拟南芥IAA酰胺合成酶GH3-6负调控干旱和盐胁迫的反应

生长素是一种重要的植物激素, 几乎参与了植物所有的生命活动过程。GH3-6具有IAA酰胺合成酶活性, 催化氨基酸与IAA形成IAA的氨基轭合物, 发挥暂时或永久灭活IAA的作用。该文探讨了GH3-6基因在拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)逆境适应过程中的功能。结果显示GH3-6基因受干旱、ABA和高盐的诱导表达。与野生型相比, GH3-6基因过表达突变体dfl1-D对干旱的抗性明显减弱, 叶片失水速率更快。在抗盐方面, dfl1-D也显著弱于野生型。在3种逆境(干旱、ABA和高盐)胁迫下, GH3-6基因的高表达抑制了逆境响应基因RD22、KIN1、RD29A和DREB1A的表达。而且在干旱胁迫下, dfl1-D中ABA的含量明显低于野生型。研究结果证明, 高表达GH3-6基因负调控拟南芥对逆境的抗性。     

玉米逆境响应相关转录因子ZmC2H2-1基因克隆及功能验证

玉米是我国第一大作物,提高玉米的抗逆性是玉米育种的重要目标性状之一。植物C2H2型锌指蛋白广泛参与植物各个时期的生长发育及逆境应答过程。本研究从玉米中分离了转录因子ZmC2H2-1基因并对其功能进行了初步研究。结果表明,ZmC2H2-1属于C2H2锌指蛋白转录因子家族,编码蛋白主要位于细胞核中,酵母自激活实验表明ZmC2H2-1不具有自激活活性;干旱、盐和ABA等逆境可抑制ZmC2H2-1基因在玉米中的表达;过表达ZmC2H2-1基因的拟南芥叶片失水速率更快,在PEG、高盐和ABA处理条件下,与对照相比转ZmC2H2-1基因拟南芥耐逆性降低,以上结果说明ZmC2H2-1基因是作为玉米抗逆的负调控因子参与了逆境胁迫应答。本研究为深入解析玉米ZmC2H2-1的调控网络和玉米的抗逆调控机制奠定了基础。     

过表达兴安落叶松TPP基因增强拟南芥对盐胁迫的耐受能力*

兴安落叶松(Larix gmelinii)是极为重要的造林针叶树种,具有早期速生、抗逆性强、生态效益好等特点。海藻糖参与调控干旱、寒冷、盐害等多种逆境胁迫,海藻糖-6-磷酸磷酸酶(TPP)是海藻糖合成通路的重要酶。从兴安落叶松逆境胁迫转录组中筛选到LgTPPI.1基因全长序列,克隆了其编码区(CDS),构建了重组载体并获得过表达LgTPPI.1拟南芥纯合株系。结果表明,LgTPPI.1 CDS全长1 236 bp,共编码411个氨基酸;LgTPPI.1基因的mRNA在根和茎中表达水平较低,在针叶中表达水平较高;过表达LgTPPI.1基因拟南芥在盐胁迫下海藻糖含量显著提高、脯氨酸和抗氧化酶类活性增加、胁迫响应标记基因表达上调、对盐胁迫的耐受性增强。这些结果表明,裸子植物利用与被子植物类似的海藻糖通路来耐受非生物胁迫。为后续进一步解析落叶松中海藻糖合成相关基因的功能,揭示裸子植物中针叶树对逆境的响应机制奠定基础。     

油菜素内酯调控作物农艺性状和非生物胁迫响应的研究进展

植物对不利环境的适应依赖于将外部胁迫信号传递到内部信号通路中,在进化过程中形成一系列的胁迫响应机制。其中,油菜素内酯(brassinosteroids, BRs)是一种类固醇激素,广泛参与植物生长发育和逆境响应过程。BRs被包括受体BRI1和共受体BAK1在内的细胞表面受体感知,继而触发信号级联,导致蛋白激酶BIN2的抑制和转录因子BES1/BZR1的激活,BES1/BZR1可直接调控数千个下游响应基因的表达。在模式植物拟南芥中的研究表明,BR的生物合成和信号转导通路成员,特别是BIN2和其下游的转录因子BES1/BZR1,可以被各种环境因子广泛地调节。本文系统总结了BR相关的最新研究进展,对BR的生物合成和信号转导是如何被复杂的环境因子所调节,以及BR与环境因子如何协同调控作物重要农艺性状、冷胁迫和盐胁迫的响应进行了综述。     

