过表达TaLEA1和TaLEA2基因提高转基因拟南芥的耐盐性

我国土壤盐碱化日益严重,对我国的粮食安全造成了严重威胁。耐盐基因挖掘对作物耐盐育种非常重要。LEA蛋白家族是一个多基因家族,在植物应对非生物胁迫中发挥重要作用。本课题组前期研究阐明小麦TaLEA1基因在拟南芥中过表达可以提高转基因植物的耐盐性和抗旱性。本研究系统分析了小麦TaLEA2基因表达蛋白的理化性质、基因表达模式及启动子功能区域,并在拟南芥中过表达TaLEA2基因及共表达TaLEA1和TaLEA2基因,分析TaLEA2基因的抗逆功能及2个LEA基因的抗逆效果。结果表明,TaLEA2基因的表达产物属于第3组LEA蛋白,是稳定的亲水蛋白,富含α-螺旋、β-转角等结构。TaLEA2基因在小麦根、茎、叶、花、种子等不同组织中均有表达,盐胁迫条件诱导其高表达。在拟南芥中过表达TaLEA2基因,或过表达TaLEA1和TaLEA2基因都能够提高转基因拟南芥的耐盐性和抗旱性,转基因株系的种子萌发率、根长及叶绿素含量显著高于野生型,且双基因过表达的转基因植物的抗逆能力高于单个基因过表达株系。本研究结果为LEA基因抗逆机理的研究和多基因共转提高植物抗逆性提供了重要信息。     

小麦耐逆基因-TaLEA3的克隆及在酵母中的功能分析

LEA蛋白(late-embryogenesis-abundant protein),是指胚胎发生后期种子中大量积累的一类蛋白质,它广泛存在于高等植物中,且受发育阶段、脱落酸(ABA)和脱水信号的调节,其中第3组LEA蛋白与作物耐逆性密切相关。通过RT-PCR从小麦中克隆了一个新的第3组LEA蛋白基因,TaLEA3。该蛋白主要定位于细胞质。TaLEA3的表达受高盐、低温和外源激素ABA的诱导,根中表达量一般高于叶中,且在不同胁迫下该基因表达模式存在差异。在所检测的一对同核异质小麦品种中,该基因的表达与耐旱性呈正相关。TaLEA3在酵母中过量表达,改善了酵母在离子和渗透胁迫下的生长状态或提高了存活率。     

小麦E3泛素连接酶基因TaAIRP2-1B克隆及功能分析

干旱等非生物胁迫严重影响农作物生产。本研究克隆了小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)TaAIRP2-1B基因,探讨其对非生物胁迫的响应机制,为促进小麦抗旱性的遗传改良提供基因资源。组织特异性表达模式分析显示,TaAIRP2-1B基因在小麦抽穗期的各个组织中均有表达,在茎组织中的表达水平较高,而根系中的表达水平较低。非生物胁迫表达模式分析显示,Ta AIRP2-1B受ABA、PEG及冷胁迫诱导表达。过表达TaAIRP2-1B拟南芥在0.4μmol/L的ABA处理条件下,种子发芽率显著低于野生型,表明TaAIRP2-1B提高了拟南芥种子萌发期对ABA的敏感性。ABA处理抑制转基因和野生型拟南芥幼苗的根系生长,但转基因拟南芥受抑制程度显著高于野生型,表明TaAIRP2-1B提高了拟南芥幼苗对ABA的敏感性。转基因结果表明超表达TaAIRP2-1B增强了拟南芥的抗旱性,并且转基因株系的保水率显著高于野生型。总之,本研究发现小麦基因Ta AIRP2-1B参与了植物对非生物胁迫的应答,可能是通过ABA途径正向调控植物的抗旱性。     

小麦耐逆基因-TaLEA3的克隆及在酵母中的功能分析

LEA蛋白 (late embryogenesis abundantprotein) ,是指胚胎发生后期种子中大量积累的一类蛋白质 ,它广泛存在于高等植物中 ,且受发育阶段、脱落酸 (ABA)和脱水信号的调节 ,其中第 3组LEA蛋白与作物耐逆性密切相关。通过RT PCR从小麦中克隆了一个新的第 3组LEA蛋白基因 ,TaLEA3。该蛋白主要定位于细胞质。TaLEA3的表达受高盐、低温和外源激素ABA的诱导 ,根中表达量一般高于叶中 ,且在不同胁迫下该基因表达模式存在差异。在所检测的一对同核异质小麦品种中 ,该基因的表达与耐旱性呈正相关。TaLEA3在酵母中过量表达 ,改善了酵母在离子和渗透胁迫下的生长状态或提高了存活率.     

