Expression of wheat Na+/H+ antiporter TNHXS1 and H+- pyrophosphatase TVP1 genes in tobacco from a bicistronic transcriptional unit improves salt tolerance

Abiotic stress tolerance of plants is a very complex trait and involves multiple physiological and biochemical processes. Thus, the improvement of plant stress tolerance should involve pyramiding of multiple genes. In the present study, we report the construction and application of a bicistronic system, involving the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) sequence from the 5'UTR of the heat-shock protein of tobacco gene NtHSF-1, to the improvement of salt tolerance in transgenic tobacco plants. Two genes from wheat encoding two important vacuolar ion transporters, Na(+)/H(+) antiporter (TNHXS1) and H(+)-pyrophosphatase (TVP1), were linked via IRES to generate the bicistronic construct TNHXS1-IRES-TVP1. Molecular analysis of transgenic tobacco plants revealed the correct integration of the TNHXS1-IRES-TVP1construct into tobacco genome and the production of the full-length bicistronic mRNA from the 35S promoter. Ion transport analyses with tonoplast vesicles isolated from transgenic lines confirmed that single-transgenic lines TVP1cl19 and TNHXS1cl7 had greater H(+)-PPiase and Na(+)/H(+) antiport activity, respectively, than the WT. Interestingly, the co-expression of TVP1 and TNHXS1 increased both Na(+)/H(+) antiport and H(+)-PPiase activities and induced the H(+) pumping activity of the endogenous V-ATPase. Transgenic tobacco plants expressing TNHXS1-IRES-TVP1 showed a better performance than either of the single gene-transformed lines and the wild type plants when subjected to salt treatment. In addition, the TNHXS1-IRES-TVP1 transgenic plants accumulated less Na(+) and more K(+) in their leaf tissue than did the wild type and the single gene-transformed lines. These results demonstrate that IRES system, described herein, can co-ordinate the expression of two important abiotic stress-tolerance genes and that this expression system is a valuable tool for obtaining transgenic plants with improved salt tolerance.     

Cloning of an H+-PPase gene from Thellungiella halophila and its heterologous expression to improve tobacco salt tolerance

An H(+)-pyrophosphatase (PPase) gene named TsVP involved in basic biochemical and physiological mechanisms was cloned from Thellungiella halophila. The deduced translation product has similar characteristics to H(+)-PPases from other species, such as Arabidopsis and rice, in terms of bioinformation. The heterologous expression of TsVP in the yeast mutant ena1 suppressed Na(+) hypersensitivity and demonstrated the function of TsVP as an H(+)-PPase. Transgenic tobacco overexpressing TsVP had 60% greater dry weight than wild-type tobacco at 300 mM NaCl and higher viability of mesophyll protoplasts under salt shock stress conditions. TsVP and AVP1, another H(+)-PPase from Arabidopsis, were heterologously expressed separately in both the yeast mutant ena1 and tobacco. The salt tolerance of TsVP or AVP1 yeast transformants and transgenic tobacco were improved to almost the same level. The TsVP transgenic tobacco lines TL3 and TL5 with the highest H(+)-PPase hydrolytic activity were studied further. These transgenic tobacco plants accumulated 25% more solutes than wild-type plants without NaCl stress and 20-32% more Na(+) under salt stress conditions. Although transgenic tobacco lines TL3 and TL5 accumulated more Na(+) in leaf tissues, the malondialdehyde content and cell membrane damage were less than those of the wild type under salt stress conditions. Presumably, compartmentalization of Na(+) in vacuoles reduces its toxic effects on plant cells. This result supports the hypothesis that overexpression of H(+)-PPase causes the accumulation of Na(+) in vacuoles instead of in the cytoplasm and avoids the toxicity of excessive Na(+) in plant cells.     

