植物硼营养研究的重要进展与展望

硼是高等植物必需的矿质营养元素,但是人们对硼行使生理功能及其分子机理的认识远落后于其它必需营养元素。近几年国际上植物硼营养的研究取得了一些重要的突破。首先是进一步明确了B-RG-II复合物的形成及其影响细胞壁结构和功能的分子机制,并且发现B-RG-II的形成及其含量与陆生植物的进化密切相关。其次是在拟南芥中克隆了第一个植物硼转运子基因BOR1,并揭示了它的作用机理;通过转基因实验证明了植物硼的高效吸收与水通道基因NIP5;1密切相关。进而通过大量的种质筛选,从油菜、小麦、大麦及棉花等农作物中获得一批硼高效吸收利用的优异种质材料,并开展了硼高效QTL定位和克隆。本文详细综述了以上几个方面的研究进展,并对进一步的研究做了展望。     

植物硼营养研究的重要进展与展望

硼是高等植物必需的矿质营养元素, 但是人们对硼行使生理功能及其分子机理的认识远落后于其它必需营养元素。近几年国际上植物硼营养的研究取得了一些重要的突破。首先是进一步明确了B-RG-II复合物的形成及其影响细胞壁结构和功能的分子机制, 并且发现B-RG-II的形成及其含量与陆生植物的进化密切相关。其次是在拟南芥中克隆了第一个植物硼转运子基因 BOR1, 并揭示了它的作用机理; 通过转基因实验证明了植物硼的高效吸收与水通道基因NIP5;1密切相关。进而通过大量的种质筛选, 从油菜、小麦、大麦及棉花等农作物中获得一批硼高效吸收利用的优异种质材料, 并开展了硼高效QTL定位和克隆。本文详细综述了以上几个方面的研究进展, 并对进一步的研究做了展望。     

高等植物K+吸收转运蛋白及其分子调节

K 在植物的生命活动中发挥着十分重要的作用。植物对K 的吸收,可分为高亲和吸收与低亲和吸收。在分子水平上,高亲和吸收主要由KUP/HAK/KT及HKT家族的K 转运蛋白来承担;而Shaker、KCO等家族的K 通道蛋白,则主要在植物的低亲和吸收中发挥重要作用。AKT1、HAK5及其在植物中的同源基因在高等植物K 吸收转运中占有举足轻重的地位。KUP/HAK/KT家族基因的调节,主要是转录水平的调节,而K 通道蛋白的调节则可能主要是一种翻译后调节。植物的蛋白激酶通过磷酸化K 通道蛋白来调节通道的活性,从而改变K 的吸收特性。本文综述了高等植物K 吸收运转及调节的分子机制研究方面的最新进展,并对研究的前景进行了展望。     

硼、镉元素及其交互作用与油菜产量和品质

硼和镉两种元素是影响油菜产量和品质的两个重要因素.硼是植物生长所必需的微量元素,施硼是油菜种植的必需环节;镉是植物生长的非必要元素,易在油菜体内富集,可能通过食物链危害人体健康.本文主要从镉含量与油菜食品安全品质角度考虑,阐述了油菜对镉的积累和耐受机制;同时,概括了前人总结的硼对油菜的产量和品质的影响.最后,结合本人研究区广西地区土壤有效硼含量低,全镉含量高的现状,提出运用硼镉交互作用机理,通过施加适量硼肥,提高油菜的产量和品质,消除土壤镉的潜在危害,从本质上改善该地区土壤存在的低硼高镉现状.     

