拟南芥莲座叶芥子油苷含量对水分胁迫的响应

芥子油苷(glucosinolates)是十字花科植物中一类含氮、含硫的次生代谢产物,与其水解产物在植物防御功能中有重要意义且与环境因子关系密切.通过控制供水的方式对营养生长时期的拟南芥幼苗进行水分胁迫,观察了土壤自然干旱对营养生长时期拟南芥莲座叶芥子油苷含量及组成的影响.结果表明,土壤自然干旱处理下,拟南芥莲座叶的芥子油苷总量从处理3 d起低于对照,且随着处理天数的增加与对照组的差异逐渐增大,脂肪族芥子油苷的响应均比较明显,与芥子油苷总量的变化趋势基本一致,而吲哚族芥子油苷对水分胁迫则不敏感.脂肪族中的4-甲基亚磺酰丁基芥子油苷(4-methylsulphinylbutyl GS,4MSOB)占脂肪族芥子油苷的比例最大,它的含量变化成为影响莲座叶中芥子油苷组合模式的主导因素.     

盐胁迫对拟南芥和盐芥莲座叶芥子油苷含量的影响

芥子油苷是十字花科植物中一类含氮、含硫的次生代谢产物,与其水解产物在植物防御功能中有重要意义且与环境因子关系密切。以模式植物拟南芥（Arabidopsis thaliana）和盐生模式植物盐芥（Thellungiella halophila）为研究对象,系统地分析了盐胁迫下二者芥子油苷组成和含量的变化规律。拟南芥（生长4周）和盐芥（生长6周）叶片的芥子油苷组成在盐胁迫后没有改变。拟南芥的芥子油苷总量、脂肪族芥子油苷总量、吲哚族芥子油苷总量受盐胁迫的影响均不显著,而盐芥的则随盐胁迫增强先减少、后增加并高于对照水平。拟南芥脂肪族的3MSOP、5MSOP和吲哚族的4OHI3M、4MOI3M随盐胁迫增强而含量降低,而脂肪族的6MSOH、吲哚族的I3M以及盐芥脂肪族的3MSOP则随盐胁迫增强有含量增加的趋势。拟南芥脂肪族的8MSOO和吲哚族的1MOI3M,盐芥脂肪族的3MTP、Allyl、10MSD和吲哚族的4MOI3M,在盐胁迫下的含量变化与盐芥芥子油苷总量的变化趋势一致。     

flg22诱导的拟南芥转录组分析及芥子油苷代谢途径的变化

flg22是细菌鞭毛蛋白N端的一段保守性极高的区域,能够诱导植物天然的免疫反应,为全面了解植物在受到细菌性病原菌侵害后的系统响应,利用Illumina Hiseq2000对flg22处理和未处理的拟南芥幼苗进行转录组测序。对两组数据进行差异表达分析,共获得1 200个差异表达基因,包括290个下调基因和910个上调基因。对差异表达基因进行GO富集分析和KEGG pathway富集分析,结果显示,flg22处理后,拟南芥在能量代谢、氨基酸代谢及次生代谢产物的生物合成等方面产生了巨大变化。芥子油苷是一类在植物防御病原菌的天然免疫反应中起重要作用的次生代谢产物,因此对芥子油苷代谢途径的变化进行了深入分析。根据测序结果,Flg22处理后吲哚族芥子油苷合成途径的基因表达水平显著提高,而脂肪族芥子油苷代谢途径几乎没有变化,进一步对吲哚族芥子油苷合成途径的关键酶基因进行Real Time RT-PCR的分析,验证了测序结果的正确性,证明了吲哚族芥子油苷在植物抗病防御反应中的重要作用。这为深入理解病原菌诱导的植物防御性反应及吲哚族芥子油苷的抗病机制提供了大量参考数据。     

拟南芥PMSR2对脂肪族芥子油苷侧链的修饰作用

芥子油苷是一类由氨基酸合成的次生代谢产物,脂肪族芥子油苷主要来源于甲硫氨酸,因侧链长度和结构的不同而拥有多样化的生物活性。根据拟南芥不同组织中芥子油苷组分和含量的特点及生物信息学分析,我们推断脂肪族芥子油苷的侧链修饰反应中可能存在由甲基亚磺酰基芥子油苷向甲硫基芥子油苷转化的还原反应,候选基因为甲硫氨酸硫还原酶2(Peptide Methionine Sulfoxide Reductase 2,PMSR2)。为了验证这一假设,我们构建了过量表达PMSR2基因的转基因拟南芥,对其芥子油苷组分及含量进行了测定,并与野生型和PMSR2基因缺失的突变体进行了对比分析,结果表明,PMSR2基因的过量表达并未使芥子油苷含量与组分发生明显变化,但PMSR2基因缺失的突变体与野生型相比,MS GSL/MT GSL的值显著提高,证明PMSR2参与了脂肪族芥子油苷侧链的修饰反应,可以将MS GSL中的硫还原生成MT GSL。该酶的鉴定进一步完善了对芥子油苷合成途径及其侧链修饰的认识,为深入研究脂肪族芥子油苷的生理功能奠定了理论基础。     

