高粱CRY2基因的克隆及其表达分析

从高粱(Sorghum bicolor L．var．R111)幼苗中提取总RNA,利用RT-PCR和cDNA的3′末端的快速扩增方法(3′RACE),第一次克隆了高粱隐花色素2基因(CRY2)的cDNA序列。该序列包括了一个完整的开放阅读框,编码大小为690个氨基酸残基的蛋白质,与水稻、番茄和拟南芥CRY2蛋白质的同源性分别为87％、57％和45．5％。高粱CRY2基因组DNA含有3个内含子和4个外显子。RT-PCR检测结果表明,高粱CRY2基因在根、茎和叶中都有转录。Western blotting结果显示CRY2蛋白在根、茎和叶中表达,并在黑暗中积累,蓝光下降解。高粱CRY2可能在蓝光诱导的幼苗去黄化反应中起作用。     

苎麻植物螯合肽合成酶(BnPCS1)基因的克隆和表达

根据苎麻转录组测序中的PCS基因片段,利用RT-PCR结合RACE技术从中苎1号中克隆获得了该基因的全长cDNA序列,命名为BnPCS1。该基因的cDNA序列全长为1956 bp,其中开放读码框长1512 bp,编码503个氨基酸,预测其分子量和等电点分别为56.02 kD和7.01。与长喙田菁(ACT87974)、百脉根(Q2TSC7)、狼牙刺(AFM38979)、荷花(BAN08523)和杜梨(AEY68568)的PCS氨基酸序列相似性分别为74%、73%、75%、73%和77%。荧光定量PCR分析表明,BnPCS1在根、茎、茎尖、幼叶、成熟叶中均有表达,其中在成熟叶中的表达量最高,茎中表达量最低,并且该基因受镉和ABA诱导上调表达。BnPCS1基因的克隆将为苎麻抗重金属分子育种和进一步的功能分析奠定基础。     

小地老虎隐花色素基因cryptochrome1和cryptochrome2的克隆及mRNA表达分析

隐花色素(cryptochrome,cry)是一类广泛存在于生物体内的蓝光和近紫外光受体,介导生物对蓝光的一系列反应并能导引生物钟。本研究利用RT-PCR和RACE方法获得了小地老虎Agrotis ypsilon cry1和cry2基因,分别命名为Aycry1和Aycry2。Aycry1基因(GenBank No.JQ616846)读码框1 587 bp,编码528个氨基酸,预测分子量60.5 ku,等电点6.68。Aycry2基因(GenBank No.JQ616847)读码框2 439 bp,编码812个氨基酸,预测分子量92.1ku,等电点8.45。保守区分析表明:Aycry1和Aycry2均含有FAD结合位点的PHR区域和C末端保守区域。氨基酸序列比对分析表明,小地老虎的AyCRY1和AyCRY2分别与其它鳞翅目昆虫的CRY1和CRY2有很高的一致性,其中与棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera的一致性最高,分别为89.5%和73.8%。NJ聚类分析结果表明昆虫含有两类CRY,即CRY1和CRY2,它们可分别以目为单位进行聚类,其中AyCRY1和AyCRY2分别与其它鳞翅目昆虫的CRY1和CRY2聚到一起。以室内饲养的小地老虎为材料,以3 h为间隔检测了Aycry1和Aycry2的24 h昼夜表达变化,结果表明这2个基因均表现出一定的昼夜节律性。Aycry1和Aycry2表达趋势白天高于晚上,表达峰值出现在ZT7(Zeitgeber time)。方差分析其昼夜波动差异不显著。     

小麦磷酸丙糖转运器cDNA的克隆及其基因表达分析

利用RT-PCR方法以及RACE(rapid amplification of cDNA ends)策略,从小麦(Triticum aestivum L.) 幼苗叶片中克隆了编码磷酸丙糖转运器(TPT)的全长cDNA.序列分析结果表明,小麦TPT cDNA编码402个氨基酸的前体蛋白,其中信号肽含有78个氨基酸.成熟蛋白部分与玉米(Zea mays L.)TPT有很高的同源性(89%).推测小麦TPT成熟蛋白有8个跨膜区,形成双亲α-螺旋的跨膜结构.位于第7个跨膜区的Arg-274和Lys-275可能是底物结合位点.比较TPT基因在小麦幼苗的根、胚芽鞘、叶片和种子中的表达差异表明:TPT基因在叶片、胚芽鞘中均有表达,但在胚芽鞘中的表达量较低,在种子和根中未见有表达.由此看来,小麦TPT的基因可能只局限在绿色组织中表达.还就C3和C4植物TPT不同的底物特异性问题进行了讨论.     

