GUS报告系统在植物基因功能研究中的应用和优化

β-葡糖醛酸酶(GUS)报告系统是现代分子生物学研究领域中被广泛使用的一种重要工具,在解析基因时空表达调控的研究中发挥着重要作用.本文概述了报告基因GUS的生化特性及检测手段,从启动子元件鉴定、基因诱捕、无标记转基因技术等方面论述GUS的应用现状和优势,并针对内源GUS、GUS抑制因子等问题和改进优化手段进行了分析,为该技术在植物功能基因研究中进一步拓展提供新线索和思路.     

植物源内含子对GUS基因表达模式的影响

采用报告基因的瞬间表达来优化转化体系是提高农杆菌介导法转化效率的重要手段,GUS以稳定、易于定性定量分析等独特优点成为瞬间表达体系的首选。pCaMV 35S启动下的GUS基因可在农杆菌中表达,另外还首次报道该嵌合基因同时也可在大肠杆菌中高效表达。为避免GUS基因在农杆菌中的表达对瞬间表达体系的影响,一拟南芥蛋白基因的内含子被插入到GUS基因的编码区,进而构建了含内含子的GUS植物表达载体pBI121-GUSint。组织化学染色结果表明,GUSint在农杆菌中没有表达,而在接种3d的油菜中可高效瞬间表达,其中在子叶柄（带子叶）中瞬间表达率高达100%,这一方面证实载体构建成功,另一方面也为进一步优化油菜及其它芸薹属植物转化体系及在油菜中快速研究目的基因的功能和表达调控模式奠定了基础。     

拟南芥AtcpSecA基因表达的特异性

前期研究表明AtcpSecA基因的突变使叶绿体发育缺陷,内部缺少正常类囊体片层结构,叶片呈黄白色。在此基础上我们进一步研究AtcpSecA基因的表达特异性,并构建了AtcpSecA基因启动子与报告基因GUS的融合基因AtcpSecA：：GUS,以农杆菌介导方法转化获得转基因拟南芥。GUS组织化学染色结果表明,在AtcpSecA：：GUS转基因拟南芥的下胚轴、子叶、叶片、果柄等绿色组织中有很强的GUS活性,而在根、花序和种荚等非绿色组织中几乎没有GUS活性。降低培养基中琼脂浓度转基因拟南芥中AtcpSecA：：GUS基因的表达明显受抑制,暗中则显著受到促进。     

白桦BpSPL2基因启动子的克隆及表达分析

SPL(SQUAMOSA promoter-binding protein-like)是植物特有的转录因子,研究表明其在参与发育阶段转变、花和果实发育等方面起着重要作用。利用PCR技术从白桦基因组DNA中扩增获得BpSPL2基因上游1 960 bp启动子序列,使用PLACE和Plant CARE在线软件分析序列,发现BpSPL2基因启动子序列中含有与开花、非生物胁迫及激素响应等相关的顺式作用元件,暗示其在植物的生长发育和胁迫应答中起重要作用。进而构建了BpSPL2基因启动子驱动GUS报告基因的植物表达载体,并利用农杆菌介导将其瞬时转化至白桦和拟南芥,通过GUS组织化学染色检测BpSPL2基因启动子的组织表达特性,结果表明BpSPL2基因启动子具有启动子活性,能够驱动GUS基因在白桦和拟南芥中表达;而其表达活性在白桦的叶片、芽及根部中较强,在拟南芥的花药、雌蕊和叶片较强,为进一步研究白桦BpSPL2基因的表达调控及其功能分析提供参考。     

