Enzymes of Choline Synthesis in Spinach (Response of Phospho-Base N-Methyltransferase Activities to Light and Salinity)

In spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), choline is synthesized by the sequential N-methylation of phosphoethanolamine -> phosphomono- -> phosphodi- -> phosphotrimethylethanolamine (i.e. phosphocholine) followed by hydrolysis to release choline. Differential centrifugation of spinach leaf extracts shows that enzymes catalyzing the three N-methylations are cytosolic. These enzymes were assayed in leaf extracts prepared from plants growing under various light/dark periods. Under a diurnal, 8-h light/16-h dark photoperiod, the activity of the enzyme catalyzing the N-methylation of phosphoethanolamine is highest at the end of the light period and lowest following the dark period. Prolonged dark periods (exceeding 16 h) lead to a further reduction in the activity of this enzyme, although activity is restored when plants are reexposed to light. In contrast, the activity of the enzyme(s) catalyzing the N-methylations of phosphomono- and phosphodimethylethanolamine does not undergo comparable changes in response to light/dark treatments. Salt shock of plants with 200 mM NaCl results in a 2-fold increase in all three N-methylation activities relative to nonsalinized controls but only in plants exposed to light. Thus, light is required for the salt-responsive up-regulation of choline synthesis in spinach.     

Gibberellin Content of Spinach in Relation to Photoperiod

When spinach plants were transferred from short days to continuouslight a large temporary increase in gibberellin content occuredafter one day. Several days after transfer the gibberellin contentwas less than that of plants in short days. It is suggestedthat the increase in gibberellin stimulates cell division andthat subsequently the turnover of gibberellin is greatly increased.     

外源亚精胺对盐胁迫下菠菜叶绿素合成前体含量的影响

采用营养液水培的方法,以耐盐性较弱的菠菜(Spinacia oleracea L.)品种‘全能菠菜’为试材,研究外源亚精胺(Spd)对盐胁迫下菠菜生长及叶绿素前体含量的影响。结果显示:(1)菠菜植株在250mmol·L-1 NaCl胁迫下生长受到显著抑制,单株总鲜重、总干重、地上部鲜重、地上部干重、地下部鲜重和地下部干重分别较对照降低57.23%、53.08%、63.14%、55.05%、42.22%和42.86%,叶面喷施1.0mmol·L-1Spd使其分别比盐胁迫处理提高62.83%、71.19%、60.57%、71.74%、70.31%和69.23%;(2)250 mmol·L-1盐胁迫使菠菜叶片叶绿素a(Chl a)、叶绿素b(Chl b)及总叶绿素Chl(a+b)含量分别较对照显著降低42.31%、54.55%和44.53%,叶面喷施1.0mmol·L-1 Spd使其分别较单纯盐胁迫处理显著提高46.24%、51.85%和47.11%;(3)盐胁迫使菠菜叶片Chl a、Chl b、叶绿素酸(Pchl)、镁原卟啉Ⅸ(Mg-protoⅨ)、原卟啉Ⅸ(ProtoⅨ)和尿卟啉Ⅲ(UroⅢ)含量均显著降低,而使胆色素原(PBG)和δ-氨基酮戊酸(ALA)含量升高,而叶片Chl a、Chl b、Pchl、Mg-protoⅨ、ProtoⅨ和UroⅢ含量在施用外源Spd后均显著提高,而其PBG和ALA含量有所降低。可见,盐胁迫条件下,菠菜叶片叶绿素合成受阻,受阻位点在PBG向UroⅢ的转化过程,外源Spd能够缓解盐胁迫下菠菜叶片叶绿素合成受阻的程度,促进叶绿素合成,从而提高叶绿素含量。     

