Dissecting the Heat Stress Response in Chlamydomonas by Pharmaceutical and RNAi Approaches Reveals Conserved and Novel Aspects

To study how conserved fundamental concepts of the heat stress response （HSR） are in photosynthetic eukaryotes, we applied pharmaceutical and antisense/amiRNA approaches to the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The Chlamydomonas HSR appears to be triggered by the accumulation of unfolded proteins, as it was induced at ambient temperatures by feeding cells with the arginine analog canavanine. The protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine strongly retarded the HSR, demonstrating the importance of phosphorylation during activation of the HSR also in Chlamydomonas. While the removal of extracellular calcium by the application of EGTA and BAPTA inhibited the HSR in moss and higher plants, only the addition of BAPTA, but not of EGTA, retarded the HSR and impaired thermotoler- ance in Chlamydomonas. The addition of cycloheximide, an inhibitor of cytosolic protein synthesis, abolished the attenu- ation of the HSR, indicating that protein synthesis is necessary to restore proteostasis. HSP90 inhibitors induced a stress response when added at ambient conditions and retarded attenuation of the HSR at elevated temperatures. In addition, we detected a direct physical interaction between cytosolic HSP90A/HSP70A and heat shock factor 1, but surprisingly this interaction persisted after the onset of stress. Finally, the expression of antisense constructs targeting chloroplast HSP70B resulted in a delay of the cell＇s entire HSR, thus suggesting the existence of a retrograde stress signaling cascade that is desensitized in HSP7OB-antisense strains.     

Salt Stress in Arabidopsis： Lipid Transfer Protein AZI1 and Its Control by Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase MPK3

A plant＇s capability to cope with environmental challenges largely relies on signal transmission through mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK） cascades. In Arabidopsis thaliana, MPK3 is particularly strongly associated with numerous abiotic and biotic stress responses. Identification of MPK3 substrates is a milestone towards improving stress resistance in plants. Here, we characterize AZI1, a lipid transfer protein （LTP）-related hybrid proline-rich protein （HyPRP）, as a novel target of MPK3. AZI1 is phosphorylated by MPK3 in vitro. As documented by co-immunoprecipitation and bimolecular fluorescence complementation experiments, AZI1 interacts with MPK3 to form protein complexes in planta. Furthermore, null mutants of azil are hypersensitive to salt stress, while AZIl-overexpressing lines are markedly more tolerant. AZI1 overexpression in the mpk3 genetic background partially alleviates the salt-hypersensitive phenotype of this mutant, but functional MPK3 appears to be required for the full extent of AZIl-conferred robustness. Notably, this robustness does not come at the expense of normal development. Immunoblot and RT-PCR data point to a role of MPK3 as positive regulator of AZI1 abundance.     

热休克蛋白90参与糖皮质激素及其受体对气道黏蛋白5AC表达调控的机制

目的:探讨热休克蛋白90(HSP90)在糖皮质激素(GC)信号通路中的作用及其对气道黏蛋白(MUC)5AC表达的调控机制。方法:体外培养气道上皮细胞株BEAS-2B,给予HSP90特异性阻断剂格尔德霉素(GA)和地塞米松(DEX)刺激,比较各组MUC5AC的含量,糖皮质激素受体(GR)的核蛋白表达和GR结合活性。结果:与对照组相比,DEX组的MUC5AC mRNA和蛋白水平降低,伴GR核蛋白水平增高(P0.05);与DEX组相比,GA+DEX组MUC5AC mRNA和蛋白水平升高,GR核蛋白水平降低。放射配体结合实验显示,与对照组相比,GA组的受体最大结合容量(Bmax)降低,平衡解离常数(Kd)升高。结论:HSP90可参与GC及GR的抗气道黏液高分泌效应,其抑制剂可阻断上述效应,该效应是通过降低GR的结合活性来调控的。     

A Crucial Role of the RGS Domain in Trans- Golgi Network Export of AtRGS1 in the Protein Secretory Pathway

