AP2/EREBP转录因子在植物发育和胁迫应答中的作用

AP2／EREBP（APETALA2/ethylene-responsive element binding proteins）是一个起源古老的转录因子超家族,它含有1个或2个由约60—70个氨基酸残基组成的非常保守的DNA结合域（DNA-binding domain）,即AP2／ERF结构域。根据AP2／ERF结构域的数目,AP2／EREBP转录因子可以分为2个亚族：EREBP亚族（具有1个AP2／ERF结构域）和AP2亚族（具有2个AP2／ERF结构域）。AP2亚族转录因子有调控花、胚珠和种子发育的功能,而EREBP亚族转录因子（包括DREB类和ERF类）的主要功能是调节植物对激素（乙烯和ABA等）、病原和胁迫（低温、干旱及高盐）等的应答反应。本文讨论了AP2／EREBP转录因子在植物发育和胁迫应答中的研究进展。     

AP2/EREBP 转录因子在植物发育和胁迫应答中的作用

AP2/EREBP (APETALA2/ethylene-res ponsive element binding proteins) 是一个起源古老的转录因子超家族, 它含有1个或2个由约60-70个氨基酸残基组成的非常保守的DNA结合域 (DNA-binding domain), 即AP2/ERF结构域。根据AP2/ERF结构域的数目, AP2/EREBP转录因子可以分为2个亚族: EREBP亚族(具有1个AP2/ERF结构域)和AP2亚族(具有2个AP2/ERF结构域)。AP2亚族转录因子有调控花、胚珠和种子发育的功能, 而EREBP亚族转录因子(包括DREB类和ERF类) 的主要功能是调节植物对激素(乙烯和ABA等)、病原和胁迫(低温、干旱及高盐)等的应答反应。本文讨论了AP2/EREBP转录因子在植物发育和胁迫应答中的研究进展。     

The conserved Ala37 in the ERF/AP2 domain is essential for binding with the DRE element and the GCC box

Four AP2/EREBP genes encoding putative ethylene-responsive element binding factor (ERF)/AP2 domains were cloned from Brassica napus, and these genes could be induced by low temperature, ethylene, drought, high salinity, abscisic acid and jasmonate treatments. These four genes, named BnDREBIII-1 to BnDREBIII-4, were highly homologous and the 37th amino acid was the only difference among their ERF/AP2 domains. BnDREBIII-1 was demonstrated to be able to bind to both dehydration-responsive element and the GCC box and transactivate the expression of downstream genes, while BnDREBIII-4 could bind neither. Further results suggested that Ala37 might play a crucial role in the DNA binding or the stability of the ERF/AP2 domain.     

Indole-3-acetic acid, ethylene, and abscisic acid metabolism in developing muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) fruit

Hormonal metabolism associated with fruit development in muskmelon was investigated by measuring IAA, ABA, and ACC levels in several tissues at various stages of development. In addition, levels of conjugated IAA and ABA were determined in the same tissues. Ethylene production, which is believed to signal the ripening and senescence of mature fruit, was also measured. Ethylene production was highest in the outer tissue near the rind and gradually declined during maturation, except for a dramatic increase in all fruit tissues at the climacteric. In contrast to ethylene production, ACC levels increased during maturation and remained equal throughout the fruit until the climacteric, when levels in the outer tissues increased nearly 5-fold over levels in the inner tissues. The consistent presence of ACC indicates that ACC oxidase rather than the availability of ACC regulates ethylene production in developing fruits. ABA and ABA esters generally declined during maturation, however an increase in ABA esters associated with the outer mesocarp tissue was observed in fully mature, climacteric fruit. IAA and IAA conjugates were only found in the outer tissue near the rind, and their levels remained low until the fruit was fully mature and entering the climacteric. At that time, increased levels of conjugates were detected. The late burst of hormonal metabolism in the outer mesocarp tissue appeared to signal its degeneration and the deterioration that typically occurs in ripening fruit. The tissue-specific conjugation of IAA and ABA, in addition to the production of climacteric ethylene, may represent part of the signaling mechanism initiating ripening and eventual deterioration of tissues in muskmelon fruits.Abbreviations ABA abscisic acid - ACC 1-aminocylopropane-1-carboxylic acid - DAP days after pollination - IAA indole-3-acetic acid     

山菠菜EREBP/AP2类DNA结合蛋白基因的克隆及其耐逆性研究

EREBP/AP2类蛋白是一个仅存在于植物中的DNA结合蛋白(DBP)大家族.其中一些成员如APETALA2和AtDREB/CBF分别调控花的发育和植物对环境胁迫的反应.为了阐明在植物响应盐胁迫过程中所涉及的转录因子的特点,用高盐浓度处理盐生植物山菠菜,构建了cDNA文库,并从此文库中分离得到了一个编码EREBP/AP2类蛋白的基因.此cDNA包含一个723bp的开放读码框和一个长达655bp的3＇端非编码区,推导的氨基酸序列显示其有一个保守的EREBP/AP2的DNA结合域,此基因被命名为AhDREB1.将AhDREB1置于CaMV 35S启动子下转入烟草,获得9个独立的转基因株系,对其进行了长期的盐胁迫实验.结果显示,AhDREB1的组成性表达显著提高了转基因烟草的耐盐能力,这可能是由于其激活了一些具有抗盐效应的下游基因.通过与拟南芥的全基因组进行同源性比较得到了具有较高相似性的7个EREBP/AP2家族成员,二级结构预测显示了它们在DNA结合区段的α螺旋结构上具有相似性.     

