the nucleus for induction of defense genes and activation of programmed cell death, respectively. Vesicle transport is an essential process for secretion of PR proteins to the apoplastic space and targeting of defense-related proteins to the plasma membrane or other endomembrane compartments. In this review, we discuss the various aspects of protein trafficking during plant immunity, with a focus on the immunity proteins on the move and the major components of the trafficking machineries engaged.     

Plant integrity: An important factor in plant-pathogen interactions

The effect of plant integrity and of aboveground-belowground defense signaling on plant resistance against pathogens and herbivores is emerging as a subject of scientific research. There is increasing evidence that plant defense responses to pathogen infection differ between whole intact plants and detached leaves. Studies have revealed the importance of aboveground-belowground defense signaling for plant defenses against herbivores, while our studies have uncovered that the roots as well as the plant integrity are important for the resistance of the potato cultivar Sarpo Mira against the hemibiotrophic oomycete pathogen Phytophthora infestans. Furthermore, in the Sarpo Mira–P. infestans interactions, the plant’s meristems, the stalks or both, seem to be associated with the development of the hypersensitive response and both the plant’s roots and shoots contain antimicrobial compounds when the aerial parts of the plants are infected. Here, we present a short overview of the evidence indicating the importance of plant integrity on plant defense responses.     

Nucleocytoplasmic transport: Ran, beta and beyond

Proteins, RNAs and even large macromolecular complexes are transported into and out of nuclei with remarkable rapidity and specificity. Nucleocytoplasmic transport must therefore be efficient and selective. Characterization of the roles of the importin β family of transport receptors and of the Ran GTPase has showed how these characteristics can be achieved, but there are many examples of nucleocytoplasmic transport that do not fit this model. Here, we discuss current understanding of various transport mechanisms and evaluate cases in which the molecules and mechanisms underlying nucleocytoplasmic transport are used to carry out important cellular functions in the absence of a nucleus.     

Nucleocytoplasmic transport of intrinsically disordered proteins studied by high‐speed super‐resolution microscopy

Both natively folded and intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) destined for the nucleus need to transport through the nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) in eukaryotic cells. NPCs allow for passive diffusion of small folded proteins while barricading large ones, unless they are facilitated by nuclear transport receptors. However, whether nucleocytoplasmic transport of IDPs would follow these rules remains unknown. By using a high‐speed super‐resolution fluorescence microscopy, we have measured transport kinetics and 3D spatial locations of transport routes through native NPCs for various IDPs. Our data revealed that the rules executed for folded proteins are not well followed by the IDPs. Instead, both large and small IDPs can passively diffuse through the NPCs. Furthermore, their diffusion efficiencies and routes are differentiated by their content ratio of charged (Ch) and hydrophobic (Hy) amino acids. A Ch/Hy‐ratio mechanism was finally suggested for nucleocytoplasmic transport of IDPs.     

A novel nucleocytoplasmic traffic GTPase identified as a functional target of the bipartite geminivirus nuclear shuttle protein

In contrast to the accumulated data on nuclear transport mechanisms of macromolecules, little is known concerning the regulated release of nuclear-exported complexes and their subsequent trans-cytoplasmic movement. The bipartite begomovirus nuclear shuttle protein (NSP) facilitates the nuclear export of viral DNA and cooperates with the movement protein (MP) to transport viral DNA across the plant cell wall. Here, we identified a cellular NSP-interacting GTPase (NIG) with biochemical properties consistent with a nucleocytoplasmic transport role. We show that NIG is a cytosolic GTP-binding protein that accumulates around the nuclear envelope and possesses intrinsic GTPase activity. NIG interacts with NSP in vitro and in vivo (under transient expression), and redirects the viral protein from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. We propose that NIG acts as a positive contributor to geminivirus infection by modulating NSP nucleocytoplasmic shuttling and hence facilitating MP–NSP interaction in the cortical cytoplasm. In support of this, overexpression of NIG in Arabidopsis enhances susceptibility to geminivirus infection. In addition to highlighting the relevance of NIG as a cellular co-factor for NSP function, our findings also have implications for general nucleocytoplasmic trafficking of cellular macromolecules.     

Ran,a GTP-binding protein involved in nucleocytoplasmic transport and microtubule nucleation,relocates from the manchette to the centrosome region during rat spermiogenesis

Ran, a Ras-related GTPase, is required for transporting proteins in and out of the nucleus during interphase and for regulating the assembly of microtubules. cDNA cloning shows that rat testis, like mouse testis, expresses both somatic and testis-specific forms of Ran-GTPase. The presence of a homologous testis-specific form of Ran-GTPase in rodents implies that the Ran-GTPase pathway plays a significant role during sperm development. This suggestions is supported by distinct Ran-GTPase immunolocalization sites identified in developing spermatids. Confocal microscopy demonstrates that Ran-GTPase localizes in the nucleus of round spermatids and along the microtubules of the manchette in elongating spermatids. When the manchette disassembles, Ran-GTPase immunoreactivity is visualized in the centrosome region of maturing spermatids. The circumstantial observation that fractionated manchettes, containing copurified centrin-immunoreactive centrosomes, can organize a three-dimensional lattice in the presence of taxol and GTP, points to the role of Ran-GTPase and associated factors in microtubule nucleation as well as the potential nucleating function of spermatid centrosomes undergoing a reduction process. Electron microscopy demonstrates the presence in manchette preparations of spermatid centrosomes, recognized as such by their association with remnants of the implantation fossa, a dense plate observed only at the basal surface of developing spermatid and sperm nuclei. In addition, we have found importin beta1 immunoreactivity in the nucleus of elongating spermatids, a finding that, together with the presence of Ran-GTPase in the nucleus of round spermatids and the manchette, suggest a potential role of Ran-GTPase machinery in nucleocytoplasmic transport. Our expression and localization analysis, correlated with functional observations in other cell systems, suggest that Ran-GTPase may be involved in both nucleocytoplasmic transport and microtubules assembly, two critical events during the development of functional sperm. In addition, the manchette-to-centrosome Ran-GTPase relocation, together with the similar redistribution of various proteins associated to the manchette, suggest the existence of an intramanchette molecular transport mechanism, which may share molecular analogies with intraflagellar transport.