植物对锑的吸收和代谢及其毒性的研究进展

锑(Sb)是一种有毒致癌元素, 一些自然和人为因素已造成我国部分地区土壤、水体及农产品受到严重的锑污染。环境中高含量的锑不仅影响农作物生长、降低其产量, 如果通过食物链被人体大量吸收, 还会引起严重的健康问题。研究锑在植物体内的富集特征, 对于保护环境与人体健康具有重要的现实意义。该文对当前锑在环境中的含量、污染状况、植物对锑的吸收、代谢以及锑对植物的毒害作用等方面的研究现状进行了综述。同时建议今后应加强以下3方面的研究: (1) 锑在生物圈迁移与转化特征; (2) 植物对锑的吸收、转运和代谢机制及锑的毒害作用机理; (3) 锑污染土壤及水体的植物修复技术。     

植物对硼的吸收、转运及其遗传调控(综述)

硼是植物生长发育必需的一种微量营养元素,缺硼和硼毒害是国内外农业生产中普遍存在的问题,不仅影响产量,而且还会降低品质。近年来,植物的硼吸收和转运机制研究取得较大进展,从而为基因工程改良植物的缺硼和硼毒害奠定了重要基础。本文就植物对硼的吸收和转运机制以及植物对缺硼和硼毒害耐性的遗传调控研究概况进行综述。     

Aluminum stress and its role in the phospholipid signaling pathway in plants and possible biotechnological applications

An early response of plants to environmental signals or abiotic stress suggests that the phospholipid signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in these mechanisms. The phospholipid signaling cascade is one of the main systems of cellular transduction and is related to other signal transduction mechanisms. These other mechanisms include the generation of second messengers and their interactions with various proteins, such as ion channels. This phospholipid signaling cascade is activated by changes in the environment, such as phosphate starvation, water, metals, saline stres, and plant-pathogen interactions. One important factor that impacts agricultural crops is metal-induced stress. Because aluminum has been considered to be a major toxic factor for agriculture conducted in acidic soils, many researchers have focused on understanding the mechanisms of aluminum toxicity in plants. We have contributed the last fifteen years in this field by studying the effects of aluminum on phospholipid signaling in coffee, one of the Mexico's primary crops. We have focused our research on aluminum toxicity mechanisms in Coffea arabica suspension cells as a model for developing future contributions to the biotechnological transformation of coffee crops such that they can be made resistant to aluminum toxicity. We conclude that aluminum is able to not only generate a signal cascade in plants but also modulate other signal cascades generated by other types of stress in plants. The aim of this review is to discuss possible involvement of the phospholipid signaling pathway in the aluminum toxicity response of plant cells.     

Arsenic, antimony, and bismuth uptake and accumulation by plants in an old antimony mine, China

Arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), and bismuth (Bi) are metalloids that share similar chemical properties, the objective of this study was to characterize the uptake and accumulation of these metalloids by plants colonized on heavy contaminated sites in an old Sb mine. Sixty-five plant samples from seven species as well as the associated soil samples were collected at ten sites of Xikuangshan (XKS), Hunan province, China. Concentrations of As, Sb, and Bi in plants and soils were measured. As, Sb, and Bi were found to be evidently elevated due to the long history and intensive mining and smelting activities; the respective ranges for the levels of As, Sb, and Bi at the sites were 40.02-400.2?mg?kg(-1) As, 610-54,221?mg?kg(-1) Sb, and n.d. to 1,672?mg?kg(-1) Bi. No correlation was found between As and Sb at the sites, while Bi was found to be positively correlated with As whereas negative with Sb at the sites. In general, the contents in the plants in XKS were in the order of As?>?Sb?>?Bi, and the contents of As was positively correlated with Sb and Bi in plants. The highest contents of As and Sb recorded was 607.8?mg?kg(-1) As in Pteris vittata and 90.98?mg?kg(-1) Sb in Hippochcaete ramosissima, while the highest Bi content as 2.877?mg?kg(-1) Bi was measured in Buddleja davidii. Bioconcentration factors defined as the ratios of metalloids in shoots of plants to those in soils for various plants were lower than 1. The results showed plants colonized at the heavy contaminated sites in XKS had great tolerance to As, Sb, and Bi, and demonstrated similarities in plant uptake and accumulation of these three elements.     

