Tobacco TTG2 and ARF8 function concomitantly to control flower colouring by regulating anthocyanin synthesis genes

• Recently we elucidated that tobacco TTG2 cooperates with ARF8 to regulate the vegetative growth and seed production.
• Here we show that TTG2 and ARF8 control flower colouring by regulating expression of ANS and DFR genes, which function in anthocyanin biosynthesis.
• Genetic modifications that substantially altered expression levels of the TTG2 gene and production quantities of TTG2 protein were correlated with flower development and colouring. Degrees of flower colour were increased by TTG2 overexpression but decreased through TTG2 silencing, in coincidence with high and low concentrations of anthocyanins in flowers. Of five genes involved in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway, only ANS and DFR were TTG2‐regulated and displayed enhancement and diminution of expression with TTG2 overexpression and silencing, respectively. The floral expression of ANS and DFR also needed a functional ARF8 gene, as ANS and DFR expression were attenuated by ARF8 silencing, which concomitantly diminished the role of TTG2 in anthocyanin production. While ARF8 required TTG2 to be expressed by itself and to regulate ANS and DFR expression, the concurrent presence of normally functional TTG2 and ARF8 was critical for floral production of anthocyanins and also for flower colouration.
• Our data suggest that TTG2 functions concomitantly with ARF8 to control degrees of flower colour by regulating expression of ANS and DFR, which are involved in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway. ARF8 depends on TTG2 to regulate floral expression of ANS and DFR with positive effects on anthocyanin production and flower colour.

     

花色素苷对拟南芥耐盐性的影响

为探讨花色素苷在盐胁迫中的防御作用及其机制,以模式植物拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)花色素苷合成途径相关基因缺失突变体(DFR基因缺失突变体tt3,CHS基因缺失突变体tt4,CHS、DFR基因双缺失突变体tt3tt4)及其野生型(WT)为材料,采用叶绿素荧光和超氧阴离子(O_2·~–)组织定位等方法,分析了tt3,tt4,tt3tt4和WT对盐胁迫处理的生理响应。结果表明,盐胁迫下3种缺失突变体叶片花色素苷含量的增加显著低于野生型,与WT相比,叶绿素荧光参数Fv/Fm、Yield、ETR、q P和NPQ下降较快,膜渗漏率升高显著,叶片O_2·~–积累程度为tt3tt4tt3/tt4WT。这表明花色素苷在植物抵御盐胁迫过程中起着重要作用,它可能是作为渗透调节剂及抗氧化剂来增强植物的耐盐性。因此,花色素苷含量可以作为筛选耐盐作物的指标。     

Activation of flavonoid biosynthesis by solar radiation in bilberry (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vaccinium myrtillus</Emphasis> L.) leaves

The effect of solar radiation on flavonoid biosynthesis was studied in bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) leaves. Expression of flavonoid pathway genes of bilberry was studied in the upper leaves of bilberry, exposed to direct sunlight, in the shaded leaves growing lower in the same plants and in fruits. Bilberry-specific digoxigenin–dUTP-labeled cDNA fragments of five genes from the general phenylpropanoid pathway coding phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and from the flavonoid pathway coding chalcone synthase, flavanone 3-hydroxylase, dihydroflavonol 4-reductase, and anthocyanidin synthase were used as probes in gene expression analysis. Anthocyanins, catechins, proanthocyanidins, flavonols and hydroxycinnamic acids from the leaves and fruits were identified and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography combined with a diode array detector. An increase in the expression of the studied flavonoid pathway genes was observed in leaves growing under direct sun exposure. Also, the concentrations of anthocyanins, catechins, flavonols and hydroxycinnamic acids were higher in the leaves exposed to direct sunlight. However, the concentration of polymeric procyanidins was lower in sun-exposed leaves, whereas that of prodelphinidins was slightly increased. The results give further support for the protective role of flavonoids and hydroxy cinnamic acids against high solar radiation in plants. Also, the roles of different flavonoid compounds as a defense against stress caused by sun exposure is discussed.Abbreviations ANS Anthocyanidin synthase - CHS Chalcone synthase - DFR Dihydroflavonol 4-reductase - F3H Flavanone 3-hydroxylase - GPD Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase - PAL Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase     

Expression of Indica rice <Emphasis Type="Italic">OsBADH1</Emphasis> gene under salinity stress in transgenic tobacco

