Expression of anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway genes in red and white grapes

The expression of seven genes from the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway was determined in different tissues of Shiraz grapevines. All of the tissues contained proanthocyanidins, but only the berry skin accumulated anthocyanins. In most tissues, all of the flavonoid genes except UDP glucose-flavonoid 3-o-glucosyl transferase (UFGT) were expressed, but UFGT expression was only detected in berry skin. Similar patterns of expression were observed in the skin of other red grapes. In white grapes, UFGT expression was not detected. White grape cultivars appear to lack anthocyanins because they lack UFGT, although they also had decreased expression of other flavonoid pathway genes.     

Constitutive Expression of Interferon-Induced Human MxA Protein in Transgenic Tobacco Plants Does not Confer Resistance to a Variety of RNA Viruses

MxA is a key component in the interferon-induced antiviral defense in humans. After viral infections, MxA is rapidly induced and accumulates in the cytoplasm. The multiplication of many RNA viruses,including all bunyaviruses tested so far, is inhibited by MxA. These findings prompted us to express MxA in plants in an attempt to create resistance to tospoviruses. Here, we report the generation of transgenic tobacco plants that constitutively express MxA under the control of the 35S cauliflower mosaic virus promotor. Northern and western blot analysis confirmed the expression of MxA in several transgenic plant lines. MxA expression had no obvious detrimental effects on plant growth and fertility. However, challenge experiments with tomato spotted wilt virus, tomato chlorotic spot virus, and groundnut ringspot virus revealed no increased resistance of MxA-transgenic tobacco plants to tospovirus infections. Neither was the multiplicationof tobacco mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus and potato virus Y inhibited in MxA-transgenic plants. The results indicate that the expression of human MxA alone does not enhance virus resistance in planta.     

Expression of a CaMV::sak-gusA-mgfp gene in tobacco plants

A gene encoding staphylokinase from Staphylococcus aureus was cloned into the plant transformation binary vector pCAMBIA1303. The presence of a CaMV::sak-gusA-mgfp gene in Agrobacterium was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction PCR. Tobacco seedlings were used as explants for Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation with the pCAMBIA1303sak vector carrying the fusion gene construct CaMV::sak-gusA-mgfp and the expression of the fusion gene was identified in Nicotiana tabacum plants by β-glucuronidas assay. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Genetic Transformation of Major Wine Grape Cultivars of Vitis Vinifera L.

We have developed an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system for a number of important grapevine cultivars used in wine production. Transgenic plants were obtained for the seven cultivars: Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Muscat Gordo Blanco. Embryogenic callus was initiated from anther filaments and genotypic differences were observed for initiation and subsequent proliferation with Chardonnay responding most favourably to culture conditions. The transformation system allowed the recovery of germinating transgenic embryos 10–12 weeks after Agrobacterium inoculation and plants within 18 weeks. Examination of the expression patterns of the green fluorescent protein gene under the control of the CAMV35S promoter in leaf tissue of transgenic plants showed that for up to 35% of plants the pattern was not uniform. The successful transformation of a genetically diverse group of wine grape cultivars indicates that the transformation system may have general application to an even wider range of Vitis vinifera cultivars.     

Expression of the isopentenyl transferase gene is regulated by auxin in transgenic tobacco tissues

The isopentenyl transferase gene (ipt) fromAgrobacterium tumefaciens was isolated and introduced, via a disarmed binary vector, into tobacco using theAgrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated gene transfer system. The expression of theipt gene was monitored by RNA hybridization, western blotting and cytokinin analysis. The addition of auxin to the media rapidly reduced the level of cytokinins in the transgenic tissues and this was associated with a reduction in IPT mRNA and protein levels. It is concluded that the hormone auxin can regulate expression of a gene involved in biosynthesis of the second hormone cytokinin. Although exogenous benzyladenine did not directly affectipt gene expression, it did antagonize the effect of auxin on levels of cytokinins and IPT mRNA and protein.     

Expression of a synthetic cholera toxin B subunit in tobacco using ubiquitin promoter and bar gene as a selectable marker

A protocol has been developed to produce a cholera toxin B subunit (CTB) in tobacco tolerant to the herbicide phosphinothricin (PPT) by means of in vitro selection. The synthetic CTB subunit gene was altered to modify the codon usage to that of tobacco plant genes. The gene was then cloned into a plant expression vector and was under the control of the ubiquitin promoter and transformed into tobacco plants by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Transgenic plantlets were selected in a medium supplemented with 5 mg/L PPT. Polymerase chain reaction analysis confirmed stable integration of the synthetic CTB gene into a chromosomal DNA. A high level of CTB (1.8% of total soluble protein) was expressed in transgenic plants, which was 18-fold higher than that under the control of the expressed CaMV 35S promoter with native gene. The transgenic plants when transferred to a greenhouse proved to be resistant to 2% PPT.     

