胚胎发育晚期丰富蛋白(LEA蛋白)与植物抗逆性研究进展

胚胎发育晚期丰富蛋白(LEA蛋白)在自然条件下主要在种子发育晚期大量积累,植物LEA基因也在多种非生物胁迫下诱导表达。植物LEA蛋白是植物应对失水胁迫(包括干旱、盐碱、冷冻等)逆境的一种广泛存在的亲水性应答蛋白,具有很强的热稳定性。本论文就LEA蛋白的结构、分类、功能及抗逆性分子机制进行了概述与总结,为分离新的LEA蛋白成员,进行功能分析以及进一步发掘其潜在应用价值提供参考。     

LEA蛋白研究进展

LEA蛋白(late embriogenesis abundant protein,LEA)是生物体中广泛存在的一类与渗透调节有关的家族蛋白,该蛋白的编码基因在植物种子胚胎发育晚期表达量丰富,而且在环境胁迫如干旱、低温、盐胁迫、ABA、紫外辐射和NaHCO3等条件下LEA基因的mRNA也会大量累积.LEA蛋白显著的理化特性是具有很高的亲水性和热稳定性,即使在煮沸条件下也能保持水溶状态.LEA蛋白在细胞中可以稳定细胞膜结构,作为分子伴侣,具有结合离子和防止氧化等作用,被认为是在胁迫过程中对植物起保护作用的物质之一.针对这些重要特性,分别综述了LEA蛋白的分类、结构、编码基因和表达调节方式及其在植物生长过程中的作用.     

LEA蛋白及其在植物抗逆改良中的应用

干旱、盐碱、高温和寒冷等逆境制约着植物的生长发育。植物中含有一组亲水性极强的蛋白,称为胚胎发育晚期丰富蛋白(late embryogenesis abundant,LEA蛋白),在自然条件下这种蛋白质一般在种子发育晚期积累,其对多种非生物胁迫具有很强的抵抗能力,并能响应干旱、寒冷、高盐和ABA等信号。LEA蛋白通过保持细胞渗透压、保护细胞膜结构、作为分子伴侣保护其他蛋白等方式维持植物正常的代谢反应。就LEA蛋白的分类、结构、抗逆机制以及在植物抗逆改良中的应用进行了简要综述。     

小麦TaLEA1基因的表达特征及抗逆功能验证

我国土壤盐碱化日益严重,对我国的粮食安全造成了严重威胁,因此耐盐基因挖掘对作物耐盐育种非常重要。许多研究表明胚胎发育晚期丰富蛋白(LEA)在植物应对非生物胁迫中发挥积极作用。本研究以小麦TaLEA1基因为研究对象,分析了其表达蛋白的理化性质及基因表达模式,并通过在拟南芥中过表达,分析Ta LEA1基因的抗逆功能。结果表明,TaLEA1基因的表达蛋白属于第3组LEA蛋白,是稳定的亲水蛋白,富含α-螺旋、β-转角等结构。Ta LEA1基因在小麦根、茎、叶、花、种子等不同组织中均有表达,盐胁迫条件诱导其高表达。在拟南芥中过表达TaLEA1基因,显著提高了盐胁迫下转基因拟南芥的种子萌发率、根长及盐和旱胁迫下的叶绿素含量。本研究结果为LEA基因抗逆机理的研究和耐盐基因的挖掘提供了重要信息。     

干旱胁迫下白沙蒿LEA基因的表达及序列分析

[目的]确定白沙蒿在干旱胁迫下起调节作用的LEA蛋白家族及其生物信息学特征。[方法]对在正常生长、中度胁迫和重度胁迫下的白沙蒿进行转录组测序,获得其LEA表达的差异性,对其中显著上调表达的基因进行序列分析。[结果]与多数报道的物种不同,白沙蒿在干旱胁迫时起调控作用的是第5家族LEA5蛋白。白沙蒿LEA的开放阅读框(ORF)全长264 bp,编码87个氨基酸。LEA5蛋白的分子量为9 406.74 Da,等电点为9.75,其序列与黄花蒿同源性最高(64%)。LEA蛋白为亲水性蛋白,定位于线粒体(73.9%),二级结构以无规则卷曲(59.77%)和α-螺旋(37.93%)为主,无信号肽和跨膜结构。[结论]白沙蒿在干旱胁迫下,LEA5参与了抗旱的调控,该基因的生物信息学特征分析为深入了解白沙蒿及蒿属其它固沙植物的抗旱机制提供一定的理论基础。     