葡萄NIP基因家族的鉴定与表达分析

类根瘤菌26膜内在蛋白(nodulin 26 like intrinsic proteins,NIPs)是水通道蛋白的亚类,在植物营养获取和胁迫应答过程中发挥着重要作用。该研究利用多种生物信息学软件,对葡萄NIP家族基因进行分析,并采用RT PCR方法克隆得到4个NIP家族基因,利用qRT PCR方法分析非生物胁迫下NIP基因的表达特征。结果显示：(1)在葡萄基因组中,共鉴定到8个NIP基因,分布于葡萄4条染色体上,主要定位在质膜中;结构上含有6个跨膜结构域和两个典型的保守结构域NPA;氨基酸序列中存在很多个可能的磷酸化位点。(2)进化分析表明葡萄和拟南芥NIP基因具有较高的同源性,基因结构包含外显子数4~6个,保守基序种类和数量相似;基因启动子上游2 kb包含多种应答逆境和激素的顺式调控元件,其数量差异可能与基因本身功能相关。(3)NIP家族基因在不同组织中表达水平差异较大,多数成员在叶中表达水平较高,在茎中较低;成功克隆得到4个葡萄VvNIP基因,其长度分别为789 bp、606 bp、897 bp、789 bp,分别编码262、201、298、293个氨基酸。(4)qRT PCR结果显示,不同胁迫处理下NIP基因在葡萄叶片中的表达水平不同：低温处理下葡萄NIP基因大多呈显著下调表达;盐胁迫下,除VvNIP2 1、VvNIP4 2外其余家族基因均呈下调表达;干旱胁迫下VvNIP4 2显著上调。研究表明,VvNIP基因对多种胁迫均有响应,为葡萄逆境胁迫机制研究提供了参考。     

植物重金属转运蛋白研究进展

土壤中的有毒重金属不仅对植物有害,也可通过食物链危害人类和动物的健康.重金属转运蛋白在植物吸收、抵抗重金属的复杂机制中起着关键作用.植物重金属转运蛋白分为吸收蛋白和排出蛋白,其中,吸收蛋白转运必需重金属进入细胞,同时也会因为必需重金属的缺乏或离子之间的竞争而运载有毒重金属;排出蛋白是一类解毒蛋白,可将过量的或有毒的重金属逆向转运出细胞,或区室化于液泡中.目前,细胞内多种重金属转运蛋白基因的转录水平与重金属离子积累之间的联系已被揭示,并分离克隆出诸多相关蛋白家族成员.本文综述了近年来发现并鉴定的主要重金属转运蛋白的金属亲和性、器官表达特异性及细胞内定位等的研究进展.     

高等植物Na+吸收、转运及细胞内Na+稳态平衡研究进展

盐胁迫是影响农业生产的重要环境因素之一。本文对植物Na 吸收的机制和途径、Na 在植物体内的长距离转运以及细胞内Na 稳态平衡的研究进展进行了概述。参与植物Na 吸收与转运的蛋白和通道可能包括HKT、LCT1、AKT和NSCC等。其中,HKT是植物体内普遍存在的一类转运蛋白,能够介导Na 的吸收,其结构中的带电氨基酸残基对于其离子选择性有着非常明显的影响。LCT1是从小麦中发现的一类能够介导低亲和性阳离子吸收的蛋白,然而在典型的土壤Ca2 浓度下LCT1并不能发挥吸收Na 的功能。AKT家族的成员在高盐环境下可能也参与了Na 的吸收。目前虽然还没有克隆到编码NSCC蛋白的基因,但是NSCC作为植物吸收Na 的主要途径的观点已被广泛接受。SOS1和HKT参与了Na 在根部与植株地上部的长距离转运过程,它们在木质部和韧皮部的Na 装载和卸载中发挥重要作用,从而影响植物的抗盐性。另外,由质膜Na /H 逆向转运蛋白SOS1、蛋白激酶SOS2以及Ca2 结合蛋白SOS3组成的SOS复合体对细胞的Na 稳态具有重要的调节作用,单子叶和双子叶植物之间的这种调节机制在结构和功能上具有保守性。SOS复合体与其它位于质膜或液泡膜上的Na /H 逆向转运蛋白以及H 泵一起调节着细胞的Na 稳态。     

