拟南芥转录因子GRAS家族基因群响应渗透和干旱胁迫的初步探索

GRAS家族是一类植物特有的转录调控因子,已有报道表明该家族基因在植物生长发育和光信号转导过程中具有重要作用.目前在拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)基因组中已鉴定了33个GRAS家族基因.利用功能基因组学和生物信息学手段,通过基因芯片数据挖掘和基因功能预测,对拟南芥GRAS家族基因在渗透和干旱胁迫过程中的应答模式进行了初步探索,提出了一类响应渗透胁迫和干旱胁迫的拟南芥GRAS家族基因.以SCL13为例,利用基因芯片相关性和GO分析,对其在渗透胁迫信号转导过程中可能的调控机制进行了预测和分析.这一研究将为阐明GRAS家族基因参与水分胁迫的分子机制提供新的思路,同时也为植物抗逆分子育种提供候选基因.     

拟南芥转录因子GRAS 家族基因群响应渗透和干旱胁迫的初步探索

GRAS家族是一类植物特有的转录调控因子, 已有报道表明该家族基因在植物生长发育和光信号转导过程中具有重要作用。目前在拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)基因组中已鉴定了33个GRAS家族基因。利用功能基因组学和生物信息学手段,通过基因芯片数据挖掘和基因功能预测, 对拟南芥GRAS家族基因在渗透和干旱胁迫过程中的应答模式进行了初步探索, 提出了一类响应渗透胁迫和干旱胁迫的拟南芥GRAS家族基因。以SCL13为例, 利用基因芯片相关性和GO分析, 对其在渗透胁迫信号转导过程中可能的调控机制进行了预测和分析。这一研究将为阐明GRAS家族基因参与水分胁迫的分子机制提供新的思路, 同时也为植物抗逆分子育种提供候选基因。     

拟南芥中MATE基因家族的研究进展

多药和有毒化合物排出家族（Multidrug and Toxic Compound Extrusion, MATE）是一个新的次级转运蛋白家族,此类转运蛋白对氨基葡糖、阳离子染料、多种抗生素和药物有转运作用。拟南芥中的MATE基因家族是一个多基因家族,大概由56个成员构成,本文综述了拟南芥中MATE家族基因的研究进展,包括3个方面：第一是拟南芥中MATE家族成员的构成及主要特征;第二描述了转运蛋白的主要功能;第三分析了其功能多样的大致原因。此外,还展望了此家族研究的一些前景。     

拟南芥CDF家族基因AtMTP6编码一个锌离子转运蛋白

CDF家族蛋白在金属离子的动态平衡和耐受过程中起重要作用,拟南芥基因组序列分析表明,拟南芥中CDF家族至少由12个成员构成.本研究通过功能互补的方法研究其中的一个成员AtMTP6的功能.应用RT-PCR克隆得到其cDNA,克隆至pMD18-T载体并测序,结果显示与AtMTP6的ORF序列一致.然后亚克隆至表达载体pTrc99A并转化至大肠杆菌突变株KAM3.IPTG诱导表达后进行功能互补分析,结果表明AtMTP6能转运锌离子进入KAM3,使细菌对高浓度的Zn2 更加敏感.     

拟南芥COPT家族蛋白研究进展

铜(Cu)是植物必需的微量元素, 作为多种酶的辅因子参与许多植物生理生化反应。Cu缺乏和过量均影响植物正常生长发育, 因此植物进化出精妙复杂的调控网络来严格控制植物体内的Cu含量。植物Cu转运蛋白COPT家族成员与Cu有很高的亲和力, 能够调节植物对Cu的吸收和转运, 在维持植物体内Cu稳态平衡过程中发挥重要作用。COPT蛋白涉及不同的Cu转运功能, 如从外界环境中摄取Cu、从细胞器中输出Cu、长距离运输Cu以及在不同器官间动用和再分配Cu。此外, COPT蛋白在其它离子的稳态平衡维持、昼夜节律性生物钟调控、植物激素合成和植物对激素信号的感受过程中也发挥重要作用。该文综述了模式植物拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana) COPT家族各成员的表达和定位、调控机制以及生物学功能等方面的最新进展。     