Nitrate Accumulation and its Relation to Leaf Elongation in Spinach Leaves

The leaf elongation rate (LER) of spinach leaves during theday was twice that during the night when grown at a photon fluxdensity of 145 µmol m^–2 s^–1. All leaves showedthe same LER-pattern over 24 h. Due to low turgor, LER was lowin the afternoon and in the first hours of the night until wateruptake restored full turgor. Osmotic potential remained constantdue to increased nitrate uptake and starch degradation in thisperiod. LER increased to high rates in the second part of thenight and in the morning. The lower rate in the dark comparedto the light was not caused by the lower night temperatures,as increased photon flux density during growth resulted in equalrates in the light and the dark. Increased relative humiditydecreased LER and afternoon rates were most sensitive to waterstress. A ‘low light’ night period did not changeLER-pattern during the night or on the following day. We concludethat nitrate is not an obligatory osmoticum during the nightand can be exchanged for organic osmotica without decreasingLER. During the night the turgor is first restored by increasingwater uptake, nitrate uptake and starch degradation. This resultedin increased leaf fresh weight in this period. Thereafter, elongationincreased by simultaneous uptake of nitrate and water. Nitrateconcentration was, therefore, constant in the older leaves.In the younger leaves nitrate concentration increased to replacesoluble carbohydrates. The vacuoles of the old leaves were filledwith nitrate before those of the young leaves. Key words: Spinacia oleracea L., nitrate accumulation, osmotic potential, organic acids     

不同菠菜品种对海水胁迫的生理响应差异

以耐海水菠菜品种荷兰3号和海水敏感品种圆叶菠菜为材料,采用水培方法,研究了海水胁迫对菠菜叶片、根系质膜的伤害作用以及叶片光合作用、叶绿素荧光参数的影响.结果表明:(1)海水胁迫对荷兰3号单株干重影响不大,而显著降低圆叶菠菜的单株干重,并使2个品种植株的叶片和根系MDA含量增加,质膜透性增大,叶片光合色素含量降低,但荷兰3号的变化幅度(叶片MDA除外)小于圆叶菠菜.(2)海水胁迫下,短期内2个品种由于气孔限制引起叶片胞间CO2浓度(Ci)降低,净光合速率(Pn)下降;长期胁迫下,荷兰3号Pn恢复到对照水平,而圆叶菠菜同化力下降,Pn降低.(3)海水胁迫对荷兰3号光化学猝灭系数(qP)影响不大,实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)明显升高,而圆叶菠菜的qP和ΦPSⅡ均下降;荷兰3号初始荧光(F0)的下降幅度和非光化学猝灭系数(qN)上升幅度比圆叶菠菜大;2个菠菜品种的最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)均下降,但荷兰3号光抑制程度(1-qP/qN)的升高幅度比圆叶菠菜小.研究结果说明,海水胁迫下,2个耐性不同的菠菜品种植株都产生了光合作用的光抑制和光氧化伤害,使膜质过氧化和叶绿素含量降低;耐性强的品种能够较多地将光能用于光化学反应,热耗散能力较强,光抑制程度较低,膜系统和光合色素受到活性氧的破坏程度较低,保持了较高的净光合速率,最终可明显降低海水胁迫对植株生长的影响.     

小黑杨花药培养植株转化胆碱氧化酶基因提高耐盐性

以小黑杨（Populus simonii×p．nigra）花药培养植株无菌苗叶片为外植体,通过根癌农杆菌（Agrobacterium tumefaciens）介导法将胆碱氧化酶基因（codA）导入小黑杨中,共获得4株转化株系,PCR扩增和Southern杂交检测结果全部呈阳性,表明codA基因已整合到小黑杨花药培养植株基因组中。荧光定量RT-PCR检测证明,codA基因在小黑杨花药培养植株中获得表达。耐盐实验结果显示,各转基因株系在0．6％的NaCl浓度下能够生长,而非转基因对照小黑杨受盐害严重,说明codA基因的导入提高了转基因植株的耐盐性。     

Assay,Purification, and Partial Characterization of Choline Monooxygenase from Spinach

