水稻ADP-葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶小亚基Ⅰ基因的启动子分析

水稻(Oryaz sativa L.)基因组中的ADP-葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶小亚基(ADP-Glucose pyrophosphorylase smallsubunit,OsAgpS)由两个基因编码,即OsAgpS1和OsAgpS2.其中OsAgpS1基因产生两个转录本OsAgpS1a和OsAgpS1b,区别在第一个外显子的位置不同.通过RT-PCR方法分析了两个转录本在水稻组织和胚乳不同发育时期的表达特性;同时通过报告基因GUS检测了两个转录本上游转录调节区DNA片段的转录启动特性.结果表明,两个启动了与其下游转录本的表达模式完全一致,即OsAgpS1a转录本和OsAgpS1a 上游启动子控制的GUS基因主要在胚乳中高水平表达,在叶片中有很低水平的表达;而OsAgpS1b转录本和OsAgpS1b上游启动子控制的GUS基因主要在叶片和胚乳发育早期低水平表达.这说明OsAgpS1基因产生的两个转录本是由不同的启动子控制转录的,OsAgpS1a上游启动了可以作为胚乳表达用启动子.     

参与水稻光合作用的PsbR3基因启动子的功能分析

本实验旨在研究水稻光合作用蛋白中各基因的表达模式. 采用RT-PCR和定量real-time PCR数据分析水稻不同组织的mRNA表达水平.结果显示,PsaK和PsbR3基因仅在茎、叶等绿色组织表达,而胚、胚乳部分均不表达.通过其启动子克隆、植物表达载体构建,以及农杆菌介导转化后,GUS组织染化分析和GUS荧光定量分析表明,两启动子均为组织特异性优势表达,PsbR3启动报告酶GUS在叶片中的表达活性为Actin启动子的3.29倍,而PsaK启动报告酶GUS在叶片中的表达活性低于Actin启动子的.这些初步结果提示,PsbR3启动子决定水稻绿色组织茎叶的优势表达,PsbR3基因可能参与水稻光合作用.     

两个水稻胚乳启动子的克隆及表达分析

启动子的克隆对基因表达及基因工程研究有重要意义。根据数据库中EST丰度,从水稻中克隆了两个预测在水稻胚乳中高效表达的启动子Os772和Os359,并将启动子片段与GUS报告基因融合,构建了重组表达载体。通过农杆菌介导方法将其导入水稻愈伤组织细胞。转基因水稻经GUS组织化学分析显示,Os772和Os359能启动GUS基因在水稻胚乳中表达但不能在根、茎、叶和花中表达。该结果表明Os772和Os359为两个水稻胚乳特异性启动子。     

一个水稻高效表达启动子Os252的分离

植物基因的表达受启动子的控制,高效表达启动子的分离及功能分析不仅是植物基因工程研究的重要研究方面,也是表达调控研究的重要内容。根据EST数据克隆了一个预测在水稻茎中高效表达的启动子Os252。将该启动子与GUS基因构建成表达载体并转入水稻。转基因水稻PCR分析表明,GUS基因已经成功地整合进水稻基因组中。GUS组织化学分析表明,Os252能启动GUS基因在水稻叶、茎以及胚乳中表达。进一步GUS酶活性的测定表明,叶和胚乳中Os252启动子活性分别是35S启动子的1.9和2.5倍。由于Os252来自于水稻,在叶和胚乳中活性高于35S启动子,因此该启动子可望用于水稻基因工程研究。     

水稻种子醇溶蛋白4a基因的表达受串联复合启动子调控

从水稻中花8号中克隆了醇溶蛋白4a的基因5＇侧翼区并首次报道该基因5＇端-680～-18区段具有胚乳特异性表达调控功能.本研究通过 5’缺失方法对该基因5＇侧翼区的结构和功能进行了进一步分析,结果表明:(1)醇溶蛋白4a基因启动子Ⅰ能够特定地在转基因烟草开花发育 22 d后的种子胚乳中激活下游 GUS融合基因表达,是该基因有功能的启动子;(2)prolamin box Ⅱ对该基因的表达具有增强功能;(3)启动子Ⅰ的转录起始点是位于该基因起始ATG上游63 bp处的C碱基.     