拟南芥泛素家族的全基因组分析

泛素家族是一类含有保守性泛素结构域的蛋白质统称,主要通过ATP依赖性的泛素-蛋白水解酶复合体通路选择性降解细胞蛋白的各种生理活动。本研究基于HMM模型,已知泛素氨基酸序列作为训练集,搜索拟南芥信息资源数据库并鉴定AtUBQ家族成员,然后对这些基因编码的蛋白质序列进行基因结构分析、染色体定位、多序列联配、系统发育树构建和组织差异表达分析。结果表明,AtUBQ家族中共有13个推定的AtUBQ基因,命名为AtUBQ01~AtUBQ13,均属无内含子基因且结构基本相同,非均匀分布于拟南芥5条染色体;AtUBQ家族可划分为A、B和C3个亚家族,其中76.92%的基因编码蛋白质属于A亚家族;EST搜索发现除AtUBQ02和AtUBQ07基因无EST数据支持外,余下的AtUBQ基因在拟南芥根、芽和叶等7个组织中呈现差异表达,仅见AtUBQ08和AtUBQ10基因在上述7个组织中均表达,而AtUBQ03基因仅表达于叶中。本研究结果可为进一步开展该家族的生物学功能和分子进化机制的研究提供基础资料。     

拟南芥COPT家族蛋白研究进展

铜(Cu)是植物必需的微量元素, 作为多种酶的辅因子参与许多植物生理生化反应。Cu缺乏和过量均影响植物正常生长发育, 因此植物进化出精妙复杂的调控网络来严格控制植物体内的Cu含量。植物Cu转运蛋白COPT家族成员与Cu有很高的亲和力, 能够调节植物对Cu的吸收和转运, 在维持植物体内Cu稳态平衡过程中发挥重要作用。COPT蛋白涉及不同的Cu转运功能, 如从外界环境中摄取Cu、从细胞器中输出Cu、长距离运输Cu以及在不同器官间动用和再分配Cu。此外, COPT蛋白在其它离子的稳态平衡维持、昼夜节律性生物钟调控、植物激素合成和植物对激素信号的感受过程中也发挥重要作用。该文综述了模式植物拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana) COPT家族各成员的表达和定位、调控机制以及生物学功能等方面的最新进展。     

拟南芥热激转录因子耐高温功能分析

从拟南芥基因组中克隆了热激转录因子(At Hsf A6a),构建了过量表达(over-expression,OE)和反义(anti-sense,AS)植物表达载体并转化拟南芥,获得了拟南芥纯合转基因株系。对其进行耐高温处理,结果显示:43℃处理2 h,过量表达转基因植株存活率(86%)远高于野生型(59%);而反义转基因植株存活率则只有43%,显著低于野生型。43℃处理0.5 h,过量表达转基因植株的离子渗漏水平显著低于野生型,而反义转基因植株则大幅度升高。基因表达分析证明,AtHsfA6a的表达受热胁迫诱导,并且Hsp70是受AtHsfA6a调控的下游靶基因。上述结果表明,拟南芥AtHsfA6a可能通过调节Hsp70表达,提高植物耐受高温胁迫的能力。     

拟南芥MATE家族成员DTX18表达调控

拟南芥多药物和有毒化合物排出家族(MATE)属次级转运蛋白家族, 此类转运蛋白与解毒内源的次生代谢物和外源的有毒化合物有关.通过 PCR 的方法从拟南芥基因组中扩增到该家族成员DTX18的启动子序列,构建重组质粒后,通过农杆菌介导的方法获得转基因植物.GUS 组织化学染色发现此基因的表达受到伤害和茉莉酸甲酯(MJ)诱导.同时结合半定量 PCR 的方法检测该基因在伤害及 MJ 处理下转录本丰度的变化,进一步证实了此结果.另外,此基因在突变体coi1,ein2中的表达量明显降低,这一点揭示了此基因表达的调控机制,即与植物激素JA/ET的信号传导密切相关.     

