Regulation of cytokinin content in plant cells

Cytokinin levels in plant cells are dependent on cytokinin biosynthesis and/or uptake from extracellular sources, metabolic interconversions, inactivation and degradation. Cytokinin conversion to compounds differing in polarity seems to be decisive for their entrapment within the cell and intracellular compartmentation, which affects their metabolic stability. Increase in cytokinin levels, resulting either from their uptake or intracellular biosynthesis, may promote further autoinductive accumulation of cytokinins which may function in the induction of cytokinin-initiated physiological processes. Accumulated cytokinins are capable of inducing cytokinin oxidase which consequently decreases cytokinin levels. This seems to be the mechanism of re-establishment and maintenance of cytokinin homeostasis required for further development of physiological events induced by transient cytokinin accumulation. Auxin may influence cytokinin levels by down regulation of cytokinin biosynthesis and/or by promotion of cytokinin degradation. A model of the regulation of cytokinin levels in plant cells based on these phenomena is presented and its physiological role(s) is discussed.     

The effect of auxin on cytokinin levels and metabolism in transgenic tobacco tissue expressing an ipt gene

The ipt gene from the T-DNA of Agrobacterium tumefaciens was transferred to tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) in order to study the control which auxin appears to exert over levels of cytokinin generated by expression of this gene. The transgenic tissues contained elevated levels of cytokinins, exhibited cytokinin and auxin autonomy and grew as shooty calli on hormone-free media. Addition of 1-naphthylacetic acid to this culture medium reduced the total level of cytokinins by 84% while 6-benzylaminopurine elevated the cytokinin level when added to media containing auxin. The cytokinins in the transgenic tissue were labelled with ³H and auxin was found to promote conversion of zeatin-type cytokinins to ³H-labelled adenine derivatives. When the very rapid metabolism of exogenous [³H]zeatin riboside was suppressed by a phenylurea derivative, a noncompetitive inhibitor of cytokinin oxidase, auxin promoted metabolism to adenine-type compounds. Since these results indicated that auxin promoted cytokinin oxidase activity in the transformed tissue, this enzyme was purified from the tobacco tissue cultures. Auxin did not increase the level of the enzyme per unit tissue protein, but did enhance the activity of the enzyme in vitro and promoted the activity of both glycosylated and non-glycosylated forms. This enhancement could contribute to the decrease in cytokinin level induced by auxin. Studies of cytokinin biosynthesis in the transgenic tissues indicated that trans-hydroxylation of isopentenyladenine-type cytokinins to yield zeatin-type cytokinins occurred principally at the nucleotide level.Abbreviations Ade adenine - Ados adenosine - BA 6-benzylaminopurine - C control - Con A concanavallin A - CP cellulose phosphate - IPT isopentenyl transferase - NAA 1-naphthylacetic acid - NP normal phase - NPPU N-(3-nitrophenyl)-N-phenylurea - RIA radioimmunoassay - RP reversed phase We wish to thank Dr. J. Zwar for supplying phenylurea derivitives.     

ipt基因定位表达对转基因烟草育性的影响

杂种优势是生物界的一种普遍现象。作物杂种优势的利用是培育高产、抗逆、优质新品种的重要手段之一。然而 ,常规育种技术获得配套三系的难度很大 ,由此限制了杂种优势利用的发展。近年来应用转基因技术创造雄性不育植株已有不少报道[1- 5] 。有研究表明 ,自然突变的雄性不育株     

草酸氧化酶基因转化烟草的研究

为研究草酸氧化酶基因(OxO)对植物抗病的作用,将含有CaMV 35s启动子的植物表达载体以根癌农杆菌(Agrobacterium tumefaciens)介导的叶盘方法,转化了烟草97131。具有卡那霉素抗性的再生植株经PCR检测,得到了与阳性对照一致的470bp的片段,进一步对PCR产物测序表明OxO基因已整合进烟草基因组中。在对草酸的耐受性实验中,转基因烟草对草酸的抗性明显高于未转化烟草。     

细胞分裂素合成基因ipt研究进展(综述)

异戊烯基转移酶是细胞分裂素生物合成第一步的催化酶,也是限速酶。其编码基因ipt已被克隆,运用生物信息学方法,在拟南芥中鉴定出与微生物同源的编码异戊烯基转移酶的基因家族,推测这些基因可能存在特殊时空表达来调控细胞分裂素的合成途径。本文着重介绍ipt在细胞分裂素合成中的作用和研究进展。     

The overexpression of an alternative oxidase gene triggers ozone sensitivity in tobacco plants

