Yield-related QTLs and Their Applications in Rice Genetic Improvement

Grain yield is one of the most important indexes in rice breeding,which is governed by quantitative trait loci (QTLs).Different map-ping populations have been used to explore the QTLs controlling yield related traits.Primary populations such as F 2 and recombi-nant inbred line populations have been widely used to discover QTLs in rice genome-wide,with hundreds of yield-related QTLs detected.Advanced populations such as near isogenic lines (NILs) are efficient to further fine-map and clone target QTLs.NILs for primarily identified QTLs have been proposed and confirmed to be the ideal population for map-based cloning.To date,20 QTLs directly affecting rice grain yield and its components have been cloned with NIL-F 2 populations,and 14 new grain yield QTLs have been validated in the NILs.The molecular mechanisms of a continuously increasing number of genes are being unveiled,which aids in the understanding of the formation of grain yield.Favorable alleles for rice breeding have been ’mined’ from natural cultivars and wild rice by association analysis of known functional genes with target trait performance.Reasonable combination of favorable alleles has the potential to increase grain yield via use of functional marker assisted selection.     

Comparative analysis of the 100 kb region containing the Pi-k(h) locus between indica and japonica rice lines

We have recently cloned a pathogen inducible blast resistance gene Pi-kh from the indica rice line Tetep using a positional cloning approach. In this study, we carried out structural organization analysis of the Pi-kh locus in both indica and japonica rice lines. A 100 kb region containing 50 kb upstream and 50 kb down- stream sequences flanking to the Pi-kh locus was selected for the investigation. A total of 16 genes in indica and 15 genes in japonica were predicted and anno- tated in this region. The average GC content of indica and japonica genes in this region was 53.15% and 49.3%, respectively. Both indica and japonica sequences were polymorphic for simple sequence repeats having mono-, di-, tri-, tetra-, and pentanucleotides. Sequence analysis of the specific blast resistant Pi-kh allele of Tetep and the susceptible Pi-kh allele of the japonica rice line Nipponbare showed differences in the number and distribution of motifs involved in phosphorylation, resulting in the resistance phenotype in Tetep.     

Rice Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Gene Family and Its Role in Biotic and Abiotic Stress Response

The mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK） cascade is an important signaling module that transduces extracellular stimuli into intracellular responses in eukaryotic organisms. An increasing body of evidence has shown that the MAPK-mediated cellular signaling is crucial to plant growth and development, as well as biotic and abiotic stress responses. To date, a total of 17 MAPK genes have been Identified from the rice genome. Expression profiling, biochemical characterization and/or functional analysis were carried out with many members of the rice MAPK gene family, especially those associated with biotic and abiotic stress responses. In this review, the phylogenetic relationship and classification of rice MAPK genes are discussed to facilitate a simple nomenclature and standard annotation of the rice MAPK gene family. Functional data relating to biotic and abiotic stress responses are reviewed for each MAPK group and show that despite overlapping in functionality, there is a certain level of functional specificity among different rice MAP kinases. The future challenges are to functionally characterize each MAPK, to identify their downstream substrates and upstream kinases, and to genetically manipulate the MAPK signaling pathway in rice crops for the Improvement of agronomically important traits.     

Rice Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Gene Family and Its Role in Biotic and Abiotic Stress Response

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade is an important signaling module that transduces extracellu-lar stimuli into intracellular responses in eukaryotic organisms. An increasing body of evidence has shown that theMAPK-mediated cellular signaling is crucial to plant growth and development, as well as biotic and abiotic stressresponses. To date, a total of 17 MAPK genes have been identified from the rice genome. Expression profiling,biochemical characterization and/or functional analysis were carried out with many members of the rice MAPKgene family, especially those associated with biotic and abiotic stress responses. In this review, the phylogeneticrelationship and classification of rice MAPK genes are discussed to facilitate a simple nomenclature and standardannotation of the rice MAPK gene family. Functional data relating to biotic and abiotic stress responses are re-viewed for each MAPK group and show that despite overlapping in functionality, there is a certain level of functionalspecificity among different rice MAP kinases, The future challenges are to functionally characterize each MAPK, toidentify their downstream substrates and upstream kinases, and to genetically manipulate the MAPK signalingpathway in rice crops for the improvement of agronomically important traits.     

