Genome-wide analysis of primary auxin-responsive Aux/IAA gene family in maize (Zea mays. L.)

The phytohormone auxin is important in various aspects of organism growth and development. Aux/IAA genes encoding short-lived nuclear proteins are responsive primarily to auxin induction. Despite their physiological importance, systematic analysis of Aux/IAA genes in maize have not yet been reported. In this paper, we presented the isolation and characterization of maize Aux/IAA genes in whole-genome scale. A total of 31 maize Aux/IAA genes (ZmIAA1 to ZmIAA31) were identified. ZmIAA genes are distributed in all the maize chromosomes except chromosome 2. Aux/IAA genes expand in the maize genome partly due to tandem and segmental duplication events. Multiple alignment and motif display results revealed major maize Aux/IAA proteins share all the four conserved domains. Phylogenetic analysis indicated Aux/IAA family can be divided into seven subfamilies. Putative cis-acting regulatory DNA elements involved in auxin response, light signaling transduction and abiotic stress adaption were observed in the promoters of ZmIAA genes. Expression data mining suggested maize Aux/IAA genes have temporal and spatial expression pattern. Collectively, these results will provide molecular insights into the auxin metabolism, transport and signaling research.     

The diageotropica mutation alters auxin induction of a subset of the Aux/IAA gene family in tomato

The diageotropica (dgt) mutation has been proposed to affect either auxin perception or responsiveness in tomato plants. It has previously been demonstrated that the expression of one member of the Aux/IAA family of auxin-regulated genes is reduced in dgt plants. Here, we report the cloning of ten new members of the tomato Aux/IAA family by PCR amplification based on conserved protein domains. All of the gene family members except one (LeIAA7) are expressed in etiolated tomato seedlings, although they demonstrate tissue specificity (e.g. increased expression in hypocotyls vs. roots) within the seedling. The wild-type auxin-response characteristics of the expression of these tomato LeIAA genes are similar to those previously described for Aux/IAA family members in Arabidopsis. In dgt seedlings, auxin stimulation of gene expression was reduced in only a subset of LeIAA genes (LeIAA5, 8, 10, and 11), with the greatest reduction associated with those genes with the strongest wild-type response to auxin. The remaining LeIAA genes tested exhibited essentially the same induction levels in response to the hormone in both dgt and wild-type hypocotyls. These results confirm that dgt plants can perceive auxin and suggest that a specific step in early auxin signal transduction is disrupted by the dgt mutation.     

Genome-wide analysis of Aux/IAA genes in Vitis vinifera: cloning and expression profiling of a grape Aux/IAA gene in response to phytohormone and abiotic stresses

Auxin is one of the most important phytohormones involved in plant growth and development. Here, we identified a total of 26 Aux/IAA genes displaying high sequence identity within the conserved domains I, II, III, and IV by screening the grapevine genome proteome 12× database. The Vitis vinifera Aux/IAA proteins can be classified into two groups (A and B) on the basis of their phylogenetic relationships. A search for cis-regulatory elements in the promoter sequences of VvAux/IAA genes revealed that the majority of these proteins may be regulated by light, phytohormones, and abiotic stresses. We also report the isolation and expression analysis of the cDNA of VvAux/IAA4, the most highly expressed VvAux/IAA gene from V. vinifera cv. Sultanine, according to ESTs in the NCBI database. The VvAux/IAA4 gene contains a full-length open reading frame of 1,080 bp, and its predicted amino acid sequence is highly similar to those of Aux/IAA proteins from other plants, including the presence of an AuxIAA/ARF dimerization motif in the C-terminal region. The expression of VvAux/IAA4 was found to be elevated during berry development, and slowly decrease from the initiation of ripening to the overripening stage. VvAux/IAA4 was highly expressed in young leaves and roots, and expressed at low levels in pollen and tendrils. Finally, the expression of VvAux/IAA4 was rapidly induced in response to NAA treatment, but was decreased by salt, drought, and SA treatments. Our results provide evidence of crosstalk between phytohormone and abiotic stresses, and support a role for auxin in stress responses.     

