Regulation of ammonium and potassium uptake by glutamine and asparagine in Pisum arvense plants

Pisum arvense plants were subjected to 5 days of nitrogen deprivation. Then, in the conditions that increased or decreased the root glutamine and asparagine pools, the uptake rates of 0.5 mM NH₄ ⁺ and 0.5 mM K⁺ were examined. The plants supplied with 1 mM glutamine or asparagine took up ammonium and potassium at rates lower than those for the control plants. The uptake rates of NH₄ ⁺ and K⁺ were not affected by 1 mM glutamate. When the plants were pre-treated with 100 μM methionine sulphoximine, an inhibitor of glutamine synthesis, the efflux of NH₄ ⁺ from roots to ambient solution was enhanced. On the other hand, exposure of plants to methionine sulphoximine led to an increase in potassium uptake rate. The addition of asparagine, glutamine or glutamate into the incubation medium caused a decline in the rate of NH₄ ⁺ uptake by plasma membrane vesicles isolated from roots of Pisum arvense, whereas on addition of methionine sulphoximine increased ammonium uptake. The results indicate that both NH₄ ⁺ and K⁺ uptake appear to be similarly affected by glutamine and asparagine status in root cells. The research was supported by grant of KBN No. 6PO4C 068 08     

Evidence for the involvement of a UDP-glucose-dependent group translocator in sucrose uptake into vacuoles of storage roots of red beet

Vacuoles isolated from the storage roots of red beet (Beta vulgaris L.) accumulate sucrose via two different mechanisms. One mechanism transports sucrose directly, and its rate is increased by the addition of MgATP. The other mechanism utilizes uridine diphosphate glucose (UDP-glucose) to synthesize and simultaneously transport sucrose phosphate and sucrose into the vacuole. This group translocation mechanism has also been found in sugarcane vacuoles. As in sugarcane, the beet group translocator does not require fructose 6-phosphate, nor is the latter substance transported into the vacuole. The uptake of UDP[¹⁴C]glucose in inhibited by high concentrations of osmoticum.Abbreviations EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid - Hepes 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid - UDP uridine 5-diphosphate     

Differential expression of members of the napin storage protein gene family during embryogenesis inBrassica napus

S1 nuclease analysis and sub-family-specific oligonucleotide probes were used to characterize the expression during embryogenesis of the napin storage protein gene family ofBrassica napus (oilseed rape). The expression of one sub-class represented by the napin gene gNa peaks and declines earlier than the other members of the family. This sub-class was highly expressed representing ca. 20% of napin mRNA at 26 days after anthesis.     

Sucrose uptake into vacuoles of sugarcane suspension cells

Uptake of sucrose into vacuoles of suspension cells of Saccharum sp. (sugarcane) was investigated using a vacuole-isolation method based on osmotic- and pH-dependent lysis of protoplasts. Vacuoles took up sucrose at high rates without the influence of tonoplast energization on sucrose transport. Neither addition of ATP or pyrophosphate nor dissipation of the membrane potential or the pH gradient by ionophores changed uptake rates appreciably. Generation of an ATP-dependent pH gradient across the tonoplast was measured in vacuoles and tonoplast vesicles by fluorescence quenching of quinacrine. No H⁺ efflux could be measured by addition of sucrose to energized vacuoles or vesicles so that there was no evidence for a sucrose/H⁺ antiport system. Uptake rates of glucose and other sugars were similar to those of sucrose indicating a relatively non-specific sugar uptake into the vacuoles. Sucrose uptake was concentration-dependent, but no clear saturation kinetics were found. Strict dependence on medium pH and inhibition of sucrose transport by p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid (PCMBS) indicate that sucrose uptake into sugarcane vacuoles is a passive, carrier-mediated process.Abbreviations FCCP carbonylcyanide-p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone - Mes 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid - Mops 3-(N-morpholino)propanesulfonic acid - PCMBS p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid - PPi pyrophosphate This research was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. The technical assistance of H. Schroer is gratefully acknowledged.     