植物吸收转运无机氮的生理及分子机制

氮是植物生长必需的营养元素。植物从土壤中吸收的氮素主要是NO3-和NH4 等无机氮源。植物吸收NO3-和NH4 的系统均有高亲和转运系统(high-affinity transport system,HATS)和低亲和转运系统(low-affinity transport system,LATS)之分。近10多年的研究已对这些转运系统的分子基础有了较好的理解,本文着重对近年来植物吸收无机氮分子机制的研究进展进行了综述。     

植物吸收转运无机氮的生理及分子机制

氮是植物生长必需的营养元素。植物从土壤中吸收的氮素主要是NO3-和NH4 +等无机氮源。植物吸收NO3-和NH4+的系统均有高亲和转运系统(high-affinity transport system, HATS)和低亲和转运系统(low-affinity transport system, LATS)之分。近10多年的研究已对这些转运系统的分子基础有了较好的理解, 本文着重对近年来植物吸收无机氮分子机制的研究进展进行了综述。     

OsPT8过量表达提高转基因烟草的耐低磷能力

高亲和磷转运蛋白负责植物在低磷条件下吸收和转运磷酸盐,对植物的生长发育至关重要。将水稻中关键的高亲和磷转运蛋白基因OsPT8(A high affinity phosphate transporter gene OsPht1;8,以下简称OsPT8)通过农杆菌介导的方法转入烟草云烟87,以转基因烟草和野生型(云烟87)为材料,设置正常供磷(1 mmol/L Pi)和低磷(0.1 mmol/L Pi)两个处理的沙培试验,检测烟株地上部和地下部的生物量、全磷及有效磷的含量,分析烟草高亲和磷转运蛋白家族基因(NtPT1和NtPT2)的表达差异。结果显示,低磷条件下,OsPT8过量表达转基因株系生物量均显著高于野生型;在正常供磷和低磷条件下,OsPT8过量表达烟草株系全磷含量和有效磷含量均显著高于野生型,这表明高亲和磷转运蛋白基因OsPT8可以提高转基因烟草的耐低磷能力。RT-PCR和Q-PCR结果显示,转基因株系显著提高了烟草高亲和磷转运蛋白基因NtPT1和NtPT2的表达量,表明OsPT8对烟草磷吸收和转运的影响是通过OsPT8基因和烟草NtPT1、NtPT2基因等一个复杂的过程起作用的。     

Boron transport mechanisms: collaboration of channels and transporters

Boron (B) is an essential element for plants, but is also toxic when present in excess. B deficiency and toxicity are both major agricultural problems worldwide, and elucidating the molecular mechanisms of B transport should allow us to develop technology to alleviate B deficiency and toxicity problems. Recent milestones include the identification of a boric acid channel, NIP5;1, and a boric acid/borate exporter, BOR1, from Arabidopsis thaliana. Both proteins were shown to be required for plant growth under B limitation. In addition, BOR1 homologs are required for B homeostasis in mammalian cells and B-toxicity tolerance in yeast and plants. Here, we discuss how transgenic approaches show promise for generating crops that are tolerant of B deficiency and toxicity.     

The effect of boron availability,CO<Subscript>2</Subscript>, and irradiance on relative accumulation of the major boron transport proteins,BOR1 and NIP5;1

Boron (B) is an essential plant micronutrient. Two major B-transport proteins have been recently identified and partially characterized: BOR1, a high-affinity B efflux transporter involved in xylem loading, and NIP5;1, a plasma-membrane boric-acid channel involved in B uptake. To date, studies of these B transporters have investigated their expression individually (mainly as mRNA), and only in response to variation in B availability (mostly B deficiency); the influence of other factors, such as plant resource status, has not been studied. To address this, we grew geranium (Pelargonium × hortorum cv. Maverick White) plants under ambient or elevated CO₂ concentration, different sub-saturating irradiances, and different B availability. For comparison we also grew three other species (Arabidopsis thaliana, Azolla caroliniana, and Hordeum vulgare) under broad range of B supply. Relative accumulation of BOR1 and NIP5;1 proteins were measured using protein-specific antibodies and Western blotting or ELISA. Elevated CO₂ significantly increased content of NIP5;1, while increases in irradiance increased BOR1 content, but decreased NIP5;1 content. Across species, content of both transporters often decreased with increasing B availability, but sometimes remained unchanged or even increased, depending on CO₂, irradiance, species, or transporter. Content of BOR1 and NIP5;1 was correlated with root proteins, B content, and sugar content (for high CO₂ only), as well as B uptake, but CO₂ and irradiance often affected these relationships. Thus, relative accumulation of BOR1 and NIP5;1 is influenced not only by B content, as expected, but by other environmental factors as well.     

