Strigolactone-Regulated Hypocotyl Elongation Is Dependent on Cryptochrome and Phytochrome Signaling Pathways in Arabidopsis

Seedling development including hypocotyl elongation is a critical phase in the plant life cycle. Light regula- tion of hypocotyl elongation is primarily mediated through the blue light photoreceptor cryptochrome and red/far-red light photoreceptor phytochrome signaling pathways, comprising regulators including COP1, HY5, and phytochrome- interacting factors （PIFs）. The novel phytohormones, strigolactones, also participate in regulating hypocotyl growth. However, how strigolactone coordinates with light and photoreceptors in the regulation of hypocotyl elongation is largely unclear. Here, we demonstrate that strigolactone inhibition of hypocotyl elongation is dependent on cryp- tochrome and phytochrome signaling pathways. The photoreceptor mutants cry1 cry2, phyA, and phyB are hyposensi- tive to strigolactone analog GR24 under the respective monochromatic light conditions, while cop1 and pifl pif3 pif4 pif5 （pifq） quadruple mutants are hypersensitive to GR24 in darkness. Genetic studies indicate that the enhanced respon- siveness of cop1 to GR24 is dependent on HY5 and MAX2, while that of pifq is independent of HY5. Further studies demonstrate that GR24 constitutively up-regulates HY5 expression in the dark and light, whereas GR24-promoted HY5 protein accumulation is light- and cryptochrome and phytochrome photoreceptor-dependent. These results suggest that the light dependency of strigolactone regulation of hypocotyl elongation is likely mediated through MAX2-dependent promotion of HY5 expression, light-dependent accumulation of HY5, and PIF-regulated components.     

Genes underlying quantitative variation in ecologically important traits: PIF4 (PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR 4) is associated with variation in internode length,flowering time,and fruit set in Arabidopsis thaliana

Association studies utilize the action of recombination over numerous generations to identify loci that underlie quantitative traits. We use a candidate‐gene association approach, segregation analyses and analyses of local linkage disequilibrium (LD) to evaluate the potentially causal effects of molecular variation at PIF4 (PHYTOCROME INTERACTING FACTOR 4) on ecologically important traits in Arabidopsis thaliana. A preliminary analysis of sequence diversity in 14 natural genotypes revealed one intermediate‐frequency replacement polymorphism at PIF4. A sample of 161 natural accessions was genotyped at PIF4 and screened for average length of early internodes, inflorescence length, days to flowering and flowering interval (days between bolting and flowering) under high‐ and low‐density environments to test for genotype‐phenotype associations. PIF4 was associated with early internode lengths, while the PIF4× treatment interaction was associated with flowering interval in the panel of 161 accessions. Further, in a set of recombinant inbred lines that segregate for the PIF4 polymorphism, nucleotide substitutions at PIF4 co‐segregated with early internode lengths, days to flowering and fruit set, suggesting that cryptic population structure in the association‐mapping panel and attendant LD with a physically distant locus do not account for the observed association. Finally, in a panel of pseudochromosomes from 20 re‐sequenced genotypes, LD appeared to decay rapidly in the immediate vicinity of PIF4, suggesting that flanking loci contribute little to the observed association. In sum, the results suggest that PIF4 causally affects early internode lengths on the primary inflorescence, potentially via effects on reproductive timing and that these traits in turn affect fitness.     

PIF3 Is Involved in the Primary Root Growth Inhibition of Arabidopsis Induced by Nitric Oxide in the Light

PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR3 （PIF3） is an important component in the phytochrome signaling pathway and mediates plant responses to various environmental conditions. We found that PIF3 is involved in the inhibition of root growth of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings induced by nitric oxide （NO） in light. Overexpression of PIF3 partially alleviated the inhibitory effect of NO on root growth, whereas the pif3-1 mutant displayed enhanced sensitivity to NO in terms of root growth. During phytochrome signaling, the photoreceptor PHYB mediates the degradation of PIF3. We found that the phyB-9 mutant had a similar phenotype to that of PIF3ox in terms of responsiveness to NO. Furthermore, NO treatment promoted the accumulation of PHYB, and thus reduced PIF3 content. Our results further show that the activity of PIF3 is regulated by the DELLA protein RGL3[RGA （repressor of gal-3） LIKE 3]. Therefore, we speculate that PIF3 lies downstream of PHYB and RGL3, and plays an important role in the inhibitory effect of NO on root growth of Arabidopsis seedlings in light.     

