喷施油菜素内酯对棉花类固醇5α~-还原酶基因(GhDET2)在干旱胁迫下表达影响的分析

为了解植物类固醇5α~-还原酶基因(DET2)作为油菜素内酯(BR)生物合成途径中限速酶的作用。利用RACE技术克隆获得棉花的Gh DET2基因,并进行生物信息学分析,然后对棉花‘新陆早17号’幼苗使用PEG6000模拟干旱胁迫24 h,进行不同浓度油菜素内酯(brassinolide,BR)的喷施处理,分析Gh DET2基因在棉花幼苗根、茎、叶中的表达情况。序列分析表明Gh DET2基因的开放阅读框有774 bp,编码257个氨基酸。荧光定量分析结果显示,用BR处理棉苗3 h和6 h后Gh DET2基因表达量在叶中明显提高,而在根和茎中只略微提高,12 h和24 h时Gh DET2基因表达量较前期还有所降低。喷施BR在短时间内促进Gh DET2基因表达量的升高,推测BR喷施能够短期高效地增强棉花的抗旱能力。     

干旱胁迫对不同抗旱性棉花品种抗氧化酶活性及基因表达的影响

为明确不同抗旱性棉花品种对干旱胁迫的适应性差异,该研究选用‘新陆早50号’(耐旱型)和‘新陆早27号’(干旱敏感型)为材料,分析干旱及复水处理下两材料的活性氧产生、电解质渗漏、抗氧化酶活性变化,并分析部分抗氧化酶基因、渗透调节基因和转录因子在干旱胁迫下的表达谱。结果显示:(1)棉花叶片的电导率和MDA含量随着干旱胁迫的加强逐渐增加,复水后恢复;在干旱胁迫处理6和8d,耐旱型品种‘新陆早50号’的抗氧化酶活性显著高于干旱敏感型品种‘新陆早27号’。(2)基因表达谱分析显示,棉花超氧化物歧化酶基因(GhSOD)仅在干旱胁迫下表达,且2个品种间差异不显著,GhBADH、GhNCED和GhP5Cs及转录因子GhPHD1、GhPHD5、GhPHD6和GhPHD10在‘新陆早50号’叶片中的表达量均高于‘新陆早27号’。研究表明,耐旱型棉花品种较干旱敏感型在干旱胁迫下其体内的活性氧含量、电导率和MDA含量较低,抗氧化酶活性较高,并且其抗旱相关基因表达量也更高。     

小麦TaLEC1基因的克隆及其表达特性分析

为了探讨LEC1基因在小麦(Triticum aestivum L)非生物胁迫应答中的功能,该研究通过RT-PCR结合RACE技术克隆小麦TaLEC1基因,并采用qRT-PCR方法分析了该基因在小麦不同组织以及不同处理下的表达模式,为深入研究小麦LEC1基因在干旱、高温和高盐胁迫下的响应机制奠定基础。结果表明:(1)成功克隆到小麦TaLEC1基因,该基因cDNA序列全长为1 074 bp,其中5′端非编码区23 bp,开放阅读框为741 bp,3′端非编码区310 bp,编码246个氨基酸,具有典型的CBFD_NFYB结构域。(2)实时荧光定量分析显示,TaLEC1在不同组织间表达差异显著,10 d龄幼苗的叶中表达量最高。(3)TaLEC1基因可被植物激素ABA诱导而上调表达,属于ABA依赖型的表达调控通路。(4)PEG模拟干旱胁迫处理后的0.5～1 h,TaLEC1基因呈上调表达;42℃胁迫处理过程中,TaLEC1基因呈稳定上调表达趋势,并在胁迫处理后12 h和48 h时表达急剧上调,分别为对照的52.8倍和34.5倍;NaCl胁迫处理0.5 h时TaLEC1基因迅速上调表达。研究表明,小麦TaLEC1基因参与ABA依赖的胁迫响应,推测可能在小麦耐受高温胁迫和渗透胁迫过程中发挥着重要的脱水保护功能。     

