The role of ABA and MAPK signaling pathways in plant abiotic stress responses

As sessile organisms, plants have developed specific mechanisms that allow them to rapidly perceive and respond to stresses in the environment. Among the evolutionarily conserved pathways, the ABA (abscisic acid) signaling pathway has been identified as a central regulator of abiotic stress response in plants, triggering major changes in gene expression and adaptive physiological responses. ABA induces protein kinases of the SnRK family to mediate a number of its responses. Recently, MAPK (mitogen activated protein kinase) cascades have also been shown to be implicated in ABA signaling. Therefore, besides discussing the role of ABA in abiotic stress signaling, we will also summarize the evidence for a role of MAPKs in the context of abiotic stress and ABA signaling.     

The influence of salt stress on ABA and auxin concentrations in two maize cultivars differing in salt resistance

The plant hormones abscisic acid (ABA) and auxin (IAA, IBA) play important roles in plant responses to environmental stresses such as salinity. Recent breeding improvements in terms of salt resistance of maize have lead to a genotype with improved growth under saline conditions. By comparing this salt-resistant hybrid with a sensitive hybrid, it was possible to show differences in hormone concentrations in expanding leaves and roots. In response to salinity, the salt-resistant maize significantly increased IBA concentrations in growing leaves and maintained IAA concentration in roots. These hormonal adaptations may help to establish favorable conditions for growth-promoting agents such as β-expansins and maintain growth of resistant maize hybrids under salt stress. Moreover, ABA concentrations significantly increased in resistant maize leaves under salt stress, which may contribute to acidifying the apoplast, which in turn is a prerequisite for growth.     

Comparative expression profiles of maize genes from a water stress-specific cDNA macroarray in response to high-salinity, cold or abscisic acid

cDNA macroarray has become a useful tool to analyze expression profiles and compare the similarities and differences of various expression patterns. We have prepared a cDNA macroarray containing 190 maize expressed sequence tags (ESTs) specifically induced by water stress to analyze the expression profiles of maize seedlings under abscisic acid (ABA) treatment, high-salinity and cold stress conditions. The results indicated that 48 ESTs in leaves and 111 ESTs in roots were significantly up-regulated by ABA treatment, 36 ESTs in leaves and 41 ESTs in roots by high-salinity stress, 14 ESTs in leaves and 18 ESTs in roots by cold induction, whereas 22 ESTs were induced under all 3 stresses. Results from the hierarchical cluster analysis suggest that the leaves and roots of maize seedlings had different expression profiles after these stresses. The overlap analysis of different stress-induced ESTs indicated that there is more crosstalk between water stress and ABA and high-salinity stress than between water stress and cold stress. It will be helpful to study the precise function of the corresponding overlapping-induced genes for understanding the relationship and crosstalk between different stress signal pathways.     

Subcellular Localization and Kinetic Characterization of ABA Binding Proteins in Maize Root

By means of differential centrifugation, cytosol fraction and microsome were prepared from maize roots which have been grown in dark for 4 d. Highly purified plasma membranes were isolated from the microsome in two-phase aqueous system which is composed of 6.9 % (W/W) Dextran T500 and PEG 3350. The tonoplast was collected from the interface between 1% and 8% (W/W) Dextran T70 after gradient centrifugation. Electron microscopic observation and marker enzyme activities analysis proved that these fractions contained very few other membranes. Microvolume radioactivity ligand binding assay indicated that the specific binding sites of ABA in maize root microsome were mainly distributed on tonoplast and plasma membrane fractions. Their specific binding activity was 2485.4 and 1257.3 fmol/mg protein, respectively, the specific binding activity of cytosol fraction being the lowest (one order of magnitude lower). The dissociation constant (KD) of ABA-BP in plasma membrane was 1.57 nmol/L.     

RFLP mapping of quantitative trait loci controlling abscisic acid concentration in leaves of drought-stressed maize (Zea mays L.)

