微生物异戊烯基转移酶研究进展

类异戊二烯(isoprenoids)是最具化学多样性的一种天然分子家族，参与微生物中类胡萝卜素、甾醇等次生代谢物的合成，这类物质在工业大规模生产中具有广阔的商业前景。异戊烯基转移酶是类异戊二烯合成途径中的关键酶，其活性及编码基因的转录水平参与调节次生代谢物产量，在类异戊二烯化合物生物合成途径中发挥重要作用。本文重点归纳了微生物中异戊烯基转移酶的发现与鉴定，分析其结构特点与链长决定机制，讨论异戊烯基转移酶家族之间的复杂进化，概述酶基因表达调控的应用以及生物合成研究现状，为深入研究异戊烯基转移酶作用机理及各领域中的应用提供思路。     

外源ipt对叶片衰老分子调控研究进展(综述)

综述了叶片衰老的分子机理,并介绍了将外源异戊烯基转移酶（ipt,isopentenyl transferase)基因转入植物以获得抗衰老植株的研究进展。     

高固形物含量的番茄进入田间试验

加工工业十分需要高固形物含量的番茄果实,因为由此可降低运输和果浆加工中的成本。Calgene和Campbell的研究人员正在通过改进植物生长调节剂细胞分裂素浓度而开发具有上述特性的番茄。 Calgene公司的Belinda Martineau和Kristin Summerfelt及Campbell Institute for Research and Technology的Dawn Adams和Joseph DeVerma将根癌土壤杆菌异戊烯基转移酶(ipt)     

ipt与PAPⅡ基因在烟草中共表达减轻PAPⅡ细胞毒性的初步研究

利用农杆菌介导方法,分别将PAPⅡ单基因、PAPⅡ基因和异戊烯基转移酶基因(ipt)共表达的双基因(PAPII-pt)导入烟草品种K326叶细胞中,半定量RT-PCR分析了转基因植株中PAPⅡ、ipt和核糖体蛋白大亚基基因(RPL3A)的表达,并进行了TMV攻毒实验.结果表明:双基因PAPⅡ-ipt对烟草的转化频率高达...     

异戊烯基转移酶基因转化胡卢巴的研究

将含有生长素诱导的小分子RNA启动子与异戊烯基转移酶基因的融合基因 ( pSAUR—ipt)的Ti质粒作为供体DNA ,通过花粉管通道法导入胡卢巴中。D1、D2 代植株经Southern杂交检测 ,有杂交带出现 ,获得了转基因胡卢巴。对转基因胡卢巴D3、D4和D5 代进行了生理生化指标及田间性状分析 ,发现转基因胡卢巴与CK相比有植株略矮、分枝数增多、双角数增多等表型变化 ,D4代叶绿素含量、半乳甘露聚糖含量增加 ,D5 代可溶性蛋白和细胞分裂素含量增加 ,它们都与产量呈正相关性。从而证明了 pSAUR—ipt基因已导入胡卢巴中。     

巴西橡胶树顺式异戊烯基转移酶基因cDNA克隆及其序列特征分析

以巴西橡胶树(Hevea brasiliensis)胶乳的RNA为Tester;叶片RNA为Driver,利用抑制消减杂交法(suppressive subtractive hybridization,SSH)构建了一个胶乳特异表达基因差减文库.通过反式Northern点杂交(reverse Northern dot blots)筛选到一个与顺式异戊烯基转移酶基因(橡胶生物合成的关键酶基因)高度同源的阳性克隆R363.采用RACE方法获得该克隆的全长cDNA(GenBank登陆号:AY461414).序列分析表明,该基因长1156 bp,含有873 bp的阅读框,编码290个氨基酸,分子量约为32.9 kD,等电点为7.2,含有N-端跨膜螺旋区.同源性分析表明R363编码的蛋白质具有异戊烯基转移酶家族的特征,含有cis-异戊烯基链转移酶的5个高度保守区,推测R363可能是一种新的顺式-异戊烯基转移酶基因.Northern blot分析显示,R363在胶乳中高度表达,在叶中不表达.乙烯处理前后表达强度一致,表明该基因表达不为乙烯所诱导.     

异戊烯基转移酶基因在转基因烟草中的特异性表达

来自农杆菌（Ａｇｒｏｂａｃｔｅｒｉｕｍ ｔｕｍ ｅｆａｃｉｅｎｓ）的细胞分裂素生物合成基因——异戊烯基转移酶基因（ｉｐｔ）与矮牵牛（Ｐｅｔｕｎｉａ ｈｙｂｒｉｄａ Ｖｉｌｍ ．）中的磷酸核酮糖羧化酶小亚基启动子（ＳＳＵ）融合后转入烟草（Ｎｉｃｏｔｉａｎａ ｔａｂａｃｕｍ Ｌ．）。在转基因烟草中研究了这种嵌合基因的特异性表达,并且测定了内源细胞分裂素水平的变化。结果表明,矮牵牛的ＳＳＵ 启动子能够特异性地控制ｉｐｔ基因在烟草中的表达     

PSAG12-ipt基因转化植株研究进展

叶片衰老是一种程序性死亡过程;ipt(isopentenyl transferas)基因转化植株,可以催化调控内源细胞分裂素合成,延缓转化株叶片衰老.SAG12基因启动子能够控制ipt基因在植株下部衰老叶片中表达.介绍了ipt基因和SAG12基因启动子的来源和应用,以及PSAG12-ipt基因的产生和转化植株在国内的研究概况.     

