蒺藜苜蓿MtSAG113基因的转化及表达特征分析

Senescence Associated Gene 113(SAG113)基因属于PP2Cc超家族,该基因的研究主要集中在植物衰老领域.为分析蒺藜苜蓿(Medicago truncatula)MtSAG113基因的表达特征,探究MtSAG113基因的功能.该基因从蒺藜苜蓿中克隆得到,以烟草(Nicotiana tab...     

Identification of legume RopGEF gene families and characterization of a Medicago truncatula RopGEF mediating polar growth of root hairs

Root hairs play important roles in the interaction of plants with their environment. Root hairs anchor the plant in the soil, facilitate nutrient uptake from the rhizosphere, and participate in symbiotic plant-microbe interactions. These specialized cells grow in a polar fashion which gives rise to their elongated shape, a process mediated in part by a family of small GTPases known as Rops. RopGEFs (GEF, guanine nucleotide exchange factor) activate Rops to effect tip growth in Arabidopsis pollen and root hairs, but the genes mediating tip growth in legumes have not yet been characterized. In this report we describe the Rop and RopGEF gene families from the model legume Medicago truncatula and from the crop legume soybean. We find that one member of the M. truncatula gene family, MtRopGEF2, is required for root hair development because silencing this gene by RNA interference affects the cytosolic Ca2+ gradient and subcellular structure of root hairs, and reduces root hair growth. Consistent with its role in polar growth, we find that a GFP::MtRopGEF2 fusion protein localizes in the apex of emerging and actively growing root hairs. The amino terminus of MtRopGEF2 regulates its ability to interact with MtRops in yeast, and regulates its biological activity in vivo.     

蒺藜苜蓿花器官特异基因的表达分析

蒺藜苜蓿(Medicago truncatula G)花器官特异表达基因是参与其花器官形成与发育的重要基因。筛选蒺藜苜蓿的花器官特异表达基因,寻找这类基因在其他模式植物中的直系同源基因,并将其表达模式在不同植物间进行比较,有利于深入的理解这类基因在蒺藜苜蓿花器官发育中的功能。根据蒺藜苜蓿表达谱,并以其PISTILLAZA(PI)基因为模板,文章筛选了97个蒺藜苜蓿花器官特异表达基因(Ratio≥10,且Z≥7.9).通过同源比对,确定了这类基因在拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana L.)、大豆(Glycinemax L.)、百脉根(Lotusjaponicus L.)和水稻(Oryzasativa L.)中的直系同源基因。对这类基因在5种植物中的表达量、表达部位和功能进行比较,发现进化关系较近的植物,直系同源基因的表达变异较小,而进化关系较远的植物,直系同源基因的表达变异较大。进一步对表达分化较大的直系同源基因进行启动子分析,发现不同植物中直系同源基因表达模式的变化与启动子中调控元件的特性有关。     

蒺藜苜蓿花器官特异基因的表达分析

蒺藜苜蓿(Medicago truncatula G.)花器官特异表达基因是参与其花器官形成与发育的重要基因。筛选蒺藜苜蓿的花器官特异表达基因, 寻找这类基因在其他模式植物中的直系同源基因, 并将其表达模式在不同植物间进行比较, 有利于深入的理解这类基因在蒺藜苜蓿花器官发育中的功能。根据蒺藜苜蓿表达谱, 并以其PISTILLATA(PI)基因为模板, 文章筛选了97个蒺藜苜蓿花器官特异表达基因(Ratio≥10, 且Z≥7.9)。通过同源比对, 确定了这类基因在拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana L.)、大豆(Glycine max L.)、百脉根(Lotus japonicus L.)和水稻(Oryza sativa L.)中的直系同源基因。对这类基因在5种植物中的表达量、表达部位和功能进行比较, 发现进化关系较近的植物, 直系同源基因的表达变异较小, 而进化关系较远的植物, 直系同源基因的表达变异较大。进一步对表达分化较大的直系同源基因进行启动子分析, 发现不同植物中直系同源基因表达模式的变化与启动子中调控元件的特性有关。     

