拟南芥高迁移率族蛋白B（AtHMGB）族基因启动子的转录激活功能分析

为了解高迁移率族蛋白B族（high mobility group protein B,HMGB）基因调控植物响应低温、高盐和干旱等外源胁迫的表达调控方式, 本文克隆了拟南芥AtHMGB前5个家族成员的启动子区域（PAtHMGB1,PAtHMGB2,PAtHMGB3,PAtHMGB4和PAtHMGB5）.运用基因重组技术将其分别替换表达载体上35S启动子区域获得重组表达载体,利用农杆菌介导法侵染烟草获得稳定表达的转基因烟草. 运用实时定量PCR检测上述5种启动子的转基因烟草,观察在外源胁迫（低温、高盐和干旱）处理前后gusA基因的表达差异,同时检测转基因烟草种子在不同外源胁迫条件下的萌发状况. 检测结果证实,在低温胁迫下,PAtHMGB2,PAtHMGB3和PAtHMGB4正调控gusA基因的表达,而在干旱或盐胁迫下,gusA基因的表达被PAtHMGB2和PAtHMGB3负调控. 种子萌发结果表明,在干旱胁迫下,PAtHMGB2调控下的转基因烟草比野生型烟草萌发及生长迟缓|在低温胁迫下,PAtHMGB2调控的转基因烟草长势明显强于野生型. 本研究克隆了拟南芥AtHMGB家族前5个成员启动子,分析其生物学功能发现,PAtHMGB2在响应低温和干旱胁迫方面效果尤为显著.     

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。     

小麦E3泛素连接酶基因TaAIRP2-1B克隆及功能分析

干旱等非生物胁迫严重影响农作物生产。本研究克隆了小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)TaAIRP2-1B基因,探讨其对非生物胁迫的响应机制,为促进小麦抗旱性的遗传改良提供基因资源。组织特异性表达模式分析显示,TaAIRP2-1B基因在小麦抽穗期的各个组织中均有表达,在茎组织中的表达水平较高,而根系中的表达水平较低。非生物胁迫表达模式分析显示,Ta AIRP2-1B受ABA、PEG及冷胁迫诱导表达。过表达TaAIRP2-1B拟南芥在0.4μmol/L的ABA处理条件下,种子发芽率显著低于野生型,表明TaAIRP2-1B提高了拟南芥种子萌发期对ABA的敏感性。ABA处理抑制转基因和野生型拟南芥幼苗的根系生长,但转基因拟南芥受抑制程度显著高于野生型,表明TaAIRP2-1B提高了拟南芥幼苗对ABA的敏感性。转基因结果表明超表达TaAIRP2-1B增强了拟南芥的抗旱性,并且转基因株系的保水率显著高于野生型。总之,本研究发现小麦基因Ta AIRP2-1B参与了植物对非生物胁迫的应答,可能是通过ABA途径正向调控植物的抗旱性。     

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AtNCED2基因启动子区域序列克隆及其活性分析

目的:克隆拟南芥AtNCED2基因启动子区域序列,并分析其组织器官特异性及对外界刺激的响应.方法:通过PCR从拟南芥基因组中克隆AtNCED2基因5'侧翼2295bp启动子区域序列(AtNCED2p),并进行生物信息学分析.构建AtNCED2p驱动GUS的植物双元表达载体pAtNCED2p::GUS,通过根癌农杆菌介导法将其转化野生型拟南芥,检测转基因植侏中GUS表达的组织器官特异性.结果:该启动子序列中存在TATA-box、CAAT-box、根器官特异性元件、ABA响应元件、低温响应元件、昼夜节律响应元件等顺式作用元件.GUS活性主要集中在转基因拟南芥根尖及侧根发生部位.外源ABA处理的转基因植株根中GUS活性为174.8nmol 4-MU min-1 mg-1蛋白,明显高于对照值91.7nmol 4-MU min-1mg-1蛋白.结论:AtNCED2基因可能在根的生长和发育中起作用,且外源ABA处理增强其在根中的表达.     

