植物颗粒结合淀粉合成酶(GBSS)基因的表达调控机制研究进展

颗粒结合淀粉合成酶(granule-bound starch synthase,GBSS)是决定直链淀粉合成的关键酶,单子叶植物GBSS包含两种同工酶,分别是GBSSI和GBSSII,双子叶植物只有GBSSII一种同工酶。GBSSI基因的表达主要控制种子、胚、胚乳等贮藏器官中直链淀粉的合成,而GBSSII主要控制根、茎、叶等营养器官中直链淀粉的合成。综述了模式植物及农作物中GBSS基因表达调控机制的最新研究进展,以期为其他植物GBSS基因的研究提供借鉴。     

Waxy基因的RNA沉默使转基因小麦种子中直链淀粉含量下降

通过RNAi策略转化小麦,以降低小麦种子中直链淀粉的含量。小麦中直链淀粉合成的关键酶是颗粒结合型淀粉合成酶（Granule—bound starch synthase l,GBSSI,即WAXY蛋白）,通过RT—PCR方法从小麦种子中分离出Waxy基因。Southern杂交分析表明,在基因组中存在3个Waxy基因。Northern杂交分析显示出在授粉后的小麦种子中检测到Waxy mRNA。利用RNA沉默策略,将Waxy编码区683bp的正向和反向片段以及150bp内含子,连接于表达载体pCAMBIA3300中玉米ubil启动子下游。以扬麦10号授粉后15d的幼胚为外植体,利用农杆菌介导的方法进行转化。通过PCR、RT-PCR和叶片离体褪绿实验鉴定出4株转基因植株。小麦胚乳I2-KI染色和直链淀粉含量测定表明这4株转基因植株直链淀粉含量明显下降。研究结果表明Waxy基因的RNA沉默使转基因小麦种子直链淀粉的含量下降。     

糯性和非糯性小麦灌浆期胚乳直/支链淀粉积累及其相关酶活性研究

选用3份糯性和2份非糯性小麦材料,通过田间试验在灌浆过程中分别检测了各材料的籽粒直链和支链淀粉积累量、淀粉积累速率及淀粉合成关键酶活性的动态变化过程,探讨籽粒淀粉累积与相关酶活性的关系.结果表明:(1)非糯小麦在花后7 d前均未检测到直链淀粉存在,而此时已经检测到支链淀粉含量,并且糯小麦仅含有支链淀粉,支链淀粉早于直链淀粉合成.(2)糯性和非糯性小麦灌浆期籽粒的直、支链淀粉积累速率均呈先增加后降低的趋势,且直、支链淀粉最终积累量取决于最大积累速率和平均积累速率的大小,而积累活跃期的调节作用较小;糯性和非糯性小麦在淀粉合成过程中的腺苷二磷酸葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶(AGPP)、可溶性淀粉合成酶(SSS)、颗粒结合型淀粉合成酶(GBSS)和淀粉分支酶(SEB)活性均呈单峰曲线变化,活性峰值基本上都出现在花后20～25 d左右.(3)直链淀粉积累速率与AGPP、SSS、GBSS和SBE活性变化显著或极显著正相关,而支链淀粉积累速率仅与SSS活性变化极显著正相关,总淀粉积累速率与AGPP和SSS活性变化显著或极显著正相关.     

