葡萄WRKY家族蛋白在非生物胁迫中的功能探讨

干旱、盐和冷害等非生物胁迫严重限制着葡萄产业的发展。WRKY作为一大类转录调控因子,在多种信号转导途径中发挥着重要的作用。随着高通量测序技术及各种研究技术的进步,越来越多的WRKY家族蛋白在非生物胁迫中的功能和作用机制得到验证,为葡萄耐逆机理研究和分子育种筛选优良品种奠定理论基础和提供丰富的候选基因资源。从葡萄WRKY家族蛋白的挖掘和分类、参与植物干旱、盐和冷胁迫非生物胁迫应答机制等方面展开详细论述。     

非生物逆境胁迫下植物钙信号转导的分子机制

Ca2+作为植物细胞中最重要的第二信使, 参与植物对许多逆境信号的转导。在非生物逆境条件下, 植物细胞质内的钙离子在时间、空间及浓度上会出现特异性变化, 即诱发产生钙信号。钙信号再通过其下游的钙结合蛋白进行感受和转导, 进而在细胞内引起一系列的生物化学反应以适应或抵制各种逆境胁迫。目前在植物细胞中发现Ca2+/CDPK、Ca2+/CaM和Ca2+/CBL 3类钙信号系统, 研究表明它们与非生物逆境胁迫信号转导密切相关。本文通过从植物在非生物逆境条件下钙信号的感受、转导到产生适应性和抗性等方面, 介绍钙信号转导分子机制的一些研究进展。     

非生物逆境胁迫下植物钙信号转导的分子机制

Ca^2＋作为植物细胞中最重要的第二信使,参与植物对许多逆境信号的转导。在非生物逆境条件下,植物细胞质内的钙离子在时间、空间及浓度上会出现特异性变化,即诱发产生钙信号。钙信号再通过其下游的钙结合蛋白进行感受和转导,进而在细胞内引起一系列的生物化学反应以适应或抵制各种逆境胁迫。目前在植物细胞中发现Ca^2＋／CDPK、Ca^2＋／CaM和Ca^2＋／CBL3类钙信号系统,研究表明它们与非生物逆境胁迫信号转导密切相关。本文通过从植物在非生物逆境条件下钙信号的感受、转导到产生适应性和抗性等方面,介绍钙信号转导分子机制的一些研究进展。     

沙冬青CBL1蛋白纯化及性质研究

CBL是近年来发现的一类钙信号转导蛋白,CBL-CIPK组成的信号通路在植物应答生物和非生物刺激中发挥重要作用。其中CBL1和相应的CIPK在低钾,渗透压,干旱,机械损伤,及冻伤等环境胁迫中发挥重要作用。通过对沙冬青CBL1表面带电氨基酸定点突变,表面赖氨酸甲基化后电荷消除证明了沙冬青CBL1(AmCBL1)在钙离子存在下的非特异性聚集是由于分子间的电荷相互作用引起,三体蛋白很可能是沙冬青CBL1蛋白发挥功能的单位。通过甲基化可以得到聚合状态均一的蛋白,为CBL1晶体生长奠定了基础。     

大豆ERF转录因子基因GmERF8的克隆与表达分析

ERF转录因子广泛存在于植物中并且参与植物应对生物及非生物胁迫的响应。本研究利用RT-PCR技术从大豆中克隆获得1个新的ERF转录因子基因Gm ERF8,开放阅读框全长627 bp,编码1个由208个氨基酸残基组成的分子量为23.43 k D的蛋白。蛋白结构预测发现,该蛋白含有1个典型的AP2/ERF结合域,2个预测的核定位信号和1个保守的EAR抑制元件。进化分析表明Gm ERF8蛋白与烟草Nt ERF3蛋白的同源性最高。实时荧光定量PCR表明,Gm ERF8在大豆的根和叶中表达量较高。ABA、高盐和低温处理均使Gm ERF8表达量下降;乙烯(ET)和干旱处理则使Gm ERF8的表达量先下降后升高。转录调节能力分析结果显示,Gm ERF8可以抑制报告基因的表达。上述实验结果表明,Gm ERF8可能作为转录抑制子参与大豆对环境胁迫的应答。     

