A novel promoter from soybean that is active in a complex developmental pattern with and without its proximal 650 base pairs

We report the isolation of a novel soybean gene, Msg, which is highly expressed in developing soybean pods. The gene shows significant homology to a family of fruit- and flower-specific genes, designated the major latex protein (MLP) homologues, so far reported in only a few species and whose functions are unknown. The MLPs are more distantly related to a group of pathogenesis-related proteins (IPR or PR-10) whose functions are likewise unknown. This is the first report of a MLP homologue in a plant for which there is already an IPR-protein reported. We performed an analysis of the Msg promoter with 14 different promoter fragments ranging from 0.65 kb to 2.26 kb, fused to the uidA (GUS) gene. High transient expression was obtained with all the constructs upon particle bombardment in soybean and green bean pods. Stable Arabidopsis transformants were obtained with the Agrobacterium vacuum infiltration method. The promoter is fully active in Arabidopsis only in plants transformed with the 2.26 kb fragment promoter, expressing GUS in nectaries, nodes, short style and in guard cells of the silique, pedicel and stem but not in mature leaves. Surprisingly, the proximal 650 bp TATA-containing region cannot function on its own in Arabidopsis and can be deleted without a change in expression pattern in both Arabidopsis and soybean. Thus, tissue-specific regions of the complex Msg promoter reside in the distal 5 regions upstream of a dispensable TATA box in contrast to many examples of tissue-specific elements that reside much closer to the TATA box.     

Alternative oxidases in Arabidopsis: a comparative analysis of differential expression in the gene family provides new insights into function of non-phosphorylating bypasses

The emergence of Arabidopsis as a model plant provides an opportunity to gain insights into the role of the alternative oxidase that cannot be as readily achieved in other plant species. The analysis of extensive mRNA expression data indicates that all five Aox genes (Aox1a, 1b, 1c, 1d and 2) are expressed, but organ and developmental regulation are evident, suggesting regulatory specialisation of Aox gene members. The stress-induced nature of the alternative pathway in a variety of plants is further supported in Arabidopsis as Aox1a and Aox1d are amongst the most stress responsive genes amongst the hundreds of known genes encoding mitochondrial proteins. Analysis of genes co-expressed with Aoxs from studies of responses to various treatments altering mitochondrial functions and/or from plants with altered Aox levels reveals that: (i) this gene set encodes more functions outside the mitochondrion than functions in mitochondria, (ii) several pathways for induction exist and there is a difference in the magnitude of the induction in each pathway, (iii) the magnitude of induction may depend on the endogenous levels of Aox, and (iv) induction of Aox can be oxidative stress-dependent or -independent depending on the gene member and the tissue analysed. An overall role for Aox in re-programming cellular metabolism in response to the ever changing environment encountered by plants is proposed.     

Alternative oxidases in Arabidopsis: A comparative analysis of differential expression in the gene family provides new insights into function of non-phosphorylating bypasses

The emergence of Arabidopsis as a model plant provides an opportunity to gain insights into the role of the alternative oxidase that cannot be as readily achieved in other plant species. The analysis of extensive mRNA expression data indicates that all five Aox genes (Aox1a, 1b, 1c, 1d and 2) are expressed, but organ and developmental regulation are evident, suggesting regulatory specialisation of Aox gene members. The stress-induced nature of the alternative pathway in a variety of plants is further supported in Arabidopsis as Aox1a and Aox1d are amongst the most stress responsive genes amongst the hundreds of known genes encoding mitochondrial proteins. Analysis of genes co-expressed with Aoxs from studies of responses to various treatments altering mitochondrial functions and/or from plants with altered Aox levels reveals that: (i) this gene set encodes more functions outside the mitochondrion than functions in mitochondria, (ii) several pathways for induction exist and there is a difference in the magnitude of the induction in each pathway, (iii) the magnitude of induction may depend on the endogenous levels of Aox, and (iv) induction of Aox can be oxidative stress-dependent or -independent depending on the gene member and the tissue analysed. An overall role for Aox in re-programming cellular metabolism in response to the ever changing environment encountered by plants is proposed.     

拟南芥Atkin8a和Atkin8b基因表达特性

以拟南芥动蛋白(kinesin)kin-8家族的AtKin8a和AtKin8b这两个动蛋白基因作为研究对象,以组成型表达的肌动蛋白基因(Actin2)作为对照,利用半定量RT-PCR的方法,分析其在拟南芥各器官中的表达状况。结果表明:AtKin8a和AtKin8b基因主要在花器官中特异表达;随后克隆AtKin8a和AtKin8b基因启动子区域并与GUS基因融合,转基因植株花器官GUS染色表明:AtKin8a和AtKin8b基因的表达主要分别在胚珠、花药部位。由此推测它们可能分别在胚珠、花药发育过程中发挥作用。     

Differential patterns of expression of the Arabidopsis PHYB, PHYD, and PHYE phytochrome genes.

