大豆豆血红蛋白基因的时空特异性表达

豆血红蛋白(Lb)是根瘤菌与豆科植物有效共生的根瘤中的一种组织特异性蛋白。与动物血红蛋白性质相似,Lb调节根瘤中游离O_2的浓度以保护类菌体产生的、易受O_2破坏的固氮酶。豆血红蛋白由植物基因编码。已发现大豆根瘤中有八个Lb组分,四个次要组分是四个主要组分的修饰产物。     

南山麻黄属的血红蛋白:有关植物血红蛋白的起源

在非豆科植物南山麻黄属(Parasponia)根瘤菌形成的固氮根瘤中提纯血红蛋白(Appleby等,1983),使人们怀疑这样一个假说,即,可能通过同一级别基因传递的单一作用所产生的根瘤豆血红蛋白和豆血红蛋白是一种渗入的杂物而不是植物共生固氮作用的必需物。南山麻黄属血红蛋白和氧可逆结合(Appleby等,1983)意味着:在体内,它象豆科植物共生现象中的豆血红蛋白一样,起着携带氧气的作用。因此,在共生固氮遗传工程方面,存在着血红蛋白的可能必要条件而引出几个问题: (1)南山麻黄属血红蛋白是植物或细菌的产物?什么因子控制它的表达? (2)它和豆科植物根瘤豆血红蛋白的遗传起源是否相同?     

甘南高寒地区不同海拔西藏沙棘根瘤内生菌多样性

为了研究甘南高寒地区3个不同海拔西藏沙棘根瘤中内生菌的多样性,采用Illumina MiSeq高通量测序技术对3种不同海拔的西藏沙棘根瘤内生菌的菌群组成和多样性进行了分析。实验结果表明,3个不同海拔西藏沙棘根瘤中的内生菌主要包括6大门,分别为蓝藻门(Cyanobacteria),放线菌门(Actinobacteria),变形菌门(Proteobacteria),拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes),梭杆菌门(Fusobacteria)和厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)。其中占主导地位的微生物是蓝藻门和放线菌门,蓝藻门在3个海拔的西藏沙棘根瘤中的丰度分别为68.1%,64.7%和66.0%,放线菌门在3个海拔的西藏沙棘根瘤中的丰度分别为28.6%,30.2%和29.5%。放线菌门弗兰克氏菌属(Frankia)为共同的优势菌属之一,在3个海拔的丰度分别为28.2%,29.8%和29.1%。3个不同海拔西藏沙棘根瘤中的内生菌除了能与沙棘共生固氮的弗兰克氏菌外,还存在其他的微生物群落,可能存在一些潜在的有价值的内生菌种资源。     

豆科根瘤的超微结构研究

Bergerson等于1958年开创了豆科根瘤超微结构的研究,并逐渐形成一门崭新的学科和科研领域。根瘤超微结构研究是指运用各种电镜技术(包括超薄切片、扫描、冰冻蚀刻、放射自显影、细胞化学和免疫电镜等),在亚细胞水平上研究根瘤在发育过程中的结构变化以及这些变化与根瘤发育和固氮的关系。归纳起     

豆科根瘤非侵染细胞的形态结构研究

非侵染细胞是豆科根瘤中一种非常重要的细胞,它不仅参与了根瘤共生固氮,而且还在其中起了极为重要的作用,这些作用的发挥与其具有与此相适应的形态结构和分布有关。非侵染细胞体积小、数量少,分散于侵染细胞之间。在大豆根瘤中,它们彼此相连接,形成一条条的线和一个个的面,由根瘤中心向四周辐射,直至与皮层细胞相接,其作用可能与根瘤中心组织和皮层细胞之间的物质运输,特别是固氮产物的输出密切有关。非侵染细胞与侵染细胞之间的主要差异在于它不含细菌,中央有一个大液泡,细胞质中含有大量的过氧化物酶体和许多膨大的管状内质网,而且细胞壁上还有丰富的胞间连丝和纹孔,但主要存在于非侵染细胞与非侵染细胞之间的连接壁上。     

蔓胡颓子根瘤内生菌的分离和培养

用四氧化锇法,从蔓胡颓子(Elaeagnus glabra Thurib)根瘤中分离出内生菌纯培养菌株(Frankia sp Eg1413)。根据其形态特征,确认为孢囊放线菌。该菌株的菌丝、孢囊、孢囊孢子和泡囊基本与已知胡颓子属植物根瘤内生菌株相似,回接宿主植物实生苗,形成大量具有固氮活力的根瘤,根瘤的固氮酶话力为21．5n mol C2H4／g根瘤鲜重分钟。该菌株最适宜的碳源为挥发性的脂肪酸(如丙酸),最适宜的氮源为多蛋白胨,在基础培养液中加入维生素混合物,对生长有抑制作用。最适培养温度为29℃,最适生长的pH范围6.5—7.0。     