高粱ATP合成酶E亚基基因(SbATPase-E)的克隆及其抗逆功能研究

高粱是一种抗旱性较强的禾谷类作物。本研究在高粱中克隆到一个全长为693 bp的编码ATP合成酶E亚基的基因(SbATPase-E)。在高粱幼苗期,SbATPase-E基因受Na Cl和脱落酸(ABA)处理诱导上调表达。该基因在拟南芥中过量表达可提高转基因植株的耐旱性和耐盐性,在逆境胁迫条件下转基因拟南芥植株较野生型植株根系发达,可能是转基因植株耐旱性和耐盐性提高的主要原因。在干旱胁迫条件下,转基因植株中DREB2A、P5CS1、RD29A、RAB18和ABI1基因的表达量相对于野生型植株中的表达量提高更为显著;在高盐处理条件下,转基因植株中SOS1和SOS2基因的表达量也较野生型植株中的表达量明显提高。这些抗逆相关基因的上调表达可能是转基因植株抗逆性提高的主要分子机制。     

超表达AVP1基因提高转基因百脉根的耐盐性和抗旱性

本研究以超表达拟南芥液泡膜H＋-焦磷酸酶编码基因AVPI的转基因百脉根为材料,对其耐盐性和抗旱性进行了检测。结果显示：在200mmol·L^-1 NaCl下处理或自然干旱7d后,转基因植株的生长虽然受到抑制,但受抑程度明显低于野生型植株,前者叶片相对含水量比后者分别高18％和14％,净光合速率分别高20％和21％,而MDA含量则分别低35％和27％,相对质膜透性分别低28％和27％。此外,随着盐和干旱胁迫的加剧,与野生型植株相比,转基因植株体内积累了更多Na＋、K＋和Ca2＋。以上结果表明,AVPI基因的超表达可能提高了百脉根细胞Na＋区域化能力,既减轻了过量Na＋对细胞质的毒害作用,也提高了植株的渗透调节能力,从而增强了百脉根的耐盐性和抗旱性。     

盐生植物盐爪爪甜菜碱醛脱氢酶基因的克隆及在盐胁迫下的BADH基因的表达

根据已发表的几种藜科植物甜菜碱醛脱氢酶(BADH)基因的同源保守区设计了一对引物,采用RT-PCR方法从盐生植物盐爪爪(Kalidium foliatum)中扩增出BADH基因的1个开放阅读框架,其核苷酸序列长1503bp,推测的氨基酸序列全长为500个氨基酸残基。核苷酸序列与藜科几种盐生植物如滨藜、碱蓬、菠菜、山菠菜和甜菜等的同源性为81%,与甜土植物水稻的同源性为69%。氨基酸序列与以上两类植物(盐生植物和甜土植物)的同源性比对为80%和71%,说明BADH基因在藜科盐生植物中是一种较高保守的基因。BADH基因编码的多肽在高等植物中行使重要的功能。用不同浓度的NaCl胁迫处理盐爪爪植株,BADHmRNA的表达水平比对照植株高,说明盐爪爪BADH基因的表达受盐诱导,间接说明甜菜碱醛脱氢酶催化合成的甜菜碱作为渗透调节的小分子物质,它的积累与盐胁迫存在紧密关联,本研究为进一步从生理和分子水平阐明盐爪爪的耐盐机制提供一定的参考。     

Antiporter Gene from Hordum brevisubulatum (Trin.) Link and Its Overexpression in Transgenic Tobaccos

A vacuolar Na /H antiporter cDNA gene was successfully isolated from Hordeum brevisubulatum (Trin.) Link using the rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) method. The gene was named HbNHX1 and was found to consist of 1 916 bp encoding a predicted polypeptide of 540 amino acids with a conserved amiloride-binding domain. Phylogenetic tree analysis of the Na /H antiporters showed that the HbNHX1gene shares 55.3%-74.8% similarity with the vacuolar-type Na /H antiporters. Transgenic tobaccos that contain the HbNHX1 gene, integrated by forward insertion into the tobacco genome, were obtained via Agrobacterium tumerfaciens and characterized for the determination of the concentration of Na and K ions, as well as proline, in the presence of 300 mmol/L NaCl. The T1 transgenic plants showed more tolerance to salt and drought than did wild-type plants. Our data suggest that overexpression of the HbNHX1 gene could improve the tolerance of transgenic tobaccos to salt and drought through the function of the vacuolar Na /H antiporter.     