The secretory pathway is responsible for the transport of newly synthesized transmembrane proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to their destinations via the Golgi/trans-Golgi network （TGN）, Cargo proteins at each sta- tion are actively sorted by specific sorting signals on the cargo and the corresponding coat complexes. Here, we used the Arabidopsis regulator of G-protein signaling （AtRGS1）, which contains an N-terminal potentially sensing glucose seven-transmembrane domain and a C-terminal RGS domain, as a model to uncover sorting motifs required for its cell surface expression. Expression of wild-type and truncated or mutated AtRGS1 fluorescent fusion proteins identified two cysteine residues in the extracellular N-terminus that are essential for endoplasmic reticulum exit and/or correct folding of AtRGS1. The linker between the seven-transmembrane and RGS domains contains an endoplasmic reticulum export signal, whereas the C-terminus is dispensable for the plasma membrane expression of AtRGS1. Interestingly, deletion of the RGS domain results in Golgi/TGN localization of the truncated AtRGS1. Further analysis using site-directed mutagen- esis showed that a tyrosine-based motif embedded in the RGS domain is essential for Golgi/TGN export of AtRGS1. These results reveal a new role for the RGS domain in regulating AtRGS1 trafficking from the Golgi/TGN to the plasma membrane and explain the interaction between the seven-transmembrane and RGS domains.     

Novel Natural Allelic Variations at the Rht-1 Loci n Wheat

Plant height is an important agronomic trait. Dramatic increase in wheat yield during the ＂green revolution＂ is mainly due to the widespread utilization of the Reduced height （Rht）-1gene. We analyzed the natural allelic variations of three homoeologous loci Rht-A1, Rht-B1, and Rht-D1 in Chinese wheat （Triticum aestivum L.） micro-core collections and the Rht-B1/D1 genotypes in over 1,500 bred cultivars and germplasms using a modified EcoTILLING. We identified six new Rht-A1 allelic variations （Rht-Alb-g）, eight new Rht-B1 allelic variations （Rht-Blh-o）, and six new Rht-D1 allelic variations （Rht-Dle-j）. These allelic variations contain single nucleotide polymorphisms （SNPs） or small insertions and deletions in the coding or uncoding regions, involving two frame-shift mutations and 15 missenses. Of which, Rht-Dle and Rht-Dlh resulted in the loss of interactions of GID1-DELLA-GID2, Rht-Blicould increase plant height. We found that the Rht-Blh contains the same SNPs and 197 bp fragment insertion as reported in Rht-Blc. Further detection of Rht-Blh in Tibet wheat germplasms and wheat relatives indicated that Rht-Blc may originate from Rht-Blh. These results suggest rich genetic diversity at the Rht-1 loci and provide new resources for wheat breeding.     

Adenine Phosphoribosyl Transferase 1 is a Key Enzyme Catalyzing Cytokinin Conversion from Nucleobases to Nucleotides in Arabidopsis

In plants, the cytokinin metabolic processes, including cytokinin biosynthesis, interconversion, inactivation, and degradation, play critical roles in the regulation of cytokinin homeostasis and plant development. Purine meta- bolic enzymes have been implied to catalyze the cytokinin interconversion in previous works. In this study, we report that Adenine Phosphoribosyl Transferase 1 （APT1） is the causal gene of the high-dose cytokinin-resistant mutants. APT1 catalyzes the cytokinin conversion from free bases to nucleotides, and is functionally predominant among the five members of the Arabidopsis Adenine Phosphoribosyl Transferase family. Loss of APT1 activity in plants leads to excess accumulation of cytokinin bases, thus evoking myriad cytokinin-regulated responses, such as delayed leaf senescence, anthocyanin accumulation, and downstream gene expression. Thus, our study defines APT1 as a key metabolic enzyme participating in the cytokinin inactivation by phosphoribosylation.     