6-BA拮抗脱落酸缓解渗透胁迫对种子萌发的抑制

细胞分裂素促进细胞分裂、芽的分化,拮抗脱落酸抑制的种子萌发,而细胞分裂素合成基因Ipt84在种子萌发过程中发挥重要的作用。本文分别用120mmol·L-1 NaCl和240mmol·L-1 甘露醇模拟盐和干旱胁迫处理拟南芥种子,探讨6一BA拮抗ABA对其抑制种子萌发和萌发后生长的影响。结果表明,细胞分裂素合成相关突变体ipt6-1、ipt6-2、ipt8．1和ipt8-2的种子萌发和生长可被NaCl和甘露醇显著抑制;而ABA合成相关突变体aba2-1对相同浓度NaCl和甘露醇的处理表现相对不敏感。进一步研究发现添加外源6一BA可恢复ipt6-1、ipt6-2、ipt8-1和ipt8—2的相关敏感表型,并且随6-BA浓度的增加,恢复效果也愈趋明显。     

植物中异戊烯基取代的酚类化合物及其分布

异戊烯基取代的酚类化合物由UbiA家族的异戊烯基转移酶(prenyltransferase)催化异戊烯基转移到芳香族化合物母核上,其亲脂性较无异戊烯基取代的化合物明显增强,并提高了与生物膜的亲和力,从而形成了各种具有重要生物学功能的活性分子,在植物防御和人体健康方面具有重要作用。本综述总结了538种异戊烯基酚类化合物的取代基类别和取代位点等,为发掘植物中新型异戊烯基转移酶,以及受体和供体的选择提供参考,以期有更多异戊烯基转移酶可应用于合成生物学来生产具有重要活性的异戊烯基酚类化合物。该文对国内外报道的378种类黄酮,80种香豆素类,27种醌类,32种二苯乙烯类,16种对羟基苯甲酸类,5种苯丙酸类共计538种异戊烯基取代的酚类化合物的取代基类别、取代位置以及在植物中的分布进行总结,发现异戊烯基酚类化合物主要分布在28个科中,且以C5和C10取代基为主。该文还综述了已鉴定功能的30余种植物芳香族异戊烯基转移酶。     

Cytokinin signaling

Although cytokinin plays a central role in plant development, our knowledge of the biosynthesis, distribution, perception and signal transduction of cytokinin is limited. Recent molecular-genetic studies have, however, implicated involvement of a two-component system in cytokinin signal transduction. Furthermore, new mutants with altered cytokinin responses and genes involved in cytokinin signaling have been identified.     

Genes specifying cytokinin biosynthesis in prokaryotes

Cytokinins are plant hormones which have long been associated with cell division and plastid differentiation. Recently, they have been found to play a central role also in the growth of plant tumors. Certain phytopathogenic bacteria, notably Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Pseudomonas syringae pv. savastanoi, can incite tumors on dicotyledonous plants and such tumors exhibit growth which is characteristic of the presence of excess auxin and cytokinin. Genes specifying cytokinin biosynthesis have now been isolated from both sets of bacteria. The genes encode prenyl transferase responsible for cytokinin biosynthesis which, upon expression in E. coli,cause the production of the active cytokinin, zeatin. Expression of these genes in association with the plant is responsible for at least part of the tumor phenotype, although the molecular mechanisms of infection by these bacteria are apparently quite dissimilar. There is extensive homology between the cytokinin biosynthetic genes from the two sets of bacteria.     

Cytokinin biosynthesis and interconversion

To maintain hormone homeostasis, the rate of cytokinin biosynthesis, interconversion, and degradation is regulated by enzymes in plant cells. Cytokinins can be synthesized via direct (de novo) or indirect (tRNA) pathways. In the de novo pathway, a cytokinin nucleotide is synthesized from 5'-AMP and isopentenyl pyrophosphate; a key enzyme which catalyzes this synthesis has been isolated from plant tissues, slime mold, and some microorganisms. Studies on the in vitro synthesis of the isopentenyl side chain of cytokinin in tRNA demonstrated that the isopentenyl group was derived from mevalonate, and turnover of the cytokinin-containing tRNA may serve as a minor source of free cytokinins in plant cells. The interconversion of cytokinin bases, nucleosides and nucleotides is a major feature of cytokinin metabolism; and enzymes that regulate the interconversion have been identified. The N⁶-side chain and purine moiety of cytokinins are often modified and some of the enzymes involved in the modifications have been isolated. Most of the cytokinin metabolites have been characterized but very few enzymes regulating their metabolism have been purified to homogeneity. It remains a significant challenge to isolate plant genes involved in the regulation of cytokinin biosynthesis, interconversion and degradation.     