COI1参与茉莉酸调控拟南芥吲哚族芥子油苷生物合成过程

芥子油苷是一类具有防御作用的植物次生代谢产物,外源激素茉莉酸对吲哚族芥子油苷的合成具有强烈的诱导作用,但茉莉酸调控吲哚族芥子油苷生物合成的分子机制并不清楚。以模式植物拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)的野生型和coi1-22、coi1-23两种突变体为研究材料,通过茉莉酸甲酯(MeJA)处理,比较了拟南芥野生型和coi1突变体植株吲哚族芥子油苷含量、吲哚族芥子油苷合成前体色氨酸的生物合成基因(ASA1、TSA1和TSB1)、吲哚族芥子油苷生物合成基因(CYP79B2、CYP79B3和CYP83B1)及调控基因(MYB34和MYB51)的表达对MeJA的响应差异,由此确定茉莉酸信号通过COI1蛋白调控吲哚族芥子油苷生物合成,即茉莉酸信号通过信号开关COI1蛋白作用于转录因子MYB34和MYB51,进而调控吲哚族芥子油苷合成基因CYP79B2、CYP79B3、CYP83B1和前体色氨酸的合成基因ASA1、TSA1、TSB1。并且推断,COI1功能缺失后,茉莉酸信号可能通过其他未知调控因子或调控途径激活MYB34转录因子从而调控下游基因表达。     

脂肪族芥子油苷侧链修饰酶基因FMO_（GS-OX4）表达模式分析

芥子油苷是一类由氨基酸衍生而来的、在植物抗生物胁迫防御性反应中起重要作用的次生代谢产物,其生物活性与侧链结构密切相关。拟南芥中有5个黄素单氧化酶FMOGS-OX1-5具有催化芥子油苷侧链上硫原子氧化的活性,使甲基硫烷芥子油苷转变为甲基亚磺酰烷芥子油苷。前期研究工作表明,在5个FMOGS-OX基因缺失突变体中,除了fmogs-ox4外均表现出芥子油苷侧链结构变化的表型。为了深入揭示FMOGS-OX4的表达特性和它对芥子油苷侧链的修饰作用,利用GFP和GUS为报告基因,系统地分析了FMOGS-OX4在不同组织中的表达情况。结果表明FMOGS-OX4主要在花梗、叶片及角果的维管组织中表达,在正常生长条件下,FMOGS-OX4表达的空间位置与芥子油苷的分布不重叠,因而,酶与底物的分离可能是fmogs-ox4没有明显表型的主要原因。     

脂肪族芥子油苷侧链修饰酶基因FMOGS-OX4表达模式分析

芥子油苷是一类由氨基酸衍生而来的、在植物抗生物胁迫防御性反应中起重要作用的次生代谢产物,其生物活性与侧链结构密切相关。拟南芥中有5个黄素单氧化酶FMO_GS-OX1-5具有催化芥子油苷侧链上硫原子氧化的活性,使甲基硫烷芥子油苷转变为甲基亚磺酰烷芥子油苷。前期研究工作表明,在5个FMO_GS-OX基因缺失突变体中,除了fmo_gs-ox4外均表现出芥子油苷侧链结构变化的表型。为了深入揭示FMO_GS-OX4的表达特性和它对芥子油苷侧链的修饰作用,利用GFP和GUS为报告基因,系统地分析了FMO_GS-OX4在不同组织中的表达情况。结果表明FMO_GS-OX4主要在花梗、叶片及角果的维管组织中表达,在正常生长条件下,FMO_GS-OX4表达的空间位置与芥子油苷的分布不重叠,因而,酶与底物的分离可能是fmo_gs-ox4没有明显表型的主要原因。     

植物芥子油苷代谢及其转移

芥子油苷是一类含氮、含硫的植物次生代谢产物,主要分布于十字花科植物。芥子油苷及其降解产物具有多种生化活性,在植物防御方面也有重要作用。简要介绍芥子油苷的分布、合成、降解和在植物体内的转移。     

拟南芥漆酶基因AtLAC4参与生长及非生物胁迫响应

植物漆酶基因家族在拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)中共有17个成员,目前各基因的具体功能尚不十分清楚.该研究利用过量表达的方法初步分析了拟南芥AtLAC4的功能.GUS染色显示AtLAC4在拟南芥的维管组织中有较强的表达,并在叶片排水器中特异表达.AtLAC4过量表达导致植株木质素含量增多、次生壁加厚、植株变小和莲座叶叶柄变短.ABA对AtLAC4的表达具有明显的诱导作用,AtLAC4过量表达植株对外源ABA敏感;干旱处理后,AtLAC4过量表达植株的耐旱能力比野生型明显增强.以上结果表明,AtLAC4基因在调控植物生长发育及非生物胁迫响应中具有重要作用.     

