脱水素在植物低温胁迫响应中的作用

脱水素(dehydrin)是一类胚胎发育后期丰富蛋白(LEA.late embryogenesis abundant proteins),含有富含赖氨酸的K片段,属于具有高度热稳定性的亲水性蛋白,在植物脱水条件下能保护细胞内蛋白质和膜结构免受破坏.低温胁迫下,耐低温植物细胞内部会发生一系列的生理生化反应来抵御低温所造成的伤害.很多研究表明植物脱水素的表达和积累与多种双子叶植物(包括草本和木本植物)以及冬季栽培的禾本科植物品种(特别是小麦和大麦)的耐低温能力密切相关.本文对近年来国内外关于脱水素的结构、功能以及内源ABA(abscisie acid)含量、拟南芥CBF(C-repeat binding factor)同源转录激活因子、春化基因、光周期信号等对脱水素基因的表达调控机制进行综述.     

非生物胁迫下植物脱水素的研究进展

脱水素是LEA蛋白中的一类,广泛存在于植物的各个组织器官及植物胚胎发育后期.脱水素是植物在受低温、干旱和高盐等非生物逆境胁迫时合成的一类高亲水性保护蛋白,具有保护核酸、胞内蛋白和膜结构免受损害的功能.许多研究已经证实在非生物胁迫下,植物脱水素的表达与积累和植物抗逆性之间存在着紧密的联系.对脱水素的结构、亚细胞定位、基因表达模式及非生物胁迫下脱水素作用的最新研究成果进行了综述.     

小麦类脱水素的表达、纯化及多克隆抗体的制备

脱水素在胚胎发育后期累积,外源脱落酸(ABA)、低温、干旱和其他一些环境条件下能诱导脱水素的产生,尽管植物在脱水条件下脱水素广泛存在于细胞中,但其生化功能仍不清楚.为研究小麦在不同时期脱水素基因的表达情况和生物学功能及抗体制备,以小麦幼芽为材料,经干旱胁迫处理后,提取总RNA,通过RT-PCR得到小麦类脱水素基因片段(WZY1-1),再连接至克隆载体PUCM-T,并成功构建重组表达质粒PET-32a( )-wzy1-1,将阳性重组质粒转化于受体菌BL21(DE3)感受态细胞中,经IPTG诱导表达,进行表达产物的聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)检测.结果表明,表达蛋白位于37ku处,小麦类脱水素基因获得高效表达.表达蛋白经Ni2 琼脂糖凝胶亲和层析和透析袋电洗脱法纯化后,对兔子进行免疫,制备的抗血清通过ELISA检测到较高的多克隆抗体效价.蛋白质印迹结果显示,利用纯化的蛋白质制备的兔抗血清可以很好地和所表达的蛋白质带特异性结合,且郑引1号小麦幼苗进行干旱处理,提取粗蛋白,SDS-PAGE,蛋白质印迹检测显示,在分子质量28ku处出现特异的蛋白质条带,这说明所制备的抗血清可以与小麦叶片所表达的dehydrin蛋白特异性结合,证明其具有良好的免疫原性.     

植物Na+/H+反向转运蛋白的研究进展

盐胁迫是限制植物生长发育的主要因素之一,植物Na+/H+反向转运蛋白可通过将Na+逆向转运出细胞外或将Na+区隔化于液泡中来抵制环境中过高的Na+浓度.植物中Na+/H+反向转运蛋白存在于细胞质膜和液泡膜上,现在已得到多种编码这些Na+/H+反向转运蛋白的基因,对其结构功能特性进行了大量研究,并发现将这些基因转入非抗盐植物中过量表达可提高转基因植物的抗盐性.概述了Na+/H+反向转运蛋白及其编码基因的最新研究进展.     

黄花棘豆脱水素OoY_2K_4的鉴定及表达分析

该研究以黄花棘豆cDNA为模板,采用同源克隆法,从黄花棘豆转录组数据库中克隆获得1个响应逆境胁迫的胚胎发育晚期丰富蛋白基因,命名为OoY_2K_4;OoY_2K_4基因ORF为786bp,编码261个氨基酸,含有2个保守的Y片段和4个K片段,为典型的Y_2K_4类脱水蛋白亚家族成员;OoY_2K_4蛋白不具有跨膜结构域,不存在信号肽,亲水性极强,含有1个糖基化位点和17个磷酸化位点;亚细胞定位显示,OoY_2K_4蛋白定位于细胞质中。多序列比对发现,OoY_2K_4蛋白与其他物种第二组LEA蛋白(脱水素)序列高度保守;进化树分析显示,该序列与三叶草、蒺藜苜蓿和紫花苜蓿相似度最高,亲缘关系最近。采用qRT-PCR对OoY_2K_4基因在干旱、高盐、低温以及脱落酸、乙烯、赤霉素处理下的表达分析显示,干旱和高盐胁迫可显著诱导OoY_2K_4基因表达,而低温胁迫下基本无变化;激素处理均可诱导OoY_2K_4基因高效表达,其中脱落酸诱导下OoY_2K_4基因表达最显著。研究推测,OoY_2K_4基因可能通过依赖ABA的信号途径参与黄花棘豆对干旱和高盐逆境胁迫的应答反应。     

