植物Aux/IAA基因家族生物学功能研究进展

生长素是最重要的植物激素之一,对植物生长发育起着关键调控作用。生长素作用于植物后,早期生长素响应基因家族Aux/IAA、GH3和SAUR等被迅速诱导,基因表达上调。其中Aux/IAA基因家族编码的蛋白一般由4个保守结构域组成,结构域Ⅰ具有抑制生长素信号下游基因表达的作用,结构域Ⅱ在生长素信号转导中主要被TIR1调控进而影响Aux/IAA的稳定性,结构域Ⅲ/Ⅳ通过与生长素响应因子ARF相互作用调控生长素信号。Aux/IAA基因家族在双子叶植物拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)的器官发育、根形成、茎伸长和叶扩张等方面发挥重要作用;在单子叶植物水稻(Oryza sativa)和小麦(Triticum aestivum)中,主要影响根系发育和株型,但大多数Aux/IAA基因的功能尚不清楚。该文主要从Aux/IAA蛋白的结构、功能和生长素信号转导途径方面综述Aux/IAA家族在拟南芥、禾谷类作物及其它植物中的研究进展,以期为全面揭示Aux/IAA家族基因的生物学功能提供线索。     

拟南芥和水稻SET结构域基因家族全基因组鉴定、分类和表达

ET(Su(var), Enhancer of zeste (E(z)), and Trithorax)结构域基因家族是一组含有保守SET结构域的蛋白的统称, 它们参与蛋白甲基化, 影响染色体结构, 并且调控基因表达, 在植物发育中起着重要的作用。分析拟南芥和水稻中SET结构域基因家族进化关系, 对研究这一基因家族中各成员的功能有着重要的意义。我们系统地鉴定了47个拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)和43个水稻(Orysa sativa japonica cultivar Nipponbare)的SET结构域基因, 染色体定位和基因复制分析表明SET结构域基因扩增是由片段复制和反转录引起的, 根据这些结构域差异和系统发育分析把拟南芥和水稻的SET结构域基因划分成5个亚家族。通过分析SET结构域基因家族在拟南芥和水稻各个发育阶段的表达谱, 发现SET结构域基因绝大部分至少在一个组织中表达; 大部分在花和花粉中高表达; 一些SET结构域基因在某些组织中有特异的表达模式, 表明与组织发育有密切的关系。在拟南芥和水稻中分别找到了4个差异表达基因。拟南芥4个差异基因都在花粉管高表达, 水稻4个差异基因有3个在雄性花蕊中高表达, 另一个在幼穗中高表达。     

番茄PPR基因家族的鉴定与生物信息学分析

PPR(Pentatricopeptide repeats)基因家族在植物中广泛存在, 其在植物生长发育过程中至关重要。文章采用生物信息学方法, 利用Pfam已鉴定的PPR保守结构域序列检索番茄(Solanum lycopersicum L.)基因组计划注释的蛋白序列, 最终确定了番茄中可能存在的471个PPR编码基因; 根据拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana L.)中鉴定的各个结构域的特点对其进行了蛋白结构分析、分类和保守序列分析, 并对番茄PPR基因家族进行了系统进化树构建、染色体定位、亚细胞定位预测、表达和GO分析等。结果表明：番茄PPR基因家族分为P和PLS两个亚家族, 各占序列数目的一半, PLS亚家族又分为PLS、E、E+和DYW四类, 且在进化树中形成不同的分支; 各个结构域在植物中非常保守; PPR基因家族分布在番茄12条染色体上, 且多数无内含子结构; 大部分PPR蛋白具有线粒体或叶绿体定位序列, GO分析表明PPR蛋白参与RNA相关的生物学过程     

