小麦TaLCD基因的克隆及其对渗透胁迫的调节作用

半胱氨酸脱巯基酶(CDes)可催化降解半胱氨酸(Cys)生成硫化氢(H2S)。通过克隆小麦(Triticumaestivum)中的L-半胱氨酸脱巯基酶基因TaLCD,并将其在拟南芥(Arabidopsisthaliana)中过表达,探讨TaLCD对渗透胁迫条件下种子萌发和根系生长的影响,并分析其对干旱胁迫的调节作用。结果显示,盐胁迫条件下, TaLCD过表达植株种子萌发率显著高于野生型;甘露醇处理条件下, TaLCD过表达植株的根长也显著高于野生型,且TaLCD过表达显著提高植株抗旱性。此外, TaLCD过表达植株对ABA更加敏感,ABA处理下TaLCD过表达植株的种子萌发率及根长均显著低于野生型。干旱胁迫下,TaLCD过表达植株胁迫响应基因(COR47、RD29A、RAB18和RD22)及ABA信号途径相关基因(NCED3、HAB1、HAB2、ABI1、ABI2和ABF2)的表达水平均显著高于野生型。因此推测, TaLCD增强植株抗旱和抗盐能力可能依赖于ABA信号途径。     

拟南芥IAA酰胺合成酶GH3-6负调控干旱和盐胁迫的反应

生长素是一种重要的植物激素, 几乎参与了植物所有的生命活动过程。GH3-6具有IAA酰胺合成酶活性, 催化氨基酸与IAA形成IAA的氨基轭合物, 发挥暂时或永久灭活IAA的作用。该文探讨了GH3-6基因在拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)逆境适应过程中的功能。结果显示GH3-6基因受干旱、ABA和高盐的诱导表达。与野生型相比, GH3-6基因过表达突变体dfl1-D对干旱的抗性明显减弱, 叶片失水速率更快。在抗盐方面, dfl1-D也显著弱于野生型。在3种逆境(干旱、ABA和高盐)胁迫下, GH3-6基因的高表达抑制了逆境响应基因RD22、KIN1、RD29A和DREB1A的表达。而且在干旱胁迫下, dfl1-D中ABA的含量明显低于野生型。研究结果证明, 高表达GH3-6基因负调控拟南芥对逆境的抗性。     

转CkLEA4基因拟南芥种子萌发期的抗逆性分析

该研究在实验室前期研究的基础上,将受脱水、盐胁迫和ABA诱导的柠条锦鸡儿CkLEA4基因转入野生型拟南芥,并利用实时荧光定量PCR从8株纯合体中筛选出3个表达量不同的株系,比较野生型和转CkLEA4基因过表达拟南芥种子在不同胁迫处理下的萌发率,以探讨CkLEA4基因在植物抵抗逆境胁迫中的功能。结果发现:(1)在不同浓度NaCl、甘露醇及ABA处理下,转CkLEA4基因过表达拟南芥种子的萌发率均高于野生型,随着NaCl、甘露醇及ABA浓度增加,各株系萌发率均降低,但野生型的萌发率下降幅度均高于3个过表达株系,并且在200mmol/L NaCl和400mmol/L甘露醇处理下,过表达株系子叶绿化率均显著高于野生型。(2)在低浓度ABA处理下,CkLEA4过表达植株子叶的绿化率也高于野生型。研究表明,柠条锦鸡儿CkLEA4基因提高了拟南芥种子萌发阶段对盐、ABA及渗透胁迫的耐受性。     

拟南芥AtUNE12基因的耐盐功能初探

bHLH转录因子家族成员在植物生长发育、生理代谢及非生物胁迫响应过程中起重要作用。本研究选取拟南芥抗逆相关bHLH转录因子家族中AtUNE12基因为研究对象,对其进行耐盐功能初探。首先构建AtUNE12基因的植物过表达载体（pROKⅡ-AtUNE12）,通过农杆菌介导的浸花法转化拟南芥,利用qRT-PCR技术检测获得T₃代AtUNE12过表达转基因植株。在盐胁迫下,分析过表达AtUNE12与野生型拟南芥长势、根长及鲜重;比较过表达AtUNE12与野生型植株的电解质渗透率、失水率、MDA含量、POD与SOD活性及H₂O₂含量,鉴定AtUNE12基因是否具有耐盐能力。结果表明：过表达AtUNE12基因降低了拟南芥植株的失水率、电解质渗透率及MDA含量,保护细胞膜结构的完整性;增强了POD与SOD活性,降低了拟南芥植株内的H₂O₂含量,进而增强拟南芥植株的ROS清除能力,从而提高拟南芥的耐盐能力。     

