生长素调控植物气孔发育的研究进展

气孔是分布于植物表皮由保卫细胞围成的小孔, 是植物体与外界环境进行水分和气体交换的重要通道, 通过影响光合作用、蒸腾作用及一系列生物学过程来促进植物适应环境的变化。生长素是最早被发现的植物激素, 在植物生长发育中发挥重要作用。近年来的研究表明, 生长素通过载体蛋白-TIR1/AFB受体-AUXIN/IAA-ARFs信号通路, 调控STOMAGEN的表达; 之后, 经STOMAGEN-类LRR受体蛋白激酶ERf-MAPKs级联反应激酶-SPCH转录因子信号通路, 启动气孔的发育进程。EPF1、EPF2和类LRR受体蛋白激酶TMM不是该过程的必需元件。生长素对气孔的调控受光信号影响, 光信号通路组分E3泛素连接酶COP1位于MAPKs激酶的上游, 参与气孔的发育调控。     

植物COP1蛋白的结构与功能

组成型光形态建成1(constitutively photomorphogenic 1,COP1)蛋白是一个分子量为76 kD的核蛋白,它由3个特殊的结构域组成即环形锌指结合域、卷曲螺旋形结构域和WD_40 重复序列,并含有一个核定位信号和一个新型细胞质定位信号,它是一个光形态建成的抑制子,是一个光调控植物发育的分子开关。当植物在暗环境下生长时,COP1蛋白聚集在细胞核内,抑制光形态的建成,而在光环境下,COP1蛋白则分散到细胞质中,解除其抑制作用,恢复光形态建成。COP1蛋白在细胞内的核质分布受多个因素的影响,核内COP1通过与特异转录因子相互作用来调节光形态建成。继从植物中分离鉴定出COP1蛋白之后,动物体内也发现有COP1蛋白的存在,提示COP1蛋白可能在调节动物和植物的发育及信号转导等方面具有共同作用模式。     

植物COP1蛋白的结构与功能

组成型光形态建成 1 (constitutivelyphotomorphogenic 1 ,COP1 )蛋白是一个分子量为 76kD的核蛋白 ,它由 3个特殊的结构域组成即环形锌指结合域、卷曲螺旋形结构域和WD_40重复序列 ,并含有一个核定位信号和一个新型细胞质定位信号 ,它是一个光形态建成的抑制子 ,是一个光调控植物发育的分子开关。当植物在暗环境下生长时 ,COP1蛋白聚集在细胞核内 ,抑制光形态的建成 ,而在光环境下 ,COP1蛋白则分散到细胞质中 ,解除其抑制作用 ,恢复光形态建成。COP1蛋白在细胞内的核质分布受多个因素的影响 ,核内COP1通过与特异转录因子相互作用来调节光形态建成。继从植物中分离鉴定出COP1蛋白之后 ,动物体内也发现有COP1蛋白的存在 ,提示COP1蛋白可能在调节动物和植物的发育及信号转导等方面具有共同作用模式。     

泛素/26S蛋白酶体途径与植物的生长发育

泛素/26S蛋白酶体途径在植物蛋白降解系统中起重要作用,泛素分子主要通过泛素活化酶(E1)、泛素结合酶(E2)和泛素连接酶(E3)将靶蛋白泛素化,泛素化的蛋白最后被26S蛋白酶体识别和降解。泛素蛋白酶体途径参与植物体内的多种生理过程,如花和胚的发育、光形态建成、植物生长物质等几乎所有的生长发育过程,本文主要对泛素/26S蛋白酶体途径及其在植物生长发育过程中的精确调控作用进行综述。     

