DREB转录因子与植物非生物胁迫抗性研究进展

干旱、高盐、低温等非生物逆境胁迫严重影响植物的生长发育和作物产量。转录因子在调节植物生长发育以及对外界环境胁迫的响应方面起着重要作用。DREB类转录因子即干旱应答元件结合蛋白是AP2/EREBP转录因子家族的一个亚家族,拥有保守的AP2结构域,能够与DRE/CRT顺式作用元件特异结合,在非生物逆境胁迫条件下调节一系列下游胁迫诱导逆境应答基因的表达,从而提高植物耐逆性。就DREB转录因子的结构特点、表达调控以及提高转基因植株胁迫耐受性的最新研究成果进行了评述。     

水稻OsWRKY转录因子对非生物胁迫响应的重叠表达特性分析

WRKY转录因子是植物一类比较大的基因家族,在水稻中已鉴定出102个成员。研究表明WRKY转录因子在植物生长发育、抗病耐逆等方面都具有重要的作用。本研究利用基因芯片数据结合实时定量分析,对水稻Os WRKY转录因子基因在不同的非生物逆境下的表达进行了分析,发现至少有33个Os WRKY基因同时对任何两种非生物胁迫因子做出响应,且所选20个基因中,13个基因可被ABA所诱导。OsWRKY基因这种重叠表达的特性,预示着这些基因在非生物逆境中具有功能多效性,对于培育抗逆境水稻品种具有重要的理论与实践意义。     

苹果DREB转录因子家族全基因组鉴定与分析

DREB转录因子属于AP2/ERF转录因子家族,能够与DRE/CRT顺式作用元件特异性结合,调控与逆境应答基因的表达,因而在植物应对低温、干旱、高盐等逆境胁迫中发挥重要作用。该研究利用苹果全基因组数据,通过生物信息学手段鉴定苹果DREB转录因子家族成员,并分析DREB转录因子家族保守域特点与功能及表达情况。结果表明:从苹果全基因组中共鉴定出60个DREB转录因子家族成员,与拟南芥和水稻相比基本一致,通过引入拟南芥DREB基因进行系统发生分析,进一步可以将其细分为6个亚组;结构域和保守元件分析表明,DREB基因家族含有一个AP2保守结构域;染色体定位表明,苹果DREB基因分布于11条染色体上,部分基因存在串联复制现象;基因结构分析显示,该亚家族基因不含内含子。利用同源拟南芥RNA-Seq数据分析结果表明,DREB转录因子家族对低温、ABA调节等非生物胁迫具有调控作用,同时在DREB亚家族中每个亚组响应不同的非生物胁迫;通过分析DREB基因在不同组织中的表达情况,结果显示DREB基因在植物根部中的表达量最强,其次是叶。     

植物bHLH转录因子在非生物胁迫中的功能研究进展

碱性/螺旋-环-螺旋(basic/Helix-Loop-Helix,bHLH)转录因子家族广泛存在于动物与植物。虽然目前大部分bHLH蛋白的功能已得到鉴定,但是植物bHLH转录因子的研究仍比较滞后。bHLH转录因子是植物体内的第二大类转录因子,在植物的生长发育、生理代谢及逆境应答过程中起着重要的作用。它主要通过参与复杂的信号通路,改变大量下游基因的表达来实现对非生物胁迫的适应性应答。现对植物bHLH转录因子的结构、分类及生物学功能进行介绍,并侧重对其在非生物胁迫中的最新研究进展进行综述,以期为进一步理解其在植物逆境胁迫方面的分子作用机制提供理论依据。     

