禾谷类作物胚乳的淀粉合成

禾谷类作物胚乳拥有独特的淀粉合成途径,需要多种特异性同工酶的参与,这些酶在禾谷类其他组织或非禾谷类作物中是不存在的。近来明确了单个淀粉同工酶的功能,这有助于我们更深入地了解禾谷类淀粉直链、支链的合成与分布。在对禾谷类淀粉合成进行遗传分析的基础上,提出了脱分支酶作用模型。以水稻全基因组序列草图为背景,本文首次全面分析了禾谷类作物的淀粉合成。     

淀粉合酶的酶学与分子生物学研究进展

淀粉合酶作为淀粉合成的关键酶之一,一直是淀粉研究的重要内容。这些研究多集中在对其同工型的研究,淀粉合酶的两类主要同工型分别为淀粉粒结合的淀粉合酶和可溶性淀粉合酶,这两类同工型的作用极为复杂。本文介绍了淀粉合酶同工型的酶学和分子生物学近年来的研究进展,同时也讨论了这些同工型的分类、相互关系及其在淀粉合成过程中的生理功能等内容。     

淀粉合酶的酶学与分子生物学研究进展

淀粉合酶作为淀粉合成的关键酶之一,一直是淀粉研究的重要内容,这些研究多集中在对其同工型的研究,淀粉合酶的两类主要同工型分别为淀粉粒结合的淀粉合酶和可溶性淀粉合酶,这两类同工型的作用极为复杂,本文介绍了淀粉合酶同工型的酶学和分子生物学近年来的研究进展,同时也讨论了这些同工型的分类,相互关系及其在淀粉合成过程中的生理功能等内容。     

萌发中食松幼苗淀粉合酶同工酶与淀粉成分的关系

利用14C－ADPG标定法测定可溶性及与淀粉粒结合的淀粉合酶活性,采用过氯酸抽提、DMSO玻璃纤维纸层析、硫酸水解法定量测定各类淀粉成分,探讨了食松（PinusedulisEngelm）幼苗生长过程中淀粉合酶与淀粉成分间的关系。结果表明,在胚根出现以后,淀粉含量迅速增加,伴随着淀粉颗粒数目和质量的增加,两类淀粉合酶活性的增加以及淀粉合酶免疫印迹图谱的变化。支链淀粉是食松淀粉的主要成分,占总淀粉的84％。可溶性淀粉合酶峰值比淀粉粒结合的淀粉合酶活性峰值高1．3倍,与支链淀粉和直链淀粉的比例相对应。结果支持食松可溶性淀粉合酶是负责支链淀粉合成的主要酶的假说,同时表明淀粉粒结合的淀粉合酶在支链淀粉的合成中也有作用。     

萌发后食松幼苗淀粉粒结合与可溶性淀粉合酶的研究

裸子植物食松(Pinus edulis Engelm.)幼苗在萌发后具有淀粉积累的独特特征,而淀粉合酶在裸子植物中尚未有研究.这项研究对在室温下暗中萌发的食松幼苗的淀粉合酶进行了提取和研究,结果显示: 58 kD和91 kD的淀粉粒结合蛋白均为豌豆淀粉合酶Ⅱ抗体所识别. 58 kD淀粉粒结合蛋白被纯化出来, 其N端序列与其他几种被子植物淀粉粒结合的淀粉合酶Ⅰ的N端序列有很高的相似性,并与豌豆、大麦、马铃薯淀粉粒结合淀粉合酶Ⅰ有免疫相似性,被鉴定为淀粉粒结合的淀粉合酶Ⅰ.从DEAE-Sepharose 柱上洗脱出来的可溶性淀粉合酶表现出两个淀粉合酶活性峰,表明至少有两类可溶性淀粉合酶同工酶.对可溶性淀粉合酶的前体亲和特性进行了研究.以兔肝糖原为前体时, 可溶性淀粉合酶的亲和性最高.裸子植物淀粉合酶的酶学特性表现与已研究的被子植物相似.     