蔗糖诱导拟南芥幼苗胚轴维管束细胞数量增多

为揭示蔗糖能否引起植物胚轴维管束细胞数量增多,将拟南芥播种于添加88mmol·L-1蔗糖和不添加糖的MS培养基上,对生长在不同培养基上的幼苗胚轴横切,显微镜下统计切片上维管束细胞数量。结果显示,与不加糖相比,加糖条件下萌发4d后幼苗维管束细胞总数增加约70％,维管薄壁细胞和导管分子都增加100％以上,筛管分子增加约90％,中柱鞘细胞数量不变。显然,蔗糖不仅使维管束薄壁细胞数量增多,也使筛管分子和导管分子数量增多。因此认为,添加蔗糖对拟南芥幼苗胚轴维管束具有双重效应,既引起维管薄壁细胞增殖,又促进维管薄壁细胞分化,从而使导管分子和筛管分子数量增多。     

TFPI-2对人肝癌细胞生长增殖、凋亡及AFP合成的影响

目的: 探讨TFPI-2基因对人肝癌细胞Hep3B生长增殖、凋亡及甲胎蛋白AFP表达的影响。 方法: 将重组质粒PCDNA3.1-TFPI-2转染Hep3B细胞并经G418稳定筛选后,RT-PCR和Western blot检测转染前后TFPI-2 mRNA和蛋白表达水平,采用CCK-8法、生长曲线观察TFPI-2对人肝癌细胞Hep3B生长增殖的影响,通过平板克隆形成实验观察单个细胞的增殖能力,RT-PCR检测AFP mRNA的表达,并用电化学发光法测定培养上清液中甲胎蛋白AFP含量,流式细胞仪检测细胞早晚期凋亡情况。 结果: 转染成功的Hep3B细胞检测到TFPI-2 mRNA和蛋白的表达;与转染空载体及未转染的细胞相比,转染TFPI-2的细胞生长增殖能力明显减弱;AFP mRNA表达抑制率为16.51%,AFP蛋白分泌明显低于对照组(P<0.01);流式细胞术检测转染TFPI-2的Hep3B细胞早期凋亡率明显增加(24.03%±7.28% vs 8.77%±3.66%)。 结论: TFPI-2表达可显著抑制肝癌细胞生长和AFP的表达,同时还能诱导细胞早期凋亡。为进一步探讨靶向TFPI-2的肝癌基因治疗提供了实验依据。     

Branching of the PIF3 regulatory network in Arabidopsis: Roles of PIF3-regulated MIDAs in seedling development in the dark and in response to light

Plants need to accurately adjust their development after germination in the underground darkness to ensure survival of the seedling, both in the dark and in the light upon reaching the soil surface. Recent studies have established that the photoreceptors phytochromes and the bHLH phytochrome interacting factors PIFs regulate seedling development to adjust it to the prevailing light environment during post-germinative growth. However, complete understanding of the downstream regulatory network implementing these developmental responses is still lacking. In a recent work, published in The Plant Cell, we report a subset of PIF3-regulated genes in dark-grown seedlings that we have named MIDAs (MISREGULATED IN DARK). Analysis of their functional relevance using mutants showed that four of them present phenotypic alterations in the dark, and that each affected a particular facet of seedling development, suggesting organ-specific branching in the signal that PIF3 relays downstream. Furthermore, our results also showed an altered response to light in seedlings with an impaired PIF3/MIDA regulatory network, indicating that these factors might also be essential to initiate and optimize the developmental adjustment of the seedling to the light environment.     