茶树CsGIF1基因的克隆及其对非生物胁迫的响应分析

GRF-INTERACTING FACTOR(GIF)基因是植物叶发育相关的一类重要调控因子,调节植物叶器官的发育。该研究采用RT-PCR方法从茶树‘龙井43’的叶片cDNA中克隆得到CsGIF1基因,并利用荧光定量PCR分析了高温(38℃)、低温(4℃)、干旱(200g·L-1 PEG)、盐胁迫(200mmol·L-1 NaCl)下CsGIF1基因的表达水平,以明确CsGIF1基因对非生物胁迫的应答特性,为茶树CsGIF1基因的逆境调控以及功能研究奠定基础。结果表明:(1)CsGIF1基因长666bp,编码221个氨基酸,具有高度保守的SNH结构域;CsGIF1蛋白为亲水性蛋白,理论相对分子质量为23 380,理论等电点为6.30;酸性氨基酸、碱性氨基酸、芳香族氨基酸和脂肪族氨基酸所占比例分别为7%、9%、5%和13%;蛋白质二级结构显示,茶树CsGIF1蛋白由38.01%的α-螺旋、10.41%的β-折叠、12.22%的延伸主链和39.37%的随机卷曲组成。(2)qRT-PCR分析显示,茶树CsGIF1基因对于4种非生物胁迫均有响应,但不同处理响应不同。其中在胁迫2h时,高温和低温胁迫下,CsGIF1基因相对表达量显著增加,分别为对照的3.54和5.69倍,且高低温胁迫下,CsGIF1基因响应明显大于干旱和盐胁迫。在高温、低温、干旱、盐等不同胁迫处理下,茶树‘龙井43’中CsGIF1基因的表达水平与对照相比均差异明显。     

胡杨油菜素内酯信号转导基因PeBZR1的克隆及诱导表达分析

本研究以胡杨叶片为材料,采用RT-PCR法,从胡杨中克隆出了与拟南芥At BZR1基因同源的全长c DNA,命名为Pe BZR1。序列分析发现该基因包含一个长为954 bp的开放阅读框(ORF),编码317个氨基酸残基。系统进化树分析显示,胡杨Pe BZR1与毛果杨Pt BZR1亲缘关系最近。通过对干旱和盐胁迫下胡杨Pe BZR1基因表达模式的分析发现,干旱处理能够抑制Pe BZR1基因的表达,而在盐胁迫下,Pe BZR1基因的表达量保持相对稳定。以上结果为进一步研究Pe BZR1基因的功能,以及Pe BZR1介导的胡杨BR信号转导机制提供了科学依据。     

海岛棉GbRLCK10基因克隆及表达分析

该研究以拟南芥抗逆基因At1g67520为探针,利用海岛棉ESTs数据库,通过电子克隆获得海岛棉RLCK家族基因GbRLCK10,解析该基因组结构,并结合qRT-PCR技术分析该基因mRNA的组织表达特征以及在不同胁迫诱导下的表达模式,为揭示RLCK家族基因在海岛棉中的表达调控及作用机制提供理论依据。结果显示:(1)获得海岛棉类受体胞质激酶(RLCK)基因,其开放阅读框(ORF)为1 179bp,编码392个氨基酸,具有典型的Serine/Threonine结构域,属于RLCK家族,与GaRLCK10(XP_017604046.1)亲缘关系较近,命名为GbRLCK10(登录号2022184),且该基因由5个外显子和4个内含子组成。(2)实时荧光定量(qRT-PCR)检测显示,GbRLCK10基因在抗病品种‘新海21’和感病品种‘新海14’的根、茎、叶中均有表达;当黄萎病菌诱导后,GbRLCK10基因在抗病品种中对于病原菌的响应时间早于感病品种,且对黄萎病菌响应更强烈,推测该基因参与棉花对黄萎病的响应;盐(NaCl)、干旱(PEG-6000)处理‘新海21’后,GbRLCK10基因在NaCl处理下响应时间要早于PEG-6000处理,但对PEG-6000处理响应更强烈;分别用4种激素处理‘新海21’后,GbRLCK10均能被诱导表达,且在水杨酸(SA)处理后表现为先增加后下降再增加趋势,在乙烯(ET)处理后表达量为持续上升趋势,在茉莉酸甲酯(MeJA)处理后呈先升高然后下降的趋势,但GbRLCK10基因对赤霉素(GA3)响应不明显。研究表明,GbRLCK10基因具有RLCK基因家族典型特征,该基因随黄萎病菌、NaCl、干旱、激素处理时间推移而发生变化,推测GbRLCK10基因可能参与了棉花对黄萎病菌、NaCl、干旱、激素胁迫的应答反应,但其功能仍需进一步研究。     

旱麦草EtAP2基因的克隆及其对干旱胁迫的响应表达

以旱麦草(Eremopyrum triticeum)为实验材料,利用RT-PCR技术从旱麦草叶片中克隆了1个AP2/ERF家族基因,命名为EtAP2(GenBank登录号KX622583)。EtAP2基因含有1 128bp开放阅读框,编码375个氨基酸,相对分子质量40.87kD,等电点为5.36。多序列比对和进化树分析表明,该基因编码蛋白具有2个AP2保守结构域,与小麦AP2/ERF家族蛋白具有较近的亲缘关系。实时荧光定量PCR分析表明,15%PEG 6000模拟干旱胁迫可诱导EtAP2基因在根和叶中表达,且在根中对干旱胁迫的响应大于叶片。研究表明,EtAP2可能参与旱麦草对干旱逆境胁迫应答的调节。     