LEA蛋白与植物抗逆性

植物受到逆境胁迫后,LEA蛋白大量表达,可以减轻逆境引起的伤害。本文对LEA蛋白的种类、特性和功能,LEA蛋白基因结构及其表达调控,以及LEA基因表达和LEA蛋白积累与植物抗逆性的关系等方面的研究进展作了简要综述。     

盐胁迫下植物基因的表达与基因工程研究进展

在各种环境胁迫中,盐胁迫是造成作物减产的严重环境因素之一。随着植物分子生物学快速发展,植物耐盐性研究已深入到耐盐相关基因的克隆、基因的结构分析以及基因表达领域。文中就与植物耐盐性密切相关的小分子渗透物质、晚期胚胎发生富集蛋白(LEA)、通道蛋白、盐胁迫相关基因、信号传导基因和转录因子研究作了综述。同时对植物耐盐性研究作了简单的展望。     

盐胁迫下植物基因的表达与基因工程研究

在各种环境胁迫中,盐胁迫是造成作物减产的严重环境因素之一。随着植物分子生物学快速发展,植物耐盐性研究已深入到耐盐相关基因的克隆,基因的结构分析以及基因表达领域。文中就与植物耐盐性密切相关的小分子渗透物质、晚期胚胎发生富集蛋白(LEA)、通道蛋白、盐胁迫相关基因、信号传导基因和转录因子研究作了综述。同时对植物耐盐性研究作了简单的展望。     

大麦HVA1基因和LEA蛋白与植物抗旱性的研究

干旱胁迫下,植物体内会积累多种蛋白以保护细胞免受脱水伤害,其中包括Lea蛋白。LEA蛋白在植物耐寒、耐盐碱、耐干旱性方面起重要作用。大麦HVA1基因编码的蛋白即属于第三组LEA蛋白,国内外学者对该基因的结构与功能进行了深入的研究。根据近年研究结果,本文对LEA蛋白的结构与功能,大麦HVA1基因的表达与调控,大麦HVA1基因高同源性序列的克隆以及转基因植物对HVA1基因抗旱性功能验证等方面进行综述。     

LEA蛋白与植物的抗旱性

植物在干旱胁迫下会产生多种诱导蛋白 ,其中LEA蛋白 (Late embryogenesis abundantprotein)已受到普遍关注。根据近年的研究进展 ,本文就植物中LEA蛋白的特性、分类、功能及LEA基因的表达调控作了简要综述。     

Two New Group 3 LEA Genes of Wheat and Their Functional Analysis in Yeast

The group 3 late embryogenesis abundant （LEA） proteins are thought to protect cells from stresses associated with dehydration during periods of water deficit. To investigate the functions of different members of the group 3 LEA genes, we isolated and characterized two new group 3 LEA genes, namely TaLEA2 and TaLEA3, from wheat （Triticum aestivum L.） and introduced TaLEA2 and TaLEA3 into Saccharmyces cerevisiae to examine the effect of these genes on yeast cell tolerance to osmotic, salt, and cold stresses. The TaLEA2 gene encoded a protein of 211 amino acids and possessed five repeats of 11-mer amino acid motifs. The TaLEA3 gene encoded a polypeptide of 211 amino acids with nine repeated units. Overexpression of TaLEA2 and TaLEA3 improved stress tolerance in transgenic yeast cells when cultured in medium containing sorbitol, salt and-20℃ freezing treatments respectively. However, the yeast transformants with TaLEA2 seemed to be more tolerant to hyperosmotic and freezing stress than transformants with TaLEA3. This implies that a close relationship exists between function and the number of repeats of the 11- mer amino acid motif in the group 3 LEA protein.     