The Synthesis of Ethylene in Melon Fruit during the Early Stage of Ripening

The levels of mRNA and polypeptide for a 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate(ACC) oxidase were studied to identify the tissues in whichthe synthesis of ethylene first occurs during the initial stageof ripening. RNA and immunoblot analysis showed that the levelsof the mRNA and polypeptide for ACC oxidase were very low inunripe fruit. They first became detectable in the placentaltissue at the pre-climacteric stage, and then their levels increasedin the mesocarp tissue during the climacteric increase in theproduction of ethylene. Two mRNAs for ACC synthase (transcribedfrom ME-ACS1 and ME-ACS2) were detected in the placental tissueand seeds at the pre-climacteric stage, but only the level ofME-ACS1 mRNA, which has been characterized as the mRNA for awound-inducible ACC synthase, increased in mesocarp, placentaltissues and seeds during ripening. The level of ME-ACS2 mRNAthat was isolated from etiolated seedlings of melon, did notchange markedly during ripening. These results suggest thatthe central region of melon fruit (placental tissue and seeds)plays a major role in the production of ethylene during theearly stage of ripening. ³These three authors made equal contribution to this study.     

利用阵列分析水稻AP2/EREBP家族基因的表达特性

AP2／EREBP蛋白是广泛存在于高等植物中的且包含AP2／EREBP功能域的重要转录因子家族,通常可分为包含单功能域的EREBP类蛋白和包含两个功能域的AP2类蛋白,它们的功能涉及植物生长发育调控和对逆境应答等许多方面。据预测．水稻基因组编码150个左右的AP2／EREBP家族成员,但目前绝大多数蛋白的功能仍不清楚。为了解这些基因在水稻不同器官中的表达特性,我们以AP2／EREBP功能域的氨基酸序列为基础,从水稻基因组数据库中搜索到12个AP2类以及20个EREBP类预测基因,利用PCR扩增的编码区序列制备了这些预测基因的macro—array。以幼芽、幼根、幼叶、颖花和灌浆期成熟叶的cDNA为探针,杂交分析结果显示：不同AP2类预测基因之间的表达量差别较大,但同一个基因在不同器官中表达量基本一致：与此不同的是,大部分EREBP类预测基因在幼根和成熟叶片中表达量较高,而在幼芽和幼叶中表达量较低。这些预测基因的表达模式可能与它们的功能密切相关。     

利用阵列分析水稻AP2/EREBP 家族基因的表达特性

AP2/EREBP蛋白是广泛存在于高等植物中的且包含AP2/EREBP功能域的重要转录因子家族, 通常可分为包含单功能域的EREBP类蛋白和包含两个功能域的AP2类蛋白, 它们的功能涉及植物生长发育调控和对逆境应答等许多方面。据预测,水稻基因组编码150个左右的AP2/EREBP 家族成员, 但目前绝大多数蛋白的功能仍不清楚。为了解这些基因在水稻不同器官中的表达特性, 我们以AP2/EREBP功能域的氨基酸序列为基础, 从水稻基因组数据库中搜索到12个AP2类以及20个EREBP类预测基因, 利用PCR扩增的编码区序列制备了这些预测基因的macro-array。 以幼芽、幼根、幼叶、颖花和灌浆期成熟叶的 cDNA为探针, 杂交分析结果显示: 不同AP2类预测基因之间的表达量差别较大, 但同一个基因在不同器官中表达量基本一致; 与此不同的是, 大部分EREBP类预测基因在幼根和成熟叶片中表达量较高, 而在幼芽和幼叶中表达量较低。这些预测基因的表达模式可能与它们的功能密切相关。     

Identification of an ETR1-homologue from mango fruit expressing during fruit ripening and wounding

We have isolated a mango (Mangifera indica L.) cDNA homologue of the ethylene receptor gene ETR-1, referred to as METR1, which codes for a polypeptide of 802 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 89 kDa. The amino acid sequence is highly homologous (over 80 percnt;) to ETRs from other fruits. Genomic Southern blot analysis indicates that two or more ETR homologues exist in mango. RNA blot analysis revealed that the level of METR1 mRNA in the mesocarp increased during fruit ripening. In addition, it was found that the METR1 mRNA increases transiently during wounding of the tissue. This is the first report of an ETR homologue showing an induction during fruit ripening and wounding.