巴西橡胶树赤霉素信号转导途径HbRGA1结构和功能分析

DELLA蛋白是赤霉素激素信号负调控因子,具有抑制植物生长发育的作用。解析其家族成员结构与功能将有助于揭示橡胶树DELLA蛋白家族成员调控橡胶树生长发育的机制。本研究从橡胶树热研73397叶片中克隆HbRGA1的cDNA全长序列。该基因长为2136 bp,含1839 bp的ORF,编码613个氨基酸。HbRGA1蛋白序列包含DELLA和GRAS保守结构域,与杨树、木薯和橡胶树DELLA基因相似性高达82.5%。qRT-PCR分析发现HbRGA1在橡胶树叶片中表达量高,在树皮和胶乳中表达量极低。叶片中HbRGA1表达量受喷施赤霉素和脱落酸等诱导显著上调。本研究表明HbRGA1与橡胶树赤霉素等激素信号密切相关,为深入研究其在橡胶树生长发育中的结构和功能打下良好基础。     

巴西橡胶树HbMKK4基因的克隆及表达分析

采用RACE技术,从橡胶树‘热研7-33-97’中克隆了1个促分裂原活化蛋白激酶的激酶(MKK)基因HbMKK4。该基因全长cDNA序列1 580bp,编码框1 059bp,编码352个氨基酸,含有S_TKc结构域,其编码蛋白的分子量为38.83kD,理论等电点为9.36。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,HbMKK4在橡胶树的根、树皮、胶乳及叶片中均有表达。割胶、茉莉酸甲酯和乙烯利均能上调胶乳中HbMKK4基因的表达,基因相对表达量分别在割胶后2h、茉莉酸甲酯处理8h和乙烯利处理4h后达到最高。研究结果推测HbMKK4可能通过MAPK信号途径参与茉莉酸信号途径的响应,可能在天然橡胶生物合成调控中起关键作用。     

巴西橡胶树一个AP2／EREBP转录因子的克隆及表达分析

本文采用RACE技术从巴西橡胶树中鉴定出一个AP2／EREBP转录因子。该转录因子全长cDNANl225bp,最长开放阅读框699bp,预测编码蛋白包含232个氨基酸;序列比对分析发现,该转录因子具有一段保守的AP2／EREBP结构域,与拟南芥Soloist（At4g13040）具有较高的相似性,将该基因命名HbSoloist。半定量胙PcR分析结果表明,HbSoloist在巴西橡胶树的胶乳、叶片、树皮和花中均有表达。与健康橡胶树相比,死皮树胶乳HbSoloist表达量明显下降。研究发HbSoloist表达受乙烯利、茉莉酸和低温处理调控,表明HbSoloist基因可能在巴西橡胶树乙烯、茉莉酸和低温反应中发挥作用。     

乙烯利诱导胶乳基因HbEtIe的克隆与表达分析

在成功构建巴西橡胶树(Hevea brasiliensis)胶乳差异表达cDNA消减文库的基础上,利用RACE技术成功克隆了一个新的乙烯利诱导表达胶乳基因HbEtIe。分析表明,该基因含有1个158 bp的内含子和2个长度分别为92 bp和178 bp的外显子;cDNA全长551 bp,包含1个270 bp的完整阅读框,174 bp的3′-UTR和107 bp的5′-UTR,推导氨基酸序列中含有一个未知功能结构域DUF581。HbEtIe基因在乙烯利刺激条件下的胶乳中特异性表达并受到乙烯利的调控,其表达量随处理时间的延长而增强。HbEtIe基因与拟南芥衰老相关基因SAG102具有较高的同源性暗示,HbEtIe可能参与了乙烯利诱导巴西橡胶树乳管衰老的分子调控。     

R2R3型MYB转录因子HbMYB88结构和功能分析

R2R3-MYB转录因子参与植物生长发育、激素信号传导和逆境响应等生物过程。为了揭示橡胶树MYB家族成员结构与功能,从橡胶树热研73397（RY73397）叶片中克隆HbMYB88的cDNA全长。该基因长为1 848 bp,含1 440 bp的ORF,编码479个氨基酸。HbMYB88蛋白序列包含2个SANT保守结构域,存在HTH三级结构,与拟南芥AtMYB88、AtMYB124具有高度相似性。AtMYB88、AtMYB124与干旱等逆境相关且未划分亚族。qRT-PCR分析发现HbMYB88在橡胶树茎和花中表达量高,在根、叶片、树皮和胶乳中表达量极低。热研73397组培苗叶片喷施过氧化氢（H₂O₂）和脱落酸（ABA）等处理后,HbMYB88表达量受诱导显著上调表达。表明HbMYB88与橡胶树抗旱等逆境反应有关,为深入研究其结构和功能打下基础。     