The osmoprotectant glycine betaine is synthesized via the path-way choline -> betaine aldehyde -> glycine betaine. In spinach (Spinacia oleracea), the first step is catalyzed by choline monooxygenase (CMO), and the second is catalyzed by betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase. Because betaine aldehyde is unstable and not easily detected, we developed a coupled radiometric assay for CMO. [14C]Choline is used as substrate; NAD+ and betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase prepared from Escherichia coli are added to oxidize [14C]betaine aldehyde to [14C]glycine betaine, which is isolated by ion exchange. The assay was used in the purification of CMO from leaves of salinized spinach. The 10-step procedure included polyethylene glycol precipitation, polyethyleneimine precipitation, hydrophobic interaction, anion exchange on choline-Sepharose, dimethyldiethanolamine-Sepharose, and Mono Q, hydroxyapatite, gel filtration, and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Following gel filtration, overall purification was about 600-fold and recovery of activity was 0.5%. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed a polypeptide with a molecular mass of 45 kD. Taken with the value of 98 kD estimated for native CMO (R. Brouquisse, P. Weigel, D. Rhodes, C.F. Yocum, A.D. Hanson [1989] Plant Physiol 90: 322-329), this indicates that CMO is a homodimer. CMO preparations were red-brown, showed absorption maxima at 329 and 459 nm, and lost color upon dithionite addition, suggesting that CMO is an iron-sulfur protein.     

三角梅对盐胁迫的响应研究

长期盐胁迫处理实验表明,随着NaCl浓度增加,不同三角梅品种的地上部和地下部生物量均呈下降趋势。与对照相比,盐浓度为5%时,勤花三角梅生物量下降幅度最小,为27.94%;樱花三角梅下降最大,为67.03%。当盐浓度为4%时,樱花三角梅、白苞三角梅和勤花三角梅的光量子产量分别为0.36、0.30和0.36,分别为对照的78.23%、79.64%和74.82%;金心鸳鸯三角梅的光量子产量为0.05,仅为对照的15.53%。白苞三角梅的光化学猝灭系数qP值随着盐浓度的升高无明显变化;金心鸳鸯三角梅、勤花三角梅和樱花三角梅的qP值随着盐浓度的升高而降低。4个三角梅品种的抗盐胁迫能力为：白苞三角梅>樱花三角梅>勤花三角梅>金心鸳鸯三角梅。     

小麦耐盐细胞系对盐胁迫的伤害性反应

通过逐级提高ＮａＣｌ浓度的筛选方法,得到了能在１．５％ＮａＣｌ下生长良好的小麦（ＴｒｉｔｉｃｕｍａｅｓｔｉｖｕｍＬ．）耐盐细胞系。在盐分胁迫下,耐盐细胞系含水量的降低幅度小于不耐盐细胞系（对照）,Ｈ２Ｏ２含量和Ｏ－２产生速率的增加幅度也明显小于对照细胞系。同时,膜的相对透性、膜脂过氧化和脱酯化程度的提高幅度也明显低于对照细胞系。表明盐分对小麦细胞系膜的伤害与活性氧介导的膜脂过氧化和脱酯化有关,而耐盐细胞系比对照细胞系表现出较强的抗活性氧伤害的能力。     

Genetic Variability in Recovery Growth and Synthesis of Stress Proteins in Response to Polyethylene Glycol and Salt Stress in Finger Millet

Marked differences were found among 28 finger millet genotypes(Eleusine coracana Gaertn.) in acquired tolerance to osmoticstress as assessed by the recovery of root growth from severestress [-1·2 MPa polyethylene glycol, (PEG) or 400 mMNaCl]. However, these differences in tolerance were observedonly when the seedlings were subjected to a preceding mild inductionstress (-0·6 MPa PEG or 200 mM NaCl). In two contrastinggenotypes, synthesis of stress-induced proteins was studied.Proteins with apparent molecular weight of 70-72, 52, 37, 34and 23 kDa were synthesized in the highly responsive genotype(GE 415) and poorly responsive (VL 481) genotype following amild induction stress (200 mM NaCl). However, GE-415 synthesizeda 54 kDa protein that was not observed in VL-481. Addition ofabscisic acid (ABA) to the induction medium containing 200 mMNaCl enhanced the acquired tolerance of finger millet seedlingsover those without ABA in association with the appearance ofseveral ABA-responsive proteins. GE-415 required much less ABAthan VL-481 to obtain the same response. With 10 µM ABA+ 200 mM, A NaCl induction stress, GE-415 had significantlyhigher endogenous ABA. In association with higher levels ofABA, GE-415 had greater recovery root growth following severestress from 600 mM NaCl. Pretreatment with 10 µM ABA +200 mM NaCl induced several proteins with apparent molecularweights of 70-72, 54, 45, 36, 29 and 21 kDa in both genotypes.Qualitatively, GE-415 synthesized a unique 23-24 kDa proteinand quantitatively there was significantly more of the 21 kDaprotein in GE-415 compared to VL-481. The results indicate thatthe synthesis of stress proteins is correlated with the observedvariation in acquired tolerance of the two genotypes.Copyright1995, 1999 Academic Press Eleusine coracana Gaertn., salinity, polyethylene glycol, stress proteins, ABA, ABA-responsive proteins, finger millet seedlings     

