CBL1, a calcium sensor that differentially regulates salt,drought, and cold responses in Arabidopsis

Although calcium is a critical component in the signal transduction pathways that lead to stress gene expression in higher plants, little is known about the molecular mechanism underlying calcium function. It is believed that cellular calcium changes are perceived by sensor molecules, including calcium binding proteins. The calcineurin B-like (CBL) protein family represents a unique group of calcium sensors in plants. A member of the family, CBL1, is highly inducible by multiple stress signals, implicating CBL1 in stress response pathways. When the CBL1 protein level was increased in transgenic Arabidopsis plants, it altered the stress response pathways in these plants. Although drought-induced gene expression was enhanced, gene induction by cold was inhibited. In addition, CBL1-overexpressing plants showed enhanced tolerance to salt and drought but reduced tolerance to freezing. By contrast, cbl1 null mutant plants showed enhanced cold induction and reduced drought induction of stress genes. The mutant plants displayed less tolerance to salt and drought but enhanced tolerance to freezing. These studies suggest that CBL1 functions as a positive regulator of salt and drought responses and a negative regulator of cold response in plants.     

植物冷驯化相关基因研究进展

冷驯化是与提高植物抗冷性有关的生物化学及生理学过程,主要包括寒驯化（cool acclimation）和冻驯化（freezing acdimation）。在冷驯化过程中,植物体内许多基因在转录水平上的表达受到影响,已经克隆了大量的相关基因,它们组成复杂的分子调控网络。目前研究表明不依赖ABA的低温信号转导途径是植物冷驯化机制的重要组成部分,其中CBF/DREB1是该调控过程的关键转录因子,与植物通过冷驯化而提高冰冻耐受能力密切相关。进一步利用转基因技术,可以有效地改善作物的耐冷性状。     

植物冷驯化相关基因研究进展

摘要 冷驯化是与提高植物抗冷性有关的生物化学及生理学过程, 主要包括寒驯化(cool acclimation)和冻驯化(freezing acdimation)。在冷驯化过程中, 植物体内许多基因在转录水平上的表达受到影响, 已经克隆了大量的相关基因,它们组成复杂的分子调控网络。目前研究表明不依赖ABA的低温信号转导途径是植物冷驯化机制的重要组成部分, 其中CBF/DREB1是该调控过程的关键转录因子, 与植物通过冷驯化而提高冰冻耐受能力密切相关。进一步利用转基因技术, 可有效地改善作物的耐冷性状。     

拟南芥非生物胁迫应答基因表达的调节子研究概况

分子生物学研究表明,植物中由诸如干旱、高盐和低温等环境胁迫因子诱导的几个基因具有多种功能。大多数干旱应答基因是由植物激素脱落酸（ABA）诱导的,但也有少数基因例外。对模式植物拟南芥基因表达中的干旱应答基因的分析表明,至少存在4个独立调节系统（调节子）。对典型胁迫诱导表达的一些基因中启动子的顺势作用元件和影响这些基因表达的转录子也已进行了分析。已经分离出与脱水效应元件/C重复序列（DRE/CRT）顺势作用元件结合的转录因子,并命名为DRE结合蛋白1/C重复序列结合因子（DREB1/CBF）和DRE结合蛋白2（DREB2）。在转基因拟南芥植株中,DREB1/CBF过量表达可增加其抗寒、抗旱和抗盐碱的能力。DREB1/CBF基因已成功地在许多不同作物中得到应用,从而提高作物对非生物胁迫的耐受性。与胁迫反应相关的其他转录因子的研究也正在取得进展。