不同类型玉米发育籽粒中淀粉合成及相关酶活性比较

以普通玉米、爆裂玉米、甜玉米和糯玉米为试材,分析和比较不同类型的玉米品种之间籽粒发育过程中淀粉合成及相关酶活性的变化。结果表明,淀粉合成速率和蔗糖合成酶(SS)、可溶性淀粉合成酶(SSS)、束缚态淀粉合成酶(GBSS)、淀粉分支酶(SBE)、去分支酶(DBE)活性都呈单峰曲线变化。30～40 DAP,普通玉米的SS活性显著高于其他3种类型;类型间平均和最大SSS活性水平的顺序为普通玉米>糯玉米>爆裂玉米>甜玉米;30～40 DAP,普通玉米GBSS活性最高,糯玉米GBSS活性最低;20～40 DAP,糯玉米SBE活性最高;甜玉米的DBE活性很低,并且在40 DAP完全丧失。淀粉合成速率与SS、SSS、GBSS和SBE活性相关程度比较高,与腺苷二磷酸葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶(AGP酶)和DBE活性相关不显著。推测AGP酶虽然为淀粉合成提供直接前体ADPG,但可能SS活性过低致使其限速作用比AGP酶的还强,AGP酶潜在的限速作用无法表现,SS成为玉米籽粒淀粉合成的限速因子。GBSS对直链淀粉积累起重要的促进作用;SSS和SBE对支链淀粉积累起重要的促进作用。     

碘使淀粉液变色的原理是什么？

答：淀粉以淀粉粒的形式储存在植物的根、茎、种子和果实等器官中。在酸的作用下淀粉的最终水解产物是葡萄糖。用热水溶解淀粉时,可溶的部分为直链淀粉,不溶的部分为支链淀粉。不同植物淀粉中直链淀粉和支链淀粉所含比例不同,如玉米淀粉中含直链淀粉的比例为27％,土豆淀粉中直链淀粉的含量为30％：豆类淀粉全为直链淀粉,糯米淀粉则全为支链淀粉。     

用于筛选直链淀粉含量为中等的籼稻品种的分子标记

用PCR AccⅠ分子标记检测方法 ,检测了来自不同地区的 6 3个栽培水稻品种 (系 )蜡质基因第 1内含子剪接供体 1位碱基是G或是T。另外 ,还测定了这些水稻成熟种子的直链淀粉含量。结果显示该位置是G碱基的水稻品系成熟种子中直链淀粉含量均高于 2 0 % ,该位置是T的均低于 18%。在杂交育种过程中 ,这一分子标记可用于预测水稻植株种子的直链淀粉含量。对高直链淀粉含量的水稻亲本与中等直链淀粉含量的水稻亲本之间 5个籼型杂交组合F2 群体的分析表明 ,蜡质基因第 1内含子 1位碱基是G或是T与水稻种子中直链淀粉含量的高或低是紧密连锁 ,共同分离的。这些结果表明PCR AccⅠ分子标记检测方法可用于选育中等直链淀粉含量的籼稻新品系     

复合调控Wx与SBE3基因对水稻籽粒直链淀粉含量的影响

颗粒淀粉合成酶（GBSS）和淀粉分支酶3（SBE3）是淀粉合成过程中的两个关键酶,这两个酶主要由耽和SBE3两个基因分别控制,它们的表达量直接影响直链淀粉和支链淀粉的含量比例。为了探讨水稻淀粉关键酶基因耽过量与SBE3干涉复合表达对直链淀粉含量的影响,构建了Wx过量表达与SBE3干涉结合的多基因表达载体,并通过农杆菌介导的方法将其导入日本晴水稻中。经过PCR检测分析获得了65株转基因阳性植株,半定量RT—PCR检测表明转基因株系中Wx基因表达量明显增加,而SBE3基因表达量显著减少。转基因株系籽粒透明度明显降低,直链淀粉含量比野生型的平均高45％,但是千粒重变化不大,与野生型相当。遗传分析表明这些转基因株系多数可稳定遗传。     