蒺藜苜蓿MtbHLH25基因克隆、亚细胞定位及表达分析

【目的】bHLH转录因子数量众多,能够广泛参与植物的生长发育和逆境胁迫等过程。本试验以蒺藜苜蓿R108为材料,初步探讨MtbHLH25基因的功能。【方法】通过PCR扩增技术从蒺藜苜蓿中克隆MtbHLH25基因和启动子,构建酵母表达载体并用LiAc转化法转移到Y2H Gold酵母菌株中进行酵母自激活检测,构建亚细胞定位载体并通过冻融法转入农杆菌EHA105,菌液注射到烟草下表皮细胞后利用SP8激光共聚焦显微镜观察,通过实时荧光定量PCR技术研究MtbHLH25基因的时空表达水平。【结果】（1）从蒺藜苜蓿中成功克隆出MtbHLH25基因和启动子,该基因总长882 bp,共编码293个氨基酸。启动子序列分析发现其包含了ABA、MeJA、GA和SA等响应元件。（2）进化树结果表明MtbHLH25蛋白与蚕豆和长柔毛野豌豆中bHLH蛋白高度同源。（3）亚细胞定位结果显示MtbHLH25蛋白定位于细胞核。（4）酵母自激活检测结果显示MtbHLH25蛋白具有自激活活性。（5）表达分析结果显示,MtbHLH25在蒺藜苜蓿根、茎、叶、花和果实中均有表达,其中在根中表达水平最高;外源SA、MeJA、ABA、GA以及盐胁迫使MtbHLH25基因表达量都呈下降趋势,推测SA、MeJA、ABA、GA以及盐胁迫对MtbHLH25基因的表达起到负调控作用。干旱胁迫能够显著诱导MtbHLH25基因表达量的上升,说明该转录因子可能在干旱胁迫中起到正调控作用。【结论】MtbHLH25基因可能对盐胁迫敏感,在干旱胁迫中可能发挥正调控作用。此外,MtbHLH25蛋白具有自激活活性,对下游启动子调控的报告基因可能具有激活作用。     

Structure and development of Medicago truncatula pod wall and seed coat

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Medicago truncatula has gained much attention as a genomic model species for legume biology, but little is known about the morphology of its pods and seeds. Structural and developmental characteristics of M. truncatula pod walls and seed coats are presented. METHODS: Plants of M. truncatula ecotype A17 were grown under controlled conditions in a greenhouse. Flowers were date-tagged at anthesis, so that pods of known age could be collected. Harvested pods were fixed and sectioned for light microscopy. Structural attributes of pod walls and seed coats were characterized at four time points throughout early to mid-stages of pod development (3, 6, 13 and 20 d post-pollination). KEY RESULTS: Basic features of the pod wall are an exocarp comprised of a single epidermal layer, a mesocarp with seven to 14 layers of parenchyma cells, and an endocarp composed of an inner epidermal cell layer and three to five layers of sclerenchyma cells adjacent to it. Vascular bundles are abundant in the pod wall and include one lateral carpellary bundle, one median carpellary bundle and nine to 12 vascular bundles, all embedded within the mesocarp parenchyma. Seed coat features include an epidermal layer of macrosclereids, a sub-epidermal layer of osteosclereids, and two to five rows of internal parenchyma cells. The hilar region contains the tracheid bar and the chalazal vascular bundle, the latter of which expands to form only two short branches. CONCLUSIONS: This characterization provides a needed understanding of pod structure and development in this model legume, and should facilitate various molecular investigations into legume fruit and seed biology.     

Endogenous transcripts direct microRNA degradation in Drosophila,and this targeted degradation is required for proper embryonic development

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Fragmentation pathways of acylated flavonoid diglucuronides from leaves of Medicago truncatula

Introduction – Flavonoids are important plant compounds occurring in tissues mostly in the form of glycoconjugates. Most frequently the sugar moiety is comprised of mono‐ or oligosaccharides consisting of common sugars like glucose, rhamnose or galactose. In some plant species the glycosidic moiety contains glucuronic acid and may be acylated by phenylpropenoic acids. Methodology – Flavonoid glyconjugates were extracted from leaves of Medicago truncatula ecotype R108 and submitted to analysis using high‐performance liquid chromatography combined with high‐resolution tandem (quadrupole‐time of flight, QToF) mass spectrometry. Results – The studied leaf extracts contained 26 different flavonoid glycosides among which 22 compounds were flavone (apigenin, luteolin, chrysoeriol and tricin) glucuronides and 13 were acylated with aromatic acids (p‐coumaric, ferulic or sinapic). The fragmentation pathways observed in positive and negative ion mass spectra differed substantially between each other and from these of flavonoid glycosides which did not contain acidic sugars. The application of high‐resolution MS techniques allowed unequivocal differentiation between ions with the same nominal m/z values containing different substituents (e.g. ferulic acid or glucuronic acid). Eleven of the identified flavonoids have not been reported previously in this species. Perspectives – The presented unique fragmentation pathways of flavonoid glucuronates enable detection of these compounds in tissue extracts from different plant species. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