盐胁迫下过表达BoRACK1基因对羽衣甘蓝种子萌发的影响

蛋白激酶C1受体(RACK1)是一个高度保守的蛋白,它具有多种功能,对植物生长发育有重要的调控作用。本研究构建过表达BoRACK1转基因羽衣甘蓝植株,以阐明该基因在羽衣甘蓝中对盐胁迫的可能功能。转基因羽衣甘蓝对盐胁迫的耐受力比野生型高,表现在其种子发芽率显著高于野生型;活性氧产生比野生型活跃,H_2O_2也可能参与BoRACK1调控的种子萌发过程。实时定量PCR分析表明,在过表达BoRACK1转基因植株中,BoRbohs基因的转录水平显著增强。这些结果表明,在种子萌发过程中,过表达BoRACK1正调控植物耐盐胁迫。     

转ZjAPX基因拟南芥对NaCl、干旱胁迫的耐性研究

旨在探讨枣树抗坏血酸过氧化物酶基因ZjAPX在植物渗透胁迫中的作用。将ZjAPX基因转入到模式植物拟南芥,以野生型(WT)、转ZjAPX拟南芥株系T2为试材,进行不同浓度NaCl胁迫和干旱胁迫。结果表明,转基因株系的种子萌发、植株生长均优于野生型株系;荧光定量PCR检测转基因拟南芥植株在干旱和盐胁迫处理10 d后目的基因ZjAPX的表达量显著高于野生拟南芥,表明ZjAPX的高表达明显提高了植株的抗旱和耐盐性。     

AtWRKY40参与拟南芥干旱胁迫响应过程

以拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)野生型、AtWRKY40缺失突变体和过表达株系为材料,研究AtWRKY40在植物干旱胁迫响应过程中的作用及其生理和分子机制。结果显示,AtWRKY40受干旱胁迫诱导;AtWRKY40缺失导致干旱胁迫下种子萌发率降低,叶片失水加剧,而AtWRKY40过表达植株呈现出相反的表征;干旱胁迫下,At WRKY40缺失突变体植株叶片过氧化氢(H_2O_2)、超氧阴离子(O_2~-·)及丙二醛(MDA)含量显著高于野生型及其过表达株系,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性、脯氨酸(Pro)和可溶性糖含量以及相关基因AtCu/ZnSOD、AtCAT1、AtP5C1S、AtG6PD5和AtBAM4表达量显著低于野生型,同时AtWRKY40过表达株系的渗透物质含量和保护酶活性及其基因表达量则高于野生型。由此说明,AtWRKY40通过调节植株抗氧化能力及渗透调节能力参与拟南芥干旱胁迫响应过程。     

拟南芥黑芥子酶TGG1对抗旱性的作用

为阐明拟南芥中黑芥子酶TGG1对抗旱性的影响,构建了35S启动子驱动的TGG1过表达载体,并将其转入拟南芥获得了转基因植株。以野生型和过量表达TGG1的转基因植株为材料,进行干旱胁迫实验,结果显示,在甘露醇模拟的干旱胁迫下35S∶TGG1种子平均发芽率显著高于野生型,平均相对电导率则显著低于野生型;自然干旱胁迫下,35S∶TGG1的相对失水速率显著慢于野生型,而干旱复水后的平均存活率则显著高于野生型。对气孔的观察结果表明,过表达TGG1的转基因植株气孔对ABA处理具有更高的敏感性,气孔关闭程度显著高于野生型植株。以上研究结果表明,过量表达TGG1基因可显著提高拟南芥的抗旱能力,而且其抗性机制很可能与气孔在逆境下的关闭程度有关。     

陆地棉GhPYR1基因的克隆和功能分析

植物激素脱落酸(Abscisic acid,ABA)在植物应对干旱、盐碱等逆境胁迫以及植物种子萌发、根伸长、芽休眠等阶段发挥重要作用。PYR/PYL/RCAR蛋白家族是ABA受体,与ABA结合后能够启动ABA信号传导通路,诱导ABA应答基因的表达。利用电子克隆和RT-PCR技术从陆地棉中克隆了Gh PYR1基因,其编码的Gh PYR1蛋白与拟南芥中At PYR1蛋白相似度为73%。将Gh PYR1蛋白序列与拟南芥14个PYR/PYL/RCAR家族成员蛋白序列进行比对并构建进化树,发现它与拟南芥PYR/PYL/RCAR蛋白亚家族III亲缘关系最近。过表达Gh PYR1基因的T3代拟南芥在外源ABA处理下,其种子萌发和初期根生长均滞后于野生型,表现出对ABA更加敏感;高盐和干旱胁迫对转基因种子的萌发抑制更强烈,但苗期胁迫处理下转基因拟南芥的长势却明显优于野生型;同时在外源ABA诱导条件下ABA应答基因RD29A、RAB18的表达量较野生型有明显提高。以上结果说明Gh PYR1基因编码的蛋白是ABA的受体,过表达该基因能够提高植物对ABA的敏感性和增强应对逆境胁迫的能力。     

