Rpfan37在刺槐共生结瘤过程中的功能探究

目的:研究刺槐中与磷脂酰肌醇转运蛋白有较高同源性的基因Rpfan37的功能,为探究相关基因参与豆科植物与根瘤菌共生结瘤过程提供新的思路。方法:通过前期研究,建立豆科植物刺槐与共生根瘤菌互作的抑制差减杂交反交文库,筛选疑似与共生结瘤相关的基因。利用PCR技术快速克隆经实时荧光定量PCR技术(qRT-PCR)分析基因在不同接菌时间及不同植物组织的表达。构建RNA干扰(RNAi)重组载体,转农杆菌介导转化植物根部,接种根瘤菌后验证该基因在刺槐共生结瘤过程的功能。结果:基因表达分析显示,在接菌与未接菌的刺槐根中,处理后第15天,Rpfan37表达均显著上调,但接菌与未接菌处理对该基因表达无显著影响;在成熟的根瘤中,该基因仅为低水平表达。RNAi转化植株的鲜重、株高、根长及结瘤数较对照组显著降低。在显微镜下观察到RNAi植株根毛发育异常;与对照相比,RNAi转化植株形成的根毛卷曲、根毛侵染线及根瘤原基数目均显著降低。根瘤石蜡切片结果显示RNAi植株根瘤中的侵染细胞与对照相比明显减少,分析豆血红蛋白表达发现,RNAi植株中根瘤发育成熟过程明显受阻。结论:在豆科植物刺槐中发现的相关基因Rpfan37能够参与刺槐共生结瘤过程,为研究磷脂酰肌醇转运蛋白在共生结瘤过程中的作用提供了新的理论基础。     

大豆血红蛋白基因lba转化根瘤菌工程菌株的构建

以土著大豆根瘤菌接种大豆幼苗45 d后获得的根瘤为材料,提取其总RNA并反转录成cDNA,采用同源序列克隆法扩增大豆血红蛋白基因lba编码区序列。利用DNA重组技术,将lba基因连到lac启动子的下游,利用带有发光酶标记基因luxAB的质粒载体pTR102构建表达载体pTR-Plac-lba。采用三亲本杂交的方式,将表达载体pTR-Plac-lba及作为对照的空载体pTR102分别转化土著大豆根瘤菌,获得根瘤菌工程菌株SFH(pTR-Plac-lba)和SFH(pTR102)。盆栽试验发现,接种SFH(pTR-Plac-lba)的大豆植株各生理指标明显高于接种SFH(pTR102)、土著根瘤菌以及未接菌的大豆植株各生理指标。试验证明,导入大豆血红蛋白基因lba的根瘤菌工程菌株SFH(pTR-Plac-lba)对于提高大豆根瘤的固氮酶活性,增加大豆产量起到显著效果。     

刺槐核糖体蛋白同源基因RpRPL22在共生结瘤过程中功能研究

目的: 核糖体蛋白(RPs)属于多功能蛋白,能够参与调控细胞生长和响应胁迫条件。RpRPL22是一个从豆科植物刺槐中分离得到的结瘤相关基因,通过序列比对发现其与核糖体大亚基蛋白RPL22高度同源。对其如何通过调控根瘤菌侵染而在共生结瘤过程中发挥重要作用进行了较为深入的探索。方法: 利用实时荧光定量PCR技术(qRT-PCR)分析RpRPL22在接菌后不同时间及不同植物组织的表达变化。利用cDNA末端快速扩增技术(RACE)获得目的基因cDNA全长。通过GFP报告基因进行RpRPL22亚细胞定位分析。通过Gateway BP重组技术构建RNA干扰(RNAi)重组载体,借助电转化法将重组载体转至农杆菌K599,利用农杆菌介导植物根部,接菌后观察和测量植株表型。首先从宏观水平统计观察目的基因是否对结瘤过程有影响,其次从分子水平揭示目的基因在共生结瘤过程的重要功能。结果: 不同接菌时期、不同植物组织目的基因qRT-PCR相对表达量结果显示,几乎在所有取样的接菌时间,目的基因RpRPL22在接菌根中的相对表达量都低于未接菌对照根,只有接菌后第25天除外。在成熟的根瘤中,接菌后第25天该基因的表达量也最高。洋葱表皮和毛状根亚细胞定位结果均显示在椰菜花叶病毒(CaMV)的35S启动子控制下,RpRPL22融合绿色荧光蛋白GFP的荧光信号在细胞核和细胞质有明显的表达。RNAi转化植株的表型统计观察结果,比如植株鲜重、植株的有效结瘤数目较对照组均有明显的降低;同时RNAi转化植株在根瘤菌侵染过程形成的侵染线数目和根瘤原基数目较对照均显著降低。根瘤切片实验用于观察根瘤显微超微结构,结果显示RNAi植株根瘤中固氮区的受菌侵染细胞数目与对照相比明显减少。电镜观察根瘤单个受菌侵染细胞中类菌体形态显示,RNAi根瘤中类菌体侵染细胞胞体多呈不规则形状,皱缩变形严重,环类菌体周间隙空间增大,多共生体融合,表现出细胞凋亡的迹象。对照根瘤中的受菌侵染细胞胞体多呈圆形椭圆形,胞质饱满丰富且分布均匀,细胞发育正常,表明RNAi植株根瘤发育过程明显受阻。结论: 核糖体蛋白(RP)能够参与调控豆科植物共生结瘤过程,相关同源基因RpRPL22可能在起始根瘤菌侵染植物和阻止类菌体降解过程中起重要作用。     

