陆地棉GST基因家族全基因组分析

谷胱甘肽转移酶(glutathione-S-transferase, GST)是一种普遍存在的具有多功能的超家族蛋白,在植物初次生代谢、逆境胁迫、胞间信号传递等方面具有重要作用;同时,作为配体其在植物激素代谢以及物质转运方面也发挥作用。为了解析陆地棉(Gossypium hirsutum L.) GST基因家族的信息,本研究对该基因家族成员的种类、进化关系、物理定位、基因结构和保守基序以及表达模式进行了分析。结果显示,在陆地棉全基因组中共含有70个GST基因,进化树和基因结构分析将该家族分为U族、F族、T族、Z族、EF1Bγ族和TCHQD族。基因定位分析发现,除了AD/At2、AD/At4、AD/At5、AD/Dt5、AD/Dt10号染色体上没有GST基因外,其他染色体上都有GST基因,并且在AD/At9、AD/Dt7、AD/Dt12、AD/Dt13这4条染色体上出现基因簇。对F族(Phi类) 9个GST基因进行荧光定量分析,结果表明,除GhGSTF1可能为假基因外,GhGSTF2~9等8个基因在陆地棉根、茎、叶以及各个发育时期的纤维中均有表达;结合生物信息学分析,推测GhGSTF8可能参与原花青素/花青素的转运和积累;GhGSTF4、GhGSTF6和GhGSTF9可能在调节陆地棉的生长和胁迫反应中起作用,而GhGSTF2、GhGSTF3、GhGSTF5和GhGSTF7的功能还有待进一步研究。本研究为陆地棉GST基因家族的分子进化及功能研究提供了理论依据。     

Molecular cloning and functional analysis of the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) homolog GhFT1 from Gossypium hirsutum

FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) encodes a member of the phosphatidylethanolamine‐binding protein (PEBP) family that functions as the mobile floral signal, playing an important role in regulating the floral transition in angiosperms. We isolated an FT‐homolog (GhFT1) from Gossypium hirsutum L. cultivar, Xinluzao 33 GhFT1 was predominantly expressed in stamens and sepals, and had a relatively higher expression level during the initiation stage of fiber development. GhFT1 mRNA displayed diurnal oscillations in both long‐day and short‐day condition, suggesting that the expression of this gene may be under the control of the circadian clock. Subcellular analysis revealed that GhFT1 protein located in the cytoplasm and nucleus. Ectopic expression of GhFT1 in transgenic arabidopsis plants resulted in early flowering compared with wild‐type plants. In addition, ectopic expression of GhFT1 in arabidopsis ft‐10 mutants partially rescued the extremely late flowering phenotype. Finally, several flowering related genes functioning downstream of AtFT were highly upregulated in the 35S::GhFT1 transgenic arabidopsis plants. In summary, GhFT1 is an FT‐homologous gene in cotton that regulates flower transition similar to its orthologs in other plant species and thus it may be a candidate target for promoting early maturation in cotton breeding.     

Cloning and expression analysis of novel Aux/IAA family genes in Gossypium hirsutum

