Conserved globulin gene across eight grass genomes identify fundamental units of the loci encoding seed storage proteins

The wheat high molecular weight (HMW) glutenins are important seed storage proteins that determine bread-making quality in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum). In this study, detailed comparative sequence analyses of large orthologous HMW glutenin genomic regions from eight grass species, representing a wide evolutionary history of grass genomes, reveal a number of lineage-specific sequence changes. These lineage-specific changes, which resulted in duplications, insertions, and deletions of genes, are the major forces disrupting gene colinearity among grass genomes. Our results indicate that the presence of the HMW glutenin gene in Triticeae genomes was caused by lineage-specific duplication of a globulin gene. This tandem duplication event is shared by Brachypodium and Triticeae genomes, but is absent in rice, maize, and sorghum, suggesting the duplication occurred after Brachypodium and Triticeae genomes diverged from the other grasses ~35 Ma ago. Aside from their physical location in tandem, the sequence similarity, expression pattern, and conserved cis-acting elements responsible for endosperm-specific expression further support the paralogous relationship between the HMW glutenin and globulin genes. While the duplicated copy in Brachypodium has apparently become nonfunctional, the duplicated copy in wheat has evolved to become the HMW glutenin gene by gaining a central prolamin repetitive domain.     

Identification of legumin-like proteins in wheat

We have obtained several amino acid sequences from purified polypeptides of a wheat endosperm storage globulin previously described as triplet protein. The amino acid sequence data supported by immunochemical analysis using anti-oat 12S globulin antibodies, provide definitive evidence that the triplet protein is homologous to pea legumin and related seed storage proteins of oats, rice and several dicotyledonous species. Thus, it is now proposed that the triplet protein of wheat be renamed triticin. The oat globulin antibodies also cross-reacted strongly with the high-molecular-weight (HMW) glutenin subunits which have been implicated in bread-making quality.     

Accumulation and degradation of thiamin-binding protein and level of thiamin in wheat seeds during seed maturation and germination

Changes in the levels of thiamin-binding globulin and thiamin in wheat seeds during maturation and germination were studied. The thiamin-binding activity of the seed proteins increased with seed development after flowering. The thiamin content of the seeds also increased with development. Thiamin-binding activity decreased during seed germination. On the other hand, immunological analysis using an antibody directed against the thiamin-binding protein isolated from wheat seeds showed that the thiamin-binding globulin accumulated in the aleurone layer of the seeds during maturation, and then the protein was degraded and disappeared during seed germination. These results suggested that the thiamin-binding globulin of wheat seeds was synthesized and accumulated in the aleurone layer of the seeds with seed development, similar to the thiamin-binding albumin in sesame seeds, and that thiamin bound to the thiamin-binding globulin in the dormant wheat seeds for germ growth during germination.     

Immunological relationships among the major seed proteins of cereals

The structural relationships among the major seed proteins of cereals was evaluated by Western blot analyses using antibodies raised against the wheat gliadin, rice glutelin acidic and basic subunits, and rice prolamine polypeptide. Consitent with the conservation of the primary sequences of these proteins, antibodies to the acidic and basic glutelin subunits cross-reacted with homologous polypeptides from oat as well as pea. The rice glutelin antibodies did not react with the major seed proteins from barley, rye, maize and sorghum. Antibodies raised against the acidic glutelin subunit reacted with the wheat glutenins but antibodies to the basic glutelin subunit did not. A comparison of the published primary sequences of a high molecular weight glutenin and rice glutelin showed little similarity except for a conserved peptide with the motif arg-gln-leu-gln-cys. The possible significance of this conserved element shared by these widely different proteins is discussed. Similar studies with the wheat gliadin antibody showed immunologically related components in plants of the subfamily Festucoideae except for rice. Antibodies raised against the rice prolamine recognized only the rice prolamine, indicating that this polypeptide was structurally distinct from other cereal prolamines. Overall, these results support and help clarify the evolutionary relationship of the cereals.     

Structural organization of the barley D-hordein locus in comparison with its orthologous regions of wheat genomes.

