观赏植物UDP-糖基转移酶研究进展

糖基化修饰在植物的生长发育中扮演着至关重要的角色。糖基转移酶是催化糖苷化产物合成的核心酶,其中,主要以UDP-糖为糖基供体的UGT家族,能够催化次生代谢中的小分子化合物,在调节各种植物次生代谢物的溶解度、稳定性和生物活性等方面具有重要作用,并与植物品质性状、非生物胁迫和生物胁迫的响应等紧密相关,近年来成为备受关注的研究热点。本文对植物中UDP-糖基转移酶进行了全面的综述,涵盖了其结构特点、催化特性、反应类型、功能分类和命名方式等方面。此外,文中还总结了目前观赏植物中UDP-糖基转移酶对激素、萜类化合物和类黄酮化合物等的修饰情况,这些修饰过程进而影响植物的花色、叶色、株型、叶形、挥发性化合物的储存、植物对生物与非生物胁迫的抗性,以及功能性化合物成分的合成等多个方面。通过相关工作文献的回顾与总结,有助于进一步认知糖基转移酶在观赏植物代谢调控中的作用,也为今后的观赏植物种质改良创新和功能性成分的研发提供参考。     

植物原花青素生物合成及调控研究进展

原花青素是通过类黄酮途径生成的一类多酚类化合物.原花青素具有重要的生物学功能,不仅是植物应对生物和非生物胁迫的一种重要防御手段,还能影响植物外观、风味和品质,因此原花青素合成途径一直是作物性状改良的研究热点.该文主要在模式植物拟南芥研究的基础上,综述了原花青素生物合成研究的最新进展,讨论了原花青素遗传工程应用前景和主要...     

低温促进毛竹叶片类黄酮合成及相关基因的表达模式分析

类黄酮在植物耐低温胁迫方面发挥着重要作用,为揭示低温对毛竹(Phyllostachys edulis)叶片中类黄酮合成的影响,采用分光光度法测定了不同生长时期和低温胁迫下毛竹幼苗叶片中的类黄酮含量,通过生物信息学方法对毛竹类黄酮早期生物合成关键酶基因进行了鉴定,并用q PCR方法分析了其表达模式。结果表明,随着叶片的生长,类黄酮含量呈现先升高后降低的趋势,而低温下,功能叶片中类黄酮含量则呈现上调趋势,且在8 h时达极显著水平。在毛竹基因组中鉴定了类黄酮早期生物合成3个酶基因家族共29个成员,包括20个查尔酮合酶基因(Pe CHSs)、8个查尔酮异构酶基因(Pe CHIs)和1个黄酮-3-烃化酶基因(Pe F3H1),这些基因的启动子中均含有响应低温及其他非生物胁迫的调控元件。Pe CHSs倾向在根和叶中表达,而PeCHIs为组成型表达。在不同生长时期的叶片中,仅PeCHS1表达与类黄酮的含量变化趋势一致;而低温胁迫下,3个PeCHSs、2个PeCHIs和PeF3H1在功能叶片中呈上调表达,与类黄酮含量变化趋势一致。因此,毛竹可能通过提高类黄酮早期生物合成酶基因的表达量促进类黄酮的合成来...     

类黄酮化合物防治动脉粥样硬化的研究进展

动脉粥样硬化(atherosclerosis,AS)可导致一系列心脑血管疾病,如冠心病和中风等,严重威胁人们的健康。在AS早期病变中,低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-c)的氧化修饰起着关键作用。已知类黄酮化合物是优良的活性氧自由基清除剂和生物抗氧化剂。类黄酮化合物能防止LDL-c的氧化修饰,主要通过:清除自由基;螯合金属离子;保护内源性抗氧化物质,调节细胞抗氧化状态起作用。在AS发病过程中伴随炎症,类黄酮化合物有抗炎和抗血小板凝集的作用,进而抑制炎症因子的生成。不同种类的类黄酮化合物结构差异对AS作用有着明显差异,存在特定的构效关系。本文就植物类黄酮化合物防治AS的机理进展做一综述。     

类黄酮及其植物生理学作用

类黄酮是一大类重要的植物次生代谢产物,它们是由乙酸途径和莽草酸途径提供的亚单元组成的。类黄酮分子的基本结构是一C_(15)单元,可以发生氧化作用、还原作用和烷基化作用,进而衍生出更多结构各异的类黄酮物质。在高等植物中,类黄酮是在质体中合成的,而后在液胞中以糖苷形式积累(少数例子中,发现在胞壁和胞间层中也有积累),其生物学作用是多方面的。对光合作用的影响     