胡萝卜低温胁迫转录因子DcICE1基因克隆与非生物逆境响应分析

植物ICE1基因是调控CBF基因表达的上游调控因子,在植物抵抗逆境胁迫中具有重要的作用。该实验以2个胡萝卜品种‘黑田五寸’和‘君川红’为实验材料,分别克隆出DcICE1转录因子基因,并通过荧光定量PCR方法测定了4种不同逆境胁迫下(4℃低温、38℃高温、0.2mol·L-1 NaCl及200g·L-1 PEG)DcICE1基因的表达情况,探讨DcICE1转录因子在植物抵抗非生物胁迫下的功能。序列分析显示,该基因全长1 458bp,编码485个氨基酸。2个胡萝卜品种的DcICE1基因在核苷酸水平上有2个位点的差异,分别为第139位的G/A和第475位的A/G,导致编码的氨基酸在第47位的E/K和第159位的N/D差异,该差异可能与DcICE1转录因子在2个不同品种应对逆境胁迫下的响应不同有关。胡萝卜DcICE1转录因子有一个保守的ICE1功能结构域。实时定量PCR检测DcICE1基因在不同逆境胁迫下的响应表明,低温(4℃)处理能明显地诱导DcICE1基因的表达,但盐(0.2mol·L-1 NaCl)和干旱(200g·L-1 PEG)处理下的诱导效果均不明显。     

巨桉BRI1基因的克隆和表达分析

为了解BRI1基因在巨桉中的功能,采用PCR技术克隆了EgrBRI1基因,分析了EgrBRI1的生物信息学和亚细胞定位,并对EgrBRI1基因响应激素和胁迫的差异表达进行了分析。结果表明,EgrBRI1基因全长3 893 bp,编码1 197个氨基酸。EgrBRI1蛋白稳定,空间结构复杂,存在3个motifs,主要定位于细胞膜。茉莉酸甲酯和油菜素内酯(BR)处理后,EgrBRI1基因在叶片中的表达上升,而水杨酸处理则没有明显的变化。盐胁迫和冷胁迫下,EgrBRI1基因表达表现为先下降后上升的趋势。因此,EgrBRI1基因能快速对外施激素做出响应,并在巨桉抗逆方面发挥重要作用,这可能是通过对BR信号的响应来实现的。     

水曲柳BZR1基因克隆及其表达模式分析

研究水曲柳BZR1基因应答非生物胁迫及激素信号的表达模式,对探究BR在水曲柳生长发育及响应环境胁迫方面的作用有重要意义。本研究以水曲柳为材料,PCR克隆得到目的基因,通过生物信息学软件分析分子结构特征,利用荧光定量PCR探究FmBZR1在低温、盐胁迫及ABA、IAA、GA3诱导下的表达模式。生物信息学分析表明,FmBZR1基因全长984 bp,编码327个氨基酸,FmBZR1蛋白为亲水性蛋白,与樟子松BZR1蛋白的同源性较高。在非生物胁迫与激素诱导下,结果表明,与对照组相比,FmBZR1基因表达量有显著差异。低温处理6 h、盐处理24 h后表达量最高,分别为对照组的1.98、10.13倍。ABA、IAA、GA3处理3 h后基因表达量最低,分别为对照组的0.52、0.41、0.50倍;GA3处理24h后基因表达量最高,为对照组的6.23倍。FmBZR1基因在水曲柳生长发育及各种胁迫应答的过程起到了十分关键的作用。     

Inhibition of APCCdh1 activity by Cdh1/Acm1/Bmh1 ternary complex formation

The anaphase-promoting complex (APC) is an essential E3 ubiquitin ligase responsible for catalyzing proteolysis of key regulatory proteins in the cell cycle. Cdh1 is a co-activator of the APC aiding in the onset and maintenance of G(1) phase, whereas phosphorylation of Cdh1 at the end of G(1) phase by cyclin-dependent kinases assists in the inactivation of APC(Cdh1). Here, we suggest additional components are involved in the inactivation of APC(Cdh1) independent of Cdh1 phosphorylation. We have identified proteins known as Acm1 and Bmh1, which bind and form a ternary complex with Cdh1. The presence of phosphorylated Acm1 is critical for the ternary complex formation, and Acm1 is predominantly expressed in S phase when APC(Cdh1) is inactive. The assembly of the ternary complex inhibits ubiquitination of Clb2 in vitro by blocking the interaction of Cdh1 with Clb2. In vivo, lethality caused by overexpression of constitutively active Cdh1 is rescued by overexpression of Acm1. Partially phosphorylated Cdh1 in the absence of ACM1 still binds to and activates the APC. However, the addition of Acm1 decreases Clb2 ubiquitination when using either phosphorylated or nonphosphorylated Cdh1. Taken together, our results suggest an additional inactivation mechanism exists for APC(Cdh1) that is independent of Cdh1 phosphorylation.     