沙冬青AmCaM1基因的克隆及其功能初步分析

钙调素(calmodulins, CaMs)是一类非常保守的Ca2+感受蛋白,在Ca2+信号转导中起重要调节作用。本研究分析了强抗逆植物沙冬青(Ammopiptanthus mongolicus)AmCaM1在非生物胁迫下的表达变化,克隆了该基因并将其构建到植物表达载体上,然后转化拟南芥进行了初步的功能分析。结果表明,AmCaM1的转录水平在低温、干旱和盐胁迫下迅速上调;其cDNA编码区由450 bp组成,编码蛋白含149个氨基酸残基,在其一级结构中具有四个保守的EF-手型基序;将该基因转化拟南芥可提高种子萌发期对水分胁迫的耐性,而对耐盐和耐冷性无明显作用。     

转基因PnDof30拟南芥非生物胁迫下的抗性分析

Dof(DNA-binding with one finger)转录因子是植物中特有的一类转录因子,是锌指蛋白家族中的一个具有众多成员的家族,氨基酸长度一般在200~400,含有非常保守的N端和较为多变的C端。已有研究表明,Dof转录因子家族在参与植物发育的多种生理途径和调节碳氮代谢、增加氮素的吸收与利用,提高植株抗逆能力中起着重要作用。为了探究小黑杨(Populus simonii×P.nigra)中Dof30基因的抗逆能力,本研究以转基因PnDof30拟南芥为研究对象,对干旱、盐和渗透胁迫后过表达PnDof30拟南芥株系L2和野生型拟南芥WT的生理指标进行比较。发现胁迫后拟南芥株系L2的种子萌发率、根长和鲜重等指标均高于WT;同时SOD、POD、脯氨酸含量高于WT,叶绿素和MDA含量下降;胁迫后L2中的PnDof30基因表达量显著提高。这些结果表明了PnDof30基因具有抗旱、耐盐和渗透胁迫的能力,对全面了解Dof转录因子的抗逆胁迫功能具有重要的意义。     

控制基因盐诱导且根系优势表达的小麦启动子Tasipro3克隆及功能分析

在土壤盐胁迫下,小麦根系吸收水分和营养物质的功能受到抑制,从而影响植株的经济产量。因而,开展小麦耐盐育种,提高根系耐盐性是重要途径之一。使耐盐基因在根系中优势表达,并且在盐胁迫下增强表达,将显著提高根系耐盐性。而克隆和鉴定具有双重控制功能的启动子,是实现耐盐基因精准调控的基础。鉴于此,本研究利用Genevestigator在线生物信息学分析软件,筛选到425个盐诱导根系优势表达的探针,并从中选出2个候选探针,用于启动子验证。以1周龄小麦品种中国春的幼苗为材料,将其根系置于200 mmol/L的NaCl溶液中,分别于0 h、0.5 h、1 h、2 h、4 h和8 h进行根系取样,用于表达模式分析。结果表明,Ta.5463.1.A1_at探针的基因表达模式更符合生物信息学预测的结果,受盐胁迫诱导表达显著上调,且基因优势表达于根系。为进一步验证相应基因启动子的功能,对此探针对应的启动子区进行了克隆,并连接到启动子验证载体中,遗传转化获得转基因拟南芥植株。盐诱导后GUS染色的实验结果表明,该启动子使GUS报告基因在盐处理下表达量显著提高,且主要在根系表达。本研究成功克隆了耐盐遗传改良专用启动子,为小麦分子抗逆育种提供了优异资源。     

拟南芥AtUNE12基因的耐盐功能初探

bHLH转录因子家族成员在植物生长发育、生理代谢及非生物胁迫响应过程中起重要作用。本研究选取拟南芥抗逆相关bHLH转录因子家族中AtUNE12基因为研究对象,对其进行耐盐功能初探。首先构建AtUNE12基因的植物过表达载体（pROKⅡ-AtUNE12）,通过农杆菌介导的浸花法转化拟南芥,利用qRT-PCR技术检测获得T₃代AtUNE12过表达转基因植株。在盐胁迫下,分析过表达AtUNE12与野生型拟南芥长势、根长及鲜重;比较过表达AtUNE12与野生型植株的电解质渗透率、失水率、MDA含量、POD与SOD活性及H₂O₂含量,鉴定AtUNE12基因是否具有耐盐能力。结果表明：过表达AtUNE12基因降低了拟南芥植株的失水率、电解质渗透率及MDA含量,保护细胞膜结构的完整性;增强了POD与SOD活性,降低了拟南芥植株内的H₂O₂含量,进而增强拟南芥植株的ROS清除能力,从而提高拟南芥的耐盐能力。     