The alternative oxidase (AOX) of plant mitochondria transfers electrons from the ubiquinione pool to oxygen without energy conservation and prevents the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) when the ubiquinone pool is over-reduced. Thus, AOX may be involved in plant acclimation to a number of oxidative stresses. To test this hypothesis, we exposed wild-type (WT) Xanthi tobacco plants as well as Xanthi plants transformed with the Bright Yellow tobacco AOX1a cDNA with enhanced (SN21 and SN29), and decreased (SN10) AOX capacity to an acute ozone (O3) fumigation. As a result of 5 h of O3 exposition (250 nL L(-1)), SN21 and SN29 plants surprisingly showed localized leaf damage, whereas SN10, similarly to WT plants, was undamaged. In keeping with this observation, WT and SN21 plants differed in their response to O3)for the expression profiles of catalase 1 (CAT1), catalase 2 (CAT2), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) genes, and for the activity of these antioxidant enzymes, which were induced in WT. Concomitantly, although ozone induced H2O2 accumulation in WT and in all transgenic lines, only in transgenics with high AOX capacity the H2O2 level in the post-fumigation period was high. The alternative pathway of WT plants was strongly stimulated by O3, whereas in SN21 plants, the respiratory capacity was always high across the treatment. The present results show that, far from exerting a protective role, the overexpression of AOX triggers an increased O3 sensitivity in tobacco plants. We hypothesize that the AOX overexpression results in a decrease of mitochondrial ROS level that in turn alters the defensive mitochondrial to nucleus signalling pathway that activates ROS scavenging systems.     

The stability and biological activity of cytokinin metabolites in soybean callus tissue

The activity, uptake and metabolism of cytokinin metabolites was determined in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) callus tissue. The following activity sequence was established: zeatin riboside (ZR)>zeatin (Z)>O-glucosides of Z, ZR and their dihydro derivatives>lupinic acid (an alanine conjugate of Z)>7- and 9-glucosides of Z which were almost inactive. The 7- and 9-glucosides and lupinic acid were taken up very slowly by the callus tissue and showed great metabolic stability, but some degradation to 7-glucosyladenine, 9-glucosyladenine and the 9-alanine conjugate of adenine occurred. Compared with its aglycone, O-glucosyl-ZR exhibited slow uptake and greatly enhanced stability but gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis showed that appreciable amounts were hydrolyzed to ZR in the tissue. Both ZR and O-glucosyl-ZR were metabolised extensively, with adenine, adenosine, and adenine nucleotide(s) as the major metabolites. A diversity of minor metabolites of ZR were identified, including O-glucosides, lupinic acid and dihydrolupinic acid. The metabolism of ZR was suppressed by 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. When compared with the soybean callus line normally used for cytokinin bioassays (cv. Acme, cotyledonary callus), related callus lines exhibited greatly differing growth responses to cytokinin: however, these were not reflected in marked differences in metabolism.Abbreviations GC-MS gas chromatography-mass spectrometry - HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography - LA lupinic acid - OGZR O--D-glucopyranosylzeatin riboside - TLC thin-layer chromatography - IMX 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine - Z zeatin - ZR zeatin riboside     

Anther-specific expression of ipt gene in transgenic tobacco and its effect on plant development

Isopentenyl transferase (ipt) gene from Agrobacterium tumefaciens T-DNA was placed under the control of a TA29 promoter which expresses specifically in anther. The chimeric TA29-ipt gene was transferred to tobacco plants. During flowering, mRNA of the ipt gene in the anthers of the transgenic plants accumulated and the level of iPA + iPs increased 3–4-fold in the leaves, petals, pistils, and stamens compared with those in the wild type plants. This cytokinin increase affected various aspects in development indicating that the alterations of endogenous cytokinin level by using anther-specific expression of the TA29-ipt gene affected morphology, floral organ systems and reproductivity of the transgenic plants.     

Different effects of two brassinosteroids on growth,auxin and cytokinin content in tobacco callus tissue

Two synthetic brassinosteroids, 24-epibrassinolide (24-epiBR) and 2,3, 17-trihydroxy-5-androstan-6-one (THA-BR), exhibit different effects on growth of tobacco callus tissue. When added to a culture medium containing growth-limiting amounts of auxin, 24-epiBR reduced and THA-BR increased the fresh weight yield of tissue up to 53% and 207%, respectively, after 6 weeks of cultivation. The stimulatory and inhibitory effects of the two brassinosteroids on tissue growth occurred over a broad range of concentrations without a pronounced maximum corresponding to the yes or no type of response. Different effects of 24-epiBR and THA-BR on tissue growth were inversely proportional to the content of endogenous cytokinins. Maximum contents of predominant cytokinins N⁶-(²-isopentenyl)adenine (iP) and trans-zeatin (Z) in tissues supplied with 24-epiBR in growth-inhibiting concentrations were up to 3.7 fold and 3.4 fold higher, respectively, as compared to tissues grown on media containing growth-stimulating concentrations of THA-BR. Stimulation of tissue growth by THA-BR correlated with content of endogenous IAA and an inverse correlation was found between the content of endogenous IAA and cytokinins in tissues supplied with 24-epiBR. THA-BR exhibited weak cytokinin-like activity in a bioassay based on stimulation of growth of lateral buds of pea while 24-epiBR was inactive. Results indicate that the qualitatively different effects of the two brassinosteroids on growth of tobacco tissue may reflect their different influence on content of endogenous cytokinin.Abbreviations BR(s) brassinosteroid(s) - 24-epiBR 24-epibrassinolide - THA-BR 2,33, 17-trihydroxy-5-androstan-6-one - CK(s) cytokinin(s) - iP N⁶-(²-isopentenyl)adenine - [9R]iP N⁶-(²-isopentenyl)adenosine - Z trans-zeatin - [9R]Z ribosyl-trans-zeatin - ABA abscisic acid - IAA indole-3-acetic acid - NAA naphtalene-1-acetic acid - DEAE cellulose diethylaminoethyl cellulose - HPLC high performance liquid chromatography - ELISA enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay     