Cenp-F links kinetochores to Ndel1/Nde1/Lis1/dynein microtubule motor complexes

Cenp-F is a nuclear matrix component that localizes to kinetochores during mitosis and is then rapidly degraded after mitosis [1]. Unusually, both the localization and degradation of Cenp-F require it to be farnesylated [2]. Five studies recently demonstrated that Cenp-F is required for kinetochore-microtubule interactions and spindle checkpoint function [3-7]; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms have yet to be defined. Here, we show that Cenp-F interacts with Ndel1 and Nde1, two human NudE-related proteins implicated in regulating Lis1/Dynein motor complexes (reviewed in [8]). We show that Ndel1, Nde1, and Lis1 localize to kinetochores in a Cenp-F-dependent manner. In addition, Nde1, but not Ndel1, is required for kinetochore localization of Dynein. Accordingly, suppression of Nde1 inhibits metaphase chromosome alignment and activates the spindle checkpoint. By contrast, inhibition of Ndel1 results in malorientations that are not detected by the spindle checkpoint; Ndel1-deficient cells consequently enter anaphase in a timely manner but lagging chromosomes then manifest. A major function of Cenp-F, therefore, is to link the Ndel1/Nde1/Lis1/Dynein pathway to kinetochores. Furthermore, our data demonstrate that Ndel1 and Nde1 play distinct roles to ensure chromosome alignment and segregation.     

Angiotensin II Reduces Cardiac AdipoR1 Expression through AT1 Receptor/ROS/ERK1/2/c-Myc Pathway

Adiponectin, an abundant adipose tissue-derived protein, exerts protective effect against cardiovascular disease. Adiponectin receptors (AdipoR1 and AdipoR2) mediate the beneficial effects of adiponectin on the cardiovascular system. However, the alteration of AdipoRs in cardiac remodeling is not fully elucidated. Here, we investigated the effect of angiotensin II (AngII) on cardiac AdipoRs expression and explored the possible molecular mechanism. AngII infusion into rats induced cardiac hypertrophy, reduced AdipoR1 but not AdipoR2 expression, and attenuated the phosphorylations of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase, and those effects were all reversed by losartan, an AngII type 1 (AT1) receptor blocker. AngII reduced expression of AdipoR1 mRNA and protein in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, which was abolished by losartan, but not by PD123319, an AT2 receptor antagonist. The antioxidants including reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger NAC, NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin, Nox2 inhibitor peptide gp91 ds-tat, and mitochondrial electron transport chain complex I inhibitor rotenone attenuated AngII-induced production of ROS and phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2. AngII-reduced AdipoR1 expression was reversed by pretreatment with NAC, apocynin, gp91 ds-tat, rotenone, and an ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that AngII provoked the recruitment of c-Myc onto the promoter region of AdipoR1, which was attenuated by PD98059. Moreover, AngII-induced DNA binding activity of c-Myc was inhibited by losartan, NAC, apocynin, gp91 ds-tat, rotenone, and PD98059. c-Myc small interfering RNA abolished the inhibitory effect of AngII on AdipoR1 expression. Our results suggest that AngII inhibits cardiac AdipoR1 expression in vivo and in vitro and AT1 receptor/ROS/ERK1/2/c-Myc pathway is required for the downregulation of AdipoR1 induced by AngII.     

Control of replication initiation by the Sum1/Rfm1/Hst1 histone deacetylase

Background  

Replication initiation at origins of replication in the yeast genome takes place on chromatin as a template, raising the question how histone modifications, for instance histone acetylation, influence origin firing. Initiation requires binding of the replication initiator, the Origin Recognition Complex (ORC), to a consensus sequence within origins. In addition, other proteins bind to recognition sites in the vicinity of ORC and support initiation. In previous work, we identified Sum1 as an origin-binding protein that contributes to efficient replication initiation. Sum1 is part of the Sum1/Rfm1/Hst1 complex that represses meiotic genes during vegetative growth via histone deacetylation by the histone deacetylase (HDAC) Hst1.