Zearalenone and flower bud formation in thin-cell layers of Nicotiana tabacum L.

Three lines of evidence indicated a connectionbetween zearalenone (ZEN) and flower bud formationin thin cell layer (TCL) explants of Nicotianatabacum L. cv. Samsun. (1) There were two peaks inthe endogenous ZEN level during the formation offlower buds. (2) The specific inhibitor of ZENbiosynthesis, malathion (MAL), inhibited thebiosynthesis of endogenous ZEN and at the same timeflower bud neoformation. (3) Exogenous ZEN inducedflower bud neoformation.     

Differential expression of antisense in regenerated tobacco plants transformed with an antisense version of a tomato ACC oxidase gene

Ethylene production was measured during vegetative and reproductive development in normal tobacco plants and in transgenic tobacco plants carrying antisense genes for tomato ACC oxidase driven by the 35S CaMV promoter (Hamilton et al., 1990). When expressed in three independently derived transgenic plants, the antisense ethylene gene failed to affect ethylene production in young/mature leaves or in stems but it did inhibit ethylene production in roots by 37–58%. Ethylene production in developing flowers (i.e. from small unopened flower buds up until open flowers at anthesis) was not affected in transgenic plants but ethylene production in fruits was inhibited by 35%. The most dramatic effect on ethylene production in transgenic plants was seen immediately after wounding leaf tissue, in which case the antisense gene inhibited wound ethylene production by 72%. Thus, the antisense gene composed of a 35S CaMV promoter driving a heterologous ACC oxidase sequence had differential effects on ethylene production in tobacco plants.     

拟南芥根特异表达基因启动子在烟草中的表达

以拟南芥为材料,利用PCR技术分离pyk10启动子序列,构建了该启动子GUS植物表达载体,农杆菌介导转化烟草,分析该基因在烟草中的表达,以明确拟南芥根特异表达基因pyk10启动子在烟草中的表达特性.结果表明:克隆的pyk10启动子与已报道的pyk10启动子一致性为100%,GUS基因在烟草的根部特异表达,表明该启动子为根部特异表达启动子,为揭示植物根的发生、分化和发育机制,以及培育抗根部病虫害和营养高效利用型转基因烟草奠定了基础.     

外源SOD和APX基因在转基因烟草中的表达与遗传

分析转超氧化物歧化酶基因（SOD）或抗坏血酸过氧化物酶基因（APX）烟草及其自交和杂交后代的叶片中超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和过氧化物酶（POD）活性的结果表明：转基因烟草的SOD和POD活性在终花期最强,不同叶位叶中SOD活性差异不明显,POD活性以下部叶为最高;转基因烟草的SOD或POD活性显著高于近等基因的非转基因品系。杂交后代（F1、F2）的SOD活性能保持稳定,略高于亲本;自交后代（S1～S3）与自交亲本的SOD和POD活性相当。     

Expression of biotin-binding proteins,avidin and streptavidin,in plant tissues using plant vacuolar targeting sequences

Tobacco plants have been developed which constitutively express high levels of the biotin-binding proteins, avidin and streptavidin. These plants were phenotypically normal and produced fertile pollen and seeds. The transgene was expressed and its product located in the vacuoles of most cell types in the plants. Targeting was achieved by use of N-terminal vacuolar targeting sequences derived from potato proteinase inhibitors which are known to target constitutively to vacuoles in potato tubers and, under wound-induction, in tomato leaves. Avidin was located in protein body-like structures within the vacuole and transgene protein levels remained relatively constant throughout the lifetime of the leaf. We describe two chimeric constructs with similar levels of expression. One comprised a potato proteinase inhibitor I signal peptide cDNA sequence attached to an avidin cDNA and the second a potato proteinase inhibitor II signal peptide genomic sequence (including an intron) attached to a core streptavidin synthetic sequence. We were unable to regenerate plants when transformation used constructs lacking the targeting sequences. The highest levels observed (up to 1.5% of total leaf protein) confirm the vacuole as the organelle of choice for stable storage of plant-toxic transgene products. The efficient targeting of these proteins did not result in any measured changes in plant biotinmetabolism.     

