水稻种子特异表达OsEm基因5'上游调控区的克隆与序列分析

植物分子农场能以低成本大规模生产重组医药蛋白,种子是重组蛋白最理想的积累场所。为了获得分子医药种子特异表达启动子,以取材方便的地方栽培水稻为材料克隆了种子特异Os Em基因767 bp的5'端调控序列。顺式作用元件分析的结果发现5'端调控序列含有50 bp的核心启动子区域和保守的调控元件TATA box及CAAT box,还含有脱落酸和茉莉酸甲酯等激素响应元件、光反应元件、缺氧特异诱导元件以及种子特异性元件。进一步分析发现本研究克隆的序列内部有15 bp的核苷酸缺失,它与Gen Bank收录的野生型水稻Os Em基因5'端调控序列之间的序列相似性为98.08%。上述结果揭示不同来源的Os Em基因5'端调控序列具有序列多样性,它们能够参与激素、光和逆境胁迫防御等反应,可作为植物分子农场种子特异性启动子。     

水稻锌指蛋白基因OsBBX6的克隆、表达及生物信息学分析

锌指蛋白作为植物体内一类重要的转录因子,对植物生长发育、基因调控以及响应外界环境变化方面发挥重要作用。Os BBX6基因属于水稻锌指蛋白B-Box基因家族成员,启动子元件分析发现其含有高温应答元件(HSE)、干旱应答元件(MBS)及非生物胁迫响应元件(TC-rich repeats)等逆境相关元件。组织特异性定量表达分析表明,Os BBX6在叶片中表达最高,根其次,茎和幼穗中表达最低。胁迫处理后的荧光定量PCR发现其受低温诱导上调,受高温、干旱、盐胁迫等抑制表达,表明其正向响应低温胁迫,负向响应高温、干旱、盐胁迫等。另外,本研究还克隆了OsBBX6基因,并对其进行了系统进化、蛋白跨膜、蛋白亚细胞定位及OsBBX6基因共表达等分析,为进一步研究其生物学功能奠定基础。     

水稻(Oryza satica L.)干旱胁迫响应转录因子研究进展

干旱胁迫是水稻生长发育和产量的重要限制因子。转录因子在水稻对干旱胁迫响应中起关键调控作用。水稻中参与干旱胁迫的转录因主要有DREB转录因子、NAC转录因子、b ZIP转录因子、锌指蛋白转录因子、MYB转录因子、WRKY转录因子和TIFY转录因子等。这些转录因子与特异的靶基因的顺式作用元件结合调控水稻抗旱相关基因的表达,增强水稻对干旱胁迫的适应能力,本综述对这些转录因子在干旱胁迫中的表达调控和功能进行简要概述。     

植物WRKY蛋白家族的结构及其功能

WRKY蛋白是植物所特有的转录因子家族,由于其家族成员均含有WRKYGQK七个保守的氨基酸序列而得名。根据Wrky基因中保守结构域的数量以及所包含的锌指结构的特征大致将其分为3类。Wrky基因通过与顺式作用元件W-盒特异结合从而调控下游目标基因表达。Wrky基因具有快速、瞬时和组织特异性表达等特点。Wrky基因参与生物、非生物胁迫应答反应;信号分子传递;植物衰老和器官发育等一系列生理活动。     

水稻TFⅢA型锌指蛋白基因ZFP207的克隆和表达分析

锌指蛋白是一类重要的转录因子, 广泛参与植物的生长发育和胁迫应答过程。文章使用生物信息学方法从水稻中预测并克隆了一个TFⅢA型锌指蛋白基因ZFP207(GenBank 登陆号: AK063147.1), 该基因包含一个567 bp的开放阅读框, 编码一条188个氨基酸组成的多肽,其编码产物的预测分子量为20.72 kDa, 等电点为9.67。锌指蛋白ZFP207含有一个典型的TFⅢA型锌指结构, 并且在C端含有一个可能具有转录抑制功能的EAR-motif, 但不具有任何已知的核定位信号。系统发生分析结果表明, ZFP207与植物中已经发现的单锌指蛋白亲缘关系较近。通过RT-PCR方法分析了ZFP207基因在成株期水稻不同组织中的表达, 发现ZFP207在茎和叶中表达量较高, 而在穗和根中表达量较低。在酵母中的转录激活实验结果显示, ZFP207在酵母中不具有转录激活功能。     