植物抗脱水胁迫的分子机制

主要介绍植物在脱水胁迫下,逆激基因产物的功能和胁迫信号的转导过程.逆激基因产物的功能可分为两类：一类起“保护”作用,另一类起“调节”作用.在脱水胁迫起始信号和基因表达之间至少存在四条信号转导通路,两条依赖脱落酸(ABA),两条不依赖ABA,依赖ABA的途径中有1条必须有蛋白质合成.不依赖ABA的途径中有1条与低温胁迫应答有共同的信号转导通路.     

异源表达蒙古沙冬青AmDREB1F基因提高转基因拟南芥的耐逆性

脱水应答元件结合蛋白 (Dehydration-responsive element binding proteins,DREBs) 是一类重要的植物耐逆相关转录因子。蒙古沙冬青Ammopiptanthus mongolicus是中国西北荒漠区特有的强耐逆常绿阔叶灌木。为探明其AmDREB1F基因在耐受非生物逆境中的功能和作用机理,文中对该基因编码蛋白的亚细胞定位、表达模式和转基因拟南芥的耐逆性进行了分析。结果表明：AmDREB1F编码的蛋白质定位于细胞核内;在室内培养幼苗中,该基因在正常条件下不表达,在低温和干旱胁迫下有较明显表达,在高盐和高温胁迫下仅有微弱表达,而在脱落酸 (Abscisic acid,ABA) 处理下不表达;在野外生长植株的叶片中,其表达量在秋末、冬季和早春远高于其他季节,而不同器官相比,其在根和未成熟果荚中的表达量远高于其他器官;将AmDREB1F在拟南芥中组成型表达可提高多个受DREBs调控的胁迫响应基因的转录水平,增强转基因株系对干旱、高盐和低温以及氧化胁迫的耐性,同时导致其生长发育延滞,外施赤霉素3可消除生长延滞现象;将该基因进行胁迫诱导表达也可提高转基因拟南芥对上述非生物胁迫的耐受性,而不影响其生长发育。这些结果说明AmDREB1F可能通过ABA非依赖的信号途径在响应和耐受逆境胁迫中起正调节作用。     

植物多药和有毒化合物排出转运蛋白研究进展

植物在生长及适应环境的过程中会吸收很多有益或有害的物质,自身也会产生大量代谢物,植物对这些物质的转运是植物生长发育及适应环境的重要环节,有多种转运蛋白家族参与其中。多药和有毒化合物排出转运蛋白(MATEs)是生物体中重要的转运蛋白家族之一,而植物中MATE基因的丰富程度要远远高于其他生物。根据植物MATEs的蛋白结构,这些基因被分为4个主要的亚家族,即MATE I,MATEⅡ,MATEⅢ和MATE IV。同一亚家族或同一MATE基因簇的基因还具有相同或相似的功能。植物MATEs定位于细胞的各种生物膜上,如细胞质膜、液泡膜、高尔基膜及囊泡膜等。此外,一些MATEs的表达还具有组织特异性,它们转运的底物也具有多样性和特异性,使得MATEs呈现出多种生物学功能。它们在外源性物质的排出、次生代谢产物的转运和累积、铁转运、铝脱毒和植物激素信号传递及植物的抗病性等方面都起着重要作用。该文对MATEs的发现、基因分类、亚细胞定位及生理功能等方面进行了概述,对深入研究该基因家族提供了思路,对该基因家族的应用进行了展望。     