Kinetics of 14C-labelled sucrose, myo-inositol and phosphatidylcholine uptake during induction and differentiation in Brassica napus callus culture

The uptake rate of ¹⁴C-labelled sucrose, myo-inositol and PC was studied in callus cultures of two oilseed rape cultivars, characterized by different in vitro regeneration ability. Transfer of calli onto regeneration stimulating medium resulted in changes of examined substances uptake rate, which were depended on tissue morphogenic potential. Non-regenerating calli of both cultivars increased uptake rate of sucrose whereas changes in incorporation of other compounds were under genome control. Significant increase of uptake rate of all tested compounds was observed as result of organogenesis initiation. Such differences, in the responses of organogenic and non-organogenic tissue indicate that this parameter could be useful as marker of organogenesis A correlation was observed between the rate of sucrose uptake and its concentration in the medium, which suggests an advantage to passive transport through the callus cell membrane. Lack of such correlation in the case of other labels indicates that this processes are selective and under cell control.     

Simulation of nutrient uptake by a growing root system considering increasing root density and inter-root competition

A simulation model is presented which describes uptake of a growth limiting nutrient from soil by a growing root system. The root surface is supposed to behave like a zero-sink. Uptake of the nutrient is therefore determined by the rate of nutrient supply to the root surface by mass flow and diffusion. Inter-root competition and time dependent root density are accounted for by assigning to each root a finite cylindrical soil volume that delivers nutrients. The radius of these cylinders declines with increasing root density. Experiments with rape plants grown on quartz sand were used to evaluate the model. Simulated nitrogen uptake agreed well with observed uptake under nitrogen limiting conditions. In case no nitrogen limitation occurred nitrogen uptake was overestimated by the model, probably because the roots did not behave like a zero-sink any more.     

Regulation of NH4 + transport pathways in Pisum arvense roots

The effects of metabolic and protein synthesis inhibitors on NH₄ ⁺ uptake by Pisum arvense plants at low (0.05 mM) and high (1 mM) external ammonium concentration were studied. In short-time experiments cycloheximide decreased the ammonium uptake rate at low level of NH₄ ⁺ and increased the absorption of NH₄ ⁺ from uptake medium containing high ammonium concentration. Arsenate and azide supplied into uptake solutions at low ammonium concentration strongly decreased or completely suppressed the NH₄ ⁺ uptake rate, respectively. When the experiments were carried out at high level of ammonium only azide decreased the uptake rate of NH₄ ⁺ and arsenate stimulated this process. Dinitrophenol very strongly repressed the uptake rate of NH₄ ⁺ at both ammonium concentrations. After removing dinitrophenol from both solutions, neither at low nor high external ammonium level the recovery of NH₄ ⁺ uptake rate was achieved within 150 min or 3 h, respectively. The recovery of NH₄ ⁺ uptake rate after removing azide was observed within 90 min and 3 h at low and high ammonium concentrations, respectively. The regulation of NH₄ ⁺ uptake by some inhibitors at low external ammonium level was investigated using plasma membrane vesicles isolated from roots by two-phase partitioning. Orthovanadate completely suppressed the uptake of NH₄ ⁺ by vesicles and quinacrine decreased the NH₄ ⁺ uptake which 55 suggests that ammonium uptake depends on activities of plasma membrane-bound enzymes. On the other hand, it was found that dinitrophenol completely reduced the NH₄ ⁺ uptake by vesicles. The various effects of inhibitors on ammonium uptake dependent on external ammonium concentration suggest the action of different ammonium transport systems in Pisum arvense roots. The ammonium transport into root cells at low NH₄ ⁺ level requires energy and synthesis of protein in the cytoplasm. The research was supported by grant of KBN No. 6PO4C 068 08     

Effects of root temperature on uptake of nitrate and ammonium ions by barley grown in flowing-solution culture