2,4-D诱发小麦根瘤及引导根瘤菌进入小麦根瘤细胞的研究

本文通过水培和砂培的冬小麦(丰抗8号),研究用2,4-D处理并接种慢生型大豆根瘤菌61A76(Bradyrhizobium japonicum 61A76)和快生型沙打旺根瘤菌16(Rhitobium sp. astrugllus16),诱发小麦形成含菌根瘤的可能性。结果表明2,4-D可诱发小麦根系产生瘤状结构,此瘤状结构起始于根中柱鞘,2,4-D刺激小麦根瘤细胞的DNA合成,根瘤细胞的核及DNA含量约为正常根部的二倍,2,4-D能引导上述两种根瘤菌进入小麦根瘤细胞并大量繁殖,进入根瘤细咆的根瘤菌其形态有些变化,内含聚β—羟丁酸颗粒,有些菌体被膜囊包围。从接种大豆根瘤菌的小麦根瘤内分离出一株根瘤菌,经镜检、血清学及回接大豆试验证明为原接种的大豆根瘤菌株。     

色赤杨光合作用与根瘤氮代谢的关系

在放线菌结瘤植物(Actinorhizal plants)与放线菌Frankia的共生体系中,固氮酶(N_2ase)活性与所提供的光合产物的量密切相关。通过在同一天的不同对间内,对同株色赤杨光合作用和根瘤中的N_2ase比活、NH_4~ 含量、还原糖含量以及总氮量的变化所做的同步测定结果表明,N_2ase比活的最高峰迟后于光合强度的最高峰;在根瘤内部,NH_4~ 含量和还原糖含量都与N_2ase比活呈负相关,而总氮量则与N_2ase比活呈正相关。本文对这一现象进行了讨论,并且推测还原糖作为光合作用产物的衍生物,直接影响根瘤的固氮作用,它不仅为N.2ase提供固氮所需的能量,而且为固氮产物NH_4~ 提供受体。     

共生体中根瘤菌与寄主细胞间的相互关系

早在十六世纪,Fuchs等就对根瘤作过粗约观察。1679年Malpighi认为蚕豆根上的肿块(根瘤)是虫婴(insect galll)。1886年Bopo HNH则发现根瘤是由微生物侵染引起的。1888年Berijtrink第一个从根瘤中分离出根瘤菌。1890年Praz-     

内蒙古草原3年生小叶锦鸡儿根瘤特征及其对环境变化的响应

小叶锦鸡儿(Caragana microphylla)是氮素匮缺的内蒙古草原的灌丛优势种, 研究其根瘤性状及其对不同环境因子的响应特征, 可以进一步了解草原生态系统共生固氮过程及其对全球变化的响应机制。在中国科学院内蒙古草原生态系统定位研究站, 利用开顶式生长室(Open-top chamber, OTC)控制实验模拟环境变化, 研究了3年生小叶锦鸡儿播种苗根瘤特征, 及其对氮素添加、干旱和加水和大气CO₂浓度升高的响应。结果表明: 1) 3年生小叶锦鸡儿明显有根瘤着生, 多着生于侧根。根瘤形状多样, 以浅黄色的梨状和球状根瘤为主(占根瘤总数的68%); 另有少数棕褐色棒状和纺锤状根瘤(占根瘤总数的30%); 还有极少数较大的Y状根瘤。2)添加氮素极显著地抑制根系和根瘤的生长发育: 根系有发白现象, 且着生在其上的几乎都是干瘪根瘤。这种抑制效应随着水分增加和CO₂浓度升高有所减缓。3)干旱抑制根系和根瘤生长, 而加水促进二者生长。与干旱和正常水分相比, 加水时根系更发达, 根瘤形态多样, 出现掌状和珊瑚状等大型根瘤。随着水分增加, 根瘤着生部位由主根渐向侧根再向须根发展。与正常水分相比, 减水时根瘤平均长度降低了50.4% (p<0.05); 在加水条件下根瘤生长状况最为良好, 单株根瘤数量和重量以及根瘤平均重量均显著增加。4) CO₂浓度升高对根瘤生长有促进作用, 但未达到显著。5)根瘤数量对环境因子的变化比根瘤大小更敏感; 氮素和水分对单株根瘤数量和重量具有交互作用; 对于水分和氮素相对缺乏的内蒙古草原, 水分是限制小叶锦鸡儿根瘤菌侵染根系形成根瘤的关键因子。     