植物蛋白激酶与作物非生物胁迫抗性的研究

干旱、盐碱、高温等非生物逆境胁迫严重影响作物生长发育、产量和品质。在遭受非生物逆境的威胁时,植物通过信号受体,可感知、转导胁迫信号,启动一系列抗逆相关基因的表达,最终缓解或抵御非生物逆境胁迫对植物造成的危害。其中,蛋白激酶和蛋白磷酸酯酶的磷酸化/去磷酸化作用在植物感受外界胁迫信号的分子传递过程中起到开关的作用。正常情况下,蛋白激酶磷酸化开启信号转导途径,启动相应的抗逆基因表达反应;当信号消失后,蛋白激酶去磷酸化将信号转导途径关闭,达到调控植物正常生长的目的。因此,蛋白激酶在调控感受胁迫信号、启动各种非生物逆境胁迫响应中起到了极其重要的作用。近年来,对植物蛋白激酶参与非生物胁迫响应的研究倍受关注。本文阐述了不同类型蛋白激酶在改良作物非生物胁迫抗性上的应用,为进一步研究提供资料。     

菜用大豆CIPK基因对逆境胁迫及激素的响应特征

CIPK(calcineurin B-like-interacting protein kinase)是一类丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶,在植物响应逆境胁迫和激素信号转导中发挥重要作用。本研究利用大豆基因组数据库,在全基因组水平鉴定获得52个CIPK蛋白激酶。蛋白比对分析发现所有Gm CIPK含有高度保守特征性的N端激酶区、连接区和C端调控区。系统进化树分析发现大豆Gm CIPK与拟南芥、水稻CIPK分类一致,分为4个亚家族,且每个亚家族含有3个不同物种的成员,表明Gm CIPK基因的分化早于物种的分化。启动子分析表明,多数Gm CIPK基因的启动子区含有逆境和激素应答元件。组织表达分析发现,Gm CIPK基因呈现多样化的组织表达特性。进一步选取组织表达量相对较高的14个Gm CIPK进行荧光定量PCR分析,结果表明这些菜用大豆CIPK基因在不同程度上均受高温、干旱、高盐胁迫以及ABA、ACC、SA、Me JA激素的诱导表达。采用蛋白同源比对和蛋白互作在线数据库对拟南芥及大豆同源CIPK蛋白激酶与其他蛋白的互作关系进行了预测分析,发现17对同源CIPK与其他蛋白(激酶、磷酸酶、转录因子等)存在互作。本研究为菜用大豆CIPK基因的功能研究与利用奠定了基础。     

两个大豆GmSBP基因的特征、亚细胞定位及对非生物胁迫的响应

我国南方春大豆种子发育过程中,常处于高温、高湿季节,加之种子本身富含蛋白(约40%)和脂肪(约20%),导致南方春大豆种子易劣变。本项目组前期差异蛋白质组学研究发现蔗糖结合蛋白在高温高湿胁迫168 h时在种子田间劣变抗性品种湘豆3号发育种子中呈下调表达。为进一步从分子水平了解Gm SBP基因表达以及响应高温高湿胁迫的特性,本研究利用RT-PCR技术从大豆扩增出两个Gm SBP基因(Gm SBP2和Gm SBPL)。两个基因编码的蛋白均为亲水性,不完整的膜蛋白。荧光定量PCR分析表明:在高温高湿条件下,种子田间劣变不抗品种宁镇1号和抗性品种湘豆3号发育种子中Gm SBP2和Gm SBPL基因表达量均受高温高湿胁迫影响,也会导致种子中蔗糖和可溶性糖含量变化。在籽粒发育过程中,Gm SBP2和Gm SBPL基因表达量在花后30 d左右达到最高,对应时期的蔗糖和可溶性糖含量也达到最大值。组织特异性显示Gm SBP和Gm SBPL基因在不同组织间存在差异表达。亚细胞定位结果表明Gm SBP2和Gm SBPL蛋白均定位在细胞膜和细胞质中。以上结果表明Gm SBP2和Gm SBPL基因可能参与了植物非生物胁迫的应答过程,这将从一个侧面丰富我们对大豆种子田间劣变性和劣变抗性的认识。     