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。     

紫杉烷13α-羟基化酶基因的克隆及其转化烟草的研究

本研究利用东北红豆杉(Taxus cuspidata )cDNA文库作为模版,通过PCR技术扩增得到我国东北红豆杉紫杉烷13α-羟基化酶(Taxane 13α-hydroxylase,简称13OH)的全长cDNA,将PCR产物克隆到pGM-T载体后测序结果表明该序列长度为1458bp。同源性比较分析结果表明：其碱基序列与已经报道的东北红豆杉(Taxus cuspidata)的13OH基因的一致性为99.38%,其氨基酸序列同与已经报道的东北红豆杉的13OH氨基酸序列的一致性为99.18%。将获得的cDNA全长序列正向插入到含有GUS报告基因的pCambia1305.1后成功地构建出东北红豆杉13OH植物表达载体pC13OH,通过电击法把pC13OH转入根癌农杆菌GV3101中。利用该工程菌株对普通烟草进行了转化,在潮霉素选择压力下获得了完整的再生植株。利用13OH基因特异引物,通过PCR技术筛选到4株阳性再生植株。在这4株再生植株中,有3株植株GUS报告基因的组织化学染色呈现阳性反应,表明该植物载体表达载体中与13OH相融合的GUS基因成功地得到了表达。本研究为今后深入研究13OH基因在烟草中的表达和开展紫杉烷13α-羟基化酶基因对红豆杉细胞的转化以及研究作用于该基因的小RNA调节子打下了基础。     

转ChIFN-γ基因油菜植株的建立

干扰素(interferons, IFNs)是一类抗病毒、抗肿瘤、抗细胞增殖等作用的高活性、多功能诱生性糖蛋白.采用农杆菌介导法将含鸡γ 干扰素 (chicken interferon-γ, ChIFN-γ) 基因的植物表达载体pSW NGN导入油菜下胚轴和子叶柄. 经筛选和分化,获得了62株抗性再生植株, 通过葡糖醛酸酶GUS (β-glucuronidase,GUS)活性检测、PCR检测及Southern杂交检测,确定获得2株单拷贝转ChIFN-γ 基因油菜. ELISA定量检测转基因植株中的ChIFN-γ 蛋白.结果表明,转基因植株ChIFN-γ 蛋白表达量最高可达1 120 pg/g鲜重.该研究为植物生物反应器生产ChIFN-γ 口服疫苗蛋白的开发及应用奠定了基础.     

水稻CesA4基因启动子与GUS基因融合表达

目的:利用GUS报告基因,研究水稻CesA4基因在水稻组织和器官的定位.方法:克隆水稻的CesA4基因的启动子并用GUS组织化学染色检测启动子与GUS基因融合表达情况.结果:成功克隆了水稻的CesA4基因的启动子,并发现水稻的CesA4基因在水稻的根、茎、叶、鞘、穗的纤维均有表达.结论:通过将水稻CesA4基因的启动子与GUS基因融合来分析水稻此基因的表达部位,是一种简便和有效方法.     

芜菁类黄酮3′-羟化酶基因的功能鉴定及启动子初步分析

类黄酮3′-羟化酶（Flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase,F3′H）是细胞色素P450单加氧酶,在花青素合成途径中催化二氢山奈酚生成二氢槲皮素,进而形成矢车菊色素。利用津田芜菁BrF3′H1和赤丸芜菁BrF3′H2基因构建过量表达载体后遗传转化烟草,转基因植株的花色加深。通过染色体步移法克隆了BrF3′H1和BrF3′H2基因上游846和851 bp的启动子序列。生物信息学分析表明,BrF3′H1P和BrF3′H2P均包含TATA box、CAAT box、光调控元件、MRE、ABRE、ATGCAAAT-motif、ERE、O2-site、RY-element、LTR等多个顺式作用元件;二者的核苷酸序列在7个位点存在差异。利用BrF3′H1P和BrF3′H2P序列替换pCAMBIA1301植物表达载体的35S启动子后遗传转化烟草。GUS组织化学染色结果表明,BrF3′H1P和BrF3′H2P序列均能驱动GUS基因表达。通过PCR方法获得了BrF3′H1P和BrF3′H2P的一系列缺失片段,融合GUS基因后转化烟草。染色结果显示,BrF3′H1P和BrF3′H2P系列缺失片段均具有起始GUS基因表达的活性。BrF3′H1和BrF3′H2基因的功能鉴定及启动子的初步分析将为揭示津田芜菁和赤丸芜菁F3′H基因的光诱导表达调控机理奠定研究基础。     

