小肽激素调控植物生长发育及逆境生理研究进展

小肽激素通常是指含5-100个氨基酸长度的肽段。在植物体内小肽激素含量很低、分子量小、数量多、来源及加工成熟机制复杂,这赋予了小肽多种多样的生物学功能,能够在极低浓度下与受体结合,调节植物的细胞分裂与生长、组织与器官分化、开花与结实、成熟与衰老等生理过程,协调植物响应多种胁迫环境。小肽激素作为细胞间信号转导的重要介质,参与调控生长发育的分子机制是近年来植物学科研究的热点和前沿。本文系统综述了小肽激素的结构、分类及其功能研究进展,重点讨论了CLE、RALFs、PSK、CIF、SYS等家族调控植物生长发育及逆境生理的研究进展,并展望了植物小肽激素的应用前景,为植物小肽激素的深层次研究和开发应用提供了重要的理论基础。     

Bex蛋白家族的研究进展

Bex家族(brain expressed,X-linked gene family)是X染色体连锁基因家族,虽然蛋白分子量只有120aa左右,但却包含了入核信号序列、出核信号基序、CAAX膜锚定序列等多个功能结构域,这些结构域的存在决定了Bex分子可以在亚细胞的不同部位间穿梭,执行不同的信号转导和生理功能。目前很多研究报导了Bex参与机体的发育与分化、细胞凋亡与肿瘤形成等重要的生理和病理过程,提示这类小分子蛋白家族可能扮演了重要的在体功能的角色。虽然人的Bex基因由我国学者首次发现,但国内有关Bex家族的研究工作和相关的理论参考均不多见。本文拟就Bex家族迄今为止突出的研究进展作一综述,旨在为下一步的功能研究工作提供理论参考和依据。     

植物小肽信号生物学功能及其在作物改良中研究进展

作为植物体内一类重要的信号分子,小肽在飞摩尔(fmol)级的浓度下被相应的细胞质膜类受体激酶识别并结合,开启小肽-受体介导的细胞间信号转导过程,从而调控植物干细胞的生长与增殖,调节根、茎、叶、花和果实等多种植物器官的发育,协调植物响应生物和非生物胁迫等多种生理过程。随着研究的不断深入,越来越多的报道揭示了小肽在水稻(Oryza sativa)、玉米(Zea mays)、马铃薯(Solanum tuberosum)及番茄(Solanum lycopersicum)等多种作物农艺性状中的重要调控功能,暗示着小肽信号在作物遗传改良中的巨大应用潜力。本文系统总结了小肽-受体介导的信号转导模式在植物中的生物学功能及分子机制,重点综述了小肽在调控作物产量、品质和抗性等重要农艺性状中的研究进展,并讨论了小肽信号应用于作物育种改良的策略,最后提出了小肽研究的未来方向。     

植物类受体蛋白参与植物生长与发育的研究进展

类受体蛋白(receptor-like protein,RLP)广泛存在于高等植物中,其家族在拟南芥中有57个成员。研究表明RLP蛋白参与了植物茎尖分生组织(shoot apical meristem,SAM)、根尖分生组织(root apical meristem,RAM)和维管分生组织等器官的生长与发育过程,例如CLV2(CLAVATA2)和FEA2(FASCINATED EAR2)参与了分生组织的维持与分化和其他器官的发育、TMM(TOO MANY MOUTHS)则介导了植物表皮细胞的分裂和气孔分布。另一方面,RLP蛋白在植物抗病中发挥着重要作用,包括番茄抗叶霉菌Cf类蛋白、番茄抗黑白轮枝菌Ve1和Ve2以及番茄应答非致病绿色木霉菌激发子的抗病蛋白LeEix等。同时,研究表明RLP蛋白在细胞间信号的接受与传递过程中起着极为重要的作用。本文综述了近年来对植物类受体蛋白参与植物生长与发育的功能、信号识别、传输与转导等方面的研究进展。     

阿拉伯半乳糖蛋白在被子植物有性生殖中的作用

阿拉伯半乳糖蛋白(arabinogalactan-proteins,AGPs)是一类主要分布在细胞表面和胞外基质中的糖蛋白.它们在植物的雄性器官(花粉、花粉管、精细胞)、雌性器官(柱头、花柱、子房)和胚胎(合子胚和体细胞胚)等组织和细胞中均有大量的表达.大量研究表明AGPs在被子植物有性生殖过程中起着非常重要的作用,既可能参与花粉管粘附、营养、传导或提供信号的作用,也可能参与受精过程中配子识别和受精后胚胎的发育与分化等过程.该文就其分子结构、特性以及在植物有性生殖过程中各种器官和组织内的表达和功能研究进展做了较为全面的概述.     

