BnFAD2、BnFAD3和BnFATB基因的共干扰对油菜种子脂肪酸组分的影响

甘蓝型油菜是一种重要的油料作物,为了改良其种子脂肪酸组分,提升其经济价值,本研究分析了油菜种子发育时期脂肪酸合成积累模式及BnFAD2、BnFAD3、BnFATB基因的表达规律,认为这3个基因在种子发育中后期(授粉后25d起)的高效表达对油酸合成积累有着重要影响。通过Napin启动子诱导对油菜植株中BnFAD2、BnFAD3、BnFATB基因进行RNAi共干扰抑制,以达到提升油酸含量的目的。试验结果表明,转基因油菜种子中BnFAD2、BnFAD3、BnFATB基因的表达受到强烈抑制,种子中油酸含量由66.76%提升至82.98%,且油脂合成的相关基因同步出现表达上调。     

油菜种子特异表达napin基因启动子的克隆及序列分析

通过PCR扩增,从油菜（Brassica napus cv.XY15)中克隆了种子特异表达napin基因启动子,序列分析表明,该启动子有1147个核苷酸,与已报道的序列比较,其核苷酸的同源性为99.9%和99.4%,这是一个新的napin基因启动子,已将其登录到GenBank,登录号为AF420598.     

Calgene获得植物油专利

Calgerie公司已获得一项有关种子-特异性启动子napin的专利,napin是许多公司遗传工程植物油产品的关键成份。此项5,420,034号美国专利涉及3个DNA构建物中的种子一特异性启动子,其中包括napin,还涉及含此构建物的芸苔属宿主植物。 就油料改良而言,种子特异性启动子保证了转移油料基因编码的只是植物贮藏油料,并且对植物本身没有影响。由于长度适宜和定时性,napin启动子是植物油料遗传工程中最常用的启动子。     

甘蓝型油菜MADS-box基因家族的鉴定与系统进化分析

MADS-box基因家族参与调控开花时间、花器官分化、根系生长、分生组织分化、子房和配子发育、果实膨大及衰老等植物生长发育的重要过程。基于甘蓝型油菜(Brassica napus)基因组测序数据,利用生物信息学方法对甘蓝型油菜MADS-box基因家族进行鉴定和注释及基因结构与系统进化分析。结果显示,在甘蓝型油菜中鉴定出307个MADS-box基因家族成员,根据进化关系可将其分为两大类型,I型(M-type)包含α、β、γ三个亚家族,II型(MIKC-type)包括MIKCC和MIKC*两个亚家族,MIKCC可进一步分为13个小类;甘蓝型油菜A基因组染色体上分布的MADS-box基因多于C基因组。在基因结构上,MIKC-type亚家族基因序列普遍比M-type长且含有较多的外显子;M-type亚家族蛋白序列中的motif数量为2–5个,MIKC-type亚家族蛋白序列中平均含有7个motif。拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)与甘蓝型油菜MADS-box基因共线性分析结果显示,全基因组复制事件对MADS-box基因家族尤其是MIKC亚家族的扩张起重要作用;MIKC亚家族基因在进化过程中受到的选择压力约为M-type的2倍,这表明MIKC-type亚家族在进化过程中被选择性保留。     

芸薹属(Brassica napus,B.rapa,B.oleracea) CAMTA3基因家族的鉴定及生物信息学分析

芸薹属(Brassica)植物(甘蓝型油菜,白菜,甘蓝)是重要的经济作物,它们之间的关系可用禹氏三角表示.CAMTA是在进化过程中高度保守的一类转录因子家族,该家族成员在芸薹属植物抗逆境胁迫过程中具有重要作用.为了探讨芸薹属CAMTA3基因家族的功能,本研究利用生物信息学手段,鉴定了芸薹属(白菜,甘蓝和甘蓝型油菜)CAMTA3基因家族的8个基因,并从蛋白质的理化性质、家族进化与基因结构和上游启动子等方面进行了分析研究.分析表明,芸薹属CAMTA3基因家族8个成员在进化过程中具有较高的保守性,其亲缘关系与禹氏三角理论相符,且各成员在植物响应抗胁迫过程中占重要地位.研究结果为芸薹属CAMTA3基因家族的功能研究提供了一定的信息基础.     