羊草DHN3基因的克隆及其逆境响应的表达分析

该研究从羊草（Leymus chinensis）中克隆得到1个脱水素（Dehydrin,DHN）编码基因LcDHN3。通过序列分析表明,LcDHN3开放阅读框为501 bp,编码167个氨基酸,分子量为17.01 kD,理论等电点为8.05,为亲水性蛋白。LcDHN3蛋白具有脱水素的保守结构域,含有1个Y 片段、1个S 片段和2个K 片段,属于YSK2型脱水素。亚细胞定位预测LcDHN3蛋白定位在细胞质和细胞核。同源比对分析显示,LcDHN3与大麦（Hordeum vulgare）等6种植物的DHNs整体相似性为84.27%。进化分析显示,LcDHN3和大麦的DHN亲缘关系最近。荧光定量PCR结果显示,LcDHN3基因的表达受干旱、冷、热、NaCl、高pH和机械损伤胁迫诱导,同时受植物激素ABA和JA的诱导。研究表明,LcDHN3参与了羊草响应逆境胁迫的信号途径。     

猕猴桃POD基因的克隆和表达分析

为了解猕猴桃POD基因的表达调控功能,采用RT-PCR技术从‘米良1号’猕猴桃(Actinidiadeliciosa‘Miliang-1’)克隆了2个POD家族成员基因(AdPOD27和AdPOD64)。结果表明,AdPOD27和AdPOD64开放阅读框分别为984和957 bp,预测分别编码327和318个氨基酸,GenBank登录号分别为MF774100和MF774101。AdPOD27和AdPOD64为亲水性碱性蛋白,属于植物亚铁红素依赖Ⅲ型POD超家族成员,含有信号肽、跨膜螺旋结构和磷酸化位点,亚细胞定位预测分别定位于线粒体和细胞外。q RT-PCR结果表明,Ad POD27在脱落酸(ABA)和4℃处理时表达量急剧上升,而AdPOD64只在ABA处理时表达量显著提高。此外,AdPOD27表达量与POD活性、AdPOD64表达量均存在显著相关性。因此,AdPOD27和AdPOD64可能在猕猴桃果实软化、低温响应和ABA诱导等过程中发挥重要的调控功能。     

Role of plant dehydrins in antioxidation mechanisms

Plant antioxidation system is composed of a series of complex mechanisms, in which many antioxidants including some special proteins are involved. Dehydrins are a family of late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins which usually accumulate in plants during late embryogenesis or in response to environmental stresses. They were suggested to be associated with specific protective functions in plant cells, such as preventing coagulation of macromolecules and maintaining integrity of crucial cell structures. In recent years, many studies implied that dehydrins also play an antioxidative role to alleviate oxidative damage in stressed plants. They were proposed to scavenge radicals directly and sequester metals which are sources for radical generation to avoid the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this paper, we will discuss the novel putative role of dehydrins in plant antioxidation mechanisms and how dehydrins perform their antioxidative activity.     

大麦Dhn6基因的克隆、蛋白质结构预测与干旱胁迫表达模式

脱水素(Dehydrins,DHNs)是高等植物胚胎发育晚期产生的一类特异多肽,其表达累积程度与植物的发育阶段、低温、ABA和脱水信号调节等因素密切相关。为了解脱水素的结构与干旱胁迫表达累积反应,文章从六棱大麦分离到序列全长为1 767 bp的Dhn6基因,序列分析结果表明,该基因含一个92 bp内含子,90~1 759 bp为一个开放阅读框,与裸大麦Dhn6基因(GenBank登录号:AF043091)的同源性最高,达93.18%,编码523个氨基酸残基的多肽,预测蛋白质的分子量为49.68 kDa,理论等电点为8.04。结构分析发现,蛋白质具有3个螺旋区,无规则卷曲构成二级结构的主要组分,亲水氨基酸比例超过83%;三维结构预测发现,多肽链自身反向平行排列成松散的亲水索链,K-片段参与兼性?-螺旋结构域的形成,意味着该脱水素具有束缚自由水、稳定细胞膜相结构的功能。实时定量RT-PCR检测结果表明,Dhn6基因的相对表达水平在干旱处理8 h快速累积,推测DHN6在大麦对干旱胁迫的早期响应中发挥重要功能。     

Accumulation of dehydrin-like proteins in the mitochondria of cereals in response to cold, freezing, drought and ABA treatment

Background

Dehydrins are known as Group II late embryogenesis abundant proteins. Their high hydrophilicity and thermostability suggest that they may be structure stabilizers with detergent and chaperone-like properties. They are localised in the nucleus, cytoplasm, and plasma membrane. We have recently found putative dehydrins in the mitochondria of some cereals in response to cold. It is not known whether dehydrin-like proteins accumulate in plant mitochondria in response to stimuli other than cold stress.

Results

We have found five putative dehydrins in the mitochondria of winter wheat, rye and maize seedlings. Two of these polypeptides had the same molecular masses in all three species (63 and 52 kD) and were thermostable. Drought, freezing, cold, and exogenous ABA treatment led to higher accumulation of dehydrin-like protein (dlp) 63 kD in the rye and wheat mitochondria. Protein 52 kD was induced by cold adaptation and ABA. Some accumulation of these proteins in the maize mitochondria was found after cold exposition only. The other three proteins appeared to be heat-sensitive and were either slightly induced or not induced at all by all treatments used.