Na~ and Water Uptake in Relation to the Radial Reflection Coefficient of Root in Arrowleaf Saltbush Under Salt Stress

The response of halophyte arrowleaf saltbush(Atriplex triangularis Willd)plants to a gradient of salt stress were investigatedwith hydroponically cultured seedlings.Under salt stress,both the Na~ uptake into root xylem and negative pressures inxylem vessels increased with the elevation of salinity(up to 500 mol/m~3)in the root environment.However,the increment innegative pressures in root xylem far from matches the decrease in the osmotic potential of the root bathing solutions,evenwhen the osmotic potential of xylem sap is taken into consideration.The total water potential of xylem sap in arrowleafsaltbush roots was close to the osmotic potential of root bathing solutions when the salt stress was low,but a progressivelyincreased gap between the water potential of xylem sap and the osmotic potential of root bathing solutions was observedwhen the salinity in the root environment was enhanced.The maximum gap was 1.4 MPa at a salinity level of 500 mol/m~3without apparent dehydration of the tested plants.This discrepancy could not be explained with the current theories inplant physiology.The radial reflection coefficient of root in arrowleaf saltbush decreased with the enhanced salt stress wasand accompanied by an increase in the Na~ uptake into xylem sap.However,the relative Na~ in xylem exudates based onthe corresponding NaCl concentration in the root bathing solutions showed a tendency of decrease.The results showedthat the reduction in the radial reflection coefficient of roots in the arrowleaf saltbush did not lead to a mass influx of NaClinto xylem when the radial reflection coefficient of the root was considerably small;and that arrowleaf saltbush could usesmall xylem pressures to counterbalance the salt stresses,either with the uptake of large amounts of salt,or with thedevelopment of xylem pressures dangerously negative.This strategy could be one of the mechanisms behind the highresistance of arrowleaf saltbush plants to salt stress.     

Synechococcus sp. PCC7942 Transformed with Escherichia coli bet Genes Produces Glycine Betaine from Choline and Acquires Resistance to Salt Stress

Synechococcus sp. PCC7942, a fresh water cyanobacterium, was transformed by a shuttle plasmid that contains a 9-kb fragment encoding the Escherichia coli bet gene cluster, i.e. betA (choline dehydrogenase), betB (betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase), betI (a putative regulatory protein), and betT (the choline transport system). The expression of these genes was demonstrated in the cyanobacterial cells (bet-containing cells) by northern blot analysis, as well as by the detection of glycine betaine by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance in cells supplemented with choline. Endogenous choline was not detected in either control or bet-containing cells. Both control and bet-containing cyanobacterial cells were found to import choline in an energy-dependent process, although this import was restricted only to bet-containing cells in conditions of salt stress. Glycine betaine was found to accumulate to a concentration of 45 mM in bet-containing cyanobacterial cells, and this resulted in a stabilization of the photosynthetic activities of photosystems I and II, higher phycobilisome contents, and general protective effects against salt stress when compared to control cells. The growth of bet-containing cells was much faster in the presence of 0.375 M NaCl than that of control cells, indicating that the transformant acquired resistance to salt stress.     