水稻rbcS启动子控制的外源基因在转基因水稻中的特异性表达

为将不同启动子用于转基因水稻的研究,从武运粳8号水稻中克隆了Rubisco小亚基基因(rbcS)的5'上游调控区,构建了由rbcS启动子引导的GUS融合基因,并经农杆菌介导导入到水稻中.对转基因水稻植株中GUS活性的定性与定量测定结果表明,rbcS启动子可驱动GUS报告基因在转基因水稻植株叶片和叶鞘内的叶肉细胞中特异性高效表达,而在茎、根和种子等器官中不表达或表达活性极弱,表现出明显的组织与细胞特异性.结果还表明,光诱导处理可明显提高rbcS启动子启动的外源基因的表达量.     

水稻谷蛋白基因GluC启动子的克隆及表达分析

水稻谷蛋白仅在水稻种子胚乳中表达,其启动子是分离胚乳特异性表达启动子的理想材料。本研究克隆了GluC基因启动子pGluC,生物信息学分析表明pGluC内部含有胚乳特异性表达所需要的Skn-1 motif和ACGT-box元件。将pGluC启动子和7个5'端缺失启动子片段构建到pGPTV-GUS载体上,转化水稻愈伤组织,进行组织化学染色和GUS酶活分析。结果表明：全长及截短的-1 911、-1 611、-1 311 bp启动子均能驱动GUS基因在水稻种子胚乳中高效稳定表达。-999、-451、-203、-102 bp启动子失去了胚乳表达特异性,在根、茎或者叶中也检测到GUS表达。该结果为实现外源目的基因在水稻胚乳中特异高效表达提供了理论依据。     

水稻sbe1启动子驱动的反义sbe-GUS融合基因在转基因水稻中的表达

为研究水稻基因启动子对外源基因在转基因水稻中表达的影响,构建了由sbe1启动子引导的反义sbe-GUS融合基因。经农杆菌介导,将不同的融合基因导入水稻中,定量测定转基因水稻植株不同组织中的GUS酶活力。结果表明,sbe1启动子可驱动反义sbe-GUS融合基因在转基因水稻植株的胚乳中高效表达,而在颖壳、胚和茎叶等组织中的表达活性较弱。证实sbe1启动子在驱动外源基因的表达上表现有明显的组织特异性。     

水稻谷蛋白GluA-2基因5′上游序列控制下的UidA基因在转基因水稻胚乳中的表达模式

为了研究谷蛋白胚乳特异性表达启动子在我国栽培稻品种中的表达模式,将UidA基因分别置于水稻谷蛋白GluA—2基因750bp和2．3kb上游序列下游,利用农杆菌转化法导人栽培稻品种中花8号并获得转基因植株。Southern blot检测表明,UidA基因已经整合到水稻基因组当中并以单拷贝存在。Northern blot检测表明,开花后13～15d和11～13d,UidA基因和水稻内源的GluA—2基因的表达量分别达到最高,随后逐渐降低。对转基因植株种子的GUS染色表明,UidA基因仅在胚乳中表达,在糊粉层中GUS表达量最高。测定了2．3kb和750bp转基因植株种子的GUS活性,结果表明前者的GUS活性是后者的2～3倍。序列分析表明,位于GluA—2基因转录启始位点上游2170bD的G-box可能是一个与表达量相关的顺式调控元件。     

水稻细胞质1,6-二磷酸果糖酶基因1 195 bp的上游调控序列的克隆及其在转基因水稻中的表达研究

1,6-二磷酸果糖酶(EC3.13.11)催化1,6-二磷酸果糖分解为6-磷酸葡萄糖和无机磷酸.在高等植物的光合作用细胞中,存在两种1,6-二磷酸果糖酶:即叶绿体型1,6-二磷酸果糖酶和细胞质型1,6-二磷酸果糖酶.由于细胞质型1,6-二磷酸果糖酶在植物碳水化合物代谢中起重要作用,且具有表达特异性,本试验通过Genome Walking分离了水稻细胞质型1,6-二磷酸果糖酶基因的上游序列,并将其与β-葡糖醛酸酶(GUS)报告基因构建成嵌合表达载体.采用基因枪法转化水稻,在转基因水稻中分析了GUS的表达活性和特异性.组织化学检测表明,在转基因水稻的成熟叶片中,GUS基因只在叶肉细胞中表达,在表皮细胞、泡状细胞、维管组织中均无表达;在叶鞘中的表达与叶片中相似,仅仅在叶肉细胞中表达;在根、茎所有细胞中均没有蓝色反应.为进一步研究1,6-二磷酸果糖酶基因启动子在水稻中的表达量,对12株独立来源的转基因水稻的GUS 活性进行了荧光定量分析.结果显示,水稻成熟叶片中的GUS活性平均值为7 031.5 pmol 4-MU-1*min-1*mg蛋白.在不同器官及组织中表达活性有差异,在转基因水稻的叶片、叶鞘中GUS均有较强的表达,在根、茎中未检测到GUS活性.实验结果表明,ATG上游1 195 bp调控区足以导致GUS基因在水稻中的特异性表达,因此该片段包含有使报告基因在叶肉细胞中特异性表达的所有顺式调控元件.     