 Abscisic acid (ABA) concentration in leaves of drought-stressed plants is a quantitatively inherited trait. In order to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling leaf ABA concentration (L-ABA) in maize, leaf samples were collected from 80 F_3:4 families of the cross Os420 (high L-ABA)×IABO78 (low L-ABA) tested under drought conditions in field trials conducted over 2 years. In each year, leaf samples were collected at stem elongation and near anthesis. The genetic map obtained with 106 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) loci covered 1370 cM, which represented approximately 85% of the UMC maize map. Sixteen different QTLs with a LOD>2.0 were revealed in at least one sampling. Across samplings, only four QTLs significantly influenced L-ABA, accounting for 66% of the phenotypic variation and 76% of the genetic variation among families. At these QTLs, the alleles which increased L-ABA were contributed by Os420. The two most important QTLs were mapped on chromosome 2 near csu133 and csu109a. The effects associated with the QTL near csu133 were more pronounced near anthesis. The support intervals of the four primary QTLs for L-ABA did not overlap the presumed map position of mutants impaired in ABA biosynthesis. Received: 27 January 1998 / Accepted: 22 April 1998     

植物抗旱过程中ABA生理作用的研究进展

植物在长期进化中,对干旱等胁迫从生理,生化和分子水平上产生了适应性变化,从而增加逆境存活机会,在这些响过程中,ABA起着极其重要的作用,本文介绍了近年来研究ABA的植物抗旱中生理作用方面所取得的进展。     

Proteomic changes in maize roots after short-term adjustment to saline growth conditions

It is of fundamental importance to understand adaptation processes leading to salt resistance. The initial effects on maize roots in the first hour after the adjustment to saline conditions were monitored to elucidate initial responses. The subsequent proteome change was monitored using a 2‐D proteomic approach. We found several new salt‐inducible proteins, whose expression has not been previously reported to be modulated by salt. A set of phosphoproteins in maize was detected but only ten proteins were phosphorylated and six proteins were dephosphorylated after the application of 25 mM NaCl for 1 h. Some of the phosphorylated maize proteins such as fructokinase, UDP‐glucosyl transferase BX9, and 2‐Cys‐peroxyredoxine were enhanced, whereas an isocitrate‐dehydrogenase, calmodulin, maturase, and a 40‐S‐ribosomal protein were dephosphorylated after adjustment to saline conditions. The initial reaction of the proteome and phosphoproteome of maize after adjustment to saline conditions reveals members of sugar signalling and cell signalling pathways such as calmodulin, and gave hint to a transduction chain which is involved in NaCl‐induced signalling. An alteration of 14‐3‐3 proteins as detected may change plasma membrane ATPase activity and cell wall growth regulators such as xyloglucane endotransglycosylase were also found to be changed immediately after the adjustment to salt stress.     

Genome‐wide identification and characterization of microRNAs responding to ABA and GA in maize embryos during seed germination

• MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an important class of non‐coding small RNAs that regulate the expression of target genes through mRNA cleavage or translational inhibition. Previous studies have revealed their roles in regulating seed dormancy and germination in model plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana, rice (Oryza sativa) and maize (Zea mays). However, the miRNA response to exogenous gibberellic acid (GA) and abscisic acid (ABA) during seed germination in maize has yet to be explored.
• In this study, small RNA libraries were generated and sequenced from maize embryos treated with GA, ABA or double‐distilled water as control.
• A total of 247 miRNAs (104 known and 143 novel) were identified, of which 45 known and 53 novel miRNAs were differentially expressed in embryos in the different treatment groups. In total, 74 (37 up‐regulated and 37 down‐regulated) and 55 (23 up‐regulated and 32 down‐regulated) miRNAs were expressed in response to GA and to ABA, respectively, and a total of 18 known and 38 novel miRNAs displayed differential expression between the GA‐ and ABA‐treated groups. Using bioinformatics tools, we predicted the target genes of the differentially expressed miRNAs. Using GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis of these targets, we showed that miRNAs differentially expressed in our samples affect genes encoding proteins involved in the peroxisome, ribosome and plant hormonal signalling pathways.
• Our results indicate that miRNA‐mediated gene expression influences the GA and ABA signalling pathways during seed germination.