Glycine betaine has been reported as an osmoprotectant compound conferring tolerance to salinity and osmotic stresses in plants. We previously found that the expression of betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 gene (OsBADH1), encoding a key enzyme for glycine betaine biosynthesis pathway, showed close correlation with salt tolerance of rice. In this study, the expression of the OsBADH1 gene in transgenic tobacco was investigated in response to salt stress using a transgenic approach. Transgenic tobacco plants expressing the OsBADH1 gene were generated under the control of a promoter from the maize ubiquitin gene. Three homozygous lines of T₂ progenies with single transgene insert were chosen for gene expression analysis. RT-PCR and western blot analysis results indicated that the OsBADH1 gene was effectively expressed in transgenic tobacco leading to the accumulation of glycine betaine. Transgenic lines demonstrated normal seed germination and morphology, and normal growth rates of seedlings under salt stress conditions. These results suggest that the OsBADH1 gene could be an excellent candidate for producing plants with osmotic stress tolerance.     

Transgenic Tobacco Plants Constitutively Overexpressing a Rice Thaumatin-like Protein (PR-5) Show Enhanced Resistance to Alternaria alternata

Overexpression of antifungal pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins in crop plants has the potential for enhancing resistance against fungal pathogens. Thaumatin-like proteins (TLPs) are one group (PR-5, permatins) of antifungal PR-proteins isolated from various plants. In the present study, a plasmid containing a cDNA of rice tlp (D34) under the control of the CaMV-35S promoter was introduced into tobacco plants through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system. A considerable overproduction of TLP was observed in transformed tobacco plants by Western blot analysis. There was a large accumulation of tlp mRNA in transgenic plants as revealed by Northern blot analysis. Southern blot analysis of the DNA from transgenic tobacco plants confirmed the presence of the rice tlp gene in the genomic DNA of transgenic tobacco plants. Immunoblot analysis of intracellular and extracellular proteins of transgenic tobacco leaves using a Pinto bean TLP antibody demonstrated that the 23-kDa TLP was secreted into the extracellular matrix. T₂ progeny of regenerated plants transformed with TLP gene were tested for their disease reaction to Alternaria alternata, the brown spot pathogen. Transgenic tobacco plants expressing TLP at high levels showed enhanced tolerance to necrotization caused by the pathogen. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Over-expression of a tobacco homeobox gene, NTH15 , decreases the expression of a gibberellin biosynthetic gene encoding GA 20-oxidase

Ectopic expression of the homeobox gene, NTH15 ( Nicotiana tabacum homeobox 15) in transgenic tobacco leads to abnormal leaf and flower morphology, accompanied by a decrease in the content of the active gibberellin, GA₁. Quantitative analysis of intermediates in the GA biosynthetic pathway revealed that the step from GA₁₉ to GA₂₀ was blocked in transgenic tobacco plants overexpressing NTH15 . To investigate the relationship between the expression of NTH15 and genes involved in GA biosynthesis, we isolated three cDNA clones from tobacco encoding two types of GA 20-oxidase and a 3β-hydroxylase. RNA gel blot analysis revealed that the expression of one gene ( Ntc12 , encoding GA 20-oxidase), which in wild-type tobacco plants was abundantly expressed in leaves, was strongly suppressed in the transformants. The expression level of Ntc12 decreased with increasing severity of phenotype of transgenic tobacco leaves. The abnormal leaf morphology was largely overcome by treatment with GA₂₀ or GA₁ but not by GA₁₉. These data strongly suggest that overexpression of NTH15 inhibits the expression of Ntc12 , resulting in reduced levels of active GA and abnormal leaf morphology in transgenic tobacco plants. In situ hybridization in wild-type tobacco revealed that expression of Ntc12 occurred mainly in the rib meristem, cells surrounding the procambium and in leaf primordia. Expression was not seen in the tunica, corpus and procambium, tissues in which NTH15 was predominantly expressed. The contrasting expression patterns of these genes may reflect their antagonistic functions in the formation of lateral organs from the shoot apical meristem.     

