酿酒酵母HAL1基因的克隆及植物表达载体的构建

HAL1基因是酵母中重要的耐盐基因。以酿酒酵母AS2.375菌株的DNA为模板,根据已发表的序列设计引物,经PCR扩增得到约900 bp的HAL1基因片段,连接到pMD18-T载体上,转化大肠杆菌JM109,筛选重组质粒进行酶切分析和序列测定,结果显示已克隆到完整的可读框,该基因的序列与已知序列同源性达99%。将HAL1基因从T-载体上切下连接到pAM194载体上构建了HAL 1基因的植物表达载体,用于烟草的转化获得了耐盐性提高的转化植株。     

棉花GhCOMT1基因原核表达载体构建及蛋白纯化和Western鉴定

为进一步研究GhCOMT1基因的功能,构建了原核表达载体pET-28a-GhCOMT1,酶切鉴定并测序后转化到大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中,在0.2mmol/L IPTG浓度条件下分别进行不同温度梯度诱导,用蛋白标记亲和层析柱(His TrapTM HP)对重组蛋白进行纯化,并用SDS-PAGE和Western blotting方法鉴定表达产物。结果表明:16℃诱导12h、30℃诱导3h和37℃诱导3h后融合蛋白均以包涵体的形式表达,其中16℃诱导12h的蛋白表达量最大;SDS-PAGE检测目的蛋白相对分子量约为39.748kD;Western blotting分析表明,目的蛋白能与His多克隆抗体起特异性反应。     

大麦产量相关基因HvYrg1的克隆及植物RNA干扰载体的构建

大麦谷粒是受多个数量性状基因(QTL)控制的复杂性状,而RING E3泛素连接酶在决定大麦产量和蛋白质降解途径中起到极为重要的作用。本研究按照同源克隆的方法,依据水稻、拟南芥、玉米、小麦和酵母等E3泛素连接酶保守区域设计引物,采用RT-PCR方法从西藏大麦中克隆出产量相关基因HvYrg1全长cDNA序列,包括完整的开放阅读框架(ORF)1 275 bp,编码蛋白为424个氨基酸(GenBank No. EU333863)。同源性比较结果显示,它与GenBank上已报道的水稻GW2基因同源性最高为86%。以植物表达载体pCAMBIA2300-35s-OCS质粒为基础,构建由35s启动子调控的HvYrg1基因的RNA干扰载体pCAM-RNAi-HvYrg1。这一载体的成功构建为研究该基因在作物产量的功能鉴定打下了很好的基础。     

H5N1禽流感病毒HA和NA基因重组腺病毒共表达载体的构建

利用口蹄疫病毒(FMDV)2A蛋白具有自我裂解的功能,将其作为连接肽构建携带有H5N1亚型AIVHA和NA基因的重组腺病毒表达载体,进而为AIV基因工程疫苗的开发以及相关诊断试剂的开发提供依据。采用融合PCR的方法扩增出含有H5N1 AIV HA-2A-NA的基因,定向插入pAdtrack-CMV腺病毒穿梭质粒中,含有目的基因的腺病毒穿梭质粒pAdtrack-HA-2A-NA与腺病毒骨架质粒pAdeasy-1在基因工程菌BJ5183中进行同源重组,获得腺病毒质粒pAdeasy-HA-2A-NA,将pAdeasyd-H5经PacI线性化后转染HEK293细胞株包装出含有HA-2A-NA基因的腺病毒pAd-HA-2A-NA。结果表明,构建的含有目的基因的腺病毒穿梭质粒pAdtrack-HA-2A-NA和含有目的基因的腺病毒质粒pAdeasy-HA-2A-NA经PCR、双酶切及核苷酸测序测定无误。线性化后的pAdeasy-HA-2A-NA转染HEK293细胞包装成功获得腺病毒pAd-HA-2A-NA载体,经绿色荧光蛋白和RT-PCR分析证实,目的基因在该细胞中成功表达。本试验构建的含有AIV H5N1亚型HA-2A-NA基因的重组腺病毒表达载体,将为进一步研究开发基因工程疫苗提供病毒模型。     

