植物中逆境反应相关的WRKY转录因子研究进展

WRKY转录因子是植物体内一类比较大的转录因子家族,它在植物的生长发育以及抗逆境反应中起着非常重要的作用。本文综述了WRKY转录因子在植物应对冻害、干旱、盐害等非生物胁迫与病原菌、虫害等生物胁迫反应中的重要调控功能,并概括了WRKY转录因子在调控这些逆境反应中的机制。     

水稻OsWRKY转录因子对非生物胁迫响应的重叠表达特性分析

WRKY转录因子是植物一类比较大的基因家族,在水稻中已鉴定出102个成员。研究表明WRKY转录因子在植物生长发育、抗病耐逆等方面都具有重要的作用。本研究利用基因芯片数据结合实时定量分析,对水稻Os WRKY转录因子基因在不同的非生物逆境下的表达进行了分析,发现至少有33个Os WRKY基因同时对任何两种非生物胁迫因子做出响应,且所选20个基因中,13个基因可被ABA所诱导。OsWRKY基因这种重叠表达的特性,预示着这些基因在非生物逆境中具有功能多效性,对于培育抗逆境水稻品种具有重要的理论与实践意义。     

WRKY转录因子与植物逆境响应

WRKY转录因子是高等植物特有的一类转录调控因子,也是植物生命活动中不可或缺的调控枢纽。研究发现,WRKY转录因子参与植物生长发育过程及多种生物与非生物逆境响应。本文分析了WRKY转录因子的分类及结构,对其多种作用机制包括上游调控、下游调控、蛋白质相互作用等进行了归类,总结了近年来在各类植物上发现的WRKY转录因子调控植物生长发育和参与植物响应生物及非生物逆境的多重功能。并针对目前WRKY转录因子的研究所存在的问题,提出部分意见,为进一步挖掘WRKY家族的功能机制奠定了基础。     

miRNAs: Major modulators for crop growth and development under abiotic stresses

Cumulatively, biotic and abiotic stresses of various magnitudes can decrease the production of crops by 70%. miRNAs have emerged as a genetic tool with enormous potential that can be exploited to understand stress tolerance at the molecular level and eventually regulate stress in crops. Plant miRNA targets frequently fit into diverse families of TFs that control the expression of genes related to a certain trait. As key machinery in gene regulatory networks, it is agreed that a broad understanding of miRNAs will greatly increase our understanding of plant responses to environmental stresses. miRNA-led stress regulatory networks are being considered as novel tools for the development of abiotic stress tolerance in crops. At this time, we need to expand our knowledge about the modulatory role of miRNAs during environmental fluctuations. It has become exceedingly clear that with increased understanding of the role of miRNAs during stress, the techniques for using miRNA-mediated gene regulation to enhance plant stress tolerance will become more effective and reliable. In this review we present: (1) miRNAs as a potential avenue for the modulation of abiotic stresses, and (2) summarize the research progress regarding plant responses to stress. Current progress is explained through discussion of the identification and validation of several miRNAs that enhance crop tolerance of salinity, drought, etc., while missing links on different aspects of miRNAs related to abiotic stress tolerance are noted.     

植物TCP转录因子的作用机理及其应用研究进展

TCP转录因子是一类植物特有蛋白,含有保守的TCP domain,其中由60个氨基酸组成的b HLH结构是结合DNA和蛋白互作所必需的。TCP转录因子由于其广泛参与调控植物的生长发育过程(如分枝、株高、叶型、花型等)而备受关注。最近有报道显示,TCP转录因子在植物逆境胁迫应答中(如低温和高盐)同样发挥重要作用。TCP蛋白参与多种信号转导途径(如油菜素内酯、茉莉酸、赤霉素、细胞分裂素等),可能是连接生长发育和介导胁迫响应的一个交叉点。本文从分子生物学角度,系统综述了植物TCP转录因子的作用机理及其在激素应答、发育调控及环境胁迫响应等过程中的功能,以期为基因工程方法改良作物生长模式和抗性提供参考。