Import Determinants of Organelle-Specific and Dual Targeting Peptides of Mitochondria and Chloroplasts in Arabidopsis thaliana

Most of the mitochondrial and chloroplastic proteins are synthesized in the cytosol as precursor proteins carrying an N-terminal targeting peptide （TP） directing them specifically to a correct organelle. However, there is a group of proteins that are dually targeted to mitochondria and chloroplasts using an ambiguous N-terminal dual targeting peptide （dTP）. Here, we have investigated pattern properties of import determinants of organelle-specific TPs and dTPs combining mathematical multivariate data analysis （MVDA） with in vitro organellar import studies. We have used large datasets of mitochondrial and chloroplastic proteins found in organellar proteomes as well as manually selected data sets of experimentally confirmed organelle-specific TPs and dTPs from Arabidopsis thaliana. Two classes of organelle-specific TPs could be distinguished by MVDA and potential patterns or periodicity in the amino acid sequence contributing to the separation were revealed, dTPs were found to have intermediate sequence features between the organelle-specific TPs. Interestingly, introducing positively charged residues to the dTPs showed clustering towards the mitochondrial TPs in silico and resulted in inhibition of chloroplast, but not mitochondrial import in in vitro organellar import studies. These findings suggest that positive charges in the N-terminal region of TPs may function as an ＇avoidance signal＇ for the chloroplast import.     

Nitric Oxide and Brassinosteroids Mediated Fungal Endophyte-lnduced Volatile Oil Production Through Protein Phosphorylation Pathways in Atractylodes lancea Plantlets

Fungal endophytes have been isolated from almost every plant, infecting their hosts without causing visible disease symptoms, and yet have still proved to be involved in plant secondary metabolites accumulation. To decipher the possible physiological mechanisms of the endophytic fungus-host interaction, the role of protein phosphorylation and the relationship between endophytic fungus-induced kinase activity and nitric oxide （NO） and brassinolide （BL） in endophyte-enhanced volatile oil accumulation in Atractylodes lancea plantlets were investigated using pharmacological and biochemical approaches. Inoculation with the endophytic fungus Gilmaniella sp. ALl2 enhanced the activities of total protein phosphorylation, Ca2~-dependent protein kinase, and volatile oil accumulation in A. lancea plantlets. The upregulation of protein kinase activity could be blocked by the BL inhibitor brassinazole. Furthermore, pretreatments with the NO-specific scavenger cPTIO significantly reduced the increased activities of protein kinases in A. lancea plantlets inoculated with endophytic fungus. Pretreatments with different protein kinase inhibitors also reduced fungus-induced NO production and volatile oil accumulation, but had barely no effect on the BL level. These data suggest that protein phosphorylation is required for endophyte- induced volatile oil production in A. lancea plantlets, and that crosstalk between protein phosphorylation and the NO pathway may occur and act as a downstream signaling event of the BL pathway.     

Bcl-2和Bax在吗啡依赖雄性大鼠生殖细胞中的表达

目的：探讨B细胞淋巴瘤/白血病-2和人Bcl-2相关x蛋白（Bcl-2、Bax）在吗啡依赖大鼠睾丸生殖细胞中的表达及细胞凋亡可能机制,为治疗阿片类毒品造成的男性性功能减退提供理论依据。方法：以递增法每日给予雄性大鼠皮下注射盐酸吗啡针剂,建立吗啡依赖组。空白对照组注射等量生理盐水。实验成功后将两组大鼠睾丸组织作常规HE染色和免疫组化染色。结果：吗啡依赖组大鼠生精管壁细胞明显地出现上皮层次减少,仅有2~3层,细胞排列疏松,界限模糊,精子细胞和精子数目减少,并发现曲细精管腔内有脱落的生精细胞;免疫组化结果：吗啡依赖组大鼠生殖细胞中bcl-2的阳性表达率明显低于对照组（P〈0.01）,而生殖细胞中bax蛋白的阳性表达率明显高于对照组（P〈0.01）。结论：吗啡依赖可造成雄性大鼠生殖细胞凋亡数量显著增加,其机制可能是通过下调抑凋亡因子Bcl-2,上调促凋亡因子Bax,促进生殖细胞凋亡来实现的。     

Knights in Action： Lectin Receptor-Like Kinases in Plant Development and Stress Responses