Simultaneous measurement of acetylene reduction and respiratory gas exchange of attached root nodules

A method was developed for the simultaneous measurement of acetylene reduction, carbon dioxide evolution and oxygen uptake by individual root nodules of intact nitrogen-fixing plants (Alnus rubra Bong.). The nodules were enclosed in a temperature-controlled leak-tight cuvette. Assay gas mixtures were passed through the cuvette at a constant, known flow rate and gas exchange was measured by the difference between inlet and outlet gas compositions. Gas concentrations were assayed by a combination of an automated gas chromatograph and a programmable electronic integrator. Carbon dioxide and ethylene evolution were determined with a coefficient of variation which was less than 2%, whereas the coefficient of variation for oxygen uptake measurements was less than 5%. Nodules subjected to repeated removal from and reinsertion into the cuvette and to long exposures of 10% v/v acetylene showed no irreversible decline in respiration or acetylene reduction. This system offers long-term stability and freedom from disturbance artifacts plus the ability to monitor continuously, rapidly and specifically the changes in root nodule activity caused by environmental perturbation.     

Influence of ammonium chloride on the nitrogenase activity of nodulated pea plants (Pisum sativum).

A study was made on the short-term effect of ammonium ions on the nitrogenase activity of pea root nodules. Nodulated pea plants (Pisum sativum), having reached maximum acetylene-reducing activity, were supplied with NH4Cl (20 mM). Nitrogenase activity of intact plants, detached nodules, and isolated bacteroids was measured at differed time intervals. A significant drop (20 to 40%) in the acetylene-reducing activity of treated intact plants and their detached nodules was observed after 1 day. No drop in the nitrogenase activity of bacteroids (assayed aerobically, or anaerobically after treatment with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-toluene) occurred for 2 to 4 days after the addition of NH4+ to the plants, depending on cultural conditions. From these results it is concluded that the adverse effect of NH4+ on acetylene reduction by intact plants and detached nodules during the first 2 days is not due to a decrease in the amount of nitrogenase in the bacteroids. It is suggested that the effect has to be attributed to a reduced supply to the bacteroids of energy-delivery photosynthates.     

Influence of ammonium chloride on the nitrogenase activity of nodulated pea plants (Pisum sativum)

A study was made on the short-term effect of ammonium ions on the nitrogenase activity of pea root nodules. Nodulated pea plants (Pisum sativum), having reached maximum acetylene-reducing activity, were supplied with NH4Cl (20 mM). Nitrogenase activity of intact plants, detached nodules, and isolated bacteroids was measured at differed time intervals. A significant drop (20 to 40%) in the acetylene-reducing activity of treated intact plants and their detached nodules was observed after 1 day. No drop in the nitrogenase activity of bacteroids (assayed aerobically, or anaerobically after treatment with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-toluene) occurred for 2 to 4 days after the addition of NH4+ to the plants, depending on cultural conditions. From these results it is concluded that the adverse effect of NH4+ on acetylene reduction by intact plants and detached nodules during the first 2 days is not due to a decrease in the amount of nitrogenase in the bacteroids. It is suggested that the effect has to be attributed to a reduced supply to the bacteroids of energy-delivery photosynthates.     