植物液泡膜水通道蛋白的结构、分布和功能研究进展

植物液泡膜水通道蛋白(tonoplast intrinsic proteins, TIPs)是植物体内水分子和一些小分子溶质跨液泡膜运输的通道。TIPs介导胞内或胞间的水分跨膜运输,在维持植物细胞的水分平衡过程中起着至关重要的作用。由于TIPs特异的定位在液泡膜上,长久以来一直被用作不同植物物种和组织中液泡识别的标记物。本综述介绍了液泡膜水通道蛋白的发现、结构、分类以及亚细胞和组织定位、基因表达和蛋白功能等方面的研究进展,初步探讨了植物液泡膜水通道蛋白研究中存在的问题及今后的研究热点,希望能为相关的科研人员在研究液泡膜定位的水通道蛋白中提供帮助。     

植物RLCK的生物学功能与信号途径研究进展

类受体胞质激酶(receptor-like cytoplasmic kinase,RLCK)是一类无胞外信号肽结构域和跨膜结构域的激酶家族。在植物中,RLCK通过磷酸化下游靶蛋白而发挥功能,主要参与了植物的生长、信号转导、非生物胁迫和生物胁迫应答等生理过程。本文着重介绍拟南芥和水稻中RLCK的分类、生物学功能及其参与的信号途径。     

胞泌复合体在植物中的功能研究进展

囊泡运输是真核生物的一种重要的细胞学活动, 广泛参与多种生物学过程。该过程主要包括囊泡形成、转运、拴系及与目的膜融合4个环节。目前已知9种多蛋白亚基拴系复合体参与不同途径的胞内转运过程, 其中, 胞泌复合体(exocyst complex)介导了运输囊泡与质膜的拴系过程。对胞泌复合体调控机制的认识主要源于酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisiae)和动物细胞的研究。近年来, 植物胞泌复合体的研究也取得了较大进展, 初步结果显示复合体在功能方面具有一些植物特异的调控特点, 广泛参与植物生长发育和逆境响应。该文主要综述胞泌复合体在植物中的研究进展, 旨在为植物胞泌复合体功能研究提供参考。     

胞泌复合体在植物中的功能研究进展

囊泡运输是真核生物的一种重要的细胞学活动, 广泛参与多种生物学过程。该过程主要包括囊泡形成、转运、拴系及与目的膜融合4个环节。目前已知9种多蛋白亚基拴系复合体参与不同途径的胞内转运过程, 其中, 胞泌复合体(exocyst complex)介导了运输囊泡与质膜的拴系过程。对胞泌复合体调控机制的认识主要源于酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisiae)和动物细胞的研究。近年来, 植物胞泌复合体的研究也取得了较大进展, 初步结果显示复合体在功能方面具有一些植物特异的调控特点, 广泛参与植物生长发育和逆境响应。该文主要综述胞泌复合体在植物中的研究进展, 旨在为植物胞泌复合体功能研究提供参考。     

植物小分子信号肽参与非生物逆境胁迫应答的研究进展

植物小分子信号肽（small signaling peptides, SSPs）是一类蛋白长度小于120个氨基酸的小肽，作为新型信号分子在植物应答非生物逆境胁迫中发挥重要的作用。植物中含有千余种SSPs，多种多样的结构特点、修饰过程与不同受体的结合发挥其特异的功能，参与植物与环境之间的互作。挖掘鉴定植物SSPs功能基因，解析它们应答非生物逆境胁迫的调控机制，对增强植物抗性、改善植物生长具有重要的理论与实践意义。植物SSPs主要包括胞外非分泌型小肽、胞内非分泌型小肽、胞外翻译后修饰分泌型小肽和胞外富含半胱氨酸分泌型小肽四大类。介绍了四类植物SSPs的结构、特征；阐述了它们以SSP配体结合LRR-RLK受体激酶完成信号转导过程，以激活下游抗性基因表达为模式的调控机制；重点综述了它们在干旱、高温、盐渍、营养等非生物逆境胁迫应答中的生物学功能及调控机制。最后讨论了植物SSPs未来研究的方向和有待解决的问题，还对SSPs类生长调节剂的开发前景进行了展望，旨在为提高植物应对环境胁迫和实现农业可持续发展提供新的思路和路径。     