橡胶树半胱氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂HbCYS2的克隆与表达分析

半胱氨酸蛋白酶抑制剂(Cystatin,CYS)广泛参与植物的生长发育调控、生物与非生物胁迫应答过程。从橡胶树中获得1个CYS基因,ORF长度为687 bp,编码1个由228个氨基酸残基组成的蛋白,生物信息学分析发现该蛋白含有2个CYS结构域,以及1个含有30个氨基酸残基的信号肽,为分泌蛋白,推测属于植物CYS II型,命名为Hb CYS2(Gen Bank:KX161925)。表达分析发现Hb CYS2在胶乳中高表达,并且受割胶和产量调节剂ET调控;在叶片组织中,Hb CYS2对多主棒孢侵染表现出明显应答。由此推测,胶乳中Hb CYS2在橡胶树胶乳再生、以及割胶伤害应答中发挥一定的调控作用,叶片中Hb CYS2参与橡胶树棒孢落叶病的防御或抵抗。     

人类高度进化保守基因hnulp1中转录抑制区段的定位

hnulp1是具有碱性螺旋-环-螺旋(bHLH)的新的一类转录因子.其C端含一个DUF654结构域,其序列在同源基因中相当保守,但该结构域功能未知.利用GAL4转录因子中的DNA结合结构域(DBD)和含有与DBD结合序列的荧光素酶报告基因(GAL4-Luc)质粒,构建了哺乳动物细胞转录因子活性分析系统,随后利用GAL4-Luc荧光素酶报告基因对5种含DUF654结构域的不同缺失片段转录抑制活性进行检测.检测结果表明,该基因DUF654结构域中从Δ228-407氨基酸区段具有强烈的转录抑制活性.该结果为进一步研究DUF654结构域的功能和hnulp1基因转录调控的机制奠定了基础.     

橡胶树乳管细胞中与HbMADS4互作蛋白的筛选

MADS-box转录因子在植物的生长发育、花器官的形成、信号传导、参与次生代谢物合成等方面发挥重要的作用。在前期研究中我们获得了一个在橡胶树自根幼态无性系和供体胶乳中差异表达的MADS-box转录因子基因HbMADS4,初步发现HbMADS4负调控小橡胶粒子蛋白基因(HbSRPP)的表达。为深入研究HbMADS4的生物学功能,以HbMADS4为诱饵蛋白,利用酵母双杂交从橡胶树胶乳cDNA文库中筛选与其相互作用的蛋白。通过阳性克隆的筛选、复筛、回转验证和生物信息学分析,初步获得了10个与诱饵蛋白相互作用的靶蛋白。对这些靶蛋白的功能分析,将为进一步研究HbMADS4在橡胶树乳管细胞中的生物学功能提供重要信息。     

菜粉蝶osiris基因家族鉴定与发育动态

osiris基因家族是昆虫特异性基因,迄今尚未在昆虫纲以外的物种中发现同源基因。本研究利用菜粉蝶转录组数据,鉴定了菜粉蝶16个osiris基因家族成员,分属11个亚家族。通过与菜粉蝶基因组比对,发现菜粉蝶osiris基因均为断裂基因,外显子数量为3-15个;通过结构域分析,发现菜粉蝶Osiris完整编码蛋白含有信号肽和一个未知功能结构域DUF1676,且多数Osiris蛋白含跨膜结构域。系统发育分析表明,osiris基因家族成员与其他昆虫种类相应成员更似直系同源,而非种内基因扩张,再次验证了osiris基因是在昆虫物种分化之前就已形成的多基因家族。发育转录组基因表达分析表明,osiris家族不同成员表达量在不同发育阶段趋势几乎完全一致,多在菜粉蝶1龄幼虫和5龄幼虫高表达,卵期、蛹期与成虫期低表达,预示着osiris基因家族不同成员转录调控机制的相似性与发育的相关性。     

巴西橡胶树一个编码含有C2结构域蛋白cDNA的克隆及表达分析

本研究根据从巴西橡树胶乳cDNA文库中获得的一个EST片段的序列信息设计引物,通过RACE的方法获得了橡胶树编码含有C2结构域蛋白的cDNA(命名为HbC2)。序列分析表明,HbC2长为1185bp,含有813bp的阅读框,140bp的5'-UTR和232bp的3'-UTR,编码270个氨基酸,分子量为30.9KD,等电点为6.29,含有保守的C2结构域。半定量RT-PCR分析表明HbC2在花、芽、叶、胶乳和树皮中都有表达,其中在胶乳中表达量最高。茉莉酸可抑制HbC2的表达,乙烯对HbC2的表达没有影响。此研究为进一步研究C2蛋白基因在橡胶树中的生物学功能奠定基础。     

Identification of natural rubber and characterization of rubber biosynthetic activity in fig tree