Cloning and expression analysis of novel Aux/IAA family genes in Gossypium hirsutum

The associations between polymorphisms of prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA-rs2294008C > T and -rs2976392G > A) and gastric cancer (GC) risk for Eastern Asians have been commonly studied, but the results were conflicting. The aim of the present study was to further assess the associations by the method of meta-analysis. The databases of Medline, Embase and CNKI (up to May 25th, 2011) were retrieved to identify eligible case-control studies. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were used to present the strength of the associations. In total, eight case-control studies in seven articles with 16792 individuals (9738 cases of GC and 7054 controls) were included in this meta-analysis. Through quantitative analyses, we found that T allele of rs2294008C > T and A allele of rs2976392G > A were significantly associated with increased GC risk [rs2294008C > T: OR (95%CI) = 1.31 (1.22-1.42), P_z-test < 0.001, P_{heterogeneity} = 0.166 for TT vs. C carriers; rs2976392G > A: OR (95%CI) = 1.36(1.24-1.50), P_z-test = 0.015, P_{heterogeneity} = 0.111 for AA vs. G carriers]. The results of subgroup analyses (according to histopathology, countries and sources of controls) indicated that T allele of rs2294008C > T and A allele rs2976392G > A were associated with increased risk of both intestinal- and diffuse-type GC, and associated with increased risk of GC for Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, PCC and HCC/PHCC. Furthermore, T allele of rs2294008C > T was also associated with increased risk of cardia and non-cardia GC, and associated with increased risk of GC for males and females. Besides those, this meta-analysis also indicated that the interactions between T allele of rs2294008C > T and A allele of rs2976392G > A was associated with increased risk of GC (A-T vs. G-T: OR = 1.16, 95%CI = 1.06-1.27, P_z-test = 0.001, P_{heterogeneity} = 0.835). Although modest limitations and potential bias cannot be eliminated, this meta-analysis suggests that PSCA -rs2294008C > T and -rs2976392G > A are potential factors of GC development for Eastern Asians, and future work may incorporate these findings and evaluate these variants as potential markers for screening and early diagnosis of GC.     

AXR2 encodes a member of the Aux/IAA protein family

The dominant gain-of-function axr2-1 mutation of Arabidopsis causes agravitropic root and shoot growth, a short hypocotyl and stem, and auxin-resistant root growth. We have cloned the AXR2 gene using a map-based approach, and find that it is the same as IAA7, a member of the IAA (indole-3-acetic acid) family of auxin-inducible genes. The axr2-1 mutation changes a single amino acid in conserved domain II of AXR2/IAA7. We isolated loss-of-function mutations in AXR2/IAA7 as intragenic suppressors of axr2-1 or in a screen for insertion mutations in IAA genes. A null mutant has a slightly longer hypocotyl than wild-type plants, indicating that AXR2/IAA7 controls development in light-grown seedlings, perhaps in concert with other gene products. Dark-grown axr2-1 mutant plants have short hypocotyls and make leaves, suggesting that activation of AXR2/IAA7 is sufficient to induce morphological responses normally elicited by light. Previously described semidominant mutations in two other Arabidopsis IAA genes cause some of the same phenotypes as axr2-1, but also cause distinct phenotypes. These results illustrate functional differences among members of the Arabidopsis IAA gene family.     

番茄PPR基因家族的鉴定与生物信息学分析

PPR(Pentatricopeptide repeats)基因家族在植物中广泛存在, 其在植物生长发育过程中至关重要。文章采用生物信息学方法, 利用Pfam已鉴定的PPR保守结构域序列检索番茄(Solanum lycopersicum L.)基因组计划注释的蛋白序列, 最终确定了番茄中可能存在的471个PPR编码基因; 根据拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana L.)中鉴定的各个结构域的特点对其进行了蛋白结构分析、分类和保守序列分析, 并对番茄PPR基因家族进行了系统进化树构建、染色体定位、亚细胞定位预测、表达和GO分析等。结果表明：番茄PPR基因家族分为P和PLS两个亚家族, 各占序列数目的一半, PLS亚家族又分为PLS、E、E+和DYW四类, 且在进化树中形成不同的分支; 各个结构域在植物中非常保守; PPR基因家族分布在番茄12条染色体上, 且多数无内含子结构; 大部分PPR蛋白具有线粒体或叶绿体定位序列, GO分析表明PPR蛋白参与RNA相关的生物学过程     

Genome-wide identification of Aux/IAA and ARF gene families in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Protoplasma - Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important food crops in the world. Somatic embryogenesis is an event that is triggered by the presence of auxin hormone for the...     