逆境胁迫下ABA与钙信号转导途径之间的相互调控机制

Ca2+信号是植物应答各种逆境胁迫响应的一个重要组分,它在植物抗病、抗虫及适应非生物胁迫反应中起着重要的作用.Caz+信号作为第二信使在激素信号转导尤其是ABA信号转导过程中发挥着重要作用.研究表明,当植物受到如干旱、低温、盐害等环境胁迫时,细胞迅速积累ABA,胞内钙离子浓度瞬间升高,然后钙离子浓度呈现忽高忽低的震荡现象.在植物细胞中发现Caz+/CDPK、Caz+/CaM和Caz+/CBL三类钙信号系统,它们与逆境胁迫信号转导密切相关.本文通过综述植物在逆境条件下,ABA与钙信号的产生、转导及产生适应性和抗性等方面,介绍了ABA与钙信号之间的相互调节机制.     

上海辰山植物园植物抗逆与分子进化研究组科研助理招聘公告

<正>上海辰山植物园(中国科学院上海辰山植物科学研究中心)植物抗逆与分子进化研究组主要从事研究从单细胞真核生物到多细胞高等植物在进化过程中保守的应对多重非生物胁迫的响应、信号转导和耐受机理(聚焦MAPK信号传导途径)。发掘和收集极端生境植物基因资源(主要集中禾本科植物),利用抗多重非生物胁迫基因的单细胞筛选平台,筛选在进化过程中保守的多重抗逆基因,建立遗传转化研究体系,并     

CBL1, a calcium sensor that differentially regulates salt,drought, and cold responses in Arabidopsis

Although calcium is a critical component in the signal transduction pathways that lead to stress gene expression in higher plants, little is known about the molecular mechanism underlying calcium function. It is believed that cellular calcium changes are perceived by sensor molecules, including calcium binding proteins. The calcineurin B-like (CBL) protein family represents a unique group of calcium sensors in plants. A member of the family, CBL1, is highly inducible by multiple stress signals, implicating CBL1 in stress response pathways. When the CBL1 protein level was increased in transgenic Arabidopsis plants, it altered the stress response pathways in these plants. Although drought-induced gene expression was enhanced, gene induction by cold was inhibited. In addition, CBL1-overexpressing plants showed enhanced tolerance to salt and drought but reduced tolerance to freezing. By contrast, cbl1 null mutant plants showed enhanced cold induction and reduced drought induction of stress genes. The mutant plants displayed less tolerance to salt and drought but enhanced tolerance to freezing. These studies suggest that CBL1 functions as a positive regulator of salt and drought responses and a negative regulator of cold response in plants.     

Comparative proteomic analysis of the Arabidopsis cbl1 mutant in response to salt stress

Many environmental stimuli, including light, biotic and abiotic stress factors, induce changes in cellular Ca(2+) concentrations in plants. Such Ca(2+) signatures are perceived by sensor molecules such as calcineurin B-like (CBL) proteins. AtCBL1, a member of the CBL family which is highly inducible by multiple stress signals, is known to function in the salt stress signal transduction pathway and to positively regulate the plant tolerance to salt. To shed light into the molecular mechanisms of the salt stress response mediated by AtCBL1, a two-dimensional DIGE proteomic approach was applied to identify the differentially expressed proteins in Arabidopsis wild-type and cbl1 null mutant plants in response to salt stress. Seventy-three spots were found altered in expression by least 1.2-fold and 50 proteins were identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS, including some well-known and novel salt-responsive proteins. These proteins function in various processes, such as signal transduction, ROS scavenging, energy production, carbon fixation, metabolism, mRNA processing, protein processing and structural stability. Receptor for activated C kinase 1C (RACK1C, spot 715), a WD40 repeat protein, was up-regulated in the cbl1 null mutant, and two rack1c mutant lines showed decreased tolerance to salt stress, suggesting that RACK1C plays a role in salt stress resistance. In conclusion, our work demonstrated the advantages of the proteomic approach in studies of plant biology and identified candidate proteins in CBL1-mediated salt stress signaling network.     