Arsenic hazards: strategies for tolerance and remediation by plants

Arsenic toxicity has become a global concern owing to the ever-increasing contamination of water, soil and crops in many regions of the world. To limit the detrimental impact of arsenic compounds, efficient strategies such as phytoremediation are required. Suitable plants include arsenic hyperaccumulating ferns and aquatic plants that are capable of completing their life cycle in the presence of high levels of arsenic through the concerted action of arsenate reduction to arsenite, arsenite complexation, and vacuolar compartmentalization of complexed or inorganic arsenic. Tolerance can also be conferred by lowering arsenic uptake by suppression of phosphate transport activity, a major pathway for arsenate entry. In many unicellular organisms, arsenic tolerance is based on the active removal of cytosolic arsenite while limiting the uptake of arsenate. Recent molecular studies have revealed many of the gene products involved in these processes, providing the tools to improve crop species and to optimize phytoremediation; however, so far only single genes have been manipulated, which has limited progress. We will discuss recent advances and their potential applications, particularly in the context of multigenic engineering approaches.     

Plant improvement for tolerance to aluminum in acid soils – a review

Development of acid soils that limit crop production is an increasing problem worldwide. Many factors contribute to phytotoxicity of these soils, however, in acid soils with a high mineral content, aluminum (Al) is the major cause of toxicity. The target of Al toxicity is the root tip, in which Al exposure causes inhibition of cell elongation and cell division, leading to root stunting accompanied by reduced water and nutrient uptake. Natural variation for Al tolerance has been identified in many crop species and in some crops tolerance to Al has been introduced into productive, well-adapted varieties. Aluminum tolerance appears to be a complex multigenic trait. Selection methodology remains a limiting factor in variety development as all methods have particular drawbacks. Molecular markers have been associated with Al tolerance genes or quantitative trait loci in Arabidopsis and in several crops, which should facilitate development of additional tolerant varieties. A variety of genes have been identified that are induced or repressed upon Al exposure. Most induced genes characterized so far are not specific to Al exposure but are also induced by other stress conditions. Ectopic over-expression of some of these genes has resulted in enhanced Al tolerance. Additionally, expression of genes involved in organic acid synthesis has resulted in enhanced production of organic acids and an associated increase in Al tolerance. This review summarizes the three main approaches that have been taken to develop crops with Al tolerance: recurrent selection and breeding, development of Al tolerant somaclonal variants and ectopic expression of transgenes to reduce Al uptake or limit damage to cells by Al.     

Metalloids in plants: A systematic discussion beyond description

Metalloids represent a wide range of elements with intermediate physiochemical properties between metals and non-metals. Many of the metalloids, like boron, selenium, and silicon are known to be essential or quasi-essential for plant growth. In contrast, metalloids viz. arsenic and germanium are toxic to plant growth. The toxicity of metalloids largely depends on their concentration within the living cells. Some elements, at low concentration, may be beneficial for plant growth and development; however, when present at high concentration, they often exert negative effects. In this regard, understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in the uptake of metalloids by roots, their subsequent transport to different tissues and inter/intra-cellular redistribution has great importance. The mechanisms of metalloids' uptake have been well studied in plants. Also, various transporters, as well as membrane channels involved in these processes, have been identified. In this review, we have discussed in detail the aspects concerning the positive/negative effects of different metalloids on plants. We have also provided a thorough account of the uptake, transport, and accumulation, along with the molecular mechanisms underlying the response of plants to these metalloids. Additionally, we have brought up the previous theories and debates about the role and effects of metalloids in plants with insightful discussions based on the current knowledge.     