OsPT6基因过表达对低磷条件下菜用大豆结瘤及固氮的影响

采用砂培方法,以转OsPT6基因的菜用大豆(T3株系)与其非转基因(NT)受体品种为实验材料,研究了两者在低磷条件下的生长发育指标,植株有效磷、全磷、全氮、豆血红蛋白和籽粒蛋白质含量以及谷氨酰胺合成酶活性的差异,并对植株结瘤及固氮相关基因表达进行检测,为阐明转OsPT6基因菜用大豆在低磷条件下结瘤及固氮相关机理提供理论依据。结果显示:(1)转基因植株的株高、茎粗、花数和荚数、根瘤数均显著高于NT植株。(2)转基因植株根、茎、叶及根瘤中有效磷,全株总磷、总氮含量,根瘤中的豆血红蛋白含量、功能叶片中谷氨酰胺合成酶的活性和籽粒蛋白质含量均显著高于NT植株。(3)相关性分析表明,豆血红蛋白含量、谷氨酰胺合成酶活性、总磷、总氮含量4个指标间均呈显著正相关关系。(4)GmENOD40a、GmENOD40b、GmGS1β1、GmGS1β2基因在转基因植株中的表达量显著高于NT植株。研究表明,OsPT6基因过表达增强了菜用大豆在低磷条件下的结瘤及固氮能力,该研究结果为进一步研究其调控机理奠定了基础。     

华癸根瘤菌urtB基因突变株的构建与共生固氮表型分析

【目的】尿素ABC转运体透性酶亚基编码基因urtB可能参与尿素代谢及支链氨基酸转运;本文旨在获得实验证据阐明urtB基因对华癸根瘤菌结瘤和固氮的影响,为深入研究其功能机制提供一定的科学依据。【方法】利用生物信息学分析urtB基因的结构特征及生物学功能,通过荧光定量检测urtB基因在自生和共生条件下的时空表达特征和启动子原位表达技术检测urtB基因组织表达特征,采用插入突变构建urtB突变株,通过植物盆栽并结合添加氮素处理,检测与分析突变体的共生固氮表型变化。【结果】分析表明urtB基因对于氮素转运非常重要,在共生条件下的表达水平比自生培养条件下显著上调表达;在成熟根瘤的固氮区中大量表达;正确构建和筛选获得了根瘤菌urtB突变株;接种urtB突变株与野生型菌株7653R相比较,突变体根瘤发育异常;植株地上部分生物量和根瘤固氮酶活性显著降低;添加氮素可恢复其共生缺陷表型。【结论】华癸中慢生根瘤菌urtB基因可能通过影响根瘤中氮转运或同化,进而在根瘤发育与共生固氮中发挥重要作用。     

一株能在大豆上结瘤的苜蓿中华根瘤菌

苜蓿中华根瘤菌(Sinorhizobium meliloti)XJ96077分离自新疆的苜蓿根瘤中,其原宿主为紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa)。交叉结瘤试验发现,它既可在苜蓿上又能在大豆上结瘤固氮。DNA(G C)mol％分析表明,XJ96077的DNA(G C)mol％为61．9％,与已报道的根瘤菌属的DNA(G C)mol％范围(59％-64％)相符。DNA同源性分析表明,XJ96077与苜蓿中华根瘤菌USDA1002^T和042BM的同源性分别达到93％和80％,说明XJ96077归属于苜蓿中华根瘤菌。应用绿色荧光蛋白基因标记XJ96077,得到重组菌株XJ96077(G)。将其接种普通紫花苜蓿,通过激光共聚焦荧光显微镜可以检测到标记基因的表达。接种北引1号大豆上,同样可以清楚地观察到标记基因在根瘤中的表达,从而确证了XJ96077能同时在苜蓿和大豆上结瘤。通过不同品种大豆的结瘤试验,发现XJ96077对大豆品种的结瘤能力不同。     