拟南芥钙调素结合蛋白参与胁迫响应的研究

采用实时荧光定量RT-PCR和Northern blotting技术检测了野生型拟南芥中CBP60g基因对丁香假单胞菌和非生物胁迫的响应,并对丁香假单胞菌接种后,野生型拟南芥、cbp60g-1突变体和CBP60g过表达转基因植物中抗逆相关基因的表达变化进行检测。结果显示:(1)在野生型拟南芥中CBP60g基因的表达能被丁香假单胞菌、高盐、冷和机械损伤所诱导。(2)经丁香假单胞菌诱导后病程相关基因PR5和AIG1的表达在过表达转基因植物中明显高于野生型。(3)受干旱和ABA诱导的AtMYB2基因的表达在过表达转基因植物中也高于野生型。研究表明,CBP60g同时参与了拟南芥对生物和非生物胁迫响应。     

拟南芥类受体蛋白激酶基因CRK45对外源钙离子的响应

以拟南芥野生型和类受体蛋白激酶基因CRK45的T-DNA插入突变体crk45为材料,采用差异基因表达筛选技术检测ABA处理后野生型和crk45中基因表达的差异。结果显示:(1)crk45突变体中有1个基因的表达比野生型高约4倍。(2)NCBI数据库检索表明,该基因编码的蛋白具有EF手型结构,蛋白序列全长为130个氨基酸,是典型的Ca2+结合蛋白,故命名为CRK45抑制的钙离子结合蛋白(CICBP)。(3)Northern blotting分析结果显示,ABA处理后crk45突变体中CICBP的表达明显升高,证明CICBP基因的确受ABA诱导,且其表达受CRK45的抑制。(4)外源75mmol/L的Ca2+处理后,crk45突变体的萌发率(30.8%)显著高于野生型(17.16%),说明在Ca2+介导下CRK45的功能是抑制种子萌发。(5)qRT-PCR检测显示,野生型中CRK45的表达受Ca2+诱导明显升高,而crk45突变体中的表达一直保持很低,说明crk45突变体是一个基因敲除突变体;Ca2+处理后crk45突变体中CICBP基因表达上调,而野生型中CICBP的表达反而降低,说明Ca2+处理下CRK45抑制CICBP基因的表达。研究表明,ABA或Ca2+处理后,CRK45通过负调控CICBP基因的表达,从而抑制拟南芥种子萌发。     

一个种子特异的大豆AP2类转录因子参与调控种子萌发

植物种子的发育和萌发受严格的时空调控,其中转录因子起着重要的作用．本研究发现了一条在发育过程中的大豆种子里特异表达的表达序列标签（expressed sequence tag,EST）．通过末端快速扩增技术（rapid amplification of cDNA end,RACE）得到该基因的全长序列并命名为GmSGR．序列分析表明该基因属于AP2／ERF类转录因子家族,其AP2结构域与拟南芥（Arabidopsis thaliana）中的AP2／ERF基因家族DREB亚家族中A-3组的AtABI4的AP2结构域同源性极高．在酵母系统中,未检测到GmSGR具有转录激活活性．将该基因在拟南芥中过量表达,在高浓度的脱落酸（abscisicacid,ABA）及葡萄糖的条件下,转基因植物种子的萌发率均高于对照组;而在高浓度的NaCl条件下,转基因植物种子的萌发率低于对照组．在转基因植物的幼苗中,AtEm6和AtRD29B的表达较野生型幼苗高．这些结果表明GmSGR可能通过调控AtEm6和AtRD29B的表达,从而导致转基因种子对ABA敏感度降低,对盐胁迫更敏感．     

过表达VHA-c4和VHA-c5基因对拟南芥根长的影响

为研究液泡H+-ATPase c亚基VHA-c4和VHA-c5基因在植物生长发育过程中的作用,本研究构建了拟南芥VHA-c4和VHA-c5过表达载体并转化野生型拟南芥,分别获得9个和7个T2代转基因纯合体株系。采用半定量RT-PCR方法对过表达VHA-c4和VHA-c5的转基因纯合体进行阳性鉴定,发现其mRNA表达量均高于对照。对转基因纯合体进行暗培养和正常光照培养,结果显示,黑暗条件下,所有VHA-c4转基因株系的主根变短,而在正常光照下,所有VHA-c5转基因株系的主根变短,推测VHA-c4和VHA-c5分别在黑暗和光照条件下影响植物根的生长。用ABA和糖(葡萄糖和蔗糖)处理转基因纯合体,结果显示它们与野生型的表型无明显差异,表明VHA-c4和VHA-c5基因的过表达没有影响拟南芥对ABA和糖的响应。     

过表达VHA-c1基因对拟南芥根长及ABA与糖响应的影响

为初步探讨液泡H+-ATPase c亚基基因(VHA-c1)在植物生长发育及信号转导中的作用,该实验构建了拟南芥VHA-c1的过表达载体,转化并获得转基因拟南芥纯合株系,通过半定量RT-PCR技术分析了VHA-c1的表达量,然后对其进行暗培养、ABA和糖处理。结果显示:(1)该实验获得7个T2代转基因纯系,其mRNA表达水平均高于野生型,表明过表达载体的构建是有效的。(2)黑暗条件下,6个拟南芥VHA-c1过表达纯合株系的根长变短。(3)光照条件下,4个转基因株系主根伸长和子叶的展开以及7个转基因株系的种子萌发对ABA的抑制不敏感。(4)分别有5个和4个转基因株系的种子萌发对葡萄糖和蔗糖的抑制不敏感。推测VHA-c1可能参与了ABA和糖介导的信号转导途径,并可能影响了拟南芥根细胞的扩展。     

