Expression of desiccation-related proteins from the resurrection plant Craterostigma plantagineum in transgenic tobacco

Three cDNAs encoding desiccation-induced proteins from the resurrection plant Craterostigma plantagineum were each ligated to a triplicated CaMV 35S promoter and a nopaline synthase 3-flanking region in an Agrobacterium vector and introduced into tobacco. Transgenic plants expressed the encoded Craterostigma proteins at high levels. This did not lead to changes in the phenotype, in the growth habit or in basic photosynthetic parameters. In tobacco, one protein was targeted to the chloroplast stroma which is its normal location in Craterostigma. These desiccation-related proteins are not sufficient per se to increase drought tolerance as measured by ion-leakage tests.     

“To dryness and beyond” – Preparation for the dried state and rehydration in vegetative desiccation-tolerant plants

The ability of vegetative plant tissues to survive desiccation is an uncommon trait, although plants that are able to do this represent all major classes of plants. Two classes of vegetative desiccation-tolerant plants exist; those that are modified desiccation-tolerant and can only survive desiccation if drying rates are slow, and those that are fully desiccation-tolerant and can survive even rapid drying rates. Investigations into the cellular level responses of these two types of plants has lead to an understanding of the underlying mechanisms of desiccation-tolerance. The following proposed mechanisms for desiccation-tolerance are presented. Modified desiccation-tolerant plants utilize inducible cellular protection systems supplemented in part by a minor rehydration induced repair component. Fully desiccation-tolerant plants utilize a rehydration induced repair system that is complemented by a constitutive protection component. This minireview explores the evidence for these proposed mechanisms in an attempt to lay the theoretical ground work for future work in this area.     

Expression of sunflower low-molecular-weight heat-shock proteins during embryogenesis and persistence after germination: localization and possible functional implications

We isolated and sequenced Ha hsp 17.9, a DNA complementary (cDNA) of dry-seed stored mRNA that encodes a low-molecular-weight heat-shock protein (LMW HSP). Sequence analysis identified Ha hsp17.9, and the previously reported Ha hsp17.6, as cDNAs encoding proteins (HSP17.6 and HSP17.9) which belong to different families of cytoplasmic LMW HSPs. Using specific antibodies we observed differential expression of both proteins during zygotic embryogenesis under controlled environment, and a remarkable persistence of these LMW HSPs during germination. Immuno-blot analysis of HSP17.9 proteins in two-dimensional gels revealed that the polypeptides expressed in embryos were indistinguishable from LMW HSPs expressed in vegetative tissues in response to water deficit; but they appeared different from homologeous proteins expressed in response to thermal-stress. Tissue-print immunolocalization experiments showed that HSP17.9 and HSP17.6 were homogeneously distributed in every tissue of desiccation-tolerant dry seeds and young seedlings under non-stress conditions. These results demonstrate developmental regulation of specific, cytoplasmic, plant LMW HSPs, suggesting also their involvement in water-stress tolerance.     

Analysis of Some Barley Chlorophyll Mutants and Their Response to Temperature Stress

Six barley chlorophyll (Chl) mutants, viridis, flavoviridis, chlorina, xanhta, lutea, and albina, differed in the contents of Chl (a+b) and carotenoids (Cars). In accordance with their Chl-deficient phenotype, the Chl a and b and Car contents of mutants decreased from viridis to albina, only xantha had the same or even higher concentration of Cars as the wild type plant. The albina mutant completely lacked and xantha had a significantly reduced photosynthetic activity. We found quantitative differences in protein contents between wild type and mutant plants, with the lowest concentration per fresh mass in the albina mutant. Chl fluorescence analysis revealed that heat-treated barley leaves of both the wild type and Chl mutants had a lower photosystem 2 efficiency than the untreated ones. With ³⁵S-methionine labelling and SDS-PAGE we found that six to nine de novo synthetized proteins appeared after heat shock (2 h, 42 °C) in the wild type and Chl mutants. In albina the expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) was reduced to 50 % of that in the wild type. Hence mainly albina mutants, with a completely destroyed proteosynthetic apparatus of the chloroplasts, are able to synthesize a small set of HSPs. The albina mutant is a very useful tool for the study of different gene expression of chloroplast and nuclear DNA.     

Abscisic-acid-induced drought tolerance in Funaria hygrometrica Hedw.