甜菜碱与植物耐盐基因工程

向非甜菜碱积累植物导入甜菜碱合成途径是提高植物耐盐性的策略之一。甜菜碱是一种无毒的有机小分子化合物。盐胁迫下 ,它能在植物细胞中迅速积累以维持细胞的渗透平衡 ,并对胞内的一些重要酶类起保护作用。编码甜菜碱合成酶的基因已被克隆 ,并应用于植物耐盐基因工程。本文介绍了甜菜碱的生理作用、合成酶及相关基因的特性 ,并结合本实验室的工作对甜菜碱基因工程及其进展作了简单的综述     

甜菜碱与植物耐盐基因工程

向非甜菜碱积累植物导入甜菜碱合成途径是提高植物耐盐性的策略之一。甜菜碱是一种无毒的有机小分子化合物。盐胁迫下,它能在植物细胞中迅速积累以维持细胞的渗透平衡,并对胞内的一些重要酶类起保护作用。编码甜菜碱合成酶的基因已被克隆,并应用于植物耐盐基因工程。本文介绍了甜菜碱的生理作用、合成酶及相关基因的特性,并结合本实验室的工作对甜菜碱基因工程及其进展作了简单的综述。     

植物苯丙烷代谢及其对重金属胁迫的响应研究进展

苯丙烷代谢途径是植物中最重要的次生代谢途径之一,在植物抵抗重金属胁迫中直接或间接发挥了抗氧化作用,并能够提高植物对重金属离子的吸收与胁迫耐性。本文就苯丙烷代谢途径核心反应与关键酶系进行了总结,同时分析了木质素、类黄酮及原花青素等关键代谢产物的生物合成过程及相关机制,并以此为基础探讨了苯丙烷代谢途径关键产物响应重金属胁迫的相关机制。此外,结合当前研究现状,就苯丙烷代谢参与植物防御重金属胁迫的相关研究提出展望,以期为重金属污染环境的植物修复提供理论依据。     

海南龙血树WD40转录因子基因DcWD40-1的克隆和表达分析

海南龙血树是国产血竭的主要基源植物,其血竭主要化学成分为类黄酮化合物。为进一步了解DcWD40-1在类黄酮生物合成中的潜在功能和作用机制,该研究根据海南龙血树转录组数据,利用RT-PCR技术在海南龙血树中克隆了一个WD40基因DcWD40-1,该基因全长1 550 bp,包含一个1 353 bp的开放阅读框,编码450个氨基酸,蛋白质分子量50.77 kD,理论等电点5.71。生物信息学分析显示,DcWD40-1属于WD40蛋白家族成员,具有5个保守的WD40结构域,和其他植物WD40蛋白同源性高,保守性强。利用Genome Walking方法分离了1 503 bp的DcWD40-1启动子序列,该区域具有典型真核生物启动子结构特征,并含有多个应答激素和胁迫的响应元件。表达分析显示,血竭诱导剂能够诱导Dc WD40-1的表达,DcWD40-1的变化与血竭形成及类黄酮积累正相关。此外,DcWD40-1也能对茉莉酸甲酯、细胞分裂素、油菜素内酯和UV-B处理做出积极响应。     

强化细胞外排提高工程菌类黄酮产量的策略

类黄酮的抑菌谱广、抗氧化活性高,在食品和生物医药领域应用广泛,市场需求量大,依赖于从植物中提取的现有生产技术存在诸多弊端,微生物发酵法生产类黄酮成为国际竞相发展的前沿技术。通过代谢途径改造和基因优化构建高产菌株是现有研究的主要策略,较少考虑类黄酮对生产菌的抑菌作用。考虑到生产菌生长受到抑制会限制发酵中类黄酮积累,本文在总结分析动物、植物、微生物中类黄酮外排机制与关键基因的基础上,结合相关基因在工程菌中成功表达的案例,提出将类黄酮外排机制和关键基因引入工程菌构建的策略,以期为类黄酮高产菌株的构建提供借鉴。     

Significance of flavonoids in plant resistance and enhancement of their biosynthesis

The roles of flavonoids in plant defence against pathogens, herbivores, and environmental stress are reviewed and their significant contribution to plant resistance is discussed. The induction of flavonoids is of particular interest for gathering evidence of their roles. Tools are mentioned which may enhance flavonoid biosynthesis and accumulation. These include metabolic engineering and UV light. The induction of defence-related flavonoids is modified by other determining factors and competition between growth and secondary metabolism may exist. In an evolutionary context, stress-related oxidative pressure may have been a major trigger for the distribution and abundance of flavonoids. UV protection is one of their most significant, or even the most significant, functional role for flavonoids. The multi-functionality of these compounds, however, often complicates the interpretation of experimental results but, overall, it supports the importance of flavonoids.     