营养胁迫诱导的油菜子叶衰老过程中IAA氧化酶和细胞分裂素氧化酶活性的变化

以离体油菜子叶为材料,研究了营养胁迫诱导的子叶衰老过程中吲哚乙酸氧化酶(IAA氧化酶)和细胞分裂素氧化酶活性的变化。在光照条件下,离体子叶在不含任何无机元素的0．8％的琼脂中培养9d后,出现明显的衰老迹象(叶绿素含量下降,丙二醛含量上升),15d时完全死亡。在营养胁迫诱导的衰老过程中,IAA氧化酶和细胞分裂素氧化酶的活性表现出相似的变化趋势,在诱导处理1d时,两种酶的活性均比处理前有明显下降,之后又随着衰老进程逐渐上升。IAA氧化酶活性在诱导处理11d时达到高峰,超出处理前30％以上;比对照高出1倍以上;而细胞分裂素氧化酶活性在诱导处理13d时达到高峰,比对照高出3倍以上,也超过了处理前的水平。衰老过程中IAA氢化酶和细朐分裂素氧化酶活性的上升可能是导致内源激素含量下降的重要原因。     

Changes in the tissue-specific prevalence of translatable mRNAs in transgenic tobacco shoots containing the T-DNA cytokinin gene

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of in vitro translation products was used to examine differences between the steady state RNA populations of an untransformed tobacco plant line and a non-rooting tobacco shoot line transformed with a T _l -DNA segment from Agrobacterium tumefaciens carrying the cytokinin gene (T-cyt). The analysis comprised about 240 translation products representing the more abundant mRNAs. Approximately 8% of the translation products were found to have significantly different concentrations, due to both increases and decreases, when the shoot parts of the transformed and untransformed lines were compared. Only a few of these differences were specific for the comparison of transformed and untransformed shoots. Most of the differences were also observed when the shoot and root parts of the untransformed line were compared. This implies that the shoot or root prevalence of several mRNA species in normal plants is altered in transgenic T-cyt shoots. The observed changes in the mRNA population of transgenic T-cyt shoots are discussed in relation to the transformed phenotype and previously cloned mRNAs showing similar changes in tissue-specific prevalence.     

Role and function of cytokinin oxidase in plants

Cytokinin oxidase (CK oxidase) is widely distributed in plants and is the only enzyme that has been shown unequivocally to catalyze the catabolism of specific cytokinins (CKs) to inactive products that lack the N⁶-unsaturated side chain. Thus, the enzyme is thought to play a major role in controlling the level or species of CKs in plant tissues. However, despite its discovery more than 25 years ago, little attention has been given to the elucidation of its role and function in plant growth and development. This review seeks to bring in to context the current state of knowledge regarding the biochemical and molecular properties, regulation in undifferentiated and differentiated tissues, and recent results from studies using transgenic plants in an attempt to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the physiological significance of the enzyme in plants. Notwithstanding species, tissue and other specific differences, in general, CK oxidase appears to contribute to CK homeostasis in plants. However, complete clarity as to its function awaits purification of the protein to homogeneity and the ultimate development of requisite molecular probes.     

Functional expression and purification of cytokinin dehydrogenase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Arabidopsis thaliana</Emphasis> (AtCKX2) in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces cerevisiae</Emphasis>

Cytokinin dehydrogenase (CKX) is responsible for regulating the endogenous cytokinin content by oxidative removal of the side chain and seven distinct genes, AtCKX1 to AtCKX7, code for the enzyme in Arabidopsis thaliana. The recombinant enzyme AtCKX2 was produced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae after expressing the corresponding gene from a plasmid (pDR197) or following chromosomal integration, under either the constitutive promoter PMA1 or the inducible promoter GAL1. The recombinant protein was purified from yeast culture media using a sequence of chromatographic steps. The purified enzyme had a molecular mass of 61 kDa and a typical flavoprotein spectrum. The specific activity of the enzyme was 87.8 μkat g⁻¹, with isopentenyladenine as a substrate and 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-p-benzoquinone as an electron acceptor. The pH optimum lay between 7.0 and 8.0, depending on the electron acceptor used. AtCKX2 reacts both with isoprenoid and aromatic cytokinins, the activity with isoprenoid cytokinins being two to three orders of magnitude higher. AtCKX2 prefers p-quinones and the synthetic dye 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol as electron acceptors, although low reactivity with oxygen can also be observed. This study presents the first purification and characterization of the enzyme from Arabidopsis thaliana.