麦类作物遗传转化

麦类作物包括小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)、硬粒小麦(Triticum turgidum con v.durum Dest.e.m)、大麦(Hordeum vulgare L.)、黑麦(Secale cereal L.)、燕麦(Avena sativa L.)及小大麦(×Tritordeum Ascherson et Graebuer.).自从基因枪被发明以来,科学家们已经利用来自麦类作物的幼胚、 盾片、成熟种子胚、花粉粒、花药、幼穗、叶基组织、发芽种子幼苗的顶端分生组织及其愈伤组织或培养物作为外植体,通过基因枪、农杆菌介导、 PEG法、电激法、微注射法、硅化纤维素介导、幼穗注射法等技术先后将一些选择标记基因、报告基因和有用的目的基因如抗真菌、抗虫、 籽粒品质、抗干旱基因等转化到麦类作物中.转基因植物表现为抗性增强或籽粒的加工品质提高和营养成份增加.被转化的基因通常以单位点多拷贝的形式随机整合到受体细胞的基因组中,并以孟德尔规律遗传.整合位点一般分布在染色体的近端粒区域,整合的拷贝数大多为5～10个拷贝,最高可达到50个拷贝.在转化过程中,被转化的质粒上的片段包括选择标记基因、目标基因、甚至质粒的抗生素基因和其他无关序列,随机地连接并形成多个分子量大小不等,组成成分不同的分子簇,或首先由其中一个分子簇整合到植物基因组中,这会导致在整合位点附近产生"热点",易于其他分子簇在此处整合,从而完成两期整合;或被转化的质粒上的选择标记基因、目标基因、质粒的抗生素基因和其他无关序列、植物基因组DNA等片段共同形成各种不同类型的分子簇,当植物细胞染色体复制时,在复制叉处整合到植物基因组中.转基因可以在各种水平上表达,也会时常发生基因沉默,这会导致转基因植物DNA水平上表达但在蛋白质水平上不表达,后代偏向分离,沉默的转基因重新表达.转基因的位置效应、甲基化和启动子都会诱发转基因沉默.在麦类作物中,35S启动子易于导致转基因沉默,应尽量减少使用.转基因还导致被转化麦类作物在农艺性状和细胞学上的变异.目前,麦类作物遗传转化已经成为一种常规的技术,转基因麦类作物正开始进入商业应用阶段.相信多种转化新技术的应用和发展将会培育出高产、稳产、优质、低投入的各类品种和种质.     

Role of ubiquitination in arsenic tolerance in plants

Arsenic (As) is harmful to all living organisms, including humans and plants. To limit As uptake and avoid its toxicity, plants employ systems that regulate the uptake of As from the soil and its translocation from roots to grains. Ubiquitination, a highly conserved post-translational modification (PTM) in all eukaryotes, plays crucial roles in modulating As detoxification mechanisms in budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), but little is known about its roles in As tolerance and transport in plants. In this opinion article we review recent findings and suggest that ubiquitination plays a crucial role in regulating As transport in plants. We also propose ideas for future research to explore the importance of ubiquitination for enhancing As tolerance in crops.     

Managing heavy metal toxicity stress in plants: Biological and biotechnological tools

The maintenance of ion homeostasis in plant cells is a fundamental physiological requirement for sustainable plant growth, development and production. Plants exposed to high concentrations of heavy metals must respond in order to avoid the deleterious effects of heavy metal toxicity at the structural, physiological and molecular levels. Plant strategies for coping with heavy metal toxicity are genotype-specific and, at least to some extent, modulated by environmental conditions. There is considerable interest in the mechanisms underpinning plant metal tolerance, a complex process that enables plants to survive metal ion stress and adapt to maintain growth and development without exhibiting symptoms of toxicity. This review briefly summarizes some recent cell biological, molecular and proteomic findings concerning the responses of plant roots to heavy metal ions in the rhizosphere, metal ion-induced reactions at the cell wall-plasma membrane interface, and various aspects of heavy metal ion uptake and transport in plants via membrane transporters. The molecular and genetic approaches that are discussed are analyzed in the context of their potential practical applications in biotechnological approaches for engineering increased heavy metal tolerance in crops and other useful plants.     