Structure and function of the CBL–CIPK Ca2+-decoding system in plant calcium signaling

Calcium is a crucial messenger in many growth and developmental processes in plants. The central mechanism governing how plant cells perceive and respond to environmental stimuli is calcium signal transduction, a process through which cellular calcium signals are recognized, decoded, and transmitted to elicit downstream responses. In the initial decoding of calcium signals, Ca²⁺ sensor proteins that bind Ca²⁺ and activate downstream signaling components are implicated, thereby regulating specific physiological and biochemical processes. After calcineurin B-like proteins (CBLs) sense these Ca²⁺ signatures, these proteins interact selectively with CBL-interacting protein kinases (CIPKs), thereby forming CBL/CIPK complexes, which are involved in decoding calcium signals. Therefore, specificity, diversity, and complexity are the main characteristics of the CBL-CIPK signaling system. However, additional CBLs, CIPKs, and CBL/CIPK complexes remain to be identified in plants, and the specific functions of their abiotic and biotic stress signaling will need to be further dissected. Therefore, a much-needed synthesis of recent findings is important to further the study of CBL-CIPK signaling systems. Here, we review the structure of CBLs and CIPKs, discuss the current knowledge of CBL–CIPK pathways that decode calcium signals in Arabidopsis, and link plant responses to a variety of environmental stresses with specific CBL/CIPK complexes. This will provide a foundation for future research on genetically engineered resistant plants with enhanced tolerance to various environmental stresses.     

Constitutive overexpression of the calcium sensor CBL5 confers osmotic or drought stress tolerance in Arabidopsis

Calcium serves as a critical messenger in many adaptation and developmental processes. Cellular calcium signals are detected and transmitted by sensor molecules such as calcium-binding proteins. In plants, the calcineurin B-like protein (CBL) family represents a unique group of calcium sensors and plays a key role in decoding calcium transients by specifically interacting with and regulating a family of CBL-interacting protein kinases (CIPKs). In this study, we report the role of Arabidopsis CBL5 gene in high salt or drought tolerance. CBL5 gene is expressed significantly in green tissues, but not in roots. CBL5 was not induced by abiotic stress conditions such as high salt, drought or low temperature. To determine whether the CBL5 gene plays a role in stress response pathways, we ectopically expressed the CBL5 protein in transgenic Arabidopsis plants (35S-CBL5) and examined plant responses to abiotic stresses. CBL5-overexpressing plants displayed enhanced tolerance to high salt or drought stress. CBL5 overexpression also rendered plants more resistant to high salt or hyperosmotic stress during early development (i.e., seed germination) but did not alter their response to abiscisic acid (ABA). Furthermore, overexpression of CBL5 alters the gene expression of stress gene markers, such as RD29A, RD29B and Kin1 etc. These results suggest that CBL5 may function as a positive regulator of salt or drought responses in plants.     

