植物miR396-GRF模块的生物学功能及其潜在应用价值

miR396是植物中一种保守的microRNA,生长调节因子(growth regulatory factor,GRF)基因已在多个物种中被证实是其作用的主要靶基因。目前的研究报道显示,miR396介导的靶基因GRF调控途径(miR396-GRF),已在利用分子育种技术进行植物品种改良,及提升植物组织材料再生效率方面展露出了诱人的应用潜力。本文分析了miR396和GRF基因的序列特点;阐明了miR396-GRF模块的具体互作模式;并着重介绍了近年来miR396-GRF模块在调控植物生长发育、逆境胁迫响应和影响植物组织再生效率方面的生物学功能研究进展,也收集了miR396-GRF模块提高植物生物量及作物产量、改善植物逆境胁迫耐受能力及提高植物材料在遗传转化过程中再生效率方面的研究案例;最后,总结了目前关于miR396-GRF模块发挥生物学功能的分子机制研究概况,旨为进一步深入研究miR396-GRF途径提供思路和参考。     

miR396-GRF模块参与植物逆境胁迫响应的研究进展

miR396-GRF模块是一类新型高效的植物生长发育调控模块。该模块中miR396通过负调控生长调节因子GRF,影响植物生长发育过程中的信号传导通路,并广泛参与植物对干旱、盐害、温度、UV-B等非生物胁迫,以及胞囊线虫和病原菌等造成的生物胁迫的响应过程。本文综述了miR396-GRF模块的调控网络和其参与植物抗逆响应的作用机理,并探讨了相关研究动态及存在的问题,旨在为进一步推动GRF相关研究提供理论参考。     

高表达miR396小分子导致拟南芥花柱头弯曲

MicroRNAs（miRNAs）是大小约21个碱基、内源、非编码的小分子RNA。以拟南芥（Arabidopsis thaliana）miR396小分子为研究对象,分别克隆到了miR396小分子的两个前体（MIR396a,MIR396b）,得到了转基因植株。通过转基因植株的遗传学研究发现,高表达miR396小分子导致转基因拟南芥的花柱头弯曲。花柱头的弯曲影响了角果的正常发育。另外,Northern杂交结果表明转基因拟南芥花部位的miR396及其前体的表达量与对照相比显著增加。这些结果表明高表达miR396小分子可以导致拟南芥花柱头弯曲。     

龙眼miR396分子进化特性及响应蓝光的表达分析

关于蓝光对龙眼胚性愈伤组织miRNA组学研究中发现大量响应蓝光的miRNAs,挑选关键且差异表达的miR396a-3p_2和miR396b-5p进行分子进化特性分析,以进一步明确它们在龙眼响应蓝光过程中的作用。该研究对前体和成熟体进化树、前体二级结构、启动子顺式作用元件、靶基因预测及其响应蓝光表达模式等进行分析。结果表明:(1)由5p臂上形成的miR396成熟体序列保守性较高,由3p臂上形成的miR396成熟体序列特异性较大;茎序列的保守性高于环序列,5p臂上保守性高于3p臂。(2)miR396a-3p_2和miR396b-5p的启动子主要包括光、激素、生物和非生物胁迫响应元件,可能通过这些顺式元件在龙眼响应蓝光中起调控作用;其响应蓝光的靶基因或蛋白主要包括生长素调控因子(GRF2)、LRR类受体丝氨酸(FLS2)、乙烯不敏感蛋白(EIN3)和DNA定向RNA聚合酶α亚基(rpoA)等。(3)实时荧光定量PCR结果表明,miR396a-3p_2和miR396b-5p在不同光质的表达模式存在差异;在不同光强的蓝光条件下,miR396b-5p与其靶基因的表达趋势基本呈负相关,而miR396a-3p_2与rpoA的表达趋势未呈负相关,可能存在其他miR396家族成员或miRNAs同时调控,从而实现靶基因转录水平的调控。     

高表达拟南芥miR396提高烟草抗旱性

MiR396是一个由21个核苷酸组成的单链非编码RNA小分子。烟草内的miR396受干旱诱导说明其可能参与烟草的干旱应答。在35S强启动子作用下我们将miR396转入到烟草体内获得高表达转基因植株,生理学测试表明高表达miR396的转基因烟草耐旱性增强,同时叶片表现出比野生型较低的失水率和较高的相对含水量,进一步分析表明转基因植株除了叶片变得更为窄小外,其气孔密度和气孔系数都比野生型降低,这些都表明miR396作为一个正调节因子参与烟草的干旱胁迫应答。     

春兰miR396过表达对拟南芥叶片生长、光合及叶绿素荧光特性的影响

为研究春兰miR396(cgo-miR396)基因在植物叶片生长发育中的作用,针对春兰的栽培和生产提供新的研究思路.将该基因前体cgo-MIR396在拟南芥中过量表达,观察其形态指标的变化并对相应的光合和叶绿素荧光参数进行测定.春兰miR396基因在花期叶片中的表达量最高,过表达该基因可以显著增加拟南芥的叶长、叶宽、叶...     