Cesium Toxicity Alters MicroRNA Processing and AGO1 Expressions in Arabidopsis thaliana

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short RNA fragments that play important roles in controlled gene silencing, thus regulating many biological processes in plants. Recent studies have indicated that plants modulate miRNAs to sustain their survival in response to a variety of environmental stimuli, such as biotic stresses, cold, drought, nutritional starvation, and toxic heavy metals. Cesium and radio-cesium contaminations have arisen as serious problems that both impede plant growth and enter the food chain through contaminated plants. Many studies have been performed to define plant responses against cesium intoxication. However, the complete profile of miRNAs in plants during cesium intoxication has not been established. Here we show the differential expression of the miRNAs that are mostly down-regulated during cesium intoxication. Furthermore, we found that cesium toxicity disrupts both the processing of pri-miRNAs and AGONOUTE 1 (AGO1)-mediated gene silencing. AGO 1 seems to be especially destabilized by cesium toxicity, possibly through a proteolytic regulatory pathway. Our study presents a comprehensive profile of cesium-responsive miRNAs, which is distinct from that of potassium, and suggests two possible mechanisms underlying the cesium toxicity on miRNA metabolism.     

铅污染现状及其修复机理研究进展

介绍了铅污染的现状、修复机理及存在的问题。其中重点阐述了国内在寻找铅的超累积植物的研究进展,国外研究者对铅在植物体内吸收、运输和储存机理方面的研究现状,同时对已发现的与铅污染有关的基因以及转基因技术的应用情况进行了简单介绍,并探讨了提高铅污染修复效率的一些方法。     

Molecular Mechanisms and Genetic Basis of Heavy Metal Tolerance/Hyperaccumulation in Plants

Phytoremediation has gained increased attention as a cost-effective method for the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated sites. Because some plants possess a range of potential mechanisms that may be involved in the detoxification of heavy metals, they manage to survive under metal stresses. High tolerance to heavy metal toxicity could rely either on reduced uptake or increased plant internal sequestration,which is manifested by an interaction between a genotype and its environment. The growing application of molecular genetic technologies has led to increased understanding of mechanisms of heavy metal tolerance/accumulation in plants and, subsequently, many transgenic plants with increased heavy metal resistance,as well as increased uptake of heavy metals, have been developed for the purpose of phytoremediation. In the present review, our major objective is to concisely evaluate the progress made so far in understanding the molecular/cellular mechanisms and genetic basis that control the uptake and detoxification of metals by plants.     

Organic acid anions:An effective defensive weapon for plants against aluminum toxicity and phosphorus deficiency in acidic soils

Aluminum(Al) toxicity and phosphorous(P) deficiency are two major limiting factors for plant growth on acidic soils.Thus,the physiological mechanisms for Al tolerance and P acquisition have been intensively studied.A commonly observed trait is that plants have developed the ability to utilize organic acid anions(OAs;mainly malate,citrate and oxalate) to combat Al toxicity and P deficiency.OAs secreted by roots into the rhizosphere can externally chelate Al~(3+) and mobilize phosphate(Pi),while OAs synthesized in the cell can internally sequester Al~(3+) into the vacuole and release free Pi for metabolism.Molecular mechanisms involved in OA synthesis and transport have been described in detail.Ensuing genetic improvement for Al tolerance and P efficiency through increased OA exudation and/or synthesis in crops has been achieved by transgenic and marker-assisted breeding.This review mainly elucidates the crucial roles of OAs in plant Al tolerance and P efficiency through summarizing associated physiological mechanisms,molecular traits and genetic manipulation of crops.     

水分亏缺下作物补偿效应类型及机制研究概述

总结了作物在水分亏缺下产生补偿效应的类型、机制及条件,补偿效应类型可分为生长补偿、生理生化补偿、代谢及产量补偿等;从渗透调节、脱水保护等方面对补偿效应的生化及分子机制作了探讨,并阐明了作物产生补偿效应的生物学基础,指出了进一步研究的方向。     

The role of fungicides in the physiology of higher plants: Implications for defense responses

Plants react to pathogen attack through a variety of active and passive defense mechanisms primarily related to the metabolism of phenolic compounds and oxidative metabolism. Thus the activation of defensive reactions is associated with the increased expression of a great number of genes that encode enzymes involved in the biosynthetic pathway of phenolic compounds. Similarly, the activation of oxidative metabolism precedes the expression of defense genes during plant-pathogen interactions, so both metabolic processes must exert a major function in directing the mechanisms to resist disease. Similarly, it has been suggested that certain fungicides used to mitigate or prevent pathogen attack may be involved in activating certain defensive responses of plants. However, the fact that such substances may influence the key steps of the phenolic and oxidative processes has scarcely been studied. Our work confirms the results proposed by other authors, who suggest that certain wide-spectrum fungicides, in addition to their antibiotic action against pathogens, may be involved in the activation of some defensive responses of plants.     

