Stubborn GFPs in Nicotiana tabacum vacuoles

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) allows the direct visualization of gene expression and sub cellular localization of fusion proteins in living cells. Many GFP variants have been developed to solve stability and emission problems. In this report the localization of different GFP fusion proteins, targeted to vacuoles, was studied in Nicotiana tabacum cv SR1. Even if a strong emission variant of the plant adapted GFP was used, no fluorescence was detected in differentiated tissues of N. tabacum with few exceptions. This model plant does not appear a good experimental system for the use of GFPs as vacuolar markers compared to Arabidopsis thaliana. In spite of this, our observations have evidenced a peculiar pattern of separated vacuoles in guard cells, providing new elements in the understanding of the vacuolar system organization.     

Comparison of several Nicotiana species as hosts for high-scale Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression

Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression may be regarded as a promising method for inexpensive large-scale production of recombinant proteins. We optimized the protocol of transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana and compared six Australian species of Nicotiana as hosts for transient expression. The transient expression of GFP under 35S CaMV promoter was observed in all species tested, although the GFP content in leaves of N. benthamiana, N. exigua, and N. excelsior was significantly higher (3.8, 3.7, and 2.0% TSP, respectively). Usage of viral-based expression system resulted in considerable increase of GFP accumulation in N. excelsior and N. benthamiana (63.5 and 16.2% TSP, respectively). We displayed that N. excelsior has the best characteristics in regard to biomass yield as well as GFP accumulation level for both types of the expression cassettes tested.     

Molecular characterization of a plant mitochondrial chaperone GrpE

Escherichia coli DnaK (Hsp70) cooperates with DnaJ and GrpE in its essential role as a molecular chaperone. Function of mitochondrial Hsp70 (mHsp70) in protein folding and organellar import in eukaryotes is critically dependent on GrpE. We cloned two genes from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) BY2 cells based on peptide sequences from a purified protein. The predicted amino acid sequences of both clones resembled that of GrpE from E. coli and its homologues from eukaryotes, and a cDNA clone from Arabidopsis thaliana. One gene (Type 1) encoded a deduced protein that was identical to the purified protein while the other (Type 2) encoded a deduced protein that has 80% sequence identity to Type 1. Both tobacco and Arabidopsis thaliana GrpE homologues bound to DnaK and ATP inhibited this binding. The tobacco GrpE homologue contained a typical N-terminal mitochondrial target presequence of 64 residues and the presequence directed the green fluorescent protein to tobacco mitochondria. The tobacco GrpE homologue also associated with mHsp70 when reintroduced into BY2 protoplasts, and this association was disrupted by ATP. A three-dimensional structure for the tobacco GrpE homologue was modeled based on the X-ray structure of E. coli GrpE complexed with DnaK. The modeled structure has the same overall structure as E. coli GrpE. We propose that the tobacco GrpE homologue interacts with mHsp70 in a manner analogous to E. coli GrpE with DnaK and designate it as tobacco mitochondrial GrpE (NtmGrpE).     

Selective targeting of plasma membrane and tonoplast traffic by inhibitory (dominant-negative) SNARE fragments