黄花苜蓿与蒺藜苜蓿对土壤低磷胁迫适应策略的比较研究

土壤有效磷(P)含量低是限制植物生长的主要因素之一。根形态变化和根系大量分泌以柠檬酸为主的有机酸是植物适应土壤P素缺乏的重要机制。以广泛分布于我国北方的重要豆科牧草黄花苜蓿(Medicago falcata)和豆科模式植物蒺藜苜蓿(M. truncatula)为材料, 采用砂培方法, 研究了低P胁迫对其植株生长、根系形态和柠檬酸分泌的影响, 对比了两种苜蓿适应低P胁迫的不同策略。结果表明: 1)低P处理显著抑制了蒺藜苜蓿与黄花苜蓿的地上部生长, 而对地下部生长影响较小, 从而导致根冠比增加。2)低P胁迫显著降低黄花苜蓿的总根长和侧根长, 而对蒺藜苜蓿的上述根系形态指标没有显著影响。3)低P胁迫促进两种苜蓿根系的柠檬酸分泌, 无论是在正常供P还是低P胁迫条件下, 黄花苜蓿根系分泌柠檬酸量显著高于蒺藜苜蓿根系。上述结果表明, 黄花苜蓿和蒺藜苜蓿对低P胁迫的适应策略不同, 低P胁迫下, 黄花苜蓿主要通过根系大量分泌柠檬酸, 活化根际难溶态P来提高对P的吸收, 而蒺藜苜蓿维持较大的根系是其适应低P胁迫的主要策略。     

Isolation and characterization of root-specific phosphate transporter promoters from Medicago trunatula

Promoters of phosphate transporter genes MtPT1 and MtPT2 of Medicago truncatula were isolated by utilizing the gene-space sequence information and by screening of a genomic library, respectively. Two reporter genes, beta-glucuronidase (GUS) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) were placed under the control of the MtPT1 and MtPT2 promoters. These chimeric transgenes were introduced into Arabidopsis thaliana and transgenic roots of M. truncatula, and expression patterns of the reporter genes were assayed in plants grown under different phosphate (Pi) concentrations. The expression of GUS and GFP was only observed in root tissues, and the levels of expression decreased with increasing concentrations of Pi. GUS activities in roots of transgenic plants decreased 10-fold when the plants were transferred from 10 microM to 2 mM Pi conditions, however, when the plants were transferred back to 10 microM Pi conditions, GUS expression reversed back to the original level. The two promoters lead to different expression patterns inside root tissues. The MtPT1 promoter leads to preferential expression in root epidermal and cortex cells, while MtPT2 promoter results in strong expression in the vascular cylinder in the center of roots. Promoter deletion analyses revealed possible sequences involved in root specificity and Pi responsiveness. The promoters are valuable tools for defined engineering of plants, particularly for root-specific expression of transgenes.     

Cytochemistry of proteolytic activity and pH status of vacuoles in Medicago truncatula root nodules

The vacuole development in root nodules of Medicago truncatula was analyzed by light and electron microscopy. Histochemistry of protease activity in root nodules was studied using fluorogenic substrates for proteolytic enzymes, 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin, CBZ-L-phenylalanyl-L-arginine amide, hydrochloride (AMC), and rhodamine 110, bis-(CBZ-L-phenylalanyl-L-arginine amide) dihydrochloride (RPA). Furthermore, the topology of acidification of the central vacuoles in infected and noninfected cells in root nodules of Medicago truncatula was analyzed with the fluorescent pH-sensitive acidotropic dye Neutral Red. It was shown that vacuoles were acidic, lytic organelles in noninfected cells and young infected cells of the nodule where they displayed protease activity. Mature vacuoles of infected cells had high pH and did not show any substantial protease activity. Published in Russian in Fiziologiya Rastenii, 2007, Vol. 54, No. 1, pp. 31–38. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Growth and senescence of Medicago truncatula cultured cells are associated with characteristic mitochondrial morphology

Here mitochondrial morphology and dynamics were investigated in Medicago truncatula cell-suspension cultures during growth and senescence. Cell biology techniques were used to measure cell growth and death in culture. Mitochondrial morphology was investigated in vivo using a membrane potential sensor probe coupled with confocal microscopy. Expression of a senescence-associated gene (MtSAG) was evaluated in different cell-growth phases. Mitochondria appeared as numerous, punctuate organelles in cells at the beginning of the subculture cycle, while interconnected networks were observed in actively growing cells. In senescent cells, giant mitochondria were associated with dying cells. The release of cytochrome c from mitochondria was detected in different growth phases of cultured cells. Studies on plant cell cultures allowed us to identify physiological and molecular markers of senescence and cell death, and to associate distinct mitochondrial morphology with cells under different physiological conditions.     

