Clinal variation in the non-acclimated and cold-acclimated freezing tolerance of Arabidopsis thaliana accessions

Arabidopsis thaliana is a geographically widely spread species consisting of local accessions differing both genetically and phenotypically. These differences may constitute environmental adaptations and a latitudinal cline in freezing tolerance has been shown previously. Many plants, including Arabidopsis, exhibit increased freezing tolerance after cold exposure (cold acclimation). Here we present evidence for geographical clines (both latitudinal and longitudinal) in acclimated (ACC) and non-acclimated (NA) freezing tolerance, estimated from electrolyte leakage measurements on 54 accessions. Leaf Pro contents were not correlated with freezing tolerance, while sugar contents (Glc, Fru, Suc, Raf) were in the ACC, but not the NA state. Expression levels of 14 cold-induced genes were investigated before and after 2 weeks of cold acclimation by quantitative RT-PCR. Expression of the CBF1, 2 and 3 genes was not correlated with freezing tolerance. The expression of some CBF-regulated (COR) genes, however, was correlated specifically with ACC freezing tolerance. A tight correlation between CBF and COR gene expression was only observed under non-acclimating conditions, where CBF and COR expression were also correlated with the expression of PRR5, a component of the circadian clock. Collectively, this study sheds new light on the molecular determinants of plant-freezing tolerance and cold acclimation and their geographical dependence.     

Costs and benefits of cold tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana

Cold tolerance in plants is an ecologically important trait that has been under intensive study for basic and applied reasons. Determining the fitness benefits and costs of cold tolerance has previously been difficult because cold tolerance is normally an induced trait that is not expressed in warm environments. The recent creation of transgenic plants constitutively expressing cold tolerance genes enables the investigation of the fitness consequences of cold tolerance in multiple temperature environments. We studied three genes from the CBF (C-repeat/dehydration responsive element binding factor) cold tolerance pathway, CBF1, 2 and 3, in Arabidopsis thaliana to test for benefits and costs of constitutive cold tolerance. We used multiple insertion lines for each transgene and grew the lines in cold and control conditions. Costs of cold tolerance, as determined by fruit number, varied by individual transgene. CBF2 and 3 overexpressers showed costs of cold tolerance, and no fitness benefits, in both environments. CBF1 overexpressing plants showed no fitness cost of cold tolerance in the control environment and showed a marginal fitness benefit in the cold environment. These results suggest that constitutive expression of traits that are normally induced in response to environmental stress will not always lead to costs in the absence of that stress, and that the ecological risks of CBF transgene escape should be assessed prior to their use in commercial agriculture.     

Suppression of phospholipase Dalpha1 induces freezing tolerance in Arabidopsis: response of cold-responsive genes and osmolyte accumulation

Phospholipase D (PLD; EC 3.1.4.4) plays an important role in membrane lipid hydrolysis and in mediation of plant responses to a wide range of stresses. PLDalpha1 abrogation through antisense suppression in Arabidopsis thaliana resulted in a significant increase in freezing tolerance of both non-acclimated and cold-acclimated plants. Although non-acclimated PLDalpha1-deficient plants did not show the activation of cold-responsive C-repeat/dehydration-responsive element binding factors (CBFs) and their target genes (COR47 and COR78), they did accumulate osmolytes to much higher levels than did the non-acclimated wild-type plants. However, a stronger expression of COR47 and COR78 in response to cold acclimation and to especially freezing was observed in PLDalpha1-deficient plants. Furthermore, a slower activation of CBF1 was observed in response to cold acclimation in these plants compared to the wild-type plants. Typically, cold acclimation resulted in a higher accumulation of osmolytes in PLDalpha1-deficient plants than in wild-type plants. Inhibition of PLD activity by using lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE) also increased freezing tolerance of Arabidopsis, albeit to a lesser extent than did the PLD antisense suppression. Exogenous LPE induced expression of COR15a and COR47 in the absence of cold stimulus. These results suggest that PLDalpha1 plays a key role in freezing tolerance of Arabidopsis by modulating the cold-responsive genes and accumulation of osmolytes.     

植物冷驯化相关信号机制

植物经过非致死温度的处理可以获得更强的抗冷能力叫做冷驯化,主要包括寒驯化和冻驯化 .在冷驯化过程中,质膜首先感受冷信号,调节胞质中IP3的含量,诱导胞质Ca2+浓度的升高,从而激活CBF基因的表达.至今已经克隆了大量的冷调控基因,组成了复杂的信号传导网络,其中ICE1-CBF-COR通路在植物的冷驯化过程中起到重要的作用.ICE1基因编码一个MYB类型的碱性螺旋 环-螺旋（bHLH）转录因子,在上游调节CBF和 其它转录因子的表达,提高抗冷性. HOS1蛋白通过泛素化介导的蛋白降解负调控ICE1,另外,CBF还通过转录的自我调控保持恰当的表达水平.基因的分析研究证明,RNA修饰和核质转运在植物的抗冷过程中也具有重要作用.在不依赖于CBF的途径中,转录因子HOS9和HOS10在调节抗冷有关基因的表达和提高抗冷能力方面具有至关重要的作用.     

植物冷驯化相关基因研究进展

冷驯化是与提高植物抗冷性有关的生物化学及生理学过程,主要包括寒驯化（cool acclimation）和冻驯化（freezing acdimation）。在冷驯化过程中,植物体内许多基因在转录水平上的表达受到影响,已经克隆了大量的相关基因,它们组成复杂的分子调控网络。目前研究表明不依赖ABA的低温信号转导途径是植物冷驯化机制的重要组成部分,其中CBF/DREB1是该调控过程的关键转录因子,与植物通过冷驯化而提高冰冻耐受能力密切相关。进一步利用转基因技术,可以有效地改善作物的耐冷性状。     

植物冷驯化相关基因研究进展

摘要 冷驯化是与提高植物抗冷性有关的生物化学及生理学过程, 主要包括寒驯化(cool acclimation)和冻驯化(freezing acdimation)。在冷驯化过程中, 植物体内许多基因在转录水平上的表达受到影响, 已经克隆了大量的相关基因,它们组成复杂的分子调控网络。目前研究表明不依赖ABA的低温信号转导途径是植物冷驯化机制的重要组成部分, 其中CBF/DREB1是该调控过程的关键转录因子, 与植物通过冷驯化而提高冰冻耐受能力密切相关。进一步利用转基因技术, 可有效地改善作物的耐冷性状。     

植物抗寒及其基因表达研究进展

植物经过逐渐降低的温度从而提高抗寒能力 ,这个过程被人们称为低温驯化。植物低温驯化过程是一个复杂的生理、生化和能量代谢变化过程 ,这些变化主要包括膜系统的稳定性、可溶性蛋白的积累和小分子渗透物质 ,比如脯氨酸、糖等 ,这些变化中的一些是植物抗寒必需的 ,而另外一些变化不是必需的。主要对冷害和低温生理生化变化、低温诱导表达基因的功能和作用、低温驯化的调节机制及其信号转导方面进行了综述。通过差别筛选 c DNA文库的方法已经鉴定了许多低温诱导表达、进而提高植物抗寒能力的基因 ,其中有脱水素、COR基因和 CBF1转录因子等。低温信号的感受、转导和调节表达是低温驯化的关键环节 ,低温信号的转导过程与干旱胁迫之间具有一定的交叉 ,这为利用 ABA等来提高植物抗寒能力成为可能 ,相信不久的将来人们可以通过提高植物抗寒能力从而增加经济产量成为现实。