Cell-to-cell transport via the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum

Plasmodesmata are plasma membrane‐lined channels through which cytoplasmic molecules move from cell‐to‐cell in plants. Most plasmodesmata contain a desmotubule, a central tube of endoplasmic reticulum (ER), that connects the ER of adjacent cells. Here we demonstrate that molecules of up to 10.4 kDa in size can move between the ER lumen of neighbouring leaf trichome or epidermal cells via the desmotubule lumen. Fluorescent molecules of up to 10 kDa, microinjected into the ER of Nicotiana trichome cells, consistently moved into the ER and nuclei of neighbouring trichome cells. This movement occurred more rapidly than movement via the cytoplasmic pathway. A fluorescent 3‐kDa dextran microinjected into the ER of a basal trichome cell moved into the ER and nuclei of epidermal cells across a barrier to cytoplasmic movement. We constructed a 10.4‐kDa recombinant ER‐lumenal reporter protein (LRP) from a fragment of the endogenous ER‐lumenal binding protein AtBIP1. Following transient expression of the LRP in the ER of Tradescantia leaf epidermal cells, it often moved into the nuclear envelopes of neighbouring cells. However, green fluorescent protein targeted to the ER lumen (ER‐GFP) did not move from cell to cell. We propose that the ER lumen of plant cells is continuous with that of their neighbours, and allows movement of small ER‐lumenal molecules between cells.     

Cell type specific expression of a CaMV 35S-GUS gene in transgenic soybean plants

A number of independently derived transgenic soybean plants expressing a chimeric β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene under the control of the 355 CaMV promoter and a nopaline synthase polyadenylation signal were recovered using direct DNA transfer via electric discharge particle acceleration. Expression of GUS in R, plants was localized using thin tissue sections. Many tissue types expressed GUS at various levels. Pericycle cells in root, parenchyma cells in xylem, and phloem tissues of stem and leaf had high levels of enzyme activity. Procambium, phloem, and cortex cells in root, vascular cambium cells in stem, and the majority of cortex cells in leaf midrib, expressed low or no GUS activity. Intermediate levels of GUS activity were detected in leaf mesophyll cells, certain ground tissue cells in stem and leaf midrib, and in trichome and epidermal guard cells. Thus, we conclude that the 35S CaMV promoter is cell-type specific and is developmentally regulated in soybean.     

A quantitative and histological comparison of gus expression with different promoter constructs used in microprojectile bombardment of peanut leaf tissue

Summary β-glucuronidase (GUS) expression driven with different promoter constructs was quantitatively and histologically compared in peanut leaf tissue following microprojectile bombardment. X-Gluc staining patterns varied with the construct used. Tissues bombarded with the pAC2GUS construct had larger foci and a greater percentage of area staining blue. pEmuGN exhibited the greatest numbers of blue spots compared to pAC2GUS and pTRA140. Histological evaluations of blue staining foci showed a diffusion gradient of blue precipitate from a central, prominently-staining cell outward to as many as seven cell layers. The intensity of X-gluc product in centrally-staining cells varied. Gold microprojectile particles were usually located within the three surface cell layers. Depending on the plasmid construct, 72–90% of the centrally-staining cells had at least one gold particle. However, the presence of GUS expression did not appear to require a microprojectile within the nucleus, which was observed in 37% or fewer of the centrally-staining cells. With the pAC2GUS construct, staining patterns varied with location within leaflets and had an “edge effect,” i.e., blue spots were frequently larger at the margin versus central regions. This enhanced activity could be anticipated with an actin promoter in the more mitotically active marginal leaf cells. Total GUS activity as determined by fluorometric analyses was correlated with the percentage of X-gluc stained area. The pAC2GUS construct exhibited the highest total GUS activity among the three constructs.     