一氧化氮对植物重金属胁迫抗性的影响研究进展

一氧化氮(NO)作为一种重要的信号分子,在调节植物重金属胁迫抗性方面上起着非常重要的作用。综述了NO在植物体内的产生途径,重金属胁迫下植物体内内源NO含量的变化以及外源NO与内源NO对植物重金属胁迫抗性的影响。大量研究表明外源NO能够增强植物对重金属胁迫的抗性,一方面是通过增强植物细胞的抗氧化系统或直接清除活性氧,另一方面是通过影响植物对重金属的吸收以及重金属在植物细胞内的分布。然而内源NO在调节植物重金属胁迫抗性上的功能角色仍存在争议。有些研究表明内源NO是有益的,能够缓解重金属胁迫诱导的毒性;但是也有证据表明内源NO是有害的,能够通过促进植物对重金属的吸收以及对植物螯合素进行S-亚硝基化弱化其解毒功能,从而参与重金属诱导的毒害反应和细胞凋亡过程。     

Arabidopsis Flavonoid Mutants Are Hypersensitive to UV-B Irradiation

Increases in the terrestrial levels of ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation (280 to 320 nm) due to diminished stratospheric ozone have prompted an investigation of the protective mechanisms that contribute to UV-B tolerance in plants. In response to UV-B stress, flowering plants produce a variety of UV-absorptive secondary products derived from phenylalanine. Arabidopsis mutants with defects in the synthesis of these compounds were tested for UV-B sensitivity. The transparent testa-4 (tt4) mutant, which has reduced flavonoids and normal levels of sinapate esters, is more sensitive to UV-B than the wild type when grown under high UV-B irradiance. The tt5 and tt6 mutants, which have reduced levels of UV-absorptive leaf flavonoids and the monocyclic sinapic acid ester phenolic compounds, are highly sensitive to the damaging effects of UV-B radiation. These results demonstrate that both flavonoids and other phenolic compounds play important roles in vivo in plant UV-B protection.     

Conocarpus lancifolius biochemical responses to variable UV-B irradiation

Conocarpus lancifolius (Engl) is an important plant used in greenery projects in the State of Kuwait. Its sustainability, in the arid environment of Kuwait under high light intensity and other stress factors, is critical for the State of Kuwait. Here, we report the effect of variable UV-B exposure (1.8, 3.6, 7.2 kJ m⁻²) on the growth and development of C. lancifolius. UV-B, being a free radical generator triggers antioxidant defenses in the plant by enhanced synthesis of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and proline. Thus, total phenolic compounds increased by 132.1%, flavonoids by 91.5% and proline by 55.6%. Antioxidant enzymes are important for protection against oxidative stress. The antioxidant enzymes including catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione reductase were increased by 38.6, 30.4, 10.5%, respectively, while ascorbate peroxidase was elevated by 57.8%. A significant increase in the antioxidant defenses in response to UV-B irradiation of C. lancifolius suggests that the plant is well adapted to the arid environment of Kuwait.     

Biosynthesis of flavonoids and effects of stress

The accumulation of red or purple flavonoids is a hallmark of plant stress. Mounting evidence points to diverse physiological functions for these compounds in the stress response. Advances are also being made toward understanding how plants control the types and amounts of flavonoids that are produced in response to different cues.     

