信号肽捕获系统的建立

细胞分泌蛋白的分泌有赖于蛋白质N端的信号肽的存在,利用酵母建立了从cDNA文库中筛选编码信号肽的基因片段的遗传系统,为此,用一步基因破坏法对酿酒酵母EGY48基因组中的suc2基因（编码酵母蔗糖转换酶）进行了定位突变,获得了无蔗糖转换酶表达的酵母株EGY48－suc。将无信号肽的suc 2成熟肽基因克隆于酵母乙 氢酶（ADHI）基因启动子下游,得到用于文库筛选的酵母真核表达工体,启动子与成熟肽基因之间为多克隆位 ,用于插入待筛选的CDNA文库,用此载体转化酵母EGY48－suc,所得克隆可以在葡萄糖为碳源的培养基上生长,但不能在以棉子糖为碳源的培养基上生长,在suc 2成熟肽基因前分别插入suc 2信号肽基因片段或人IL－2受体α链信号肽基因片段,然后转染EGY48－suc,所得克隆既能在以葡萄糖为碳源的培养基上生长,也能在以棉子糖为碳源的培养基上生长,表明构建的系统可用于筛选插篱多克隆位点cDNA片段是否具有编码信号肽的功能。     

转基因改良植物的胁迫耐性

干旱、盐碱和低温等逆境是严重影响栽培植物生产的非生物胁迫因素。导入外源目的的基因已发展成为改良作物对逆境胁迫耐性的新途径。现今已应用于植物胁迫改良的基因包括编码活性氧清除酶类、膜修饰酶类、胁迫诱导蛋白和渗调物质合成酶等基因。     

BRs在植物响应非生物胁迫中的作用

油菜素甾体(brassinosteroids,BRs)是植物界普遍存在的一类多羟基化的植物甾体激素,不仅调节植物的生长发育过程,还参与植物对生物和非生物胁迫的响应.概述了BRs的生物合成途径以及信号转导途径,重点阐述了BRs参与非生物胁迫应答的分子机制,展望了BRs未来的研究方向,为深入理解BRs介导的非生物胁迫调控网...     

Gene targeting approaches using positive-negative selection and large flanking regions

We report here on strategies aimed at improving the frequency of detectable recombination in plants by increasing the efficiency of selecting double-recombinants in transgenic calli. Gene targeting was approached on the Gln1 and the Pzf loci of Lotus japonicus, using Agrobacterium tumefaciens T-DNA replacement vectors. Large flanking regions, up to 22.9 kb, surrounding a positive selection marker were presented as substrates for homologous recombination. For easier detection of putative recombinants the negative selectable marker cytosine deaminase was inserted at the outside borders of the flanking regions offered for cross-over. A combination of positive and negative selection allowing double-recombinants to grow, while counter-selecting random insertions, was used to select putative targeting events. The more than 1000-fold enrichment observed with replacement vectors designed to minimize gene silencing demonstrated the efficiency of the negative selection. Using five different replacement vectors an estimated total of 18974 transformation events were taken through the positive-negative selection procedure and 185 resistant calli obtained. Targeting events could not be verified in the survivors by PCR screening and Southern blot analysis. With this approach the frequency of detectable gene targeting in L. japonicus was below 5.3×10^–5, despite the large flanking sequences offered for recombination.     

Rapid systemic signaling during abiotic and biotic stresses: is the ROS wave master of all trades?

Rapidly communicating the perception of an abiotic stress event, wounding or pathogen infection, from its initial site of occurrence to the entire plant, i.e. rapid systemic signaling, is essential for successful plant acclimation and defense. Recent studies highlighted an important role for several rapid whole‐plant systemic signals in mediating plant acclimation and defense during different abiotic and biotic stresses. These include calcium, reactive oxygen species (ROS), hydraulic and electric waves. Although the role of some of these signals in inducing and coordinating whole‐plant systemic responses was demonstrated, many questions related to their mode of action, routes of propagation and integration remain unanswered. In addition, it is unclear how these signals convey specificity to the systemic response, and how are they integrated under conditions of stress combination. Here we highlight many of these questions, as well as provide a proposed model for systemic signal integration, focusing on the ROS wave.     

植物凝集素类受体激酶参与非生物胁迫响应的研究进展

植物在生长发育过程中会受到各种胁迫因子的影响,非生物胁迫是其中极其重要的一类.类受体激酶(receptor-like kinases,RLKs)是植物中广泛存在的一类蛋白,能够快速有效地对胁迫因子作出响应,最终引起一系列生物效应.凝集素类受体激酶(lectin receptor-like kinases,LecRLKs)是RLKs的一个亚族,其具有细胞外凝集素结构域、跨膜结构域和细胞内激酶结构域三个结构域.根据细胞外凝集素结构域的不同可分为L、G和C三种不同类型.近年来,大量的研究表明植物凝集素类受体激酶在非生物胁迫响应中发挥重要作用.LecRLKs通过识别非生物胁迫相关的信号分子,激活下游的信号通路,如MAPK通路、ROS通路、钙信号通路等,调节基因表达和蛋白质翻译以增强植物的抗逆性.该文概述了植物凝集素类受体激酶的结构特征及其分类,并系统综述了LecRLKs在盐胁迫、低温胁迫、干旱胁迫、机械损伤和植物激素等非生物胁迫响应中的功能和作用机制,同时也对LecRLKs的未来研究方向作出了展望.该文不仅为深入了解植物凝集素类受体激酶参与非生物胁迫响应的功能提供了参考,而且为利用LecRLKs进行作物抗逆育种改良提供了理论依据.     