干旱胁迫下拟南芥中H_2S与ABA信号关系研究

以野生型拟南芥(WT)、硫化氢(H_2S)合成酶缺失型突变体lcd、脱落酸(ABA)合成缺失型突变体aba1实生苗为材料,以0.3 mol·L^-1甘露醇模拟干旱胁迫,研究干旱胁迫对ABA含量、H_2S含量的影响,及其在拟南芥抵抗干旱胁迫中的作用及信号关系。结果显示:干旱胁迫显著提高LCD和ABA1基因相对表达以及H_2S含量,ABA含量;干旱胁迫显著抑制突变体lcd、aba1的种子萌发;干旱胁迫下,外施NaHS促进干旱胁迫下WT、lcd和aba1中內源H_2S的产生及上调LCD、ABA1基因相对表达,而外施ABA提高干旱胁迫下WT、aba1中H_2S含量及LCD、ABA1基因相对表达,但是对lcd中H_2S含量及LCD基因相对表达没有显著影响。研究结果表明,信号分子H_2S和ABA在拟南芥的干旱胁迫响应中发挥一定的作用,且H_2S位于ABA的下游参与调控拟南芥的信号过程。     

干旱胁迫下拟南芥磷脂酶Dδ与一氧化氮在种子萌发中的信号关系

以拟南芥野生型（WT）、一氧化氮合酶（NOS）缺失型突变体（noa1）、硝酸还原酶（NR）缺失型突变体（nia1,nia2）及磷脂酶Dδ（PLDδ）缺失型突变体（pldδ）幼苗为材料,研究了0.3 mol·L^-1甘露醇模拟干旱胁迫响应过程中PLDδ和一氧化氮（NO）之间的信号转导关系。结果显示：干旱胁迫下NO含量,PLD和NR活性及基因相对表达量显著升高,pldδ和nia2较其他突变体对干旱胁迫更敏感;外源添加NO供体硝普钠（SNP）可以提高干旱胁迫下WT,nia2和pldδ的种子萌发,而外源添加磷脂酸（PA）可以促进WT和pldδ的种子萌发,但不能促进nia2的种子萌发;PA可以促进干旱胁迫下WT和pldδ的NO产生,但不能促进nia2中NO的产生。表明：干旱胁迫下PLDδ/PA位于NO信号的上游,且PLDδ/PA主要通过NR2途径产生的NO促进干旱胁迫下拟南芥的种子萌发。     

Enhancement of abscisic acid sensitivity and reduction of water consumption in Arabidopsis by combined inactivation of the protein phosphatases type 2C ABI1 and HAB1

Abscisic acid (ABA) plays a key role in plant responses to abiotic stress, particularly drought stress. A wide number of ABA-hypersensitive mutants is known, however, only a few of them resist/avoid drought stress. In this work we have generated ABA-hypersensitive drought-avoidant mutants by simultaneous inactivation of two negative regulators of ABA signaling, i.e. the protein phosphatases type 2C (PP2Cs) ABA-INSENSITIVE1 (ABI1) and HYPERSENSITIVE TO ABA1 (HAB1). Two new recessive loss-of-function alleles of ABI1, abi1-2 and abi1-3, were identified in an Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) T-DNA collection. These mutants showed enhanced responses to ABA both in seed and vegetative tissues, but only a limited effect on plant drought avoidance. In contrast, generation of double hab1-1 abi1-2 and hab1-1 abi1-3 mutants strongly increased plant responsiveness to ABA. Thus, both hab1-1 abi1-2 and hab1-1 abi1-3 were particularly sensitive to ABA-mediated inhibition of seed germination. Additionally, vegetative responses to ABA were reinforced in the double mutants, which showed a strong hypersensitivity to ABA in growth assays, stomatal closure, and induction of ABA-responsive genes. Transpirational water loss under drought conditions was noticeably reduced in the double mutants as compared to single parental mutants, which resulted in reduced water consumption of whole plants. Taken together, these results reveal cooperative negative regulation of ABA signaling by ABI1 and HAB1 and suggest that fine tuning of ABA signaling can be attained through combined action of PP2Cs. Finally, these results suggest that combined inactivation of specific PP2Cs involved in ABA signaling could provide an approach for improving crop performance under drought stress conditions.     