Summary Barley plants (Hordeum vulgare L.) grown from seed for 28 days in flowing solution culture were subjected to different root temperatures (3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 17, 25°C) for 14 days with a common air temperature of 25/15°C (day/night). Uptake of NH₄ and NO₃ ions was monitored separately and continuously from solutions maintained at 10 M NH₄NO₃ and pH 6.0. Effects of root temperature on unit absorption rate , flux and inflow were compared. After 5 days , and increased with temperature over the range 3–11°C for NH₄ ions and over the range 3–13°C for NO₃ ions, with little change for either ion above these temperatures. Q₁₀ temperature coefficients for NH₄ ions (3–13°C) were 1.9, 1.7 and 1.6 for , and respectively, the corresponding values for NO₃ ions being 5.0, 4.5 and 4.6. For both ions, , and changed with time as did their temperature dependence over the range 3–25°C, suggesting that rates of ontogenetic development and the extent of adaptation to temperature may have varied among treatments.     

甘蓝型油菜BnFLA基因的克隆及表达分析

利用同源克隆法从甘蓝型油菜中获得了1个类成束阿拉伯半乳聚糖蛋白基因(FLA),命名为BnFLA。BnFLA基因开放阅读框长为1 200bp,编码399个氨基酸,分子量为42 885.9Da,等电点为6.37。预测的BnFLA蛋白包含N-端信号肽、2个AGP-like结构域、2个fasciclin-like结构域和C-端GPI-anchor序列。系统进化分析表明BnFLA氨基酸序列与BrFLA17和AtFLA2进化关系较近,一致性分别为98%和87%。qRT-PCR分析表明,BnFLA基因在油菜各组织均有表达,并以下胚轴中表达量最高,其次为子叶,茎秆中表达最少;BnFLA基因的表达受到GA3、BR、IAA、ABA和NaCl的诱导,但受6-BA、蔗糖、低温和PEG抑制。研究认为,油菜中BnFLA基因可能参与激素信号转导途径和非生物胁迫应答。     

春性甘蓝型油菜BnFY34基因的克隆及序列分析

春性甘蓝型油菜杂交种由于发育期较长,极大地限制了该油菜在高寒地区的推广。为了从春性特早熟甘蓝型油菜中筛选出苗期和蕾期差异表达的基因,该研究以春性特早熟甘蓝型油菜为材料,利用cDNA-AFLP技术筛选出1个春性特早熟甘蓝型油菜苗期特异表达的基因片段,并采用RACE技术成功分离克隆了该基因,命名为BnFY34。通过对该基因的测序和生物信息学分析,发现该基因序列大小为455 bp,包含完整的开放阅读框(ORF),编码一个由71个氨基酸残基组成的蛋白,推测的蛋白质分子量为8.04 kD,理论等电点为10.25,其三级结构中含有3个α螺旋,不含β折叠。同时,将BnFY34基因与甘蓝型油菜基因组序列进行比对,结果显示BnFY34基因位于C4染色体上,由3个外显子和2个内含子组成。另外,通过对该基因与其他植物同源基因的亲缘关系进行了分析,结果表明BnFY34基因与芸薹属植物属于同一亚族,并且与甘蓝型油菜中已报到的未诠释基因XM_013837282.1的相似度达100%,其功能有待进一步研究。该研究结果对春油菜产量和品质的早熟转基因育种具有重要意义。     

甘蓝型油菜BnDGAT1基因表达的特异性分析

该研究从甘蓝型油菜中克隆获得了二酰甘油酰基转移酶基因（DGAT）,命名为BnDGAT1,并对该基因编码的氨基酸序列、蛋白结构域和系统进化树进行分析。结果表明:该基因编码的氨基酸序列包含二酰甘油酰基转移酶等多个功能结构域,并具有8个疏水跨膜结构区。系统进化分析表明,BnDGAT1与芥菜、拟南芥、旱金莲中DGAT1系统进化关系相对较近。利用定量PCR对BnDGAT1基因的RNA转录表达分析表明,在不同组织和角果的不同发育阶段,BnDGAT1基因的表达具有组织特异性,且在角果不同发育阶段,其RNA转录水平随着角果发育的成熟表达明显下调。     

甘蓝型油菜羧基转移酶α亚基全长cDNA的克隆及在大肠杆菌中表达

通过分析拟南芥与大豆的羧基转移酶α亚基的cDNA序列,运用RT-PCR、RACE和基因组步行(Genome walking)三种技术进行组合克隆,首次从油菜开花后20～29天的幼胚中,克隆到质体定位的羧基转移酶α亚基的全长cDNA.同源性分析表明,其开放阅读框(ORF)编码的氨基酸序列与拟南芥、大豆的羧基转移酶α亚基的同源性分别为85%、59%.将此cDNA去除叶绿体转运肽编码序列的成熟肽编码序列,克隆到表达载体pHBM625上,蛋白质印迹分析,它在大肠杆菌中成功表达.     