拟南芥MATE家族基因DTX12的表达模式分析

拟南芥多药物和有毒化合物排出家族属次级转运蛋白家族,此类转运蛋白与解毒内源的次生代谢物和外源的有毒化合物有关。通过PCR的方法从拟南芥基因组中扩增到该家族成员DTX12的启动子序列,构建双元载体pBI101.2-ProDTX12-GUS,通过农杆菌介导的方法转化拟南芥,然后对转基因植株用GUS底物进行组织化学显色分析。同时,通过半定量RT-PCR的方法,进一步验证了DTX12在不同组织中的表达情况。结果表明该基因在成熟的花器官的花药中和幼苗的根尖特异表达,另外,在子叶的尖端也有少量的表达。由于DTX12编码的是一个具有转运有毒化合物功能的蛋白,推测其功能可能是转运与细胞分裂或生长有关的次生代谢物。     

Functional genomic analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana glycoside hydrolase family 35

Catalysing the hydrolysis of terminal beta-galactosyl residues from carbohydrates, galactolipids, and glycoproteins, glycoside hydrolase family 35 (beta-galactosidases; BGALs) are widely distributed in plants and believed to play many key roles, including modification of cell wall components. Completion of the Arabidopsis thaliana genome sequencing project has, for the first time, allowed an examination of the total number, gene structure, and evolutionary patterns of all Family 35 members in a representative (model) angiosperm. Reiterative database searches established a multigene family of 17 members (designated BGAL1-BGAL17). Using these genes as query sequences, BLAST and Hidden Markov Model searches identified BGAL genes among 22 other eukaryotes, whose genomic sequences are known. The Arabidopsis (n=17) and rice (n=15) BGAL families were much larger than those of Chlamydomonas, fungi, and animals (n=0-4), and a lineage-specific expansion of BGAL genes apparently occurred after divergence of the Arabidopsis and rice lineages. All plant BGAL genes, with the exception of Arabidopsis BGAL17 and rice Os 9633.m04334, form a monophyletic group. Arabidopsis BGAL expression levels are much higher in mature leaves, roots, flowers, and siliques but are lower in young seedlings. BGAL8, BGAL11, BGAL13, BGAL14, and BGAL16 are expressed only in flowers. Catalytically active BGAL4 was produced in the E. coli and baculoviral expression systems, purified to electrophoretic homogeneity, and partially characterized. The purified enzyme hydrolyzed p- and o-nitrophenyl-beta-d-galactosides. It also cleaved beta-(1,3)-, beta-(1,4)-, and beta-(1,6)-linked galactobiosides and galactotriosides, showing a marked preference for beta-(1,3)- and beta-(1,4)-linkages.     

Computational analysis of the glutamate receptor gene family of Arabidopsis thaliana

Ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) function as glutamate-activated ion channels in rapid synaptic transmission in animals. Arabidopsis thaliana possess 20 glutamate receptor-like genes (AtGLRs) in its genome which are involved in many functions including light signal transduction and calcium homeostasis. However, little is known about the physico-chemical, functional and structural properties of AtGLRs. In this study, glutamate receptor-like genes of A. thaliana have been studied in silico. Exon–intron structures revealed common origin of majority of these genes. The presence of several phosphorylation and myristoilation sites indicate the involvement of AtGLRs in various signaling processes. Gene ontology analysis showed the participation of AtGLRs in various biological processes including different stress responses. In two genes namely AT2G17260 and AT4G35290, presence of RAV1-A binding site motif in the promoter coupled with results from gene ontology annotation indicate their role in stomatal movement through abscisic acid signaling. Expression analysis showed differential expression of several tandemly arranged genes which indicates neo or sub-functionalization. Two genes namely AT5G48400 and AT5G48410 showed significantly more expression in response to Botrytis cinerea infection. Five of these genes have shown G-protein-coupled γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor activity indicating a possible interaction between AtGLRs and GABA. Structurally, all of them were similar while differences were found regarding electrostatic surfaces as well as surface hydrophobicity. Results of this study provide a comprehensive reference regarding AtGLRs for further analysis regarding the structure, function, and evolution of the glutamate receptors in plants.     