玉米逆境响应相关转录因子ZmC2H2-1基因克隆及功能验证

玉米是我国第一大作物,提高玉米的抗逆性是玉米育种的重要目标性状之一。植物C2H2型锌指蛋白广泛参与植物各个时期的生长发育及逆境应答过程。本研究从玉米中分离了转录因子ZmC2H2-1基因并对其功能进行了初步研究。结果表明,ZmC2H2-1属于C2H2锌指蛋白转录因子家族,编码蛋白主要位于细胞核中,酵母自激活实验表明ZmC2H2-1不具有自激活活性;干旱、盐和ABA等逆境可抑制ZmC2H2-1基因在玉米中的表达;过表达ZmC2H2-1基因的拟南芥叶片失水速率更快,在PEG、高盐和ABA处理条件下,与对照相比转ZmC2H2-1基因拟南芥耐逆性降低,以上结果说明ZmC2H2-1基因是作为玉米抗逆的负调控因子参与了逆境胁迫应答。本研究为深入解析玉米ZmC2H2-1的调控网络和玉米的抗逆调控机制奠定了基础。     

柽柳bZIP基因调控耐盐相关基因的表达

本研究探讨了柽柳（Tamarixhispida）bZIP（basicleucine zipper）基因对抗逆基因表达的调控。我们比较了非盐胁迫和盐胁迫条件下非转基因和转bZIP基因植株的SOD、POD、ATPase、GST、LTP和LEA等基因表达量的变化。结果表明,在非胁迫条件下,bZIP转录因子可能直接调控了poxN1、TOBPXD、TOBLTP和ltp1基因的表达,而其他基因的表达可能不受bZIP转录因子的直接调控。在盐胁迫下,bZIP转录因子能够直接或间接地调控部分抗逆基因的表达,使它们的表达量显著增强。     

Two New Group 3 LEA Genes of Wheat and Their Functional Analysis in Yeast

The group 3 late embryogenesis abundant （LEA） proteins are thought to protect cells from stresses associated with dehydration during periods of water deficit. To investigate the functions of different members of the group 3 LEA genes, we isolated and characterized two new group 3 LEA genes, namely TaLEA2 and TaLEA3, from wheat （Triticum aestivum L.） and introduced TaLEA2 and TaLEA3 into Saccharmyces cerevisiae to examine the effect of these genes on yeast cell tolerance to osmotic, salt, and cold stresses. The TaLEA2 gene encoded a protein of 211 amino acids and possessed five repeats of 11-mer amino acid motifs. The TaLEA3 gene encoded a polypeptide of 211 amino acids with nine repeated units. Overexpression of TaLEA2 and TaLEA3 improved stress tolerance in transgenic yeast cells when cultured in medium containing sorbitol, salt and-20℃ freezing treatments respectively. However, the yeast transformants with TaLEA2 seemed to be more tolerant to hyperosmotic and freezing stress than transformants with TaLEA3. This implies that a close relationship exists between function and the number of repeats of the 11- mer amino acid motif in the group 3 LEA protein.     

Cloning and functional analysis of wheat V-H+-ATPase subunit genes

The root microsomal proteomes of salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive wheat lines under salt stress were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrum. A wheat V-H(+)-ATPase E subunit protein was obtained whose expression was enhanced by salt stress. In silicon cloning identified the full-length cDNA sequences of nine subunits and partial cDNA sequences of two subunits of wheat V-H(+)-ATPase. The expression profiles of these V-H(+)-ATPase subunits in roots and leaves of both salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive wheat lines under salt and abscisic acid (ABA) stress were analyzed. The results indicate that the coordinated enhancement of the expression of V-H(+)-ATPase subunits under salt and ABA stress is an important factor determining improved salt tolerance in wheat. The expression of these subunits was tissue-specific. Overexpression of the E subunit by transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana was able to enhance seed germination, root growth and adult seedling growth under salt stress.     

