拟南芥DG1参与叶绿体早期光合蛋白合成功能

拟南芥中已有466个PPR蛋白,已有研究证实许多PPR蛋白参与细胞器基因表达的转录后调节,但大部分PPR蛋白分子作用机制尚不清楚.Delayed greening 1(DG1)是定位于叶绿体中的的PPR蛋白,研究结果证实该蛋白是通过与SIG6因子相互作用降低PEP转录活性从而影响叶绿体早期发育.本研究利用拟南芥Dg1基因功能缺陷型突变体研究了DG1蛋白对光系统蛋白复合体组成及其光转化效率的影响.77K荧光发射光谱分析发现dg1突变体幼叶PSII中电子传递速度明显低于野生型,而成熟叶片与野生型基本一致;蓝绿温和胶分析结果表明:相对于野生型在dg1突变体新生叶中PSII、PS玉及其超聚复合物含量均有不同程度降低;进一步温和胶二向电泳及蛋白免疫印迹分析显示,在dg1突变体新生叶中,由叶绿体编码的光系统蛋白复合物组成亚基含量显著降低,而核编码复合物组成亚基含量与野生型相比没有明显区别.上述实验结果进一步确定了DG1蛋白是通过调控叶绿体编码基因的表达进而调节光系统复合物的生物合成与组装,最终影响拟南芥叶绿体早期发育.因此,我们认为DG1蛋白对于叶绿体发育早期光合蛋白的合成是必需的.     

菲白竹组培苗白化、绿化突变体的超微结构及15个叶绿体编码基因的表达

以菲白竹（Pleioblastus fortunei）组培苗绿化突变体及经60Coγ射线辐射获得的白化突变体为实验材料,从生长特性、超微结构及15个叶绿体编码基因的拷贝数及转录水平方面进行了研究。结果显示,白化突变体具有分化不定芽和不定根的能力,其叶肉细胞中叶绿体缺失或结构不完整,基因拷贝数与野生型无明显差异,部分基因转录水平低于野生型,psbA基因的转录水平高于野生型。绿化突变体叶色一致且能稳定遗传,与野生型绿色组织细胞的超微结构相比,其叶绿体基粒片层数量少,结构松散,基因拷贝数低或相当于野生型,多数叶绿体编码基因转录水平较野生型呈下调趋势,atpI基因转录水平高于野生型。psaA基因在两种突变体中均不表达,仅在野生型中有微弱表达。     

菲白竹组培苗白化、绿化突变体的超微结构及15个叶绿体编码基因的表达

以菲白竹(Pleioblastus fortunei)组培苗绿化突变体及经⁶⁰Co γ射线辐射获得的白化突变体为实验材料, 从生长特性、超微结构及15个叶绿体编码基因的拷贝数及转录水平方面进行了研究。结果显示, 白化突变体具有分化不定芽和不定根的能力, 其叶肉细胞中叶绿体缺失或结构不完整, 基因拷贝数与野生型无明显差异, 部分基因转录水平低于野生型, psbA基因的转录水平高于野生型。绿化突变体叶色一致且能稳定遗传, 与野生型绿色组织细胞的超微结构相比, 其叶绿体基粒片层数量少, 结构松散, 基因拷贝数低或相当于野生型, 多数叶绿体编码基因转录水平较野生型呈下调趋势, atpI基因转录水平高于野生型。psaA基因在两种突变体中均不表达, 仅在野生型中有微弱表达。     

叶绿素缺乏油菜突变体的LHCⅡ多肽组成、蛋白含量与cab基因转录研究

与野生型油菜相比．叶绿素缺乏油菜突变体Cr3529 LHC Ⅱ多肽组成并未发生改变,但其含量却都明显降低。RNA印迹及点杂交结果都显示出Cr3529cab基因的转录增加。这些结果表明：该叶绿素缺乏突变体仅影响LHCI多肽的蛋白含量;并未影响其组成;突变体LHC Ⅱ蛋白量的减少并非cab基因转录降低所致。可见转录水平的调节仅对LHC Ⅱ在类囊体膜上的积累起有限作用;cab核编码基因转录活性的维持和质体信号的产生并不要求有结构完整的叶绿体的存在。     