Promoter analysis in transient assays using a GUS reporter gene construct in creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris)

Transient expression profiles for several chimeric beta-glucuronidase (GUS) gene constructs were determined in tissues (young leaves, mature leaves and roots) of creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris, cv. Penn A4) following microprojectile bombardment. The constructs analyzed consisted of the uidA (GUS) reporter gene driven by four different promoters (ubiquitin 3-potato, ubiquitin corn, ubiquitin rice and CaMV 35S). The total number of GUS hits (or transient expression units; TEUs) were determined manually under a dissecting scope after histochemical staining for GUS. Results suggest that the ubiquitin rice promoter is most active in cells of turfgrass, regardless of the developmental stage or tissue-type. The ubiquitin corn promoter was the next best. Of the four promoter used, except for ubiquitin 3-potato, reporter gene activity was dramatically higher in mature leaves compared to young leaves. The relative efficiency of each promoter was about the same in roots and leaves. We have also analyzed uidA (GUS) reporter gene activity following microprojectile bombardment in transient expression assays with callus from two cultivars (Providence or Penn A4) of creeping bentgrass. Differences in the frequency of GUS positive hits were observed between cultivars up to 72 hours post-bombardment. However, this difference between cultivars disappeared after 72 hours post-bombardment. This information describing promoter functionality in bentgrass will be important when designing gene constructs for trait modification and when choosing appropriate cultivars for improvement through gene transfer experiments. This is the first in depth report on organ-specific and developmental gene expression profiles for transgenes in a turfgrass species.     

水稻OsGSTL1启动子的分离和表达分析

从水稻基因组文库中筛选得到一个水稻GST基因,命名为OsGSTL1.半定量RT-PCR分析表明OsGSTL1基因的表达不受绿磺隆、乙烯利、脱落酸、水杨酸和茉莉酸甲酯的诱导,因此该基因可能与植物抗逆性无关.为了研究OsGSTL1启动子在植物体内的表达特性,将OsGSTL1起始位点5＇端上游不同长度的调控序列与报告基因GUS融合,并在洋葱表皮瞬间表达和拟南芥中稳定表达.研究表明：在洋葱表皮细胞中,160bp及更长的上游调控序列均能启动GUS基因的表达;而在转基因拟南芥中,含有2155 bp的上游序列的PGZ2.1：：GUS具有时空表达的特性,在转基因的早期幼苗中GUS基因在子叶中特异性表达,但在根中没有表达;而在幼苗生长的后期,根、茎、叶中都有少量的表达.但包含1 224 bp的上游序列的PGZ1.2：：GUS却表现为组成型表达的特性.由此推测,OsGSTL1启动子启动的基因表达可能与幼苗的营养代谢相关;而OsGSTL1启动子的时空表达相关元件可能位于OsGSTL1翻译起始位点5＇端上游-2155 bp至-1224 bp范围内.     

Combination of viral promoter sequences to generate highly active promoters for heterologous therapeutic protein over-expression in plants

To develop strong promoters for protein over-expression in both dicots and monocots, we constructed a new family of chimeric promoters using sequences of the Commelina Yellow Mosaic Virus (CoYMV), of the Cassava Vein Mosaic Virus (CsVMV) and activating sequences from the CaMV 35S promoter. The chimeric promoters were cloned upstream from the gusA reporter gene. The constructs were used in transient expression experiments, via DNA-coated gold particle delivery to tobacco leaves and maize endosperms. The results showed that candidates among the chimeric promoters could drive expression of the reporter gene to very high levels in the dicot plant tobacco, and all chimeric promoters showed higher expression in maize endosperm than the maize γ-zein promoter used as reference for the monocot expression. Expression cassettes were then used in stable tobacco transformation. Determination of GUS activity throughout growth of the primary transformants showed that two promoters (MPr1163 and MPr1165) could drive expression three to five-fold higher than the highly efficient enhanced 35S promoter. The use of MPr1163 was additionally validated for successful heterologous protein production of human lactoferrin in tobacco via agroinfiltration.     