簸箕柳AP3同源基因SsMADS的克隆与特性分析

用cDNA末端快速扩增(rapid-amplification of cDNA ends,RACE)方法从簸箕柳雄花序中克隆了一个AP3同源基因的cDNA,长826 bp,包括完整的编码区、5′-UTR和3′-UTR,并将其相应的基因命名为SsMADS。该基因由7个外显子和6个内含子组成,编码区长723 bp,编码241个氨基酸,其N-端具有典型的MADS保守结构域。序列分析表明,SsMADS编码的氨基酸序列与毛果杨(Populus trichocarp)AP3同源蛋白有95.7%相似性,与其他几种柳属植物的AP3同源蛋白相似性达96.1%～99.6%。实时定量RT-PCR表明,SsMADS在叶、茎和根中表达量极低,在花序中表达量较高,并且其表达量在花器官的早中期发育阶段逐步提高,说明该基因在簸箕柳花器官的发育中起作用。     

烟草NtGCN2的克隆与表达分析

GCN2是目前所有测序植物中唯一的eIF2α激酶,它可以通过磷酸化真核翻译起始因子eIF2α来调节蛋白的合成,从而对氨基酸的缺乏和各种胁迫做出响应。本研究采用RACE PCR技术从烟草K326中获得了GCN2的末端序列,通过RT-PCR方法获得了部分cDNA序列,经过拼接得到了GCN2的全长cDNA序列,将其命名为NtGCN2(Gen Bank登录号KJ706220)。分析发现,NtGCN2基因的cDNA全长为4 196 bp,ORF全长为3 759 bp,编码1 252个氨基酸残基,分子量为141.4 kDa,等电点为5.58。BLASTP分析结果表明,NtGCN2与土豆和番茄的同源性分别达到90%和88%。对其蛋白质结构域进行预测发现,NtGCN2包含了典型的GCN2激酶功能域。荧光定量PCR分析表明,该基因在根、茎、叶和花中均有表达,在叶片中表达最强,根中的表达最弱。     

无芒隐子草CsPEAMT基因克隆及表达特性分析

以无芒隐子草(Cleistogenes songorica)干旱胁迫下的cDNA文库中磷酸乙醇胺N-甲基转移酶(phosphoethanolamine N-methyltransferase,PEAMT)基因的EST序列为基础,采用RACE方法克隆该基因编码区序列,该序列全长为2 104bp,开放读码框1 506bp,编码501个氨基酸。无芒隐子草PEAMT蛋白编码的氨基酸序列与多种植物的PEAMT氨基酸序列有较高相似性,其中与高粱SbPEAMT、玉米ZmPEAMT的蛋白序列相似性最高(93%),说明PEAMT基因在植物进化中非常保守。采用实时定量RT-PCR分析无芒隐子草幼苗在干旱过程中CsPEAMT基因的表达结果显示,干旱胁迫诱导CsPEAMT基因在根和叶中大量表达,且在干旱第8天时CsPEAMT基因在叶和根中表达量分别是未干旱对照的43.35倍和13.25倍,复水后CsPEAMT基因的表达量开始下调。研究表明CsPEAMT基因可能是无芒隐子草抗旱性相关的基因。     

低等植物蓝光受体信号传导研究

拟南芥含有5个已分离的蓝光受体和至少1个未鉴定的蓝光/紫外光-A受体.隐花色素(CRY1、CRY2和CRY3) 调节植物的形态建成、开花和生物节律性,而向光素 (PHOT1和PHOT2) 调节植物的向光性、叶绿体运动和气孔开放.黄素可以吸收蓝光和紫外光-A,是CRY和PHOT蓝光受体的生色团.对这些光受体的结构和作用模式已了解很多.苔藓植物小立碗藓中含有2个已分离的隐花色素(CRY1a和CRY1b),负责调节侧枝形成和调控生长素反应;有4个向光素(PHOTA1,PHOTA2,PHOTB1,PHOTB2) 调节叶绿体的运动.苔藓细胞内蓝光/紫外光-A引发的信号转导有Ca2+参与.     