白桦BpBEE2基因的遗传转化及抗逆性分析

Brassinolide Enhanced Expression2（BEE2）基因属于bHLH转录因子家族,是调控油菜素内酯信号转导的上游调控因子。本研究通过RT-PCR技术克隆BpBEE2基因的全长cDNA序列,构建植物过表达及抑制表达载体,并通过农杆菌介导法进行白桦的遗传转化,对获得的转基因株系进行生长量及盐、旱胁迫分析,结果表明：获得了长度为1 080 bp的全长cDNA序列,成功构建了该基因的过表达及抑制表达载体,并获得了过表达和抑制表达的白桦株系。BpBEE2基因过表达白桦株系的苗高高于对照株系,而抑制表达株系的苗高低于对照株系。同时发现BEE2基因对盐、旱胁迫后对植株的鲜重也产生了影响。说明BpBEE2可能参与了植物的生长发育过程,并且改善了植物的抗旱、耐盐性。     

盐生植物盐爪爪甜菜碱醛脱氢酶基因的克隆及在盐胁迫下的BADH 基因的表达

根据已发表的几种藜科植物甜菜碱醛脱氢酶(BADH) 基因的同源保守区设计了一对引物, 采用RT-PCR 方法从盐生植物盐爪爪( Kalidium foliatum) 中扩增出BADH 基因的1 个开放阅读框架, 其核苷酸序列长1 503 bp , 推测的氨基酸序列全长为500 个氨基酸残基。核苷酸序列与藜科几种盐生植物如滨藜、碱蓬、菠菜、山菠菜和甜菜等的同源性为81% , 与甜土植物水稻的同源性为69%。氨基酸序列与以上两类植物(盐生植物和甜土植物) 的同源性比对为80% 和71% , 说明BADH 基因在藜科盐生植物中是一种较高保守的基因。BADH 基因编码的多肽在高等植物中行使重要的功能。用不同浓度的NaCl 胁迫处理盐爪爪植株, BADH mRNA 的表达水平比对照植株高, 说明盐爪爪BADH 基因的表达受盐诱导, 间接说明甜菜碱醛脱氢酶催化合成的甜菜碱作为渗透调节的小分子物质, 它的积累与盐胁迫存在紧密关联, 本研究为进一步从生理和分子水平阐明盐爪爪的耐盐机制提供一定的参考。     

羽衣甘蓝胁迫应答基因BoRS1转化烟草的初步研究

将克隆于羽衣甘蓝的胁迫应答基因BoRS1连入中间载体p35S-2300：：gus：：noster相应位点,成功地构建了含BoRS1基因的植物双元表达载体p35S-2300：：BoRS1：：noster,并通过农杆菌介导法对烟草进行了遗传转化。PCR检测结果表明目的基因BoRS1已成功地导入并整合到烟草基因组中。RT-PCR分析显示,在不同的转基因烟草植株中BoRS1表达量存在差异。转BoRS1烟草的耐干性和甘露醇胁迫研究表明,BoRS1基因的表达对提高植物抗干旱胁迫能力有一定的作用。     

超表达AVP1基因提高甜菜的耐低磷和耐盐抗旱性

为探讨H⁺-焦磷酸酶编码基因对甜菜磷吸收和抗性的影响，实现优良基因在甜菜基因工程中的利用，研究在甜菜中超表达拟南芥液泡膜H⁺-焦磷酸酶编码基因AVP1,对转基因甜菜分析其耐低磷、耐盐性和抗旱性。结果显示，AVP1基因在甜菜植株的叶片和块根中表达，且在逆境胁迫下增强表达量响应胁迫；低磷处理条件下，转基因甜菜与野生型甜菜相比具有更高的含磷量，可提高甜菜对磷的吸收利用效率；干旱、盐胁迫处理条件下，AVP1基因在转基因甜菜中显著上升，在盐胁迫或干旱处理条件下，转基因植株的生长受抑程度相对较轻。随着盐和干旱胁迫的加剧，转基因植株体内MDA含量与野生型植株相比较低而脯氨酸含量显著增加，AVP1基因可通过减轻逆境对甜菜细胞膜的损伤及提高甜菜细胞的渗透调节能力，进而增强甜菜对高盐和干旱胁迫的抗性。     

