Acylation of non-specific phospholipase C4 determines its function in plant response to phosphate deficiency

Non-specific phospholipase C (NPC) is involved in plant growth, development and stress responses. To elucidate the mechanism by which NPCs mediate cellular functions, here we show that NPC4 is S-acylated at the C terminus and that acylation determines its plasma membrane (PM) association and function. The acylation of NPC4 was detected using NPC4 isolated from Arabidopsis and reconstituted in vitro. The C-terminal Cys-533 was identified as the S-acylation residue, and the mutation of Cys-533 to Ala-533 in NPC4 (NPC4^C533A) led to the loss of S-acylation and membrane association of NPC4. The knockout of NPC4 impeded the phosphate deficiency-induced decrease of the phosphosphingolipid glycosyl inositol phosphoryl ceramide (GIPC), but introducing NPC4^C533A to npc4-1 failed to complement this defect, thereby supporting the hypothesis that the non-acylated NPC4^C533A fails to hydrolyze GIPC during phosphate deprivation. Moreover, NPC4^C533A failed to complement the primary root growth in npc4-1 under stress. In addition, NPC4 in Brassica napus was S-acylated and mutation of the S-acylating cysteine residue of BnaC01.NPC4 led to the loss of S-acylation and its membrane association. Together, our results reveal that S-acylation of NPC4 in the C terminus is conserved and required for its membrane association, phosphosphingolipid hydrolysis and function in plant stress responses.     

Changes in protein and carbohydrate content during development of seeds and siliquas of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)

Abstract

A study was made on the changes observed in the protein, starch and soluble sugar content during development of siliquas and seeds of rapeseed grown in central Italy.

Concentration of starch and soluble sugars in the seed increases to 75 per cent dry matter during the first few weeks of pod development and then drops to minimum values. The protein increases steadily until maturity, when a level of 0.85 mg per seed is reached, equivalent to 18 per cent dry matter. The protein and starch in the hull? decrease continuously during development, while in the initial stages the soluble sugars are accumulated until they account for 33 per cent dry matter, after which they decline towards maturity.     

Deposition and longevity of oviposition-deterring pheromone in the cabbage seed weevil

Abstract The cabbage seed weevil ( Ceutorhynchus assimilis Payk.) lays eggs singly into pods of oilseed rape ( Brassica napus L.) through punctures bored with the mouthparts, preferring pods not recently used for oviposition. A simple new choice test has been used to test individual components of egg-laying behaviour for their effect on oviposition site selection. It is confirmed that an oviposition-deterring pheromone (ODP) is deposited during abdomen brushing of the pod which follows egg-laying. Neither pin punctures, weevil feeding punctures, oviposition punctures nor eggs had any deterrent effect. Pods walked on by female weevils were not avoided by those laying eggs. Observations suggest that the ODP is sensed by contact chemoreceptors on the antennae. The deterrent effect lasted only 1–2 h. The implications of these findings on the adaptive significance of the pheromone and its possible use in pest control are discussed.     

甘蓝型油菜与蔊菜属间杂种后代的苗期耐湿性综合评价

以生产上应用的耐湿性存在差异的3个甘蓝型油菜品种为对照,采用盆栽模拟湿害胁迫的方法,对15份源自甘蓝型油菜与蔊菜属间杂交获得的遗传稳定的创新种质进行苗期耐湿性鉴定和综合评价。结果显示:(1)湿害抑制根系生长,导致植株变矮,叶片发黄,生物量降低,湿害对根系影响最为严重,其次是植株总生物量积累和地上部分的生长。(2)通过主成分分析和隶属函数法,将全展叶数、绿叶率、苗高、根长、地上部分鲜重、根鲜重、植株总鲜重、地上部分干重、根干重和植株总干重等10个性状指标值转化成单一的综合评价值(D值),客观、科学、准确地对参试的18份材料进行了综合评价,为甘蓝型油菜苗期耐湿性评价提供了方法参考。(3)15份创新种质除绿叶率外的9个测定指标的耐湿性系数均高于对照品种,耐湿性综合评价结果显示,15份创新种质的D值均高于渝黄2号,13份创新种质的D值高于综合抗耐性俱佳的中油821,3份创新种质的D值高于高耐湿品种中双9号,聚类得到的高耐湿类群的7份材料中创新种质占6份(85.71%)。可见,创新种质的耐湿性平均要优于对照品种,说明通过远缘杂交获得的创新种质对甘蓝型油菜的耐湿性有了较为明显的改良和提高。     

Effects of Fe deficiency on the protein profile of Brassica napus phloem sap

The aim of this work was to study the effect of Fe deficiency on the protein profile of phloem sap exudates from Brassica napus using 2DE (IEF‐SDS‐PAGE). The experiment was repeated thrice and two technical replicates per treatment were done. Phloem sap purity was assessed by measuring sugar concentrations. Two hundred sixty‐three spots were consistently detected and 15.6% (41) of them showed significant changes in relative abundance (22 decreasing and 19 increasing) as a result of Fe deficiency. Among them, 85% (35 spots), were unambiguously identified. Functional categories containing the largest number of protein species showing changes as a consequence of Fe deficiency were signaling and regulation (32%), and stress and redox homeostasis (17%). The Phloem sap showed a higher oxidative stress and significant changes in the hormonal profile as a result of Fe deficiency. Results indicate that Fe deficiency elicits major changes in signaling pathways involving Ca and hormones, which are generally associated with flowering and developmental processes, causes an alteration in ROS homeostasis processes, and induces decreases in the abundances of proteins involved in sieve element repair, suggesting that Fe‐deficient plants may have an impaired capacity to heal sieve elements upon injury.     

甘蓝型油菜BnCOP1基因编码区全长cDNA的克隆与功能研究

通过分析拟南芥、豌豆、番茄和水稻的COP1 (constitutively photomorphogenic 1) 的cDNA序列, 运用RT-PCR和改进的基因组步行 (genome walking) 技术相结合的方法, 首次从甘蓝型油菜中克隆到油菜 BnCOP1编码区cDNA的全长序列, 其全长2 034 bp, 编码677个氨基酸. 同源 性分析表明, 其编码的氨基酸序列与拟南芥的同源性高达94%. 对BnCOP1编 码序列（cDNA）演绎出的氨基酸序列分析表明, 其编码的蛋白包含有N端的 环形锌指结合域(ring finger zinc binding domain, RING)、中间的卷曲 螺旋形结构域(coiled-coil domain, coiled-coil ), 7个C端的WD-40重复 序列(WD-40 repeats, WD-40)的功能域. 半定量RT-PCR和实时荧光定量PCR 分析该基因在油菜中的表达模式,结果显示, BnCOP1在甘蓝型油菜的各个组 织器官中均有表达,其中在花中的表达明显高于在根、叶、茎、果荚及子叶 和胚轴中,暗示该蛋白可能与开花途径相关. 过表达BnCOP1的转基因拟南芥 植株在高度、主茎的直径和叶片大小上都呈现出比野生型弱小的表型, 表 明BnCOP1抑制了拟南芥光形态建成从而影响了植物的生长发育.