WRKY转录因子在植物抗逆生理中的研究进展

转录因子是一类在生物生命活动过程中起到调控作用的重要因子,参与了各种信号转导和调控过程,可以直接或间接结合在顺式作用元件上,实现调控目标基因转录效率的抑制或增强,从而使植物在应对逆境胁迫下做出反应。WRKY转录因子在大多数植物体内都有分布,是一类进化非常保守的转录因子家族,参与植物生长发育以及响应逆境胁迫的生理过程。众多研究表明,WRKY转录因子在植物中能够应答各种生物胁迫,如细菌、病毒和真菌等;多种非生物胁迫,包括高温、冷害、高光和高盐等;以及在各种植物激素,包括茉莉酸(JA)、水杨酸(SA)、脱落酸(ABA)和赤霉素(GA)等,在其信号传递途径中都起着重要作用。WRKY转录因子家族蛋白至少含有一段60个氨基酸左右的高度保守序列,被称为WRKY结构域,其中WRKYGQK多肽序列是最为保守的,因此而得名。该转录因子的WRKY结构域能与目标基因启动子中的顺式作用元件Wbox(TTGAC序列)特异结合,从而调节目标基因的表达,其调控基因表达主要受病原菌、虫咬、机械损伤、外界胁迫压力和信号分子的诱导。该文介绍了植物WRKY转录因子在植物应对冷害、干旱、高盐等非生物胁迫与病菌、虫害等生物胁迫反应中的重要调控功能,并总结了WRKY转录因子在调控这些逆境胁迫反应过程中的主要生理机制。     

普通小麦TaNAC1基因的表达及在拟南芥中的遗传转化

NAC类转录因子是植物特有的转录因子家族,在调节植物生长发育及逆境胁迫应答反应中起着重要作用。本文从普通小麦幼叶中获得了一个编码NAC结构域的转录因子基因,命名为Ta NAC1;氨基酸序列分析表明,Ta NAC1具有典型的NAC类转录因子所具有的五个亚结构域,隶属于NAC类转录因子的ATAF亚类;亚细胞定位实验表明,Ta NAC1蛋白在细胞核内表达;转录水平上,Ta NAC1基因的表达受到PEG、ABA、低温及高盐等非生物胁迫条件的诱导;将Ta NAC1转化拟南芥后,与野生型比较发现,Ta NAC1基因的过量表达会使转基因植株出现叶片发育畸形且生长缓慢,植株矮化及茎部融合等表型,表明Ta NAC1基因可能在参与小麦叶片及茎的发育中起着重要的调控作用。     

小麦TaNAC5基因克隆及表达分析

NAC转录因子在植物对非生物逆境胁迫的应答过程中发挥着重要作用。该研究利用RACE技术从小麦中克隆了1个NAC基因TaNAC5(HQ650113.1)。序列分析显示,TaNAC5基因开放阅读框(ORF)924bp,编码307个氨基酸。多序列比对和进化树分析显示,TaNAC5基因所编码的蛋白具有NAC家族蛋白的保守结构域,与玉米ZmNAC5有较近的亲缘关系。实时荧光定量PCR分析显示,TaNAC5基因的表达显著受渗透胁迫、低温胁迫、乙烯和双氧水诱导,而受高盐胁迫和ABA抑制。研究表明,TaNAC5参与非生物逆境胁迫及相关信号分子的应答。     

非生物胁迫相关NAC转录因子的结构及功能

NAC是植物特有的一类转录因子,参与植物多个生长发育过程,还参与植物对逆境胁迫的响应。本文对非生物胁迫相关NAC转录因子的结构特征、功能预测、表达特性、在转基因植物中的作用及调控路径进行综述。非生物胁迫相关NAC转录因子具有典型的NAc胁迫亚家族结构特征,根据这些结构特征可以预测其功能;非生物胁迫相关NAc转录因子能响应多种非生物胁迫,其转基因过表达大多能使转基因植物提高一种或几种胁迫耐受性;非生物胁迫相关NAc转录因子有着复杂的调控路径。这些NAc转录因子可用于提高转基因植物的逆境耐受性。     

水稻NHX1基因启动子和C末端的调控功能研究

为了解水稻Na+/H+逆向转运蛋白(OsNHX1)在植物应答非生物胁迫中的分子调控机制,采用RT-PCR方法克隆OsNHX1基因上游2 000bp的启动子序列,并通过基因枪轰击瞬时转化洋葱表皮细胞,检测不同非生物胁迫下启动子的活性和表达模式;同时,分别克隆全长和C末端缺失的OsNHX1基因,通过花序浸染法转化拟南芥,研究OsNHX1基因及其C末端的功能。结果显示:OsNHX1启动子受逆境胁迫诱导,在盐、干旱、脱落酸胁迫处理下GUS表达活性明显升高;过表达OsNHX1的转基因拟南芥中,种子萌发率、根长、丙二醛含量和相对含水量的测定结果均显示其胁迫耐受性得到改善,但过表达OsNHX1C末端缺失基因对转基因植株的胁迫耐受性无明显影响。研究表明,Na+/H+逆向转运蛋白有助于提高植物耐盐性,且其C末端区域对该转运蛋白活性的发挥具有关键作用。     