Transgenic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis</Emphasis> and tobacco plants overexpressing an aquaporin respond differently to various abiotic stresses

Despite the high isoform multiplicity of aquaporins in plants, with 35 homologues including 13 plasma membrane intrinsic proteins (PIPs) in Arabidosis thaliana, the individual and integrated functions of aquaporins under various physiological conditions remain unclear. To better understand aquaporin functions in plants under various stress conditions, we examined transgenic Arabidopsis and tobacco plants that constitutively overexpress Arabidopsis PIP1;4 or PIP2;5 under various abiotic stress conditions. No significant differences in growth rates and water transport were found between the transgenic and wild-type plants when grown under favorable growth conditions. The transgenic plants overexpressing PIP1;4 or PIP2;5 displayed a rapid water loss under dehydration stress, which resulted in retarded germination and seedling growth under drought stress. In contrast, the transgenic plants overexpressing PIP1;4 or PIP2;5 showed enhanced water flow and facilitated germination under cold stress. The expression of several PIPs was noticeably affected by the overexpression of PIP1;4 or PIP2;5 in Arabidopsis under dehydration stress, suggesting that the expression of one aquaporin isoform influences the expression levels of other aquaporins under stress conditions. Taken together, our results demonstrate that overexpression of an aquaporin affects the expression of endogenous aquaporin genes and thereby impacts on seed germination, seedling growth, and stress responses of the plants under various stress conditions. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Gene structure and expression analysis of the drought- and abscisic acid-responsive CDeT11-24 gene family from the resurrection plant Craterostigma plantagineum Hochst

In order to understand the molecular mechanisms which are responsible for desiccation tolerance in the resurrection plant Craterostigma plantagineum Hochst. a thorough analysis of the CDeT11-24 gene family was performed. CDeT11-24 comprises a small gene family whose genes are expressed in response to dehydration, salt stress and abscisic acid (ABA) treatment in leaves. The gene products are constitutively expressed in roots and disappear only when the plants are transferred to water. It is therefore suggested that the proteins are involved in sensing water status. The predicted proteins are very hydrophilic; they share some features with late-embryogenesis-abundant proteins, and sequence similarities were found with two ABA- and drought-regulated Arabidopsis genes. The analysis of β-glucuronidase reporter genes driven by the CDeT11-24 promoter showed high activity in mature seeds in both transgenic Arabidopsis and tobacco. In vegetative tissues the promoter activity in response to ABA was restricted to young Arabidosis seedlings. The responsiveness to ABA during later developmental stages was regained in the presence of the Arabidopsis gene product ABI3. Dehydration-induced promoter activity was only observed in Arabidopsis leaves at a particular developmental stage. This analysis indicates that some components in the signal transduction pathway of the resurrection plant are not active in tobacco or Arabidopsis. Received: 26 April 1997 / Accepted: 16 July 1997     

Cotton Chitinase Gene GhChi6 Improves the Arabidopsis Defense Response to Aphid Attack

Despite the involvement of many members of the chitinase family in the plant immune system, the exact functions of most chitinases remain poorly understood, especially in plant defense responses to phytophagous insects. Here, the gene GhChi6, which encodes a chitinase protein in Gossypium hirsutum, was shown to be induced by cotton aphid feeding and mechanical wounding. Overexpression of GhChi6 in Arabidopsis plants improved their defense response to aphids. The activities of chitinase and PPO in GhChi6 transgenic Arabidopsis plants were higher than those in wild-type plants. Callose deposition in leaves from GhChi6 transgenic Arabidopsis plants was clearly increased compared with wild-type plants. The levels of AtEDS1, AtPAD4, and AtEDS5 in the SA signaling pathway were higher in GhChi6 transgenic Arabidopsis Line4 than those in wild-type plants, while the expression levels of AtLOX2 in the JA signaling pathway and AtEIN2 in the ethylene signaling pathway were lower in GhChi6 transgenic Arabidopsis Line4 than those in wild-type plants. These results collectively showed that the cotton chitinase gene GhChi6 modulated the plant defense response to aphid attack, which may help guide strategies for improving cotton aphid prevention.