Potato virus X as a vector for gene expression in plants

The suitability of potato virus X (PVX) as a gene vector in plants was tested by analysis of two viral constructs. In the first, the GUS gene of Escherichia coli was substituted for the viral coat protein gene. In the second, GUS was added into the viral genome coupled to a duplicated copy of the viral promoter for the coat protein mRNA. The viral construct with the substituted coat protein gene accumulated poorly in inoculated protoplasts and failed to spread from the site of infection in plants. These results suggest a role for the viral coat protein in key stages of the viral infection cycle and show that gene replacement constructs are not suitable for the production of PVX-based gene vector. The construct with GUS coupled to the duplicated promoter for coat protein mRNA also accumulated less well in protoplasts than the unmodified PVX, but did infect systemically and directed high level synthesis of GUS in inoculated and systemically infected tissue. Although there was some genome instability in the PVX construct, much of the viral RNA in the systemically infected tissue had retained the foreign gene insertion, especially in infected Nicotiana clevelandii plants. These data point to a general utility of PVX as a vector for unregulated gene expression in plants.     

水稻rbcS启动子控制的外源基因在转基因水稻中的特异性表达

为将不同启动子用于转基因水稻的研究,从武运粳8号水稻中克隆了Rubisco小亚基基因(rbcS)的5'上游调控区,构建了由rbcS启动子引导的GUS融合基因,并经农杆菌介导导入到水稻中.对转基因水稻植株中GUS活性的定性与定量测定结果表明,rbcS启动子可驱动GUS报告基因在转基因水稻植株叶片和叶鞘内的叶肉细胞中特异性高效表达,而在茎、根和种子等器官中不表达或表达活性极弱,表现出明显的组织与细胞特异性.结果还表明,光诱导处理可明显提高rbcS启动子启动的外源基因的表达量.     

Tobacco mosaic virus movement protein-mediated protein transport between trichome cells.

Tobacco mosaic virus movement protein (TMV MP) is required to mediate viral spread between plant cells via plasmodesmata. Plasmodesmata are cytoplasmic bridges that connect individual plant cells and ordinarily limit molecular diffusion to small molecules and metabolites with a molecular mass up to 1 kD. Here, we characterize functional properties of Nicotiana clevelandii trichome plasmodesmata and analyze their interaction with TMV MP. Trichomes constitute a linear cellular system and provide a predictable pathway of movement. Their plasmodesmata are functionally distinct from plasmodesmata in other plant cel types; they allow cell-to-cell diffusion of dextrans with a molecular mass up to 7 kD, and TMV MP does not increase this size exclusion limit for dextrans. In contrast, the 30-kD TMV MP itself moves between trichome cells and specifically mediates the translocation of a 90-kD beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter protein as a GUS::TMV MP fusion. Neither GUS by itself nor GUS in the presence of TMV MP moves between cells. These data imply that a plasmodesmal transport signal resides within TMV MP and is essential for movement. This signal confers selectivity to the translocated protein and cannot function in trans to support movement of other molecules.     

Xylem structure and connectivity in grapevine (Vitis vinifera) shoots provides a passive mechanism for the spread of bacteria in grape plants

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Bacterial leaf scorch occurring in a number of economically important plants is caused by the xylem-limited bacterium Xylella fastidiosa (Xf). In grapevine, Xf systemic infection causes Pierce's disease and is lethal. Traditional dogma is that Xf movement between vessels requires the digestion of inter-vessel pit membranes. However, Yersinia enterocolitica (Ye) (a bacterium found in animals) and fluorescent beads moved rapidly within grapevine xylem from stem into leaf lamina, suggesting open conduits consisting of long, branched xylem vessels for passive movement. This study builds on and expands previous observations on the nature of these conduits and how they affect Xf movement. METHODS: Air, latex paint and green fluorescence protein (GFP)-Xf were loaded into leaves and followed to confirm and identify these conduits. Leaf xylem anatomy was studied to determine the basis for the free and sometimes restricted movement of Ye, beads, air, paint and GFP-Xf into the lamina. KEY RESULTS: Reverse loading experiments demonstrated that long, branched xylem vessels occurred exclusively in primary xylem. They were observed in the stem for three internodes before diverging into mature leaves. However, this stem-leaf connection was an age-dependent character and was absent for the first 10-12 leaves basal to the apical meristem. Free movement in leaf blade xylem was cell-type specific with vessels facilitating movement in the body of the blade and tracheids near the leaf margin. Air, latex paint and GFP-Xf all moved about 50-60% of the leaf length. GFP-Xf was never observed close to the leaf margin. CONCLUSIONS: The open vessels of the primary xylem offered unimpeded long distance pathways bridging stem to leaves, possibly facilitating the spread of bacterial pathogens in planta. GFP-Xf never reached the leaf margins where scorching appeared, suggesting a signal targeting specific cells or a toxic build-up at hydathodes.     