The phenylalanine ammonia-lyase gene family in Arabidopsis thaliana

Phenylpropanoid derivatives are a complex class of secondary metabolites that have many important roles in plants during normal growth and in responses to environmental stress. Phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL) catalyzes the first step in the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids, and is usually encoded by a multi-gene family. Genomic clones for three Arabidopsis thaliana PAL genes containing the entire protein-coding region and upstream and downstream sequences have been obtained and completely sequenced. Two A. thaliana PAL genes (PAL1 and PAL2) are structurally similar to PAL genes that have been cloned from other plant species, with a single intron at a conserved position, and a long highly conserved second exon. Previously identified promoter motifs plus several additional sequence motifs were found in the promoter regions of PAL1 and PAL2. Expression of PAL1 and PAL2 is both qualitatively and quantitatively similar in different plant organs and under various inductive conditions. A third A. thaliana PAL gene, PAL3, differs significantly from PAL1 and PAL2 and other sequenced plant PAL genes. PAL3 contains an additional intron, and its deduced amino acid sequence is less homologous to other PAL proteins. The PAL3 promoter region lacks several sequence motifs conserved between A. thaliana PAL1 and PAL2, as well as motifs described in other genes involved in phenylpropanoid metabolism. A. thaliana PAL3 was expressed at very low levels under the conditions examined.     

Structure,expression and chromosomal localisation of the metallothionein-like gene family of tomato

Metallothioneins are small cysteine-rich proteins with strong binding capacity for heavy metals. In animals and fungi they are involved in cellular detoxification processes. Although genes for similar proteins exist in plants, less is known about the putative functions of their protein products. Here, we describe the characterisation of cDNAs specific for four genes (LEMT1, LEMT2, LEMT3 and LEMT4) encoding metallothionein-like proteins from tomato. Based on the characteristic cysteine pattern, the LEMT1, LEMT3 and LEMT4 gene products represent type 2 proteins. In contrast, the LEMT2 protein might establish a new structural pattern of metallothionein-like proteins not described before. Mapping experiments demonstrate that all four genes are localised at different genetic loci within the tomato genome. The members of the small gene family show a differential organ specific expression pattern. Expression of these genes is also influenced by heavy metals and by treatment with the thiol-oxidising drug diamide. We further describe the expression of the LEMT genes under different iron supply conditions both in tomato wild type as well as in the mutant chloronerva, which is defective in metal uptake regulation and exhibits a characteristic apparent iron deficiency syndrome.     

Characterization of eight new members of the calmodulin-like domain protein kinase gene family from Arabidopsis thaliana

A family of calcium-responsive protein kinases is abundant in plant cell extracts but has not been identified in animals and fungi. These enzymes have a unique structure consisting of a protein kinase catalytic domain fused to carboxy-terminal autoregulatory and calmodulin-like domains. In this report, we present the amino acid sequences for eight new Arabidopsis cDNA clones encoding isoforms of this enzyme. Three isoforms were expressed as fusion proteins in Escherichia coli and exhibited calcium-stimulated protein kinase activity. We propose CPK as the gene designation for this family of enzymes and describe a phylogenetic analysis for all known isoforms.     

Structure and expression of kin2, one of two cold- and ABA-induced genes of Arabidopsis thaliana

We report the isolation of the second member, kin2, of a family of two cold-inducible genes of Arabidopsis thaliana. The proteins corresponding to the two genes have similarities to the small antifreeze proteins from Winter flounder. Kin1 and kin2 are organized in a close tandem array in the genome of a. thaliana. Both have three exons separated by introns with approximately the same length and location. The coding regions are highly conserved while the introns and especially the 3 flanking sequences of the mRNAs have diverged. The kin1 and kin2 genes are coordinately regulated in the cold. Unlike kin1, the kin2 mRNA has a detectable basal level, and accumulates to a higher level during acclimation. Both mRNAs are induced by 10 M ABA but only kin2 responds strongly to drought and salinity stresses.