萌发后食松幼苗淀粉粒结合与可溶性淀粉合酶的研究

裸子植物食松 (PinusedulisEngelm .)幼苗在萌发后具有淀粉积累的独特特征 ,而淀粉合酶在裸子植物中尚未有研究。这项研究对在室温下暗中萌发的食松幼苗的淀粉合酶进行了提取和研究 ,结果显示 :5 8kD和 91kD的淀粉粒结合蛋白均为豌豆淀粉合酶Ⅱ抗体所识别。5 8kD淀粉粒结合蛋白被纯化出来 ,其N端序列与其他几种被子植物淀粉粒结合的淀粉合酶Ⅰ的N端序列有很高的相似性 ,并与豌豆、大麦、马铃薯淀粉粒结合淀粉合酶Ⅰ有免疫相似性 ,被鉴定为淀粉粒结合的淀粉合酶Ⅰ。从DEAE_Sepharose柱上洗脱出来的可溶性淀粉合酶表现出两个淀粉合酶活性峰 ,表明至少有两类可溶性淀粉合酶同工酶。对可溶性淀粉合酶的前体亲和特性进行了研究。以兔肝糖原为前体时 ,可溶性淀粉合酶的亲和性最高。裸子植物淀粉合酶的酶学特性表现与已研究的被子植物相似。     

合酶与合成酶

合酶与合成酶是生化教学中经常提到的,同时也是比较容易混淆的两个概念。例如,对于三羧酸循环中催化乙酰ＣｏＡ与草酰乙酸反应生成柠檬酸的酶,国内教科书就出现了命名的混乱,有的书称为柠檬酸合酶,更多的书称为柠檬酸合成酶。此外,不少教科书把脂肪酸合酶、ＨＭＧＣｏＡ合酶、ＡＬＡ合酶及前列腺内过氧化物合酶误译成脂肪酸合成酶、ＨＭＧＣｏＡ合成酶、ＡＬＡ合成酶及前列腺内过氧化物合成酶等。可见,合酶与合成酶误用存在一定的普遍性。这种状况不仅使青年教师茫然,更使学生无所适从,实在有必要澄清。出现这种错误的可能原因一是名词的错…     

小麦淀粉合酶基因Ⅲ片段的克隆及反义和RNA干扰载体的构建

采用RT-PCR方法从小麦品种豫教2号的发育籽粒中克隆出淀粉合酶Ⅲ基因(starch synthase Ⅲ,SSⅢ)部分cDNA片段(509bp) (GenBank No.EF466009),同源性比较结果显示,它与GenBank 上已报道的SSⅢ基因有高度同源性.以pWM101质粒为基础,构建了由35S启动子调控的SSⅢ基因的反义表达载体pWM101SSⅢA;另外,还以pFGC5941质粒为基础,构建了SSⅢ基因的RNAi干扰载体pFGC5941SSⅢsa,这些载体的构建为研究此基因的功能打下了很好的基础.     

小麦淀粉合酶基因III片段的克隆及反义和RNA干扰载体的构建

采用RT-PCR方法从小麦品种豫教2号的发育籽粒中克隆出淀粉合酶III基因（starch synthase III, SSIII）部分cDNA片段(509bp) (GenBank No. EF466009),同源性比较结果显示,它与GenBank 上已报道的SSIII基因有高度同源性。以pWM101质粒为基础,构建了由35S启动子调控的SSIII基因的反义表达载体pWM101SSIII;另外,还以pFGC5941质粒为基础,构建了SSIII基因的RNAi干扰载体pFGC5941SSIII,这些载体的构建为研究此基因的功能打下了很好的基础。     

Identification of multiple isoforms of soluble and granule-bound starch synthase in developing wheat endosperm