Conclusions

We have found that, not only cold, but also drought, freezing and exogenous ABA treatment result in accumulation of the thermostable dehydrins in plant mitochondria. Most cryotolerant species such as wheat and rye accumulate more heat-stable dehydrins than cryosensitive species such as maize. It has been supposed that their function is to stabilize proteins in the membrane or in the matrix. Heat-sensitive putative dehydrins probably are not involved in the stress reaction and adaptation of plants.     

Phosphorylation of Thellungiella salsuginea dehydrins TsDHN-1 and TsDHN-2 facilitates cation-induced conformational changes and actin assembly

Group 2 late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins, also known as dehydrins, are intrinsically disordered proteins that are expressed in plants experiencing extreme environmental conditions such as drought or low temperatures. These proteins are characterized by the presence of at least one conserved, lysine-rich K-segment and sometimes by one or more serine-rich S-segments that are phosphorylated. Dehydrins may stabilize proteins and membrane structures during environmental stress and can sequester and scavenge metal ions. Here, we investigate how the conformations of two dehydrins from Thellungiella salsuginea, denoted as TsDHN-1 (acidic) and TsDHN-2 (basic), are affected by pH, interactions with cations and membranes, and phosphorylation. Both TsDHN-1 and TsDHN-2 were expressed as SUMO fusion proteins for in vitro phosphorylation by casein kinase II (CKII), and structural analysis by circular dichroism and attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. We show that the polyproline II conformation can be induced in the dehydrins by their environmental conditions, including changes in the concentration of divalent cations such as Ca(2+). The assembly of actin by these dehydrins was assessed by sedimentation assays and viewed by transmission electron and atomic force microscopy. Phosphorylation allowed both dehydrins to polymerize actin filaments. These results support the hypothesis that dehydrins stabilize the cytoskeleton under stress conditions and further that phosphorylation may be an important feature of this stabilization.     

Dehydrins: A commonalty in the response of plants to dehydration and low temperature

Among proteins that accumulate in plants in response to dehydrative forces or low temperature, dehydrins (late embryogenesis abundant [ Lea ] D11 family) have been the most commonly observed. Dehydrins are composed of several typical domains joined together in a few characteristic patterns, with numerous minor permutations. These domains include one or more putative amphipathic a -helix forming consensus regions, a phosphorylatable tract of Ser residues, and an N-terminal consensus sequence. Lesser conserved domains are also present at various positions, particularly between the putative a -helix forming domains, where they may occur as tandem repeats. This medley of permutations is mirrored by a wide size range of dehydrin polypeptides from less than 100 to nearly 600 amino acid residues. As of yet, the fundamental biochemical mode of action of dehydrins has not been demonstrated, but a number of immunolocalization and cell fractionation studies have established that dehydrins can be located in the nucleus or cytoplasm. Furthermore, it appears that these proteins associate with macromolecules ranging from nucleoprotein complexes in the nucleus to an endomembrane sheath in the cytoplasm. At present, all observations are consistent with a hypothesis that dehydrins are surfactants capable of inhibiting the coagulation of a range of macromolecules, thereby preserving structural integrity.     

Isolation of a dehydrin cDNA from orange and grapefruit citrus fruit that is specifically induced by the combination of heat followed by chilling temperatures