Cytokinins: Biosynthesis metabolism and perception

Summary Cytokinins are essential hormones for plant growth and development. They are also of vital importance for in vitro manipulations of plant cells and tissues. The biological activities and chemistry of cytokinins are well defined but very little is known about their mode of action and it is only recently that cytokinin genes have been identified in plants. This review summarizes the current status of knowledge on cytokinin biosynthesis, metabolism and signal transduction, with an emphasis on genes encoding metabolic enzymes and putative receptors, and genes rapidly induced by cytokinins.     

Cytokinin biosynthesis and perception

Cytokinin has been considered to be a master regulator of plant growth and development, but only in the past several years has substantial progress been made uncovering the roles of cytokinins at various developmental stages. Recent studies on key metabolic enzymes and signaling components have contributed to understanding the basic mechanism of biosynthesis and perception of cytokinin within a whole plant body. The initial products of de novo cytokinin biosynthesis in higher plants and Agrobacterium are different, and the regulatory systems in biosynthesis and homeostasis are finely controlled and appear to be important in communicating nutrient signals to morphogenetic responses. The cytokinin receptors have largely overlapping, but still specific, functions in diverse cytokinin responses. In this review, we will specifically emphasize the biosynthesis of isoprenoid cytokinins and perception of cytokinin signals in Arabidopsis.     

Arabidopsis KNOXI proteins activate cytokinin biosynthesis

Plant architecture is shaped through the continuous formation of organs by meristems. Class I KNOTTED1-like homeobox (KNOXI) genes are expressed in the shoot apical meristem (SAM) and are required for SAM maintenance. KNOXI proteins and cytokinin, a plant hormone intimately associated with the regulation of cell division, share overlapping roles, such as meristem maintenance and repression of senescence, but their mechanistic and hierarchical relationship have yet to be defined. Here, we show that activation of three different KNOXI proteins using an inducible system resulted in a rapid increase in mRNA levels of the cytokinin biosynthesis gene isopentenyl transferase 7 (AtIPT7) and in the activation of ARR5, a cytokinin response factor. We further demonstrate a rapid and dramatic increase in cytokinin levels following activation of the KNOXI protein SHOOT MERISTEMLESS (STM). Application of exogenous cytokinin or expression of a cytokinin biosynthesis gene through the STM promoter partially rescued the stm mutant. We conclude that activation of cytokinin biosynthesis mediates KNOXI function in meristem maintenance. KNOXI proteins emerge as central regulators of hormone levels in plant meristems.     

Identification of plant cytokinin biosynthetic enzymes as dimethylallyl diphosphate:ATP/ADP isopentenyltransferases

It has been believed that the key step in cytokinin biosynthesis is the addition of a 5-carbon chain to the N(6) of AMP. To identify cytokinin biosynthesis enzymes that catalyze the formation of the isopentenyl side chain of cytokinins, the Arabidopsis genomic sequence was searched for genes that could code for isopentenyltransferases. This resulted in the identification of nine putative genes for isopentenyltransferases. One of these, AtIPT4, was subjected to detailed analysis. Overexpression of AtIPT4 caused cytokinin-independent shoot formation on calli. As shoot formation on calli normally occurs only when cytokinins are applied, it suggested that this gene product catalyzed cytokinin biosynthesis in plants. Recombinant AtIPT4 catalyzed the transfer of an isopentenyl group from dimethylallyl diphosphate to the N(6) of ATP and ADP, but not to that of AMP. AtIPT4 did not exhibit the DMAPP:tRNA isopentenyltransferase activity. These results indicate that cytokinins are, at least in part, synthesized from ATP and ADP in plants.     

Silicon promotes cytokinin biosynthesis and delays senescence in Arabidopsis and Sorghum

Silicate minerals are dominant soil components. Thus, plant roots are constantly exposed to silicic acid. High silicon intake, enabled by root silicon transporters, correlates with increased tolerance to many biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the underlying protection mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we tested the hypothesis that silicon interacts with the plant hormones, and specifically, that silicic acid intake increases cytokinin biosynthesis. The reaction of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and Arabidopsis plants, modified to absorb high versus low amounts of silicon, to dark‐induced senescence was monitored, by quantifying expression levels of genes along the senescence pathway and measuring tissue cytokinin levels. In both species, detached leaves with high silicon content senesced more slowly than leaves that were not exposed to silicic acid. Expression levels of genes along the senescence pathway suggested increased cytokinin biosynthesis with silicon exposure. Mass spectrometry measurements of cytokinin suggested a positive correlation between silicon exposure and active cytokinin concentrations. Our results indicate a similar reaction to silicon treatment in distantly related plants, proposing a general function of silicon as a stress reliever, acting via increased cytokinin biosynthesis.