Further Errors in the Acetylene Reduction Assay: Effects of Plant Disturbance

A flow-through gas system was used to study the effects of disturbanceon nitrogenase (acetylene reduction) activity of nodulated rootsystems of soyabean (Glycine max) and white clover (Trifoliumrepens). Detopping plus removal of the rooting medium (by shaking)produced a substantial decrease in maximum nitrogenase activity.This response is due to a reduction in oxygen flux to the bacteroidscaused by an increase in the oxygen diffusion resistance ofthe nodule. The decrease in maximum nitrogenase activity wasmuch smaller for roots subjected to detopping only. Thus, theeffect of root shaking is more important than that of shootremoval. The effect of detopping plus root shaking on nitrogenase activityoccurred whether the plants were equilibrated and assayed at25°C or 15°C. However, the effect of disturbance onthe oxygen diffusion resistance of the nodules, and thus onnitrogenase activity, was greater at the higher temperature.At the lower temperature the oxygen diffusion resistance ofthe nodules had already been increased in response to the reducedrequirement for oxygen. These nodules were less susceptibleto the effects of disturbance. Thus, comparisons of the effectsof equilibration temperature on nitrogenase activity produceddifferent results depending on whether intact or disturbed systemswere used. With intact systems activity was lower at the lowertemperature but with detopped/shaken roots the lowest activityoccurred at the higher temperature. It is concluded that the use of detopped/shaken roots can producesubstantial errors in the acetylene reduction assay, which makesthe assay invalid even when used for comparative purposes. However,comparisons with rates of ¹⁵N₂ fixation and H₂ production showthat accurate measurements of nitrogenase activity can be obtainedfrom maximum rates of acetylene reduction by intact plants ina flow-through gas system. The continued use of assay proceduresin which cumulated ethylene production from disturbed systemsis measured in closed vessels must be questioned. Key words: Nodules, acetylene, nitrogenase activity     

Effect of temperature on h(2) evolution and acetylene reduction in pea nodules and in isolated bacteroids

Nitrogenase (EC 1.7.99.2) activity in pea (Pisum savitum) nodules formed after infection with Rhizobium leguminosarum (lacking uptake hydrogenase) was measured as acetylene reduction, H₂ evolution in air and H₂ evolution in Ar:O₂. With detached roots the relative efficiency, calculated from acetylene reduction, showed a decrease (from 55 to below 0%) with increasing temperature. With excised nodules and isolated bacteroids similar results were obtained. However, the relative efficiency calculated from H₂ evolution in Ar:O₂ was unaffected by temperature. Measurements on both excised nodules and isolated bacteroids showed a marked difference between acetylene reduction and H₂ evolution in Ar:O₂ with increased temperature, indicating that either acetylene reduction or H₂ evolution in Ar:O₂ are inadequate measures of nitrogenase activity at higher temperature.     

Respiration and nitrogen fixation in nodulated roots of soya bean and pea

Summary Oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide evolution and nitrogenase activity, measured either as hydrogen evolution (under argon 80%, oxygen 20%) or as the reduction of acetylene to ethylene, were assayed over the same time period by a direct mass-spectrometric method. When carbon dioxide evolution was used to estimate carbohydrate consumption, the results agreed with other work on whole plants. The RQ values obtained in these experiments were always less than 1.0 and thus the carbohydrate consumption calculated from oxygen uptake suggests that previous estimates, using carbon dioxide evolution as a measure of the cost of nitrogen fixation may be underestimates. Lag periods observed in the reduction of acetylene to ethylene suggest that there is a resistance to diffusion of gases in the root nodules.     

Bacteroids Are Stable during Dark-Induced Senescence of Soybean Root Nodules

Physiological and biochemical markers of metabolic competence were assayed in bacteroids isolated from root nodules of control, dark-stressed, and recovered plants of Glycine max Merr. cv `Woodworth.' Nitrogenase-dependent acetylene reduction by the whole plant decreased to 8% of control rates after 4 days of dark stress and could not be detected in plants dark stressed for 8 days. However, in bacteroids isolated anaerobically, almost 50% of initial acetylene reduction activity remained after 4 days of dark stress but was totally lost after 8 days of dark stress. Bacteroid acetylene reduction activity recovered faster than whole plant acetylene reduction activity when plants were dark stressed for 8 days and returned to a normal light regimen. Significant changes were not measured in bacteroid respiration, protein content, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis protein profiles, or in bacteroid proteolytic activity throughout the experiment. Immunoblots of bacteroid extracts revealed the presence of nitrogenase component II in control, 4-day dark-stressed, and 8-day dark-stressed plants that were allowed to recover under a normal light regimen, but not in 8-day dark-stressed plants. Our data indicate that dark stress does not greatly affect bacteroid metabolism or induce bacteroid senescence.     

