丹参体内Sm-miR858对R2R3-MYB转录因子SmPAP1进行靶向负调控作用研究

MicroRNAs(miRNAs)是一类对基因表达进行负调控的非编码小分子RNA。通过前期对丹参miRNAs的高通量测序得到了一个miR858成熟序列,命名为Sm-miR858。序列比对显示,Sm-miR858与其它植物中已鉴定的miR858序列高度保守;Small RNA Northern blotting结果显示Sm-miR858在丹参根、茎和叶组织中均有表达,叶中表达水平相对较高。为了探究Sm-miR858在丹参体内的功能,首先利用在线生物软件对Sm-miR858的靶标基因进行预测,psRNATarget分析结果显示,Sm-miR858的潜在靶标基因共有13个,其中一个靶标基因SmPAP1作为一个重要的转录因子参与丹参酚酸类活性物质的代谢调控。为了验证Sm-miR858对SmPAP1的靶向作用,采用Real-time quantitative PCR依次对烟草瞬时表达体系和丹参组织器官中的Sm-miR858与SmPAP1之间共表达相关性进行分析与实验验证。Real-time qPCR结果显示,在丹参组织中SmPAP1与Sm-miR858共表达水平存在显著的负相关性。进而分别构建Sm-miR858和SmPAP1过表达植物载体,并在烟草叶片中进行瞬时共表达研究。结果显示,与对照相比,Sm-miR858过表达会导致SmPAP1的mRNA水平显著下降,说明在丹参体内Sm-miR858的确对SmPAP1基因表达进行靶向负调控。研究结果为阐明Sm-miR858在丹参体内酚酸类活性物质代谢途径调控作用奠定坚实的基础。     

植物microRNA功能瞬时验证体系的建立

目的:建立植物microRNA(miRNA)功能的瞬时活体验证体系,并检验该体系的有效性。方法:选用双元表达载体pCAMBIA1200,并插入烟草花叶病毒双35S启动子,以驱动目标miRNA超表达;选用双元表达载体pFGC5941的绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)改造载体用于潜在的靶基因与GFP融合蛋白的超表达,以转入这2种载体的农杆菌侵染烟草叶片,观察GFP融合蛋白的荧光,作为验证miRNA对其潜在靶基因调控作用的瞬时验证体系。选取拟南芥已知功能的miR393及其靶基因AFB3,分别构建pCAMBIA1200-35S-miR393和pFGC5941-GFP-AFB3载体,利用农杆菌注射烟草叶片进行2个载体共转化,并以pFGC5941-GFP-AFB3单转化作为对照,激光共聚焦显微镜下观察融合蛋白的表达。结果:只将AFB3导入烟草表皮细胞,可观察到绿色荧光;而将miR393与AFB3同时导入烟草表皮细胞后,未能观察到绿色荧光。表明miR393抑制了AFB3的表达。结论:本瞬时表达体系可作为植物miRNA功能的活体瞬时验证体系,为miRNA调控靶基因表达功能提供简单、快速、有效的证据。     

基于miRNA-155结构的人工miRNA表达载体的构建与评价

目的:建立一种适用于人工miRNA(amiRNA)表达研究的克隆载体。方法:基于实验室构建的短发夹RNA(shRNA)表达载体pshOK-basic,将鼠源miRNA-155的侧翼序列插入合适的酶切位点构建得到amiRNA重组表达载体pOK-basic;应用本载体分别构建靶向萤火虫荧光素酶(luc2)和红色荧光蛋白(mCherry)基因的amiRNA并检测其沉默效果。结果:应用此载体能快速高效地构建amiRNA,靶向luc2和mCherry报告基因的amiRNA能较好地抑制靶基因的表达。结论:构建了一种能高效表达amiRNA的克隆载体,为amiRNA的进一步研究及应用奠定了基础。     

植物microRNA功能瞬时验证体系的建立简

目的：建立植物microRNA（miRNA）功能的瞬时活体验证体系,并检验该体系的有效性。方法：选用双元表达载体pcAMBIA1200,并插入烟草花叶病毒双35s启动子,以驱动目标miRNA超表达;选用双元表达载体pFGC5941的绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）改造载体用于潜在的靶基因与GFP融合蛋白的超表达,以转入这2种载体的农杆菌侵染烟草叶片,观察GFP融合蛋白的荧光,作为验证miRNA对其潜在靶基因调控作用的瞬时验证体系。选取拟南芥已知功能的miR393及其靶基因A船3,分别构建pcAMBIA1200-35s-miR393和pFGc5941-GFP-AFB3载体,利用农杆菌注射烟草叶片进行2个载体共转化,并以pFGC5941-GFP-AFB3单转化作为对照,激光共聚焦显微镜下观察融合蛋白的表达。结果：只将A朋3导入烟草表皮细胞,可观察到绿色荧光;而将miR393与A期3同时导入烟草表皮细胞后,未能观察到绿色荧光。表明miR393抑制了A朋3的表达。结论：本瞬时表达体系可作为植物miRNA功能的活体瞬时验证体系,为miRNA调控靶基因表达功能提供简单、快速、有效的证据。     