Mosaic analysis of GL2 gene expression and cell layer autonomy during the specification of Arabidopsis leaf trichomes

Homozygous glabra2 (gl2) mutant Arabidopsis thaliana Landsberg erecta plants with only a few rudimentary single spiked trichomes on the leaf margin were transformed with a genomic clone of GL2, resulting in partial restoration of the normal leaf trichome phenotype. The introduced GL2 transgene was configured as part of an FLP recombinase-responsive gene switch, which permitted visibly marked gl2 mutant clonal sectors to be generated by FLP recombinase-mediated deletion of the GL2 transgene with concomitant activation of a previously silent beta-glucuronidase (GUS) marker gene. GUS marked sectors extending through all three leaf cell layers (L1, L2, and L3) displayed the anticipated gl2 mutant phenotype, whereas immediately adjacent unmarked tissue, and unmarked tissues overlaying GUS sectors restricted to the L2 and/or L3 cell layers, retained the GL2 restored phenotype. These data support the view that the GL2 gene product acts in a region-autonomous manner within a single cell layer and indicate that GL2 gene expression in the L1 layer is sufficient for GL2-directed outgrowth of trichomes.     

Jellyfish green fluorescent protein as a reporter for virus infections

The gene encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) of Aequorea victoria was introduced into the expression cassette of a virus vector based on potato virus X (PVX). Host plants of PVX inoculated with PVX.GFP became systemically infected. Production of GFP in these plants was detected initially between 1 and 2 days postinoculation by the presence of regions on the inoculated leaf that fluoresced bright green under UV light. Subsequently, this green fluorescence was evident in systemically infected tissue. The fluorescence could be detected by several methods. The simplest of these was by looking at the UV-illuminated plants in a darkened room. The PVX.GFP-infected tissue has been analysed either by epifluorescence or confocal laser scanning microscopy. These microscopical methods allow the presence of the virus to be localized to individual infected cells. It was also possible to detect the green fluorescence by spectroscopy or by electrophoresis of extracts from infected plants. To illustrate the potential application of this reporter gene in virological studies a derivative of PVX.GFP was constructed in which the coat protein gene of PVX was replaced by GFP. Confocal laser scanning microscopy of the inoculated tissue showed that the virus was restricted to the inoculated cells thereby confirming earlier speculation that the PVX coat protein is essential for cell-to-cell movement. It is likely that GFP will be useful as a reporter gene in transgenic plants as well as in virus-infected tissue.     

香蕉束顶病毒DNA组分2、3的启动子区的组织特异性分析

香蕉束顶病毒（BBTV）基因组至少由6个大小约为1.0-1.1kb的单链环状DNA组分所组成,每一个DNA组分包含编码区与非编码区。本文在前人的研究基础上进一步了解BBTV DNA组分启动子的功能。首先根据BBTV 海南分离物的全序列,通过常规PCR扩增出长为540bp的 BBTV DNA3组分启动子序列BV3.1,同时通过重叠PCR扩增出646bp的DNA2与DNA3组分非编码区拼接的重组启动子序列BV23,分别替代pBI121 35S启动子序列与gus基因进行融合,构建植物表达载体pBIBV3.1、pBIBV23。农杆菌介导转化获得的pBIBV3.1转基因烟草经GUS化学组织染色后,在其叶片的叶脉处检测到微弱的GUS活性,证实了DNA3组分的韧皮部特异表达活性;而pBIBV23转基因烟草,其叶片经GUS组织化学染色后,在叶肉、叶缘及一些叶脉上检测到弱GUS活性,这表明由BV23驱动的gus基因在烟草中类似于组成型表达,则DNA2组分转录方式可能有异于DNA3组分。     