不同产地大血藤次生代谢产物含量比较

对不同产地大血藤的不同营养器官的总鞣质、总生物碱、皂苷、木质素、绿原酸、总黄酮共6种次生代谢产物的含量进行测定与比较。结果显示：6种次生代谢产物在不同营养器官中的含量具有一定的差异,总含量以叶最高,老茎次之,幼茎最小。6种次生代谢产物除木质素茎含量较高外,其余5种均以叶片的含量最高,差异具有显著性。不同产地大血藤的6种次生代谢产物的含量具有显著性差异。通过逐步回归分析和通径分析,得知大血藤叶片次生代谢产物与土壤生态因子的关系密切。聚类分析显示庆元百山祖及天台的大雷山和天台山的大血藤叶片的次生代谢产物含量较高。     

Shade avoidance and the regulation of leaf inclination in Arabidopsis

As a rosette plant, Arabidopsis thaliana forms leaves near to the ground, which causes the plant to be vulnerable to shading by neighbours. One mechanism to avoid such shading is the regulation of leaf inclination, such that leaves can be raised to more vertical orientations to prevent neighbouring leaves from overtopping them. Throughout Arabidopsis rosette development, rosette leaves move to more vertical orientations when shaded by neighbouring leaves, exposed to low light levels or placed in the dark. After dark-induced reorientation of leaves, returning them to white light causes the leaves to reorient to more horizontal inclinations. These light-dependent leaf movements are more robust than, and distinct from, the diurnal movements of rosette leaves. However, the movements are gated by the circadian clock. The light-dependent leaf orientation response is mediated primarily through phytochromes A, B and E, with the orientation varying with the ratio of red light to far-red light, consistent with other shade-avoidance responses. However, even plants lacking these phytochromes were able to alter leaf inclination in response to white light, suggesting a role for other photoreceptors. In particular, we found significant changes in leaf inclination for plants exposed to green light. This green light response may be caused, in part, by light-dependent regulation of abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis.     

Efficiency of biochemical protection against toxic effects of accumulated salt differentiates Thellungiella halophila from Arabidopsis thaliana

Thellungiella halophila and Arabidopsis thaliana were irrigated with medium containing NaCl at various concentrations. The salt treatment resulted in a restriction of rosette biomass deposition in both species. In A. thaliana leaves, this inhibition was stronger than for T. halophila and was associated with strong inhibition of both leaf initiation and leaf expansion. At highest medium salinity, A. thaliana accumulated Na(+) and Cl(-) at higher levels than T. halophila, but similar leaf dehydration was observed in the two species. Proline accumulation, which increased with NaCl concentration, did not differentiate the two species. The magnitude of the electrolyte leakage and the level of lipid peroxidation (assessed through hydroxy fatty acid content) were modest in T. halophila and quite marked in A. thaliana. The detrimental effects of the salt on photosynthetic activity and stomatal conductance of A. thaliana leaves were much more important than in T. halophila leaves. The abundance of the CDSP32 thioredoxin, a critical component of the defence system against oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation, was found to be higher in T. halophila than in A. thaliana under control conditions and salt treatment. These results suggest that the rosette leaves of T. halophila exhibit more efficient protective mechanisms against Na(+) metabolic toxicity than those of A. thaliana.     

Growth form evolution and shifting habitat specialization in annual plants

Optimal plant growth form should vary across environments. We examined the potential for mutations causing large changes in growth form to produce new optimal phenotypes across light environments. We predicted that the upright growth form would be favoured in a light limiting environment as leaves were in a position to maximize light interception, while a rosette (leaves in a basal position) growth form would be favoured in a high light environment. Growth form genotypes of Brassica rapa (upright wild-type and rosette mutants) and Arabidopsis thaliana (large rosette wild-type and increasingly upright growth form mutants) were grown in a greenhouse in control (ambient) and filtered (low) light treatments. Compared to upright genotypes, rosette genotypes had relatively high fitness in control light but had a relatively large fitness reduction in filtered light. Our results demonstrate the potential importance of rapid growth form evolution in plant adaptation to new or changing environments.     