施氮量和花后土壤含水量对强筋小麦籽粒淀粉合成及品质的影响

以强筋小麦品种'济麦20'为材料,在防雨池栽培条件下研究了施氮量和花后土壤含水量对强筋小麦籽粒淀粉合成及其品质的影响,以明确强筋小麦获得高产优质的花后适宜土壤含水量及施氮量.结果表明:在同一施氮量下,适宜的花后土壤含水量(60%～70%)籽粒游离态淀粉合成酶(SSS)和束缚态淀粉合成酶(GBSS)活性在籽粒发育过程中一直最高,有利于直链淀粉、支链淀粉的积累和支链淀粉/直链淀粉比的提高,提高峰值粘度、低谷粘度、最终粘度和衰减值;花后土壤含水量过高(80%～90%)或过低(40%～50%)均导致籽粒SSS和GBSS活性降低,从而使直链淀粉、支链淀粉的积累量降低,减小支链淀粉/直链淀粉比,使峰值粘度、低谷粘度、最终粘度降低.(2)在同一土壤含水量下,增施氮肥不利于灌浆前期SSS和GBSS活性和直链淀粉、支链淀粉积累量的提高,并且随着土壤含水量增加增施氮肥该趋势加重;适量增施氮肥能提高支链淀粉/直链淀粉比和峰值粘度、低谷粘度、最终粘度,过多或过少施氮则降低支/直比和峰值粘度、低谷粘度、最终粘度.研究认为,在本试验条件下,适量增施氮肥(纯氮225 kg/hm2)或适宜的花后土壤含水量(60%～70%)可促进强筋小麦籽粒淀粉的合成,有效改善其淀粉品质.     

水稻Wx基因表达调控的研究进展

水稻Wx基因编码颗粒结合淀粉合成酶(GBSS),是控制直链淀粉合成的主效基因。文中主要从转录水平和转录后水平介绍水稻Wx基因表达调控的研究进展,同时介绍转基因、遗传背景以及环境温度对Wx基因表达的影响,并提出Wx基因表达调控研究中一些期待解决的问题。     

胚乳中淀粉的合成

禾本科植物胚乳内所含有的淀粉根据其结构、组成可以分为两类：直链淀粉（由α-1,4糖苷键连接的多聚D-葡萄糖）和支链淀粉（在以α-1,4糖苷键连接的主链上通过形成α-1,6糖苷键引入支链的多聚D-葡萄糖）。前者是以一种线性无序状态存在,而支链淀粉则是构成淀粉半晶体结构的主要成分。其中,除了负责合成作为糖基直接供体的ADP—Glc的酶AGPase外,直链淀粉中链的延伸反应由GBSSI完成,而支链淀粉的合成则相对复杂,需要SS、SBE、DBE、SP等一些酶的协同调控来共同完成。本文综述了胚乳中淀粉合成过程中所涉及的一些关键酶的研究进展,并对此研究领域进行了展望。     

Characterization of a Granule-Bound Starch Synthase Isoform Found in the Pericarp of Wheat

Waxy wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) lacks the waxy protein, which is also known as granule-bound starch synthase I (GBSSI). The starch granules of waxy wheat endosperm and pollen do not contain amylose and therefore stain red-brown with iodine. However, we observed that starch from pericarp tissue of waxy wheat stained blue-black and contained amylose. Significantly higher starch synthase activity was detected in pericarp starch granules than in endosperm starch granules. A granule-bound protein that differed from GBSSI in molecular mass and isoelectric point was detected in the pericarp starch granules but not in granules from endosperm. This protein was designated GBSSII. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of GBSSII, although not identical to wheat GBSSI, showed strong homology to waxy proteins or GBSSIs of cereals and potato, and contained the motif KTGGL, which is the putative substrate-binding site of GBSSI of plants and of glycogen synthase of Escherichia coli. GBSSII cross-reacted specifically with antisera raised against potato and maize GBSSI. This study indicates that GBSSI and GBSSII are expressed in a tissue-specific manner in different organs, with GBSSII having an important function in amylose synthesis in the pericarp.     

A 56-kDa protein is a novel granule-bound starch synthase existing in the pericarps, aleurone layers, and embryos of immature seed in diploid wheat (Triticum monococcum L.)