葡萄风信子MaHY5基因的克隆与表达分析

HY5(ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL5)是促进植物光形态建成过程中非常重要的转录因子。该研究以亚美尼亚葡萄风信子(Muscari armeniacum)为材料,克隆出1个bZIP型转录因子基因MaHY5(GenBank 登录号MK281355)。生物信息学分析显示,MaHY5基因开放阅读框为438 bp,编码145个氨基酸,蛋白质分子量约为16.1 kD,理论等电点为9.78,含有一个保守的bZIP特征结构域;MaHY5蛋白属于亲水性蛋白,无信号肽结构,属于非分泌蛋白,可能定位于细胞核。序列比对和进化树分析表明,HY5在进化过程中高度保守。实时荧光定量PCR和高效液相色谱检测分析表明,MaHY5基因的表达与花青素积累模式基本协同,都在花中优势表达,且在完全开放的花朵中表达较高。 推测MaHY5基因可能参与了葡萄风信子花色素积累过程。     

Transgene Expression in the Vegetative Tissues of Apple Driven by the Vascular-specific rolC and CoYMV Promoters

The ability of the heterologous promoters, rolCP and CoYMVP, to drive expression of the gusA reporter gene in the vegetative tissues of apple (Malus pumila Mill.) has been studied using transgenic plants produced by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Replicate plants of each transgenic clone were propagated in soil to a uniform size and samples of leaf, petiole, stem, and root were taken for the measurement of -glucuronidase (GUS) activity by fluorometric assay. The levels of expression were compared with those in tissues of a representative clone containing the CaMV 35S promoter. These quantitative GUS data were related to the copy number of transgene loci assessed by Southern blotting. The CoYMV promoter was slightly more active than the rolC promoter, although both expressed gusA at a lower level than the CaMV 35S promoter. In clones containing the rolC promoter with multiple transgene loci, expression values were generally among the highest or lowest in the range. The precise location of GUS activity in each tissue was identified by staining of whole leaves and tissue sections with a chromogenic substrate. This analysis demonstrated that with both the rolC and CoYMV promoters the reporter gene activity was primarily localised to vascular tissues, particularly the phloem. Our results indicate that both promoters would be suitable to drive the expression of transgenes to combat pests and diseases of apple that are dependent on interaction with the phloem.     

葡萄生单轴霉菌围可培养微生物多样性及潜在生防菌研究

【目的】揭示葡萄生单轴霉(Plasmoparaviticola)菌围可培养细菌和真菌的多样性特征,筛选对葡萄霜霉病有较强稳定防治效果的生防菌。【方法】连续两年从我国南北方具有代表性的7个葡萄产区采集葡萄霜霉病叶,镊子夹取经保湿培养获得的新鲜霉层并配制孢子囊悬浮液,采用传统分离培养法,结合形态分类、BOX-PCR指纹图谱分析以及分子鉴定结果,对葡萄生单轴霉菌围的可培养细菌和真菌进行聚类分析;采用菌株及其发酵液与病原菌孢子囊悬浮液等体积混合培养测定其对孢子囊的抑制作用,离体叶片接种法检测该菌株及其发酵液对霜霉病的防治效果。【结果】分离获得了90株细菌和110株真菌,分别归属于8个细菌属和14个真菌属,且相同地区不同葡萄品种葡萄生单轴霉菌围的细菌和真菌在同年处于同一分支。假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)和枝孢属(Cladosporium)稳定存在于各地区不同品种葡萄霜霉病叶上葡萄生单轴霉菌围;在两年间稳定存在的菌株占比多数在80.0%以上且均具有较高的生防作用;其中,广泛分布的6株枝顶孢属(Acremonium)真菌对葡萄霜霉病的防治效果均较好,最高可达100.0%;防治效果较高的11个菌株的无菌发酵液中,黑曲霉(Aspergillusniger) NX2F、苋楔孢黑粉菌(Thecaphora amaranthi) BJ1G和匍枝根霉(Rhizopus stolonifer) BM1L的无菌发酵液防治效果均为100.0%。【结论】葡萄生单轴霉菌围的可培养细菌和真菌群落主要受地区因素影响,有较高的稳定性和生防作用,揭示了枝顶孢属真菌在我国葡萄主要产区葡萄生单轴霉菌围附生的普遍性,为葡萄霜霉病的防治提供了丰富和宝贵的资源。     