Identification of genes contributing to quantitative disease resistance in rice

Despite the importance of quantitative disease resistance during a plant’s life, little is known about the molecular basis of this type of host-pathogen interaction, because most of the genes underlying resistance quantitative trait loci (QTLs) are unknown. To identify genes contributing to resistance QTLs in rice, we analyzed the colocalization of a set of characterized rice defense-responsive genes and resistance QTLs against different pathogens. We also examined the expression patterns of these genes in response to pathogen infection in the parents of the mapping populations, based on the strategy of validation and functional analysis of the QTLs. The results suggest that defense-responsive genes are important resources of resistance QTLs in rice. OsWRKY45-1 is the gene contributing to a major resistance QTL.NRR,OsGH3-1,and OsGLP members on chromosome 8 contribute alone or collectively to different minor resistance QTLs. These genes function in a basal resistance pathway or in major disease resistance gene-mediated race-specific pathways.     

Construction of a DNA library from chromosome 4 of rice （Oryza sativa） by microdissection

A simple method to create a chromosome-specific DNA librqary of rice,including microdissection,amplification,charterization and cloning,is described.Rice chromosome 4 from a metaphase cell has been isolated and amplified by the Linker Adapter PCR (LA-PCR).The PCR products were labeled as probes with DIG-11-dUTP using the random priming method.Southern blot analysis with rice genomic DNA and specific RFLP markers demonstrated that the PCR products were derived from rice chromosome 4.A large library comprising over 100,000 recombinant plasmid microclones from rice chromosome 4 was constructed.Colony hybridization showed that 58% of the clones contained single or low-copy sequences and 42% contained repetitive sequences.The size of inserts generated by PCR ranged from 140bp to 500bp.This method will facilitate cloning of the specific chromosome DNA markers and important genes of rice.     

Small RNA in rice genome

Rice has many characteristics of a model plant. The recent completion of the draft of the rice genome represents an important advance in our knowledge of plant biology and also has an important contribution to the understanding of general genomic evolution. Besides the rice genome finishing map, the next urgent step for rice researchers is to annotate the genes and non-coding functional sequences. The recent work shows that noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) play significant roles in biological systems. We have explored all the known small RNAs (a kind of ncRNA) within rice genome and other six species sequences, including Arabidopsis, maize, yeast, worm, mouse and pig. As a result we find 160 out of 552 small RNAs (sRNAs) in database have ho-mologs in 108 rice scaffolds, and almost all of them (99.41 %) locate in intron regions of rice by gene predication. 19 sRNAs only appear in rice. More importantly, we find two special U14 sRNAs: one is located in a set of sRNA ZMU14SNR9(s) which only appears in three plants,     

Genome-Wide Survey and Expression Analysis Suggest Diverse Roles of Glutaredoxin Gene Family Members During Development and Response to Various Stimuli in Rice

Glutaredoxins (GRXs) are glutathione-dependent oxidoreductase enzymes involved in a variety of cellular processes. In this study, our analysis revealed the presence of 48 genes encoding GRX proteins in the rice genome. GRX proteins could be classified into four classes, namely CC-, CGFS-, CPYC- and GRL-type, based on phylogenetic analysis. The classification was supported with organization of predicted conserved putative motifs in GRX proteins. We found that expansion of this gene family has occurred largely via whole genome duplication events in a species-specific manner. We explored rice oligonucleotide array data to gain insights into the function of GRX gene family members during various stages of development and in response to environmental stimuli. The comprehensive expression analysis suggested diverse roles of GRX genes during growth and development in rice. Some of the GRX genes were expressed in specific organs/developmental stages only. The expression of many of rice GRX genes was influenced by various phytohormones, abiotic and biotic stress conditions, suggesting an important role of GRX proteins in response to these stimuli. The identification of GRX genes showing differential expression in specific tissues or in response to environmental stimuli provide a new avenue for in-depth characterization of selected genes of importance.     