The MMS22L–TONSL heterodimer directly promotes RAD51‐dependent recombination upon replication stress

Homologous recombination (HR) is a key pathway that repairs DNA double‐strand breaks (DSBs) and helps to restart stalled or collapsed replication forks. How HR supports replication upon genotoxic stress is not understood. Using in vivo and in vitro approaches, we show that the MMS22L–TONSL heterodimer localizes to replication forks under unperturbed conditions and its recruitment is increased during replication stress in human cells. MMS22L–TONSL associates with replication protein A (RPA)‐coated ssDNA, and the MMS22L subunit directly interacts with the strand exchange protein RAD51. MMS22L is required for proper RAD51 assembly at DNA damage sites in vivo, and HR‐mediated repair of stalled forks is abrogated in cells expressing a MMS22L mutant deficient in RAD51 interaction. Similar to the recombination mediator BRCA2, recombinant MMS22L–TONSL limits the assembly of RAD51 on dsDNA, which stimulates RAD51‐ssDNA nucleoprotein filament formation and RAD51‐dependent strand exchange activity in vitro. Thus, by specifically regulating RAD51 activity at uncoupled replication forks, MMS22L–TONSL stabilizes perturbed replication forks by promoting replication fork reversal and stimulating their HR‐mediated restart in vivo.     

Comprehensive Expression Analysis of Rice Armadillo Gene Family During Abiotic Stress and Development

Genes in the Armadillo (ARM)-repeat superfamily encode proteins with a range of developmental and physiological processes in unicellular and multicellular eukaryotes. These 42 amino acid, long tandem repeat-containing proteins have been abundantly recognized in many plant species. Previous studies have confirmed that Armadillo proteins constitute a multigene family in Arabidopsis. In this study, we performed a computational analysis in the rice genome (Oryza sativa L. subsp. japonica), and identified 158 genes of Armadillo superfamily. Phylogenetic study classified them into several arbitrary groups based on a varying number of non-conserved ARM repeats and accessory domain(s) associated with them. An in-depth analysis of gene expression through microarray and Q-PCR revealed a number of ARM proteins expressing differentially in abiotic stresses and developmental conditions, suggesting a potential roles of this superfamily in development and stress signalling. Comparative phylogenetic analysis between Arabidopsis and rice Armadillo genes revealed a high degree of evolutionary conservation between the orthologues in two plant species. The non-synonymous and synonymous substitutions per site ratios (Ka/Ks) of duplicated gene pairs indicate a purifying selection. This genome-wide identification and expression analysis provides a basis for further functional analysis of Armadillo genes under abiotic stress and reproductive developmental condition in the plant lineage.     

水曲柳FmJAZ1基因在非生物胁迫中的响应模式和激素诱导表达分析

克隆FmJAZ1基因,明确其在低温和NaCl胁迫中的响应模式和激素诱导下的转录表达特性。通过基因克隆的方法得到水曲柳中的FmJAZ1基因,利用生物信息学软件对所得到的序列进行分析并构建系统进化树,对水曲柳FmJAZ1基因进行了时空表达特异性的分析,对根、茎、叶、芽、雄花、雌花、种子等7个部位以及在5-9月5个月份分别取样,对水曲柳进行低温(4℃)和盐胁迫(200 mmol/L NaCl)2种非生物胁迫处理以及脱落酸(ABA)、赤霉素(GA3)、生长素(IAA)、茉莉酸(JA)、水杨酸(SA)等激素信号诱导处理,然后对试验材料进行荧光定量分析。克隆出全长为684 bp的核苷酸序列。生物信息学软件分析得到JZA1基因具有完整的开放阅读框,编码227个氨基酸,JAZ1蛋白不含有信号肽,不属于跨膜蛋白,为不稳定亲水性蛋白。时空表达结果显示,FmJAZ1基因在茎中表达量最高,且在8月份表达量最高;非生物胁迫结果表明低温处理后FmJAZ1在6h、24h表达量较高;而NaCl处理后,在24 h表达量较高,且该基因响应低温胁迫较NaCl胁迫迅速;激素信号诱导结果显示,处理后不同时间,基因表达量变化较为明显,其中GA3处理后3h最为明显,为对照组的77.3倍,分析了FmJAZ1基因在低温、NaCl胁迫和激素诱导下的表达模式。FmJAZ1基因充分响应了逆境胁迫和激素信号诱导,通过蛋白和基因层面对逆境进行响应,JAZ蛋白在其中起到了桥梁的作用,并扮演了重要的角色。     

Environmental perception avenues: the interaction of cytokinin and environmental response pathways

Cytokinins were discovered in the 1950s by their ability to promote cell division in cultured plant cells. Recently, there have been significant breakthroughs in our understanding of the biosynthesis, metabolism, perception and signal transduction of this phytohormone. These advances, coupled with physiological and other approaches, have enabled remarkable progress to be made in our understanding of the interactions between cytokinin function and environmental inputs. In this review, we first highlight the most recent advances in our understanding of cytokinin biosynthesis, metabolism and signalling. We then discuss how various environmental signals interact with these pathways to modulate plant growth, development and physiology.     