The Receptor-Like Kinase （RLK） is a vast protein family with over 600 genes in Arabidopsis and 1100 in rice. The Lectin RLK （LecRLK） family is believed to play crucial roles in saccharide signaling as well as stress perception. All the LecRLKs possess three domains： an N-terminal lectin domain, an intermediate transmembrane domain, and a C-terminal kinase domain. On the basis of lectin domain variability, LecRLKs have been subgrouped into three subclasses： L-, G-, and C-type LecRLKs. While the previous studies on LecRLKs were dedicated to classification, comparative structural analysis and expression analysis by promoter-based studies, most of the recent studies on LecRLKs have laid special emphasis on the potential of this gene family in regulating biotic/abiotic stress and developmental pathways in plants, thus mak- ing the prospects of studying the LecRLK-mediated regulatory mechanism exceptionally promising. In this review, we have described in detail the LecRLK gene family with respect to a historical, evolutionary, and structural point of view. Furthermore, we have laid emphasis on the LecRLKs roles in development, stress conditions, and hormonal response. We have also discussed the exciting research prospects offered by the current knowledge on the LecRLK gene family. The multitude of the LecRLK gene family members and their functional diversity mark these genes as both interesting and worthy candidates for further analysis, especially in the field of crop improvement.     

单核细胞趋化蛋白1及其受体CCR2mRNA在急性酒精中毒大鼠脑组织的表达

目的:观察大鼠急性酒精中毒后脑组织趋化因子单核细胞趋化蛋白1(MCP-1)及其受体CCR2mRNA水平的表达变化.方法:制备急性酒精中毒模型,用SYBR Green I荧光实时定量PCR技术动态定量监测脑组织中MCP-1与CCR2 mRNA在急性酒精中毒后不同时间点表达的变化.结果:息性酒精中毒后6h脑组织MCP-1 ...     

Strigolactone-Regulated Hypocotyl Elongation Is Dependent on Cryptochrome and Phytochrome Signaling Pathways in Arabidopsis

Seedling development including hypocotyl elongation is a critical phase in the plant life cycle. Light regula- tion of hypocotyl elongation is primarily mediated through the blue light photoreceptor cryptochrome and red/far-red light photoreceptor phytochrome signaling pathways, comprising regulators including COP1, HY5, and phytochrome- interacting factors （PIFs）. The novel phytohormones, strigolactones, also participate in regulating hypocotyl growth. However, how strigolactone coordinates with light and photoreceptors in the regulation of hypocotyl elongation is largely unclear. Here, we demonstrate that strigolactone inhibition of hypocotyl elongation is dependent on cryp- tochrome and phytochrome signaling pathways. The photoreceptor mutants cry1 cry2, phyA, and phyB are hyposensi- tive to strigolactone analog GR24 under the respective monochromatic light conditions, while cop1 and pifl pif3 pif4 pif5 （pifq） quadruple mutants are hypersensitive to GR24 in darkness. Genetic studies indicate that the enhanced respon- siveness of cop1 to GR24 is dependent on HY5 and MAX2, while that of pifq is independent of HY5. Further studies demonstrate that GR24 constitutively up-regulates HY5 expression in the dark and light, whereas GR24-promoted HY5 protein accumulation is light- and cryptochrome and phytochrome photoreceptor-dependent. These results suggest that the light dependency of strigolactone regulation of hypocotyl elongation is likely mediated through MAX2-dependent promotion of HY5 expression, light-dependent accumulation of HY5, and PIF-regulated components.     

ERK1/2 mediates lung adenocarcinoma cell proliferation and autophagy induced by apelin-13

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of apelin in the cell proliferation and autophagy of lung adenocarcin- oma. The over-expression of APJ in lung adenocarcinoma was detected by immunohistochemistry, while plasma apelin level in lung cancer patients was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Our findings revealed that apelin-13 significantly increased the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, the expression of cyclin D1, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3A/B （LC3A/B）, and beclinl, and con- fwmed that apelin-13 promoted A549 cell proliferation and induced A549 cell autophagy via ERK1/2 signaling. More- over, there are pores on the surface of human lung adeno- carcinoma cell line A549 and apelin-13 causes cell surface smooth and glossy as observed under atomic force micros- copy. These results suggested that ERK1/2 signaling pathway mediates apelin-13-induced lung adenocarcinoma cell proliferation and autophagy. Under our experimental condition, autophagy associated with 3-methyladenine was not involved in cell proliferation.     