甘蓝型油菜BnGOLS1基因启动子的克隆、序列分析及瞬时表达

以甘蓝型油菜‘德油五号’基因组DNA为模板,通过反向PCR扩增得到肌醇半乳糖苷合成酶基因（BnGOLS1）启动子片段,长度为827bp。PLACE和PlantCARE启动子预测工具分析表明：序列中含有TATA-Box、CAAT-Box等基本转录元件,以及ABRE、DRE、HSE、w-Box等顺式作用元件。将克隆得到的BnGOLS1启动子取代pBI121中的CaMV35S启动子,构建BnGOLS1启动子控制报告基因的GUS表达载体pBI-GS-GUS,通过农杆菌介导的方法在油菜组织中进行瞬时表达。GUS染色结果表明BnGOLS1启动子可以驱动GUS基因在油菜组织中的表达。     

甘蓝型油菜γ-TMT基因的克隆及其植物表达载体的构建

应用聚合酶链式反应技术(PCR)扩增了甘蓝型油菜γ-TMT基因,并将其克隆到pMD18-T vector载体上,对重组子进行PCR检测和限制性内切酶分析,并测定了DNA全序列.结果表明,克隆片段全长为1 044 bp.将甘蓝型油菜γ-TMT基因定向克隆到植物表达载体pCambia1300的35S启动子下游,构建了该基因的植物超表达载体.     

甘蓝型油菜的遗传转化

甘蓝型油菜的各种外植体经遗传转化、组织培养后可以再生为转基因植株,但再生频率会因外植体的基因型、年龄、培养基添加成分和农杆菌共培养的不同而发生变化。转化方法包括农杆菌介导转化、基因枪法、花粉介导法、PEG介导法等,其应用前景非常广阔。甘蓝型油菜的遗传转化在其品质改良、抗逆性提高、雄性不育系的获得和一些特殊性状方面都取得了很大成就。简要介绍甘蓝型油菜的再生体系建立、转化方法及所取得的部分成就。     

RFLP和AFLP分析白菜型油菜和甘蓝型油菜遗传多样性及其在油菜改良中的应用价值

采用RFLP和AFLP标记对来自中国和欧美的7份甘蓝型油菜和22份白菜型油菜进行了遗传多样性分析。在这29份材料中,166个酶-探针组合和2对AFLP引物共检测到1477个RFLP标记和183个AFLP标记。RFLP数据显示以拟南芥EST克隆作探针比用油菜基因组克隆做探针能检测到更多的多态性位点,且采用EcoR Ⅰ或BamH Ⅰ酶切比HindⅢ酶切多态性好,白菜型油菜和甘蓝型油菜中基因的拷贝数平均都为3个左右。UPGMA聚类分析表明中国白菜型油菜的遗传多样性比甘蓝型油菜和欧美白菜型油菜丰富,欧美甘蓝型油菜与欧美白菜型油菜聚为一类,而与中国甘蓝型油菜差异更大。中国白菜型油菜丰富的遗传多样性为中国甘蓝型油菜的改良提供了宝贵的资源,揭示了利用白菜型油菜A基因组和甘蓝型油菜A基因组间亚基因组杂种优势的可能性。     

棉花PEPC基因种子特异性ihpRNA表达载体的构建及鉴定

磷酸烯醇式丙酮酸羧化酶(phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase,PEPC)是控制植物体中蛋白质和脂肪酸含量比例的关键酶。本研究从棉花中克隆得到PEPC基因,长度为433bp,并将该基因的正反义片段分别和种子特异性启动子napin启动子(1123bp)、α球蛋白B基因启动子(1149bp)连接,插入到植物表达载体pCADS1341中。经酶切和PCR鉴定,成功的构建了PEPC基因的种子特异性ihpRNA表达载体pCADSNPSPA和pCADSBPSPA,为后期高含油量棉花材料的选育打下了基础。     