Vesicle traffic underpins cell homeostasis, growth and development in plants, and is facilitated by a superfamily of proteins known as SNAREs [soluble NSF (N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor) attachment protein receptors] that interact to draw vesicle and target membrane surfaces together for fusion. Structural homologies, biochemical and genetic analyses have yielded information about the localization and possible roles of these proteins. However, remarkably little evidence is yet available that speaks directly to the functional specificities of these proteins in selected trafficking pathways in vivo. Previously, we found that expressing a cytosolic (so-called Sp2) fragment of one plasma membrane SNARE from tobacco and Arabidopsis had severe effects on growth, tissue development and secretory traffic to the plasma membrane. We have explored this dominant-negative approach further to examine the specificity and overlaps in Sp2 activity by generating a toolbox of truncated SNARE constructs and antibodies for transient expression and analysis. Using a quantitative ratiometric approach with secreted green fluorescent protein (secGFP), we report here that traffic to the plasma membrane is suppressed selectively by Sp2 fragments of plasma membrane SNAREs AtSYP121 and AtSYP122, but not of the closely related SNARE AtSYP111 nor of the SNARE AtSYP21 that resides at the pre-vacuolar compartment (PVC). By contrast, traffic of the YFP-tagged aquaporin fusion protein TIP1;1-YFP to the tonoplast was blocked (leading to its accumulation in the PVC) when co-expressed with the Sp2 fragment of AtSYP21, but not when co-expressed with that of AtSYP121. Export of secGFP was also sensitive to the Sp2 fragment of the novel, plant-specific SNARE AtSYP71 that was recently found to be present in detergent-resistant, plasma membrane fractions. Co-incubation analyses of the plasma membrane SNAREs with the regulatory subdomain included within the Sp2 fragments showed activity in destabilizing protein complexes, but only with the complementary SNAREs. We conclude that the Sp2 fragment action accurately reflects the known specificity and targeting of these SNAREs, implies functional overlaps that are of potential physiological interest, and underscores the use of a dominant-negative strategy in functional studies of a major subfamily of SNAREs in plants.     

Dynamics of seedling growth acclimation towards altered light conditions can be quantified via GROWSCREEN: a setup and procedure designed for rapid optical phenotyping of different plant species

Using a novel setup, we assessed how fast growth of Nicotiana tabacum seedlings responds to alterations in the light regime and investigated whether starch-free mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana show decreased growth potential at an early developmental stage. Leaf area and relative growth rate were measured based on pictures from a camera automatically placed above an array of 120 seedlings. Detection of total seedling leaf area was performed via global segmentation of colour images for preset thresholds of the parameters hue, saturation and value. Dynamic acclimation of relative growth rate towards altered light conditions occurred within 1 d in N. tabacum exposed to high nutrient availability, but not in plants exposed to low nutrient availability. Increased leaf area was correlated with an increase in shoot fresh and dry weight as well as root growth in N. tabacum. Relative growth rate was shown to be a more appropriate parameter than leaf area for detection of dynamic growth acclimation. Clear differences in leaf growth activity were also observed for A. thaliana. As growth responses are generally most flexible in early developmental stages, the procedure described here is an important step towards standardized protocols for rapid detection of the effects of changes in internal (genetic) and external (environmental) parameters regulating plant growth.     

拟南芥根特异表达基因启动子在烟草中的表达

以拟南芥为材料,利用PCR技术分离pyk10启动子序列,构建了该启动子GUS植物表达载体,农杆菌介导转化烟草,分析该基因在烟草中的表达,以明确拟南芥根特异表达基因pyk10启动子在烟草中的表达特性.结果表明:克隆的pyk10启动子与已报道的pyk10启动子一致性为100%,GUS基因在烟草的根部特异表达,表明该启动子为根部特异表达启动子,为揭示植物根的发生、分化和发育机制,以及培育抗根部病虫害和营养高效利用型转基因烟草奠定了基础.     

The Raf-like kinase Raf36 negatively regulates plant resistance against the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora parasitica by targeting MKK2

Oomycetes represent a unique group of plant pathogens that are phylogenetically distant from true fungi and cause significant crop losses and environmental damage. Understanding of the genetic basis of host plant susceptibility facilitates the development of novel disease resistance strategies. In this study, we report the identification of an Arabidopsis thaliana T-DNA mutant with enhanced resistance to Phytophthora parasitica with an insertion in the Raf-like mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase gene Raf36. We generated additional raf36 mutants by CRISPR/Cas9 technology as well as Raf36 complementation and overexpression transformants, with consistent results of infection assays showing that Raf36 mediates Arabidopsis susceptibility to P. parasitica. Using a virus-induced gene silencing assay, we silenced Raf36 homologous genes in Nicotiana benthamiana and demonstrated by infection assays the conserved immune function of Raf36. Mutagenesis analyses indicated that the kinase activity of Raf36 is important for its immune function and interaction with MKK2, a MAPK kinase. By generating and analysing mkk2 mutants and MKK2 complementation and overexpression transformants, we found that MKK2 is a positive immune regulator in the response to P. parasitica infection. Furthermore, infection assay on mkk2 raf36 double mutant plants indicated that MKK2 is required for the raf36-conferred resistance to P. parasitica. Taken together, we identified a Raf-like kinase Raf36 as a novel plant susceptibility factor that functions upstream of MKK2 and directly targets it to negatively regulate plant resistance to P. parasitica.     