Photorespiration Rate in Spinach Leaves Under Moderate NaCl Stress

We analyzed the effect of NaCl stress on photorespiration of spinach leaves by calculating the rate of carboxylation/oxygenation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, and by measuring the content of amino acids produced through photorespiration. After 20 d of NaCl stress the carboxylation rate was reduced while the oxygenation rate was not affected. The contents of serine, glycine, and alanine increased relevantly. The amount of glutamine also increased after 20 d but the amount of glutamate did not. Hence photorespiration may be stimulated under moderate NaCl stress. A relevant electron transport rate was observed under CO₂-free air, which may indicate refixation of photorespiratory CO₂. When NaCl accumulation proceeded for more than 20 d, photosynthesis was reduced and the content of photo-respiratory amino acids started to decrease, but the oxygenation rate did not change. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Oxidative Stress Induced by Lead in Chloroplast of Spinach

Seedlings of spinach were grown in Hoagland's medium containing 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 microM PbCl2, respectively, for 4 weeks. Chloroplasts were assayed for overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as superoxide radicals (O2(*-)) and hydrogen peoxide (H2O2) and of lipid peroxide (malonyldialdehyde) and for activities of the antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and guaiacol peroxidase and glutathione content, oxygen-evolving rate, and chlorophyll content. Increase in both ROS and lipid peroxide content and reduction in photosynthesis and activities of the antioxidant defense system indicated that spinach chloroplast underwent a stress condition due to an oxidative attack. Seedling growth cultivated in containing Pb2+ media was significantly inhibited. The results imply that spinach chloroplast was not able to tolerate the oxidative stress induced by Pb2+ due to having no effective antioxidant defense mechanism.     

Responses of Seidlitzia rosmarinus to Salt Stress

The responses of the salt-accumulating halophyte Seidlitzia rosmarinus to salt stress (500 mM NaCI) were studied. Observations were carried out over the span of 72 h. Three phases of responses were identified. Parallel observations of physiological parameters and cell ultrastructure allowed us to conclude that S. rosmarinus is capable of resisting salt stress owing to changes in its osmoregulatory systems (ions or organic osmolytes). In addition, these observations showed that salt ions are localized in the central vacuole of leaf cells (via pinocytosis) and also in small cytoplasmic vacuoles of leaf and root cells.     

Balance between Metabolite Accumulation and Transport in Relation to Photosynthesis by Isolated Spinach Chloroplasts

The relationship between the rate of orthophosphate (Pi) transport into the stroma and the rate of CO₂ fixation by intact chloroplasts was investigated. High Pi concentrations in the medium lead to a depletion of stromal metabolites, due to excessive Pi transport into the stroma, resulting in the inhibition of CO₂ fixation. This inhibitory effect of Pi is released by inhibitors of Pi transport, such as pyrophosphate, citrate or pyridoxal-5-phosphate. The latter compound appeared to be specially valuable in inhibiting Pi transport without affecting stromal reactions.     

氯化胆碱对盐胁迫黄瓜幼苗渗透调节物质及活性氧代谢系统的影响

以盐敏感型黄瓜品种津春4号为材料,采用水培方法研究了叶面喷施不同浓度(0.5、1.0和1.5 mmol·L-1)氯化胆碱(CC)对NaCl胁迫(75 mmol·L-1)下黄瓜幼苗鲜重、叶片叶绿素、渗透调节物质含量及活性氧代谢系统的影响.结果表明:(1)单独CC处理可提高黄瓜叶片的叶绿素、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量以及过氧化氢酶(CAT)与过氧化物酶(POD)活性,降低O2·-产生速率,但对植株鲜重及超氧化物岐化酶(SOD)活性影响不大;(2)NaCl胁迫处理增加了黄瓜幼苗叶片中可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量,增强了SOD、POD和CAT活性,提高了O2·-产生速率及丙二醛(MDA)的含量,但同时降低了叶绿素含量与植株鲜重;(3)盐胁迫前CC预处理可缓解黄瓜幼苗叶绿素含量和植株鲜重的下降、以及MDA含量和O2·-产生速率的上升趋势,且进一步提高了盐胁迫下黄瓜叶片中SOD、POD和CAT活性.因此,适宜浓度的氯化胆碱可显著提高盐胁迫下黄瓜叶片的抗氧化酶活性,提高清除活性氧的能力,缓解盐胁迫对黄瓜幼苗细胞膜的伤害,增强黄瓜幼苗的耐盐性.     

植物抗盐机理研究进展

对近年来植物抗盐机理的研究进展作了概述,阐明了植物对盐分的反应及盐分对植物的不同伤害,并从盐生植物的形态、生理和分子水平上综述了盐生植物的抗盐机理,最后对今后植物抗盐机理的研究可能存在的问题提出了自己的观点.