烟草NtFtsZ2-1基因参与叶绿体分裂和扩大的调节

叶绿体虽然是植物细胞内一种极其重要的细胞器,但其分裂的分子机制尚不很清楚。已经证明FtsZ蛋白作为真核细胞分裂装置的一个关键成分,参与叶绿体的分裂过程。烟草的FtsZ基因属于2个不同的家族,在对NtFtsZ1家族成员研究的基础上,用正义和反义表达技术研究了NtFtsZ2家族成员NtFtsZ2-1基因在转基因烟草中的功能。显微分析结果表明NtFtsZ2-1基因的表达水平异常增强或减弱都会严重干扰叶绿体的正常分裂过程,导致叶绿体在形态和数目上的异常（体积明显增大,数目显著减少）,而单个叶肉细胞中叶绿体的总表面积在正反义转基因烟草和野生型烟草之间保持了相对稳定,没有发生明显的变化。同时还证明NtFtsZ2-1基因表达的变化对叶绿素含量和叶绿体的光合作用能力没有直接的影响。据此我们认为NtFtsZ2-1基因参与叶绿体的分裂和体积的扩大,其表达水平的波动会改变植物中叶绿体的数目和大小,而且在叶绿体的数目与体积之间可能存在一种补偿机制,保证叶绿体能最大限度地吸收光能,从而使光合作用得以正常进行。     

一个新的水稻斑马叶突变(zebraleaf1)对叶绿体发育的影响(简报)

通过γ射线诱变,在水稻粳稻栽培品种9522中得到一个斑马叶突变体zebra leaf 1.为了研究zl1的功能,我们对突变体进行了形态学和细胞学的分析,同时也对此基因突变以后对叶绿体发育和光合作用的影响作了评价.突变体叶片上绿色和枯白色条纹相同,叶绿素含量显著的下降.电镜显示叶绿体类囊体的排列被打乱,变得杂乱无章.这表明zl1突变体在叶绿体发育过程中出现障碍.zl1基因的突变使得净光合速率显著的下降.参与光合作用的一些关键蛋白,比如核酮糖1,5-二磷酸羧化酶/加氧酶(Rubisco)、Rubisco活化酶、Dl蛋白、CF1β亚基的表达量也显著的下调.但是,zl1突变体对外界环境非常敏感,有时会没有表型.     

叶绿体基因表达调控的研究进展

在植物生长和发育过程中,叶绿体基因表达包括两个方面：一方面在光照条件下质体转化成为叶绿体,一系列质体基因激活,表达叶绿体所必需的基因产物;另一方面叶绿体中由于环境条件变化引起基因表达的改变。叶绿体基因表达调控的机制主要包括转录水平、转录后的mRNA加工、mRNA稳定性和翻译水平的调节,并且在各个步骤中多种核编码蛋白因子的参与也起着重要的作用。     

—个新的水稻斑马叶突变（zebraleaf1）对叶绿体发育的影响（简报）

通过γ射线诱变．在水稻粳稻栽培品种9522中得到一个斑马叶突变体zebraleaf1。为了研究zl1的功能．我们对突变体进行了形态学和细胞学的分析．同时也对此基因突变以后对叶绿体发育和光合作用的影响作了评价。突变体叶片上绿色和枯白色条纹相间．叶绿素含量显著的下降。电镜显示叶绿体类囊体的排列被打乱．变得杂乱无章。这表明。Zl1突变体在叶绿体发育过程中出现障碍。zl1基因的突变使得净光合速率显著的下降。参与光合作用的一些关键蛋白．比如核酮糖1,5-二磷酸羧化酶／加氧酶（Rubisco）、Rubisco活化酶、D1蛋白、CF1β亚基的表达量也显著的下调。但是．zl1突变体对外界环境非常敏感．有时会没有表型。     

