菲油果LEAFY基因的表达模式及启动子克隆

LEAFY(简称LFY)是植物花分生组织特征基因,在植物由营养生长向生殖生长转变过程中起着重要作用,是启动开花的枢纽。菲油果是一种新兴的果树资源,为研究菲油果LFY基因(FsLFY)的表达调控规律,本研究通过实时荧光定量PCR技术研究了FsLFY基因的时空表达模式,并通过染色体步移技术克隆了该基因的启动子序列。荧光定量PCR结果表明,FsLFY基因在菲油果花蕾不同发育阶段以及其他组织器官中均有表达。在花蕾中,小蕾期最高,中蕾期最低;组织器官中,营养枝茎段最高,花瓣最低。FsLFY基因启动子序列长度为2436 bp(GenBank登录号:KF766536),运用PLACE、PlantCARE等在线软件对其序列进行顺式作用元件分析,结果显示该序列不仅含有CAAT-box、TATA-box等核心启动子元件,而且还具有响应水分、光、赤霉素(GA)以及其他功能未知的顺式调控元件,表明FsLFY基因的表达受多种外界环境条件的调控。本研究为阐明菲油果的开花机理,以及通过分子育种手段使菲油果早花早果奠定了理论基础。     

Both Pit-1 and the estrogen receptor are required for estrogen responsiveness of the rat prolactin gene

To examine the functional relationship between distinct cis-active elements within the distal enhancer region of the rat PRL gene, we have used deletional and mutational analysis of that region in transient transfection studies in GH3 pituitary tumor cells. Results from these studies demonstrate that the region of the PRL distal enhancer containing the Pit-1-binding sites is critical not only for enhancer activity and the response to cAMP, but also for the response to estradiol. An interaction of the estrogen receptor with factors conferring basal enhancer activity is suggested by studies with a mutant distal enhancer region in which the PRL estrogen response element was converted to a palindromic estrogen response element. To directly examine potential interactions, cotransfection studies using PRL distal enhancer reporter gene constructs and expression vectors for Pit-1 and rat estrogen receptor were performed in two heterologous cell lines. The activity of the reporter gene under the control of the PRL distal enhancer linked to either the thymidine kinase promoter or the PRL proximal promoter was not significantly altered by cotransfection with the Pit-1 expression vector in COS-1 or RAT-1 cells. Coexpression of these reporter constructs and an expression vector for estrogen receptor resulted in only a slight response to estradiol. However, when both Pit-1 and estrogen receptor were cotransfected with the distal enhancer reporter gene, a marked induction was observed in response to estradiol, and this activity was dependent upon the concentration of the Pit-1 expression vector.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Temperature compensation and temporal expression mediated by an enhancer element in Drosophila.

A comparison of the activity of genetic elements from the regulatory region of the Drosophila melanogaster Deformed gene during embryogenesis and adult life reveals important similarities and differences. The 2.7 kb epidermal autoregulatory enhancer (EAE) of the Deformed gene drives expression of a β-galactosidase reporter in unique spatial and temporal patterns in the adult antennae; this pattern is insensitive to temperature effects. The Deformed regulatory region possesses distinct enhancer elements that can direct the expression of a β-galactosidase reporter spatially and temporally. A 120 bp region can reproduce the general features of the larger EAE fragment. The Deformed binding site is essential for temporal and spatial expression of β-galactosidase during embryogenesis but is not required in the adult.     

Differential expression of the potato proteinase inhibitor II promoter in transgenic tobacco

We studied temporal and spatial expression patterns of the potato proteinase inhibitor II (PI-II) promoter, using transgenic tobacco (Nkotiana tabacum L cv. Xanthi) plants that carried a fusion between the PI-II promoter and the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (cat) gene. Pl-ll promoter activity was low when plants were young, but increased as plants grew. In 8-week-old plants, old leaves showed higher activity than young leaves. At flowering stage (ca. 15 weeks), the overall promoter activity was reduced to a lower level except in the petals. Compared with stems or petioles at the flowering stage, the roots and floral organs showed minimal activity for the Pl-ll promoter. We used several environmental stimuli to examine the induction of the Pl-ll promoter in different organs. Promoter induction was effected by wounding or methyl jasmonate in stems, petioles, sepals, and leaves. The induction was highest in leaves, as was sucrose-enhanced wound induction. These results suggest that the Pl-ll gene is temporally and spatially regulated. We also established a transient assay system in tobacco BY2 suspension cells to elucidate the upstream regulatory region of the Pl-ll promoter. A field strength of 0.75 kV/cm and 400 μF capacitance were optimal electroporation conditions for our transient assay.     

Functional dissection of an early Drosophila chorion gene promoter: expression throughout the follicular epithelium is under spatially composite regulation.

We have fused various DNA sequences located upstream of the Drosophila melanogaster s36 chorion gene TATA box to a heterologous basal promoter and reporter gene (hsp70/lacZ). The expression of these constructs, following P-element-mediated germline transformation, was examined in 144 independent lines by histological staining of dissected ovaries for beta-galactosidase activity. A short 84 bp segment of the proximal 5' flanking DNA was sufficient to confer a wild-type gene expression pattern, including temporal specificity for early choriogenic follicles. Surprisingly, initial expression was very localized at the anterior and posterior poles of the follicle. The downstream half of that DNA segment permitted expression at both poles, but especially at the anterior tip, while the upstream half only favored expression in the posterior pole; these results suggested the existence of multiple, spatially specific cis-regulatory elements. When the proximal 84 bp segment was placed 1.5 kb upstream of the basal promoter, beta-galactosidase activity was observed in an altered spatial pattern, indicating that the cis-regulatory element(s) that favor expression in the posterior half of the follicle are position independent, while the element(s) that favor expression elsewhere in the follicle are position sensitive. A distal regulatory segment containing redundant DNA element(s) specific for expression in the anterior pole was identified much further upstream of s36. Thus, the expression of this chorion gene throughout the follicular epithelium is actually composite, occurring in distinct spatial domains under the control of corresponding DNA elements.     

Pollen- and anther-specific chi promoters from petunia: tandem promoter regulation of the chiA gene.

We have analyzed the spatial and temporal activities of chalcone flavanone isomerase (chi) A and B gene promoters from petunia. To study the tandem promoter regulation of chiA, various chiA promoter fragments were fused with the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene. Analysis of transgenic plants containing these chimeric genes provided definitive proof that the chiA coding region is regulated by two distinct promoters (designated PA1 and PA2). We also showed that both promoters can function independently and that the chiA PA1 promoter is expressed in limb (epidermal and parenchyma cells), tube (inner epidermal and parenchyma cells), seed (seed coat, endosperm, and embryo), sepal, leaf, and stem. The use of chiA and chiB promoters in the regulation of anther- and pollen-specific gene expression has been studied. By analyzing transgenic plants containing chimeric genes consisting of chiA and B promoter fragments and the GUS reporter gene, we were able to identify a 0.44-kilobase chiA PA2 promoter fragment that drives pollen-specific gene expression and a 1.75-kilobase chiB PB promoter fragment that confers anther-specific (pollen and tapetum cells) expression to the GUS gene.