苦荞查尔酮合酶基因CHS的结构及花期不同组织表达量分析

采用同源克隆、染色体步移和RT-PCR技术,首次克隆到苦荞查尔酮合酶基因(CHS)的全长DNA序列和cDNA开放阅读框(ORF)序列.序列分析表明,苦荞CHS DNA序列(GU172165)全长1 632 bp,含1个445 bp的内含子;cDNA编码区(HM852753)全长1 188 bp,编码395个氨基酸,命名为FtCHS.生物信息学分析表明,FtCHS和推导的氨基酸序列与其它植物CHS基因同源率在95%以上,含有CHS多基因家族的标签序列(GFGPG)、活性位点、底物结合口袋位点和环化反应口袋位点.半定量RT-PCR分析苦荞花期FtCHS空间表达模型表明,其表达量未成熟种子叶茎花根成熟种子,与苦荞芦丁含量的分布基本一致,具有组织特异性。     

甘草肌动蛋白基因GuActin2的克隆和表达分析

以乌拉尔甘草根为材料,从中提取总RNA,根据植物肌动蛋白的5’和3＇末端设计简并引物。采用RT-PCR技术和5’RACE试剂盒,从乌拉尔甘草根中克隆到一个肌动蛋白基因编码区全长cDNA序列（GenBank登录号GQ404511）,长度为1137bp。该基因编码一个由377个氨基酸残基组成的蛋白质。甘草GuActin2具有肌动蛋白（YVGDEAQs．KRG和WISKgEYDE）和肌动蛋白类似物（LLTEApLNPkaNR）的特征信号序列。Northern blot分析表明,GuActin2在甘草的根、茎、叶组织中都有表达,在根中,尤其在胚根中的表达强于茎和叶中的表达。该基因属于营养型亚类。     

Characterization of photolyase/blue-light receptor homologs in mouse and human cells.

We isolated and characterized mouse photolyase-like genes, mCRY1 (mPHLL1) and mCRY2 (mPHLL2), which belong to the photolyase family including plant blue-light receptors. The mCRY1 and mCRY2 genes are located on chromosome 10C and 2E, respectively, and are expressed in all mouse organs examined. We raised antibodies specific against each gene product using its C-terminal sequence, which differs completely between the genes. Immunofluorescent staining of cultured mouse cells revealed that mCRY1 is localized in mitochondria whereas mCRY2 was found mainly in the nucleus. The subcellular distribution of CRY proteins was confirmed by immunoblot analysis of fractionated mouse liver cell extracts. Using green fluorescent protein fused peptides we showed that the C-terminal region of the mouse CRY2 protein contains a unique nuclear localization signal, which is absent in the CRY1 protein. The N-terminal region of CRY1 was shown to contain the mitochondrial transport signal. Recombinant as well as native CRY1 proteins from mouse and human cells showed a tight binding activity to DNA Sepharose, while CRY2 protein did not bind to DNA Sepharose at all under the same condition as CRY1. The different cellular localization and DNA binding properties of the mammalian photolyase homologs suggest that despite the similarity in the sequence the two proteins have distinct function(s).     

Nuclear localization of the Arabidopsis blue light receptor cryptochrome 2

The cryptochrome blue light photoreceptor family of Arabidopsis thaliana consists of two members, CRY1 and CRY2 (PHH1). CRY2 contains a putative nuclear localization signal (NLS) within its C-terminal region. We examined whether CRY2 is localized in the nucleus and whether the C-terminal region of CRY2 is involved in nuclear targeting. Total cellular and nuclear protein extracts from Arabidopsis were subjected to immunoblot analysis with CRY2-specific antibodies. Strong CRY2 signals were obtained in the nuclear fraction. Fusion proteins consisting of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) and different fragments of CRY2 were expressed in parsley protoplasts and the localization of the fusion proteins was determined by fluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy. GFP-fusions containing the entire CRY2 protein or its C-terminal region were found exclusively in the nucleus. We conclude from these results that CRY2 is localized in the nucleus and that nuclear localization is mediated by the C-terminal region of CRY2.     