Flavones and flavonols play distinct critical roles during nodulation of Medicago truncatula by Sinorhizobium meliloti

Flavonoids play critical roles in legume–rhizobium symbiosis. However, the role of individual flavonoid compounds in this process has not yet been clearly established. We silenced different flavonoid-biosynthesis enzymes to generate transgenic Medicago truncatula roots with different flavonoid profiles. Silencing of chalcone synthase, the key entry-point enzyme for flavonoid biosynthesis led to flavonoid-deficient roots. Silencing of isoflavone synthase and flavone synthase led to roots deficient for a subset of flavonoids, isoflavonoids (formononetin and biochanin A) and flavones (7,4'-dihydroxyflavone), respectively. When tested for nodulation by Sinorhizobium meliloti , flavonoid-deficient roots had a near complete loss of nodulation, whereas flavone-deficient roots had reduced nodulation. Isoflavone-deficient roots nodulated normally, suggesting that isoflavones might not play a critical role in M. truncatula nodulation, even though they are the most abundant root flavonoids. Supplementation of flavone-deficient roots with 7, 4'-dihydroxyflavone, a major inducer of S. meliloti nod genes, completely restored nodulation. However, the same treatment did not restore nodulation in flavonoid-deficient roots, suggesting that other non- nod gene-inducing flavonoid compounds are also critical to nodulation. Supplementation of roots with the flavonol kaempferol (an inhibitor of auxin transport), in combination with the use of flavone pre-treated S. meliloti cells, completely restored nodulation in flavonoid-deficient roots. In addition, S. meliloti cells constitutively producing Nod factors were able to nodulate flavone-deficient roots, but not flavonoid-deficient roots. These observations indicated that flavones might act as internal inducers of rhizobial nod genes, and that flavonols might act as auxin transport regulators during nodulation. Both these roles of flavonoids appear critical for symbiosis in M. truncatula .     

Integration of the FISH pachytene and genetic maps of Medicago truncatula

A molecular cytogenetic map of Medicago truncatula (2n = 2x = 16) was constructed on the basis of a pachytene DAPI karyogram. Chromosomes at this meiotic prophase stage are 20 times longer than at mitotic metaphase, and display a well differentiated pattern of brightly fluorescing heterochromatin segments. We describe here a pachytene karyogram in which all chromosomes can be identified based on chromosome length, centromere position, heterochromatin patterns, and the positions of three repetitive sequences (5S rDNA, 45S rDNA and the MtR1 tandem repeat), visualized by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). We determined the correlation between genetic linkage groups and chromosomes by FISH mapping of bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones, with two to five BACs per linkage group. In the cytogenetic map, chromosomes were numbered according to their corresponding linkage groups. We determined the relative positions of the 20 BACs and three repetitive sequences on the pachytene chromosomes, and compared the genetic and cytological distances between markers. The mapping resolution was determined in a euchromatic part of chromosome 5 by comparing the cytological distances between FISH signals of clones of a BAC contig with their corresponding physical distance, and showed that resolution in this region is about 60 kb. The establishment of this FISH pachytene karyotype, with a far better mapping resolution and detection sensitivity compared to those in the highly condensed mitotic metaphase complements, has created the basis for the integration of molecular, genetic and cytogenetic maps in M. truncatula.     

蒺藜苜蓿糖基转移酶基因SMALL AND EMERALD1的克隆和功能研究

类黄酮代谢对于植物生长发育和植物-环境互作至关重要,其中糖基转移酶介导的糖基化修饰在类黄酮代谢中发挥着重要作用。为了研究蒺藜苜蓿中糖基转移酶的生物学功能,通过定向筛选蒺藜苜蓿Tnt1逆转座子插入突变体库,获得了一类植株矮小、叶片深绿的突变体small and emerald1 (se1)。通过基因表型连锁性分析成功克隆了SE1基因,该基因编码1个糖基转移酶,与拟南芥中调控类黄酮生物合成的AtUGT84A1氨基酸同源性为52.8%。对野生型和se1突变体叶片的类黄酮含量进行测定发现类黄酮总量在se1突变体中显著降低(P<0.01)。进一步研究发现在se1突变体中类黄酮合成途径关键基因CHS、F3H和F3’H表达水平下降。亚细胞定位显示SE1可能在细胞质和细胞核中发挥生物学功能。研究表明糖基转移酶基因SE1可能参与蒺藜苜蓿类黄酮合成代谢调控,进而影响其生长发育。此外,研究还发现SE1基因对于叶绿素合成可能具有负向调控作用。