D hordein, a prolamin storage protein of barley endosperms, is highly homologous to the high molecular weight (HWM) glutenin subunits, which are the major determinants of bread-making quality in wheat flour. In hexaploid wheat (AABBDD), each genome contains two paralogous copies of HMW-glutenin genes that encode the x- and y-type HMW-glutenin subunits. Previously, we reported the sequence analysis of a 102-kb genomic region that contains the HMW-glutenin locus of the D genome from Aegilops tauschii, the donor of the D genome of hexaploid wheat. Here, we present the sequence analysis of a 120-kb D-hordein region of the barley genome, a more distantly related member of the Triticeae grass tribe. Comparative sequence analysis revealed that gene content and order are generally conserved. Genes included in both of these orthologous regions are arranged in the following order: a Xa21-like receptor kinase, an endosperm globulin, an HMW prolamin, and a serine (threonine) protein kinase. However, in the wheat D genome, a region containing both the globulin and HMW-glutenin gene was duplicated, indicating that this duplication event occurred after the separation of the wheat and barley genomes. The intergenic regions are divergent with regard to the sequence and structural organization. It was found that different types of retroelements are responsible for the intergenic structure divergence in the wheat and barley genomes. In the barley region, we identified 16 long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons in three distinct nested clusters. These retroelements account for 63% of the contig sequence. In addition, barley D hordein was compared with wheat HMW glutenins in terms of cysteine residue conservation and repeat domain organization.     

Molecular characterization of oat seed globulins

We have isolated full-length cDNA clones that encode oat (Avena sativa) seed storage globulin mRNAs from a cDNA library in the expression vector lambda gtll. The longest of these clones, pOG2, has an 1840-base pair insert that encodes a complete precursor subunit with a signal peptide of 24 amino acids followed by an acidic polypeptide of 293 amino acids and a basic polypeptide of 201 amino acids. Near the C terminus of the acidic polypeptide are four repeats of a highly conserved, glutamine-rich octapeptide. Other oat globulin cDNA clones contain five of these repeats. Nucleotide sequence comparisons between these clones indicate that the genes encoding these proteins are highly conserved. We estimate there to be 7 to 10 genes for the oat globulin per haploid genome. Comparisons of amino acid sequences show that the oat globulin is 30 to 40% homologous with storage globulins of legumes and about 70% homologous with the rice seed storage globulin (glutelin).     

类大麦属高分子量谷蛋白基因Kx的序列测定及表达

利用SDS-PAGE检测了2份类大麦属(Crithopsis delileana)材料的高分子量谷蛋白亚基组成,并对其中1份材料的x型亚基进行了克隆和测序。结果表明,2份材料具有完全相同的蛋白电泳图谱。在小麦的高分子量区域仅检测到一条蛋白质带,与小麦y型亚基的迁移率接近,但克隆测序表明其为x型高分子量谷蛋白亚基,其编码基因命名为Kx。Kx基因编码区序列长度为2052bp．编码长度为661个氨基酸残基的蛋白质,其序列具有典型的x型高分子量谷蛋白亚基的特征。Kx基因能在原核表达系统内正确表达,其表达蛋白与来源于种子中的Kx亚基的迁移率完全一致。Kx亚基与小麦属A、B和D,山羊草属C和U以及黑麦属R染色体组编码的高分子量谷蛋白亚基氨基酸序列非常相似,但在N和C保守区的氨基酸组成以及重复区长度上与它们存在明显差异。聚类分析可将Kx与Ax1聚类为平行的分支。由此可见,来源于C．delileana的Kx基因为一新的x型高分子量谷蛋白亚基基因。     