The Arabidopsis thaliana phyB, phyD, and phyE phytochrome apoproteins show higher amino acid sequence similarity to each other than to phyA or phyC, they are the most recently evolved members of this photoreceptor family, and they may interact in regulating photomorphogenesis. The expression patterns of translational fusions of the 5' upstream regions of the PHYB, PHYD, and PHYE genes to the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) coding sequence were compared. PD-GUS and PE-GUS fusions were 5- to 10-fold less active than a PB-GUS fusion, but all three promoter regions drove expression of the reporter gene in all stages of the plant's life cycle. Over the first 10 d of seedling growth, the PHYB and PHYD promoters were more active in the dark than in the light, whereas the opposite was true of the PHYE promoter. Unlike the PB-GUS construct, which was expressed in most parts of seedlings and mature plants, the PD-GUS and PE-GUS transgenes showed differential expression, notably in leaves, flower organs, and root tips. Tissue sections showed that the three promoters are coexpressed in at least some leaf cells. Hence, the PHYB, PHYD, and PHYE genes differ in expression pattern but these patterns overlap and interaction of these receptor forms within individual cells is possible.     

GUS expression in sweet oranges (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) driven by three different phloem-specific promoters

Huanglongbing (HLB) is associated with Candidatus Liberibacter spp., endogenous, sieve tube-restricted bacteria that are transmitted by citrus psyllid insect vectors. Transgenic expression in the phloem of specific genes that might affect Ca. Liberibacter spp. growth and development may be an adequate strategy to improve citrus resistance to HLB. To study specific phloem gene expression in citrus, we developed three different binary vector constructs with expression cassettes bearing the β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene (uidA) under the control of one of the three different promoters: Citrus phloem protein 2 (CsPP2), Arabidopsis thaliana phloem protein 2 (AtPP2), and Arabidopsis thaliana sucrose transporter 2 (AtSUC2). Transgenic lines of ‘Hamlin’, ‘Pera’, and ‘Valencia’ sweet oranges [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] were produced via Agrobacterium tumefaciens transformation. The epicotyl segments collected from in vitro germinated seedlings were used as explants. The gene nptII, which confers resistance to the antibiotic kanamycin, was used for selection. The transformation efficiency was expressed as the number of GUS-positive shoots over the total number of explants and varied from 1.54 to 6.08?% among the three cultivars and three constructs studied. Several lines of the three sweet orange cultivars analyzed using PCR and Southern blot analysis were genetically transformed with the three constructs evaluated. The histological GUS activity in the leaves indicates that the uidA gene was preferentially expressed in the phloem, which suggests that the use of the three promoters might be adequate for producing HLB-resistant transgenic sweet oranges. The results reported here conclusively demonstrate the preferential expression of GUS in the phloem driven by two heterologous and one homologous gene promoters. Key message The results reported here conclusively demonstrate the preferential expression of GUS in the phloem driven by two heterologous and one homologous gene promoters.     

水稻 ADP-葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶小亚基 I 基因的启动子分析

水稻（Oryce sativa L．）基因组中的ADP-葡萄糖焦磷酸化酶小亚基（ADP-Glucose pyrophosphorylase small subunit,OsAgpS）由两个基因编码,即OsAgpSl和OsAgpS2。其中OsAgpSl基因产生两个转录本OsAgpSla和OsAgpSlb,区别在第一个外显子的位置不同。通过RT—PCR方法分析了两个转录本在水稻组织和胚乳不同发育时期的表达特性;同时通过报告基因GUS检测了两个转录本上游转录调节区DNA片段的转录启动特性。结果表明,两个启动子与其下游转录本的表达模式完全一致,即OsAgpSla转录本和OsAgpSla上游启动子控制的GUS基因主要在胚乳中高水平表达,在叶片中有很低水平的表达;而OsAgpSlb转录本和OsAgpSlb上游启动子控制的GUS基因主要在叶片和胚乳发育早期低水平表达。这说明OsAgpSl基因产生的两个转录本是由不同的启动子控制转录的,OsAgpSla上游启动子可以作为胚乳表达用启动子。     

Expression of. Arabidopsis tryptophan biosynthetic pathway genes: effect of the 5' coding region of phosphoribosylanthranilate isomerase gene

There are three non-allelic isogenes encoding phosphoribosylanthranilate isomerase (PAI) in Arabidopsis thaliana. The expression plasmids were constructed by fusion of the GUS reporter gene to the three PAI promoters with or without the 5' region encoding PAI N-terminal polypeptides and transferred into Arabidopsis plants by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Analysis of GUS activity revealed that the PAI 5' coding region was necessary for high expression of GUS activity. GUS activity in transgenic plants transformed with the expression plasmids containing the 5' coding region of PAI1 or PAI3 was 60—100-fold higher than that without the corresponding 5' region. However, the effect of 5' coding region of PAI2 gene on the GUS activity was very small (only about 1 time difference). The GUS histochemical staining showed a similar result as revealed by GUS activity assay. It was expressed in the mesophyll cells and guard cells, but not in the epidermic cells, indicating that the N-terminal polypeptides encoded by t     

Strong expression of the rice catalase gene CatB promoter in protoplasts and roots of both a monocot and dicots.