绿色荧光蛋白及其应用

绿色荧光蛋白是在水母中发现的新型报告分子,能在多种生物体内表达并发出荧光。对GFP中一些特定氨基酸进行突变可以产生多种类型的突变体,有利于研究蛋白之间或细胞器之间的相互作用。目前,GFP已经用于基因表达的报告、细胞动态的研究、活细胞内蛋白的定位及westernbloting检测中。GFP美好的应用前景也促进了有关GFP的研究,特别是寻找新的突变体并将之运用到细胞生物学和分子生物学的各个领域。     

A dual role of tobacco hexokinase 1 in primary metabolism and sugar sensing

Hexokinase (HXK) is present in all virtually living organisms and is central to carbohydrate metabolism catalysing the ATP‐dependent phosphorylation of hexoses. In plants, HXKs are supposed to act as sugar sensors and/or to interact with other enzymes directly supplying metabolic pathways such as glycolysis, the nucleotide phosphate monosaccharide (NDP‐glucose) pathway and the pentose phosphate pathway. We identified nine members of the tobacco HXK gene family and observed that among RNAi lines of these nine NtHXKs, only RNAi lines of NtHXK1 showed an altered phenotype, namely stunted growth and leaf chlorosis. NtHXK1 was also the isoform with highest relative expression levels among all NtHXKs. GFP‐tagging and immunolocalization indicated that NtHXK1 is associated with mitochondrial membranes. Overexpression of NtHXK1 resulted in elevated glucose phosphorylation activity in leaf extracts or chloroplasts. Moreover, NtHXK1 was able to complement the glucose‐insensitive Arabidopsis mutant gin2‐1 suggesting that NtHXK1 can take over glucose sensing functions. RNAi lines of NtHXK1 showed severely damaged leaf and chloroplast structure, coinciding with an excess accumulation of starch. We conclude that NtHXK1 is not only essential for maintaining glycolytic activity during respiration but also for regulating starch turnover, especially during the night.     

Agrobacterium T‐DNA integration into the plant genome can occur without the activity of key non‐homologous end‐joining proteins

Non‐homologous end joining (NHEJ) is the major model proposed for Agrobacterium T‐DNA integration into the plant genome. In animal cells, several proteins, including KU70, KU80, ARTEMIS, DNA‐PKcs, DNA ligase IV (LIG4), Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), and ATM‐ and Rad3‐related (ATR), play an important role in ‘classical’ (c)NHEJ. Other proteins, including histone H1 (HON1), XRCC1, and PARP1, participate in a ‘backup’ (b)NHEJ process. We examined transient and stable transformation frequencies of Arabidopsis thaliana roots mutant for numerous NHEJ and other related genes. Mutants of KU70, KU80, and the plant‐specific DNA LIGASE VI (LIG6) showed increased stable transformation susceptibility. However, these mutants showed transient transformation susceptibility similar to that of wild‐type plants, suggesting enhanced T‐DNA integration in these mutants. These results were confirmed using a promoter‐trap transformation vector that requires T‐DNA integration into the plant genome to activate a promoterless gusA (uidA) gene, by virus‐induced gene silencing (VIGS) of Nicotiana benthamiana NHEJ genes, and by biochemical assays for T‐DNA integration. No alteration in transient or stable transformation frequencies was detected with atm, atr, lig4, xrcc1, or parp1 mutants. However, mutation of parp1 caused high levels of T‐DNA integration and transgene methylation. A double mutant (ku80/parp1), knocking out components of both NHEJ pathways, did not show any decrease in stable transformation or T‐DNA integration. Thus, T‐DNA integration does not require known NHEJ proteins, suggesting an alternative route for integration.     