DREB转录因子与植物非生物胁迫抗性研究进展

干旱、高盐、低温等非生物逆境胁迫严重影响植物的生长发育和作物产量。转录因子在调节植物生长发育以及对外界环境胁迫的响应方面起着重要作用。DREB类转录因子即干旱应答元件结合蛋白是AP2/EREBP转录因子家族的一个亚家族,拥有保守的AP2结构域,能够与DRE/CRT顺式作用元件特异结合,在非生物逆境胁迫条件下调节一系列下游胁迫诱导逆境应答基因的表达,从而提高植物耐逆性。就DREB转录因子的结构特点、表达调控以及提高转基因植株胁迫耐受性的最新研究成果进行了评述。     

干旱对水稻生物钟基因和干旱胁迫响应基因每日节律性变化的影响

内源生物钟的节律运动不仅调控植物的生长发育,而且在调控植物响应和适应环境过程中发挥重要的作用。为了解水稻(Oryza sativa L.)干旱胁迫响应基因和生物钟基因在干旱条件下每日表达变化情况,本文利用实时荧光定量PCR方法研究旱稻品种IRAT109在干旱胁迫下相关基因的表达变化。结果表明,干旱胁迫导致早晨生物钟基因OsPRRs、OsLHY和OsZTL1的表达量显著下降,振幅减弱;同时导致夜晚生物钟基因OsTOC1、OsGI和OsELF3整体表达量升高,振幅增强,但对OsFKF1基因影响不大。同样,大部分水稻干旱胁迫响应基因在干旱胁迫后整体表达量显著升高,但OsDST基因表达量下降;同时大部分抗逆基因周期性表达被扰乱,但OsCIPK12、OsCDPK7和OsDREB1A依然保持24 h内震荡。本研究结果表明干旱胁迫能影响生物钟元件的基因表达,这种互相影响改变了部分基因每日的震荡变化。     

AP2/ERF转录因子调控植物非生物胁迫响应研究进展

低温、干旱、高盐和缺氧等多种不良环境影响植物的生长发育, 植物通过长期进化形成复杂的调节机制来适应这些不利条件。AP2/ERF是植物特有的转录因子, 在各种胁迫响应过程中发挥关键调控作用。近年来, 越来越多的研究表明, 植物激素介导的信号级联通路与逆境胁迫响应关系密切, AP2/ERF转录因子可与激素信号转导协同形成交叉调控网络。许多AP2/ERF转录因子通过响应植物激素脱落酸和乙烯, 激活依赖或不依赖于脱落酸和乙烯的胁迫响应基因的表达。此外, AP2/ERF转录因子参与赤霉素、细胞分裂素和油菜素内酯介导的生长发育和胁迫应答。该文简要综述了AP2/ERF转录因子的结构特征、转录调控、翻译后修饰、结合位点、协同互作蛋白及其参与调控依赖或不依赖激素信号转导途径的非生物胁迫响应研究进展, 为解析不同AP2/ERF转录因子在调控激素和胁迫响应网络中的作用提供理论依据。     

AP2/ERF转录因子调控植物非生物胁迫响应研究进展

低温、干旱、高盐和缺氧等多种不良环境影响植物的生长发育,植物通过长期进化形成复杂的调节机制来适应这些不利条件。AP2/ERF是植物特有的转录因子,在各种胁迫响应过程中发挥关键调控作用。近年来,越来越多的研究表明,植物激素介导的信号级联通路与逆境胁迫响应关系密切,AP2/ERF转录因子可与激素信号转导协同形成交叉调控网络。许多AP2/ERF转录因子通过响应植物激素脱落酸和乙烯,激活依赖或不依赖于脱落酸和乙烯的胁迫响应基因的表达。此外,AP2/ERF转录因子参与赤霉素、细胞分裂素和油菜素内酯介导的生长发育和胁迫应答。该文简要综述了AP2/ERF转录因子的结构特征、转录调控、翻译后修饰、结合位点、协同互作蛋白及其参与调控依赖或不依赖激素信号转导途径的非生物胁迫响应研究进展,为解析不同AP2/ERF转录因子在调控激素和胁迫响应网络中的作用提供理论依据。     