拟南芥AtNHX2启动子的克隆及表达模式分析(英)

AtNHX2基因是拟南芥NHX基因家族的一员,编码了一种液泡膜中的Na⁺/H⁺反向运输体并对拟南芥的耐盐能力起着重要的作用.采用PCR扩增的方法克隆了拟南芥AtNHX2基因启始密码子上游约2.8 kb的DNA片段,并将其克隆到植物表达载体pCAMBIA1301-1中,通过基因枪轰击洋葱表皮瞬时表达的方法,初步检测启动子的活性.将重组质粒pCAMBIA1301-1/AtNHX2 promoter转化拟南芥并筛选纯合子.AtNHX2 promoter-GUS分析显示AtNHX2在所有的组织中均有表达,包括根尖.在保卫细胞中检测到了强烈的GUS表达,这一结果表明,AtNHX2对特殊细胞的pH调控和K⁺自身稳定方面起着重要的作用.AtNHX2启动子的活性可被NaCl抑制,并且抑制的强度和NaCl的浓度成正相关. 300 mmol/L KCl处理可增强启动子的活性,说明NaCl和KCl是在转录水平上调控AtNHX2的表达.在老叶中GUS活性比在新叶中GUS活性强,这说明了AtNHX2优先将有毒的离子积累在老叶中,从而有利于植物的正常发育.在根毛细胞中也观测到了强烈的GUS活性,这就暗示了AtNHX2在扩大的液泡中储存Na⁺.     

Use of beta-glucuronidase reporter gene for gene expression analysis in turfgrasses

The beta-glucuronidase (GUS) gene has been successfully used as a reporter gene in innumerable number of plant species. The functional GUS gene produces blue coloration in plants upon integration into the plant genome. Because of the ease it provides to analyze the gene expression (as no expensive equipment is needed), GUS gene is surely plant biotechnologist's first choice as a reporter gene. The turfgrass family contains the world's most economically important horticultural crops. There is a world-wide drive for genetic modification of grasses due to its huge economic importance. GUS gene can be transiently or stably expressed in grasses for the purpose of promoter analysis and to study tissue-specific and developmental gene expression. This paper summarizes the use of GUS gene for transient and stable expression studies in various turfgrass species.     

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.     

Cytokinin-dependent expression of the ARR5::GUS construct during transgenic arabidopsis growth

Growth and glucuronidase (GUS) activity were followed in the cotyledons and rosette leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh (ecotype Wassilewskija) plants transformed with the GUS gene under the control of the cytokinin-dependent promoter of the ARR5 gene. The presence of active cytokinins in plant tissues was assessed from GUS activity. Plants were grown for three weeks on the nitrate-or ammonium-containing nutrient medium. In plants grown on ammonium nutrition, cotyledon and leaf growth was substantially suppressed as compared with plants feeding with nitrates. In correspondence with this growth inhibition, GUS activity was markedly lower in plant leaves grown on the ammonium-containing medium. This indicated a reduction in these leaves of active cytokinin forms capable of activation of the promoter for the ARR5 gene. On both nitrogen sources, GUS activity increased during leaf growth and dropped sharply after growth ceasing. This indicated that leaf growth depended on the cytokinin content in them. High GUS activity was detected in petioles and leaf conductive system, indicating leaf providing with cytokinins along the conductive vessels. A sharp drop in the GUS activity after leaf growth stoppage coincided in time with GUS activation in the leaf positioned above this leaf. This indicated possible cytokinin redistribution in the plant; its content could be a limiting factor for leaf growth. A higher growth rate in plants on nitrate nitrogen nutrition and corresponding high GUS activity in them are discussed in terms of cytokinin signaling role in leaf growth regulation mediated by nitrate.     

