SPINDLY与赤霉素的信号转导

SPINDLY(SPY)作为一负调节子参与GA的信号转导,34肽重复结构(TPR)与C-端区域对其正常功能都十分重要.SPy基因在植物中呈组成型表达,其蛋白主要出现在细胞核部位.SPY蛋白与动物中的氧连N-乙酰葡萄糖胺转移酶(OGT)具有广泛的同源性,两者可能有着类似的作用机制.本文主要介绍GA突变体、SPy基因、SPY蛋白及其在大麦中的同源物HvSPY的结构与功能相关方面的一些研究进展.     

能源植物小桐子赤霉素合成代谢及信号转导相关基因的鉴定及序列分析

赤霉素(gibberellin,GA)是一类非常重要的植物激素,在植物种子萌发、茎干伸长、叶片生长、腺毛发育、花粉成熟、开花诱导和果实成熟等生长发育过程中都发挥着重要的作用。GA在一年生草本植物中可以促进开花,而在大多数多年生木本植物中则抑制成花诱导。为了更好地研究赤霉素在木本油料能源植物小桐子(Jatropha curcas)开花调控方面的作用机理,我们对小桐子整个基因组中参与GA合成代谢和信号转导的全部基因进行了鉴定和序列分析。这些基因包括6个多基因家族编码的蛋白,即GA2氧化酶(GA2-oxidase,GA2ox)、GA3氧化酶(GA3-oxidase,GA3ox)、GA20氧化酶(GA20-oxidase,GA20ox)、GID1(GIBBERELLIN INSENSITIVE DWARF1)、DELLAs和F-box蛋白,以及2个单基因编码的蛋白,EL1(EARLY FLOWERING1)和SPY(SPINDLY)。采用拟南芥和水稻中已经鉴定的上述基因编码的蛋白序列在小桐子基因组序列数据库和本实验的小桐子转录组数据库中进行BLASTP分析,找到17个同源蛋白的全长序列,并将其与28个拟南芥的、16个水稻的、24个葡萄的和22个蓖麻的同源蛋白构建系统发育树进行比对分析。结果表明,小桐子中参与赤霉素合成代谢及信号转导的大多数基因与蓖麻和葡萄同源基因的相似度更高。     

葡萄VvRGL基因应答GA调控无核果实发育的研究

DELLA蛋白是GA信号传导途径的核心作用元件,属于GRAS核转录调节因子家族。该研究以‘魏可’葡萄品种为试材,通过基因克隆、启动子分析、染色体定位、基因蛋白结构及系统进化分析,鉴定VvRGL1和VvRGL2精确序列,预测其潜在功能,并采用qRT-PCR技术检测VvRGL基因应答GA在果皮、果肉及种子(区)的时空表达特征。结果表明:(1)VvRGL1及VvRGL2的染色体定位为Chr14和Chr7,开放阅读框(ORF)为2 007bp和1 815bp,编码氨基酸数量为668和604个;二者均含有GRAS保守结构域,但却不具备DELLA结构域,属于GRAS转录因子大家族成员,而不属于DELLA亚家族;基因结构分析表明,VvRGL1的DNA序列有1个内含子,2个外显子,而VvRGL2的DNA序列无内含子,有1个外显子,基因结构高度保守;进化分析表明,VvRGL1与拟南芥和柑桔的亲缘关系较近,而VvRGL2与草莓和杨树的亲缘关系较近。(2)2个基因的启动子均含有响应赤霉素和胚乳发育相关的作用元件,表明它们可能参与响应GA信号传导和种子胚乳发育过程。(3)qRT-PCR结果显示,外源GA处理均不同程度降低了2个基因在葡萄果皮和种子区的表达,但却上调了其在幼果期果肉中的表达,表明在果皮与种子(区)中,GA可能通过抑制葡萄VvRGL1/RGL2基因的表达参与调控葡萄无核果实的发育。本研究结果为进一步阐明VvRGL在赤霉素信号传导及葡萄无核果实发育机理中的作用机制提供重要依据。     