Analysis of the alternative oxidase promoters from soybean

Alternative oxidase (Aox) is a nuclear-encoded mitochondrial protein. In soybean (Glycine max), the three members of the gene family have been shown to be differentially expressed during normal plant development and in response to stresses. To examine the function of the Aox promoters, genomic fragments were obtained for all three soybean genes: Aox1, Aox2a, and Aox2b. The regions of these fragments immediately upstream of the coding regions were used to drive beta-glucuronidase (GUS) expression during transient transformation of soybean suspension culture cells and stable transformation of Arabidopsis. The expression patterns of the GUS reporter genes in soybean cells were in agreement with the presence or absence of the various endogenous Aox proteins, determined by immunoblotting. Deletion of different portions of the upstream regions identified sequences responsible for both positive and negative regulation of Aox gene expression in soybean cells. Reporter gene analysis in Arabidopsis plants showed differential tissue expression patterns driven by the three upstream regions, similar to those reported for the endogenous proteins in soybean. The expression profiles of all five members of the Arabidopsis Aox gene family were examined also, to compare with GUS expression driven by the soybean upstream fragments. Even though the promoter activity of the upstream fragments from soybean Aox2a and Aox2b displayed the same tissue specificity in Arabidopsis as they do in soybean, the most prominently expressed endogenous genes in all tissues of Arabidopsis were of the Aox1 type. Thus although regulation of Aox expression generally appears to involve the same signals in different species, different orthologs of Aox may respond variously to these signals. A comparison of upstream sequences between soybean Aox genes and similarly expressed Arabidopsis Aox genes identified common motifs.     

Two novel positive cis-regulatory elements involved in green tissue-specific promoter activity in rice (Oryza sativa L ssp.)

In plant genetic engineering, using tissue-specific promoters to control the expression of target gene is an effective way to avoid potential negative effects of using constitutive promoter, such as metabolic burden and so on. However, until now, there are few tissue-specific promoters with strong and reliable expression that could be used in crop biotechnology application. In this study, based on microarray and RT-PCR data, we identified a rice green tissue-specific expression gene DX1 (LOC_Os12g33120). The expression pattern of DX1 gene promoter was examined by using the β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene and analyzed in transgenic rice plants in different tissues. Histochemical assays and quantitative analyses of GUS activity confirmed that P (DX1):GUS was highly expressed in green tissues. To identify the regulatory elements controlling the expression of the DX1 gene, a series of 5' and 3' deletions of DX1 promoter were fused to GUS gene and stably introduced into rice plants. In addition, gel mobility shift assays and site-directed mutagenesis studies were used, allowing for the identification of two novel tissue-specific cis-acting elements (GSE1 and GSE2) within P(DX1). GSE1 acted as a positive regulator in all green tissues (leaf, sheath, stem and panicle). Compared with GSE1, GSE2 acted as a positive regulator only in sheath and stem tissue, and had a weaker effect on gene expression. In addition, P(DX1):GUS was not expressed in anther and seed, this characteristic reduced the potential ecological risk and potential food safety issues. Taken together, our results strongly suggest that the identified promoter, P(DX1), and its cis regulatory elements, GSE1 and GSE2, are potentially useful in the field of rice transgenic breeding. KEY MESSAGE: We have isolated and characterized the rice green tissue-specific promoter P(DX1), and identified two novel positive cis-acting elements in P(DX1).     

AtSTP3启动子控制的外源基因在转基因水稻中的特异表达研究

利用PCR技术从哥伦比亚型拟南芥基因组DNA中分离了AtSTP3绿色组织特异表达的启动子,序列分析表明,扩增片段(1774bp)与已报道序列的相应区域同源性达99.9%。将其与GUS报告基因融合在一起,构建了植物表达载体,并由农杆菌介导法导入水稻品种‘中花11’中。对转基因水稻植株中的GUS活性进行定性与定量测定结果表明,AtSTP3启动子可驱动GUS报告基因在转基因水稻植株叶片中特异性表达,而在根和种子等器官中不表达或表达活性极弱,AtSTP3启动子表现出明显的组织特异性。