A chimaeric tryptophan decarboxylase gene as a novel selectable marker in plant cells

A cDNA clone, pMA1949, detects two mRNA species in wheat seedling tissue that are late embryogenesis-abundant (LEA) and dehydration stress-inducible. Sequence analysis of the pMA1949 clone shows it to be a 991 bp partial cDNA encoding a polypeptide of 317 amino acids with homology to two group 3 LEA proteins, carrot (DC8) and a soybean protein encoded by pGmPM2 cDNA. Molecular analysis of the deduced protein reveals a 33 kDa acidic and extremely hydrophilic protein with potential amphiphilic -helical regions. In addition, the protein contains eleven similar, contiguous repeats of 11 amino acids, which are separated by 118 amino acids from two additional and unique repeats of 36 residues each at the carboxyl end of the protein. Comparisons of sequences of reported group 3 LEA proteins revealed that there are two types, separable by sequence similarity of the 11 amino acid repeating motifs and by the presence or absence of a certain amino acid stretch at the carboxyl terminus. Based on resuls from these comparisons, we propose a second type of group 3 LEA proteins, called group 3 LEA (II).     

植物胚胎发育晚期丰富蛋白1组的结构与功能

植物胚胎发育晚期丰富蛋白（late embryogenesis abundant proteins,LEA）是植物胚胎发生后期种子中大量积累的一类蛋白质。根据蛋白质的氨基酸基序和保守结构特点,LEA蛋白一般分为6组,其中第1组LEA蛋白（LEA1）含有高度保守的20氨基酸基序。LEA1蛋白在水溶液中主要呈无规则结构,具高亲水性和热稳定性,与植物抗逆功能密切相关。本文就LEA1蛋白的功能和结构等方面的研究做一综述。     

Effects of Group 3 LEA protein model peptides on desiccation-induced protein aggregation

Group 3 late embryogenesis abundant (G3LEA) proteins have amino acid sequences with characteristic 11-mer motifs and are known to reduce aggregation of proteins during dehydration. Previously, we clarified the structural and thermodynamic properties of the 11-mer repeating units in G3LEA proteins using synthetic peptides composed of two or four tandem repeats originating from an insect (Polypedilum vanderplanki), nematodes and plants. The purpose of the present study is to test the utility of such 22-mer peptides as protective reagents for aggregation-prone proteins. For lysozyme, desiccation-induced aggregation was abrogated by low molar ratios of a 22-mer peptide, PvLEA-22, derived from a P. vanderplanki G3LEA protein sequence. However, an unexpected behavior was noted for the milk protein, α-casein. On drying, the resultant aggregation was significantly suppressed in the presence of PvLEA-22 with its molar ratios>25 relative to α-casein. However, when the molar ratio was <10, aggregation occurred on addition of PvLEA-22 to aqueous solutions of α-casein. Other peptides derived from nematode, plant and randomized G3LEA protein sequences gave similar results. Such an anomalous solubility change in α-casein was shown to be due to a pH shift to ca. 4, a value nearly equal to the isoelectric point (pI) of α-casein, when any of the 22-mer peptides was mixed. These results demonstrate that synthetic peptides derived from G3LEA protein sequences can reduce protein aggregation caused both by desiccation and, at high molar ratios, also by pH effects, and therefore have potential as stabilization reagents.     

Prediction of functions for two LEA proteins from mung bean

LEA (late embryogenesis abundant) proteins are associated with tolerance to water stress resulting from desiccation and cold shock. Although various functions have been proposed to LEA proteins, their precise role is not fully defined. In silico analysis of the amino acid sequence of two LEA proteins (early methionine-labeled Vigna, EMV) from the tropical legume crop, Vigna radiata identified a 20 residues motif 'GGQTRKQQLGSEGYHEMGRK' characteristic to group 1 LEA proteins. Structural analyses hypothesize these proteins to function like DNA/RNA binding proteins in protecting macromolecules/ membrane stabilization at the time of dehydration process.     