植物CBL-CIPK信号系统的功能及其作用机理

由类钙调磷酸酶B蛋白CBLs及其互作蛋白激酶CIPKs组成的信号系统是植物逆境胁迫信号传导的关键调控节点,是近几年植物逆境胁迫生理与分子生物学研究领域中的重要热点之一。文章主要介绍了CBLs和CIPKs基本功能结构域、CBL-CIPK信号系统在各种生物和非生物逆境胁迫响应、营养物质吸收及植物激素应答中的生物学功能及其作用机理。     

A Novel Role for Arabidopsis CBL1 in Affecting Plant Responses to Glucose and Gibberellin during Germination and Seedling Development

Glucose and phytohormones such as abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene, and gibberellin (GA) coordinately regulate germination and seedling development. However, there is still inadequate evidence to link their molecular roles in affecting plant responses. Calcium acts as a second messenger in a diverse range of signal transduction pathways. As calcium sensors unique to plants, calcineurin B-like (CBL) proteins are well known to modulate abiotic stress responses. In this study, it was found that CBL1 was induced by glucose in Arabidopsis. Loss-of-function mutant cbl1 exhibited hypersensitivity to glucose and paclobutrazol, a GA biosynthetic inhibitor. Several sugar-responsive and GA biosynthetic gene expressions were altered in the cbl1 mutant. CBL1 protein physically interacted with AKINβ1, the regulatory β subunit of the SnRK1 complex which has a central role in sugar signaling. Our results indicate a novel role for CBL1 in modulating responses to glucose and GA signals.     

The calcium sensor calcineurin B-like 9 modulates abscisic acid sensitivity and biosynthesis in Arabidopsis

Calcium plays a pivotal role in plant responses to several stimuli, including pathogens, abiotic stresses, and hormones. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying calcium functions are poorly understood. It is hypothesized that calcium serves as second messenger and, in many cases, requires intracellular protein sensors to transduce the signal further downstream in the pathways. The calcineurin B-like proteins (CBLs) represent a unique family of calcium sensors in plant cells. Here, we report our analysis of the CBL9 member of this gene family. Expression of CBL9 was inducible by multiple stress signals and abscisic acid (ABA) in young seedlings. When CBL9 gene function was disrupted in Arabidopsis thaliana plants, the responses to ABA were drastically altered. The mutant plants became hypersensitive to ABA in the early developmental stages, including seed germination and post-germination seedling growth. In addition, seed germination in the mutant also showed increased sensitivity to inhibition by osmotic stress conditions produced by high concentrations of salt and mannitol. Further analyses indicated that increased stress sensitivity in the mutant may be a result of both ABA hypersensitivity and increased accumulation of ABA under the stress conditions. The cbl9 mutant plants showed enhanced expression of genes involved in ABA signaling, such as ABA-INSENSITIVE 4 and 5. This study has identified a calcium sensor as a common element in the ABA signaling and stress-induced ABA biosynthesis pathways.     

A maize calcineurin B‐like interacting protein kinase ZmCIPK42 confers salt stress tolerance

Calcineurin B‐like (CBL) and CBL‐interacting protein kinase (CIPK) play a crucial role in biotic and abiotic stress responses. However, the roles of different CIPKs in biotic and abiotic stress responses are less well characterized. In this study, we identified a mutation leading to an early protein termination of the maize CIPK gene ZmCIPK42 that undergoes a G to A mutation at the coding region via searching for genes involved in salt stress tolerance and ion homeostasis from maize with querying the EMS mutant library of maize B73. The mutant zmcipk42 plants have less branched tassel and impaired salt stress tolerance at the seedling stage. Quantitative real‐time PCR analysis revealed that ZmCIPK42was expressed in diverse tissues and was induced by NaCl stress. A yeast two‐hybrid screen identified a proteinase inhibitor (ZmMPI) as well as calcineurin B‐like protein 1 and protein 4 (ZmCBL1, ZmCBL4) as interaction partners of ZmCIPK42. These interactions were further confirmed by bimolecular fluorescence complementation in plant cells. Moreover, over‐expressing ZmCIPK42 resulted in enhanced tolerance to high salinity in both maize and Arabidopsis. These findings suggest that ZmCIPK42 is a positive regulator of salt stress tolerance and is a promising candidate gene to improve salt stress tolerance in maize through genetic manipulation.