The rice (Oryza sativa L.) catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) gene CatB is expressed in roots and cultured cells. We examined the promoter activity of its 5'-flanking region in a monocot and in two dicots. Transient expression assays in rice Oc and tobacco BY-2 suspension cell protoplasts showed that CatB's 5'-flanking DNA fragments (nucleotides -1066 to +298) had about 20 and 3-4 times as much promoter activity, respectively, as the CaMV 35S promoter. Serial deletion analyses of the CatB promoter region revealed that the shortest fragment (-56 to +298) still had about 10 times as much promoter activity as the CaMV 35S promoter in rice protoplasts. In tobacco protoplasts, the activity of the fragment (-56 to +298) was about half of the CaMV 35S promoter. Transgenic rice and Arabidopsis plants carrying GUS genes driven by the 5'-truncated CatB promoters were generated and their GUS activity was examined. The region ranging from -329 to +298 showed preferential expression in the roots of rice and Arabidopsis, and in the shoot apical meristems of Arabidopsis. In situ hybridization revealed that CatB was highly expressed in branch root primordia and root apices of rice. Fusion of the GUS gene to the region (-329 to +298) conferred strong expression in these same areas, indicating that the presence of this region was sufficient to express CatB specifically in the roots. There may be new regulatory element(s) in this region, because it contained no previously known cis-regulatory elements specific for gene expression in roots.     

Gene trapping in Arabidopsis reveals genes involved in vascular development

The procambium is made up of stem cells that give rise to various vascular cells in plants. To understand the molecular nature of procambium cells, we tried to identify genes that characterize procambium cells using Arabidopsis gene trap lines. Among 26,000 gene trap lines, we found 67 lines in which beta-glucuronidase (GUS) staining occurred along vascular tissues in cotyledons and/or adult leaves. Although four gene trap lines showed procambium-preferential GUS expression, their expression patterns differed from each other during procambium development in root tips and young rosette leaves. Genomic regions flanking the gene trap insertion points in 25 of the 67 lines were determined, including three lines showing preferential GUS staining of the procambium. The three procambium-related genes encoded PINHEAD, katanin and an unknown DUF740 domain-containing protein. We discuss procambium development based on the functions and the differential GUS staining patterns of the procambium-related genes.     

水稻sbe1启动子驱动的反义sbe-GUS融合基因在转基因水稻中的表达

为研究水稻基因启动子对外源基因在转基因水稻中表达的影响,构建了由sbe1启动子引导的反义sbe-GUS融合基因。经农杆菌介导,将不同的融合基因导入水稻中,定量测定转基因水稻植株不同组织中的GUS酶活力。结果表明,sbe1启动子可驱动反义sbe-GUS融合基因在转基因水稻植株的胚乳中高效表达,而在颖壳、胚和茎叶等组织中的表达活性较弱。证实sbe1启动子在驱动外源基因的表达上表现有明显的组织特异性。     

竹节花黄斑驳病毒启动子的缺失分析及功能

竹节花黄斑驳病毒(CoYMV)是侵染单子叶植物竹节花的一 种双链环状DNA病毒,它的启动子可介导外源基因在烟草韧皮部特异表达。为了研究其组织 特异性表达的最佳启动子区域,对CoYMV启动子进行了5′端五种不同长度的缺失分析,用不同长度的启动子片段与GUS基因及NOS3′端转录中止序列构建了全长启动子及5 个缺失启动子序列的六个嵌合GUS基因植物表达载体。利用农杆菌将上述嵌合基因转化烟草 外植体后,每种表达载体都获得了一批转基因烟草植株。转化再生烟草植株的PCR分析、GUS 酶活测定及GUS组织染色的结果表明六种类型的嵌合基因已整合到烟草染色体中,并有五种 表达出GUS活性。缺失到870bp的启动子比全长启动子(1040bp)的活性约高78%,870bp比585bp启动子介导的GUS活性略高但差别不明显,缺失到447和232时GUS活性有明显下 降,但仍具有韧皮部特异表达的特性。当缺失到TATA box附近的44bp时启动子丧失组织特 异性,GUS活性也降低到测不出来的水平。以上结果表明CoYMV启动子从转录起始位点上游 870bp～230bp及232bp下游区分别与启动子的活性和韧皮部组织特异性密切相关,870bp上游可能存在一个负调控序列,所以该启动子的活性和组织特异性的最佳调控区应在87 0bp或585bp的下游区。CoYMV启动子与35S启动子驱动GUS基因在烟草中表达的活性相比, 前者为后者的70%左右,考虑到前者仅在韧皮部细胞表达而后者为组成型表达,所以CoYMV启 动子在韧皮部的活性可能与35S启动子相当或更高。CoYMV启动子在其它转基因植物中驱动外 源基因表达的特点正在研究中。     

Promoter analysis of iron-deficiency-inducible barley IDS3 gene in Arabidopsis and tobacco plants.