不同光质对烟草组培苗生长及生理特性的影响

以‘云烟87号’生根组培苗为试材,以荧光灯为对照(CK),采用LED光源发射的单色光谱红光(R)、蓝光(B)、绿光(G)等不同光质配比组合光照处理,研究光质对烟草组培苗生长和生理特性的影响。结果显示:(1)与CK相比,红蓝绿(RBG)和红蓝白(RBW)组合光质使烟草组培苗植株株高、叶长、叶宽、叶面积、茎粗、根数、根长和干重显著增加,植株叶绿素含量也有提高但差异不显著。(2)RBW组合光质照射的植株可溶性糖含量和C/N比值显著高于其他光质处理,RBG组合光质处理植株的游离氨基酸含量显著高于其他光质处理,且各光质及其组合处理的烟草叶片可溶性蛋白含量显著高于对照,红蓝配光(1RB)使植株可溶性淀粉含量较对照显著提高。(3)各光质及其组合处理的烟草膜脂过氧化物MDA含量较对照均显著降低,而其SOD、POD和CAT活性较对照均显著提高;其中红光处理的植株膜脂过氧化物MDA含量最低,CAT活性最高。研究表明,LED光源不同光质及其组合光照均能够显著降低烟草组培苗的MDA含量,降低膜脂过氧化的伤害,促进烟草组培苗的生长,其主要通过调节抗氧化物酶活性的合成代谢来应对光氧化胁迫;LED光源的RBG和RBW组合光质可作为烟草组培苗生根阶段的最适光质。     

施氮时期对酿酒葡萄叶片氮代谢酶及相关基因表达的影响

以10年生‘蛇龙珠’葡萄为材料,在萌芽期(S1)、新梢旺长期(S2)、开花期(S3)、果实第一次膨大期(S4)、副梢生长旺期(S5)和果实第二次膨大期(S6)分别一次性施入尿素300kg·hm-2,以不施氮肥为对照(CK),分析了花前5d(DBF5)、花后25d(DAF25)、花后55d(DAF55)和花后85d(DAF85)叶片的各项指标,以明确氮素施用时期对葡萄叶片氮代谢的调控与影响。结果表明:(1)S1和S2处理葡萄叶片中总氮及可溶性蛋白含量在DAF25时显著增加。(2)S3和S4处理的NR及GS活性在DAF85时显著高于其他处理;在DAF25时,S1和S2处理的GOGAT活性,以及S3和S4处理的GDH活性均显著高于同期对照和其他施肥处理。(3)各施肥处理叶片VvNR表达水平在不同时期均高于同期对照,S3处理VvNR表达水平在DAF25和DAF85时分别为对照的3.4倍和2.7倍;S3和S4处理的VvGS表达水平分别在DAF55和DAF85时达到最高值,S3处理的VvGOGAT和S4处理的VvGDH表达水平在DAF55和DAF85均显著高于其他处理,S3处理的VvGDH表达水平在DAF55和DAF85仅次于S4处理。研究表明,氮素通过诱导叶片氮素代谢基因的响应,从而调控叶片中氮素代谢酶活性增加,促进了氮素的积累,S3和S4处理在不同时期氮代谢酶活性和对应的基因表达水平均较高,更有利于叶片中氮素的转化和代谢。     

Direct Interaction between the Tobacco Mosaic Virus Helicase Domain and the ATP-bound Resistance Protein,N Factor during the Hypersensitive Response in Tobacco Plants

Plants cope with pathogens with distinct mechanisms. One example is a gene-for-gene system, in which plants recognize the pathogen molecule by specified protein(s), this being called the R factor. However, mechanisms of interaction between proteins from the host and the pathogen are not completely understood. Here, we analyzed the mode of interaction between the N factor, a tobacco R factor, and the helicase domain (p50) of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). To this end, domain dissected proteins were prepared and subjected to Agroinfiltration into intact leaves, followed by yeast two hybrid and pull-down assays. The results pointed to three novel features. First, the N factor was found to directly bind to the p50 of TMV, second, ATP was pre-requisite for this interaction, with formation of an ATP/N factor complex, and third, the N factor was shown to possess ATPase activity, which is enhanced by the p50. Moreover, we found that intra- and/or inter-molecular interactions take place in the N factor molecule. This interaction required ATP, and was disrupted by the p50. Based on these results, we propose a following model for the TMV recognition mechanism in tobacco plants. The N factor forms a complex with ATP, to which the helicase domain interacts, and enhances ATP hydrolysis. The resulting ADP/N factor complex then changes its conformation, thereby facilitating further interaction with the down-stream signaling factor(s). This model is consistent with the idea of ‘protein machine’.