A novel 56-kDa granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS; NDPglucose-starch glucosyltransferase, EC 2.4.1.21) responsible for amylose synthesis was found in the pericarps, aleurone layers and embryos of immature diploid wheat (Triticum monococcum L.). The GBSS and other proteins bound to starch granules of various tissues of immature normal and waxy diploid wheat seeds were separated by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and their activities were examined. In the waxy mutant, the waxy protein (59.5 kDa, GBSSI) was absent, but amylose and GBSS activity were evident in all tissues except the endosperm. Of the proteins bound to starch granules, only the 56-kDa protein was associated with the presence of amylose and GBSS activities in the pericarps, aleurone layers and embryos. Mutations at the waxy locus did not affect the 56-kDa protein in these tissues. Changes in the amount of 56-kDa protein during the course of seed development, and the distribution of the 56-kDa protein in each tissue of immature seeds were quite different from those of the waxy protein. On the other hand, the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the 56-kDa protein had a 40–50% similarity to GBSSI of some other plant species and was antigenically related to the waxy protein. These results strongly suggest that the 56-kDa protein in diploid wheat is a GBSSI class enzyme and, hence, an isoform of the waxy protein. The waxy protein and 56-kDa protein, however, are expressed in different seed tissues and at different stages of seed development. Received: 15 May 1998 / Accepted: 18 June 1998     

GBSS‐BINDING PROTEIN,encoding a CBM48 domain‐containing protein,affects rice quality and yield

The percentage of amylose in the endosperm of rice (Oryza sativa) largely determines grain cooking and eating qualities. Granule‐bound starch synthase I (GBSSI) and GBSSII are responsible for amylose biosynthesis in the endosperm and leaf, respectively. Here, we identified OsGBP, a rice GBSS‐binding protein that interacted with GBSSI and GBSSII in vitro and in vivo. The total starch and amylose contents in osgbp mutants were significantly lower than those of wild type in leaves and grains, resulting in reduced grain weight and quality. The carbohydrate‐binding module 48 (CBM48) domain present in the C‐terminus of OsGBP is crucial for OsGBP binding to starch. In the osgbp mutant, the extent of GBSSI and GBSSII binding to starch in the leaf and endosperm was significantly lower than wild type. Our data suggest that OsGBP plays an important role in leaf and endosperm starch biosynthesis by mediating the binding of GBSS proteins to developing starch granules. This elucidation of the function of OsGBP enhances our understanding of the molecular basis of starch biosynthesis in rice and contributes information that can be potentially used for the genetic improvement of yield and grain quality.     

The altered pattern of amylose accumulation in the endosperm of low-amylose barley cultivars is attributable to a single mutant allele of granule-bound starch synthase I with a deletion in the 5'-non-coding region

Reasons for the variable amylose content of endosperm starch from waxy cultivars of barley (Hordeum vulgare) were investigated. The mature grains of most such cultivars contain some amylose, although amounts are much lower than in wild-type cultivars. In these low-amylose cultivars, amylose synthesis starts relatively late in grain development. Starch granules in the outer cell layers of the endosperm contain more amylose than those in the center. This distribution corresponds to that of granule-bound starch synthase I (GBSSI), which is more severely reduced in amount in the center of the endosperm than in the outer cell layers, relative to wild-type cultivars. A second GBSSI in the barley plant, GBSSIb, is not detectable in the endosperm and cannot account for amylose synthesis in the low-amylose cultivars. The change in the expression of GBSSI in the endosperm of the low-amylose cultivars appears to be due to a 413-bp deletion of part of the promoter and 5'-untranslated region of the gene. Although these cultivars are of diverse geographical origin, all carry this same deletion, suggesting that the low-amylose cultivars have a common waxy ancestor. Records suggest a probable source in China, first recorded in the 16th century. Two further families of waxy cultivars have no detectable amylose in the endosperm starch. These amylose-free cultivars were selected in the 20th century from chemically mutagenized populations of wild-type barley. In both cases, 1-bp alterations in the GBSSI gene completely eliminate GBSSI activity.     