快速高效检测植物体内蛋白泛素化修饰研究方法

UPS参与植物中绝大多数的信号转导通路。其中, 一些激素的受体本身就是E3泛素连接酶, 如茉莉酸(JA)受体COI1和生长素(auxin)受体TIR1都是F-box蛋白, 它们通过特异性介导相应转录抑制子的泛素化降解来传递激素信号, 但对于整个UPS体系而言, 由于技术的限制, 迄今为止仅见少量泛素连接酶与特异性底物间生化机制的报道。用大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)表达蛋白实施泛素连接酶泛素化修饰底物的体外实验是验证泛素连接酶/底物对的常用方法, 但由于体外实验缺乏某些蛋白必需的转录后修饰, 导致实验结果有时存在假阴性。利用农杆菌注射烟草(Nicotiana benthamiana)瞬时表达蛋白的方法, 建立高效的植物体内检测蛋白泛素化系统, 可以快速检测蛋白泛素化, 包括检测泛素连接酶和底物的特异性相互作用、底物蛋白的自身泛素化、泛素连接酶对底物降解的促进作用、26S蛋白酶体抑制剂MG132对底物降解的抑制作用以及用植物内源表达蛋白进行体外泛素化反应。     

快速高效检测植物体内蛋白泛素化修饰研究方法

UPS参与植物中绝大多数的信号转导通路。其中, 一些激素的受体本身就是E3泛素连接酶, 如茉莉酸(JA)受体COI1和生长素(auxin)受体TIR1都是F-box蛋白, 它们通过特异性介导相应转录抑制子的泛素化降解来传递激素信号, 但对于整个UPS体系而言, 由于技术的限制, 迄今为止仅见少量泛素连接酶与特异性底物间生化机制的报道。用大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)表达蛋白实施泛素连接酶泛素化修饰底物的体外实验是验证泛素连接酶/底物对的常用方法, 但由于体外实验缺乏某些蛋白必需的转录后修饰, 导致实验结果有时存在假阴性。利用农杆菌注射烟草(Nicotiana benthamiana)瞬时表达蛋白的方法, 建立高效的植物体内检测蛋白泛素化系统, 可以快速检测蛋白泛素化, 包括检测泛素连接酶和底物的特异性相互作用、底物蛋白的自身泛素化、泛素连接酶对底物降解的促进作用、26S蛋白酶体抑制剂MG132对底物降解的抑制作用以及用植物内源表达蛋白进行体外泛素化反应。     

泛素化修饰调控脱落酸介导的信号途径

泛素化修饰是一种重要的蛋白质翻译后修饰,通过调节蛋白的活性和稳定性等影响其功能的发挥,在真核生物的生命过程中具有非常重要的作用。泛素化修饰通过精细地调控植物激素脱落酸(abscisic acid, ABA)的合成和信号转导过程的关键因子,影响植物对ABA的响应,参与植物生长发育过程及对干旱、盐和冷胁迫等不良环境的应答。本文概述了植物中泛素化修饰的相关组分(包括泛素连接酶E3、泛素结合酶E2、26S蛋白酶体)和内膜运输相关蛋白,以及这些蛋白调控ABA合成和信号转导过程的最新研究进展,提出该研究领域需要解决的新问题,以期为相关领域的科研人员进一步了解翻译后修饰如何调控激素信号的转导途径提供参考。     

泛素/26S蛋白酶体途径及其在植物生长发育中的功能

泛素/26S蛋白酶体途径是一种蛋白高效降解途径,主要负责真核细胞内蛋白的选择性降解.泛素分子主要通过泛素活化酶E1、泛素结合酶E2和泛素-蛋白连接酶E3将靶蛋白泛素化,泛素化的蛋白最后被26S蛋白酶体识别和降解.本文介绍了泛素/26S蛋白体介导的特异性蛋白质降解途经,并对其在植物激素信号、光形态建成、植物衰老、自交不亲和反应、细胞周期调控、花的发育、生物钟节律和非生物胁迫响应中的功能最新研究进展进行了综述.     

植物光调控因子COP1、HY5的研究进展

植物光形态建成调控因子COP1黑暗中积累在细胞核内,直接与碱性亮氨酸拉链（bZIP）类转录因子HY5相互作用,并被蛋白酶降解,负调控下游基因的表达;而在光下COP1从细胞核内转移到细胞核外,HY5得以在细胞核内积累,可特异结合于查尔酮合成酶基因CHS等光诱导基因启动子上,正调控相关基因的表达。     