Polyproline II structure is critical for the enzyme protective function of soybean Em (LEA1) conserved domains

Group 1 late embryogenesis-abundant (LEA1) proteins protect enzyme activity from dehydration and are structurally conserved with three different 20 amino acid motifs in the N-terminal, middle and C-terminal domains. Three soybean Em (LEA1) domain peptides (Em-N, Em-2M and Em-C) covering these respective motifs were constructed and had differential protective ability on lactate dehydrogenase against freeze–thaw: Em-C > Em-2M > Em-N. CD spectroscopy revealed that Em-2M and Em-C contained both polyproline II (PII) helical structure and α-helix, while Em-N had a high potential to form α-helix but did not contain PII structure. The PII helical structure between the third and fifth glycine in the middle motif was shown, through site mutation, to be critical for the enzyme protective function of soybean Em (LEA1) conserved domain under freezing stress.     

A predicted N-terminal helical domain of a Group 1 LEA protein is required for protection of enzyme activity from drying.

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins have been repeatedly implicated in the acquisition of desiccation tolerance in angiosperm seed embryos. However, the mechanism(s) by which protection occurs is not well understood. While the Group 1 LEA proteins are predicted to be largely unordered in solution, there is strong evidence that upon drying these proteins undergo a structural transition that leads to an increase in alpha-helical content. Several studies also suggest there is a direct interaction between Group 1 LEA proteins and other molecules in the cytoplasm that may be critical for the establishment of desiccation tolerance during embryo maturation. We have produced a recombinant Group 1 LEA protein and show that it is capable of protecting the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase from the deleterious effects of drying. We have also evaluated the ability of various altered recombinant Group 1 LEA proteins to protect in the same assay. Our results suggest that the highly conserved 20 amino acid Group 1 LEA signature motif is not required for protection in our in vitro assay. However, introduction of two juxtaposed proline residues into an N-terminal helical domain predicted to exist in the hydrated structure significantly compromises the ability of the recombinant protein to provide protection from drying. These results suggest that the N-terminal domain of Group 1 LEA proteins may be important for proper folding during dehydration.     

Two novel heat-soluble protein families abundantly expressed in an anhydrobiotic tardigrade

Tardigrades are able to tolerate almost complete dehydration by reversibly switching to an ametabolic state. This ability is called anhydrobiosis. In the anhydrobiotic state, tardigrades can withstand various extreme environments including space, but their molecular basis remains largely unknown. Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are heat-soluble proteins and can prevent protein-aggregation in dehydrated conditions in other anhydrobiotic organisms, but their relevance to tardigrade anhydrobiosis is not clarified. In this study, we focused on the heat-soluble property characteristic of LEA proteins and conducted heat-soluble proteomics using an anhydrobiotic tardigrade. Our heat-soluble proteomics identified five abundant heat-soluble proteins. All of them showed no sequence similarity with LEA proteins and formed two novel protein families with distinct subcellular localizations. We named them Cytoplasmic Abundant Heat Soluble (CAHS) and Secretory Abundant Heat Soluble (SAHS) protein families, according to their localization. Both protein families were conserved among tardigrades, but not found in other phyla. Although CAHS protein was intrinsically unstructured and SAHS protein was rich in β-structure in the hydrated condition, proteins in both families changed their conformation to an α-helical structure in water-deficient conditions as LEA proteins do. Two conserved repeats of 19-mer motifs in CAHS proteins were capable to form amphiphilic stripes in α-helices, suggesting their roles as molecular shield in water-deficient condition, though charge distribution pattern in α-helices were different between CAHS and LEA proteins. Tardigrades might have evolved novel protein families with a heat-soluble property and this study revealed a novel repertoire of major heat-soluble proteins in these anhydrobiotic animals.