致病疫霉效应蛋白Pi16275的功能研究

【目的】分析致病疫霉效应蛋白Pi16275的超量表达对病原菌致病性的影响,明确Pi16275的亚细胞定位,筛选Pi16275在植物中的互作靶标蛋白及靶标蛋白在抵御病原菌侵染过程中的作用,初步揭示Pi16275在病原菌侵染植物过程中的作用机制。【方法】利用农杆菌介导的烟草瞬时表达系统在烟草叶片表皮细胞中瞬时表达Pi16275并观察其亚细胞定位,同时在瞬时表达部位接种致病疫霉游动孢子并统计病斑面积;通过酵母核系统cDNA文库及酵母双杂交技术筛选、验证,确定Pi16275在马铃薯中的靶标蛋白;运用病毒介导的基因沉默技术在植物中沉默靶标蛋白基因,探究基因沉默是否影响植物对病原菌的抗性。【结果】在烟草叶片中瞬时表达Pi16275显著促进致病疫霉的侵染;Pi16275定位在植物细胞核、细胞质及细胞膜中;初步筛选到3个与Pi16275互作的马铃薯蛋白：40S核糖体亚基蛋白S5 (StRPS5)、粘蛋白2 (StMUC2)、V型ATP酶E亚基类似蛋白(StVAEL);沉默StRPS5的同源基因后显著降低了烟草对致病疫霉的抗性。【结论】Pi16275在致病疫霉侵染植物过程中发挥重要作用。     

利用病毒载体在烟草中瞬时表达融合HBsAg基因

利用马铃薯PVX病毒载体构建了外源人工融合乙肝表面抗原HBsAg基因的表达载体,在烟草中利用农杆菌介导进行瞬时表达,以快速鉴定外源基因瞬时表达的状况以及重组蛋白的免疫活性。利用PCR技术从含有人工融合HBsAg基因的表达载体中分别扩增出LP PreS1 PreS2 S、PreS1 PreS2 S、PreS2 S序列,将其分别与PVX病毒载体pgR106连接,构建成PVX-LP、PVX-S1和PVX-S2等3个转化载体,并将此载体导入农杆菌菌株GV3101中用于侵染烟草植株叶片。感染植株经RT-PCR、RNA Dot blotting和HBsAg蛋白的ELISA检测显示,3个人工融合的HBsAg基因均可在植物体内得到转录,翻译成具有活性的蛋白。结果表明,外源融合HB-sAg基因经过植物病毒载体瞬时表达系统可以在植物系统中正常转录和翻译。     

两种瞬时表达体系研究拟南芥Profilin-1的亚细胞定位

使用两种瞬时表达方法研究Profilin-1(PRF1)的亚细胞定位,并比较了2种瞬时表达体系在亚细胞定位研究中的优缺点。利用拟南芥幼叶作为材料,提取叶片的RNA,采用特异性引物RT-PCR的方法克隆PRF1基因,连接到p CAMBIA1300-GFP的改造载体上,成功的构建p CAMBIA1300-GFP-PRF1的表达载体。然后分别利用PEG转化拟南芥原生质体、农杆菌浸染烟草叶片两种技术进行了瞬时表达,并在激光共聚焦显微镜下观察绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)融合蛋白的表达。研究结果表明,将PRF1基因导入拟南芥的原生质体和烟草表皮细胞后,融合蛋白绿色荧光均能被观察到,PRF1基因与GFP融合蛋白的产物在烟草表皮细胞中主要定位在细胞质和外周细胞器中,在拟南芥的原生质体中的细胞核和细胞质中都有定位。两种不同的瞬时表达体系中PRF1蛋白的定位出现了不同,这可能与同源或异源表达的植物的特性相关。     