Lilliputians get into the limelight: Novel class of small peptide genes in morphogenesis

Generally, bioactive small peptides are derived from precursors with signal sequences at their N-terminal ends, which undergo modification and proteolysis through a secretory pathway. By contrast, small peptides encoded in short open reading frames (sORF) lack signaling sequences and therefore are released into the cytoplasm, which may result in their having functions distinct from those of secreted peptides. Several small peptides encoded by sORF are involved in the morphogenesis of multicellular organisms. POLARIS, ROTUNDIFOLIA4, and Enod40 are plant peptides that are involved, respectively, in root formation, leaf shape control, and cortical cell division during nodule formation. Brick1 / HSPC300 is an evolutionarily conserved component of the actin reorganization complex. polished rice / tarsal-less and mille-pattes encode related small peptides that are required for epithelial morphogenesis in Drosophila and segmentation in Tribolium . There are only a few known examples of small peptides encoded by sORF, and their molecular functions are still largely obscure. Nevertheless, an increasing number of sORF genes is being identified, and further research should reveal their roles in novel molecular mechanisms underlying developmental events.     

Plant signalling peptides

Biochemical and genetic studies have identified peptides that play crucial roles in plant growth and development, including defence mechanisms in response to wounding by pests, the control of cell division and expansion, and pollen self-incompatibility. The first two signalling peptides to be described in plants were tomato systemin and phytosulfokine (PSK). There is also biochemical evidence that natriuretic peptide-like molecules, immunologically-related to those found in animals, may exist in plants. Another example of signalling peptide is ENOD40, a product of a gene, which became active early in the root nodulation process following Rhizobium infection of legumes. Other predicted bioactive peptides or oligopeptides have been identified by means of genetic, rather then biochemical methods. The Arabidopsis CLAVATA3 protein is required for the correct organization of the shoot apical meristem and the pollen S determinant S-locus cysteine-rich protein (SCR) also called S-locus protein 11, SP11). The plant signalling peptides discovered so far are involved in various processes and play an important role in communication between cells or organs, respectively. This review will focus on these peptides and their role in intercellular signalling.     

Cell to cell communication by autoinducing peptides in gram-positive bacteria

While intercellular communication systems in Gram-negative bacteria are often based on homoserine lactones as signalling molecules, it has been shown that autoinducing peptides are involved in intercellular communication in Gram-positive bacteria. Many of these peptides are exported by dedicated systems, posttranslationally modified in various ways, and finally sensed by other cells via membrane-located receptors that are part of two-component regulatory systems. In this way the expression of a variety of functions including virulence, genetic competence and the production of antimicrobial compounds can be modulated in a co-ordinated and cell density- and growth phase-dependent manner. Occasionally the autoinducing peptide has a dual function, such as in the case of nisin that is both a signalling pheromone involved in quorum sensing and an antimicrobial peptide. Moreover, biochemical, genetic and genomic studies have shown that bacteria may contain multiple quorum sensing systems, underlining the importance of intercellular communication. Finally, in some cases different peptides may be recognised by the same receptor, while also hybrid receptors have been constructed that respond to new peptides or show novel responses. This paper provides an overview of the characteristics of autoinducing peptide-based quorum sensing systems, their application in various gram-positive bacteria, and the discovery of new systems in natural and engineered ecosystems. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Discovery of new G protein-coupled receptors for lipid mediators

Successful sequencing of the human genome has opened a new era in the life sciences and has greatly accelerated biomedical research. Among various research endeavors benefiting from established genomic information, one of the most fruitful areas is the research on orphan G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Many intercellular mediators, including peptides, lipids, and other small molecules, have found their GPCRs in the plasma membrane, e.g., relaxin and tyramine. In the past 14 months, more than one dozen papers have been published reporting the finding of intercellular lipid mediators acting on rhodopsin family GPCRs. This review focuses primarily on intercellular lipid mediators and their recently discovered GPCRs.     