拟南芥QUA1基因在光信号途径中的表达与功能分析

光信号在植物生长发育过程中具有非常重要的作用。不同的光信号通过调节植物下游基因的表达,进而影响细胞分化、结构和功能的改变,以及组织和器官的形成,参与植物光形态建成。QUA1 (QUASIMODO1)是拟南芥糖基转移酶家族中的一个成员,参与植物细胞壁中果胶的合成。本文以拟南芥qua1-1/cry1以及qua1-1/phyB双突变体为材料,对QUA1基因在光信号途径中的功能进行了分析。结果显示,qua1-1突变体在暗、蓝光、红光以及远红外光培养条件下下胚轴的伸长均受到抑制,QUA1基因的表达同样受到光信号的调节,而且突变体中多种光信号调节基因的表达也受到了影响。通过对qua1-1突变体下胚轴的观察发现,突变体下胚轴表皮细胞长度明显变短。与cry1以及phyB突变体相比,qua1-1/cry1和qua1-1/phyB双突变体下胚轴长度明显变短,而且双突变体中光信号调节基因的表达也有明显变化,表明QUA1可能参与了CRY1以及PHYB介导的蓝光及红光信号传导。以上结果表明QUA1影响了下胚轴细胞的伸长以及光信号调节基因的表达,并参与调控多种光信号传导途径。     

High temperature inhibits vascular development via the PIF4-miR166-HB15 module in Arabidopsis

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Constitutive expression of CIR1 (RVE2) affects several circadian-regulated processes and seed germination in Arabidopsis

Circadian clocks are endogenous auto-regulatory mechanisms that allow organisms, from bacteria to humans, to advantageously time a wide range of activities within 24 h environmental cycles. Here we report the identification and characterization of an MYB-related gene, designated Circadian 1 (CIR1), that is involved in circadian regulation in Arabidopsis. Expression of CIR1 is transiently induced by light and oscillates with a circadian rhythm. The rhythmic expression of CIR1 is controlled by the central oscillator. Constitutive expression of CIR1 resulted in a shorter period length for the rhythms of four central oscillator components, and much lower amplitude for the rhythms of central oscillator components CCA1 and LHY. Furthermore, CIR1 over-expression severely affected the circadian rhythms of its own RNA and those of the slave oscillator EPR1 and effector genes Lhcb and CAT3. Plants that constitutively expressed CIR1 displayed delayed flowering, longer hypocotyls and reduced seed germination in the dark. These results suggest that CIR1 is possibly part of a regulatory feedback loop that controls a subset of the circadian outputs and modulates the central oscillator.     

The channel-kinase TRPM7 regulates phosphorylation of the translational factor eEF2 via eEF2-k

Protein translation is an essential but energetically expensive process, which is carefully regulated in accordance to the cellular nutritional and energy status. Eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) is a central regulation point since it mediates ribosomal translocation and can be inhibited by phosphorylation at Thr56. TRPM7 is the unique fusion of an ion channel with a functional Ser/Thr-kinase. While TRPM7's channel function has been implicated in regulating vertebrate Mg²⁺ uptake required for cell growth, the function of its kinase domain remains unclear. Here, we show that under conditions where cell growth is limited by Mg²⁺ availability, TRPM7 via its kinase mediates enhanced Thr56 phosphorylation of eEF2. TRPM7-kinase does not appear to directly phosphorylate eEF2, but rather to influence the amount of eEF2's cognate kinase eEF2-k, involving its phosphorylation at Ser77. These findings suggest that TRPM7's structural duality ensures ideal positioning of its kinase in close proximity to channel-mediated Mg²⁺ uptake, allowing for the adjustment of protein translational rates to the availability of Mg²⁺.     