Stable Transformation of the Intact Cells of Chlorella Kessleri with High Velocity Microprojectiles

A transgenic expression system of Chlorella kessleri using the gene for β-glucuronidase (GUS) was developed. Cells of this unicellular green alga were bombarded with the plasmid pBI 121, which bears β-glucuronidase under the control of CaMV 35S promoter and the kanamycin resistant gene. Maximum GUS activity was obtained after 48 h of bombardment using a helium pressure of 900 kPa; GUS activity was then assayed for many generations. The stable transformants were able to grow on kanamycin containing medium after repeated passages between selective and nonselective medium and exhibited GUS activity comparable to that of control cells. Stable transformed cells were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern hybridization of GUS probe with the genomic DNA of C. kessleri. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Mechanism of gene expression of Arabidopsis glutathione S-transferase, AtGST1, and AtGST11 in response to aluminum stress

The gene expression of two Al-induced Arabidopsis glutathione S-transferase genes, AtGST1 and AtGST11, was analyzed to investigate the mechanism underlying the response to Al stress. An approximately 1-kb DNA fragment of the 5'-upstream region of each gene was fused to a beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene (pAtGST1::GUS and pAtGST11::GUS) and introduced into Arabidopsis ecotype Landsberg erecta. The constructed transgenic lines showed a time-dependent gene expression to a different degree in the root and/or leaf by Al stress. The pAtGST1::GUS gene was induced after a short Al treatment (maximum expression after a 2-h exposure), while the pAtGST11::GUS gene was induced by a longer Al treatment (approximately 8 h for maximum expression). Since the gene expression was observed in the leaf when only the root was exposed to Al stress, a signaling system between the root and shoot was suggested in Al stress. A GUS staining experiment using an adult transgenic line carrying the pAtGST11::GUS gene supported this suggestion. Furthermore, Al treatment simultaneously with various Ca depleted conditions in root region enhanced the gene expression of the pAtGST11::GUS in the shoot region. This result suggested that the degree of Al toxicity in the root reflects the gene response of pAtGST11::GUS in the shoot via the deduced signaling system. Both transgenic lines also showed an increase of GUS activity after cold stress, heat stress, metal toxicity, and oxidative damages, suggesting a common induction mechanism in response to the tested stresses including Al stress.     

转基因白桦中GUS基因表达的定量分析

以转基因白桦（Betula platyphylla）为材料,采用单酶切结合Southern杂交的方法揭示不同转基因植株中GUS基因的整合拷贝数为1—4个。采用组织化学染色法定性分析不同整合方式转基因白桦植株中GUS基因的表达。结果表明,11个转基因植株中有2株出现了GUS基因沉默,其余植株均有不同水平的GUS表达。在此基础上应用分光光度法定量分析不同拷贝数的GUS转基因白桦中β-葡萄糖醛酸酶活性。结果表明,在11个转基因尢性系中除2个株系的GUS基因沉默外,其它9个转基因植株中GUS酶活力差异明显,但这种差异与GUS基因的拷贝数没有必然联系。     

Multiple GUS expression patterns of a single Arabidopsis gene

Ten independent transposant lines with gene or enhancer traps (ET) inserted into the same gene (At2g01170) were identified in Arabidopsis thaliana . Transposon insertions were confirmed for each line. Only three of five ET lines and only one of the five gene trap (GT) lines displayed uidA (GUS) staining. The GUS (β-glucuronidase) expression patterns of the ET lines were different in all three lines. In the GT line, the GUS expression was restricted to the vascular tissue under all conditions examined. The variation in ET GUS expression suggests that each ET was controlled by different enhancer elements or the different elements of the trapped locus may give rise to different GUS expression patterns. Of five GT lines, three have the GUS gene in the same orientation as the At2g01170 open reading frame, yet only one yielded GUS staining. Regardless of the insertion construct, only those transposants with an insertion at the 3' end of the gene yielded GUS staining. Some transposants displayed a longer root phenotype in the presence of kanamycin that was also observed in 3' insertion sites in At2g01170. Taken together, these data show that insertions in the 5' end of the gene disrupted expression and emphasise the complexity encountered with ET and GT constructs to characterise the expression patterns of genes of interest based solely on GUS expression patterns.