ERF转录因子在植物对生物和非生物胁迫反应中的作用

ERF（ethylene responsive factor）转录因子是植物AP2/ERF转录因子超家族的一个亚家族,其特征是蛋白序列中含有一个高度保守的58或59个氨基酸组成的ERF结构域,广泛参与植物生长发育及各种逆境胁迫反应的调控。文章简要介绍ERF转录因子在植物抗生物和非生物胁迫反应中的作用及其可能机制,并讨论了今后的研究重点。     

Characterization of AtCDC48. Evidence for multiple membrane fusion mechanisms at the plane of cell division in plants

The components of the cellular machinery that accomplish the various complex and dynamic membrane fusion events that occur at the division plane during plant cytokinesis, including assembly of the cell plate, are not fully understood. The most well-characterized component, KNOLLE, a cell plate-specific soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein (NSF)-attachment protein receptor (SNARE), is a membrane fusion machine component required for plant cytokinesis. Here, we show the plant ortholog of Cdc48p/p97, AtCDC48, colocalizes at the division plane in dividing Arabidopsis cells with KNOLLE and another SNARE, the plant ortholog of syntaxin 5, SYP31. In contrast to KNOLLE, SYP31 resides in defined punctate membrane structures during interphase and is targeted during cytokinesis to the division plane. In vitro-binding studies demonstrate that AtCDC48 specifically interacts in an ATP-dependent manner with SYP31 but not with KNOLLE. In contrast, we show that KNOLLE assembles in vitro into a large approximately 20S complex in an Sec18p/NSF-dependent manner. These results suggest that there are at least two distinct membrane fusion pathways involving Cdc48p/p97 and Sec18p/NSF that operate at the division plane to mediate plant cytokinesis. Models for the role of AtCDC48 and SYP31 at the division plane will be discussed.     

Sec1/Munc18 protein stabilizes fusion-competent syntaxin for membrane fusion in Arabidopsis cytokinesis

Intracellular membrane fusion requires complexes of syntaxins with other SNARE proteins and regulatory Sec1/Munc18 (SM) proteins. In membrane fusion mediating, e.g., neurotransmitter release or glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in mammals, SM proteins preferentially interact with the inactive closed, rather than the active open, conformation of syntaxin or with the assembled SNARE complex. Other membrane fusion processes such as vacuolar fusion in yeast involve like membranes carrying cis-SNARE complexes, and the role of SM protein is unknown. We investigated syntaxin-SM protein interaction in membrane fusion of Arabidopsis cytokinesis, which involves cytokinesis-specific syntaxin KNOLLE and SM protein KEULE. KEULE interacted with an open conformation of KNOLLE that complemented both knolle and keule mutants. This interaction occurred at the cell division plane and required the KNOLLE linker sequence between helix Hc and SNARE domain. Our results suggest that in cytokinesis, SM protein stabilizes the fusion-competent open form of syntaxin, thereby promoting trans-SNARE complex formation.     

Functional anatomy of the Arabidopsis cytokinesis-specific syntaxin KNOLLE

In plant cytokinesis, Golgi/trans-Golgi network-derived vesicles are targeted to the plane of cell division where they fuse with one another to form the partitioning membrane (cell plate). This membrane fusion requires a specialised syntaxin (Qa-SNARE), named KNOLLE in Arabidopsis. KNOLLE is only made during the M-phase of the cell cycle, targeted to the plane of cell division and degraded in the vacuole at the end of cytokinesis. To identify the parts of KNOLLE required for proper targeting and function in membrane fusion, we generated chimeric syntaxins comprising complementary fragments from KNOLLE and MVB-localized PEP12 (SYP21). Surprisingly, targeting of the chimeric protein was not specified by the C-terminal membrane anchor. Rather the N-terminal region including helix Ha and the adjacent linker to helix Hb appeared to played a critical role. However, deletion of this N-terminal fragment from KNOLLE (KN(Δ1-82) ) had the same effect as its presence in the chimeric protein (KN(1-82) -PEP12(64-279) ), suggesting that targeting to the plane of cell division occurs by default, i.e. when no sorting signal would target the syntaxin to a specific endomembrane compartment. Once the full-length syntaxin accumulated at the plane of division, phenotypic rescue of the knolle mutant only required the SNARE domain plus the adjacent linker connecting helix Hc to the SNARE domain from KNOLLE. Our results suggest that targeting of syntaxin to the plane of cell division occurs without active sorting, whereas syntaxin-mediated membrane fusion requires sequence-specific features.     