The associations between polymorphisms of prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA-rs2294008C > T and -rs2976392G > A) and gastric cancer (GC) risk for Eastern Asians have been commonly studied, but the results were conflicting. The aim of the present study was to further assess the associations by the method of meta-analysis. The databases of Medline, Embase and CNKI (up to May 25th, 2011) were retrieved to identify eligible case-control studies. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were used to present the strength of the associations. In total, eight case-control studies in seven articles with 16792 individuals (9738 cases of GC and 7054 controls) were included in this meta-analysis. Through quantitative analyses, we found that T allele of rs2294008C > T and A allele of rs2976392G > A were significantly associated with increased GC risk [rs2294008C > T: OR (95%CI) = 1.31 (1.22-1.42), P_z-test < 0.001, P_{heterogeneity} = 0.166 for TT vs. C carriers; rs2976392G > A: OR (95%CI) = 1.36(1.24-1.50), P_z-test = 0.015, P_{heterogeneity} = 0.111 for AA vs. G carriers]. The results of subgroup analyses (according to histopathology, countries and sources of controls) indicated that T allele of rs2294008C > T and A allele rs2976392G > A were associated with increased risk of both intestinal- and diffuse-type GC, and associated with increased risk of GC for Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, PCC and HCC/PHCC. Furthermore, T allele of rs2294008C > T was also associated with increased risk of cardia and non-cardia GC, and associated with increased risk of GC for males and females. Besides those, this meta-analysis also indicated that the interactions between T allele of rs2294008C > T and A allele of rs2976392G > A was associated with increased risk of GC (A-T vs. G-T: OR = 1.16, 95%CI = 1.06-1.27, P_z-test = 0.001, P_{heterogeneity} = 0.835). Although modest limitations and potential bias cannot be eliminated, this meta-analysis suggests that PSCA -rs2294008C > T and -rs2976392G > A are potential factors of GC development for Eastern Asians, and future work may incorporate these findings and evaluate these variants as potential markers for screening and early diagnosis of GC.     

Expression studies of stress responsive genes in cotton Gossypium hirsutum L.

Molecular Biology Reports - Cotton is the world’s richest source of natural fiber. Meanwhile cotton plant is top ranked stress sensitive plant thereby affecting its yield and fiber quality....     

Somatic embryogenesis from leaf and petiole callus cultures of Gossypium hirsutum L.

Leaf discs from four strains and petioles from six strains of Gossypium hirsutum were cultured on a variety of media. Callus formed from explants on all media, though embryogenesis was highly specific. Embryos formed from only three strain x media combinations. A small percentage of these embryos developed into plantlets. These results demonstrate that cotton plants can be obtained from leaf tissue explants.Abbreviations BA benzyladenine - 2,4-D 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - GA₃ gibberellic acid - Kn Kinetin - NAA 1-naphthalene acetic acid College of Agricultural Sciences Publication Number T-4-193; this research was partially funded by the USDA-ARS Plant Stress and Water Conservation Research Program     

Hormonal changes associated with leaf senescence in cotton (Gossypium barbadense)

To study the hormonal regulation of foliar senescence in cotton ( Gossypium barbadense L. cv. Giza 68, long staple), the sequential changes in gibberellins (GAs), indoleacetic acid (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA) were examined in the cotyledons from the completion of expansion through senescence (days 12-24 after sowing). The onset of senescence could be detected on day 20, the stage of maximum accumulation of leaf metabolites. At this stage, free GAs quickly lost more than 40% of their initial activity. Further decrease of free GAs was then characteristically observed in the senescent leaves. A remarkable increase in free IAA and free ABA between days 18 and 20 immediately followed by nutrient depletion, suggests the contribution by both hormones to the senescence system. The definite drop in free IAA below its initial level occurred on day 24, when most of the leaf protein and chlorophyll were already broken down.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of GhlecRK, a novel kinase gene with lectin-like domain from Gossypium hirsutum.

A novel gene encoding a lectin-like protein kinase was cloned from the upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) through cDNA library screening. This gene (named as Ghlecrk; GenBank accession number: AY487461) had a total length of 2233bp with an open reading frame of 1926bp, and encoded a predicted polypeptide of 641 amino acids with a molecular weight of 71.16kDa. The GhLecRK protein shared 73, 65, 64 and 59% identity with other lectin-like kinase proteins isolated from A. thaliana (At3g53810, At2g37710, At3g55550) and Populus nigra (PnLPK) at amino acid level, respectively. Southern blot analysis showed that GhLecRK belonged to a multi-copy gene family. Expression patterns revealed that GhLecRK was enriched in the developing boll (six days post anthesis, 6DPA) and shoot, but low in the root and stem and no expression in the leaf. The domains analysis showed that GhlecRK protein possessed many activating sites/domains including ATP-binding sites, a transmembrane region, a lectin-like domain and a kinase domain. These results indicate that GhlecRK is a lectin-like membrane protein that may play an important role in the phase of fiber development.