DELLA 蛋白在植物生长发育中的作用

DELLA蛋白作为GA信号转导通路中起抑制作用的转录因子,是一类定位在核内的生长抑制蛋白,可以直接与植物体内关键转录因子的蛋白互作,进而在许多植物信号活动中发挥核心作用。该文对近年来国内外有关模式植物及果树、蔬菜、花卉、粮食作物等植物DELLA蛋白基因家族的鉴定、时空表达模式、蛋白结构、参与的GA信号转导机理、与光敏色素互作因子PIF及F box蛋白的互作及DELLA蛋白在植物种子萌发、形态建成、豆科植物根瘤菌共生、气孔关闭、植物抗逆反应等过程中的重要作用等方面的研究进展进行综述,并比较了DELLA蛋白基因家族在不同物种中的差异,对其今后的研究热点和方向进行了展望,为进一步探讨DELLA蛋白的功能提供信息。     

GA2ox1氧化酶基因的克隆及原核表达

采用RT-PCR从拟南芥基因组中克隆到GA2ox1基因,通过Gateway克隆技术构建原核重组表达载体pDEST17-GA2ox1,并转化大肠杆菌BL(21)star,对蛋白原核表达条件进行优化.结果表明,最佳表达条件为温度30℃、IPTG浓度0.2 mmol/L、诱导6 h.蛋白表达形式为包涵体,与Biotech对GA2ox1基因在大肠杆菌中的表达情况推测的结论一致.重组蛋白分子质量约为40 kD,经Ni Sepharose亲和层析柱纯化和Western blot鉴定得纯度90%以上的GA2ox1重组蛋白.研究结果为GA2ox1抗体制备及蛋白功能的进一步研究奠定了基础.     

缺铁胁迫对梨叶片中GA信号转导相关基因的影响

以不同程度缺铁的‘砀山酥梨’组培苗为实验材料,应用ELISA法测定叶片中内源GA含量,并依据NCBI上GA氧化酶GA2ox同源基因的保守序列,采用RACE技术克隆其基因全长,从梨基因组数据库中比对获得GA受体GID1的4个等位基因和DELLA蛋白的4个等位基因,通过实时RT-PCR分析GA2ox基因和GID1的4个等位基因和DELLA蛋白的4个等位基因的相对表达量,以探讨缺铁对梨叶片GA含量及其信号转导相关基因表达的影响。结果表明:(1)梨叶片中GA含量随着其缺铁程度的加重而增加。(2)克隆出梨叶片中GA2ox基因,其cDNA全长为1 014bp(GenBank登录号为KJ008976)。(3)GA2ox基因的表达量并未随梨缺铁程度增加而上升;GA受体GID1的4个等位基因相对表达量均随梨缺铁程度的加重而增加,其相对表达量与GA含量呈正相关关系;在DELLA蛋白的4个等位基因中,仅DELLA1相对表达量随着梨缺铁程度的加重而逐渐增加,说明DELLA1对缺铁胁迫最敏感。推测梨缺铁诱导了GA合成,但并没有促进活性GA向无活性GA转化。     

青杄转录因子PwNAC30及其启动子序列的克隆与表达分析

该研究以青杄(Picea wilsonii)为实验材料,通过PCR从青杄的cDNA文库中克隆得到一个NAC转录因子,命名为PwNAC30。生物信息学分析显示,PwNAC30开放阅读框1 179bp,共编码392个氨基酸,在其N端存在保守的NAM(no apical meristem)结构域,可分为A～E等5个亚结构域。多序列对比和系统进化树分析显示,PwNAC30蛋白与同为云杉属的北美云杉(Picea sitchensis)聚为一类。启动子克隆分析显示,PwNAC30基因启动子上存在脱落酸(ABA)、赤霉素(GA)、茉莉酸甲酯(MeJA)、TC-rich repeats等激素和逆境响应元件,在GA、ABA、MeJA、低温、干旱、盐的处理下,其启动子活性均明显增强。荧光定量PCR分析表明,PwNAC30在球果中的表达量最高,而在花粉和种子中的表达量最低。PwNAC30对于盐、干旱、低温、ABA、MeJA、GA处理均有响应,尤其对盐、干旱、MeJA的响应最为显著。亚细胞定位结果显示,PwNAC30蛋白定位于细胞核与细胞质,主要定位于细胞核中。酵母单杂及双杂结果表明,PwNAC30蛋白的全长和N端没有转录激活活性,而C端有转录激活活性,且PwNAC30自身能形成同源二聚体。研究表明,青杄PwNAC30基因可以作为一个转录因子发挥作用,其转录激活活性在C端,且自身能够形成同源二聚体结构;PwNAC30基因广泛参与了ABA、GA、MeJA等激素的信号通路,并对盐、干旱、低温处理有响应。     