芥蓝miR172家族成员进化特性比较及时空表达分析

为了明确植物miR172家族成员的进化特性及其在不同组织部位的表达情况,该研究以芥蓝miR172a家族为例,通过芥蓝miR172a成熟体序列比对、前体(pre-miRNA)二级结构预测、系统发育进化树构建、靶基因预测及实时荧光定量等手段,对芥蓝miR172a和miR172b基因家族的进化特性及其在芥蓝不同组织部位中的表达规律进行分析。结果显示:(1)芥蓝miR172家族存在20个成熟体成员,通过比对发现20条序列都存在一个重叠区域,该区域中ACTAGATC 8个碱基高度保守,并且在芥蓝pre-miR172的3′和5′端均能形成成熟体。(2)mfold预测结果显示,miR172a家族5个前体成员的最小折叠自由能在-54.55~-78.60kal/mol之间,均能自发形成典型、稳定的茎环二级结构。(3)系统发育进化树显示,芥蓝miR172a家族的前体成员具有一定的保守性和多样性,并与番木瓜pre-miR172a亲缘关系较近。(4)靶基因预测发现芥蓝miR172a共有13个不同靶标基因,多个成员也可以作用于相同靶标基因。(5)实时荧光定量PCR显示,芥蓝pre-miR172a和pre-miR172b家族不同成员在不同组织部位表达量差异显著,10个成员在9个组织部位中的表达各不相同。其中,芥蓝pre-miR172a-1、pre-miR172a-2、premiR172a-3和pre-miR172b在芥蓝荚中大量表达;pre-miR172b-5p和pre-miR172b-5p-2在芥蓝花中大量表达。研究表明,miR172在芥蓝花和荚的发育过程中起着重要的作用。     

结肠癌患者血清miRNA表达意义及与肠道菌群失调关联性

目的 探讨结肠癌患者血清miR 375、miR 21、miR 10a表达意义及与肠道菌群失调的关联性。 方法 选取我院92例结肠癌患者为结肠癌组,同期92例健康体检者为对照组,测定两组不同临床特征患者血清miR 375、miR 21、miR 10a水平,并采集两组新鲜粪便标本,测定并比较大肠杆菌、双歧杆菌数量、双歧杆菌/大肠杆菌比值,探讨血清各指标表达与结肠癌发病及患者大肠杆菌、双歧杆菌数量、双歧杆菌/大肠杆菌比值的关联性。 结果 结肠癌组血清miR 375水平低于对照组,miR 21、miR 10a水平高于对照组,且有淋巴结转移、中低分化、Ⅲ～Ⅳ期结肠癌患者血清miR 375水平低于无淋巴结转移、高分化、Ⅰ～Ⅱ期患者,miR 21、miR 10a水平高于无淋巴结转移、高分化、Ⅰ～Ⅱ期患者(P结论 结肠癌患者血清miR 375表达降低,miR 21、miR 10a表达增高,且表达与临床病理参数、肠道菌群失调有关。     

棉花miR397 LAC4模块调控棉铃虫抗性研究

miRNA(microRNA)通过调控其靶标基因在植物的生长、发育和抗逆过程中扮演着重要的角色。该研究采用分子生物学和生物化学等方法,探讨棉花miR397 LAC4参与植株木质素生物合成和对棉铃虫抗性响应机制。结果发现：(1)棉花miR397(ghr miR397)在转录后调控漆酶基因(GhLAC4)的表达,GhLAC4属于蓝铜氧化酶家族,通过调控木质素合成,抵御棉铃虫入侵棉花。(2)GUS报告基因融合表达和酶活性测定表明,ghr miR397在转录后切割靶标基因GhLAC4抑制其表达。(3)利用VIGS(virus induced gene silencing)技术在棉花中沉默和过表达ghr miR397,棉铃虫抗性检测分析表明,沉默miR397表达会增加棉花对棉铃虫的抗性,但过表达ghr miR397则会降低棉花的抗性。(4)选择性和非选择性棉铃虫实验分析、组织化学染色和木质素含量测定表明,沉默GhLAC4表达会减少木质素的积累,增加棉花对棉铃虫的敏感性。研究表明,ghr miR397 GhLAC4模块共同微调棉花木质素合成来参与棉花抗虫性调控,同时也为棉花抗虫育种提供了新思路。     

The Arabidopsis microRNA396-GRF1/GRF3 regulatory module acts as a developmental regulator in the reprogramming of root cells during cyst nematode infection

