A cytosolic class I small heat shock protein, RcHSP17.8, of Rosa chinensis confers resistance to a variety of stresses to Escherichia coli, yeast and Arabidopsis thaliana

Among the heat shock proteins (HSPs) of higher plants, those belonging to the small HSP (sHSP) family remain the least characterized in functional terms. To improve our understanding of sHSPs, we have characterized RcHSP17.8 from Rosa chinensis . Sequence alignments and phylogenetic analysis reveal this to be a cytosolic class I sHSP. RcHSP17.8 expression in R. chinensis was induced by heat, cold, salt, drought, osmotic and oxidative stresses. Recombinant RcHSP17.8 was overexpressed in Escherichia coli and yeast to study its possible function under stress conditions. The recombinant E. coli and yeast cells that accumulated RcHSP17.8 showed improved viability under thermal, salt and oxidative stress conditions compared with control cultures. We also produced transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana that constitutively expressed RcHSP17.8. These plants exhibited increased tolerance to heat, salt, osmotic and drought stresses. These results suggest that R. chinensis cytosolic class I sHSP (RcHSP17.8) has the ability to confer stress resistance not only to E. coli and yeast but also to plants grown under a wide variety of unfavorable environmental conditions.     

逆境胁迫下向日葵的耐受机制

向日葵作为我国五大油料作物之一,具有极高的食用价值和油用价值。向日葵在我国的种植分布集中在东北、西北和华北地区,时常面临着干旱、盐碱、温度和重金属胁迫的问题。主要综述了近年来向日葵面临的几种主要逆境胁迫的最新研究进展,以及在不同逆境胁迫下向日葵的耐受机制,并根据不同逆境胁迫筛选出了相应的抗逆向日葵品种,同时进行了生理差异和基因信息分析。通过阐明向日葵在逆境胁迫下的耐受机制,以期对向日葵高产育种及耐逆育种提供理论依据和指导方向。     

The role of small RNAs in abiotic stress

It was recently discovered that plants respond to environmental stress not only with a specific gene expression programme at the mRNA and protein level but also small RNAs as response modulators play an important role. The small RNAs lead to cleavage or translational inhibition of mRNAs via complementary target sites. Different examples are described where small RNAs have been shown to be involved in stress responses. A link between hormonal action and small RNA activities has frequently been observed thus coupling exogenous factors with endogenous transmitters. Using the CDT-1 gene from the desiccation tolerant plant Craterostigma plantagineum as an example, it is discussed that generation of novel small RNAs could be an evolutionary pathway in plants to adapt to extreme environments.     

Patterns of variation in desiccation resistance in a set of recombinant inbred lines in Drosophila melanogaster

Desiccation, resulting from extremely dry environmental conditions, is a serious obstacle to the survival of organisms. Water is vital for the maintenance of intracellular structure and prevents the irreversible formation of aggregates, an occurrence leading to loss of cellular function. To characterize genetic variation in desiccation stress resistance (DSR) in Drosophila melanogaster Meigen, an intercontinental set of recombinant inbred lines (RIL) is used. Flies are exposed to a low humidity environment (<10% relative humidity) at a constant temperature of 25 °C. Desiccation stress resistance is higher in RIL derived from a backcross to the parental stock sensitive to heat stress (from Denmark) than in RIL derived from the reciprocal backcross to the heat‐stress resistant stock (from Australia). Composite interval mapping reveals significant quantitative trail loci (QTL) for DSR in the set of RIL. Both major and minor effects QTL are detected, suggesting a complex genetic architecture. When compared with a previous investigation performed on the same set of RIL, the present study indicates that not all traits of resistance to environmental stressors are affected in the same direction by segregating co‐localized QTL.     

Ecologically relevant stress resistance: from microarrays and quantitative trait loci to candidate genes — A research plan and preliminary results using<Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila</Emphasis> as a model organism and climatic and genetic stress as model stresses

We aim at studying adaptation to genetic and environmental stress and its evolutionary implications at different levels of biological organization. Stress influences cellular processes, individual physiology, genetic variation at the population level, and the process of natural selection. To investigate these highly connected levels of stress effects, it is advisable - if not critical - to integrate approaches from ecology, evolution, physiology, molecular biology and genetics. To investigate the mechanisms of stress resistance, how resistance evolves, and what factors contribute to and constrain its evolution, we use the well-defined model systems ofDrosophila species, representing both cosmopolitan species such asD. melanogaster with a known genome map, and more specialized and ecologically well described species such as the cactophilicD. buzzatii. Various climate-related stresses are used as model stresses including desiccation, starvation, cold and heat. Genetic stress or genetic load is modelled by studying the consequences of inbreeding, the accumulation of (slightly) deleterious mutations, hybridization or the loss of genetic variability. We present here a research plan and preliminary results combining various approaches: molecular techniques such as microarrays, quantitative trait loci (QTL) analyses, quantitative PCR, ELISA or Western blotting are combined with population studies of resistance to climatic and genetic stress in natural populations collected across climatic gradients as well as in selection lines maintained in the laboratory.     

E.coli中表达马铃薯OSM-3b基因对增强渗透胁迫抗性的分析

旨在揭示马铃薯OSM-3b基因表达对胁迫的响应。分离获得了OSM-3b的cDNA,构建OSM-3b的重组菌株DH-OSM,实现OSM-3b在大肠杆菌中的表达,RT-PCR检测了NaCl和PEG6000不同浓度梯度下OSM-3b的表达。结果显示,NaCl浓度在1%以上随盐浓度升高,OSM-3b mRNA的表达逐渐下降;在PEG6000浓度从0.25%升至4.0%时,OSM-3b的mRNA表达明显上升;在NaCl胁迫和PEG6000浓度梯度渗透胁迫下,重组菌株DH-OSM菌的菌落存活数统计分析结果显示,在不同NaCl浓度下重组菌的菌落存活数与对照趋势一致,重组菌菌落存活数峰值出现在的PEG6000浓度2.0%时,而对照菌DH-28c峰值则出现在PEG6000浓度1.0%时。结果表明,OSM-3b在大肠杆菌中表达对NaCl胁迫没有响应,但可缓冲渗透胁迫对其存活的影响。     

The role of phytochrome in stress tolerance

It is well-documented that phytochromes can control plant growth and development from germination to flowering. Additionally, these photoreceptors have been shown to modulate both biotic and abiotic stress. This has led to a series of studies exploring the molecular and biochemical basis by which phytochromes modulate stresses, such as salinity, drought, high light or herbivory. Evidence for a role of phytrochromes in plant stress tolerance is explored and reviewed.