AtERF49在拟南芥应答盐碱胁迫中的作用

盐碱胁迫是造成作物减产的主要逆境因素之一。植物AP2/ERF（APELATA2/ethylene response factors）转录因子在植物生长发育及其响应非生物逆境胁迫过程中发挥重要作用。探究AtERF49在拟南芥中对盐碱胁迫的应答,为深入解析AtERF49参与植物对盐碱胁迫的分子机理奠定基础。选取拟南芥野生型Col-0、过表达AtERF49转基因拟南芥和CRISPR/Cas9突变体erf49为试验材料,用150 mmol/L混合盐碱（摩尔比NaHCO₃∶Na₂CO₃=9∶1）溶液进行处理,使用荧光定量PCR技术对该基因的基本特性、盐碱胁迫及光合响应基因表达模式等进行分析。结果表明,盐碱胁迫处理后,突变体erf49叶片萎蔫并发生白化,而过表达AtERF49植株叶片稍有变黄。此外,在盐碱胁迫条件下,过量表达AtERF49上调盐碱胁迫响应基因（RD29A和RAB18）以及光合响应基因rbcL的表达。拟南芥叶片叶绿素荧光参数测定结果表明,过表达AtERF49植株的光系统Ⅱ实际量子产能Y（Ⅱ）、光化学淬灭系数（qP）显著高于Col-0,光损伤程度（NO）和非光化学淬灭系数（qN）显著低于Col-0,而突变体erf49与之相反。因此,AtERF49通过调控下游盐碱胁迫响应基因的表达以及植物的光合作用效率,改变参与植物对盐碱胁迫的应答。     

果生刺盘孢CfHAC1调控应答二硫苏糖醇胁迫的转录组分析

果生刺盘孢Colletotrichum fructicola是油茶炭疽病优势病原菌。前期研究发现bZIP转录因子CfHac1参与调控该菌的生长发育和致病性。为了揭示转录因子CfHac1调控果生刺盘孢响应内质网压力和致病机理,本研究测定了ΔCfhac1突变体对内质网压力胁迫剂的敏感性,发现突变体对二硫苏糖醇（dithiothreitol,DTT）的耐受性下降,说明CfHAC1基因可能参与调控果生刺盘孢响应内质网压力胁迫过程。进一步利用高通量RNA-seq技术对该病菌野生型菌株和CfHAC1敲除突变体菌株在DTT胁迫下的转录组进行了比较分析,结果表明差异表达基因共有2 680个,其中上调表达基因有1 181个,下调表达基因有1 499个。Gene Ontology 功能分析结果显示,差异表达基因主要参与催化活性、结合、代谢过程、细胞过程、细胞成分合成、生物过程调控和应激反应等生物学过程。KEGG功能富集分析表明,上调表达基因主要被富集到核糖体、真核细胞的核糖体生物合成、RNA转运和氰基氨基酸代谢通路中;下调表达基因显著富集在内质网蛋白质加工、N-聚糖生物合成、类固醇合成和蛋白质分泌等通路中。分析发现转录因子CfHac1调控内质网胁迫应答和致病相关基因的表达。本研究提供了在全基因组水平上对CfHAC1基因与内质网压力胁迫应答之间关联的新认识,为阐明果生刺盘孢响应内质网压力胁迫和致病机制奠定了基础。     

Brassinosteroid signaling positively regulates abscisic acid biosynthesis in response to chilling stress in tomato

Brassinosteroids (BRs) and abscisic acid (ABA) are essential regulators of plant growth and stress tolerance. Although the antagonistic interaction of BRs and ABA is proposed to ensure the balance between growth and defense in model plants, the crosstalk between BRs and ABA in response to chilling in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), a warm-climate horticultural crop, is unclear. Here, we determined that overexpression of the BR biosynthesis gene DWARF (DWF) or the key BR signaling gene BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT1 (BZR1) increases ABA levels in response to chilling stress via positively regulating the expression of the ABA biosynthesis gene 9-CIS-EPOXYCAROTENOID DIOXYGENASE1 (NCED1). BR-induced chilling tolerance was mostly dependent on ABA biosynthesis. Chilling stress or high BR levels decreased the abundance of BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE2 (BIN2), a negative regulator of BR signaling. Moreover, we observed that chilling stress increases BR levels and results in the accumulation of BZR1. BIN2 negatively regulated both the accumulation of BZR1 protein and chilling tolerance by suppressing ABA biosynthesis. Our results demonstrate that BR signaling positively regulates chilling tolerance via ABA biosynthesis in tomato. The study has implications in production of warm-climate crops in horticulture.     

Antagonistic Regulation of Arabidopsis Growth by Brassinosteroids and Abiotic Stresses

To withstand ever-changing environmental stresses, plants are equipped with phytohormone-mediated stress resistance mechanisms. Salt stress triggers abscisic acid (ABA) signaling, which enhances stress tolerance at the expense of growth. ABA is thought to inhibit the action of growth-promoting hormones, including brassinosteroids (BRs). However, the regulatory mechanisms that coordinate ABA and BR activity remain to be discovered. We noticed that ABA-treated seedlings exhibited small, round leaves and short roots, a phenotype that is characteristic of the BR signaling mutant, brassinosteroid insensitive1-9 (bri1-9). To identify genes that are antagonistically regulated by ABA and BRs, we examined published Arabidopsis microarray data sets. Of the list of genes identified, those upregulated by ABA but downregulated by BRs were enriched with a BRRE motif in their promoter sequences. After validating the microarray data using quantitative RT-PCR, we focused on RD26, which is induced by salt stress. Histochemical analysis of transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing RD26pro:GUS revealed that the induction of GUS expression after NaCl treatment was suppressed by co-treatment with BRs, but enhanced by co-treatment with propiconazole, a BR biosynthetic inhibitor. Similarly, treatment with bikinin, an inhibitor of BIN2 kinase, not only inhibited RD26 expression, but also reduced the survival rate of the plant following exposure to salt stress. Our results suggest that ABA and BRs act antagonistically on their target genes at or after the BIN2 step in BR signaling pathways, and suggest a mechanism by which plants fine-tune their growth, particularly when stress responses and growth compete for resources.     