Ammonium regulation of urate uptake in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Urate was taken up at a negligible rate by Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cells grown on ammonium and transferred to media containing urate plus ammonium or urate plus chloral hydrate or cycloheximide. Addition of ammonium to cells actively consuming urate produced a rapid inhibition of urate uptake whereas the intracellular oxidation of urate was unaffected. Methylammonium but not glutamine or glutamate inhibited urate uptake. Addition of l-methionine-dl-sulfoximine to cells actively consuming urate provoked ammonium excretion, which was accompanied by a rapid inhibition of urate uptake. In cells growing on urate and exhibiting noticeable levels of nitrite-reductase activity, nitrite caused a sudden inhibition of urate uptake whereas nitrate required a time to induce nitrate reductase and to exert its inhibitory effect on uptake. The urate-uptake system did not require urate for induction since the urate-uptake capacity appeared in nitrogen-starved cells. From these results it is concluded that, in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, ammonium inhibits urate uptake and also acts as co-repressor of the uptake system.     

甘蓝型油菜BnCYP79B1基因的克隆与表达

硫苷是十字花科植物的一种次生代谢产物,其合成途径受细胞色素P450的CYP79家族蛋白的调控,该实验采用同源克隆技术在甘蓝型油菜中克隆到了CYP79B1基因,命名为BnCYP79B1(GenBank登录号为JX535391.1)。BnCYP79B1基因cDNA全长1 625bp,编码一个含有541个氨基酸、理论等电点为8.88。序列对比结果显示,BnCYP79B1与花椰菜CYP79B1在DNA序列上的相似性为98.83%,推测蛋白氨基酸序列的相似性为99.26%。通过不同时期不同部位BnCYP79B1基因表达量的分析,发现BnCYP79B1基因在高秆高硫苷品系的根中表达量较高,而对矮秆高硫苷品系则是叶中表达量较高。在BnCYP79B1表达总量上,高秆品系较矮秆品系高,高硫苷品系较低硫苷品系高。     

Differences in uptake kinetics of ammonium and nitrate in legumes and cereals

Influx isotherms were obtained for nitrate and ammonium from three legumes, Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp., Cicer arietinum L. and Arachis hypogaea L. and three cereals, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench., Pennisetum glaucum L. and Zea mays L. The transition in influx isotherms for both nitrogen sources was found to be within the concentration range (0.05–2.5 mM) tested. There were significant differences in Km and Vmax for ammonium between legumes and cereals. The difference in the kinetic properties for nitrate uptake between the two groups of plants only became apparent at the higher concentration tested. Legumes translocated absorbed nitrate and ammonium to shoots more rapidly than cereals. Results show that there are significant differences in uptake and translocation of ammonium and nitrate between legumes and cereals.     

甘蓝型油菜PGK基因的克隆与表达分析

为研究甘蓝型油菜磷酸甘油酸激酶(PGK)基因表达特性,在对拟南芥PGK基因家族生物信息学分析的基础上,通过电子克隆方法获得3个甘蓝型油菜PGK基因(BnPGK1、BnPGK2、BnPGK3)。分别设计特异引物,以甘蓝型油菜雄性不育系09A和保持系09B的cDNA为模板克隆BnPGK基因全长序列。根据获得的cDNA序列设计实时荧光定量特异引物,采用实时荧光定量PCR技术,研究油菜雄性不育系与保持系PGK基因表达差异。结果显示:BnPGK基因在甘蓝型油菜雄性不育系09A和保持系09B的根、茎、叶、花蕾中均有表达,属组成性表达。除茎中的BnPGK3外,BnPGK其它基因在根、茎、叶中的表达均表现为09A高于09B,而在花蕾中均为09B高于09A,BnPGK1和BnPGK3在09B中的表达量是09A中的2倍以上。     