ABA Inducible Rice Protein Phosphatase 2C Confers ABA Insensitivity and Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Arabidopsis

Arabidopsis PP2C belonging to group A have been extensively worked out and known to negatively regulate ABA signaling. However, rice (Oryza sativa) orthologs of Arabidopsis group A PP2C are scarcely characterized functionally. We have identified a group A PP2C from rice (OsPP108), which is highly inducible under ABA, salt and drought stresses and localized predominantly in the nucleus. Genetic analysis revealed that Arabidopsis plants overexpressing OsPP108 are highly insensitive to ABA and tolerant to high salt and mannitol stresses during seed germination, root growth and overall seedling growth. At adult stage, OsPP108 overexpression leads to high tolerance to salt, mannitol and drought stresses with far better physiological parameters such as water loss, fresh weight, chlorophyll content and photosynthetic potential (Fv/Fm) in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. Expression profile of various stress marker genes in OsPP108 overexpressing plants revealed interplay of ABA dependent and independent pathway for abiotic stress tolerance. Overall, this study has identified a potential rice group A PP2C, which regulates ABA signaling negatively and abiotic stress signaling positively. Transgenic rice plants overexpressing this gene might provide an answer to the problem of low crop yield and productivity during adverse environmental conditions.     

葡萄NCED基因家族进化及表达分析

9-顺式-环氧类胡萝卜素双加氧酶(NCED)是植物体内ABA生物合成的关键限速酶, 参与植物对干旱、外源ABA和高盐的响应过程, 降低环境胁迫对植株的危害。基于全基因组鉴定分析葡萄(Vitis vinifera) NCED基因家族成员, 探讨各成员的物种进化关系及各个基因成员在不同组织中的时空表达模式及对干旱、ABA和高盐(NaCl)胁迫的响应, 为进一步揭示该基因家族成员的生物学功能奠定基础。在葡萄基因组中共发现12个NCED基因。其推测的编码蛋白质长度在510 (VvNCED2)-625 aa (VvNCED10)之间。VvNCED蛋白的分子量最大值是70.53 kDa (VvNCED10), 最小值是57.85 kDa (VvNCED2)。在从祖先基因分化之后, 葡萄NCED基因发生了5次复制事件, 同时有2次丢失事件。NCED1/2、NCED3/4、NCED6/7和NCED9/10基因对被认为是通过片段复制产生。上述4对复制基因复制时间分布在3.08-120.0百万年前, 晚于单双子叶植物分化的时间。与对照相比, VvNCED1在ABA处理48小时后显著上调(72.1%), 而VvNCED2显著下调(84.0%)。VvNCED6只在干旱处理14、21和28天的根系中表达量高于对照, 分别为对照的2.49、1.05和1.09倍。VvNCED7只在干旱处理14天的根系中表达量高于对照, 为对照的1.07倍。在ABA处理72小时后, VvNCED3表达量较对照显著下调(59.5%), 而VvNCED4较对照显著上调(169.9%)。VvNCED3/VvNCED4分别在NaCl处理24和48小时出现显著性峰值, 较对照分别上调219.2%和114.4%。保守结构域不同组成和不同胁迫处理下差异表达模式是NCED蛋白发生功能分化的基础。推测NCED在进化过程中发生的功能分化有利于复制事件的发生。     

葡萄NCED基因家族进化及表达分析

9-顺式-环氧类胡萝卜素双加氧酶(NCED)是植物体内ABA生物合成的关键限速酶, 参与植物对干旱、外源ABA和高盐的响应过程, 降低环境胁迫对植株的危害。基于全基因组鉴定分析葡萄(Vitis vinifera) NCED基因家族成员, 探讨各成员的物种进化关系及各个基因成员在不同组织中的时空表达模式及对干旱、ABA和高盐(NaCl)胁迫的响应, 为进一步揭示该基因家族成员的生物学功能奠定基础。在葡萄基因组中共发现12个NCED基因。其推测的编码蛋白质长度在510 (VvNCED2)-625 aa (VvNCED10)之间。VvNCED蛋白的分子量最大值是70.53 kDa (VvNCED10), 最小值是57.85 kDa (VvNCED2)。在从祖先基因分化之后, 葡萄NCED基因发生了5次复制事件, 同时有2次丢失事件。NCED1/2、NCED3/4、NCED6/7和NCED9/10基因对被认为是通过片段复制产生。上述4对复制基因复制时间分布在3.08-120.0百万年前, 晚于单双子叶植物分化的时间。与对照相比, VvNCED1在ABA处理48小时后显著上调(72.1%), 而VvNCED2显著下调(84.0%)。VvNCED6只在干旱处理14、21和28天的根系中表达量高于对照, 分别为对照的2.49、1.05和1.09倍。VvNCED7只在干旱处理14天的根系中表达量高于对照, 为对照的1.07倍。在ABA处理72小时后, VvNCED3表达量较对照显著下调(59.5%), 而VvNCED4较对照显著上调(169.9%)。VvNCED3/VvNCED4分别在NaCl处理24和48小时出现显著性峰值, 较对照分别上调219.2%和114.4%。保守结构域不同组成和不同胁迫处理下差异表达模式是NCED蛋白发生功能分化的基础。推测NCED在进化过程中发生的功能分化有利于复制事件的发生。     