Mechanisms of functional specificity among plasma-membrane syntaxins in Arabidopsis

Syntaxins and interacting SNARE proteins enable membrane fusion in diverse trafficking pathways. The Arabidopsis SYP1 family of plasma membrane-localized syntaxins comprises nine members, of which KNOLLE and PEN1 play specific roles in cytokinesis and innate immunity, respectively. To identify mechanisms conferring specificity of action, we examined one member of each subfamily-KNOLLE/SYP111, PEN1/SYP121 and SYP132-in regard to subcellular localization, dynamic behavior and complementation of knolle and pen1 mutants when expressed from the same promoters. Our results suggest that cytokinesis-specific syntaxin requires high-level accumulation during cell-plate formation, which necessitates de novo synthesis rather than endocytosis of pre-made protein from the plasma membrane. In contrast, syntaxin in innate immunity does not need upregulation of expression but instead requires pathogen-induced and endocytosis-dependent retargeting to the infection site. This feature of PEN1 is not afforded by SYP132. Additionally, PEN1 could not substitute for KNOLLE because of SNARE domain differences, as revealed by protein chimeras. In contrast, SYP132 was able to rescue knolle as did KNOLLE-SYP132 chimeras. Unlike KNOLLE and PEN1, which appear to have evolved to perform specialized functions, SYP132 stably localized at the plasma membrane and thus might play a role in constitutive membrane fusion.     

The Arabidopsis KNOLLE Protein Is a Cytokinesis-specific Syntaxin

In higher plant cytokinesis, plasma membrane and cell wall originate by vesicle fusion in the plane of cell division. The Arabidopsis KNOLLE gene, which is required for cytokinesis, encodes a protein related to vesicle-docking syntaxins. We have raised specific rabbit antiserum against purified recombinant KNOLLE protein to show biochemically and by immunoelectron microscopy that KNOLLE protein is membrane associated. Using immunofluorescence microscopy, KNOLLE protein was found to be specifically expressed during mitosis and, unlike the plasma membrane H⁺-ATPase, to localize to the plane of division during cytokinesis. Arabidopsis dynamin-like protein ADL1 accumulates at the plane of cell plate formation in knolle mutant cells as in wild-type cells, suggesting that cytokinetic vesicle traffic is not affected. Furthermore, electron microscopic analysis indicates that vesicle fusion is impaired. KNOLLE protein was detected in mitotically dividing cells of various parts of the developing plant, including seedling root, inflorescence meristem, floral meristems and ovules, and the cellularizing endosperm, but not during cytokinesis after the male second meiotic division. Thus, KNOLLE is the first syntaxin-like protein that appears to be involved specifically in cytokinetic vesicle fusion.     

Endocytosis restricts Arabidopsis KNOLLE syntaxin to the cell division plane during late cytokinesis

Cytokinesis represents the final stage of eukaryotic cell division during which the cytoplasm becomes partitioned between daughter cells. The process differs to some extent between animal and plant cells, but proteins of the syntaxin family mediate membrane fusion in the plane of cell division in diverse organisms. How syntaxin localization is kept in check remains elusive. Here, we report that localization of the Arabidopsis KNOLLE syntaxin in the plane of cell division is maintained by sterol-dependent endocytosis involving a clathrin- and DYNAMIN-RELATED PROTEIN1A-dependent mechanism. On genetic or pharmacological interference with endocytosis, KNOLLE mis-localizes to lateral plasma membranes after cell-plate fusion. Fluorescence-loss-in-photo-bleaching and fluorescence-recovery-after-photo-bleaching experiments reveal lateral diffusion of GFP-KNOLLE from the plane of division to lateral membranes. In an endocytosis-defective sterol biosynthesis mutant displaying lateral KNOLLE diffusion, KNOLLE secretory trafficking remains unaffected. Thus, restriction of lateral diffusion by endocytosis may serve to maintain specificity of syntaxin localization during late cytokinesis.     