Peptide pheromone-dependent regulation of antimicrobial peptide production in Gram-positive bacteria: a case of multicellular behavior

Quorum sensing enables unicellular organisms to behave in a multicellular way by allowing population-wide synchronized adaptive responses that involve modulation of a wide range of physiological responses in a cell density-, cell proximity- or growth phase-dependent manner. Examples of processes modulated by quorum sensing are the development of genetic competence, conjugative plasmid transfer, sporulation and cell differentiation, biofilm formation, virulence response, production of antibiotics, antimicrobial peptides and toxins, and bioluminescence (for reviews see [38]). The cell-to-cell communication strategies involved in these processes are based on the utilization of small signal molecules produced and released into the environment by the microorganisms. These communication molecules are referred to as pheromones and act as chemical messengers that transmit information across space. The extracellular pheromones accumulate in the environment and trigger a response in the target cells when its concentration reaches a certain threshold value. Elucidation of the chemical nature of the pheromones modulating the processes mentioned above reveals that most of them are unmodified peptides, post-translationally modified peptides, N-acyl homoserine lactones, or butyrolactones. Lactone-based pheromones are the preferred communication signals in Gram-negative bacteria (for review see [47,48]), whereas peptide-based pheromones are the predominant extracellular signals among Gram-positive bacteria (for review see [37,61]). However, lactone-based pheromones are utilized as signals that modulate differentiation and secondary metabolism production in Streptomyces (for review see [20]).This review focuses on the major advances and current views of the peptide-pheromone dependent regulatory circuits involved in production of antimicrobial peptides in Gram-positive bacteria.     

Tunneling nanotubes: emerging view of their molecular components and formation mechanisms

Cell-to-cell communication is essential for the development and maintenance of multicellular organisms. The tunneling nanotube (TNT) is a recently recognized distinct type of intercellular communication device. TNTs are thin protrusions of the plasma membrane and allow direct physical connections of the plasma membranes between remote cells. The proposed functions for TNTs include the cell-to-cell transfer of large cellular structures such as membrane vesicles and organelles, as well as signal transduction molecules in a wide variety of cell types. Moreover TNT and TNT-related structures are thought to facilitate the intercellular spreading of virus and/or pathogenic proteins. Despite their contribution to normal cellular functions and importance in pathological conditions, virtually nothing is known about the molecular basis for their formation. We have recently shown that M-Sec (also called TNFaip2) is a key molecule for TNT formation. In cooperation with the RalA small GTPase and the exocyst complex, M-Sec can induce the formation of functional TNTs, indicating that the remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton and vesicle trafficking are involved in M-Sec-mediated TNT formation. Discovery of the role of M-Sec will accelerate our understanding of TNTs, both at the molecular and physiological levels.     

A Functional Assay for Gap Junctional Examination; Electroporation of Adherent Cells on Indium-Tin Oxide

In this technique, cells are cultured on a glass slide that is partly coated with indium-tin oxide (ITO), a transparent, electrically conductive material. A variety of molecules, such as peptides or oligonucleotides can be introduced into essentially 100% of the cells in a non-traumatic manner.  Here, we describe how it can be used to study intercellular, gap junctional communication. Lucifer yellow penetrates into the cells when an electric pulse, applied to the conductive surface on which they are growing, causes pores to form through the cell membrane. This is electroporation. Cells growing on the nonconductive glass surface immediately adjacent to the electroporated region do not take up Lucifer yellow by electroporation but do acquire the fluorescent dye as it is passed to them via gap junctions that link them to the electroporated cells. The results of the transfer of dye from cell to cell can be observed microscopically under fluorescence illumination. This technique allows for precise quantitation of gap junctional communication. In addition, it can be used for the introduction of peptides or other non-permeant molecules, and the transfer of small electroporated peptides via gap junctions to inhibit the signal in the adjacent, non-electroporated cells is a powerful demonstration of signal inhibition.     

Translocation in the staminal hairs ofSetcreasea purpurea

Summary Investigations into plant intercellular communication were initiated through an examination of plasmodesmata and cell-to-cell passage of molecular probes in the staminal hairs ofSetcreasea purpurea. Plasmodesmata connecting staminal hair cells of small buds are filled with an electron-opaque homogenous material. To examine the permeation selectivity of plasmodesmata, molecular probes made up of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) complexed with amino acids and peptides were injected into the staminal hair cells and the spread of these fluorescent molecules through the symplast, was monitored. Molecules composed of FITC complexed to single amino acids with polar and aliphatic R groups travel rapidly, while those which include peptides travel slowly. Dye molecules composed of an amino acid with an aromatic side group do not pass from cell to cell at all. It is hypothesized that the material occluding the plasmodesmata constitutes the diffusion barrier, by presenting a hydrophilic environment which allows passage of molecules with maximum molecular weights of 700–800 daltons, but which retains those with aromatic side groups.