Three-week-old protonemata of Funaria hygrometrica Hedw. cultivated in Petri dishes tolerate slow drying (24 h to complete dryness) but not rapid drying (1h to complete dryness). Slowly dried mosses show, on a dry-weight basis, a sixfold increase in abscisic-acid (ABA) contents during the drying process. Rehydrated, slowly dried protonemata have the ability to tolerate subsequent rapid drying. When ABA is added to three-week-old protonemata at a concentration of 10 M for 16 h, tolerance to rapid drying is induced. These data indicate that the induction of drought tolerance in Funaria hygrometrica is mediated by ABA. Mosses treated with ABA loose their water as fast as controls do; therefore, ABA does not act via reduced water loss. However, induction of synthesis of new proteins by ABA may form an important part of the drought tolerance because 10 M cycloheximide inhibits the ABA-mediated tolerance to rapid drying.Abbreviations ABA abscisic acid - CHI cycloheximide - DW dry weight - FW fresh weight - RWL relative water loss This work was supported by grants from the Deutsche Forschungs-gemeinschaft and by a NATO fellowship awarded to R.M. Ros Espin.     

Accumulation of soluble sugars, heat-stable proteins and dehydrins in cryopreservation of protocorm-like bodies ofDendrobium candidumby the air-drying method

Protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) of Dendrobium candidum were successfully cryopreserved by the air-drying method. The optimal water content before freezing seemed to be at the range of 0.1 g H₂O/g DW (11 % on fresh weight basis) to 0.5 g H₂O/g DW (33 % on fresh weight basis). Changes in soluble sugars, heat-stable proteins and dehydrins during desiccation of PLBs were analyzed. Extensive accumulation of soluble sugars was observed at water content of about 7.2 g H₂O/g DW (after 24 h desiccation), and the sugars content did not increase further during the following desiccation. The amount of heat-stable protein increased significantly when water content decreased to 1.0 g H₂O/g DW (after approximately 66 h desiccation). Results from immunological detection showed that two bands of the heat-stable proteins with respective molecular masses of 28.7 and 34.3 kDa were dehydrins which appeared when water content dropped to 1.0 g H₂O/g DW. Therefore, it seemed that accumulation of dehydrins happened later than that of soluble sugars. Interestingly, exogenous ABA treatment of PLBs before desiccation could also induce the accumulation of soluble sugars, heat-stable proteins and dehydrins. The possible roles of these substances in the acquisition of dehydration and freezing tolerance were discussed.     

嗜热新芽孢杆菌来源D-阿洛酮糖3-差向异构酶的高效表达和酶学性质

【背景】 d-阿洛酮糖具有高甜度、低热量的特性,是一种优良的代糖产品。d-阿洛酮糖3-差向异构酶(d-allulose 3-epimerase, DPEase)可以催化d-果糖异构化生成d-阿洛酮糖,是酶法制备d-阿洛酮糖中的关键酶。【目的】 为提高DPEase的工业应用潜力,对其进行异源表达,并研究其酶学性质。【方法】 利用甘油醛三磷酸脱氢酶启动子将嗜热新芽孢杆菌(Novibacillus thermophilus)来源的DPEase (NtDPEase)在毕赤酵母(Komagataella phaffii)中组成型表达,并系统研究该酶的酶学性质。【结果】 重组菌在5 L发酵罐中经108 h高密度发酵,酶活最高为201.3 U/mL。经过纯化得到电泳纯DPEase,分子量为35 kDa。该酶的最适pH值为7.0,最适温度为60 ℃,在pH 6.0–8.0和45 ℃以下具有良好的稳定性。该酶用于转化不同浓度d-果糖(100–500 g/L)制备d-阿洛酮糖,最高转化率达29.0%。【结论】 本研究实现了DPEase在毕赤酵母中的高效表达,为d-阿洛酮糖的酶法合成提供了理论和实践依据。     

草菇过氧化氢酶基因(VvCAT1)异源表达及耐温度胁迫功能分析

[背景] 过氧化氢酶（catalase,CAT）参与真菌的生长发育,逆境胁迫时保护真菌免受氧化损伤。[目的] 实现草菇过氧化氢酶基因（VvCAT1）的异源表达,分析VvCAT1耐温度胁迫的功能。[方法] 克隆VvCAT1,构建过表达载体pBAR GPE1/VvCAT1,转化到大肠杆菌（Escherichia coli）菌株Stbl3中,异源表达草菇过氧化氢酶。测定温度胁迫后重组菌（pBAR GPE1/VvCAT1/Stbl3）与对照菌（pBAR GPE1/Stbl3）的过氧化氢酶活性和生长情况,验证VvCAT1的功能。[结果] 重组菌的CAT酶活性显著提高,生长情况显著优于对照菌。[结论] VvCAT1的导入及表达显著提高了大肠杆菌Stbl3的耐温度胁迫功能。     