水稻锌指蛋白基因O_sBBX22响应热胁迫的功能分析

利用RNA干涉技术研究水稻锌指蛋白基因O_sBBX22的生物学功能,为探讨O_sBBX22响应热胁迫的机制、培育抗逆水稻、减轻高温对水稻的损害奠定基础。通过观察转基因突变体植株和野生型植株在热胁迫下的表型差异,分析O_sBBX22生物学功能;采用半定量PCR和荧光定量PCR检测O_sBBX22以及相关的热激转录因子(HSF)、热激蛋白(HSP)基因在转基因突变体株系中的表达水平;通过原位组织化学检测过氧化氢在野生型、转基因突变体株系叶片中的定位和积累情况。结果表明,在0~5 h热胁迫条件下,与野生型株系相比,O_sBBX22的表达在转基因突变体植株中明显下调;而野生型O_sBBX22受热信号诱导,随着热激时间的增加,O_sBBX22的表达量呈先上升后下降的趋势,且在热激1 h时表达量最高。相关的HSF和HSP也受热信号诱导,野生型株系中的HSFA2a、HSFA7、HSP16.9和HSP100表达量均比转基因突变体株系高,且在热激1 h时,HSFA2a、HSP16.9和HSP100表达量最高,而HSFA7在热激3 h时表达最高。热胁迫3 h,经DAB染色,转基因突变体株系叶片上出现的红褐色斑点主要集中于叶脉和受损伤部位,且明显多于野生型。锌指蛋白基因O_sBBX22在水稻苗期热胁迫应答中具有重要的作用,野生型株系抗热能力明显高于O_sBBX22抑制表达转基因株系;HSFA2a、HSFA7、HSP16.9和HSP100可能参与了O_sBBX22介导的水稻耐热调控。     

干旱胁迫下H_2S信号增强植物叶片的光合作用

干旱胁迫是影响农作物产量最重要的环境因素之一。硫化氢(H_2S)作为第三种气体信号分子在植物体内具有多样且积极的生理功能。目前已了解,H_2S在响应植物干旱胁迫应答以及增强植物光合作用的过程中发挥重要作用,但关于内源性H_2S对干旱胁迫下植物光合作用的调节机制未见报道。该研究以拟南芥哥伦比亚野生型(wild type Col-0,WT)、H_2S产生酶编码基因DES缺失突变体des以及H_2S产生酶编码基因DES过表达突变体OE-DES为实验材料,研究内源性H_2S对干旱胁迫下拟南芥光合作用的调节机制。研究结果显示,植株在正常生长条件下,内源性H_2S促使叶片净光合速率、蒸腾速率、叶绿素含量显著升高;植株遭受干旱胁迫时,内源性H_2S可以显著上调Rubisco和Rubisco活化酶(Rubisco activase,RCA)的表达水平,保护叶绿体结构的完整性,促使叶片净光合速率显著上升,维持叶片相应的蒸腾速率,并且引起叶片气孔关闭和胞间CO_2浓度显著升高。     

Catabolism of 4-Hydroxyacids and 4-Hydroxynonenal via 4-Hydroxy-4-phosphoacyl-CoAs

4-Hydroxyacids are products of ubiquitously occurring lipid peroxidation (C₉, C₆) or drugs of abuse (C₄, C₅). We investigated the catabolism of these compounds using a combination of metabolomics and mass isotopomer analysis. Livers were perfused with various concentrations of unlabeled and labeled saturated 4-hydroxyacids (C₄ to C₁₁) or 4-hydroxynonenal. All the compounds tested form a new class of acyl-CoA esters, 4-hydroxy-4-phosphoacyl-CoAs, characterized by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, accurate mass spectrometry, and ³¹P-NMR. All 4-hydroxyacids with five or more carbons are metabolized by two new pathways. The first and major pathway, which involves 4-hydroxy-4-phosphoacyl-CoAs, leads in six steps to the isomerization of 4-hydroxyacyl-CoA to 3-hydroxyacyl-CoAs. The latter are intermediates of physiological β-oxidation. The second and minor pathway involves a sequence of β-oxidation, α-oxidation, and β-oxidation steps. In mice deficient in succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, high plasma concentrations of 4-hydroxybutyrate result in high concentrations of 4-hydroxy-4-phospho-butyryl-CoA in brain and liver. The high concentration of 4-hydroxy-4-phospho-butyryl-CoA may be related to the cerebral dysfunction of subjects ingesting 4-hydroxybutyrate and to the mental retardation of patients with 4-hydroxybutyric aciduria. Our data illustrate the potential of the combination of metabolomics and mass isotopomer analysis for pathway discovery.     