番茄B3超家族成员鉴定及生物信息学分析

B3超家族是一类含有B3功能域(与DNA结合的高度保守结构域)的转录因子,在植物生长发育过程中起重要作用。本研究采用生物信息学的方法,利用Pfam中的B3保守结构域序列检索番茄(Solanum lycopersicum L.)蛋白序列,确定了97个B3超家族基因。对番茄B3超家族成员进行了系统进化树分析、染色体定位、结构域分析、组织表达和诱导表达分析等。番茄B3超家族分为LAV、ARF、RAV和REM 4个亚家族,每个亚家族中的数量分别为4、22、9和62个,且在进化树中形成明显不同的分支,每个亚家族都进行了系统进化和结构域分析;番茄12条染色体都含有B3超家族基因;11个成员的表达模式表明,B3超家族同一亚家族成员也具有不同的时空表达模式;在干旱、盐和高温胁迫处理下,部分成员响应强烈并且响应不同的外界信号;而对于ABA处理响应非常弱。本研究将为B3基因超家族成员的生物学功能研究提供参考。     

Environmental and auxin regulation of wood formation involves members of the Aux/IAA gene family in hybrid aspen

Indole acetic acid (IAA/auxin) profoundly affects wood formation but the molecular mechanism of auxin action in this process remains poorly understood. We have cloned cDNAs for eight members of the Aux/IAA gene family from hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. x Populus tremuloides Michx.) that encode potential mediators of the auxin signal transduction pathway. These genes designated as PttIAA1-PttIAA8 are auxin inducible but differ in their requirement of de novo protein synthesis for auxin induction. The auxin induction of the PttIAA genes is also developmentally controlled as evidenced by the loss of their auxin inducibility during leaf maturation. The PttIAA genes are differentially expressed in the cell types of a developmental gradient comprising the wood-forming tissues. Interestingly, the expression of the PttIAA genes is downregulated during transition of the active cambium into dormancy, a process in which meristematic cells of the cambium lose their sensitivity to auxin. Auxin-regulated developmental reprogramming of wood formation during the induction of tension wood is accompanied by changes in the expression of PttIAA genes. The distinct tissue-specific expression patterns of the auxin inducible PttIAA genes in the cambial region together with the change in expression during dormancy transition and tension wood formation suggest a role for these genes in mediating cambial responses to auxin and xylem development.     

The Arabidopsis Aux/IAA protein family has diversified in degradation and auxin responsiveness

Rapid, auxin-responsive degradation of multiple auxin/indole-3-acetic acid (Aux/IAA) proteins is essential for plant growth and development. Domain II residues were previously shown to be required for the degradation of several Arabidopsis thaliana Aux/IAA proteins. We examined the degradation of additional full-length family members and the proteolytic importance of N-terminal residues outside domain II using luciferase (LUC) fusions. Elimination of domain I did not affect degradation. However, substituting an Arg for a conserved Lys between domains I and II specifically impaired basal degradation without compromising the auxin-mediated acceleration of degradation. IAA8, IAA9, and IAA28 contain domain II and a conserved Lys, but they were degraded more slowly than previously characterized family members when expressed as LUC fusions, suggesting that sequences outside domain II influence proteolysis. We analyzed the degradation of IAA31, with a region somewhat similar to domain II but without the conserved Lys, and of IAA20, which lacks domain II and the conserved Lys. Both IAA20:LUC and epitope-tagged IAA20 were long-lived, and their longevity was not influenced by auxin. Epitope-tagged IAA31 was long-lived, like IAA20, but by contrast, it showed accelerated degradation in response to auxin. The existence of long-lived and auxin-insensitive Aux/IAA proteins suggeststhat they may play a novel role in auxin signaling.