Natural rubber was extracted from the fig tree (Ficus carica) cultivated in Korea as part of a survey of rubber producing plants. Fourier transform infrared and (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of samples prepared by successive extraction with acetone and benzene confirmed that the benzene-soluble residues are natural rubber, cis-1,4-polyisoprene. The rubber content in the latex of fig tree was about 4%, whereas the rubber content in the bark, leaf, and fruit was 0.3%, 0.1%, and 0.1%, respectively. Gel-permeation chromatography revealed that the molecular size of the natural rubber from fig tree is about 190 kD. Similar to rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) and guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray), rubber biosynthesis in fig tree is tightly associated with rubber particles. The rubber transferase in rubber particles exhibited a higher affinity for farnesyl pyrophosphate than for isopentenyl pyrophosphate, with apparent K(m) values of 2.8 and 228 microM, respectively. Examination of latex serum from fig tree by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed major proteins of 25 and 48 kD in size, and several proteins with molecular mass below 20 and above 100 kD. Partial N-terminal amino acid sequencing and immunochemical analyses revealed that the 25- and 48-kD proteins were novel and not related to any other suggested rubber transferases. The effect of EDTA and Mg(2+) ion on in vitro rubber biosynthesis in fig tree and rubber tree suggested that divalent metal ion present in the latex serum is an important factor in determining the different rubber biosynthetic activities in fig tree and rubber tree.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of two cDNAs encoding 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase from Hevea brasiliensis

1-Deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR, EC: 1.1.1.267) is the second enzyme in the 2C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway, one of the two pathways in plants that can produce isoprenoids. The MEP pathway is the source of isoprene emitted from leaves, but rubber production is believed to result primarily from the mevalonic acid (MVA) pathway. Two cDNAs for DXR designated HbDXR1 and HbDXR2 were isolated from leaves and latex of rubber tree using RT-PCR based methods. Both cDNAs contain an open reading frame (ORF) of 1416bp encoding 471 amino acids with a molecular mass of about 51kDa. The deduced HbDXRs show extensive sequence similarities to that of other plant DXRs (73-87% identity). Molecular modeling revealed that the two HbDXRs contain all typical characteristics of DXR and share spatial structures, which are very similar to that of Escherichia coli DXR. Phylogenetic and DNA gel blot analyses suggested that a duplication of the DXR gene has occurred in the rubber tree. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis showed that the HbDXR genes are differentially regulated in various tissues of the rubber tree. The HbDXR2 was more highly expressed in clone RRIM 600 than in the wild type, and this is consistent with higher rubber content of this clone. While 2-chloroethane phosphonic acid (ethephon) significantly increased latex yield, it only transiently induced the HbDXR2 gene. The expression of HbDXR2 in the latex suggests its important role in isoprenoid biosynthesis by substrate molecules, indicating that the MEP pathway may have some indirect roles in the biosynthesis of rubber.     

Proteomic analysis of latex from the rubber-producing plant Taraxacum brevicorniculatum

Many plants produce latex, a specialized, metabolically active cytoplasm. This is generally regarded as a defensive trait but latex may also possess additional functions. We investigated the role of latex in the dandelion species Taraxacum brevicorniculatum that contains considerable amounts of high-quality natural rubber by carrying out a comprehensive analysis of the latex proteome. We developed reliable protocols for the preparation of protein samples for one-dimensional gel electrophoresis, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and subsequent mass spectrometry analysis, which led to 278 unique identifications. A gene ontology classification system based on comparisons with known Arabidopsis thaliana root proteins showed that dandelion proteins involved in lipid metabolism and transport were enriched in the latex proteome, whereas those involved in stress responses were not. We also found that proteins involved in rubber biosynthesis were distributed among different fractions of the latex proteome.     

Cloning and characterization of cDNA encoding farnesyl diphosphate synthase from rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis)

Commercially used natural rubber (cis-1,4-polyisoprene) is a secondary metabolite of the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). Previous studies have shown the involvement of a prenyl transferase in the final steps of natural rubber biosynthesis which includes polymerization of isopentenyl pyrophosphate into rubber. Using synthetic oligonucleotides corresponding to the partial amino acid sequences of this protein as probes to screen a laticifer-specific cDNA library, we have isolated a full-length cDNA which encodes a 47 kDa protein with strong homology to farnesyl diphosphate synthases from many species. The catalytic activity of this protein was confirmed by complementing the deletion yeast mutant. In Hevea, this gene is expressed in latex producing cells and in the epidermal region of the rubber plant suggesting a dual role for the protein in the biosyntheses of rubber and other isoprenoids. Although the expression level of this gene is not significantly affected by hormone treatment (e.g. ethylene), regeneration of latex due to tapping increases its expression level.