A fern spore storage protein is genetically similar to the 1.7 S seed storage protein ofBrassica napus

The ostrich fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris L., contains two globulin spore storage proteins of 2.2 S and 11.3 S, with physical characteristics similar to those of seed storage proteins of Brassica napus (rapeseed) and Raphanus sativus (radish). By the use of a cloned cDNA that encodes the 1.7 S B. napus storage protein (napin), gene sequences that hybridized with napin were detected in fern nuclear DNA, and a 900-nucleotide homologous mRNA was detected in developing spores. In vitro translation of this fern mRNA produced a 22-kD polypeptide comparable in size to the 21-kD precursor polypeptide identified in Brassica. No hybridizations were observed between the Brassica 12 S clone and either fern DNA or developing spore mRNA.     

The 5[prime] Flanking Regions of Vicilin and Napin Storage Protein Genes Are Down-Regulated by Desiccation in Transgenic Tobacco

Drying of seeds, when imposed prematurely, elicits a switch in metabolism; events unique to development, such as synthesis of storage protein, are terminated, whereas syntheses associated with germination and growth are initiated. To determine the role of desiccation in down-regulating the expression of genes for storage proteins, the desiccation responsiveness of the 5[prime] and 3[prime] regulatory regions of the genes encoding the pea storage protein vicilin and the Brassica napus storage protein napin was tested in transgenic tobacco seed. Chimeric genes were introduced into tobacco; these genes consisted of the coding region of the reporter gene for [beta]-glucuronidase (GUS) and 5[prime] and/or 3[prime] regions from the vicilin or napin genes or, as controls, the same regions derived from constitutively expressed genes, presumed to be desiccation insensitive. In transgenic seed expressing the gene constructs containing the vicilin or napin promoters, GUS activities declined during late seed development, and more dramatically, after imbibition of mature dry seed or prematurely dried seed. In contrast, GUS activities increased after seed rehydration when the constitutive viral promoter replaced the storage-protein gene 5[prime] region. Transient expression assays support the hypothesis that premature drying down-regulates the expression of the storage-protein gene promoter. Following desiccation, this region may become insensitive to positive controlling factors; alternatively, changes to trans-acting factors may occur.     

Targeting of the Arabidopsis homomeric acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase to plastids of rapeseeds.

Acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase) occurs in at least two forms in rapeseed (Brassica napus): a homomeric (HO) and presumably cytosolic isozyme and a heteromeric, plastidial isozyme. We investigated whether the HO-ACCase of Arabidopsis can be targeted to plastids of B. napus seeds. A chloroplast transit peptide and the napin promoter were fused to the Arabidopsis ACC1 gene and transformed into B. napus, with the following results. (a) The small subunit transit peptide was sufficient to provide import of this very large protein into developing seed plastids. (b) HO-ACCase in isolated plastids was found to be biotinylated at a level comparable to extraplastidial HO-ACCase. (c) In vitro assays of HO-ACCase in isolated plastids from developing seeds indicate that it occurs as an enzymatically active form in the plastidial compartment. (d) ACCase activity in mature B. napus seeds is normally very low; however, plants expressing the SSU/ACC1 gene had 10- to 20-fold higher ACCase activity in mature seeds, suggesting that plastid localization prevents the turnover of HO-ACCase. (e) ACCase over-expression altered seed fatty acid composition, with the largest effect being an increase approximately 5% by the expression of HO-ACCase in plastids.     

Genetic engineering of a quantitative trait: metabolic and genetic parameters influencing the accumulation of laurate in rapeseed

Laurate can be produced in the seed reserve oil of Brassica napus (rapeseed) by the expression of an heterologous lauroyl acyl-carrier protein thioesterase under the control of a napin seed-storage protein promoter. Analysis of a large number of transgenic events, and their progeny after self-pollination, shows that laurate can accumulate to nearly 60% of the triglyceride acyl groups. Up to 40 mol% laurate the phenotype is correlated positively with the number of thioesterase gene copies. The use of a tandem gene construct elevates the average laurate content. This effect correlates with an increased average number of T-DNA insertions per event; no cis -inactivation of tandem genes is apparent. Above 40 mol% laurate other factors apparently limit the phenotype. The expression timing conferred by the napin promoter is unlikely to be limiting, as it covers almost the entire period of oil deposition. A more significant limitation resides in the second acylation reaction of oil biosynthesis, as shown by the very low incorporation of laurate at the sn -2 acyl group. The novel, high-laurate oil is consequently rich in sn -1,3-dilauroyl triglycerides, but its unusual composition appears to pose no problems for mobilization during seed germination.     