泛素化在植物抗病中的作用

泛素化作为植物体内一种广泛存在的调控细胞反应的机制,参与调控植物抗病反应。本文综述了泛素化系统在植物抗病反应中的功能及作用机制,重点介绍了CRLs型E3泛素连接酶和RING/U-box型E3泛素连接酶如何参与调控植物抗病信号途径,以及病原物通过效应蛋白和毒性因子调控植物抗病性的分子机理,为阐明植物抗病机理和植物病害防治方法提供参考。     

Phytochrome regulation of the plant phospholipase activity

The interaction of external stimuli with receptors of plant cell surface can activate the enzymes of lipid metabolism such as phospholipases C and D. The products of the catalysis, i.e., posphoinositide metabolites, phosphatidic acid, fatty acids, etc. participate in signal transduction as secondary messengers related to numerous regulatory processes. One of the physiologically important factors of regulatory control in plants is light, which plays the crucial role in triggering the cellular signaling network. This review presents the information on phospholipid signaling in plants, which is connected with light transduction processes occurring with the involvement of the plant regulatory pigment phytochrome.     

Illuminating plant development

Throughout 1994 remarkable progress was made with molecular and genetic studies on signal transduction pathways of photomorphogenesis, the lightdependent development of plants. Analysis of Arabidopsis DET and COP genes suggests that they are involved in suppression of photomorphogenic development in the dark and that this is then reversed by light. Studies with COP1 indicate that this is achieved by redistribution of COP1 from the nucleus, in the dark, to the cytosol in the light⁽¹⁾. Overexpression of COP1 in the light, however, was able to partially suppress photomorphogenic development, confirming its role as a light-inactivatable repressor⁽²⁾. Evidence also suggests that some of the COP gene products may interact directly to form a large complex⁽³⁾.     

Blue light-dependent interaction of CRY2 with SPA1 regulates COP1 activity and floral initiation in Arabidopsis

Cryptochromes are blue light receptors that mediate light regulation of gene expression in all major evolution lineages, but the molecular mechanism underlying cryptochrome signal transduction remains not fully understood. It has been reported that cryptochromes suppress activity of the multifunctional E3 ubiquitin ligase CONSTITUTIVE PHOTOMORPHOGENIC 1 (COP1) to regulate gene expression in response to blue light. But how plant cryptochromes mediate light suppression of COP1 activity remains unclear. We report here that Arabidopsis CRY2 (cryptochrome 2) undergoes blue light-dependent interaction with the COP1-interacting protein SUPPRESSOR OF PHYTOCHROME A 1 (SPA1). We demonstrate that SPA1 acts genetically downstream from CRY2 to mediate blue light suppression of the COP1-dependent proteolysis of the flowering-time regulator CONSTANS (CO). We further show that blue light-dependent CRY2-SPA1 interaction stimulates CRY2-COP1 interaction. These results reveal for the first time a wavelength-specific mechanism by which a cryptochrome photoreceptor mediates light regulation of protein degradation to modulate developmental timing in Arabidopsis.     

SPA proteins: SPAnning the gap between visible light and gene expression

Main conclusion

In this review we focus on the role of SPA proteins in light signalling and discuss different aspects, including molecular mechanisms, specificity, and evolution. The ability of plants to perceive and respond to their environment is key to their survival under ever-changing conditions. The abiotic factor light is of particular importance for plants. Light provides plants energy for carbon fixation through photosynthesis, but also is a source of information for the adaptation of growth and development to the environment. Cryptochromes and phytochromes are major photoreceptors involved in control of developmental decisions in response to light cues, including seed germination, seedling de-etiolation, and induction of flowering. The SPA protein family acts in complex with the E3 ubiquitin ligase COP1 to target positive regulators of light responses for degradation by the 26S proteasome to suppress photomorphogenic development in darkness. Light-activated cryptochromes and phytochromes both repress the function of COP1, allowing accumulation of positive photomorphogenic factors in light. In this review, we highlight the role of the SPA proteins in this process and discuss recent advances in understanding how SPAs link light-activation of photoreceptors and downstream signaling.