     

Fine mapping of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">qCTS4</Emphasis> locus associated with seedling cold tolerance in rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.)

Rice seedlings are sensitive to low temperatures (≤15°C) and under prolonged or repeated exposure, yellowing and stunting are commonly observed. Damage to seedlings results in poor stand establishment and delayed maturation, which can cause significant reductions in yield. In general, japonica rice varieties exhibit more cold tolerance than indica varieties. Earlier genetic analysis of the California rice variety M202 revealed several quantitative trait loci (QTL) that contribute to its tolerance to low temperatures in comparison to the indica rice variety IR50. Among these QTL, qCTS4 is associated with tolerance to yellowing and stunting of rice seedlings and accounts for 40% of the phenotypic variation. Here we report on the fine mapping of qCTS4 to a 128 kb region of chromosome 4, which is highly suppressed for recombination in our mapping populations. Our results provide the necessary foundation for identifying the gene(s) underlying qCTS4 and the markers developed here may be used to introgress this region into indica varieties to improve seedling tolerance to low temperatures. The mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.     

脱落酸被土壤“掩盖”了的功能:调节根系构型形态建成

植物根系发育是一个重要的农艺性状。由于根系具有结构和生长模式简单、信号感受灵敏等,有可能成为研究植物发育可塑性的良好材料。通过分析脱落酸在主根、侧根和根毛的发生和生长中及根构型形成中的可能信号转导过程中的作用,提出未来研究应关注的科学问题。对ABA调控根系发育分子机制的探讨不仅有利于阐明如何调控根发育可塑性这一复杂和困难的生物学问题,而且对农业生产也极为重要。     

植物内源ABA水平的动态调控机制

ABA具有调节植物生长发育和对环境胁迫做出快速反应的重要功能, 植物内源ABA水平受到ABA合成、代谢及转运等途径的复杂调控。该文综述了近年来植物ABA从头合成、羟基化代谢、可逆糖基化代谢及ABA转运等领域的最新研究进展, 重点讨论ABA合成与代谢基因的表达调控机制, 并展望了今后的研究方向。     

Excretion products of maize roots from seedling to seed development stage

Summary Excretion products of maize roots (Zea mays cv. Koshu) were estimated. All excreted products were the highest by fresh weight basis at the young seedling stage. In amino acids excreted, glutamic acid accounting for 60% of the total was the highest and followed by alanine. These two amino acids showed the diverse fluctuation according to the growing age, that is, glutamic acid increased while alanine decreased. Stachyose was a main soluble sugar excepting the stage prior to the heading. At this stages, glucose and fructose together with stachyose were observed. Lactic acid was the most dominant organic acid through whole growing stages. These excreted materials could be positive factors for the growth ofSpirillum lipoferum which can fix nitrogen non-symbiotically at the rhizosphere of maize.     

Ethylene promotes submergence-induced expression of OsABA8ox1, a gene that encodes ABA 8'-hydroxylase in rice

A rapid decrease of the plant hormone ABA under submergence is thought to be a prerequisite for the enhanced elongation of submerged shoots of rice (Oryza sativa L.). Here, we report that the level of phaseic acid (PA), an oxidized form of ABA, increased with decreasing ABA level during submergence. The oxidation of ABA to PA is catalyzed by ABA 8'-hydroxylase, which is possibly encoded by three genes (OsABA8ox1, -2 and -3) in rice. The ABA 8'-hydroxylase activity was confirmed in microsomes from yeast expressing OsABA8ox1. OsABA8ox1-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion protein in onion cells was localized to the endoplasmic reticulum. The mRNA level of OsABA8ox1, but not the mRNA levels of other OsABA8ox genes, increased dramatically within 1 h after submergence. On the other hand, the mRNA levels of genes involved in ABA biosynthesis (OsZEP and OsNCEDs) decreased after 1-2 h of submergence. Treatment of aerobic seedlings with ethylene and its precursor, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC), rapidly induced the expression of OsABA8ox1, but the ethylene treatment did not strongly affect the expression of ABA biosynthetic genes. Moreover, pre-treatment with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), a potent inhibitor of ethylene action, partially suppressed induction of OsABA8ox1 expression under submergence. The ABA level was found to be negatively correlated with OsABA8ox1 expression under ACC or 1-MCP treatment. Together, these results indicate that the rapid decrease in ABA levels in submerged rice shoots is controlled partly by ethylene-induced expression of OsABA8ox1 and partly by ethylene-independent suppression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of ABA.     