We have investigated the nature and locations of isoforms of starch synthase in the developing endosperm of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). There are three distinct granule-bound isoforms of 60 kDa (the Waxy gene product), 77 kDa and 100–105 kDa. One of these isoforms, the 77-kDa protein, is also present in the soluble fraction of the endosperm but it contributes only a small proportion of the total soluble activity. Most of the soluble activity is contributed by isoforms which are apparently not also granule-bound. The 60-kDa and 77kDa isoforms of wheat are antigenically related to isoforms of very similar size in the developing pea embryo, but the other isoforms in the endosperm appear to have no counterparts in the pea embryo. The significance of these results in terms of the diversity of isoforms of starch synthase and their locations is discussed.Abbreviations DEAE diethylaminoethyl - GBSS granule-bound starch synthase - NT nullisomictetrasomic We are grateful to the late John Hawker (University of Adelaide, Australia) and to John Snape (John Innes Centre, UK) for useful discussions during the course of this work, to John Snape and Catherine Chinoy (John Innes Centre, UK) for the gift of the NT lines and to Richard Batt (University of Adelaide, Australia) for technical assistance.     

Starch synthase activity and heat shock protein in relation to thermal tolerance of developing wheat grains

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cvs. HD 2285 (relatively tolerant) and WH 542 (susceptible) were exposed to ambient and elevated temperature (3–4 °C higher) in open top chambers during post anthesis period. The grain yield components were determined at the time of maturity. In order to elucidate the basis of differential tolerance of these cultivars, the excised developing grains (20 d after anthesis) of ambient grown plants were incubated at 15, 25, 35 and 45 °C for 2 h and then analysed for the activities of soluble starch synthase (SSS), granule bound starch synthase (GBSS), kinetic parameters of SSS and content of heat shock protein (HSP 100). The elevated temperature during grain development significantly decreased grain growth in WH 542 whereas no such decrease was observed in HD 2285. High temperature tolerance of HD 2285 was found to be associated with higher catalytic efficiency (V_max/K_m) of SSS at elevated temperature and higher content of HSP 100.     

小麦淀粉粒束缚淀粉合成酶基因多态性的分子鉴定

运用6％的SDS-PAGE对14个小麦品种成熟籽粒Wx蛋白的多态性进行了鉴定,结果表明,14个小麦品种根据其Wx蛋白的缺失情况可分为6种组合类型。另外,根据Wx-A1、Wx-D1和Wx-D1这3个位点基因序列和变异情况分别设计了PCR引物,扩增结果表明：Wx-A1位点突变材料扩增产物为327bp,正常材料中扩增不到该特异带;在Wx-B1位点扩增出187bp目标带,突变材料没有该扩增产物;在Wx-D1位点扩增出约700bp目标带,突变材料没有该特异带。与前人的研究结果相比,Wx-B1引物在3个位点的扩增产物长度更短,差异更大,在2％琼脂糖胶上即可清楚分开,缩短了鉴定时间,提高了效率,为大规模筛选优质面条小麦品种提供了可能。     

Major differences in isoform composition of starch synthase between leaves and embryos of pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Isoforms of starch synthase (EC 2.4.1.21) in pea (Pisum sativum L.) leaves have been identified and compared with those in developing pea embryos. Purification and immunoprecipitation experiments show that most of the soluble starch synthase activity of the leaf is contributed by a novel isoform (SSIII) that is antigenically related to the major soluble isoform of the potato tuber. The major soluble isoform of the embryo (SSII) is also present in the leaf, but contributes only 15% of the soluble activity. Study of the leaf starch of lam mutant peas, which lack the abundant granule-bound isoform responsible for amylose synthesis in the embryo (GBSSI), indicates that GBSSI is not responsible for the synthesis of amylose-like material in the leaf. Leaves appear to contain a novel granule-bound isoform, antigenically related to GBSSI. The implications of the results for understanding of the role of isoforms of starch synthase are discussed. Received: 13 March 1997 / Accepted: 13 May 1997     