Molecular Genetics of Cryptopleurine Resistance in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae: Expression of a Ribosomal Protein Gene Family

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae CRY1 gene encodes the 40S ribosomal subunit protein rp59 and confers sensitivity to the protein synthesis inhibitor cryptopleurine. A yeast strain containing the cry1-δ1::URA3 null allele is viable, cryptopleurine sensitive (Cry(S)), and expresses rp59 mRNA, suggesting that there is a second functional CRY gene. The CRY2 gene has been isolated from a yeast genomic library cloned in bacteriophage λ, using a CRY1 DNA probe. The DNA sequence of the CRY2 gene contains an open reading frame encoding ribosomal protein 59 that differs at five residues from rp59 encoded by the CRY1 gene. The CRY2 gene was mapped to the left arm of chromosome X, centromere-proximal to cdc6 and immediately adjacent to ribosomal protein genes RPS24A and RPL46. Ribosomal protein 59 is an essential protein; upon sporulation of a diploid doubly heterozygous for cry1-δ2::TRP1 cry2-δ1::LEU2 null alleles, no spore clones containing both null alleles were recovered. Several results indicate that CRY2 is expressed, but at lower levels than CRY1: (1) Introduction of CRY2 on high copy plasmids into Cry(R) yeast of genotype cry1 CRY2 confers a Cry(S) phenotype. Transformation of these Cry(R) yeast with CRY2 on a low copy CEN plasmid does not confer a Cry(S) phenotype. (2) Haploids containing the cry1-δ2::TRP1 null allele have a deficit of 40S ribosomal subunits, but cry2-δ1::LEU2 strains have wild-type amounts of 40S ribosomal subunits. (3) CRY2 mRNA is present at lower levels than CRY1 mRNA. (4) Higher levels of β-galactosidase are expressed from a CRY1-lacZ gene fusion than from a CRY2-lacZ gene fusion. Mutations that alter or eliminate the last amino acid of rp59 encoded by either CRY1 or CRY2 result in resistance to cryptopleurine. Because CRY2 (and cry2) is expressed at lower levels than CRY1 (and cry1), the Cry(R) phenotype of cry2 mutants is only expressed in strains containing a cry1-δ null allele.     

A study of the blue-light-dependent phosphorylation, degradation, and photobody formation of Arabidopsis CRY2

Arabidopsis cryptochrome 2 (CRY2) is a blue-light receptor mediating blue-light inhibition of hypocotyl elongation and photoperiodic promotion of floral initiation. CRY2 is a constitutive nuclear protein that undergoes blue-light-dependent phosphorylation, ubiquitination, photobody formation, and degradation in the nucleus, but the relationship between these blue-light-dependent events remains unclear. It has been proposed that CRY2 phosphorylation triggers a conformational change responsible for the subsequent ubiquitination and photobody formation, leading to CRY2 function and/or degradation. We tested this hypothesis by a structure-function study, using mutant CRY2-GFP fusion proteins expressed in transgenic Arabidopsis. We show that changes of lysine residues of the NLS (Nuclear Localization Signal) sequence of CRY2 to arginine residues partially impair the nuclear importation of the CRY2K541R and CRY2K554/5R mutant proteins, resulting in reduced phosphorylation, physiological activities, and degradation in response to blue light. In contrast to the wild-type CRY2 protein that forms photobodies exclusively in the nucleus, the CRY2K541R and CRY2K554/5R mutant proteins form protein bodies in both the nucleus and cytosol in response to blue light. These results suggest that photoexcited CRY2 molecules can aggregate to form photobody-like structure without the nucleus-dependent protein modifications or the association with the nuclear CRY2-interacting proteins. Taken together, the observation that CRY2 forms photobodies markedly faster than CRY2 phosphorylation in response to blue light, we hypothesize that the photoexcited cryptochromes form oligomers, preceding other biochemical changes of CRY2, to facilitate photobody formation, signal amplification, and propagation, as well as desensitization by degradation.     