A short path to synthesis of 4-deoxy-4-fluoroglucosaminides: methylumbelliferyl N-acetyl-4-deoxy-4-fluoro-beta-D-glucosaminide

A convenient method of synthesis of 1,6-anhydro-4-deoxy-2-O-tosyl-4-fluoro-beta-D-glucopyranose by fusion of 1,6;3,4-dianhydro-2-O-tosyl-beta-D-galactopyranose with 2,4,6-trimethylpyridinium fluoride was found. By successive action of ammonia, methyl trifluoroacetate, and acetic anhydride, the resulting compound was transformed into 1,6-anhydro-3-O-acetyl-2,4-dideoxy-2-trifluoroacetamido-4-fluoro-beta-D-glucopyranose, which was converted into 3,6-di-O-acetyl-2,4-dideoxy-2-trifluoroacetamido-4-fluoro-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl fluoride by the reaction with HF/Py. The resulting fluoride was further used as a glycosyl donor in the synthesis of methylumbelliferyl N-acetyl-4-deoxy-4-fluoro-beta-D-glucosaminide.     

Structure and stability of sodium and potassium complexes of dT4G4 and dT4G4T.

The ends of eukaryotic chromosomes contain specialized structures that include DNA with multiple tandem repeats of simple sequences containing clusters of G on one strand, together with proteins which synthesize and bind to these sequences. The unit repeat in the protozoan Oxytricha with the cluster dT4G4 can form structures containing tetrads of guanine residues, referred to G4 DNA, in the presence of metal ions such as Na+ or K+. We show here that, in the presence of Na+, dT4G4 forms a tetramer with parallel strands by means of a UV cross-linking assay. In the presence of K+, two further interactions are observed: at low temperature, higher order complexes are formed, provided the 3' end of the strand is G; a single 3'T inhibits this association in dT4G4T. At high temperature, these complexes dissociate, leading to a tetramer with a different ordered structure that melts only at very high temperatures. These results suggest that the cohesive properties of DNA containing G clusters might depend on associative interactions driven by a free 3'G terminus in the presence of K+, as well as by connecting antiparallel G hairpins as has been postulated.     

Hydration pattern of A4T4 and T4A4 DNA: a molecular dynamics study

Hydration pattern and energetics of 'A-tract' containing duplexes have been studied using molecular dynamics on 12-mer self-complementary sequences 5'-d(GCA4T4GC)-3' and 5'-d(CGT4A4CG)-3'. The structural features for the simulated duplexes showed correlation with the corresponding experimental structures. Analysis of the hydration pattern confirmed that water network around the simulated duplexes is more conformation specific rather than sequence specific. The calculated heat capacity change upon duplex formation showed that the process is entropically driven for both the sequences. Furthermore, the theoretical free energy estimates calculated using MMPBSA approach showed a higher net electrostatic contribution for A4T4 duplex formation than for T4A4, however, energetically both the duplexes are observed to be equally stable.     

Non-cross-reactivity of antibodies to murine LDH-C4 with LDH-A4 and LDH-B4

The induction of infertility by immunization with the sperm-specific lactate dehydrogenase, LDH-C4, suggests its use in a contraceptive vaccine. Development of an immunological contraceptive for human use, however, requires that there be no cross-reactions with somatic tissues. We have demonstrated, using enzyme-linked immunoabsorbence, solid-phase radioimmunoassay, and competitive inhibition radioimmunoassay, that antisera to LDH-C4 is specific and does not cross-react with the somatic isozymes, LDH-A4 and LDH-B4.     