费尔干猪毛菜病程相关蛋白基因SfPR-1的表达规律和植物表达载体构建

采用RT-PCR技术探究盐生植物费尔干猪毛菜病程相关蛋白基因SfPR-1(GenBank登录号:JQ670917)在不同发育时期、组织部位、植物激素、非生物胁迫及生物胁迫处理下的表达规律,以揭示该基因在费尔干猪毛菜生长发育和逆境胁迫下的作用。结果表明,不同组织(根、茎、叶)中,SfPR-1在根中表达量最高,预示该基因可能在根防御中发挥主要作用;SfPR-1在不同发育阶段(种子、种子萌发20 d幼苗、种子萌发30 d幼苗、种子萌发40 d幼苗)的表达特性显示,种子萌发30 d幼苗时,其表达差异最显著,表明其可能在植株后期生长发育中具有重要作用;SfPR-1对不同植物激素(水杨酸SA、茉莉酸JA、脱落酸ABA、乙烯合成前体ACC)均产生了响应,表明该基因在几条主要的抗病防御通路中均发挥作用。非生物胁迫(H2O2、盐、旱、冷)都能够诱导SfPR-1基因的表达,其中对盐响应程度最高。以植源性意大利青霉(Penicillium italicum)进行生物胁迫时,SfPR-1表达呈持续上升趋势。以上结果表明费尔干猪毛菜病程相关蛋白基因SfPR-1是生物与非生物逆境胁迫下均响应的基因,推测其在植物抵御逆境胁迫中发挥重要作用。     

二穗短柄草(Brachypodium distachyon)BdAD1基因的克隆、表达及功能分析

本研究利用生物信息学结合RT-PCR技术从二穗短柄草(Brachypodium distachyon)中克隆出BdAD1的c DNA基因,该基因编码一个包含500个氨基酸残基的乙醛脱氢酶家族蛋白。系统进化关系分析表明,该BdAD1蛋白序列与小麦(Triticum aestivum)、羊草(Leymus chinensis)和大麦(Hordeum vulgare)的同源蛋白具有较近的亲缘关系。BdAD1基因在植物细胞的细胞核和细胞质中均有表达,而且BdAD1蛋白兼具松柏醛脱氢酶和芥子醛脱氢酶的活性(CALDH/SALDH),可将松柏醛与芥子醛分别酶解生成阿魏酸和芥子酸,但它对松柏醛的催化效率显著高于芥子醛,因此推测BdAD1可能在苯丙烷代谢途径中对阿魏酸的合成具有重要的调控作用。     

Mechanical stimulation in Brachypodium distachyon: Implications for fitness,productivity, and cell wall properties

Mechanical stimulation, including exposure to wind, is a common environmental variable for plants. However, knowledge about the morphogenetic response of the grasses (Poaceae) to mechanical stimulation and impact on relevant agronomic traits is very limited. Two natural accessions of Brachypodium distachyon were exposed to wind and mechanical treatments. We surveyed a wide range of stem-related traits to determine the effect of the two treatments on plant growth, development, and stem biomass properties. Both treatments induced significant quantitative changes across multiple scales, from the whole plant down to cellular level. The two treatments resulted in shorter stems, reduced biomass, increased tissue rigidity, delayed flowering, and reduced seed yield in both accessions. Among changes in cell wall-related features, a substantial increase in lignin content and pectin methylesterase activity was most notable. Mechanical stimulation also reduced the enzymatic sugar release from the cell wall, thus increasing biomass recalcitrance. Notably, treatments had a distinct and opposite effect on vascular bundle area in the two accessions, suggesting genetic variation in modulating these responses to mechanical stimulation. Our findings highlight that exposure of grasses to mechanical stimulation is a relevant environmental factor affecting multiple traits important for their utilization in food, feed, and bioenergy applications.     

Brachypodium distachyon as a model plant toward improved biofuel crops: Search for secreted proteins involved in biogenesis and disassembly of cell wall polymers

Polysaccharides make up about 75% of plant cell walls and can be broken down to produce sugar substrates (saccharification) from which a whole range of products can be obtained, including bioethanol. Cell walls also contain 5–10% of proteins, which could be used to tailor them for agroindustrial uses. Here we present cell wall proteomics data of Brachypodium distachyon, a model plant for temperate grasses. Leaves and culms were analyzed during active growth and at mature stage. Altogether, 559 proteins were identified by LC‐MS/MS and bioinformatics, among which 314 have predicted signal peptides. Sixty‐three proteins were shared by two organs at two developmental stages where they could play housekeeping functions. Differences were observed between organs and stages of development, especially at the level of glycoside hydrolases and oxidoreductases. Differences were also found between the known cell wall proteomes of B. distachyon, Oryza sativa, and the Arabidopsis thaliana dicot. Three glycoside hydrolases could be immunolocalized in cell walls using polyclonal antibodies against proteotypic peptides. Organ‐specific expression consistent with proteomics results could be observed as well as cell‐specific localization. Moreover, the high number of proteins of unknown function in B. distachyon cell wall proteomes opens new fields of research for monocot cell walls.     