人工microRNAs对拟南芥At1g13770和At2g23470基因的特异沉默

DUF647(Domain of unknown function 647)蛋白家族是在真核生物中广泛存在的、高度保守的蛋白家族。拟南芥中该基因家族共有6个成员,迄今为止拟南芥DUF647家族中4个成员的功能尚不清楚。文章以拟南芥内源MIR319a前体为骨架,构建了敲减DUF647家族中2个基因At1g13770和At2g23470表达的人工microRNAs(Artifical microRNAs,amiRNAs)。利用WMD(Web microRNA designer)平台设计分别靶向At1g13770和At2g23470基因的amiRNAs序列,通过重叠PCR置换拟南芥MIR319a前体序列。构建融合amiRNAs前体的植物表达载体pCHF3-amiRNAs,在农杆菌介导下转化拟南芥。RT-PCR分析表明,amiRNAs能够显著抑制At1g13770和At2g23470基因的表达,获得了抑制效果明显的转基因株系。At2g23470-amiRNA转基因植株At2g23470转录水平的下调导致育性严重下降。文章为进一步研究这两个基因的功能奠定了良好的基础。     

不同调控元件及组合对烟草外源蛋白瞬时表达的效果分析

植物瞬时表达是一种高效快速获得外源基因表达的方法,该系统主要应用于蛋白互作研究、调控元件功能分析、蛋白亚细胞定位和蛋白制剂合成等方面。为了进一步提高外源基因在瞬时表达体系中稳定表达效果,本研究对瞬时表达载体的多种作用元件及转化条件进行优化。首先,我们在目前最常用的双元表达载体pCambia1300骨架上,分别添加可增强特异性转录和稳定蛋白表达的新的调控元件,构建pREU-EF、pREUR-EF和pREUR-p24-EF重组表达载体,并且通过定性和定量方法分析不同元件组合、不同菌液浓度对报告基因eGFP表达的影响。激光共聚焦显微镜观察结果证明3个重组载体可在烟草叶片的细胞膜、细胞质和细胞核中快速表达报告基因;定量PCR分析表明3个重组载体中报告基因在转录表达水平上分别比原pCambia1301-eGFP载体提高了4倍、20倍和28倍;蛋白水平分析表明烟草叶片转化48 h后,pREUR-EF外源蛋白表达量明显高于pREU-EF;并且当菌液注射液浓度OD_(600)=0.4左右时,外源蛋白的表达效率最高。此外,我们还进一步把改造后的瞬时表达重组载体运用到双荧光素酶(Dual-Luciferase)报告系统中,实验证明改造后的瞬时表达重组载体可以更加快捷和有效地用于转录调控分析。因此,烟草瞬时表达载体中作用元件增加和优化组合,可以有效地提高外源蛋白的表达。     

玉米核基质结合区在烟草中对外源转基因表达水平的影响

为研究核基质结合区(matrix attachment region, MAR)在转基因植物中的功能,将来自玉米基因组的MAR序列构建在植物表达载体T-DNA中, 并将报告基因β-葡糖醛酸酶(β-glucuronidase, GUS)基因(uidA)插入两段MARs序列之间.将此载体与不包含MARs序列的植物表达载体分别转化烟草(Nicotiana tabacum L.).GUS活性检测表明,MARs可以显著提高外源基因uidA在转基因烟草中的表达水平,平均表达水平提高2倍,最高单株活性可达10倍.并且转基因植株GUS活性高低与稳定mRNA的量成正比,表明MARs在转录水平提高基因表达.     

An in vivo Transient Expression System Can Be Applied for Rapid and Effective Selection of Artificial MicroRNA Constructs for Plant Stable Genetic Transformation

The utility of artificial microRNAs (amiRNAs) to induce loss of gene function has been reported for many plant species, but expression efficiency of the different amiRNA constructs in different transgenic plants was less predictable. In this study, expressions of amiRNAs through the gene backbone of Arabidopsis miR168a were examined by both Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression and stable plant genetic transformation. A corresponding trend in expression of amiRNAs by the same amiRNA constructs between the transient and the stable expression systems was observed in the experiments. Plant genetic transformation of the constructs that were highly expressible in amiRNAs in the transient agro-infiltration assays resulted in generation of transgenic lines with high level of amiRNAs. This provides a simple method for rapid and effective selection of amiRNA constructs used for a time-consuming genetic transformation in plants.     