     

Dimer/monomer status and in vivo function of salt‐bridge mutants of the plant UV‐B photoreceptor UVR8

UV RESISTANCE LOCUS8 (UVR8) is a photoreceptor for ultraviolet‐B (UV‐B) light that initiates photomorphogenic responses in plants. UV‐B photoreception causes rapid dissociation of dimeric UVR8 into monomers that interact with CONSTITUTIVELY PHOTOMORPHOGENIC1 (COP1) to initiate signal transduction. Experiments with purified UVR8 show that the dimer is maintained by salt‐bridge interactions between specific charged amino acids across the dimer interface. However, little is known about the importance of these charged amino acids in determining dimer/monomer status and UVR8 function in plants. Here we evaluate the use of different methods to examine dimer/monomer status of UVR8 and show that mutations of several salt‐bridge amino acids affect dimer/monomer status, interaction with COP1 and photoreceptor function of UVR8 in vivo. In particular, the salt‐bridges formed between arginine 286 and aspartates 96 and 107 are key to dimer formation. Mutation of arginine 286 to alanine impairs dimer formation, interaction with COP1 and function in vivo, whereas mutation to lysine gives a weakened dimer that is functional in vivo, indicating the importance of the positive charge of the arginine/lysine residue for dimer formation. Notably, a UVR8 mutant in which aspartates 96 and 107 are conservatively mutated to asparagine is strongly impaired in dimer formation but mediates UV‐B responses in vivo with a similar dose–response relationship to wild‐type. The UV‐B responsiveness of this mutant does not correlate with dimer formation and monomerisation, indicating that monomeric UVR8 has the potential for UV‐B photoreception, initiating signal transduction and responses in plants.     

Cellular Mechanisms of Entrainment

This review summarizes our current understanding of the signal transduction cascade by which light causes phase shifts of the circadian oscillators found in the eye of Bulla and Aplysia. The isolated retina of these marine mollusks contains a circadian oscillator, a photoreceptor, and a light transduction pathway sufficient for entrainment. This preparation offers unique advantages for the cellular analysis of entrainment and the generation of circadian oscillations. There is evidence that similar cellular mechanisms may underlie mammalian and molluskan circadian oscillations. Thus, the models developed to explain entrainment in the molluskan retina are likely to have utility in exploring the mammalian supra-chiasmatic nucleus.     

Effects of Different Spectra from LED on the Growth,Development and Reproduction of <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>

Light is the major source of energy for plants and as such has a profound effect on plant growth and development. Red and blue lights have been considered to best drive photosynthetic metabolism and are beneficial for plant growth and development, and green light was seen as a signal to slow down or stop. In this study, Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) was used to investigate the effects of red, blue and green lights on the growth and development of plants from seed germination to seeding. Results demonstrated that red light showed a promotion effect but blue light a prohibition one in most stages except for the flowering time in which the effect of each light was just reversed. When mixed with red or blue light, green light generally at least partially cancelled out the effects caused by each of them. Results also showed that the same number of photons the plant received could cause different effects and choosing the right combination of different color of lights is essential in both promoting the growth and development of plants and reducing the energy consumption of lighting in plant factory.     

Evidence for functional conservation of a mammalian homologue of the light-responsive plant protein COP1.

Identified in Arabidopsis as a repressor of light-regulated development, the COP1 (constitutively photomorphogenic 1) protein is characterized by a RING-finger motif and a WD40 repeat domain [1]. The subcellular localization of COP1 is light-dependent. COP1 acts within the nucleus to repress photomorphogenic development, but light inactivates COP1 and diminishes its nuclear abundance [2]. Here, we report the identification of a mammalian COP1 homologue that contains all the structural features present in Arabidopsis COP1 (AtCOP1). When expressed in plant cells, a fusion protein comprising mammalian COP1 and beta-glucuronidase (GUS) responded to light by changing its subcellular localization pattern in a manner similar to AtCOP1. Whereas the mammalian COP1 was unable to rescue the defects of Arabidopsis cop1 mutants, expression of the amino-terminal half of mammalian COP1 in Arabidopsis interfered with endogenous COP1 function, resulting in a hyperphotomorphogenic phenotype. Therefore, the regulatory modules in COP1 proteins that are responsible for the signal-dependent subcellular localization are functionally conserved between higher plants and mammals, suggesting that mammalian COP1 may share a common mode of action with its plant counterpart in regulating development and cellular signaling.