Molecular characterization and expression analysis of a new cDNA encoding strictosidine synthase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ophiorrhiza japonica</Emphasis>

A new full-length cDNA encoding strictosidine synthase (designated as OjSTR, GenBank Accession No. 1087598), which catalyzes a committed step in camptothecin biosynthetic pathway, was isolated from young leaves of Ophiorrhiza japonica for the first time. OjSTR was 1,258 bp and contained a 1,062 bp open reading frame encoding a deduced protein of 353 amino acid residues. Sequence analyses showed that OjSTR had high homology with other STRs from some TIA-producing plants. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that OjSTR had closest relationship with STR from O. pumila. Tissue expression pattern analysis revealed that OjSTR constitutively expressed in all the tested tissues at different levels, which was high in flower, moderate in leaf and root, low in stem. Expression profiles under plant defense signals such as methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid were investigated, and the results revealed that expression of OjSTR was all induced, implying that OjSTR was high elicitor responsive.     

Techniques for the regeneration and genetic transformation of Arabidopsis pumila: an ephemeral plant suitable for investigating the mechanisms for adaptation to desert environments

Arabidopsis pumila is a type of cruciferous ephemeral plant, which in China mainly grows in the desert environments of northern Xinjiang. A. pumila not only has a short growth duration, but also has high photosynthetic efficiency, seed yield, salt tolerance, and drought resistance. It is an ideal species for the study of environmental adaptations in ephemeral plants. We induced callus tissue formation on the roots and hypocotyls of 8-day-old seedlings, and on the leaves and petioles of 4-week-old seedlings, and obtained multiple adventitious shoots on these tissues grown on Murashige and Skoog induction medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L 6-Benzylaminopurine and 0.1 mg/L α-Naphthalene acetic acid. Young roots, hypocotyls, leaves, and petioles could all induce calluses, but the induction rate was highest on young roots. In addition, the leaves and petioles of 4-week-old seedlings were used as explants, the Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylic acid synthase gene 1 of A. pumila controlled by 35S promoter of cauliflower mosaic virus was used as target gene, and hygromycin B was used as screening antibiotic to explore Agrobacterium tumefaciens GV3101 mediated transformation. The results showed that the callus induction rate of petiole explants was the highest when they were treated with Agrobacterium suspension (OD₆₀₀?=?0.6) for 10 min and thenco-cultured in dark for 2 days. The qRT-PCR results showed that the ApP5CS1.1 gene was overexpressed in the transgenic plants. These protocols provide working research methods for exploring the cellular level adaptative mechanisms of this species to desert environments.

     

新疆无苞芥锌指蛋白基因的克隆及表达分析

利用同源克隆法从新疆无苞芥中克隆获得1个锌指蛋白基因(OpZFP)。序列分析表明,OpZFP基因的开放阅读框为684bp,推测编码含227个氨基酸的蛋白质。生物信息学分析显示,OpZFP蛋白含有1个典型的C2H2型锌指结构,在C端含有一个可能具有转录抑制功能的EAR结构域。系统进化树分析表明OpZFP编码产物与拟南芥AtZFP1、琴叶拟南芥AlZFP1的进化关系较近。分离了OpZFP基因2 095bp的启动子序列,发现该启动子与拟南芥AtZFP1基因的启动子序列只有84.4%的相似性,启动子分析表明二者存在多处不同的顺式作用元件。半定量RT-PCR分析表明,OpZFP在根、茎、叶、花和果荚中均有表达,在根中的表达量最高。OpZFP基因受高盐、干旱和低温等胁迫的诱导表达,表明该蛋白涉及多种胁迫相关的信号传导途径。     

GFP基因在新疆小拟南芥和拟南芥中的表达分析

以质粒pMCB30为模板,扩增GFP基因,连接到载体pCMBIA2300-35S-OCS上,构建过量表达载体p35S:GFP,将其转入农杆菌GV3101.通过农杆菌介导法将p35S:GFP载体分别转入新疆特色植物小拟南芥和拟南芥中.T0代经含有卡那霉素的1/2MS培养基筛选,获得了T1代转基因小拟南芥2株,T1代转基因拟南芥9株.通过激光共聚焦显微镜观察,在转基因小拟南芥和拟南芥的根尖细胞中均可检测到GFP绿色荧光蛋白;对转基因植株进行PCR扩增,均可检测到GFP基因,表明GFP基因已成功转入小拟南芥和拟南芥中.该研究建立了小拟南芥的遗传转化体系,为进一步利用GFP基因和进一步研究小拟南芥的功能基因奠定基础.     

Somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis in Zamia fischeri,Z. furfuracea and Z. pumila

Morphogenesis from cultured megagametophyte, nucellus and immature embryos of three Zamia species on modified B5 medium containing 2,4-d and kinetin was compared. Organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis occurred from the megagamethophyte and zygotic embryo explants of Zamia pumila and Z. furfuracea tissue cultures, but only from the megamametophyte of Z. fischeri. Nucellar callus of Z. pumila produced globular structures that failed to develop further. Plantlets were recovered from somatic embryos of Z. pumila.Abbreviations 2,4-d 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid     

Molecular Cloning and Characterization of Rubber Biosynthetic Genes from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Taraxacum koksaghyz</Emphasis>

Rubber biosynthesis requires the action of specific enzymes known as cis-prenyltransferases (CPTs). These enzymes are responsible for the sequential addition of isopentenyl pyrophosphate units to the growing polyisoprene chain, a biochemical reaction thought to be stimulated by the presence of small rubber particle proteins (SRPPs). We have cloned, characterized, and analyzed the expression of three CPT genes (TkCPT1–3) and five SRPP genes (TkSRPP1–5) from the rubber-producing plant Taraxacum koksaghyz. The deduced TkCPT amino acid sequences showed significant levels of sequence identity with Hevea brasiliensis CPTs. We also found no obvious differences between SRPPs from T. koksaghyz, another rubber producer, and a non-rubber plant. The roles of the individual TkCPTs and TkSRRPs in rubber biosynthesis are discussed.