新疆雪莲DFR基因的分离及同源遗传转化

二氢黄酮醇4-还原酶（dihydroflavonol 4-reductase,DFR）是植物重要的次生代谢产物花青素生物合成途径中的关键酶。运用RT-PCR和RACE技术从新疆雪莲(Saussurea involucrata Kar.et Kir.)中克隆得到DFR基因(GenBank登录号为JN092126)。DFR基因的cDNA全长序列含有1个1 029 bp的开放阅读框(ORF),编码343个氨基酸,该基因推断的蛋白与水母雪莲DFR基因推断的蛋白高度同源,相似性达到92%;以不同物种中DFR氨基酸序列进行比对分析,推断的蛋白含有与NADPH特异结合的结构域。将该基因运用农杆菌介导的叶片转化法进行同源转化,将含有转DFR基因的愈伤组织进行悬浮培养,紫外分光光度法测定愈伤组织的总黄酮含量,结果表明转基因愈伤组织的总黄酮含量明显高于非转基因愈伤组织的含量。该研究为提高新疆雪莲药用化学成分黄酮类物质及实现新疆雪莲花青素的人工生物合成的研究奠定基础,对解决天山雪莲资源匮乏提供参考。     

Molecular characterization of the Oncidium orchid HDR gene encoding 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(E)-butenyl 4-diphosphate reductase, the last step of the methylerythritol phosphate pathway

Two pathways are used by higher plants for the biosynthesis of isoprenoid precursors: the mevalonate pathway in the cytosol and a 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway in the plastids, with 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(E)-butenyl 4-diphosphate reductase (HDR) catalyzing the last step in the MEP pathway. In order to understand the contribution of MEP pathway in isoprenoid biosynthesis of Oncidium orchid, a full-length cDNA corresponding to HDR from the flower tissues of Oncidium Gower Ramsey was cloned. The deduced OncHDR amino acid sequence contains a plastid signal peptide at the N-terminus and four conserved cysteine residues. RT-PCR analysis of HDR in Oncidium flowering plants revealed ubiquitous expression in organs and tissues, with preferential expression in the floral organs. Phylogenetic analysis revealed evolutionary conservation of the encoding HDR protein sequence. The genomic sequence of the HDR in Oncidium is similar to that in Arabidopsis, grape, and rice in structure. Successful complementation by OncHDR of an E. coli hdr ⁻ mutant confirmed its function. Transgenic tobacco carrying the OncHDR promoter-GUS gene fusion showed expression in most tissues, as well as in reproductive organs, as revealed by histochemical staining. Light induced strong GUS expression driven by the OncHDR promoter in transgenic tobacco seedlings. Taken together, our data suggest a role for OncHDR as a light-activated gene.     

Transient Expression of the Cytochrome p450 CYP78A2 Enhances Anthocyanin Production in Flowers

Transient expression of a cytochrome P450 gene (CYP78A2) cloned from Phalaenopsis was shown to enhance the anthocyanin contents in the petals of transformed Phalaenopsis. In this study, it was characterized further to understand the relationship between this P450 and the anthocyanin biosynthesis in flowers. The enhancement effect exerted by the P450 gene exhibits the following characteristics. First, its product seems to be able to effectively boost the existing pathway of biosynthesis without causing synthesis of any new anthocyanin. Second, the effect is not limited to Phalaenopsis, a monocotyledon, but also occurs in dicotyledons such as carnation and rose, indicating its wide range of action in heterologous plants. Third, the gene is not expressed in petals at any stage of flower development of Phalaenopsis, thus ruling out its direct participation in anthocyanin biosynthesis. It is possible that this P450 gene is associated with the biosynthesis of plant hormones or second metabolites, and through which to positively and indirectly influence the existing biosynthesis pathway of anthocyanins in petals.     

小麦盐华南象草PpCAD基因的亚细胞定位及其在转基因烟草中的异源表达迫相关基因的克隆与表达分析

该研究根据已克隆的华南象草(Pennisetum purpureum cv.Huanan)肉桂醇脱氢酶(CAD)基因PpCAD的cDNA序列,构建亚细胞定位载体pAN580-PpCAD,用PEG介导法转化象草原生质体,以探究PpCAD蛋白在细胞内的定位;同时构建植物过表达载体pBA002-PpCAD,通过农杆菌介导法在烟草中异源表达,以研究PpCAD基因与植物木质素合成的关系。结果显示:(1)PpCAD定位在象草原生质体的细胞质内;(2)过表达载体pBA002-PpCAD转化烟草后获得27株转基因烟草,其中25株PCR鉴定为阳性;(3)半定量RT-PCR检测6株转基因烟草后发现,PpCAD基因在不同植株的表达量存在差异,通过Southern杂交检测后发现该差异与目的基因插入的拷贝数有关;(4)6株转基因烟草和野生型烟草表型上没有明显差异,除目的基因多拷贝插入的植株OEC6外,木质素含量有不同程度的提高,最高比野生型提高了56.50%。研究表明,PpCAD是一个细胞质蛋白,在烟草中过表达PpCAD能够提高植株木质素含量,表明PpCAD基因参与了植物的木质素合成,可用于象草的木质素调控研究。