Flavonoids of Inula britannica protect cultured cortical cells from necrotic cell death induced by glutamate

We previously reported 12 antioxidative flavonoids isolated from the n-BuOH extract of Inula britannica (Asteraceae). This prompted us to investigate further whether these flavonoids also showed antioxidative activity upon live cells grown in a culture system. Among the 12 flavonoids tested, only patuletin, nepetin, and axillarin protected primary cultures of rat cortical cells from oxidative stress induced by glutamate. These flavonoids exerted significant neuroprotective activity when they were administered either before or after the glutamate insult. Treatment with these flavonoids maintained the activities of such antioxidant enzymes as catalase, glutathione-peroxidase, and glutathione reductase, all of which play important roles in the antioxidative defense mechanism. Moreover, these three flavonoids also attenuated significant drops in glutathione induced by glutamate which is a routine concomitant of oxidative stress by inhibiting glutathione diminution. Accordingly, these flavonoids did not stimulate the synthesis of glutathione. With regard to structure-activity relationships, our results indicated that the 6-methoxyl group in the A ring and the 3', 4'-hydroxyl groups in the B ring are crucial for the protection against the oxidative stress; glycosylation greatly reduced their protective activities. Collectively, these results indicated that patuletin, nepetin, and axillarin strongly protect primary cultured neurons against glutamate-induced oxidative stress.     

Flavonoids protect neuronal cells from oxidative stress by three distinct mechanisms

Flavonoids are a family of antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables as well as in popular beverages such as red wine and tea. Although the physiological benefits of flavonoids have been largely attributed to their antioxidant properties in plasma, flavonoids may also protect cells from various insults. Nerve cell death from oxidative stress has been implicated in a variety of pathologies, including stroke, trauma, and diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. To determine the potential protective mechanisms of flavonoids in cell death, the mouse hippocampal cell line HT-22, a model system for oxidative stress, was used. In this system, exogenous glutamate inhibits cystine uptake and depletes intracellular glutathione (GSH), leading to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and an increase in Ca(2+) influx, which ultimately causes neuronal death. Many, but not all, flavonoids protect HT-22 cells and rat primary neurons from glutamate toxicity as well as from five other oxidative injuries. Three structural requirements of flavonoids for protection from glutamate are the hydroxylated C3, an unsaturated C ring, and hydrophobicity. We also found three distinct mechanisms of protection. These include increasing intracellular GSH, directly lowering levels of ROS, and preventing the influx of Ca(2+) despite high levels of ROS. These data show that the mechanism of protection from oxidative insults by flavonoids is highly specific for each compound.     

The role of alpha-tocopherol in plant stress tolerance

Environmental stresses trigger a wide variety of plant responses, ranging from altered gene expression to changes in cellular metabolism and growth. A plethora of plant reactions exist to circumvent the potentially harmful effects caused by light, drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, pathogen infections and other stresses. Alpha-tocopherol is the major vitamin E compound found in leaf chloroplasts, where it is located in the chloroplast envelope, thylakoid membranes and plastoglobuli. This antioxidant deactivates photosynthesis-derived reactive oxygen species (mainly 1O2 and OH), and prevents the propagation of lipid peroxidation by scavenging lipid peroxyl radicals in thylakoid membranes. Alpha-tocopherol levels change differentially in response to environmental constraints, depending on the magnitude of the stress and species-sensitivity to stress. Changes in alpha-tocopherol levels result from altered expression of pathway-related genes, degradation and recycling, and it is generally assumed that increases of alpha-tocopherol contribute to plant stress tolerance, while decreased levels favor oxidative damage. Recent studies indicate that compensatory mechanisms exist to afford adequate protection to the photosynthetic apparatus in the absence of alpha-tocopherol, and provide further evidence that it is the whole set of antioxidant defenses (ascorbate, glutathione, carotenoids, tocopherols and other isoprenoids, flavonoids and enzymatic antioxidants) rather than a single antioxidant, which helps plants to withstand environmental stress.     

Variation in flavonoid pattern in leaves and flowers of Primula veris of different origin and impact of UV-B

Flavonoids can serve as chemotaxonomic markers and play an important role in protection against ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Primula veris originating from two natural field sites in Albania and one cultivar from Austria were used to investigate whether flavonoid pattern may differ between populations and to determine their response to UV. Plants were grown in a common environment and shortly before flowering transferred in two greenhouses with 80% and 4% UV-B transmission, respectively. After two weeks, young leaves and open flowers were harvested and flavonoids analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. The flavonoid profiles of leaves and flowers were highly distinct for each population, with certain flavonoids occurring only in plants of particular field sites. These flavonoids may be useful biomarkers to identify the origin of plant material. The differences in UV-treatment at that stage had no effect on the total flavonoid contents of both leaves and flowers. However, individual flavonoids of both leaves and flowers responded sensitively to UV, suggesting that they may be involved in protection against UV.