模拟酸雨对小麦产量及籽粒蛋白质和淀粉含量及组分的影响

以宁麦13和徐麦31两种小麦(Triticum aestivum)品种为材料,通过盆栽试验研究了不同pH值酸雨对小麦产量和籽粒品质的影响。结果表明:模拟酸雨抑制了小麦的生长,减少了生物量的积累。pH值2.0酸雨处理后宁麦13的单穗粒数和单茎产量分别较对照下降了48.6%和56.7%,徐麦31则分别下降了31.2%和39.7%,差异显著。小麦籽粒主要营养成分对酸雨胁迫响应不同,酸雨处理提高了籽粒氨基酸、蛋白质含量,pH值2.0酸雨处理后,宁麦13和徐麦31小麦籽粒中氨基酸含量分别比对照高36.6%和30.9%,总蛋白含量分别比对照高20.6%和15.1%,均与对照差异显著。而小麦可溶性糖、淀粉和脂肪含量较对照降低,且总体表现为酸度增强变化幅度增大。不同蛋白组分也对酸雨胁迫反应不同,酸雨处理提高了籽粒中清蛋白和球蛋白含量,而降低了谷蛋白含量和谷/醇。pH值2.0的酸雨处理后,宁麦13和徐麦31的清蛋白含量较对照分别增加了13.1%和23.9%,但与对照差异不显著。酸雨胁迫降低了总淀粉和支链淀粉含量,宁麦13和徐麦31的pH值2.0酸雨处理总淀粉含量分别较对照下降了11.8%和20.2%,与对照差异显著,但对直链淀粉含量影响不明显。可见酸雨不仅影响小麦的产量,而且对品质也有明显影响。酸雨处理尽管提高了籽粒总蛋白含量,但降低了谷蛋白和谷/醇,降低了其加工品质。     

Biosynthesis of storage proteins in developing rice seeds

Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis of the starchy endosperm protein of rice (Oryza sativa L. Japonica cv Koshihikari) during seed development confirmed that storage protein begins to accumulate about 5 days after flowering. Two polypeptide groups, 22 to 23 and 37 to 39 kilodaltons, the components of glutelin, the major storage protein in rice seed, appeared 5 days after flowering. A 26-kilodalton polypeptide, the globulin component, also appeared 5 days after flowering. Smaller polypeptides (10- to 16-kilodaltons) including prolamin components, appeared about 10 days after flowering. In contrast, the levels of the 76- and 57-kilodalton polypeptides were fairly constant throughout seed development. Transmission electron microscopy and fractionation by sucrose density gradient centrifugation of the starchy endosperms at various stages of development showed that protein body type II, the accumulation site of glutelin and globulin, was formed faster than protein body type I, the accumulation site of prolamin.

The 57-kilodalton polypeptide but not the glutelin subunits was labeled in a 2-hour treatment with [¹⁴C]leucine given between 4 and 12 days after flowering to developing ears. In vivo pulse-chase labeling studies showed the 57-kilodalton polypeptide to be a precursor of the 22 to 23 and 37 to 39 kilodalton subunits. The 57-kilodalton polypeptide was salt-soluble, but the mature glutelin subunits were almost salt insoluble.

In vitro protein synthesis also showed that the mRNAs directly coding the 22 to 23 and 37 to 39 kilodalton components were absent in developing seeds and that the 57-kilodalton polypeptide was the major product. Thus, it was concluded that the two subunits of rice glutelin are formed through post-translational cleavage of the 57-kilodalton polypeptide.

     

Genes controlling seed dormancy and pre-harvest sprouting in a rice-wheat-barley comparison

Pre-harvest sprouting results in significant economic loss for the grain industry around the world. Lack of adequate seed dormancy is the major reason for pre-harvest sprouting in the field under wet weather conditions. Although this trait is governed by multiple genes it is also highly heritable. A major QTL controlling both pre-harvest sprouting and seed dormancy has been identified on the long arm of barley chromosome 5H, and it explains over 70% of the phenotypic variation. Comparative genomics approaches among barley, wheat and rice were used to identify candidate gene(s) controlling seed dormancy and hence one aspect of pre-harvest sprouting. The barley seed dormancy/pre-harvest sprouting QTL was located in a region that showed good synteny with the terminal end of the long arm of rice chromosome 3. The rice DNA sequences were annotated and a gene encoding GA20-oxidase was identified as a candidate gene controlling the seed dormancy/pre-harvest sprouting QTL on 5HL. This chromosomal region also shared synteny with the telomere region of wheat chromosome 4AL, but was located outside of the QTL reported for seed dormancy in wheat. The wheat chromosome 4AL QTL region for seed dormancy was syntenic to both rice chromosome 3 and 11. In both cases, corresponding QTLs for seed dormancy have been mapped in rice.C. Li and P. Ni contributed equally to this work     