Dehydrins (DHNs; late embryogenesis abundant D-11) are a family of plant proteins induced in response to environmental stresses such as water stress, salinity and freezing or which occur during the late stages of embryogenesis. Previously, it was reported that citrus contains a small gene family encoding a unique class of dehydrins that differs from most other plant dehydrins in various respects, such as having an unusual K-segment similar to that of gymnosperms. In the present study, we identified by cDNA differential display analysis a 'Navel' orange 202-bp polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fragment, which encoded the typical plant angiosperm-type K-segment consensus sequence, and of which the expression was down-regulated by exposure to low oxygen levels. The full-length cDNA sequence of the orange DHN, designated csDHN (for Citrus sinensis DHN), was further isolated by 5'-and 3'-RACE; it had a total length of 933 bp and encoded a predicted polypeptide of 235 amino acids. In addition, the same 202-bp 'Navel' dehydrin PCR fragment was used to screen a 'Star Ruby' grapefruit flavedo cDNA library, and its full-length grapefruit homologue, designated cpDHN (for C. paradisi DHN) was isolated and found to have a total length of 1024 bp and to encode a predicted polypeptide of 234 amino acids. The defined orange and grapefruit DHN proteins were completely identical in the 196 amino acids of their N-terminus but differed in their C-terminus region. Overall, the csDHN and cpDHN proteins share 84% identity and contain the conserved dehydrin serine cluster (S-segment) and a putative nuclear localization signal, but csDHN has one conserved dehydrin K-segment consensus sequence, whereas cpDHN contains two dehydrin K-segments. Both csDHN and cpDHN represent single copy genes, in 'Navel' orange and 'Star Ruby' grapefruit genomes, respectively. We found that the cpDHN gene was consistently expressed in the fruit peel tissue at harvest, but that its message levels dramatically decreased during storage at either ambient or low temperatures. However, a pre-storage hot water treatment, given to enhance fruit-chilling tolerance, increased cpDHN mRNA levels during the first 3 weeks of cold storage at 2 degrees C, and enabled the message levels to be retained for up to a further 8 weeks of cold storage at 2 degrees C. The hot water treatment by itself had no inductive effect on cpDHN gene expression when the fruits were held at non-chilling temperatures. Other stresses applied to the fruit, such as wounding, UV irradiation, water stress, low oxygen and exposure to the stress hormone ethylene decreased DHN mRNA levels, whereas abscisic acid had no effect at all.     

Accumulation pattern of dehydrins during sugarcane (var. SP80.3280) somatic embryogenesis

The objective of the present study was to determine dehydrin protein levels in sugarcane var. SP80-3280 during somatic embryogenesis. Dehydrins from embryogenic and non-embryogenic cell cultures were analyzed using western blot and in situ immunolocalization microscopy. Both techniques employ antibodies raised against a highly conserved lysine-rich 15-amino acid sequence termed the K-domain, which is extensively used to recognize proteins immunologically related to the dehydrin family. In embryogenic cultures, western blot analysis of the heat-stable protein fraction revealed eleven major bands ranging from 52 to 17?kDa. They were already visible on the first days, gradually increasing until reaching peak values around day 14, when organogenesis begins, to later decrease in concurrence with the appearance of green plantlets (around day 28). These fluctuations indicate that this pattern of accumulation is under developmental control. Dehydrins were mainly immunolocalized in the nuclei. A phosphatase treatment of protein extracts caused a mobility shift of the 52, 49, and 43?kDa dehydrin bands suggesting a putative modulation mechanism based on protein phosphorylation. In sugarcane embryogenic cultures, presence of dehydrins is a novel finding. Dehydrins were absent in non-embryogenic cultures. The novel findings regarding accumulation, nuclear localization, and phosphorylation of dehydrins provide a starting point for further research on the role of these proteins in the induction and/or maintenance of embryogenesis. Key message The novel findings regarding accumulation, nuclear localization, and phosphorylation of dehydrins provide a starting point for further research on the role of these proteins in the induction and/or maintenance of embryogenesis.     

Specific and unspecific responses of plants to cold and drought stress

Different environmental stresses to a plant may result in similar responses at the cellular and molecular level. This is due to the fact that the impacts of the stressors trigger similar strains and downstream signal transduction chains. A good example for an unspecific response is the reaction to stressors which induce water deficiency e.g. drought, salinity and cold, especially frost. The stabilizing effect of liquid water on the membrane bilayer can be supported by compatible solutes and special proteins. At the metabolic level, osmotic adjustment by synthesis of low-molecular osmolytes (carbohydrates, betains, proline) can counteract cellular dehydration and turgor loss. Taking the example of Pinus sylvestris, changes at the level of membrane composition, and concomitantly of photosynthetic capacity during frost hardening is shown. Additionally the effect of photoperiod as measured via the phytochrome system and the effect of subfreezing temperatures on the incidence of frost hardening is discussed. Extremely hydrophilic proteins such as dehydrins are common products protecting not only the biomembranes in ripening seeds (late embryogenesis abundant proteins) but accumulate also in the shoots and roots during cold adaptation, especially in drought tolerant plants. Dehydrins are characterized by conserved amino acid motifs, called the K-, Y-or S-segments. Accumulation of dehydrins can be induced not only by drought, but also by cold, salinity, treatment with abscisic acid and methyl jasmonate. Positive effects of the overexpression of a wild chickpea (Cicer pinnatifidum) dehydrin in tobacco plants on the dehydration tolerance is shown. The presentation discusses the perception of cold and drought, the subsequent signal transduction and expression of genes and their products. Differences and similarities between the plant responses to both stressors are also discussed.