水分胁迫下ABA由蚕豆根向地上部的运输及其在叶片组织中的分布

蚕豆根装载的３Ｈ－ＡＢＡ可经５．６ｃｍ／ｍｉｎ以上的速率向冠部运输。短时间内（５ｍｉｎ）根运来的ＡＢＡ主要分布在有大量气孔密布的下表皮,但长时间内（３ｈ）则主要分布在对内组织中。抑制蒸腾可降低ＡＢＡ向叶片中的运输积累。光镜放射自显影术显示,根运来的ＡＢＡ可有效地在表皮细胞及保卫细胞的质外体积累。３Ｈ－ＡＢＡ由根向地上部快速运输及其在作用部位的有效积累,说明水分胁迫下蚕豆根部可以通过ＡＢＡ信号的传递控制气孔的行为。     

Proteome-level changes in the roots of Pisum sativum in response to salinity

We initiated a proteomics-based approach to identify root proteins affected by salinity in pea (Pisum sativum cv. Cutlass). Salinity stress was imposed either on 2-wk old pea plants by watering with salt water over 6 wk or by germinating and growing pea seeds for 7 days in Petri dishes. Concentrations of NaCl above 75 mM had significant negative effects on growth and development of peas in both systems. Salinity-induced root proteome-level changes in pea were investigated by 2-D electrophoresis of proteins from control, 75 and 150 mM NaCl-treated plants and seedlings. The majority of the protein spots visualised showed reproducible abundance in root protein extracts from whole plants and seedlings. Of these proteins, 35 spots that exhibited significant changes in abundance due to NaCl treatment were selected for identification using ESI-Q-TOF MS/MS. The identities of these proteins, which include pathogenesis-related (PR) 10 proteins, antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK) are presented, and the roles of some of them in mediating responses of pea to salinity are discussed. This is the first report of salinity-induced changes in the root proteome of pea that suggests a potential role for PR10 proteins in salinity stress responses. Our findings also suggest the possible existence of a novel signal transduction pathway involving SOD, H₂O₂, NDPK and PR10 proteins with a potentially crucial role in abiotic stress responses.     

Accumulation rate of ABA in detached maize roots correlates with root water potential regardless of age and branching order

How much ABA can be supplied by the roots is a key issue for modelling the ABA-mediated influence of drought on shoot physiology. We quantified accumulation rates of ABA ( S _ABA) in maize roots that were detached from well-watered plants and dehydrated to various extents by air-drying. S _ABA was estimated from changes in ABA content in root segments incubated at constant relative water content (RWC). Categories of root segments, differing in age and branching order, were compared (root branches, and nodal roots subdivided into root tips, subapical unbranched sections, and mature sections). All categories of roots accumulated ABA, including turgid and mature tissues containing no apex. S _ABA measured in turgid roots changed with root age and among root categories. This variability was largely accounted for by differences in water content among different categories of turgid roots. The response of S _ABA to changes in root water potential ( Ψ _root) induced by dehydration was common to root tips, nodal roots and branches of several ages, while this was not the case if root dehydration was expressed in terms of RWC. Differences among root categories in the response of S _ABA to RWC were due to different RWC values among categories at a given Ψ _root, and not to differences in the response of S _ABA to Ψ _root.