普通烟草CESA基因家族成员的鉴定、亚细胞定位及表达分析

纤维素合成酶蛋白(cellulose-synthase proteins, CESA)是一类质膜定位蛋白,以蛋白复合体的形式存在于质膜上合成纤维素,在细胞壁建成和植物生长发育过程中起着非常重要的作用。本研究利用CESA蛋白保守域序列PF03552检索普通烟草(Nicotiana tabacum L.)蛋白序列,并通过拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)10个CESA蛋白序列在普通烟草基因组数据库中利用TBLASTN程序进行比对,共获得21条NtCESA基因候选序列,对这些序列进行蛋白序列理化性质分析、系统进化树构建、基因结构分析、保守结构域及跨膜区分析和组织表达模式分析,并对NtCESA9和NtCESA14两个蛋白进行了亚细胞定位实验。结果表明：获得的21条NtCESA蛋白序列的理化性质相似;系统进化分析将21个NtCESA基因和10个AtCESA基因分成5个分支,每一个分支各成员之间的进化相对保守,基因结构类似,不同分支之间的基因结构差异也较小;NtCESA蛋白结构域相对保守,都含有CESA蛋白典型的N端锌指结构、C端跨膜区和DDD-QXXRW保守功能域;组织表达分析结果表明,大部分NtCESA基因在幼苗和成熟期烟草的根、叶、胚芽和愈伤组织中都有表达,同一个分支中的基因表达模式基本一致,并且NtCESA基因参与初/次生细胞壁纤维素的合成与该基因编码蛋白的跨膜区数目存在关联,表明NtCESA基因家族成员功能上的复杂性;亚细胞定位结果证实NtCESA9和NtCESA14为质膜定位蛋白。本研究为烟草CESA基因家族功能的深入研究奠定了基础。     

拟南芥Rboh基因家族成员的分子和功能学比较（英文）

活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)在植物的信号转导中起着重要的作用。它们参与了植物的生长发育,生物及非生物胁迫和细胞死亡等过程。最近的研究发现呼吸爆发氧化酶(Respiratory burst oxidase homologues,Rboh)是植物ROS的主要生产者。拟南芥Rboh基因家族由10个成员组成,他们编码的蛋白包含6个跨膜结构域、以及C末端的FAD与NADPH亲水结构域和N末端的2个Ca2+结合EF手性结构。本文通过聚类分析发现拟南芥Rboh基因家族成员的三个分枝具有高度的同源性,这说明拟南芥Rboh家族成员间可能存在功能冗余。利用RT-PCR分析了各基因成员的时空表达特性,并对整个家族成员的缺失突变体进行表型分析发现,除了rboh C外,都没有明显的表型变化,这说明拟南芥Rboh C可能在植物发育过程中具有特殊的功能。     

大豆GeBP转录因子基因家族的生物信息学分析

GeBP转录因子调控植物表皮毛的生长发育,并且参与控制植物叶片的发育。该文利用生物信息学方法,在大豆全基因组范围内搜索GeBP基因家族,并从氨基酸理化性质、基因结构、染色体的物理分布、系统进化、序列比对、功能结构域、组织表达情况等基本特征方面对GmGeBP基因家族进行分析。结果表明:(1)共获得9个GmGeBP转录因子基因家族成员,其中仅2个基因含有内含子,且都只有1个内含子,表明该家族成员基因构造比较简单但稳定。(2)GmGeBP编码的蛋白分子量为39.65~49.24 kD,理论等电点为4.65~9.08;这些成员基本上都是酸性氨基酸,属于亲水性、不稳定蛋白。(3)这9个基因不均匀的分布于7条染色体上,10和20号染色体上分别分布2个GeBP基因,3、5、13、15、19号染色体上各分布1个基因。(4)系统进化分析表明,大豆与拟南芥对应的GeBP成员亲缘关系较近,分别聚类到4个分支,而与水稻的距离较远。(5)结构域分析表明,9个GmGeBP成员都包含DUF573结构域,推测该部分在GeBP转录因子中很可能是与靶标基因顺式作用元件互作的结构域。(6)通过分析大豆GmGeBP转录因子基因家族的组织表达,发现不同基因在大豆不同组织的表达量不同,具有一定的特异性。该文对大豆GeBP转录因子基因家族的分析和鉴定为进一步研究大豆表皮毛发育的分子作用提供了理论基础。     

植物GH3基因家族的生物信息学分析

植物生长素在植物的生长发育过程中至关重要,GH3基因家族是植物生长素早期应答的成员。本研究采用比较基因组学的方法,利用已经分离的拟南芥GH3(Gretchen Hagen3)蛋白为检索序列,在全基因组水平上搜索拟南芥、水稻、葡萄、白杨和苜蓿的GH3基因的同源序列。最终确定了59个GH3候选基因,其中拟南芥19个,水稻14个,葡萄9个,白杨14个,苜蓿3个。对同源序列作进一步的多序列联配、MEME、ESTs和系统发生表达分析,结果表明:GH3基因家族的基本特征在单双子叶植物分离之前就已经形成;GH3结构域在蛋白质间较保守,可以分为3个亚家族,其中个别蛋白发生了基序丢失;59个同源蛋白中的40个成员找到了ESTs的证据,且表达部位多样,不同成员之间的表达部位存在差异。该研究结果将为植物的GH3基因家族的研究提供参考。     