A high-efficiency gene silencing in plants using two-hit asymmetrical artificial MicroRNAs

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that play a crucial role in gene regulation. They are produced through an enzyme-guided process called dicing and have an asymmetrical structure with two nucleotide overhangs at the 3′ ends. Artificial microRNAs (amiRNAs or amiRs) are designed to mimic the structure of miRNAs and can be used to silence specific genes of interest. Traditionally, amiRNAs are designed based on an endogenous miRNA precursor with certain mismatches at specific positions to increase their efficiency. In this study, the authors modified the highly expressed miR168a in Arabidopsis thaliana by replacing the single miR168 stem-loop/duplex with tandem asymmetrical amiRNA duplexes that follow the statistical rules of miRNA secondary structures. These tandem amiRNA duplexes, called “two-hit” amiRNAs, were shown to have a higher efficiency in silencing GFP and endogenous PDS reporter genes compared to traditional “one-hit” amiRNAs. The authors also demonstrated the effectiveness of “two-hit” amiRNAs in silencing genes involved in miRNA, tasiRNA, and hormone signalling pathways, individually or in families. Importantly, “two-hit” amiRNAs were also able to over-express endogenous miRNAs for their functions. The authors compare “two-hit” amiRNA technology with CRISPR/Cas9 and provide a web-based amiRNA designer for easy design and wide application in plants and even animals.     

Multiple artificial microRNAs targeting conserved motifs of the replicase gene confer robust transgenic resistance to negative-sense single-stranded RNA plant virus

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate the abundance of target mRNAs by guiding cleavage at sequence complementary regions. In this study, artificial miRNAs (amiRNAs) targeting conserved motifs of the L (replicase) gene of Watermelon silver mottle virus (WSMoV) were constructed using Arabidopsis pre-miRNA159a as the backbone. The constructs included six single amiRNAs targeting motifs A, B1, B2, C, D of E, and two triple amiRNAs targeting motifs AB1E or B2DC. Processing of pre-amiRNAs was confirmed by agro-infiltration, and transgenic Nicotiana benthamiana plants expressing each amiRNA were generated. Single amiRNA transgenic lines expressing amiR-LB2 or amiR-LD showed resistance to WSMoV by delaying symptom development. Triple amiRNA lines expressing amiR-LB2, amiR-LD and amiR-LC provided complete resistance against WSMoV, with no indication of infection 28 days after inoculation. Resistance levels were positively correlated with amiRNA expression levels in these single and triple amiRNA lines. The triple amiR-LAB1E line did not provide resistance to WSMoV. Similarly, the poorly expressed amiR-LC and amiR-LE lines did not provide resistance to WSMoV. The amiR-LA- and amiR-LB1-expressing lines were susceptible to WSMoV, and their additional susceptibility to the heterologous Turnip mosaic virus harbouring individual target sequences indicated that these two amiRNAs have no effect in vivo. Transgenic lines expressing amiR-LB2 exhibited delayed symptoms after challenge with Peanut bud necrosis virus having a single mismatch in the target site. Overall, our results indicate that two amiRNAs, amiR-LB2 and amiR-LD, of the six designed amiRNAs confer moderate resistance against WSMoV, and the triple construct including the two amiRNAs provides complete resistance.     

A simplified method for constructing artificial microRNAs based on the osa-MIR528 precursor

Artificial miRNAs (amiRNAs) have been used successfully in various plants to silence endogenous genes or viral RNAs. The method of Schwab et al., widely used to construct amiRNAs, requires four PCRs. We describe a simplified method of constructing amiRNA based on the osa-MIR528 backbone using one PCR step by addition of prolonging sequence to the primers. The length of prolonging sequence needed in the osa-MIR528 precursor was determined. Using this method, we constructed amiRNA targeting the Nicotiana benthamiana UPF1 gene and showed that it functioned in silencing UPF1 expression in leaves when expressed transiently.     

Expression of artificial microRNAs in tomato confers efficient and stable virus resistance in a cell-autonomous manner

Expression of artificial microRNAs (amiRNAs) in plants can target and degrade the invading viral RNA, consequently conferring virus resistance. Two amiRNAs, targeting the coding sequence shared by the 2a and 2b genes and the highly conserved 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), respectively, were generated and introduced into the susceptible tomato. The transgenic tomato plants expressing amiRNAs displayed effective resistance to CMV infection and CMV mixed with non-targeted viruses, including tobacco mosaic virus and tomato yellow leaf curl virus. A series of grafting assays indicate scions originated from the transgenic tomato plant maintain stable resistance to CMV infection after grafted onto a CMV-infected rootstock. However, the grafting assay also suggests that the amiRNA-mediated resistance acts in a cell-autonomous manner and the amiRNA signal cannot be transmitted over long distances through the vascular system. Moreover, transgenic plants expressing amiRNA targeting the 2a and 2b viral genes displayed slightly more effective to repress CMV RNA accumulation than transgenic plants expressing amiRNA targeting the 3′ UTR of viral genome did. Our work provides new evidence of the use of amiRNAs as an effective approach to engineer viral resistance in the tomato and possibly in other crops.