The Cryptochrome Gene Family in Pea Includes Two Differentially Expressed <Emphasis Type="Italic">CRY2</Emphasis> Genes

The cryptochromes are a family of blue light photoreceptors that play important roles in the control of plant development. We have characterised the cryptochrome gene family in the model legume garden pea (Pisum sativum L.). Pea contains three expressed cryptochrome genes; a single CRY1 orthologue, and two distinct CRY2 genes that we have termed CRY2a and CRY2b. Genomic southern blots indicate that there are unlikely to be more CRY genes in pea. Each of the three genes encodes a full-length CRY protein that contains all the major domains characteristic of other higher plant cryptochromes. Database searches have identified Medicago truncatula expressed sequence tags (ESTs) corresponding to all three genes, whereas only a single CRY2 is represented in EST collections from the more distantly related legumes soybean and Lotus japonicus. The proteins encoded by the pea and Medicago CRY2b genes are distinguished from other CRY2 proteins by their shorter C-terminus. Expression analyses have identified marked differences in the regulation of the three genes, with CRY2b expression in particular distinguished by high-amplitude diurnal cycling and rapid repression in seedlings transferred from darkness to blue light.     

Organ distribution of auxin-binding protein 1 in the etiolated maize seedling

The auxin-binding protein designated ABP1 has been proposed to mediate auxin-induced cellular changes such as cell expansion. Its exact mode of action is unknown, but currently several approaches to elucidate its function are being pursued. One of these approaches, described here, is to determine the organ distribution of this putative auxin receptor in order to correlate spatially the abundance of the protein with some auxin-regulated activity such as cell elongation. The absolute and relative amounts of ABP1 were determined along the entire etiolated shoot, the root, and within the caryopsis of maize. ABP1 can be detected immunologically in all extracts of the etiolated maize seedling except the tip of the primary root and the endosperm. Within the shoot, but excluding the leaf roll, the highest levels compared on a fresh weight basis are in the apical mesocotyl and basal coleoptile regions, the areas of the most rapid cell elongation and the areas where there is the greatest capacity for auxin-induced growth. The relative abundance of ABP1 compared on a fresh weight basis changed more than fivefold in this organ. When compared on a total protein basis, the relative change in ABP1 abundance was approximately two-fold, which is less than the relative change in auxin-induced growth rate along the shoot. Differences in shoot growth rate among varieties of maize were compared with the relative amounts of ABP1 within the apical mesocotyl and basal coleoptile. A statistically significant but not perfect correlation was found between the auxin-induced growth rate of the apical mesocotyl and ABP1 abundance. These results demonstrate a general correlation between the amount of ABP1 and growth along the shoot and within maize hybrid varieties.Abbreviations ABP1 auxin-binding protein 1 - NAA naphthalene-1-acetic acid - SDS sodium dodecyl sulfate - PAGE poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis.     

Cloning and expression of cryptochrome2 cDNA in the rat.

Cryptochromes (CRY) are blue-light photoreceptors that regulate the circadian rhythm in animals and plants. In mammals, two types of CRY are involved in the regulation of circadian rhythm, but rat cryptochromes have not yet been identified. Therefore, we isolated and characterized cry2 cDNA from the rat brain. The cloned rat cry2 cDNA consists of 2,131 nucleotides and has a single open-reading frame that encodes the rat CRY2 of 594 amino acids with start and stop codons. The deduced amino acid sequence of the rat CRY2 was 97% identical with that of mice and 93% with humans, but it showed a relatively low identity of 64% with that of zebrafish. It also exhibited a high homology (about 70%) with CRY1 of mice and humans. A Northern blot analysis showed that rat cry2 was expressed in all of the tissues examined. Rat cry2 was expressed at a relatively higher level in peripheral tissues than in the brain. In situ hybridization in the whole brain indicated that the strong signal of cry2 mRNA is mainly present in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) region, but very weak in other brain regions. Therefore, present results indicate that rat cry2 may function in circadian photoreception in the rat brain.