The high diversity of snoRNAs in plants: identification and comparative study of 120 snoRNA genes from Oryza sativa

Using a powerful computer-assisted analysis strategy, a large-scale search of small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) genes in the recently released draft sequence of the rice genome was carried out. This analysis identified 120 different box C/D snoRNA genes with a total of 346 gene variants, which were predicted to guide 135 2′-O-ribose methylation sites in rice rRNAs. Though not exhaustive, this analysis has revealed that rice has the highest number of known box C/D snoRNAs among eukaryotes. Interestingly, although many snoRNA genes are conserved between rice and Arabidopsis, almost half of the identified snoRNA genes are rice specific, which may highlight further the differences in rRNA methylation patterns between monocotyledons and dicotyledons. In addition to 76 singletons, 70 clusters involving 270 snoRNA genes were also found in rice. The large number of the novel snoRNA polycistrons found in the introns of rice protein-coding genes is in contrast to the one-snoRNA-per-intron organization of vertebrates and yeast, and of Arabidopsis in which only a few intronic snoRNA gene clusters were identified. Furthermore, due to a high degree of gene duplication, rice snoRNA genes are clearly redundant and exhibit great sequence variation among isoforms, allowing generation of new snoRNAs for selection. Thus, the large snoRNA gene family in plants can serve as an excellent model for a rapid and functional evolution.     

水稻SBP基因家族的生物信息学分析(英文)

SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE(SBP)转录因子家族是植物特有的一类转录因子。本文确定了20水稻基因组上编码的SBP基因。通过分类,染色体定位,保守区确定,亲缘关系,以及水稻SBP家族中的重复基因及该家族成员形成蛋白二聚体的可能性进行分析,其次利用了Affymetrix水稻基因组芯片数据,对所有这些基因的表达谱进行了分析。结果表明,水稻SBP基因在花和种子的发育过程中可能发挥重要作用,而其对环境胁迫却不敏感。这对进一步研究SBP的功能提供了有价值的线索和思路。     

野生稻有利基因的发掘和利用

摘要: 野生稻作为栽培稻的野生亲缘种, 具有许多优良的性状和有利基因, 是栽培稻品种进一步改良的天然遗传种质资源库。其中, 野生稻对病虫害的抗性、对各种逆境的耐受性以及胞质雄性不育等, 已广泛应用于现代栽培稻的育种改良。文章综述了野生稻种质资源的有利性状及相应控制基因的发掘, 探讨了其在今后水稻育种中的应用潜力。     

Comparison and evolution analysis of two rice subspecies LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES domain gene family and their evolutionary characterization from Arabidopsis

The plant specific LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES (LOB) domain (LBD) gene family has a potential role in lateral organ development. Thirty-five LBD genes in a japonica rice (Nipponbare) (designated OsJLBD) and in an indica rice (9311) (designated OsILBD) were identified based on the current databases of the two rice subspecies. A new rice LBD gene with two LOB domains and two predicted coiled coil structures in both subspecies was found, which is not found in other plant species based on the current NCBI Genbank database. OsJLBD and OsILBD genes have similar chromosomal distribution pattern. Both OsJLBD and OsILBD genes can be divided into 7 subclasses (classes Ia-e, II and III (see )) and no subclass-specific expression pattern was observed. No introns have been predicted in all class Ie genes in both OsJLBD and OsILBD subfamilies. The genome and tandem duplication has contributed to the neofunctionalization and formation of new rice subclasses, but the mechanism of diploidization and limited tandem duplication have contributed to fewer LBD genes in rice than in Arabidopsis. Functional studies of genes in subclasses may help to determine whether special sequence structure (intron-exon, spacing characters of motifs) has caused special expression pattern of subclasses.     