不同转化条件对3种农杆菌GFP基因在本氏烟草中瞬时表达的影响

以本氏烟草（Nicotiana benthamiana）为植物材料,分析了不同农杆菌菌株（LBA4404菌株、EHA105菌株、GV3101菌株）、菌液浓度以及侵染时间在瞬时转化过程中对报告基因GFP荧光表达量的影响。结果显示,不同的农杆菌菌株瞬时表达外源基因的最适浓度和时间均有所不同：LBA4404菌株在菌悬液OD₆₀₀值为0.8时所介导的瞬时表达效率最高;而EHA105和GV3101菌株在菌悬液OD₆₀₀值为0.6时可达到最高瞬时表达效率。LBA4404菌株所介导的瞬时表达在农杆菌注射后第2天时表达量最高,而EHA105和GV3101菌株所介导的瞬时表达在农杆菌注射后第4天时表达量最高。不同菌株间比较分析表明,LBA4404菌株所介导的瞬时表达效率最高。上述结果表明,农杆菌菌株以及浓度和侵染时间等转化条件均是影响瞬时表达效率的重要因素。     

A plasmodesmata-associated beta-1,3-glucanase in Arabidopsis

Plasmodesmal conductivity is regulated in part by callose turnover, which is hypothesized to be determined by beta-1,3-glucan synthase versus glucanase activities. A proteomic analysis of an Arabidopsis thaliana plasmodesmata (Pd)-rich fraction identified a beta-1,3-glucanase as present in this fraction. The protein encoded by the putative plasmodesmal associated protein (ppap) gene, termed AtBG_ppap, had previously been found to be a post-translationally modified glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) lipid-anchored protein. When fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP) and expressed in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) or Nicotiana benthamiana epidermal cells, this protein displays fluorescence patterns in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane system, along the cell periphery and in a punctate pattern that co-localizes with aniline blue-stained callose present around the Pd. Plasma membrane localization was verified by co-localization of AtBG_ppap:GFP together with a plasma membrane marker N-[3-triethylammoniumpropyl]-4-[p-diethylaminophenylhexatrienyl] pyridinium dibromide (FM4-64) in plasmolysed cells. In Arabidopsis T-DNA insertion mutants that do not transcribe AtBG_ppap, functional studies showed that GFP cell-to-cell movement between epidermal cells is reduced, and the conductivity coefficient of Pd is lower. Measurements of callose levels around Pd after wounding revealed that callose accumulation in the mutant plants was higher. Taken together, we suggest that AtBG_ppap is a Pd-associated membrane protein involved in plasmodesmal callose degradation, and functions in the gating of Pd.     

Transient protein expression in three Pisum sativum (green pea) varieties

The expression of proteins in plants both transiently and via permanently transformed lines has been demonstrated by a number of groups. Transient plant expression systems, due to high expression levels and speed of production, show greater promise for the manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals when compared to permanent transformants. Expression vectors based on a tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) are the most commonly utilized and the primary plant used, Nicotiana benthamiana, has demonstrated the ability to express a wide range of proteins at levels amenable to purification. N. benthamiana has two limitations for its use; one is its relatively slow growth, and the other is its low biomass. To address these limitations we screened a number of legumes for transient protein expression. Using the alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) and the cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) vectors, delivered via Agrobacterium, we were able to identify three Pisum sativum varieties that demonstrated protein expression transiently. Expression levels of 420 ( 26.24 mg GFP/kgFW in the green pea variety speckled pea were achieved. We were also able to express three therapeutic proteins indicating promise for this system in the production of biopharmaceuticals.     