An Arabidopsis thaliana gene for methylsalicylate biosynthesis, identified by a biochemical genomics approach, has a role in defense

Emission of methylsalicylate (MeSA), and occasionally of methylbenzoate (MeBA), from Arabidopsis thaliana leaves was detected following the application of some forms of both biotic and abiotic stresses to the plant. Maximal emission of MeSA was observed following alamethicin treatment of leaves. A gene (AtBSMT1) encoding a protein with both benzoic acid (BA) and salicylic acid (SA) carboxyl methyltransferase activities was identified using a biochemical genomics approach. Its ortholog (AlBSMT1) in A. lyrata, a close relative of A. thaliana, was also isolated. The AtBSMT1 protein utilizes SA more efficiently than BA, whereas AlBSMT1 catalyzes the methylation of SA less effectively than that of BA. The AtBSMT1 and AlBSMT1 genes showed expression in leaves under normal growth conditions and were more highly expressed in the flowers. In A. thaliana leaves, the expression of AtBSMT1 was induced by alamethicin, Plutella xylostella herbivory, uprooting, physical wounding, and methyl jasmonate. SA was not an effective inducer. Using a beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter approach, the promoter activity of AtBSMT1 was localized to the sepals of flowers, and also to leaf trichomes and hydathodes. Upon thrip damage to leaves, AtBSMT1 promoter activity was induced specifically around the lesions.     

Two Methyl Jasmonate-Insensitive Mutants Show Altered Expression of AtVsp in Response to Methyl Jasmonate and Wounding

Jasmonates are plant signal molecules that are derived from lipids through the action of lipoxygenase. Jasmonates regulate gene expression during plant development and in response to water deficit, wounding, and pathogen elicitors. The signal transduction chain that mediates jasmonate action was investigated by isolating and studying two methyl jasmonate (MeJA)-insensitive mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana. The recessive mutants, jin1 and jin4, are nonallelic and neither corresponds to coi1, a previously identified MeJA-insensitive mutant. Both mutants showed reduced sensitivity to MeJA-mediated root growth inhibition as well as reduced MeJA induction of AtVsp in leaves. Expression of AtVsp in flowers was not altered in the mutants. Furthermore, MeJA modulation of the jasmonate-responsive lipoxygenase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase genes was not altered in the mutants. jin4 plants exhibited increased sensitivity to abscisic acid in seed germination assays, whereas jin1 plants showed wild-type sensitivity. Neither mutant showed altered sensitivity to ethylene in hypocotyl growth inhibition assays. jin1 and jin4 identify genes that modulate the response of AtVsp to MeJA in leaves of A. thaliana.     

Genetic architecture of mitochondrial editing in Arabidopsis thaliana

We have analyzed the mitochondrial editing behavior of two Arabidopsis thaliana accessions, Landsberg erecta (Ler) and Columbia (Col). A survey of 362 C-to-U editing sites in 33 mitochondrial genes was conducted on RNA extracted from rosette leaves. We detected 67 new editing events in A. thaliana rosette leaves that had not been observed in a prior study of mitochondrial editing in suspension cultures. Furthermore, 37 of the 441 C-to-U editing events reported in A. thaliana suspension cultures were not observed in rosette leaves. Forty editing sites that are polymorphic in extent of editing were detected between Col and Ler. Silent editing sites, which do not change the encoded amino acid, were found in a large excess compared to nonsilent sites among the editing events that differed between accessions and between tissue types. Dominance relationships were assessed for 15 of the most polymorphic sites by evaluating the editing values of the reciprocal hybrids. Dominance is more common in nonsilent sites than in silent sites, while additivity was observed only in silent sites. A maternal effect was detected for 8 sites. QTL mapping with recombinant inbred lines detected 12 major QTL for 11 of the 13 editing traits analyzed, demonstrating that efficiency of editing of individual mitochondrial C targets is generally governed by a major factor.     

Sugar-inducible expression of a gene for beta-amylase in Arabidopsis thaliana.

The levels of beta-amylase activity and of the mRNA for beta-amylase in rosette leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. increased significantly, with the concomitant accumulation of starch, when whole plants or excised mature leaves were supplied with sucrose. A supply of glucose or fructose, but not of mannitol or sorbitol, to plants also induced the expression of the gene for beta-amylase, and the induction occurred not only in rosette leaves but also in roots, stems, and bracts. These results suggest that the gene for beta-amylase of Arabidopsis is subject to regulation by a carbohydrate metabolic signal, and expression of the gene in various tissues may be regulated by the carbon partitioning and sink-source interactions in the whole plant. The sugar-inducible expression of the gene in Arabidopsis was severely repressed in the absence of light. The sugar-inducible expression in the light was not inhibited by 3(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea or by chloramphenicol, but it was inhibited by cycloheximide. These results suggest that a light-induced signal and de novo synthesis of proteins in the cytoplasm are involved in the regulation. A fusion gene composed of the 5' upstream region of the gene for beta-amylase from Arabidopsis and the coding sequence of beta-glucuronidase showed the sugar-inducible expression in a light-dependent manner in rosette leaves of transgenic Arabidopsis.