Direct interaction of Rab4 with syntaxin 4

In the present study, we examined the possible interaction between Rab4 and syntaxin 4, both having been implicated in insulin-induced GLUT4 translocation. Rab4 and syntaxin 4 were coimmunoprecipitated from the lysates of electrically permeabilized rat adipocytes. The interaction between the two proteins was reduced by insulin treatment and increased by the addition of guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTPgammaS). An in vitro binding assay revealed that the bacterially expressed Rab4 was bound to a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein containing the cytoplasmic domain of syntaxin 4 (GST-syntaxin 4-(1-273)) but not to syntaxin 1A or vesicle-associated membrane protein-2. The interaction between Rab4 and syntaxin 4 seemed to be regulated by the guanine nucleotide status of Rab4, because 1) GTPgammaS treatment of the cells significantly increased, but guanosine 5'-O-(2-thiodiphosphate) (GDPbetaS) treatment decreased the amount of Rab4 pulled down with GST-syntaxin 4-(1-273) from the cell lysates; 2) GTPgammaS loading on Rab4 caused a marked increase in the affinity of Rab4 to syntaxin 4 whereas GDPbetaS loading had little effect; and 3) a GTPase-deficient mutant of Rab4 (Rab4(Q67L)), but not a GTP-binding-defective mutant (Rab4(S22N)), was bound to GST-syntaxin 4-(1-273). Although insulin stimulated [gamma-(32)P]GTP binding to Rab4 in a time-dependent fashion, its effect on the Rab4 interaction with syntaxin 4 was apparently biphasic; an initial increase in Rab4 associated with syntaxin 4 was followed by a gradual dissociation of the GTPase from syntaxin 4. Finally, the binding of Rab4(Q67L) to GST-syntaxin 4-(1-273) was inhibited by munc-18c in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that GTP-loaded Rab4 binds to syntaxin 4 in the open conformation. These results suggest that 1) Rab4 interacts with syntaxin 4 in a direct and specific manner, and 2) the interaction is regulated by the guanine nucleotide status of Rab4 as well as by the conformational status of syntaxin 4.     

Eosinophil peroxidase-mediated inactivation of leukotrienes B4, C4, and D4

The slow-reacting substance (SRS) bioactivity of leukotrienes C4 (LTC4) and D4 (LTD4) was rapidly decreased by incubation with eosinophil peroxidase (EPO), H2O2, and iodide, bromide, or to a lesser degree, chloride, LTB4 chemotactic activity was also decreased by the EPO-H2-H2-halide system, although at a slower rate. Myeloperoxidase could substitute for EPO in these reactions. Leukotriene inactivation was greatly decreased or abolished by deletion of any of the components of the system or by the addition of the hemeprotein inhibitors, azide, cyanide, or aminotriazole, indicating a requirement for peroxidase. The H2O2 concentration employed in the above studies was 10(-4) M. H2O2 at higher concentrations (5 x 10(-4) to 10(-2) M) inactivated LTC4 and LTD4 in the absence of EPO and a halide but had no effect on the chemotactic activity of LTB4. We have previously shown that horse eosinophils stimulated with the calcium ionophore A23187 generate SRS. In the present study, eosinophils stimulated in this way were found to release extracellularly both H2O2 and EPO. Incubation of eosinophils with azide that inhibits EPO, and catalase that degrades H2O2, significantly increased the amount of SRS activity detected in the extracellular medium after A23187 stimulation. These findings suggests eosinophils may play an important modulating role in hypersensitivity reactions both by the production of leukotrienes and by their inactivation through the release of H2O2 and EPO.     

Macrosatellite epigenetics: the two faces of DXZ4 and D4Z4

Almost half of the human genome consists of repetitive DNA. Understanding what role these elements have in setting up chromatin states that underlie gene and chromosome function in complex genomes is paramount. The function of some types of repetitive DNA is obvious by virtue of their location, such as the alphoid arrays that define active centromeres. However, there are many other types of repetitive DNA whose evolutionary origins and current roles in genome biology remain unknown. One type of repetitive DNA that falls into this class is the macrosatellites. The relevance of these sequences to disease is clearly demonstrated by the 4q macrosatellite (D4Z4), whereupon contraction in the size of the array is associated with the onset of facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Here, I describe recent findings relating to the chromatin organization of D4Z4 and that of the X-linked macrosatellite DXZ4, highlighting the fact that these enigmatic sequences share more than a similar name.