森林草莓FvZF-HD7基因的鉴定及表达分析

锌指同源蛋白ZF-HD(zinc finger homeodomain)家族是植物中所特有的一类转录因子家族,在响应植物逆境胁迫,调控花发育以及种子寿命等方面具有重要作用,但其在草莓中的功能尚不清楚。该研究从森林草莓(Fragaria vesca)基因组数据库分离获得了10个ZF-HD家族的基因。进化树分析显示,按照亲缘关系远近该基因家族可分为6个不同的亚族;启动子顺式元件分析发现,该基因家族基因的启动子区域含有较多的逆境胁迫和激素响应相关的元件。荧光定量PCR检测发现,FvZF-HD7基因在花中的表达量显著大于其他基因;组织特异性表达分析表明,FvZF-HD7基因在花中表达量最高,在叶和茎中也有表达,在果实发育的前期表达量较高,而在果实发育后期急剧降低。利用森林草莓‘Yellow Wonder 5AF7’(YW)的cDNA成功克隆到FvZF-HD7基因,生物学信息学分析表明FvZF-HD7基因全长1083 bp,编码360个氨基酸;序列比对结果显示,其编码的蛋白质同时含有ZF以及HD保守结构域;蛋白质的相对分子质量为39153.89 Da,结构中富含α螺旋和无规则卷曲。成功构建表达载体pGWB5-FvZF-HD7,将目的基因载体转入烟草中,Confocal激光共聚焦显微镜观察发现,转基因烟草的细胞核中检测到GFP信号,表明FvZF-HD7蛋白定位于细胞核中。研究表明,FvZF-HD7可能广泛参与了植物花发育和逆境胁迫调控,为进一步分析森林草莓ZF-HD基因家族的功能奠定了理论与分子基础。     

水稻多逆境诱导基因OsMsr4的克隆与表达分析

为深入了解水稻逆境反应的分子机理和发现新的耐逆相关功能基因,采用Affymetrix水稻表达芯片分析超级稻两优培九母本培矮64S(Oryza sativa L.)不同生长发育时期、不同组织器官全基因组在低温、干旱、高温逆境胁迫下的表达水平,筛选出多个多因子诱导高表达特异基因(待另文发表).OsMsr4是其中一个在多种逆境条件,各生长发育时期与组织器官,其表达量均显著上调的基因,用实时定量PCR方法对其表达水平进行了进一步的分析,所得结果与基因芯片结果基本吻合.用 PCR方法扩增获得长为550 bp全长基因序列,其编码的144个氨基酸残基形成Cys2His2型双锌指结构蛋白,并且锌指结构的α-螺旋区含有植物锌指蛋白特定的保守序列QALGGH.因此,OsMsr4有可能是TFⅢA型锌指蛋白,作为转录因子参与各种环境胁迫应答反应,调控多个逆境相关基因表达.     

水稻含有B-box锌指结构域的OsBBX25蛋白参与植物对非生物胁迫的响应

锌指蛋白在调控植物生长发育和应对逆境过程中发挥着重要作用.为进一步研究锌指类蛋白参与植物非生物胁迫响应的分子机制,对水稻(Oryza sativa)中一个编码含有B-box锌指结构域蛋白的OsBBX25基因进行了功能分析.OsBBX25受盐、干旱和ABA诱导表达.异源表达OsBBX25的转基因拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)与野生型相比对盐和干旱的耐受性增强,且盐胁迫条件下转基因植物中KIN1、RD29A和COR15的表达上调,干旱胁迫下KIN1、RD29A和RD22的表达上调.外源施加ABA时,转基因植物的萌发率与野生型之间没有明显差异.OsBBX25可能作为转录调控的辅助因子调节胁迫应答相关基因的表达,进而参与植物对非生物胁迫的响应.     

锌指蛋白与心脏发育

锌指是最大的DNA结合蛋白家族,是最普遍的核酸识别元件.近年来发现锌指参与生物体的基因转录,复制及蛋白质的合成等各种基因调节和控制过程,心脏发育过程中涉及大量锌指基因.综述了心脏发育过程中起重要调控作用的锌指蛋白以及它们的作用机制.     

C_2H_2型锌指蛋白研究进展

遗传信息的实现过程离不开基因表达的调控 ,至今为止发现的转录调控因子中有很多含有锌指模体 (ｚｉｎｃ ｆｉｎｇｅｒｍｏｔｉｆ)结构。锌指蛋白是指含有通过结合Ｚｎ2 稳定的短的可以自我折叠形成“手指”结构的一类蛋白质。由于其自身的结构特点 ,可以选择性的结合特异的靶结构 ,使锌指蛋白在基因的表达调控、细胞分化、胚胎发育等生命过程中发挥重要作用。自从 1 983年在爪蟾卵母细胞中发现第一个具有基因转录调控作用的锌指蛋白ＴＦⅢＡ以来 ,在多种生物中发现的锌指基因已有约 50 0多个 ,其中人基因组中的锌指蛋白基因达 2 0 0多个。…     

In vivo analysis of metal distribution and expression of metal transporters in rice seed during germination process by microarray and X-ray Fluorescence Imaging of Fe, Zn, Mn, and Cu

To investigate the flow of the metal nutrients iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu) during rice seed germination, we performed microarray analysis to examine the expression of genes involved in metal transport. Many kinds of metal transporter genes were strongly expressed and their expression levels changed during rice seed germination. We found that metal transporter genes such as ZIP family has tendency to decrease in their expressions during seed germination. Furthermore, imaging of the distribution of elements (Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu) was carried out using Synchrotron-based X-ray microfluorescence at the Super Photon ring-8 GeV (SPring-8) facility. The change in the distribution of each element in the seeds following germination was observed by in vivo monitoring. Iron, Mn, Zn, and Cu accumulated in the endosperm and embryos of rice seeds, and their distribution changed during rice seed germination. The change in the patterns of mineral localization during germination was different among the elements observed.     