荔波连蕊茶GA20氧化酶基因的克隆及表达分析

根据植物GA20ox基因编码区的保守序列设计引物,以山茶属荔波连蕊茶幼嫩茎段为材料,提取总RNA,进行RT-PCR。采用RACE技术扩增获得1 567 bp的GA20氧化酶基因全长cDNA序列,命名为ClGA20ox2(GenBank登录号KF823787)。序列分析表明,ClGA20ox2开放阅读框(ORF)为1 146 bp,编码382个氨基酸,5'非编码区115 bp,3'非编码区303 bp。预测的蛋白质分子量为43.56 kD,等电点为7.02,所推导的蛋白氨基酸序列与夹竹桃和杨树GA20ox蛋白的同源性分别为73%和72%。ClGA20ox2与其它植物GA20ox蛋白比较,构建系统进化树,结果显示山茶GA20ox蛋白与夹竹桃和杨树的GA20ox蛋白的亲缘关系最为密切。实时定量PCR结果显示,该基因在荔波连蕊茶的根、茎、叶和种子中均有表达,其表达模式却不同:ClGA20ox2基因在二年生茎段中的表达丰度最高,在顶端分生组织中表达丰度最低,在嫩叶和根中表达丰度较高,成熟叶片和种子表达丰度较低。     

脂蛋白酯酶研究进展及对动脉粥样硬化的影响北大核心CSCD

脂蛋白脂酶(lipoprotein lipase,LPL)主要在脏器实质细胞合成和分泌,可以水解乳糜微粒(chylomicron,CM)、低密度脂蛋白(low-density lipoproteins,LDL)及极低密度脂蛋白(very low-den-sity lipoproteins,VLDL)中的甘油三酯(triglyceride,TG),对清除体内过多的TG至关重要。新近研究发现LPL的基因结构、合成、分泌及降解具有复杂性,生物功能的发挥和基因的表达也受到多种转录因子、微小RNA(microRNA,miRNA)、相关蛋白及营养激素的调控,其在动脉硬化性疾病中的作用也存在较大的争议。因此,本文主要针对LPL基因的结构、合成与降解、生物功能、表达调控及与动脉硬化性心血管疾病关系的研究进展做一综述,以期进一步明确LPL在心血管疾病中的作用和意义。     

Functional analysis of SPINDLY in gibberellin signaling in Arabidopsis

The Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) SPINDLY (SPY) protein negatively regulates the gibberellin (GA) signaling pathway. SPY is an O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) transferase (OGT) with a protein-protein interaction domain consisting of 10 tetratricopeptide repeats (TPR). OGTs add a GlcNAc monosaccharide to serine/threonine residues of nuclear and cytosolic proteins. Determination of the molecular defects in 14 new spy alleles reveals that these mutations cluster in three TPRs and the C-terminal catalytic region. Phenotypic characterization of 12 spy alleles indicates that TPRs 6, 8, and 9 and the catalytic domain are crucial for GA-regulated stem elongation, floral induction, and fertility. TPRs 8 and 9 and the catalytic region are also important for modulating trichome morphology and inflorescence phyllotaxy. Consistent with a role for SPY in embryo development, several alleles affect seedling cotyledon number. These results suggest that three of the TPRs and the OGT activity in SPY are required for its function in GA signal transduction. We also examined the effect of spy mutations on another negative regulator of GA signaling, REPRESSOR OF ga1-3 (RGA). The DELLA motif in RGA is essential for GA-induced proteolysis of RGA, and deletion of this motif (as in rga-delta17) causes a GA-insensitive dwarf phenotype. Here, we demonstrate that spy partially suppresses the rga-delta17 phenotype but does not reduce rga-delta17 or RGA protein levels or alter RGA nuclear localization. We propose that SPY may function as a negative regulator of GA response by increasing the activity of RGA, and presumably other DELLA proteins, by GlcNAc modification.     