基因型与生态环境对小麦籽粒品质与蛋白质组分的影响

通过2年3点试验,研究了40个小麦(Triticum aestivum)品种(品系)籽粒品质性状和蛋白质组分含量的变异。结果表明,籽粒品质和蛋白质组分在基因型间存在较大的差异;根据小麦籽粒品质的综合性状,可将40个小麦品种(品系)分为6组不同的品质类型,在本试验点的生态环境条件下。基本以中筋及弱筋小麦为主;生态环境对小麦籽粒的容重、沉降值、湿面筋含量、蛋白质含量、赖氨酸含量与蛋白质组分含量均有极显著的影响,而面筋指数、淀粉含量和直链淀粉含量对环境反应不敏感,适宜的生态环境条件有利于形成合理的谷蛋白／醇溶蛋白比。面粉面筋质量好,基因型与生态环境的互作对小麦籽粒品质。谷蛋白与醇溶蛋白及两者的比值有显著影响,对球蛋白影响不大,而面粉蛋白质含量、面筋含量、沉降值及千粒重主要受基因的表达和环境的独立影响,蛋白质组分含量在基因型间和环境间的变化与小麦籽粒烘烤品质密切相关。     

转反义硫氧还蛋白基因小麦萌发种子中蛋白质的变化

硫氧还蛋白h（thioredoxin h,Trx h）是一类广泛存在于生物体内的多功能活性蛋白,分子量约为12kD,它通过还原靶蛋白中的二硫键参与酶活性调节、抗胁迫、信号传导等许多重要的生命活动。硫氧还蛋白h能促进谷物类种子萌发过程,主要表现在以下2个方面：（1）在籽粒萌发期间,硫氧还蛋白可通过还原储存蛋白的分子内二硫键使其更易于被降解;（2）硫氧还蛋白也可以直接地通过将酶还原或者间接地通过使酶抑制蛋白失活而激活酶。源于Phalaris coerulescens的trxs基因（thioredoxin s,trxs）与小麦硫氧还蛋白h基因（thioredoxin h,trx h）同属于硫氧还蛋白基因家族,它们的cDNA有94％的同源性,表达产物也有相似的生物功能。我们采用基因枪法将反义trxs基因导入小麦,获得了可稳定遗传的小麦,并检测出转基因种子中硫氧还蛋白h表达量、水溶蛋白和醇溶蛋白的还原状态以及α-淀粉酶活性均低于对照小麦;另外,通过模拟降雨抗穗发芽试验证实转基因株系具有很强的抗穗发芽能力。以转反义trxs基因抗穗发芽小麦为材料,检测反义trxs基因小麦籽粒萌发过程中蛋白质的变化,探讨转反义trxs基因小麦的抗穗发芽机理。研究表明反义trxs基因能够减缓KCl可溶性蛋白中Chloroform-methanol（CM）蛋白向代谢类蛋白的转化进程,在萌发初期降低籽粒代谢类蛋白的含量,使籽粒代谢速度下降,而CM蛋白主要包含一些分子量小于20kD的蛋白质。在籽粒成熟过程中,硫氧还蛋白能够阻止麦谷蛋白亚基形成谷蛋白聚合体的过程,在转基因小麦中麦谷蛋白更易于形成大分子量的谷蛋白大聚合体,使得转基因小麦中的谷蛋白在萌发初期更难于被水解,因此转基因小麦籽粒会因谷蛋白难于降解而萌发较慢。另外,反义trxs基因减慢了麦胚中10kD蛋白的降解过程。     

Tissue-specific expression of a wheat high molecular weight glutenin gene in transgenic tobacco.