An analysis of soluble starch synthase isozymes from the developing grains of normal and shx cv. Bomi barley (Hordeum vulgare)

Soluble starch synthase (SSS, EC 2.4.1.21) catalyzes formation of the α-1,4 bonds of amylopectin. It occurs in multiple isozymes which are either type I, primer-independent in the presence of citrate, or type II. always primer-dependent. To analyze the enzyme. a sensitive native gel assay was developed, monitoring ADP-[¹⁴C]glucose incorporation into insoluble α-glucan in the presence of either sodium citrate or glycogen primer or both. Using this system, we observed multiple type I and type II forms in developing grains of barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) cv. Bomi, the relative activities of which vary with seed development. At least one form comigrates in native gels with starch branching enzyme. Assays of the shx mutant, which is severely reduced in starch accumulation and in type I SSS activity, indicate that one type I isozyme becomes primer-dependent.     

Starch biosynthesis: experiments on how starch granules grow in vivo

Four varieties of starch granules from potato, wheat, maize, and rice were fractionated into homogeneous 10-μm-sized ranges. The size with the largest amount of granules was reacted with ADP-[¹⁴C]Glc, washed, and peeled into 7−9 layers, using a controlled peeling process, involving 90:10 volume proportions of Me₂SO-H₂O at 10 °C. All of the starches showed biosynthesis of starch throughout the granules. Starch synthase activities were determined for each of the layers. Three of the starches had a relatively large amount of synthase activity in the second layer, with only a small amount in the first layer. Potato starch had the largest amount of activity in the first layer. Starch synthase activity was found to alternate between higher and lower activities throughout all of the varieties of granules, showing that the synthesis was not uniform and also was not exclusively occurring at the surface of the starch granules, which had previously been hypothesized. From these results and our previous studies on the mechanism of starch chain elongation by the addition of d-glucose to the reducing end of a growing chain that is covalently attached to the active site of starch synthase, a hypothesis is proposed for how starch granules grow in vivo.     

Expression of a cassava granule-bound starch synthase gene in the amylose-free potato only partially restores amylose content

Granule-bound starch synthase I (GBSS I) is responsible for the synthesis of amylose in starch granules. A heterologous cassava GBSS I gene was tested for its ability to restore amylose synthesis in amylose-free (amf) potato mutants. For this purpose, the cassava GBSS I was equipped with different transit peptides. In addition, a hybrid containing the potato transit peptide, the N-terminal 89 amino acids of the mature potato GBSS I, and the C-terminal part of cassava GBSS I was prepared. The transgenic starches were first analysed by iodine staining. Only with the hybrid could full phenotypic complementation of the amf mutation be achieved in 13% of the plants. Most transformants showed partial complementation, but interestingly the size of the blue core was similar in all granules derived from one tuber of a given plant. The amylose content was only partially restored, up to 60% of wild-type values or potato GBSS I-complemented plants; however, the GBSS activity in these granules was similar to that found in wild-type ones. From this, and the observation that the hybrid protein (a partial potato GBSS I look-alike) performs best, it was concluded that potato and cassava GBSS I have different intrinsic properties and that the cassava enzyme is not fully adapted to the potato situation.     

Localisation of sucrose-phosphate synthase and starch in leaves of C4 plants

The activity and intercellular distribution of sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS; EC 2.4.1.14) were determined in fully expanded leaves from a range of C₄ plants. In Zea mays L. and Atriplex spongiosa F. Muell., SPS was located almost exclusively in the mesophyll cells. In other species, SPS was found in both cell types, with the activity in the bundle sheath cells ranging from 5% of the total leaf activity in Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. to 35% in Sorghum bicolor Moench. At the end of the light period, starch was found only in the bundle sheath cells in all of the species examined. There appears to be little correlation between C₄-acid decarboxylation type and the location of sucrose and starch synthesis in the leaves of C₄ plants. Received: 18 October 1996 / Accepted: 20 November 1996