Under conditions of iron deficiency, graminaceous plants induce the expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of mugineic acid family phytosiderophores. We previously identified the novel cis-acting elements IDE1 and IDE2 (iron-deficiency-responsive element 1 and 2) through promoter analysis of the barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) iron-deficiency-inducible IDS2 gene in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.). To gain further insight into plant gene regulation under iron deficiency, we analyzed the barley iron-deficiency-inducible IDS3 gene, which encodes mugineic acid synthase. IDS3 promoter fragments were fused to the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) gene, and this construct was introduced into Arabidopsis thaliana L. and tobacco plants. In both Arabidopsis and tobacco, GUS activity driven by the IDS3 promoter showed strongly iron-deficiency-inducible and root-specific expression. Expression occurred mainly in the epidermis of Arabidopsis roots, whereas expression was dominant in the pericycle, endodermis, and cortex of tobacco roots, resembling the expression pattern conferred by IDE1 and IDE2. Deletion analysis revealed that a sequence within -305 nucleotides from the translation start site was sufficient for specific expression in both Arabidopsis and tobacco roots. Gain-of-function analysis revealed functional regions at -305/-169 and -168/-93, whose coexistence was required for the induction activity in Arabidopsis roots. Multiple IDE-like sequences were distributed in the IDS3 promoter and were especially abundant within the functional region at -305/-169. A sequence moderately homologous to that of IDE1 was also present within the -168/-93 region. These IDE-like sequences would be the first candidates for the functional iron-deficiency-responsive elements in the IDS3 promoter.     

拟南芥AtNHX2启动子的克隆及表达模式分析

AtNHX2基因是拟南芥NHX基因家族的一员,编码了一种液泡膜中的Na+/H+反向运输体并对拟南芥的耐盐能力起着重要的作用.采用PCR扩增的方法克隆了拟南芥AtNHX2基因启始密码子上游约2.8kb的DNA片段,并将其克隆到植物表达载体pCAMBIA1301-1中,通过基因枪轰击洋葱表皮瞬时表达的方法,初步检测启动子的活性.将重组质粒pCAMBIA1301-1/AtNHX2 promoter转化拟南芥并筛选纯合子.AtNHX2 promoter-GUS分析显示AtNHX2在所有的组织中均有表达,包括根尖.在保卫细胞中检测到了强烈的GUS表达,这一结果表明,AtNHX2对特殊细胞的pH调控和K+自身稳定方面起着重要的作用.AtNHX2启动子的活性可被NaCl抑制,并且抑制的强度和NaCl的浓度成正相关.300 mmol/L KCl处理可增强启动子的活性,说明NaCl和KCl是在转录水平上调控AtNHX2的表达.在老叶中GUS活性比在新叶中GUS活性强,这说明了AtNHX2优先将有毒的离子积累在老叶中,从而有利于植物的正常发育.在根毛细胞中也观测到了强烈的GUS活性,这就暗示了AtNHX2在扩大的液泡中储存Na+.     

Expression ofArabidopsis tryptophan biosynthetic pathway genes: effect of the 5′ coding region of phosphoribosylanthranilate isomerase gene

There are three non-allelic isogenes encoding phosphoribosylanthranilate isomerase (PAI) inArabidopsis thaliana. The expression plasmids were constructed by fusion of the GUS reporter gene to the three PAI promoters with or without the 5′ region encoding PAI N-terminal polypeptides and transferred into Arabidopsis plants byAgrobacterium tumefaciens. Analysis of GUS activity revealed that the PAI 5′ coding region was necessary for high expression of GUS activity. GUS activity in transgenic plants transformed with the expression plasmids containing the 5′ coding region of PAH or PAI3 was 60–100-fold higher than that without the corresponding 5′ region. However, the effect of 5’ coding region of PAI2 gene on the GUS activity was very small (only about 1 time difference). The GUS histochemical staining showed a similar result as revealed by GUS activity assay. It was expressed in the mesophyll cells and guard cells, but not in the epidermic cells, indicating that the N-terminal polypeptides encoded by the 5′ region of PAI genes have the function of PTP.