SPYing on GA Signaling and Plant Development

It has been ten years since the SPINDLY (SPY) locus was first identified from a screen of mutagenized wild type Arabidopsis seeds by selecting for germination in the presence of a gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis inhibitor (Jacobsen and Olszewski 1993). Since then research into this novel protein, an O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), has revealed some fascinating and surprising results. SPY was originally described as a negative regulator specific to the GA signal transduction pathway, but recent research suggests that SPY is involved in additional aspects of plant development. SPY is also being investigated in barley, petunia and rice, adding to the complex story that is SPY.     

SPINDLY is a nuclear-localized repressor of gibberellin signal transduction expressed throughout the plant

SPY (SPINDLY) encodes a putative O-linked N-acetyl-glucosamine transferase that is genetically defined as a negatively acting component of the gibberellin (GA) signal transduction pathway. Analysis of Arabidopsis plants containing a SPY::GUS reporter gene reveals that SPY is expressed throughout the life of the plant and in most plant organs examined. In addition to being expressed in all organs where phenotypes due to spy mutations have been reported, SPY::GUS is expressed in the root. Examination of the roots of wild-type, spy, and gai plants revealed phenotypes indicating that SPY and GAI play a role in root development. A second SPY::GUS reporter gene lacking part of the SPY promoter was inactive, suggesting that sequences in the first exon and/or intron are required for detectable expression. Using both subcellular fractionation and visualization of a SPY-green fluorescent protein fusion protein that is able to rescue the spy mutant phenotype, the majority of SPY protein was shown to be present in the nucleus. This result is consistent with the nuclear localization of other components of the GA response pathway and suggests that SPY's role as a negative regulator of GA signaling involves interaction with other nuclear proteins and/or O-N-acetyl-glucosamine modification of these proteins.     

Cross talk between gibberellin and cytokinin: the Arabidopsis GA response inhibitor SPINDLY plays a positive role in cytokinin signaling

SPINDLY (SPY) is a negative regulator of gibberellin (GA) responses; however, spy mutants exhibit various phenotypic alterations not found in GA-treated plants. Assaying for additional roles for SPY revealed that spy mutants are resistant to exogenously applied cytokinin. GA also repressed the effects of cytokinin, suggesting that there is cross talk between the two hormone-response pathways, which may involve SPY function. Two spy alleles showing severe (spy-4) and mild (spy-3) GA-associated phenotypes exhibited similar resistance to cytokinin, suggesting that SPY enhances cytokinin responses and inhibits GA signaling through distinct mechanisms. GA and spy repressed numerous cytokinin responses, from seedling development to senescence, indicating that cross talk occurs early in the cytokinin-signaling pathway. Because GA3 and spy-4 inhibited induction of the cytokinin primary-response gene, type-A Arabidopsis response regulator 5, SPY may interact with and modify elements from the phosphorelay cascade of the cytokinin signal transduction pathway. Cytokinin, on the other hand, had no effect on GA biosynthesis or responses. Our results demonstrate that SPY acts as both a repressor of GA responses and a positive regulator of cytokinin signaling. Hence, SPY may play a central role in the regulation of GA/cytokinin cross talk during plant development.     

Ectopic Expression of the Tetratricopeptide Repeat Domain of SPINDLY Causes Defects in Gibberellin Response

The SPINDLY (SPY) protein of Arabidopsis is a negative regulator of gibberellin (GA) response. The SPY protein has 10 copies of the tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) at the N terminus. TPR motifs function as protein-protein interaction domains. Several spy alleles are affected only in the TPR region suggesting that protein-protein interactions mediated by this domain are important for proper GA signaling. We have used a reverse genetics approach to further investigate the role of the TPR domain. The TPR domain of SPY was overexpressed in wild-type, gai, and spy plants. Expression of the TPR domain alone is not sufficient to rescue spy mutants. Expression of the TPR domain in a wild-type background produces phenotypes similar to those caused by loss-of-function spy mutants including resistance to GA biosynthesis inhibitors, short hypocotyl length, and early flowering. The dwarfing of the floral shoot internodes caused by the gai mutation was suppressed by expression of the TRP domain. Expression of the TPR domain had no effect on the abundance of endogenous SPY mRNA. The TPR domain was found to interact with SPY both in vitro and in yeast two-hybrid assays. These data indicate that the TPR domain of SPY can participate in protein-protein interactions and that these interactions are important for the proper functioning of SPY.     