The expression of a wheat genomic clone containing the entire coding sequence of the high molecular weight glutenin subunit 12 gene flanked by 2.6 kilobases of 5' and 1.5 kilobases of 3' sequences has been studied after introduction into tobacco. Seeds of different tobacco plants containing the full-length wheat genomic clone accumulated different amounts of intact high molecular weight glutenin subunit mRNA and of a polypeptide displaying the solubility, molecular weight, and antigenic properties of the high molecular weight glutenin subunit 12. The wheat protein accumulated without obvious degradation products and constituted up to approximately 0.1% of the total tobacco endosperm protein. Restriction fragments corresponding to 2.6 kilobases, 1.4 kilobases, and 433 base pairs of high molecular weight glutenin 5' upstream sequence were fused to the coding sequence of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene in the vector polyCATter and transferred into tobacco. Chloramphenicol acetyltransferase enzyme activity was detected only in the seed endosperm tissue of the transformed plants. It was detected in tobacco seeds 8 days after anthesis and persisted until seed maturity. It is concluded that 433 base pairs of high molecular weight glutenin upstream sequence are sufficient to confer endosperm-specific expression of this monocot gene in the dicot tobacco.     

谷氨酰胺供应水平对离体培养小麦穗籽粒淀粉和蛋白质及其组分含量的影响

选用籽粒蛋白质含量不同的小麦(Triticam aestivum)品种, 运用离体穗培养技术, 研究了谷氨酰胺供应水平对小麦穗籽粒重、淀粉和蛋白质及其组分积累的影响。实验结果表明, 随着培养基中谷氨酰胺供应水平的提高, 粒重、籽粒淀粉和蛋白质积累量均呈单峰曲线, 在6 g.L-1谷氨酰胺水平时达到最大值; 籽粒氨基酸和蛋白质含量随谷氨酰胺浓度的提高呈上升趋势, 而淀粉含量呈下降趋势。籽粒清蛋白和球蛋白含量的变化与总蛋白质含量变化趋势一致, 而醇溶蛋白和麦谷蛋白含量在2~6 g.L-1谷氨酰胺浓度范围内呈上升趋势, 此后则无明显变化。     

谷氨酰胺供应水平对离体培养小麦穗籽粒淀粉和蛋白质及其组分含量的影响

选用籽粒蛋白质含量不同的小麦(Triticum aestivum)品种,运用离体穗培养技术,研究了谷氨酰胺供应水平对小麦穗籽粒重、淀粉和蛋白质及其组分积累的影响.实验结果表明,随着培养基中谷氨酰胺供应水平的提高,粒重、籽粒淀粉和蛋白质积累量均呈单峰曲线,在6 g·L-1谷氨酰胺水平时达到最大值;籽粒氨基酸和蛋白质含量随谷氨酰胺浓度的提高呈上升趋势,而淀粉含量呈下降趋势.籽粒清蛋白和球蛋白含量的变化与总蛋白质含量变化趋势一致,而醇溶蛋白和麦谷蛋白含量在2～6 g·L-1谷氨酰胺浓度范围内呈上升趋势,此后则无明显变化.     

Effects of the embryonic axis and phytohormones on proteolysis of the storage protein in buckwheat seed

The role of the embryonic axis in regulation of proteolysis of the main storage protein was studied in buckwheat ( Fagopyrum esculentum ) seed. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) analysis revealed that removal of the embryonic axis had no effect on the first stage of hydrolysis, that is proteolytic modification, of 13S globulin. This modification took place in the growing seedlings also in the presence of cycloheximide, i.e. it was due to an enzyme present in dry seed. However, in isolated cotyledons the 13S globulin was not degraded completely. Incubation of isolated cotyledons with cytokinins, gibberellic acid and indoleacetic acid could not replace the excised embryonic axis. At the same time, proteolysis of the 13S globulin in the growing seedlings was strongly inhibited by casein hydrolyzate. It is suggested that a complete proteolysis of the modified storage protein is regulated by the concentration of hydrolysis products at the site of hydrolysis. The embryonic axis serves, most probably, as a site of efflux of the products of protein hydrolysis in the cotyledons during seedling growth and thus regulates the course of proteolysis.
Abscisic acid (10–100 μ M ) was without effect on modification of the 13S globulin, but suppressed the complete proteolysis of the protein by inhibiting, apparently, the synthesis of the cysteine proteinase in the growing seedlings.