2,4-D诱导固氮螺菌和慢生型大豆根瘤菌在小麦上的结瘤作用及其效果

分别在水培和砂培条件下进行了2,4-D诱导固氮螺菌和慢生型大豆根瘤菌在小麦根上的结瘤试验,结果表明2,4-D能诱发它们在小麦根系上形成“类根瘤”,扫描电镜结果证明只有个别细菌进入小麦根瘤细胞内,在细胞间隙有较多的细菌。用乙炔还原法仅检测到接种大豆根瘤菌的小麦根瘤有微量的固氮酶活性,但在盆栽植株的生长方面,看不到2,4-D,2,4-D+固氮螺菌或2,4-D+根瘤菌对小麦生长的促进作用。     

航天诱变百脉根结瘤突变体的筛选

通过返回式卫星搭载,利用太空环境对百脉根(Lotus japonicus)MG-20种子进行诱变。从种植的三代植株中,筛选到多种共生固氮根瘤的突变体,其中不结根瘤突变体18个株系,表现为接种根瘤菌两周后无根瘤形成;结无效根瘤突变体9个株系,表现为根瘤数目少且分布不均匀,根瘤呈白色,有些为半透明;花叶形态异常突变体1个株系,表现为除根瘤数目少外,植株矮小、托叶消失、花形态异常;纤细突变体1个株系,表现为除根瘤数目少外,植株变小、茎细叶小。     

百脉根花青素合酶基因(LcANS)的克隆及表达分析

花青素合成酶是牧草百脉根中原花青素合成途径的关键酶。在分析百脉根转录组基础上,采用RT-PCR从百脉根中首次克隆到花青素合成酶基因的全长编码c DNA序列,命名为Lc ANS。Lc ANS全长c DNA为1 098 bp,包含一个1 068 bp的开放读码框,编码355个氨基酸。生物信息学分析显示Lc ANS编码蛋白具有植物ANS典型的2OG-FeⅡ_Oxy氧化酶结构域,与豆科的红豆草、苜蓿、大豆等植物中同源ANS具有较高的序列一致性。Lc ANS蛋白定位于细胞质中,没有信号肽和跨膜结构域。实时荧光定量PCR结果表明,Lc ANS基因在百脉根不同组织器官中差异表达,在果荚和花中表达量最高,同时又可以响应ABA和低温的诱导。     

磁场对大豆共生固氮的效应

恒定磁场处理慢生大豆根瘤菌“005”和接种后的大豆植株,发现磁场可以提高根瘤的固氮活性。在一定的磁场强度(70—100mT)下,固氮活性平均可以提高4—5倍,植株的结瘤数和根瘤重量平均提高2—3倍。从这样的根瘤中所分离出的根瘤菌,由慢生型转变成快生型,在100植株中有17株的根瘤分离出快生菌。生长世代时间和培养溶液中的pH值与慢生型不同,而与快生型相同。     

Ethylene insensitivity conferred by a mutated Arabidopsis ethylene receptor gene alters nodulation in transgenic Lotus japonicus

Background and Aims

Transgenics are used to demonstrate a causal relationship between ethylene insensitivity of a seedling legume plant, the level of ethylene receptor gene expression, lateral root growth and Mesorhizobium loti-induced nodule initiation.

Methods

Lotus japonicus plants expressing the dominant etr1-1 allele of the Arabidopsis thaliana gene encoding a well-characterized mutated ethylene receptor were created by stable Agrobacterium tumefaciens transformation. Single insertion, homozygous lines were characterized for symbiotic properties.

Key Results

Transgenic plants were ethylene insensitive as judged by the lack of the ‘Triple Response’, and their continued ability to grow and nodulate in the presence of inhibitory concentrations of ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid; an ethylene precursor). Transgenic plants with high insensitivity to ACC had significantly fewer lateral roots and exhibited increased nodulation while showing no altered nitrate sensitivity or lack of systemic autoregulation. Whereas ACC-insensitive shoot growth and nodulation were observed in transformants, root growth was inhibited similarly to the wild type. Increased nodulation was caused by increased infection and a seven-fold increase in nodules developing between xylem poles. Bacteroid numbers per symbiosome increased about 1·7-fold in ethylene-insensitive plants.