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a marker during pollen development

The transient expression of three mutant forms of green fluorescent protein (GFP) genes, GFP4, GFP5ER, and GFP4S65C, under several constitutive and pollenspecific promoters throughout pollen development in Nicotianatabacum, thaliana and Antirrhinummajus is described. Immature pollen of tobacco, Arabidopsis and snapdragon, isolated at different developmental stages, were bombarded with plasmids containing the GFP and cultured in vitro for several days until maturity. The expression of GFP was monitored every day during in vitro maturation, germination and pollination, as well as after in situ pollination. The expression pattern of each construct was compared in parallel experiments to that of ßglucuronidase (GUS) constructs expressed by the same promoters. The results show that the expression level of all three GFP mutant forms was dependent on the strength of the promoter used. The strongest promoter was the DC3 promoter, and no notable differences in the intensity and brightness of all three versions of GFP were observed. GFPexpressing pollen from tobacco and snapdragon developed in vitro for several days until maturity and germinated in vitro as well as on the surface of stigmata, strongly suggesting that all three GFPs are not toxic for the development of functional pollen. Furthermore, stably transformed tobacco plants expressing GFP under the control of the strong pollenexpressed DC3 and LAT52 promoters were not impaired in reproductive function, confirming that GFP can be used as a nondestructive marker for plant reproductive biology and development.     

绿荧光蛋白及其在转基因动物研究中的应用

绿荧光蛋白（ｇｒｅｅｎｆｌｕｏｒｅｓｃｅｎｔｐｒｏｔｅｉｎ,ＧＦＰ）是源于水母（Ｊｅｌｙｆｉｓｈ）、海笔（ＳｅａＰｅｎ,ＳｅａＰａｎｓｙ）等海洋无脊椎动物的一种蛋白质,这种蛋白质在体外经适当波长的光激发便可发出绿光,所发出的绿光用普通荧光显微镜或荧光激活细胞分拣器（ＦＡＣＳ）均可检测到。ＧＦＰ作为动、植物以及微生物基因工程研究上的一种选择标记具有检测灵敏度高,操作简便,对机体毒副作用小且不需要添加任何底物或辅助因子等优点,更重要的是检测ＧＦＰ无损于细胞或胚胎的完整性及活力。本文概括介绍ＧＦＰ的生化、发光光谱及遗传学特征及其在转基因动物研究上的应用。     

Malonylation is a key reaction in the metabolism of xenobiotic phenolic glucosides in Arabidopsis and tobacco

Tobacco cells (Nicotiana tabacum L.) accumulate harmful naphthols in the form of malonylated glucosides ( Taguchi et al., 2005 ). Here, we showed that the malonylation of glucosides is a system to metabolize xenobiotics and is common to higher plants. Moreover, some plantlets including Arabidopsis thaliana excreted some of the incorporated naphthols into the culture media as their glucosides. In order to analyze the function of malonylation in the metabolism of these xenobiotics, we identified a malonyltransferase gene (At5g39050) responsible for the malonylation of these compounds in A. thaliana. The recombinant enzyme had malonyltransferase activity toward several phenolic glucosides including naphthol glucosides. A knockout mutant of At5g39050 (pmat1) exposed to naphthols accumulated only a few malonylglucosides in the cell, and released larger amounts of simple glucosides into the culture medium. In contrast, forced expression of At5g39050 in the pmat1 mutant resulted in increased malonylglucoside accumulation and decreased glucoside excretion to the media. The results provided clear evidence of whether the release of glucosides or the storage of malonylglucosides was determined by the At5g39050 expression level. A similar event in naphthol metabolism was observed in the tobacco mutant with a suppressed malonyltransferase gene (NtMaT1). These results suggested that malonylation could be a key reaction to separate the way of xenobiotics disposition, that is, release from cell surface or storage in vacuoles.     

Green fluorescent protein as a marker in transgenic mice

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) found in Aequorea victoria absorbs blue light and emits green fluorescence without exogenous substrates or co-factors. We studied the possibility of using the GFP as a marker in mammals. Transgenic mice were produced using the GFP coding sequence, ligated with the chicken beta-actin promoter. Green fluorescence was observed in muscle, pancreas, kidney, heart and other organs in all the three transgenic mouse lines. Detection of the transgenic mouse was possible by observing a tail or fingers of new born pups under a fluorescent microscope. The marker also enabled us to detect localized expression of the transgene in intact tissues without preliminary steps. It was also demonstrated that the GFP expression could be quantified by measuring the fluorescence in tissue extracts.