基因可变剪接调控植物响应非生物胁迫研究进展

外界环境对植物生长发育产生至关重要的影响,近年来频繁出现的极端气候严重威胁植物生长发育。明确植物抗逆调控机制对于保障植物生存和发育(特别是经济作物的产量)具有重要意义。基因可变剪接是一种重要的转录后调控机制,对于植物基因功能的多样性与抗逆性均具有重要作用。目前已在不同植物中鉴定出多种抗逆相关基因可变剪接体,并阐明部分基因可变剪接介导的植物抗逆调控机制,有效奠定了植物抗逆研究的相关理论基础。因此,挖掘和鉴定更多抗逆基因在非生物胁迫下的可变剪接调控机制对于植物抗逆研究具有重要意义。该文综述了植物基因可变剪接类型以及剪接机制,重点阐述了非生物胁迫下相关基因可变剪接介导的植物抗逆研究进展,展望了未来的研究方向。     

重组工程系统研究进展

大肠杆菌的同源重组依靠内源性的RecA蛋白。RecBCD降解双链线性DNA分子,因此必须构建环状质粒打靶载体才能完成体内重组,操作过程繁琐,所需同源臂长。最近建立起的依赖于Rac噬菌体的ET重组系统和基于入噬菌体的Red重组系统,可有效利用线性DNA片段作为打靶分子,对大肠杆菌染色体DNA和BAC、PAC载体中包含的真核细胞基因组DNA进行基因敲除、敲入、替换、单碱基突变及体内基因克隆等修饰。这2种系统重组效率高,用PCR方法便可合成双链线性DNA打靶分子,不需要限制酶和连接酶,操作过程简单、精确、快速、经济,大大缩短了构建打靶载体的时间,成为功能基因组研究的有力工具。     

拟南芥组蛋白分子伴侣AtHIRA参与体细胞同源重组及盐胁迫响应

HIRA是组蛋白H3.3的特异分子伴侣, 在组蛋白H3.3掺入染色质的过程中发挥重要作用。研究表明, HIRA在哺乳动物胚胎发育和DNA损伤修复过程中不可或缺。而目前人们对于植物中HIRA同源基因功能的研究相对较少。该研究主要关注拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana) AtHIRA基因在植物体细胞同源重组以及减数分裂同源重组过程中的功能。将体细胞同源重组和减数分裂同源重组报告系统分别导入野生型和hira-1突变体后统计同源重组频率, 结果表明在正常生长条件下及在伯莱霉素(bleomycin)或UV-C处理条件下, hira-1突变体体细胞的分子内和分子间同源重组频率均低于野生型。而在正常生长条件下, 野生型与hira-1突变体花粉母细胞间的减数分裂同源重组频率没有明显差异, hira-1突变体的DNA损伤水平与野生型接近。qRT-PCR结果表明, DNA损伤修复相关基因RAD51和RAD54在hira-1突变体中的表达水平均高于野生型。此外, 盐胁迫处理实验表明, hira-1突变体对于高盐胁迫更加敏感。综上, AtHIRA在拟南芥体细胞同源重组及盐胁迫响应过程中发挥了一定作用。     

修饰的痘苗病毒安卡拉株（MVA）基因组中高频的同源重组

痘苗病毒由于其外源基因容量大,表达产物后加工完善等优势而广泛用于基因工程的研究以及基因治疗,痘苗病毒基因组的同源重组现象为其基因操作带来了方便,也被用于很多痘苗病毒基因结构和功能的研究,痘苗病毒安卡拉株（MVA）是一种修饰的复制限制的痘苗病毒,由于极高的安全性,正在实验室和临床应用的很多领域取代普通的痘苗病毒,为提高重组MVA系统的安全性以及筛选重组MVA的效率,发展了一种暂时选择系统,此系统利用分子内2段同向的相同序列发生同源重组去除选择标记k1l基因,从而消除选择标记对宿主可能的危害。利用此暂时表达系统构建了4个携带编码不同长度外源多蛋白质序列的重组MVA,并估算了每次传代的重组频率,结果显示,MVA同源重组频率虽然比其他痘苗病毒株要低,但仍然是较斋的,将带有k1l基因的重组MVA经3-4次盲传（blind passage),即可获得完全去除选择标记的重组MVA。进一步证明上述利用暂时选择标记k1l基因构建重组MVA的系统具有十分可靠的安全性,适合作为人体活疫苗开发和基因治疗的载体,而且,通过盲传进行筛选,能大大提高去除选择标记的效率,降低鸺建重组MVA的成本。