Sucrose uptake and partitioning in discs derived from source versus sink potato tubers

The uptake of sucrose into isolated discs cut from sink (growing) and source (sprouting) potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber tissue was studied. The uptake of sucrose into sink-tuber discs demonstrated biphasic kinetics. The large saturable component was inhibited by incubation of the discs with p-chloromercuribenzene sulfonic acid (PCMBS) whilst both the saturable and linear components were inhibited by carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP). By contrast, in source-tuber discs, the linear component represented the majority of sucrose taken up, the saturable component playing only a minor role. In source discs, only the saturable component of uptake was inhibited by either PCMBS or CCCP. A large proportion (up to 25%) of sucrose taken up into sink-tuber discs was converted to starch but as the tubers aged the proportion of sucrose converted to starch decreased to the level found in source-tuber discs (approx. 3%). By contrast with sink-tuber discs (see Oparka and Wright, 1988b, Planta 175, 520–526) sucrose uptake into source discs was insensitive to turgor and demonstrated an uptake pattern similar to that of CCCP-treated sink tissue. It is proposed that exogenous sucrose is taken into the storage parenchyma of sink-tuber discs by both a carrier-mediated and a diffusional process. By contrast, uptake into the storage parenchyma of source-tuber discs appears to be essentially diffusional. The turgor sensitivity of sucrose uptake into sink-tissue discs may be mediated via the plasmalemma H⁺-ATPase. As the tuber ages the sucrose-uptake activity decreases and the capacity of the storage parenchyma to synthesise starch is lost. The data are discussed in relation to the in-vivo mechanisms of sucrose transport in storage tissues.     

Uptake and distribution of sinigrin in microspore derived embryos of Brassica napus L

In Brassica napus, glucosinolates are transported from all parts of the plant into the embryo during seed development. In this study we describe the uptake of the alkenyl glucosinolate sinigrin by microspore derived embryos from high and low glucosinolate genotypes. Microspore derived embryos develop completely isolated from maternal tissues unlike zygotic embryos, which contains glucosinolates transported into the embryo synthesised in the vegetative tissues. The sinigrin in the culture medium was almost completely absorbed by the embryos after three days of culture. The embryos of high and low glucosinolate genotypes were equally capable of absorbing sinigrin from the medium. A significant increase in different alkenyl glucosinolates following feeding of sinigrin suggests induction of biosynthetic enzymes in the embryos. Following excess feeding of sinigrin, we found a strong uptake against a concentration gradient and stable accumulation by the embryos. The glucosinolate was detected in single dissected cotyledons by a photometric test and by HPLC. This test could potentially be useful for screening mutants defective in glucosinolate uptake into the embryo.     

Early effects of phenolic compounds, extracted from two forest litters, on ammonium uptake and assimilation in Pinus laricio and Pinus pinaster seedlings

The early effects of low molecular weight phenolic compounds, released by Pinus laricio and Pinus pinaster litter, on ammonium uptake and its assimilation in two Pinus species were studied. In Pinus laricio seedlings, the exposure to phenols extracted from Pinus laricio litter increased not only the ammonium uptake but also the activity of the main enzymes involved in its assimilation, whereas the phenols extracted from Pinus pinaster litter had a negative effect on these metabolic processes. In Pinus pinaster seedlings, the exposure to both phenols decreased the ammonium uptake and the activity of the main enzymes involved in its assimilation. Histological analysis carried out in Pinus laricio roots showed that phenols extracted from Pinus laricio litter induced the greatest growth of cortex, element through which occurs the ions uptake in plants, whereas phenol extracted from Pinus pinaster litter inhibited cortex development. On the other hand, in Pinus pinaster seedlings the observation showed that both phenols inhibited cortex growth indicating a strict correlation between cortex development and ammonium uptake and its assimilation.