转拟南芥P5CS1基因增强羽衣甘蓝的耐旱性

为提高羽衣甘蓝的耐旱性,本文将拟南芥Δ1-吡咯啉-5-羧酸合成酶（P5CS1）基因经农杆菌介导转入羽衣甘蓝植株中,检测转基因株系与野生型植株在干旱胁迫下P5CS1 mRNA表达量、幼苗脯氨酸含量、株系根系性状、整株干重、鲜重和整株存活率。结果表明,在15%PEG6000渗透胁迫下,转基因植株的P5CS1基因mRNA表达量明显增加,转基因植株脯氨酸含量是野生型的2.4倍;主根长、最长侧根长、侧根数目、整株干重和鲜重均高于野生型,干重/鲜重则低于野生型,转基因植株的平均存活率为78%,极显著高于野生型。数据显示,AtP5CS1基因在羽衣甘蓝中的表达明显改善了转基因植株的耐旱性。     

Physiological and Growth Responses of Tomato Progenies Harboring the Betaine Alhyde Dehydrogenase Gene to Salt Stress

The responses of five transgenic tomato （Lycopersicon esculentum Mill） lines containing the betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase （BADH） gene to salt stress were evaluated. Proline, betaine （N, N, N-trimethylglycine, hereafter betalne）, chlorophyll and ion contents, BADH activity, electrolyte leakage （EL）, and some growth parameters of the plants under 1.0% and 1.5% NaCl treatments were examined. The transgenic tomatoes had enhanced BADH activity and betaine content, compared to the wild type under stress conditions. Salt stress reduced chlorophyll contents to s higher extent in the wild type than in the transgenic plants. The wild type exhibited significantly higher proline content than the transgenic plants at 0.9% and 1.3% NaCh Cell membrane of the wild type was severely damaged as determined by higher EL under salinity stress. K^＋ and Ca^2＋ contents of all tested lines decreased under salt stress, but the transgenic plants showed a significantly higher accumulation of K^＋ and Ca^2＋ than the wild type. In contrast, the wild type had significantly higher CI- and Na^2＋ contents than the transgenic plants under salt stress. Although yield reduction among various lines varied, the wild type had the highest yield reduction. Fruit quality of the transgenic plants was better in comparison with the wild type as shown by a low ratio of blossom end rot fruits. The results show that the transgenic plants have improved salt tolerance over the wild type.     

Co-expression of Pennisetum glaucum vacuolar Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter and Arabidopsis H⁺-pyrophosphatase enhances salt tolerance in transgenic tomato

Salinity is one of the major abiotic stresses affecting plant productivity. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), an important and widespread crop in the world, is sensitive to moderate levels of salt in the soil. To generate tomato plants that can adapt to saline soil, AVP1, a vacuolar H(+)-pyrophosphatase gene from Arabidopsis thaliana, and PgNHX1, a vacuolar Na(+)/H(+) antiporter gene from Pennisetum glaucum, were co-expressed by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. A sample of transformants was self-pollinated, and progeny were evaluated for salt tolerance in vitro and in vivo. It is reported here that co-expression of AVP1 and PgNHX1 confers enhanced salt tolerance to the transformed tomato compared with the AVP1 and PgNHX1 single gene transgenic plants and the wild-type. These transgenic plants grew well in the presence of 200 mM NaCl while wild-type plants exhibited chlorosis and died within 3 weeks. The transgenic line co-expressing AVP1 and PgNHX1 retained more chlorophyll and accumulated 1.4 times more proline as a response to stress than single gene transformants. Moreover, these transgenic plants accumulated a 1.5 times higher Na(+) content in their leaf tissue than the single gene transformants. The toxic effect of Na(+) accumulation in the cytosol is reduced by its sequestration into the vacuole. The physiological analysis of the transgenic lines clearly demonstrates that co-expression of AVP1 and PgNHX1 improved the osmoregulatory capacity of double transgenic lines by enhanced sequestration of ions into the vacuole by increasing the availability of protons and thus alleviating the toxic effect of Na(+).     