免疫聚合酶链反应技术的建立及其对甲胎蛋白的检测

免疫ＰＣＲ是一种新的具高敏感性的抗原检测技术,它类似传统的ＥＬＩＳＡ法,若与抗体连接的酶用ＤＮＡ片段代替,则该ＤＮＡ片段可用于ＰＣＲ扩增。以链酶亲合素搭桥将生物素标记的抗体与ＤＮＡ相连建立了免疫ＰＣＲ技术,并将其用于检测甲胎蛋白（ＡＦＰ）,其敏感性比ＥＬＩＳＡ法高１０４。因此,免疫ＰＣＲ有可能作为一种具高敏感性的检测手段用于临床早期诊断     

拟南芥复制因子C亚基3在黄化苗下胚轴伸长生长中的作用

拟南芥遮光培养2．5d时,rfc3-1突变体黄化幼苗的下胚轴平均长度约比野生型植株黄化幼苗的下胚轴长27．5％。观察表明,相对于野生型复制因子C亚基3（replication factor C3,AtRFC3）基因突变体的下胚轴表皮细胞,特别是上部靠近子叶部分的表皮细胞,单细胞长度变长。将野生型RFC3基因转染到rfc3-1后,突变体恢复野生型表型,进一步说明RFC3在黄化苗的下胚轴伸长生长中有作用。     

The Connection between High Energy and Low Energy Responses to Red and Far-Red Light of Hypocotyl Elongation in Red Cabbage Seedlings (Brassica oleracea var. capitata'Marner Septemberrot')

Growth responses of hypocotyls of Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata caused by diurnal irradiation of various duration (0.5 h/d up to continuous irradiation) and various irradiance (0.3–1.5 W m^?2) with red and far-red light from sources characterized below can be described by the equation: (W= relative effect, I= irradiance, t₁= irradiation time per day, W_s= constant dependent on material and wavelength, α, B and t_s, = constants dependent on wavelength.) On the basis of that equation a possible connection between longtime and short-time irradiation responses is discussed.     

P2X7-Receptor Pathway Involvement in the Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Medicinal Plants

Medicinal plants used in European folk medicine attached to Lamiales, Gentianales or Asterales orders are used to treat inflammatory disorders. Many targets have been identified but to date, implication of purinergic receptor P2X7 activation has not yet been investigated. We managed to evaluate the protective effect on P2X7 activation by plant extracts used as anti-inflammatory in European folk medicine by the YO-PRO-1 uptake dye in vitro bioassay. Results revealed that among our selected plants, species from Scrophularia and Plantago genus were able to decrease significantly P2X7 activation (>50 % at 0.1 and 1 μg/mL). UPLC/MS, dereplication and metabolomic analysis of Scrophularia extracts, allowed us to identify the cinnamoyl-iridoid harpagoside as putative inhibitor of P2X7 activation. These results open a new research field regarding the anti-inflammatory mechanism of cinnamoyl-iridoids bearing plants, which may involve the P2X7 receptor.     

CCR7和B7-2在抗原负载树突状细胞诱导特异性CTL抗肿瘤效应中的表达和意义

目的:研究CCR7(趋化因子受体7)和B7-2(白细胞分化抗原86)与抗原负载树突状细胞(dentritic cell,DC)诱导特异性CTL(细胞毒性T淋巴细胞)抗肿瘤效应的关系.方法:分离和培养DC,制备B16黑色素瘤细胞抗原,进行共培养,即为抗原负载的DC,建立B16黑色素瘤小鼠模型,于肿瘤周围皮下注射抗原负载的DC.应用原位杂交和免疫组织化学方法检测CCR7和B7-2的表达情况.结果:原位杂交和免疫组织化学染色显示,CCR7和B7-2阳性细胞主要分布于肿瘤周围组织,随着注射抗原负载DC时间的进展,CCR7和B7-2呈强阳性表达.结论:CCR7和B7-2的表达与抗原负载树突状细胞诱导特异性CTL抗肿瘤效应有关.