The acetylene reduction assay inactivates root nodule uptake hydrogenase in some actinorhizal plants

Actinorhizal nodules do not usually evolve H₂ due to the action of an uptake hydrogenase. We have found that nodules of several Frankia symbioses evolved large amounts of H₂ gas when returned to air following exposure to 10 kPa C₂HT₂ during an acetylene reduction assay. Increased H₂ evolution in air persisted for several days when intact root systems of Alnus incana (L.) Moench (inoculated with Frankia UGL 011101) were treated with 10 kPa C.H₂ for 1 h. Full recovery of uptake hydrogenase activity required 4 to 8 days. Studies with crude homogenates of nodules of the same plants showed that hydrogenase (measured amperometrically with phenazine metho-sulfate as electron acceptor) was directly affected, since activity in treated nodules was only 10% of that in untreated nodules. A survey of actinorhizal symbioses revealed variation in the effect of an acetylene reduction assay on hydrogen metabolism. Nodules of three species, including Alnus rubra Bong, inoculated with Frankia HFPArD. showed complete inactivation of hydrogenase. H₂ evolution in air was 25% of the C₂H₂ reduction rate and H, evolution in Ar/O₂ was equal to the QH₂ reduction rate. Two symbioses, Ceanothus americanus L. (soil inoculant) and Batista glomerata Baill. (soil inoculant) showed no change following an acetylene reduction assay. A third group of symbioses showed an intermediate response.     

Studies on soybean nodule senescence

Soybean Glycine max. L. Merr. nodule senescence was studied using the loss of acetylene reduction by intact tap root nodules as its indication. Tap root nodules from two varieties (Calland and Beeson) of field-grown soybeans were used. The specific activities of nitrogenase (micromoles/minute gram fresh weight of nodules) as measured by the acetylene reduction assay decreased abruptly between 58 to 65 and 68 to 75 days after planting the Beeson and Calland soybeans, respectively. Major changes were not detected in dry weight, total nitrogen, and leghemoglobin levels during the period when in vivo nitrogenase activity declined. Ammonium levels in the cytosol of nodules and poly-β-hydroxybutyrate increased moderately just prior to or coincidental with the loss of nitrogenase activity. Neither enzymes that have been postulated to be involved in ammonium assimilation nor NADP⁺-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase exhibited any large changes in specific activities during the initial period when nitrogenase activity declined.     

Relationships between Acetylene Reduction Activity, Hydrogen Evolution and Nitrogen Fixation in Nodules of Acacia spp.: Experimental Background to Assaying Fixation by Acetylene Reduction under Field Conditions

Hansen, A. P., Pate, J. S. and Atkins, C. A. 1987. Relationshipsbetween acetylene reduction activity, hydrogen evolution andnitrogen fixation in nodules of Acacia spp.: Experimental backgroundto assaying fixation by acetylene reduction under field conditions.—J.exp. Bot. 38: 1–12 Glasshouse grown, symbiotically-dependent seedlings of Acaciaalata R.Br., .A. extensa Lindl., and A. pulchella R.Br. wereexamined for acetylene reduction in closed assay systems usingundisturbed potted plants, excavated whole plants, nodulatedroots or detached nodules. Nitrogenase activity declined sharplyover the first hour after exposure of detached nodules to acetylene(10% v/v in air), less steeply or not at all over a 3 h periodin assays involving attached nodules. Using detached nodules,rates of acetylene reduction, nitrogen (¹⁵N₂) fixation, andhydrogen evolution in air (¹⁵N₂) and acetylene-containing atmosphereswere measured in comparable 30 min assays. Total electron flowthrough nitrogenase in air was determined from rates of nitrogen(¹⁵N₂) fixation ( ? 3) plus hydrogen evolution, that in thepresence of acetylene from rates of acetylene reduction andhydrogen evolution in air: acetylene. Values for the ratio ofelectron flow in air: acetylene to that in air ranged from 0?43to 0?83 in A. pulcheila, from 0?44 to 0?66 in A. alala and from0?37 to 0?70 in A. extensa, indicating substantial inhibitionof electron flow through nitrogenase of detached nodules byacetylene. Relative efficiencies of nitrogenase functioningbased on hydrogen evolution and acetylene reduction were from0?15 to 0?79, those based on nitrogen (¹⁵N₂) fixation and hydrogenevolution from 0?53 to 0?87. Molar ratios of acetylene reducedto nitrogen (¹⁵N₂) fixed were 2?82 ? 0?24, 201 ? 0?15, and 1?91? 0?11 (?s.e.; n = 7) for A. pulcheila,A. extensa and A. alata respectively A standard 5–10 min acetylene reduction assay, conductedon freshly detached unwashed nodules in daytime (12.00–14.00h), was calibrated for field use by comparing total N accumulationof seedlings with estimated cumulative acetylene reduction overa 7-week period of glasshouse culture. Molar ratios for acetylenereduced: nitrogen fixed using this arbitrary method were 3?58for A. alata, 4?82 for A. extensa and 1?60 for A. pulchella.The significance of the data is discussed. Key words: Acacia spp, nitrogenase functioning