NRRB在水稻应答高盐和干旱胁迫中的功能解析

为研究NRRB在水稻抗逆反应中的作用,通过重叠延伸PCR扩增NRRB基因编码区,构建超量表达载体,并转化水稻愈伤组织获得超量表达转基因水稻植株。鉴定结果表明,该基因已被整合到水稻基因组中,并实现超量表达;同时构建了抑制表达载体,获得转基因株系,PCR检测结果证实NRRB基因在转基因水稻中受到明显抑制。对T1代转基因植株进行抗旱性、耐盐性分析,结果显示,超量表达NRRB基因增强了转基因水稻对干旱的抗性,抑制表达NRRB基因的转基因水稻对干旱的敏感性增强,表明NRRB正调控水稻对干旱的抗性;耐盐性分析表明,NRRB基因的抑制表达降低了植株对盐的敏感性。     

Abiotic stress tolerance in transgenic eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) by introduction of bacterial mannitol phosphodehydrogenase gene

In the present work, the bacterial mannitol-1-phosphodehydrogenase(mtlD) gene was introduced into eggplant(Solanummelongena L.) by Agrobacteriumtumefaciens-mediated transformation. Several transformants weregenerated and the transgene integration was confirmed by PCR, dot blot andSouthern blot analysis. Transgenic lines of T₀ and T₁generations were examined for tolerance to NaCl-induced salt stress,polyethylene glycol-mediated drought and chilling stress under bothinvitro and in vivo growth conditions. Aconsiderable proportions of transgenic seeds germinated and seedlings grew wellon 200 mM salt-amended MS basal medium, whereas seeds ofuntransformed control plants failed to germinate. Further, leaf explants fromthe transgenics could grow and showed signs of shoot regeneration onsalt-amended MS regeneration medium, whereas wild type did not respond, and infact the explants showed necrosis and loss of chlorophyll after about one week.The transgenic leaves could also withstand desiccation, and transgenics couldgrow well under chilling stress, and hydroponic conditions with salt stress ascompared to wild type plants. Thus, the transgenic lines were found to betolerant against osmotic stress induced by salt, drought and chilling stress.The morphology of the transgenic plants was normal as controls, but thechlorophyll content was higher in some of the lines. These observations suggestthat mtlD gene can impart abiotic stress tolerance ineggplant.     

Cloning and characterization of Na+/H+ antiporter (LfNHX1) gene from a halophyte grass Leptochloa fusca for drought and salt tolerance

Abiotic stresses such as salinity and drought have adverse effects on plants. In the present study, a Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter gene homologue (LfNHX1) has been cloned from a local halophyte grass (Leptochloa fusca). The LfNHX1 cDNA contains an open reading frame of 1,623 bp that encodes a polypeptide chain of 540 amino acid residues. LfNHX1 protein sequence showed high similarity with NHX1 homologs reported from other halophyte plants. Amino acid and nucleotide sequence similarity, protein topology modeling and the presence of conserved functional domains in the LfNHX1 protein sequence classified it as a vacuolar NHX1 homolog. The overexpression of LfNHX1 gene under CaMV35S promoter conferred salt and drought tolerance in tobacco plants. Under drought stress, transgenic plants showed higher relative water contents, photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and membrane stability index as compared to wild type plants. More negative value of leaf osmotic potential was also observed in transgenic plants when compared with wild type control plants. Transgenic plants showed better germination and root growth at 2 mg L^?1 Basta herbicide and three levels (100, 200 and 250 mM) of sodium chloride. These results showed that LfNHX1 is a potential candidate gene for enhancing drought and salt tolerance in crops.