Validation of Candidate Reference Genes for the Accurate Normalization of Real-Time Quantitative RT-PCR Data in Rice During Seed Development

Rice seed, a natural storage organ for starch and protein, is also an ideal bioreactor for the production of valuable proteins. Increasingly, studies focused on rice have tried to determine the functions of its genes and also to improve its yield and quality. Real-time RT-PCR is the best available choice at present for gene expression analysis due to its accuracy, sensitivity, and reproducibility. The right choice of reference genes for normalization, however, is a critical precondition for reliable results. In this study, the expression stabilities of nine commonly used housekeeping genes in rice were carefully assessed using the software geNorm. Our results showed that eIF-4a and ACT1 were the most suitable reference genes among almost all the tested samples from two rice varieties, including different temporal and spatial-specific tissues, especially in seeds at different developmental stages. In contrast, 18S and 25S rRNAs, two common reference genes, were found to have the least stable expression. Moreover, it is necessary to use multiple suitable reference genes together for normalization to get a more reliable result in temporal and spatial expression analysis during rice seed development. The validated reference genes were further relied when used to quantify the expression of several genes of interest during rice seed development.     

In silico analysis of expression data for identification of genes involved in spatial accumulation of calcium in developing seeds of rice

The calcium (Ca(2+)) transporters, like Ca(2+) channels, Ca(2+) ATPases, and Ca(2+) exchangers, are instrumental for signaling and transport. However, the mechanism by which they orchestrate the accumulation of Ca(2+) in grain filling has not yet been investigated. Hence the present study was designed to identify the potential calcium transporter genes that may be responsible for the spatial accumulation of calcium during grain filling. In silico expression analyses were performed to identify Ca(2+) transporters that predominantly express during the different developmental stages of Oryza sativa. A total of 13 unique calcium transporters (7 from massively parallel signature sequencing [MPSS] data analysis, and 9 from microarray analysis) were identified. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed differential expression of the transporters across tissues, and principal component analysis (PCA) exhibited their seed-specific distinctive expression profile. Interestingly, Ca(2+) exchanger genes are highly expressed in the initial stages, whereas some Ca(2+) ATPase genes are highly expressed throughout seed development. Furthermore, analysis of the cis-elements located in the promoter region of the subset of 13 genes suggested that D of proteins play essential roles in regulating the expression of Ca(2+) transporter genes during rice seed development. Based on these results, we developed a hypothetical model explaining the transport and tissue specific distribution of calcium in developing cereal seeds. The model may be extrapolated to understand the mechanism behind the exceptionally high level of calcium accumulation seen in grains like finger millet.     

Isolation and expression analysis of LEA genes in peanut (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Arachis hypogaea</Emphasis> L.)

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) protein family is a large protein family that includes proteins accumulated at late stages of seed development or in vegetative tissues in response to drought, salinity, cold stress and exogenous application of abscisic acid. In order to isolate peanut genes, an expressed sequence tag (EST) sequencing project was carried out using a peanut seed cDNA library. From 6258 ESTs, 19 LEA-encoding genes were identified and could be classified into eight distinct groups. Expression of these genes in seeds at different developmental stages and in various peanut tissues was analysed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The results showed that expression levels of LEA genes were generally high in seeds. Some LEA protein genes were expressed at a high level in non-seed tissues such as root, stem, leaf, flower and gynophore. These results provided valuable information for the functional and regulatory studies on peanut LEA genes.     

A Microarray-Based Comparative Analysis of Gene Expression Profiles During Grain Development in Transgenic and Wild Type Wheat

Global, comparative gene expression analysis is potentially a very powerful tool in the safety assessment of transgenic plants since it allows for the detection of differences in gene expression patterns between a transgenic line and the mother variety. In the present study, we compared the gene expression profile in developing seeds of wild type wheat and wheat transformed for endosperm-specific expression of an Aspergillus fumigatus phytase. High-level expression of the phytase gene was ensured by codon modification towards the prevalent codon usage of wheat genes and by using the wheat 1DX5HMW glutenin promoter for driving transgene expression. A 9K wheat unigene cDNA microarray was produced from cDNA libraries prepared mainly from developing wheat seed. The arrays were hybridised to flourescently labelled cDNA prepared from developing seeds of the transgenic wheat line and the mother variety, Bobwhite, at three developmental stages. Comparisons and statistical analyses of the gene expression profiles of the transgenic line vs. that of the mother line revealed only slight differences at the three developmental stages. In the few cases where differential expression was indicated by the statistical analysis it was primarily genes that were strongly expressed over a shorter interval of seed development such as genes encoding storage proteins. Accordingly, we interpret these differences in gene expression levels to result from minor asynchrony in seed development between the transgenic line and the mother line. In support of this, real time PCR validation of results from selected genes at the late developmental stage could not confirm differential expression of these genes. We conclude that the expression of the codon-modified A.␣fumigatus phytase gene in the wheat seed had no significant effects on the overall gene expression patterns in the developing seed.