新基因水稻 OsLSD1 的克隆及拟南芥和水稻类 LSD1 基因家族的生物信息学分析

类 LSD1 (LSD1-like) 基因家族是一类特殊的 C2C2 型锌指蛋白基因,编码植物特有的转录因子 . 目前已经研究的 2 个成员拟南芥 LSD1 (lesions stimulating disease resistance 1) 和 LOL1 (LSD-One-Like 1) 基因均参与植物细胞程序化死亡 (programmed cell death, PCD) 的调控 . 从水稻 cDNA 文库中克隆到 1 个类 LSD1 基因,命名为 OsLSD1. 该基因长 988 bp ,包含一个 432 bp 的开放阅读框,推导的氨基酸序列 (143 个氨基酸 ) 含有 3 个内部保守的锌指结构域 . DNA 印迹结果表明 OsLSD1 基因在水稻基因组中为单拷贝,且在根、茎和叶中表达 . 借助于生物信息学分析技术,从拟南芥和水稻数据库中各识别出 5 个和 7 个 ( 包括 OsLSD1) 类 LSD1 基因 . 分析了这些类 LSD1 基因的结构,蛋白质结构域组成 . 系统进化分析表明,无论基于编码区的核苷酸或氨基酸序列都可以将这些类 LSD1 基因分为 2 类 . 虽然不存在拟南芥或水稻特有的类 LSD1 蛋白,但有些结构域是水稻所特有的,也有些基因是来源于复制事件 .     

新基因水稻OsLSD1的克隆及拟南芥和水稻类 LSD1基因家族的生物信息学分析

类LSD1 (LSD1-like)基因家族是一类特殊的C2C2型锌指蛋白基因,编码植物特有的转录因子.目前已经研究的2个成员拟南芥LSD1(1esions stimulating disease resistance 1)和LOL1(LSD-One-Like 1)基因均参与植物细胞程序化死亡(programmed cell death,PCD)的调控.从水稻cDNA文库中克隆到1个类LSD1基因,命名为OsLSD1.该基因长988 bp,包含一个432bp的开放阅读框,推导的氨基酸序列(143个氨基酸)含有3个内部保守的锌指结构域.DNA印迹结果表明OsLSD1基因在水稻基因组中为单拷贝,且在根、茎和叶中表达.借助于生物信息学分析技术,从拟南芥和水稻数据库中各识别出5个和7个(包括OsLSD1)类LSD1基因.分析了这些类LSD1基因的结构,蛋白质结构域组成.系统进化分析表明,无论基于编码区的核苷酸或氨基酸序列都可以将这些类LSD1基因分为2类.虽然不存在拟南芥或水稻特有的类LSD1蛋白,但有些结构域是水稻所特有的,也有些基因是来源于复制事件.     

BTB蛋白泛素化介导植物发育和逆境应答的研究进展

BTB (broad-complex, tramtrack, and bric-à-brac)结构域是在真核生物中发现的高度保守的蛋白质相互作用基序。含有BTB结构域的一类蛋白统称为BTB蛋白,它们广泛参与转录调控、蛋白质降解等过程。越来越多的研究表明,该基因在植物生长发育、生物与非生物胁迫等生理过程中具有重要的作用。本文以蛋白结构域为基础,系统总结了该基因家族蛋白在泛素化介导植物发育和逆境应答等过程中的研究进展,为植物中该类基因的研究提供了参考。     

Characterization of the preprotein and amino acid transporter gene family in Arabidopsis