Conclusions

The study further demonstrates multiple roles for ethylene in nodule initiation by influencing root cell infections and radial positioning, independent of autoregulation and nitrate inhibition of nodulation.Key words: Ethylene insensitivity, Lotus japonicus, symbiosis, phytohormone, nodulation, signal transduction     

Gene expression and localization of a β-1,3-glucanase of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lotus japonicus</Emphasis>

Phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) inhibits root nodule formation of leguminous plants. LjGlu1, a β-1,3-glucanase gene of Lotus japonicus, has been identified as an ABA responsive gene. RNA interference of LjGlu1 increased nodule number. This suggests that LjGlu1 is involved in the regulation of nodule formation. Host legumes control nodule number by autoregulation of nodulation (AON), in which the presence of existing root nodules inhibits further nodulation. For further characterization of LjGlu1, we focused on the expression of LjGlu1 in relation to AON. In a split-root system, LjGlu1 expression peaked when AON was fully induced. Hairy roots transformed with LjCLE-RS1, a gene that induces AON, were generated. Expression of LjGlu1 was greater in the transgenic roots than in untransformed roots. LjGlu1 was not induced in a hypernodulating mutant inoculated with Mesorhizobium loti. These results suggest that the expression of LjGlu1 is involved in the system of AON. However, neither hypernodulation nor enlarged nodulation zone was observed on the transgenic hairy roots carrying LjGlu1-RNAi, suggesting that LjGlu1 is not a key player of AON. Recombinant LjGlu1 showed endo-β-1,3-glucanase activity. LjGlu1-mOrange fusion protein suggested that LjGlu1 associated with M. loti on the root hairs. Exogenous β-1,3-glucanase inhibited infection thread formation by both the wild type and the mutant, and nodule numbers were reduced. These results suggest that LjGlu1 is expressed in response to M. loti infection and functions outside root tissues, resulting in the inhibition of infection.     

Nodule distribution on the roots of soybean and a supernodulating mutant in sand-vermiculite

The distribution of nodules of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) cultivar Bragg and the supernodulating mutant derivative nts382 was examined on the primary root relative to the first emerging lateral root, and on laterals relative to the base of the roots of plants grown in sand-vermiculite. Mutant nts382 nodulates profusely even in the presence of nitrate and appears defective in a systemic autoregulatory response that regulates nodule number in soybean. Nodules were clustered on primary roots about the first 4 cm down from the first emerging lateral root in both genotypes. Nodulation profiles showed reduced nodulation in younger and older regions of the primary root. Similarly, nodules appeared clustered close to the base of the lateral roots. Decreasing inoculum dose shifted nodule emergence to younger regions of the primary root and to lateral roots emerging in younger portions of the primary root. Our results indicate that the supernodulating mutant is able to regulate nodule number in both primary and lateral roots in the particulate matrix.     

Lotus SHAGGY‐like kinase 1 is required to suppress nodulation in Lotus japonicus

Glycogen synthase kinase/SHAGGY‐like kinases (SKs) are a highly conserved family of signaling proteins that participate in many developmental, cell‐differentiation, and metabolic signaling pathways in plants and animals. Here, we investigate the involvement of SKs in legume nodulation, a process requiring the integration of multiple signaling pathways. We describe a group of SKs in the model legume Lotus japonicus (LSKs), two of which respond to inoculation with the symbiotic nitrogen‐fixing bacterium Mesorhizobium loti. RNAi knock‐down plants and an insertion mutant for one of these genes, LSK1, display increased nodulation. Ηairy‐root lines overexpressing LSK1 form only marginally fewer mature nodules compared with controls. The expression levels of genes involved in the autoregulation of nodulation (AON) mechanism are affected in LSK1 knock‐down plants at low nitrate levels, both at early and late stages of nodulation. At higher levels of nitrate, these same plants show the opposite expression pattern of AON‐related genes and lose the hypernodulation phenotype. Our findings reveal an additional role for the versatile SK gene family in integrating the signaling pathways governing legume nodulation, and pave the way for further study of their functions in legumes.     

Split-root study of autoregulation of nodulation in the model legume Lotus japonicus

We used a split-root system to determine the timing for induction of the autoregulation of nodulation (AUT) in Lotus japonicus (Regel) Larsen after inoculation with Mesorhizobium loti. The signal took at least five days for full induction of AUT and inhibition of infection thread formation. Strain ML108 (able to nodulate but unable to fix nitrogen) induced full AUT, but ML101 (unable to nodulate or to fix nitrogen) did not induce autoregulation. These results indicate that Nod factor-producing strains induce AUT, but that the nitrogen fixed by rhizobia and supplied to the plant as ammonia does not elicit the AUT in L. japonicus.     