植物对重金属耐性的分子生态机理

植物适应重金属元素胁迫的机制包括阻止和控制重金属的吸收、体内螯合解毒、体内区室化分隔以及代谢平衡等。近年来,随着分子生物学技术在生态学研究中的深入应用,控制这些过程的分子生态机理逐渐被揭示出来。菌根、根系分泌物以及细胞膜是控制重金属进入植物根系细胞的主要生理单元。外生菌根能显著提高寄主植物的重金属耐性,根系分泌物通过改变根际pH、改变金属物质的氧化还原状态和形成络合物等机理减少植物对重金属的吸收。目前,控制菌根和根系分泌物重金属抗性的分子生态机理还不清楚。但细胞膜跨膜转运器已得到深入研究,相关金属离子转运器被鉴定和分离,一些控制基因如铁锌控制运转相关蛋白(ZIP)类、自然抵抗相关巨噬细胞蛋白(Nramp)类、P_1B-type ATPase类基因已被发现和克隆。金属硫蛋白(MTs)、植物螯合素(PCs)、有机酸及氨基酸等是植物体内主要的螯合物质,它们通过螯合作用固定金属离子,降低其生物毒性或改变其移动性。与MTs合成相关的MT-like基因已经被克隆,PCs合成必需的植物螯合素合酶(PCS), 即γ-Glu-Cys二肽转肽酶(γ-ECS) 的编码基因已经被克隆,控制麦根酸合成的氨基酸尼克烟酰胺(NA)在重金属耐性中的作用和分子机理也被揭示出来。ATP 结合转运器(ABC)和阳离子扩散促进器(CDF) 是植物体内两种主要膜转运器,通过它们和其它跨膜方式,重金属被分隔贮藏于液泡内。控制这些蛋白转运器合成的基因也已经被克隆,在植物中的表达证实其与重金属的体内运输和平衡有关。热休克蛋白(HSP)等蛋白类物质的产生是一种重要的体内平衡机制,其分子机理有待进一步研究。重金属耐性植物在这些环节产生了相关响应基因或功能蛋白质,分子克隆和转基因技术又使它们在污染治理上得到了初步的应用。     

GW bodies and stress granules, two cytoplasmic structures for mRNA degradation and storage in mammalian cells

What does mRNA become at the issue of translation in eukaryotic cells? It can be directly degraded or stored for further use. In some cases, the underlying molecular mechanisms have been studied in detail by biochemical approaches, as examplified by the most recently discovered regulation pathway, RNA interference. However, the cellular context of these regulations has often been ignored, as if these reactions took place diffusely throughout the cytoplasm. Two new structures involved therein have now been described: GW bodies (or P-bodies) and stress granules. The first studies suggested that they were specifically devoted to mRNA degradation and mRNA storage, respectively. This framework is changing rapidly with obvious functional overlapping between both structures.     

The effects of tin (Sn) additions on the growth of spinach plants

An increase in bioavailable tin in the environment could result in bioaccumulation thereof in agricultural crops, and therefore, have adverse health consequences on humans that eat these crops. The aims of the current study were thus to assess the uptake of Sn by spinach plants, and the subsequent effects this will have on the uptake of Na, Zn, K, Ca, and Mg as well as the growth of spinach plants. Spinach plants were grown in sand culture and received tin at concentrations of 0.02, 0.2, 2 and 20 mg/L along with a nutrient solution. The uptake of tin at detectible concentrations only occurred at the highest concentrations (2 and 20 mg/L), and it was mostly retained in the roots of the plants. Tin additions also resulted in no visual toxicity symptoms, and might be beneficial to biomass production. Further field trials are needed to ensure that these experimental results remain true under field conditions.