Direct creation of marker-free tobacco plants from agroinfiltrated leaf discs

Agroinfiltration is employed as a fast way to directly create marker-free transgenic tobacco plants. As an example for the efficiency of the method, Agrobacterium cells harboring a marker-free vector coding for β-glucuronidase (GUS) were infiltrated into the leaf discs of Nicotiana tabacum, which were then used as explants for marker-free plant regeneration by tissue culture. Through GUS staining, a large number of small calli were shown to be stably transformed on the treated leaf discs at 17 days after agroinfiltration. Most importantly, after continuous culture of the leaf discs until shoot regeneration, about 15% of the regenerants were proven to be transformants by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis.     

The nuclear shuttle protein of Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus is a pathogenicity determinant

The role of the movement protein (MP) and nuclear shuttle protein (NSP) in the pathogenicity of Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), a bipartite begomovirus, was studied. Both genes were expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana, Nicotiana tabacum, and Lycopersicon esculentum plants with the Potato virus X (PVX) expression vector or by stable transformation of gene constructs under the control of the 35S promoter in N. tabacum. No phenotypic changes were observed in any of the three species when the MP was expressed from the PVX vector or constitutively expressed in transgenic plants. Expression of the ToLCNDV NSP from the PVX vector in N. benthamiana resulted in leaf curling that is typical of the disease symptoms caused by ToLCNDV in this species. Expression of NSP from PVX in N. tabacum and L. esculentum resulted in a hypersensitive response (HR), demonstrating that the ToLCVDV NSP is a target of host defense responses in these hosts. The NSP, when expressed as a transgene under the control of the 35S promoter, resulted in necrotic lesions in expanded leaves that initiated from a point and then spread across the leaf. The necrotic response was systemic in all the transgenic plants. Deletion of 100 amino acids from the C terminus did not compromise the HR response, suggesting that this region has no role in HR. Deletion of 60 or 100 amino acids from the N terminus of NSP abolished the HR response, suggesting that these sequences are required for the HR response. These findings demonstrate that the ToLCNDV NSP is a pathogenicity determinant as well as a target of host defense responses.     

Increase in Plasmodesmatal Permeability during Cell-to-Cell Spread of Tobacco Rattle Virus from Individually Inoculated Cells

A microinjection technique was devised for inoculation of single Nicotiana clevelandii leaf trichome cells with virus particles. By removing inoculated trichomes at various times after microinjection, it was shown that at least 4 hr were required for tobacco rattle virus (TRV; tobravirus group) to move out of primarily inoculated cells. Effects of the early stages of TRV infection on plasmodesmatal permeability were examined by microinjection of fluorochrome-labeled molecules. Fluorescein-labeled insulin A chain (Mr, 2921) and fluorescein-labeled dextran (Mr, 4400) were observed to pass out of individual N. clevelandii trichome cells that had been inoculated with TRV by microinjection 5 hr previously. By contrast, Lucifer Yellow CH-labeled dextran (Mr, 10,000) was restricted to the inoculated cell. None of these fluorescent probes were able to move out of uninoculated cells or out of cells that had been inoculated with TRV only 2 hr previously. The movement of macromolecules through plasmodesmata, therefore, coincided with and probably resulted from cell-to-cell movement of TRV. The results are discussed with reference to the interaction of viruses and plasmodesmata and mechanisms of intercellular virus movement.     

小桐子低温诱导型启动子JcDnaJ20p的克隆及烟草转化功能鉴定

低温转录组数据显示,DnaJ20是小桐子低温诱导基因.为鉴定该基因启动子的低温诱导活性,基于PCR技术从小桐子叶片基因组DNA中克隆到DnaJ20基因(JcDna20)启动子序列,命名为JcDnaJ20p,利用重组技术构建了JcDnaJ20p启动子驱动GUS标记基因的植物双元表达载体pCambia1381Z-JcDna...