Seventeen loci encode proteins of the preprotein and amino acid transporter family in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Some of these genes have arisen from recent duplications and are not in annotated duplicated regions of the Arabidopsis genome. In comparison to a number of other eukaryotic organisms, this family of proteins has greatly expanded in plants, with 24 loci in rice (Oryza sativa). Most of the Arabidopsis and rice genes are orthologous, indicating expansion of this family before monocot and dicot divergence. In vitro protein uptake assays, in vivo green fluorescent protein tagging, and immunological analyses of selected proteins determined either mitochondrial or plastidic localization for 10 and six proteins, respectively. The protein encoded by At5g24650 is targeted to both mitochondria and chloroplasts and, to our knowledge, is the first membrane protein reported to be targeted to mitochondria and chloroplasts. Three genes encoded translocase of the inner mitochondrial membrane (TIM)17-like proteins, three TIM23-like proteins, and three outer envelope protein16-like proteins in Arabidopsis. The identity of Arabidopsis TIM22-like proteins is most likely a protein encoded by At3g10110/At1g18320, based on phylogenetic analysis, subcellular localization, and complementation of a yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) mutant and coexpression analysis. The lack of a preprotein and amino acid transporter domain in some proteins, localization in mitochondria, plastids, or both, variation in gene structure, and the differences in expression profiles indicate that the function of this family has diverged in plants beyond roles in protein translocation.     

Characterization of G2L3 (GAS2-like 3), a new microtubule- and actin-binding protein related to spectraplakins

The microtubule (MT) and actin cytoskeletons are fundamental to cell integrity, because they control a host of cellular activities, including cell division, growth, polarization, and migration. Proteins involved in mediating the cross-talk between MT and actin cytoskeletons are key to many cellular processes and play important physiological roles. We identified a new member of the GAS2 family of MT-actin cross-linking proteins, named G2L3 (GAS2-like 3). We show that GAS2-like 3 is widely conserved throughout evolution and is ubiquitously expressed in human tissues. GAS2-like 3 interacts with filamentous actin and MTs via its single calponin homology type 3 domain and C terminus, respectively. Interestingly, the role of the putative MT-binding GAS2-related domain is to modulate the binding of GAS2-like 3 to both filamentous actin and MTs. This is in contrast to GAS2-related domains found in related proteins, where it functions as a MT-binding domain. Furthermore, we show that tubulin acetylation drives GAS2-like 3 localization to MTs and may provide functional insights into the role of GAS2-like 3.     

Genomewide comparative phylogenetic and molecular evolutionary analysis of tubby-like protein family in Arabidopsis, rice, and poplar

Tubby-like proteins, which are characterized by a highly conserved tubby domain, play an important role in the maintenance and function of neuronal cells during postdifferentiation and development in mammals. In additional to the tubby domain, most tubby-like proteins in plants also possess an F-box domain. Plants also appear to harbor a large number of TLP genes. To gain insight into how TLP genes evolved in plants, we conducted a comparative phylogenetic and molecular evolutionary analysis of the tubby-like protein gene family in Arabidopsis, rice, and poplar. Genomewide screening identified 11 TLP genes in Arabidopsis, 14 in rice, and 11 in poplar. Phylogenetic trees, domain organizations, and intron/exon structures classified this family into three subfamilies and indicated that species-specific expansion contributed to the evolution of this family in plants. We determined that in rice and poplar, the tubby-like protein family had expanded mainly through segmental duplication events. Tissue-specific expression analysis indicated that functional diversification of the duplicated TLP genes was a major feature of long-term evolution. Our results also demonstrated that the tubby and F-box domains had co-evolved during the evolution of proteins containing both domains.     

Friend or foe: Hybrid proline-rich proteins determine how plants respond to beneficial and pathogenic microbes

Plant plastids generate signals, including some derived from lipids, that need to be mobilized to effect signaling. We used informatics to discover potential plastid membrane proteins involved in microbial responses in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Among these are proteins co-regulated with the systemic immunity component AZELAIC ACID INDUCED 1, a hybrid proline-rich protein (HyPRP), and HyPRP superfamily members. HyPRPs have a transmembrane domain, a proline-rich region (PRR), and a lipid transfer protein domain. The precise subcellular location(s) and function(s) are unknown for most HyPRP family members. As predicted by informatics, a subset of HyPRPs has a pool of proteins that target plastid outer envelope membranes via a mechanism that requires the PRR. Additionally, two HyPRPs may be associated with thylakoid membranes. Most of the plastid- and nonplastid-localized family members also have pools that localize to the endoplasmic reticulum, plasma membrane, or plasmodesmata. HyPRPs with plastid pools regulate, positively or negatively, systemic immunity against the pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. HyPRPs also regulate the interaction with the plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria Pseudomonas simiae WCS417 in the roots to influence colonization, root system architecture, and/or biomass. Thus, HyPRPs have broad and distinct roles in immunity, development, and growth responses to microbes and reside at sites that may facilitate signal molecule transport.