白蛾周氏啮小蜂气味结合蛋白OBP1与寄主挥发物的分子对接研究

【目的】白蛾周氏啮小蜂为重大入侵害虫美国白蛾的主要天敌。本课题组前期通过转录组测序技术筛选出8个主要在白蛾周氏啮小蜂雌性触角中表达的气味结合蛋白OBPs。然而目前,对这些OBPs的具体结构和功能仍不清楚。因此,选取一个在雌性周氏啮小蜂触角特异表达的气味结合蛋白OBP1,通过分子对接技术模拟寄主挥发物与OBP1的结合情况。【方法】通过Swiss-Model对白蛾周氏啮小蜂气味结合蛋白CcOBP1进行同源建模,获得该蛋白的三维结构。从Pubchem下载γ-丁内酯、邻苯二甲酸二甲酯和萘等11种小分子的三维结构。用Schrodinger Suites 2015-2中的maestro10.2软件进行分子对接。【结果】在11种挥发物中,有3种与CcOBP1结合特性较好的小分子物质,分别是γ-丁内酯、邻苯二甲酸二甲酯和萘。【结论】白蛾周氏啮小蜂气味结合蛋白CcOBP1与γ-丁内酯、邻苯二甲酸二甲酯和萘结合特性较好,CcOBP1的功能可能与白蛾周氏啮小蜂的趋避效应相关,该结果初步探明了白蛾周氏啮小蜂OBP1的功能,可为白蛾周氏啮小蜂嗅觉分子机制的研究积累数据。     

Constitutive production of endoglucanase by a Bacillus sp. isolated from a Zimbabwean hot spring

A sporulating, aerobic Bacillus sp., isolated from Chimanimani hot springs, Zimbabwe, produced endoglucanase when cultured on medium with initial pH between 5.0 and 9.0 and at 30 to 60°C. Optimal production of endoglucanase was at pH 6.0. The enzyme was constitutively produced when the organism was cultured on starch, cellobiose, carboxymethylcellulose, sucrose, glucose, galactose, Avicel, lactose, mannose or maltose.The authors are with the Fermentation and Food Group, Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe     

Computational identification and analysis of immune-associated nucleotide gene family in Arabidopsis thaliana

GTP-binding proteins represent a ubiquitous regulatory mechanism in controlling growth and development in eukaryotes under normal and stress conditions. The IAN/GIMAP proteins belong to a novel family of functionally uncharacterized GTP-binding proteins expressed in both plant and vertebrate cells during anti-pathogenic responses. To gain novel insights into their roles in plants, we did genome-wide analysis of the IAN/GIMAP gene family. We identified 13 Arabidopsis IAN/GIMAP genes, which share similar gene structures and mostly reside in a tandem cluster on chromosomes. Sequence comparison reveals that these genes encode 26–52 kDa proteins with one GTP-binding domain and a conserved box unique to the family. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the IAN/GIMAP genes of angiosperms and vertebrates may have evolved by independent gene duplication events. GENEVESTIGATOR sources were mined for comprehensive and comparative Arabidopsis IAN/GIMAP gene family expression analysis. These data reveal that IAN/GIMAPs exhibit diverse expression patterns during development and in response to external stimuli, indicating that these paralogous genes are likely involved in complex biological processes in Arabidopsis. Our present findings provide a basis for elucidating the novel GTPase family protein-mediated regulatory mechanisms in the future.     

盐穗木HcUKPP原核表达及重组菌非生物胁迫耐受性研究

该研究采用RT-PCR技术,从盐穗木cDNA文库中克隆获得未知功能多肽HcUKPP基因,构建了大肠杆菌Escherichia coli BL21∷pET30a-HcUKPP重组菌株,并检测了重组菌株在不同非生物胁迫下的耐受性。结果显示:HcUKPP基因开放阅读框为243bp,融合His的HcUKPP蛋白的分子量约为15kD。在37℃条件下,不同浓度的异丙基-β-D硫代半乳糖苷(IPTG)诱导4h后His-HcUKPP融合蛋白均可表达,且E.coli BL21∷pET30aHcUKPP重组菌在不同浓度NaCl(100~900mmol/L)、聚乙二醇(2.5%~20%,PEG 6000)和甲基紫精(25~200μmol/L)胁迫处理下,其生长均具有明显优势。尤其是在500mmol/L NaCl、10%PEG 6000和75μmol/L甲基紫精胁迫12h后,重组大肠杆菌BL21呈现出极显著的优势,分别达到了对照菌的1.81、1.47和3.48倍。研究表明,盐穗木HcUKPP可以显著提高重组大肠杆菌对不同非生物胁迫的耐受性,证明HcUKPP是一类新发现的能够响应非生物胁迫的多肽。