Induction Kinetics of a Novel Stress-related LEA Gene in Wheat

Drought, high-salt, and low-temperature are major constraints to yield and quality of crops. Late embryogenesis abundant proteins (LEAs), characterized by high hydrophilic and thermal stabilities, stabilize the cell membrane structure and prevent oxidation. LEA genes mediate responses to abiotic stresses such as drought, salt, low-temperature, or ultraviolet radiation. In this study, TaLEA4, a Group III member from the LEA family, was cloned from a cDNA library of stress-treated wheat seedlings by in situ phage hybridization. The full length clone of TaLEA4 is 1,084?bp and contains a 570?bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a 189-amino-acid protein. Multiple sequence alignment indicated that TaLEA4 had three incompletely repetitive 11-mer amino acid motifs and ??-helix domains. The prediction of protein-sorting signals and localization sites in amino acid sequences (PSORT) showed that TaLEA4 has a nuclear localization signal (NLS) in the amino acid C-terminal sequence. A subcellular localization assay showed that the TaLEA4 protein accumulates in the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Specific expression in various wheat organs indicated that TaLEA4 mRNAs accumulates in abundance in stems under normal growing conditions. Expression profile analysis showed that TaLEA4 was highly induced by drought, and low and high temperatures. Isolation of the TaLEA4 promoter revealed a core promoter element and some cis-acting elements responding to abiotic stresses. This study provides a basis for more detailed functional analyses of LEA proteins, and suggests ways of improving wheat resistance by molecular breeding.     

Ectopic Expression of Arabidopsis Glycosyltransferase UGT85A5 Enhances Salt Stress Tolerance in Tobacco

Abiotic stresses greatly influence plant growth and productivity. While glycosyltransferases are widely distributed in plant kingdom, their biological roles in response to abiotic stresses are largely unknown. In this study, a novel Arabidopsis glycosyltransferase gene UGT85A5 was identified as significantly induced by salt stress. Ectopic expression of UGT85A5 in tobacco enhanced the salt stress tolerance in the transgenic plants. There were higher seed germination rates, better plant growth and less chlorophyll loss in transgenic lines compared to wild type plants under salt stress. This enhanced tolerance of salt stress was correlated with increased accumulations of proline and soluble sugars, but with decreases in malondialdehyde accumulation and Na⁺/K⁺ ratio in UGT85A5-expressing tobacco. Furthermore, during salt stress, expression of several carbohydrate metabolism-related genes including those for sucrose synthase, sucrose-phosphate synthase, hexose transporter and a group2 LEA protein were obviously upregulated in UGT85A5-expressing transgenic plants compared with wild type controls. Thus, these findings suggest a specific protective role of this glycosyltransferase against salt stress and provide a genetic engineering strategy to improve salt tolerance of crops.     

Wheat LEA genes, PMA80 and PMA1959, enhance dehydration tolerance of transgenic rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Drought and salt stresses are two major factors that lower plant productivity. Transgenic approaches offer powerful means to better understand and then minimize loss of yield due to these abiotic stresses. In this study, we have generated transgenic rice plants expressing a wheat LEA group 2 protein (PMA80) gene, and separately the wheat LEA group 1 protein (PMA1959) gene. Molecular analysis of the transgenic plants revealed the stable integration of the transgenes. Immunoblot analysis showed the presence of the LEA group 2 protein (39 kDa) and the LEA group 1 protein (25 kDa) in most of the plant lines. Second-generation transgenic plants were subjected to dehydration or salt stress. The results showed that accumulation of either PMA80 or PMA1959 correlates with increased tolerance of transgenic rice plants to these stresses.     

Wheat vacuolar H<Superscript>+</Superscript>-ATPase subunit B cloning and its involvement in salt tolerance

Wheat vacuolar H⁺-ATPases (V-ATPase) subunit B, named TaVB, was isolated from the salt-tolerant wheat RH8706-49 and used to transform Arabidopsis plants. TaVB-expressed Arabidopsis has a higher germination rate, root length, V–H⁺-ATPase activity, and overall salt tolerance than the wild type, indicating that expression of the gene can affect salt tolerance of the transgenic plants. Under salt stress, intracellular Na⁺ levels in transgenic plants are significantly lower than the control. These results suggest that expression of the wheat TaVB gene may enhance plant tolerance to salt stress.     

Salt tolerance-related protein STO binds to a Myb transcription factor homologue and confers salt tolerance in Arabidopsis

Regulating the intracellular Na+/K+ ratio is an essential process for salinity tolerance. The yeast mutant, can, which is deficient in calcineurin, can not grow on medium containing Na+ because it is unable to regulate the intracellular Na+/K+ ratio. Expression of the STO gene of Arabidopsis thaliana in the can mutant complements the salt-sensitive phenotype. A protein of Arabidopsis, an H-protein promoter binding factor (HPPBF-1), that binds to STO protein was isolated. HPPBF-1 cDNA has a sequence encoding a Myb DNA binding-motif and its gene expression is induced by salt stress. Furthermore, HPPBF-1 protein is localized in the nucleus. Although, the expression level of STO is not induced under salt-stress conditions, overexpression of STO in a transgenic Arabidopsis plant gave it a higher salt tolerance than was observed in the wild type. When STO transgenic plants and wild-type plants were subjected to salt stress, root growth was increased by 33-70% in the transgenic plants under salt stress. These results suggest that STO is involved in salt-stress responses in Arabidopsis.