Utility of the Arabidopsis FAE1 and yeast SLC1-1 genes for improvements in erucic acid and oil content in rapeseed

High-erucic acid (HEA) Brassica napus cultivars are regaining interest in industrial contexts. Erucic acid and its derivatives are important renewable raw materials utilized in the manufacture of plastic films, in the synthesis of Nylon 13,13, and in the lubricant and emollient industries. Theoretically, the highest level of erucic acid that can be achieved by means of classical breeding is 66 mol%; however, using new approaches on the basis of genetic engineering, it might be possible to develop a B. napus cultivar containing levels of erucic acid significantly above 66 mol% (>80 mol%). In an attempt to increase the amounts of very-long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs), and erucic acid in particular, in Canadian HEA B. napus cultivars, we have focused on two targets using a transgenic approach. We examined both the role/function of the Arabidopsis thaliana FAE1 (fatty acid elongase) gene by expressing it under the control of the seed-specific napin promoter in B. napus germplasm with analysis of the changes in VLCFA content in the seed oil of transgenic lines, and the performance of the yeast SLC1-1 (sphingolipid compensation mutant) in B. napus cv. Hero transgenic progeny in the field. Here, we report analyses of the contents of 22:1, total VLCFAand oil in the seed oil, as well as seed yield of the field-grown FAE1 and SLC1-1 B. napus cv. Hero progeny.     

Structure of the rapeseed 1.7 S storage protein, napin, and its precursor

Napin (1.7 S protein) is a basic, low molecular weight storage protein synthesized in rapeseed (Brassica napus) embryos during seed development. Napin is composed of two polypeptide chains with molecular weights of 9000 and 4000 that are held together by disulfide bonds. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of a napin cDNA clone with that of napin peptide fragments established that napin is initially synthesized as a precursor of 178 residues. This polypeptide is subsequently processed through several proteolytic events, which ultimately generate the two mature napin chains, of 86 and 29 residues, respectively. Protein biosynthesis in vitro showed that the initial translation product (Mr 20,000) contains a signal sequence which is removed during transfer of the protein into the endoplasmic reticulum. Two additional peptides, of 22 and 19 residues, as well as the COOH-terminal residue, are also removed during maturation of napin, as deduced from the sequence comparison. Comparisons of the napin sequence with other known protein sequences established that there is a significant homology between napin and two other small seed proteins, the castor bean storage protein and a trypsin inhibitor from barley.     

High-level production of gamma-linolenic acid in Brassica juncea using a delta6 desaturase from Pythium irregulare

gamma-Linolenic acid (GLA), a nutritionally important fatty acid in mammals, is synthesized by a delta6 desaturase. Here, we report identification of PiD6, a new cDNA from the oleaginous fungus, Pythium irregulare, encoding a 459-amino acid protein that shares sequence similarity to carboxyl-directed desaturases from various species. Expression of PiD6 in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) revealed that it converts exogenously supplied linoleic acid into GLA, indicating that it encodes a delta6 fatty acid desaturase. Expression of the desaturase in Brassica juncea under the control of the Brassica napus napin promoter resulted in production of three delta6 unsaturated fatty acids (18:2-6, 9; 18:3-6, 9, 12; and 18:4-6, 9, 12, 15) in seeds. Among them, GLA (18:3-6, 9, 12) is the most abundant and accounts for up to 40% of the total seed fatty acids. Lipid class and positional analysis indicated that GLA is almost exclusively incorporated into triacylglycerol (98.5%) with only trace amounts found in the other lipids. Within triacylglycerols, GLA is more abundant at the sn-2 position.