The Arabidopsis HINKEL gene encodes a kinesin-related protein involved in cytokinesis and is expressed in a cell cycle-dependent manner

Plant cytokinesis starts in the center of the division plane, with vesicle fusion generating a new membrane compartment, the cell plate, that subsequently expands laterally by continuous fusion of newly arriving vesicles to its margin. Targeted delivery of vesicles is assisted by the dynamic reorganization of a plant-specific cytoskeletal array, the phragmoplast, from a solid cylinder into an expanding ring-shaped structure. This lateral translocation is brought about by depolymerization of microtubules in the center, giving way to the expanding cell plate, and polymerization of microtubules along the edge. Whereas several components are known to mediate cytokinetic vesicle fusion [8-10], no gene function involved in phragmoplast dynamics has been identified by mutation. Mutations in the Arabidopsis HINKEL gene cause cytokinesis defects, such as enlarged cells with incomplete cell walls and multiple nuclei. Proper targeting of the cytokinesis-specific syntaxin KNOLLE [8] and lateral expansion of the phragmoplast are not affected. However, the phragmoplast microtubules appear to persist in the center, where vesicle fusion should result in cell plate formation. Molecular analysis reveals that the HINKEL gene encodes a plant-specific kinesin-related protein with a putative N-terminal motor domain and is expressed in a cell cycle-dependent manner similar to the KNOLLE gene. Our results suggest that HINKEL plays a role in the reorganization of phragmoplast microtubules during cell plate formation.     

分子改造cryNAc基因的转基因水稻创制及其功能评价

利用蛋白质工程技术对Cry蛋白进行改造是创制新Bt蛋白的主要途径之一。Cry蛋白改造涉及结构域交换、定点突变、蛋白截断等多种方法。利用结构域交换、密码子优化方法对Bt基因进行合理化设计改造,获得新型Bt蛋白编码基因cryNAc,进一步利用农杆菌介导法转入吉林省水稻主栽品种吉粳88中,并开展了转基因后代的分子鉴定和抗虫性功能评价相关研究工作。分子检测结果表明cryNAc基因成功整合进入吉粳88基因组中,且稳定表达;CryNAc蛋白在各个发育时期根、茎、叶中的表达存在显著差异,灌浆期水稻叶片中蛋白表达量最高（2 959.73 ng/g）,分蘖期茎中蛋白表达量最低（150.9 ng/g）;田间接虫试验表明cryNAc转基因水稻抗二化螟的能力显著。上述结果表明cryNAc基因可作为新的cry基因用于作物遗传改良。     

Involvement of the secretory pathway and the cytoskeleton in intracellular targeting and tubule assembly of Grapevine fanleaf virus movement protein in tobacco BY-2 cells

Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV) is one of a large class of plant viruses whose cell-to-cell transport involves the passage of virions through tubules composed of virus-encoded movement protein (MP). The tubules are embedded within modified plasmodesmata, but the mechanism of targeting of MP to these sites is unknown. To study intracellular GFLV MP trafficking, a green fluorescent protein-MP fusion (GFP:MP) was expressed in transgenic tobacco BY-2 suspension cells under the control of an inducible promoter. We show that GFP:MP is targeted preferentially to calreticulin-labeled foci within the youngest cross walls, where it assembles into tubules. During cell division, GFP:MP colocalizes in the cell plate with KNOLLE, a cytokinesis-specific syntaxin, and both proteins are linked physically, as shown by coimmunoprecipitation of the two proteins from the same microsomal fraction. In addition, treatment with various drugs has revealed that a functional secretory pathway, but not the cytoskeleton, is required for tubule formation. However, correct GFP:MP targeting to calreticulin-labeled foci seems to be cytoskeleton dependent. Finally, biochemical analyses have revealed that at least a fraction of the MP behaves as an intrinsic membrane protein. These findings support a model in which GFP:MP would be transported to specific sites via Golgi-derived vesicles along two different pathways: a microtubule-dependent pathway in normal cells and a microfilament-dependent default pathway when microtubules are depolymerized.