Temperature induced changes in the starch components and biosynthetic enzymes of two rice varieties

The effects of temperature on starch and amylose accumulation, fine structure of amylopectin and activities of some enzymes related to starch synthesis in developing rice endosperms was examined. Two early indica rice varieties were used, differing in amylose concentration (AC, %), namely Jia 935 (low AC) and Jia 353 (high AC). The results showed that the effects of high temperature on AC and amylopectin fine structure were variety-dependent. High temperature caused a reduction in amylose concentration and an increase in the short chain (CL<22) proportion of amylopectin for Jia 935; while opposite was true for Jia 353. High temperature also reduced and increased the activity of granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS) in Jia 935 and in Jia 353, respectively. This suggests that a change in the ratio of amylose/starch due to temperature was attributable to a change in GBSS activity. Moreover, obvious differences between the two rice varieties were detected in the activities of sucrose synthase (SuSy), ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (ADPG-Ppase), soluble starch synthase (SSS), starch branching enzyme (SBE), starch de-branching enzyme (SDBE) and starch phosphorylase (SPase) to high temperature. Accumulation rate of amylose was significantly and positively correlated with GBSS for Jia 935, but not for Jia 353. Amylose accumulation was also significantly and positively correlated with the activities of SDBE, SBE, ADPG-Ppase and SuSy for both varieties. The results suggest that the ratio of amylose to starch in rice endosperm is not only related to GBSS, but also affected by the activities of SDBE, SBE, ADPG-Ppase and SuSy.     

Characterization of cDNAs encoding two isoforms of granule-bound starch synthase which show differential expression in developing storage organs of pea and potato

We have isolated cDNA clones to two isoforms of granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS) from pea embryos and potato tubers. The sequences of both isoforms are related to that of glycogen synthase from E. coli and one, GBSSI, is very similar to the waxy protein of maize and other species. In pea, GBSSII carries a novel 203-amino-acid domain at its N-terminus. Genes encoding both proteins are expressed during pea embryo development, but GBSSII is most highly expressed earlier in development than GBSSI. Similarly, GBSSI and GBSSII are differentially expressed in developing potato tubers. Expression of both isoforms is much lower in other organs of pea than in embryos. GBSSII is expressed in every organ tested while GBSSI is not expressed in roots, stipules or flowers. The possible consequences of this differential use of GBSS isoforms are discussed.     

Diversification of genes encoding granule-bound starch synthase in monocots and dicots is marked by multiple genome-wide duplication events

Starch is one of the major components of cereals, tubers, and fruits. Genes encoding granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS), which is responsible for amylose synthesis, have been extensively studied in cereals but little is known about them in fruits. Due to their low copy gene number, GBSS genes have been used to study plant phylogenetic and evolutionary relationships. In this study, GBSS genes have been isolated and characterized in three fruit trees, including apple, peach, and orange. Moreover, a comprehensive evolutionary study of GBSS genes has also been conducted between both monocots and eudicots. Results have revealed that genomic structures of GBSS genes in plants are conserved, suggesting they all have evolved from a common ancestor. In addition, the GBSS gene in an ancestral angiosperm must have undergone genome duplication ～251 million years ago (MYA) to generate two families, GBSSI and GBSSII. Both GBSSI and GBSSII are found in monocots; however, GBSSI is absent in eudicots. The ancestral GBSSII must have undergone further divergence when monocots and eudicots split ～165 MYA. This is consistent with expression profiles of GBSS genes, wherein these profiles are more similar to those of GBSSII in eudicots than to those of GBSSI genes in monocots. In dicots, GBSSII must have undergone further divergence when rosids and asterids split from each other ～126 MYA. Taken together, these findings suggest that it is GBSSII rather than GBSSI of monocots that have orthologous relationships with GBSS genes of eudicots. Moreover, diversification of GBSS genes is mainly associated with genome-wide duplication events throughout the evolutionary course of history of monocots and eudicots.