Novel potato C2H2‐type zinc finger protein gene,StZFP1, which responds to biotic and abiotic stress,plays a role in salt tolerance

Many TFIIIA‐type zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) play important roles in stress responses in plants. In the present study, a novel zinc finger protein gene, StZFP1, was cloned from potato. StZFP1 is a typical TFIIIA‐type two‐finger zinc finger gene with one B‐box domain, one L‐box domain and a DLN‐box/EAR motif. The StZFP1 genes belong to a small gene family with an estimated copy number of four or five, located on chromosome I. StZFP1 is constitutively expressed in leaves, stems, roots, tubers and flowers of adult plants. Expression of StZFP1 can be induced by salt, dehydration and exogenously applied ABA. StZFP1 expression is also responsive to infection by the late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans. Transient expression analysis of StZFP1:GFP fusion protein revealed that StZFP1 is preferentially localised in the nucleus. Ectopic expression of StZFP1, driven by the Arabidopsis rd29A promoter in transgenic tobacco, increased plant tolerance to salt stress. These results demonstrate that StZFP1 might be involved in potato responses to salt and dehydration stresses through an ABA‐dependent pathway.     

玉米转录因子 ZmNAC59 调控植物抗盐性

【目的】NAC转录因子家族是植物中研究较多的一类转录因子,在调控植物生长发育和响应非生物胁迫过程中起重要作用。玉米是三大粮食作物之一,其生长过程常会面临各种逆境胁迫,盐害被认为是限制作物生长和生产的主要环境因素之一。因此鉴定玉米抗盐基因,解析其抗盐机制对培育玉米抗逆品种具有重要意义。【方法】研究克隆了玉米转录因子ZmNAC59,并用生物信息学手段分析其保守结构域和系统进化关系,用实时荧光定量PCR方法分析该基因在NaCl和MeJA处理下的表达模式,并用稳定转基因体系将该基因异源表达拟南芥观察表型,同时还用病毒诱导沉默技术将该基因在玉米中沉默后进行盐处理表型观察,并进行酶活性检测。【结果】ZmNAC59能够被NaCl和MeJA诱导上调。病毒诱导沉默ZmNAC59后进行盐胁迫,沉默株系对盐胁迫更敏感,ROS积累更多;而ZmNAC59过表达拟南芥后,过表达株系在盐胁迫处理下存活率更高,活性氧积累更少,Na⁺/K⁺比率低,表明ZmNAC59作为盐胁迫中的正调控因子可以通过调节离子流动提高植物抗盐性。实时荧光定量PCR结果表明拟南芥过表达株系中Na     

大豆耐盐相关QTLs鉴定和功能基因研究进展

大豆(Glycine max (L.) Merill)是重要的粮食作物和经济作物,盐胁迫能造成大豆产量的大幅度降低。本文综述了通过正向遗传学手段获得的大豆耐盐数量性状位点(Quantitative trait locus, QTL)以及通过反向遗传学方法获得的大豆耐盐功能基因方面的研究进展。目前,正向遗传学发掘基因主要有图位克隆(Map-based cloning)和全基因组关联分析(Genome-wide association study, GWAS)两种方案,其中通过图位克隆在大豆中已经获得了6个耐盐QTL位点并且定位了1个重要的耐盐基因;利用GWAS在大豆中获得了1个耐盐功能基因。利用反向遗传学在大豆中获得了大量的耐盐相关功能基因并在模式植物中验证了其功能,主要包括离子转运蛋白基因和转录因子基因。这些研究为揭示大豆耐盐分子机制以及通过分子标记辅助育种或转基因技术创制耐盐大豆奠定了基础。     

On the mechanism of DNA binding by nuclear hormone receptors: A structural and functional perspective

The nuclear hormone receptor DNA-binding domain consists of two zinc finger-like modules whose amino acids are highly conserved among the members of the receptor superfamily. In this review, we describe the various genetic, biochemical, and structural experiments that have been carried out primarily for the DNA-binding domains of the glucocorticoid and estrogen receptors. We describe how the structural and functional information have permitted us to predict properties of the DNA-binding domains of other nuclear receptors. We postulate how receptors discriminate closely related response elements through sequence-specific contacts and distinguish symmetry of target sites through protein-protein interactions. This mechanism explains in part how the receptors regulate diverse sets of genes from a limited repertoire of core response elements. Lastly, we describe the stereochemical basis of nuclear receptor dysfunction in certain clinical disorders. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

锌指蛋白与心脏发育

锌指是最大的DNA结合蛋白家族,是最普遍的核酸识别元件.近年来发现锌指参与生物体的基因转录,复制及蛋白质的合成等各种基因调节和控制过程,心脏发育过程中涉及大量锌指基因.综述了心脏发育过程中起重要调控作用的锌指蛋白以及它们的作用机制.     

锌指亚家族GATA-4、-5和-6的调控作用

GATA蛋白是一类重要的转录调节因子,它们具有保守的DNA结合结构域,其中的GATA 4、 5和 6亚家族对组织特异性基因的表达起关键性的调控作用.综述了这3种因子的结构功能,在小鼠中的表达模式和基因定位,在组织特异性基因表达中的作用,对可诱导基因表达的调节以及与它们相互作用的有关因子等.