异源过表达齿肋赤藓ScABI3基因改变拟南芥气孔表型并提高抗旱性

ABI3是ABA信号通路中关键的转录调控因子, 参与种子休眠、质体发育及苔藓耐干等重要生理过程, 在植物抗逆中发挥关键作用。以荒漠耐干苔藓——齿肋赤藓(Syntrichia caninervis)为材料, 克隆了抗逆基因ScABI3并获得3个独立的pCAMBIA1301-ScABI3转基因拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)纯合株系。结果表明, 转基因拟南芥叶片气孔孔径增大, 单位面积气孔数量减少, 植株水分利用效率提高; 在干旱处理14天后转基因拟南芥植株存活率显著高于野生型, 离体叶片失水率显著低于野生型。进一步研究发现, ScABI3转基因拟南芥通过提高自身活性氧(ROS)清除能力增强植株抗旱性。研究结果可为开发利用荒漠植物基因资源培育抗逆作物品种奠定基础。     

Ectopic expression of ABSCISIC ACID 2/GLUCOSE INSENSITIVE 1 in Arabidopsis promotes seed dormancy and stress tolerance

Abscisic acid (ABA) is an important phytohormone that plays a critical role in seed development, dormancy, and stress tolerance. 9-cis-Epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase is the key enzyme controlling ABA biosynthesis and stress tolerance. In this study, we investigated the effect of ectopic expression of another ABA biosynthesis gene, ABA2 (or GLUCOSE INSENSITIVE 1 [GIN1]) encoding a short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). We show that ABA2-overexpressing transgenic plants with elevated ABA levels exhibited seed germination delay and more tolerance to salinity than wild type when grown on agar plates and/or in soil. However, the germination delay was abolished in transgenic plants showing ABA levels over 2-fold higher than that of wild type grown on 250 mm NaCl. The data suggest that there are distinct mechanisms underlying ABA-mediated inhibition of seed germination under diverse stress. The ABA-deficient mutant aba2, with a shorter primary root, can be restored to normal root growth by exogenous application of ABA, whereas transgenic plants overexpressing ABA2 showed normal root growth. The data reflect that the basal levels of ABA are essential for maintaining normal primary root elongation. Furthermore, analysis of ABA2 promoter activity with ABA2::beta-glucuronidase transgenic plants revealed that the promoter activity was enhanced by multiple prolonged stresses, such as drought, salinity, cold, and flooding, but not by short-term stress treatments. Coincidently, prolonged drought stress treatment led to the up-regulation of ABA biosynthetic and sugar-related genes. Thus, the data support ABA2 as a late expression gene that might have a fine-tuning function in mediating ABA biosynthesis through primary metabolic changes in response to stress.     

TMK4 receptor kinase negatively modulates ABA signaling by phosphorylating ABI2 and enhancing its activity

In plants, clade A type 2C protein phosphatases (PP2CAs) have emerged as major players in abscisic acid (ABA)-regulated stress responses by inhibiting protein kinase activity. However, how different internal and external environmental signals modulate the activity of PP2CAs are not well known. The transmembrane kinase (TMK) protein 4 (TMK4), one member of a previously identified receptor kinase subfamily on the plasma membrane that plays vital roles in plant cell growth, directly interacts with PP2CAs member (ABA-Insensitive 2, ABI2). tmk4 mutant is hypersensitive to ABA in both ABA-inhibited seed germination and primary root growth, indicating that TMK4 is a negative regulator in ABA signaling pathway. Further analyses indicate that TMK4 phosphorylates ABI2 at three conserved Ser residues, thus enhancing the activity of ABI2. The phosphorylation-mimic ABI2^{S139DS140DS266D} can complement but non-phosphorylated form ABI2^{S139AS140AS266A} cannot complement ABA hypersensitive phenotype of the loss-of-function mutant abi1-2abi2-2. This study provides a previously unidentified mechanism for positively regulating ABI2 by a plasma membrane protein kinase.