Sucrose-mediated priming of plant defense responses and broad-spectrum disease resistance by overexpression of the maize pathogenesis-related PRms protein in rice plants

Expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes is part of the plant's natural defense response against pathogen attack. The PRms gene encodes a fungal-inducible PR protein from maize. Here, we demonstrate that expression of PRms in transgenic rice confers broad-spectrum protection against pathogens, including fungal (Magnaporthe oryzae, Fusarium verticillioides, and Helminthosporium oryzae) and bacterial (Erwinia chrysanthemi) pathogens. The PRms-mediated disease resistance in rice plants is associated with an enhanced capacity to express and activate the natural plant defense mechanisms. Thus, PRms rice plants display a basal level of expression of endogenous defense genes in the absence of the pathogen. PRms plants also exhibit stronger and quicker defense responses during pathogen infection. We also have found that sucrose accumulates at higher levels in leaves of PRms plants. Sucrose responsiveness of rice defense genes correlates with the pathogen-responsive priming of their expression in PRms rice plants. Moreover, pretreatment of rice plants with sucrose enhances resistance to M. oryzae infection. Together, these results support a sucrose-mediated priming of defense responses in PRms rice plants which results in broad-spectrum disease resistance.     

Molecular control of seasonal flowering in rice,arabidopsis and temperate cereals

Background

Rice (Oryza sativa) and Arabidopsis thaliana have been widely used as model systems to understand how plants control flowering time in response to photoperiod and cold exposure. Extensive research has resulted in the isolation of several regulatory genes involved in flowering and for them to be organized into a molecular network responsive to environmental cues. When plants are exposed to favourable conditions, the network activates expression of florigenic proteins that are transported to the shoot apical meristem where they drive developmental reprogramming of a population of meristematic cells. Several regulatory factors are evolutionarily conserved between rice and arabidopsis. However, other pathways have evolved independently and confer specific characteristics to flowering responses.

Scope

This review summarizes recent knowledge on the molecular mechanisms regulating daylength perception and flowering time control in arabidopsis and rice. Similarities and differences are discussed between the regulatory networks of the two species and they are compared with the regulatory networks of temperate cereals, which are evolutionarily more similar to rice but have evolved in regions where exposure to low temperatures is crucial to confer competence to flower. Finally, the role of flowering time genes in expansion of rice cultivation to Northern latitudes is discussed.

Conclusions

Understanding the mechanisms involved in photoperiodic flowering and comparing the regulatory networks of dicots and monocots has revealed how plants respond to environmental cues and adapt to seasonal changes. The molecular architecture of such regulation shows striking similarities across diverse species. However, integration of specific pathways on a basal scheme is essential for adaptation to different environments. Artificial manipulation of flowering time by means of natural genetic resources is essential for expanding the cultivation of cereals across different environments.     

Splicing and alternative splicing in rice and humans

Rice is a monocot gramineous crop, and one of the most important staple foods. Rice is considered a model species for most gramineous crops. Extensive research on rice has provided critical guidance for other crops, such as maize and wheat. In recent years, climate change and exacerbated soil degradation have resulted in a variety of abiotic stresses, such as greenhouse effects, lower temperatures, drought, floods, soil salinization and heavy metal pollution. As such, there is an extremely high demand for additional research, in order to address these negative factors. Studies have shown that the alternative splicing of many genes in rice is affected by stress conditions, suggesting that manipulation of the alternative splicing of specific genes may be an effective approach for rice to adapt to abiotic stress. With the advancement of microarrays, and more recently, next generation sequencing technology, several studies have shown that more than half of the genes in the rice genome undergo alternative splicing. This mini-review summarizes the latest progress in the research of splicing and alternative splicing in rice, compared to splicing in humans. Furthermore, we discuss how additional studies may change the landscape of investigation of rice functional genomics and genetically improved rice. [BMB Reports 2013; 46(9): 439-447]