Improvement of seed yields under boron-limiting conditions through overexpression of BOR1, a boron transporter for xylem loading, in Arabidopsis thaliana

Soil fertilization is a common practice in modern agriculture, undertaken to prevent nutrient deficiency in crops. However, fertilization is costly and causes environmental pollution. The cultivation of plants that tolerate low nutrient supplies may circumvent this problem. Here, we report the generation of Arabidopsis thaliana plants that tolerate boron (B)-deficient conditions due to the overexpression of BOR1, an efflux B transporter that is required for efficient xylem loading of B. In several independently generated transgenic plants expressing BOR1 or BOR1-GFP under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S RNA promoter, root-to-shoot translocation of B was enhanced and shoot growth was greater under B-limiting conditions compared with wild-type plants. In addition, the transgenic plants showed increased translocation of B, especially to the shoot apex, and set seed normally under B-limiting conditions, under which wild-type plants failed to set seed. This study therefore reports plants that show improved seed yields compared with wild-type under nutrient-deficient conditions as a result of increased production of an essential mineral nutrient transporter.     

Borate Transport and Cell Growth and Proliferation: Not Only in Plants

Boron is an abundant mineral essential for the life cycle of plants and may play a role in animal development and growth. Very little is known about boron homeostasis in plant and animal cells and the physiological roles of boron in animals. The recent identification of boron transporters, BOR1 in plants and NaBC1 in mammals, and that NaBC1 functions as an electrogenic Na+-coupled borate transporter essential for cell growth and proliferation open the way to probe the roles of boron in cellular function and physiology.     

High boron-induced ubiquitination regulates vacuolar sorting of the BOR1 borate transporter in Arabidopsis thaliana

Boron homeostasis is important for plants, as boron is essential but is toxic in excess. Under high boron conditions, the Arabidopsis thaliana borate transporter BOR1 is trafficked from the plasma membrane (PM) to the vacuole via the endocytic pathway for degradation to avoid excess boron transport. Here, we show that boron-induced ubiquitination is required for vacuolar sorting of BOR1. We found that a substitution of lysine 590 with alanine (K590A) in BOR1 blocked degradation. BOR1 was mono- or diubiquitinated within several minutes after applying a high concentration of boron, whereas the K590A mutant was not. The K590A mutation abolished vacuolar transport of BOR1 but did not apparently affect polar localization to the inner PM domains. Furthermore, brefeldin A and wortmannin treatment suggested that Lys-590 is required for BOR1 translocation from an early endosomal compartment to multivesicular bodies. Our results show that boron-induced ubiquitination of BOR1 is not required for endocytosis from the PM but is crucial for the sorting of internalized BOR1 to multivesicular bodies for subsequent degradation in vacuoles.     

Expression of the Arabidopsis borate efflux transporter gene, AtBOR4, in rice affects the xylem loading of boron and tolerance to excess boron

Boron is an essential nutrient for plants, but it is toxic in excess. Transgenic rice plants expressing an Arabidopsis thaliana borate efflux transporter gene, AtBOR4, at a low level exhibited increased tolerance to excess boron. Those lines with high levels of expression exhibited reduced growth. These findings suggest a potential of the borate transporter BOR4 for the generation of high-boron tolerant rice.