LjABCB1, an ATP-binding cassette protein specifically induced in uninfected cells of Lotus japonicus nodules

Legume plants develop root nodules through symbiosis with rhizobia, and fix atmospheric nitrogen in this symbiotic organ. Development of root nodules is regulated by many metabolites including phytohormones. Previously, we reported that auxin is strongly involved in the development of the nodule vascular bundle and lenticel formation on the nodules of Lotus japonicus. Here we show that an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) protein, LjABCB1, which is a homologue of Arabidopsis auxin transporter AtABCB4, is specifically expressed during nodulation of L. japonicus. A reporter gene analysis indicated that the expression of LjABCB1 was restricted to uninfected cells adjacent to infected cells in the nodule, while no expression was observed in shoot apical meristems or root tips, in which most auxin transporter genes are expressed. The auxin transport activity of LjABCB1 was confirmed using a heterologous expression system.     

Phage sensitivity and host range of Rhizobium strains isolated from root nodules of temperate legumes

Twenty-five Rhizobium strains were isolated from root nodules of Astragalus spp. (10), Hedysarum alpinum (7), Glycyrrhiza pallidiflora (3) and Ononis arvensis (5). The sensitivity of these strains to bacteriophages of Rhizobium loti, R. meliloti, R. galegae and R. leguminosarum was studied. Phages specific to R. loti strains were shown to induce the phage lysis of several Astragalus, Hedysarum and Ononis rhizobia. Ten R. loti strains tested for nodulation abilities on the plant hosts under investigation were able to develop nitrogen-fixing nodules on the Ononis arvensis roots. On the other hand, rhizobia from Ononis and Glycyrrhiza could form an effective symbiosis with Lotus corniculatus plants, so these bacteria are considered to belong to the Rhizobium loti taxon. Bacterial strains isolated from Astragalus and Hedysarum were observed to cross-nodulate their plant hosts as well as Oxytropis campestris, Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Ononis arvensis plants, whereas they could not nodulate Lotus plants. It is concluded that these Rhizobium strains comprise a cross-inoculation group related to Rhizobium loti. ei]{gnR O D}{fnDixon}     

Grafting analysis indicates that malfunction of TRICOT in the root causes a nodulation-deficient phenotype in Lotus japonicus

Leguminous plants develop root nodules in symbiosis with soil rhizobia. Nodule formation occurs following rhizobial infection of the host root that induces dedifferentiation of some cortical cells and the initiation of a new developmental program to form nodule primordia. In a recent study, we identified a novel gene, TRICOT (TCO), that acts as a positive regulator of nodulation in Lotus japonicus. In addition to its role in nodulation, tco mutant plants display pleiotropic defects including abnormal shoot apical meristem formation. Here, we investigated the effect of the tco mutation on nodulation using a grafting approach. The results strongly indicate that the nodulation-deficient phenotype of the mutant results from malfunction of the TCO gene in the root.     

Ankyrin protein kinases: a novel type of plant kinase gene whose expression is induced by osmotic stress in alfalfa

Interaction between Medicago spp. and Sinorhizobium meliloti leads to the development of a novel organ, the root nodule. A gene, Msapk1, encoding a novel type of plant protein kinase containing a N-terminal region with an ankyrin domain, was identified and shown to be expressed both in S. meliloti-infected and spontaneous nodules in alfalfa. This gene is not exclusively associated to nodulation since its expression was detected in other plant organs. Several genes coding for ankyrin protein kinases (APKs) were detected in various plants and animals. Three closest A. thaliana homologues of Msapk1 were identified in databases and two of them were shown to express differentially in various organs using gene-specific RT-PCR. In contrast, Southern analysis suggests that a single-copy gene exists in diploid M. truncatula. By screening a M. truncatula BAC library the Mtapk1 genomic region was isolated and sequenced. Two neighbouring genes showing homologies to previously identified sequences in data banks were detected in the vicinity of the Mtapk1 gene and compared to similar regions of the three Atapk genes. The distribution of exons/introns was the same for all expressed genes of both species although Mtapk1 contained larger introns. Upon osmotic stress Msapk1 expression was induced in roots of alfalfa starting from three hours up to two days of treatment. These data suggest that Msapk1, involved in alfalfa osmotic stress responses, belongs to a novel class of plant protein kinases.