转录因子DREB1A基因的克隆与Gateway克隆技术构建植物表达载体

目的:研究转录因子DREB1A在植物抗渗透胁迫反应中的作用,并探讨利用Gateway克隆技术构建植物表达载体的方法。方法:根据GenBank中登录的DREB1A基因的全长mRNA序列设计引物,克隆了拟南芥的转录因子DREBIA基因。根据Gateway克隆技术的要求,设计含有attB接头的引物,利用高保真的PlatinumpfxDNA聚合酶,通过PCR方法在克隆基因的两端加上B序列。通过BP反应将包含有attB接头的PCR产物克隆到含有attP的donor载体上以产生Entry克隆,通过LR反应将已经重组入Entry载体的DREB1A基因再克隆到pH2GW7双元载体。结果:对重组载体pH2GW7-DREB1A的鉴定结果表明成功构建了DREB1A基因的植物表达载体。结论:利用Gateway克隆技术构建植物表达载体简便易行,该结果为遗传转化研究奠定了基础。     

AtAAPT1基因RNAi的植物表达载体的构建

以拟南芥中氨基乙醇磷酸转移酶基因AAPT1作为RNA i的靶向序列,采用RT-PCR的方法获得目的DNA片段。然后以pBS-T-AAPT1载体为基础,构建了由35 s启动子调控的AAPT1基因RNA i的植物表达载体pART27-AAPT1(1,2),并通过电击法将重组质粒导入根癌农杆菌C58中。AtAAPT1基因RNA i的植物表达载体的构建对于研究AAPT1基因的功能和应用具有重要的理论价值。     

Genome-wide exploration of the molecular evolution and regulatory network of mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades upon multiple stresses in Brachypodium distachyon

Background

Brachypodium distachyon is emerging as a widely recognized model plant that has very close relations with several economically important Poaceae species. MAPK cascade is known to be an evolutionarily conserved signaling module involved in multiple stresses. Although the gene sequences of MAPK and MAPKK family have been fully identified in B. distachyon, the information related to the upstream MAPKKK gene family especially the regulatory network among MAPKs, MAPKKs and MAPKKKs upon multiple stresses remains to be understood.

Results

In this study, we have identified MAPKKKs which belong to the biggest gene family of MAPK cascade kinases. We have systematically investigated the evolution of whole MAPK cascade kinase gene family in terms of gene structures, protein structural organization, chromosomal localization, orthologs construction and gene duplication analysis. Our results showed that most BdMAPK cascade kinases were located at the low-CpG-density region, and the clustered members in each group shared similar structures of the genes and proteins. Synteny analysis showed that 62 or 21 pairs of duplicated orthologs were present between B. distachyon and Oryza sativa, or between B. distachyon and Arabidopsis thaliana respectively. Gene expression data revealed that BdMAPK cascade kinases were rapidly regulated by stresses and phytohormones. Importantly, we have constructed a regulation network based on co-expression patterns of the expression profiles upon multiple stresses performed in this study.

Conclusions

BdMAPK cascade kinases were involved in the signaling pathways of multiple stresses in B. distachyon. The network of co-expression regulation showed the most of duplicated BdMAPK cascade kinase gene orthologs demonstrated their convergent function, whereas few of them developed divergent function in the evolutionary process. The molecular evolution analysis of identified MAPK family genes and the constructed MAPK cascade regulation network under multiple stresses provide valuable information for further investigation of the functions of BdMAPK cascade kinase genes.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1452-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Brachypodium distachyon as a new model system for understanding iron homeostasis in grasses: phylogenetic and expression analysis of Yellow Stripe-Like (YSL) transporters

Background and Aims

Brachypodium distachyon is a temperate grass with a small stature, rapid life cycle and completely sequenced genome that has great promise as a model system to study grass-specific traits for crop improvement. Under iron (Fe)-deficient conditions, grasses synthesize and secrete Fe(III)-chelating agents called phytosiderophores (PS). In Zea mays, Yellow Stripe1 (ZmYS1) is the transporter responsible for the uptake of Fe(III)–PS complexes from the soil. Some members of the family of related proteins called Yellow Stripe-Like (YSL) have roles in internal Fe translocation of plants, while the function of other members remains uninvestigated. The aim of this study is to establish brachypodium as a model system to study Fe homeostasis in grasses, identify YSL proteins in brachypodium and maize, and analyse their expression profiles in brachypodium in response to Fe deficiency.

Methods

The YSL family of proteins in brachypodium and maize were identified based on sequence similarity to ZmYS1. Expression patterns of the brachypodium YSL genes (BdYSL genes) were determined by quantitative RT–PCR under Fe-deficient and Fe-sufficient conditions. The types of PS secreted, and secretion pattern of PS in brachypodium were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Key Results

Eighteen YSL family members in maize and 19 members in brachypodium were identified. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that some YSLs group into a grass-specific clade. The Fe status of the plant can regulate expression of brachypodium YSL genes in both shoots and roots. 3-Hydroxy-2′-deoxymugineic acid (HDMA) is the dominant type of PS secreted by brachypodium, and its secretion is diurnally regulated.

Conclusions

PS secretion by brachypodium parallels that of related crop species such as barley and wheat. A single grass species-specific YSL clade is present, and expression of the BdYSL members of this clade could not be detected in shoots or roots, suggesting grass-specific functions in reproductive tissues. Finally, the Fe-responsive expression profiles of several YSLs suggest roles in Fe homeostasis.