Open and Closed： The Roles of Linker Histones in Plants and Animals

Histones package DNA in all eukaryotes and play key roles in regulating gene expression. Approximately 150 base pairs of DNA wraps around an octamer of core histones to form the nucleosome, the basic unit of chromatin. Linker histones compact chromatin further by binding to and neutralizing the charge of the DNA between nucleosomes. It is well established that chromatin packing is regulated by a complex pattern of posttranslational modifications （PTMs） to core histones, but linker histone function is less well understood. In this review, we describe the current understand- ing of the many roles that linker histones play in cellular processes, including gene regulation, cell division, and devel- opment, while putting the linker histone in the context of other nuclear proteins. Although intriguing roles for plant linker histones are beginning to emerge, much of our current understanding comes from work in animal systems. Many unanswered questions remain and additional work is required to fully elucidate the complex processes mediated by linker histones in plants.     

Inositol Polyphosphate Phosphatidylinositol 5-Phosphatase9 （At5PTase9） Controls Plant Salt Tolerance by Regulating Endocytosis

Phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphatases （5PTases） components of membrane trafficking system. Recently, we that hydrolyze the 5＇ position of the inositol ring are key reported that mutation in AtSPTase7 gene reduced produc- tion of reactive oxygen species （ROS） and decreased expression of stress-responsive genes, resulting in increased salt sensitivity. Here, we describe an even more salt-sensitive 5ptase mutant, At5ptase9, which also hydrolyzes the 5＇ phos- phate groups specifically from membrane-bound phosphatidylinositides. Interestingly, the mutants were more tolerant to osmotic stress. We analyzed the main cellular processes that may be affected by the mutation, such as production of ROS, influx of calcium, and induction of salt-response genes. The At5ptase9 mutants showed reduced ROS produc- tion and Ca2~ influx, as well as decreased fluid-phase endocytosis. Inhibition of endocytosis by phenylarsine oxide or Tyrphostin A23 in wild-type plants blocked these responses. Induction of salt-responsive genes in wild-type plants was also suppressed by the endocytosis inhibitors. Thus, inhibition of endocytosis in wild-type plants mimicked the salt stress responses, observed in the AtSptase9 mutants. In summary, our results show a key non-redundant role of At5PTase7 and 9 isozymes, and underscore the localization of membrane-bound Ptdlns in regulating plant salt tolerance by coordinating the endocytosis, ROS production, Ca2＋ influx, and induction of stress-responsive genes.     

Regulation of Cytokinesis by Exocyst Subunit SEC6 and KEULE in Arabidopsis thaliana

Proper vesicle tethering and membrane fusion at the cell plate are essential for cytokinesis. Both the vesicle tethering complex exocyst and membrane fusion regulator KEULE were shown to function in cell plate formation, but the exact mechanisms still remain to be explored. In this study, using yeast two-hybrid （Y-2-H） assay, we found that SEC6 interacted with KEULE, and that a small portion of C-terminal region of KEULE was required for the interaction. The direct SEC6-KEULE interaction was supported by further studies using in vitro pull-down assay, immunoprecipitation, and in vivo bimolecular florescence complementation （BIFC） microscopy, sec6 mutants were male gametophytic lethal as reported; however, pollen-rescued sec6 mutants （PRsec6） displayed cytokinesis defects in the embryonic cells and later in the leaf pavement cells and the guard cells. SEC6 and KEULE proteins were co-localized to the cell plate during cytokine- sis in transgenic Arabidopsis. Furthermore, only SEC6 but not other exocyst subunits located in the cell plate interacted with KEULE in vitro. These results demonstrated that, like KEULE, SEC6 plays a physiological role in cytokinesis, and the SEC6-KEULE interaction may serve as a novel molecular linkage between arriving vesicles and membrane fusion machin- ery or directly regulate membrane fusion during cell plate formation in plants.