Hybrid proline-rich proteins that reside at plastid membranes and other sites have broad and distinct roles in immunity, development, and growth responses to microbes.     

A novel ubiquitous family of putative efflux transporters

We describe a novel family of putative efflux transporters (PET) found in bacteria, yeast and plants. None of the members of the PET family has been functionally characterized. The bacterial and yeast proteins display a duplicated internal repeat element consisting of an N-terminal hydrophobic sequence of about 170 residues, exhibiting six putative transmembrane alpha-helical spanners (TMSs), followed by a large (230 residue), C-terminal, hydrophilic, cytoplasmic domain. The plant proteins exhibit only one such unit, but they have a larger C-terminal cytoplasmic domain. Arabidopsis thaliana encodes at least seven paralogues of the PET family. The gram-negative bacterial proteins are sometimes encoded by genes that are found in operons that also contain genes that encode membrane fusion proteins. This fact strongly suggests that PET family proteins are efflux pumps. The sequence, topological and phylogenetic characteristics of these proteins as well as the operonic structures of their encoded genes when relevant are described.     

水稻与拟南芥跨膜蛋白14家族的分子进化特征与功能分析

脂类既是植物生命活动重要的能量来源,也是细胞膜系统不可或缺的结构成分,在植物生长发育和逆境反应等生命活动过程中都起到至关重要的作用。随着脂类代谢研究的不断深入,植物脂类合成通路已渐渐明晰,其中连通不同细胞器间脂类合成中间物质运送的膜蛋白也正被不断发现,但对质体脂类转运蛋白还鲜有报道。跨膜蛋白14家族(Transmembrane 14 family, Tmemb14 family)是一个新发现的跨膜蛋白家族,目前只有拟南芥FAX1 (Fatty Acid Export 1)和斑马鱼TMEM14已被克隆鉴定,该家族其他成员的生物学功能还未见报道。AtFAX1参与植物质体长链脂肪酸的跨膜外运,其功能丧失显著降低植物生物量并影响花粉发育和育性。本研究通过生物信息手段对拟南芥和水稻中的跨膜蛋白14家族成员的进化关系、蛋白理化性质、结构域功能和编码基因的表达模式进行了分析,揭示了Tmemb14家族成员在单、双子叶植物进化中的功能分化,为进一步研究跨膜蛋白14家族成员的生理功能提供了理论依据。     

The complete set of genes encoding major intrinsic proteins in Arabidopsis provides a framework for a new nomenclature for major intrinsic proteins in plants

Major intrinsic proteins (MIPs) facilitate the passive transport of small polar molecules across membranes. MIPs constitute a very old family of proteins and different forms have been found in all kinds of living organisms, including bacteria, fungi, animals, and plants. In the genomic sequence of Arabidopsis, we have identified 35 different MIP-encoding genes. Based on sequence similarity, these 35 proteins are divided into four different subfamilies: plasma membrane intrinsic proteins, tonoplast intrinsic proteins, NOD26-like intrinsic proteins also called NOD26-like MIPs, and the recently discovered small basic intrinsic proteins. In Arabidopsis, there are 13 plasma membrane intrinsic proteins, 10 tonoplast intrinsic proteins, nine NOD26-like intrinsic proteins, and three small basic intrinsic proteins. The gene structure in general is conserved within each subfamily, although there is a tendency to lose introns. Based on phylogenetic comparisons of maize (Zea mays) and Arabidopsis MIPs (AtMIPs), it is argued that the general intron patterns in the subfamilies were formed before the split of monocotyledons and dicotyledons. Although the gene structure is unique for each subfamily, there is a common pattern in how transmembrane helices are encoded on the exons in three of the subfamilies. The nomenclature for plant MIPs varies widely between different species but also between subfamilies in the same species. Based on the phylogeny of all AtMIPs, a new and more consistent nomenclature is proposed. The complete set of AtMIPs, together with the new nomenclature, will facilitate the isolation, classification, and labeling of plant MIPs from other species.