The syncytium is a unique plant root organ whose differentiation is induced by plant-parasitic cyst nematodes to create a source of nourishment. Syncytium formation involves the redifferentiation and fusion of hundreds of root cells. The underlying regulatory networks that control this unique change of plant cell fate are not understood. Here, we report that a strong down-regulation of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) microRNA396 (miR396) in cells giving rise to the syncytium coincides with the initiation of the syncytial induction/formation phase and that specific miR396 up-regulation in the developed syncytium marks the beginning of the maintenance phase, when no new cells are incorporated into the syncytium. In addition, our results show that miR396 in fact has a role in the transition from one phase to the other. Expression modulations of miR396 and its Growth-Regulating Factor (GRF) target genes resulted in reduced syncytium size and arrested nematode development. Furthermore, genome-wide expression profiling revealed that the miR396-GRF regulatory system can alter the expression of 44% of the more than 7,000 genes reported to change expression in the Arabidopsis syncytium. Thus, miR396 represents a key regulator for the reprogramming of root cells. As such, this regulatory unit represents a powerful molecular target for the parasitic animal to modulate plant cells and force them into novel developmental pathways.     

miR396-targeted AtGRF transcription factors are required for coordination of cell division and differentiation during leaf development in Arabidopsis

In plants, cell proliferation and polarized cell differentiation along the adaxial-abaxial axis in the primordium is critical for leaf morphogenesis, while the temporal-spatial relationships between these two processes remain largely unexplored. Here, it is reported that microRNA396 (miR396)-targeted Arabidopsis growth-regulating factors (AtGRFs) are required for leaf adaxial-abaxial polarity in Arabidopsis. Reduction of the expression of AtGRF genes by transgenic miR396 overexpression in leaf polarity mutants asymmetric leaves1 (as1) and as2 resulted in plants with enhanced leaf adaxial-abaxial defects, as a consequence of reduced cell proliferation. Moreover, transgenic miR396 overexpression markedly decreased the cell division activity and the expression of cell cycle-related genes, but resulted in an increased percentage of leaf cells with a higher ploidy level, indicating that miR396 negatively regulates cell proliferation by controlling entry into the mitotic cell cycle. miR396 is mainly expressed in the leaf cells arrested for cell division, coinciding with its roles in cell cycle regulation. These results together suggest that cell division activity mediated by miR396-targeted AtGRFs is important for polarized cell differentiation along the adaxial-abaxial axis during leaf morphogenesis in Arabidopsis.     

OsmiR396/growth regulating factor modulate rice grain size through direct regulation of embryo-specific miR408

microRNAs (miRNAs) are promising targets for crop improvement of complex agricultural traits. Coordinated activity between/among different miRNAs may fine-tune specific developmental processes in diverse organisms. Grain size is a main factor determining rice (Oryza sativa L.) crop yield, but the network of miRNAs influencing this trait remains uncharacterized. Here we show that sequestering OsmiR396 through target mimicry (MIM396) can substantially increase grain size in several japonica and indica rice subspecies and in plants with excessive tillers and a high panicle density. Thus, OsmiR396 has a major role related to the regulation of rice grain size. The grain shape of Growth Regulating Factor8 (OsGRF8)-overexpressing transgenic plants was most similar to that of MIM396 plants, suggesting OsGRF8 is a major mediator of OsmiR396 in grain size regulation. A miRNA microarray analysis revealed changes to the expression of many miRNAs, including OsmiR408, in the MIM396 plants. Analyses of gene expression patterns and functions indicated OsmiR408 is an embryo-specific miRNA that positively regulates grain size. Silencing OsmiR408 expression (miR408KO) using CRISPR technology resulted in small grains. Moreover, we revealed the direct regulatory effects of OsGRF8 on OsMIR408 expression. A genetic analysis further showed that the large-grain phenotype of MIM396 plants could be complemented by miR408KO. Also, several hormone signaling pathways might be involved in the OsmiR396/GRF-meditated grain size regulation. Our findings suggest that genetic regulatory networks comprising various miRNAs, such as OsmiR396 and OsmiR408, may be crucial for controlling rice grain size. Furthermore, the OsmiR396/GRF module may be important for breeding new high-yielding rice varieties.

The OsmiR396/Growth Regulating Factor module plays a pivotal role in rice grain size regulation and genetically regulates OsmiR408, which acts as an embryo-specific grain size regulator.     

毛竹GRF转录因子家族的全基因组鉴定与分析

利用生物信息学方法,于毛竹(Phyllostachys edulis (Carr.) Lehaie)全基因组中鉴定获得18个GRF转录因子,并对其理化特性、保守结构域、系统发育关系、mi R396靶位点以及基因表达模式进行了分析。结果表明,18个Pe GRF蛋白长度为170～551 aa,分子量为18.5～58.8 k D;这些Pe GRF蛋白均具有QLQ和WRC结构域,部分Pe GRF含有FFD和TQL保守结构域。对毛竹、拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh)和水稻(Oryza sativa L.)的系统进化分析结果显示,毛竹18个GRF可分为3个亚类,且单子叶植物毛竹和水稻的GRF转录因子亲缘关系更近。mi R396靶位点预测分析结果发现,在13个Pe GRF基因序列的编码区存在毛竹mi R396结合位点; Pe GRF基因表达模式分析结果显示,Pe GRF主要在毛竹的竹笋中表达。