Ribonuclease H-like gene SMALL GRAIN2 regulates grain size in rice through brassinosteroid signaling pathway

Grain size is a key agronomic trait that determines the yield in plants. Regulation of grain size by brassinosteroids (BRs) in rice has been widely reported. However, the relationship between the BR signaling pathway and grain size still requires further study. Here, we isolated a rice mutant, named small grain2 (sg2), which displayed smaller grain and a semi-dwarf phenotype. The decreased grain size was caused by repressed cell expansion in spikelet hulls of the sg2 mutant. Using map-based cloning combined with a MutMap approach, we cloned SG2, which encodes a plant-specific protein with a ribonuclease H-like domain. SG2 is a positive regulator downstream of GLYCOGEN SYNTHASE KINASE2 (GSK2) in response to BR signaling, and its mutation causes insensitivity to exogenous BR treatment. Genetical and biochemical analysis showed that GSK2 interacts with and phosphorylates SG2. We further found that BRs enhance the accumulation of SG2 in the nucleus, and subcellular distribution of SG2 is regulated by GSK2 kinase activity. In addition, Oryza sativa OVATE family protein 19 (OsOFP19), a negative regulator of grain shape, interacts with SG2 and plays an antagonistic role with SG2 in controlling gene expression and grain size. Our results indicated that SG2 is a new component of GSK2-related BR signaling response and regulates grain size by interacting with OsOFP19.     

OsCPL3 is involved in brassinosteroid signaling by regulating OsGSK2 stability

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) proteins play key roles in brassinosteroid (BR) signaling during plant growth and development by phosphorylating various substrates. However, how GSK3 protein stability and activity are themselves modulated is not well understood. Here, we demonstrate in vitro and in vivo that C-TERMINAL DOMAIN PHOSPHATASE-LIKE 3 (OsCPL3), a member of the RNA Pol II CTD phosphatase-like family, physically interacts with OsGSK2 in rice (Oryza sativa). OsCPL3 expression was widely detected in various tissues and organs including roots, leaves and lamina joints, and was induced by exogenous BR treatment. OsCPL3 localized to the nucleus, where it dephosphorylated OsGSK2 at the Ser-222 and Thr-284 residues to modulate its protein turnover and kinase activity, in turn affecting the degradation of BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT 1 (BZR1) and BR signaling. Loss of OsCPL3 function resulted in higher OsGSK2 abundance and lower OsBZR1 levels, leading to decreased BR responsiveness and alterations in plant morphology including semi-dwarfism, leaf erectness and grain size, which are of fundamental importance to crop productivity. These results reveal a previously unrecognized role for OsCPL3 and add another layer of complexity to the tightly controlled BR signaling pathway in plants.     

The divergence of brassinosteroid sensitivity between rice subspecies involves natural variation conferring altered internal auto-binding of OsBSK2

Japonica/geng and indica/xian are two major rice (Oryza sativa) subspecies with multiple divergent traits, but how these traits are related and interact within each subspecies remains elusive. Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a class of steroid phytohormones that modulate many important agronomic traits in rice. Here, using different physiological assays, we revealed that japonica rice exhibits an overall lower BR sensitivity than indica. Extensive screening of BR signaling genes led to the identification of a set of genes distributed throughout the primary BR signaling pathway with divergent polymorphisms. Among these, we demonstrate that the C38/T variant in BR Signaling Kinase2 (OsBSK2), causing the amino acid change P13L, plays a central role in mediating differential BR signaling in japonica and indica rice. OsBSK2^L13 in indica plays a greater role in BR signaling than OsBSK2^P13 in japonica by affecting the auto-binding and protein accumulation of OsBSK2. Finally, we determined that OsBSK2 is involved in a number of divergent traits in japonica relative to indica rice, including grain shape, tiller number, cold adaptation, and nitrogen-use efficiency. Our study suggests that the natural variation in OsBSK2 plays a key role in the divergence of BR signaling, which underlies multiple divergent traits between japonica and indica.