Altered Expression of SPINDLY Affects Gibberellin Response and Plant Development

Gibberellins (GAs) are plant hormones with diverse roles in plant growth and development. SPINDLY (SPY) is one of several genes identified in Arabidopsis that are involved in GA response and it is thought to encode an O-GlcNAc transferase. Genetic analysis suggests that SPY negatively regulates GA response. To test the hypothesis that SPY acts specifically as a negatively acting component of GA signal transduction, spy mutants and plants containing a 35S:SPY construct have been examined. A detailed investigation of the spy mutant phenotype suggests that SPY may play a role in plant development beyond its role in GA signaling. Consistent with this suggestion, the analysis of spy er plants suggests that the ERECTA (ER) gene, which has not been implicated as having a role in GA signaling, appears to enhance the non-GA spy mutant phenotypes. Arabidopsis plants containing a 35S:SPY construct possess reduced GA response at seed germination, but also possess phenotypes consistent with increased GA response, although not identical to spy mutants, during later vegetative and reproductive development. Based on these results, the hypothesis that SPY is specific for GA signaling is rejected. Instead, it is proposed that SPY is a negative regulator of GA response that has additional roles in plant development.     

Two O-linked N-acetylglucosamine transferase genes of Arabidopsis thaliana L. Heynh. have overlapping functions necessary for gamete and seed development

The Arabidopsis SECRET AGENT (SEC) and SPINDLY (SPY) proteins are similar to animal O-linked N-acetylglucosamine transferases (OGTs). OGTs catalyze the transfer of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) from UDP-GlcNAc to Ser/Thr residues of proteins. In animals, O-GlcNAcylation has been shown to affect protein activity, stability, and/or localization. SEC protein expressed in Escherichia coli had autocatalytic OGT activity. To determine the function of SEC in plants, two tDNA insertional mutants were identified and analyzed. Although sec mutant plants did not exhibit obvious phenotypes, sec and spy mutations had a synthetic lethal interaction. This lethality was incompletely penetrant in gametes and completely penetrant postfertilization. The rate of both female and male sec spy gamete transmission was higher in plants heterozygous for both mutations than in plants heterozygous for sec and homozygous for spy. Double-mutant embryos aborted at various stages of development and no double-mutant seedlings were obtained. These results indicate that OGT activity is required during gametogenesis and embryogenesis with lethality occurring when parentally derived SEC, SPY, and/or O-GlcNAcylated proteins become limiting.     

Cytosolic activity of SPINDLY implies the existence of a DELLA-independent gibberellin-response pathway

Specific plant developmental processes are modulated by cross-talk between gibberellin (GA)- and cytokinin-response pathways. Coordination of the two pathways involves the O-linked N -acetylglucosamine transferase SPINDLY (SPY) that suppresses GA signaling and promotes cytokinin responses in Arabidopsis. Although SPY is a nucleocytoplasmic protein, its site of action and targets are unknown. Several studies have suggested that SPY acts in the nucleus, where it modifies nuclear components such as the DELLA proteins to regulate signaling networks. Using chimeric GFP–SPY fused to a nuclear-export signal or to a glucocorticoid receptor, we show that cytosolic SPY promotes cytokinin responses and suppresses GA signaling. In contrast, nuclear-localized GFP–SPY failed to complement the spy mutation. To examine whether modulation of cytokinin activity by GA and spy is mediated by the nuclear DELLA proteins, cytokinin responses were studied in double and quadruple della mutants lacking the activities of REPRESSOR OF GA1-3 (RGA) and GA-INSENSITIVE (GAI) or RGA, GAI, RGA Like1 (RGL1) and RGL2. Unlike spy , the della mutants were cytokinin-sensitive. Moreover, when GA was applied to a cytokinin-treated quadruple della mutant it was able to suppress various cytokinin responses. These results suggest that cytosolic SPY and GA regulate cytokinin responses via a DELLA-independent pathway(s).