与高等植物吸收(NO_3)~-/(NH_4)~+、(PO_4)~(3-)和K~+有关的膜转运蛋白编码基因的分子生物学研究现状

高等植物对土壤中营养元素的吸收是其一切生命活动过程的基础,尤其在营养元素缺乏的状态下,更与其抗营养饥饿等特性息息相关。兼于土壤中Ｎ、Ｐ、Ｋ元素缺乏的严重性与普遍性,以及Ｎ、Ｐ、Ｋ对高等植物生长和发育的重要性,有关高等植物吸收营养元素的膜转运蛋白编码基因的分子生物学研究已引起有关学者的高度重视。ＮＯ－３／ＮＨ＋４、ＰＯ３－４与Ｋ＋膜转运蛋白均有低亲和力和高亲和力系统（ＬｏｗＡｆｉｎｉｔｙＴｒａｎｓｐｏｒｔｅｒ＆ＨｉｇｈＡｆｉｎｉｔｙＴｒａｎｓｐｏｒｔｅｒ）。对ＰＯ４３－和Ｋ＋而言,低亲和力系统是组成性表达的系统,在正常营养状态下对根系吸收营养起重要作用。而高亲和力系统是受营养缺乏而诱导表达的系统,对于植物的抗逆性、耐营养饥饿至关重要。迄今为止,与之有关的基因的全长ｃＤＮＡ或全基因已在几种植物中被克隆。此外,对基因的表达特性亦有广泛研究。本文简要概述这三大营养元素的膜转运蛋白编码基因的分子生物学研究现状。     

Progress since the first international symposium: ‘Genetic aspects of plant mineral nutrition’, Beograd, 1982, and perspectives of future research

Summary The paper discusses the problems of genetic aspects of plant mineral nutrition in the light of the results presented at the First and Second Symposia on ‘Genetic Aspects of Plant Mineral Nutrition’ organized in Beograd in 1982 and Madison in 1985, respectively. On the basis of the results, future directions of research are discussed. The papers deal with the concentration and content of mineral nutrients in different genotypes, physiological and biochemical aspects of the genetic specificity of plant mineral nutrition, relations between plant genotypes and nitrogen fixing micro-organism strains, as well as with some related problems which have been investigated to a lesser extent. Particular attention is paid to papers and problems referring to genetic and breeding research work linked with genetic aspects of plant mineral nutrition as well as the possibilities of developing new cultivars requiring certain soil and mineral nutrition conditions for their cultivation.     

Discovering the role of mitochondria in the iron deficiency-induced metabolic responses of plants

In plants, iron (Fe) deficiency-induced chlorosis is a major problem, affecting both yield and quality of crops. Plants have evolved multifaceted strategies, such as reductase activity, proton extrusion, and specialised storage proteins, to mobilise Fe from the environment and distribute it within the plant. Because of its fundamental role in plant productivity, several issues concerning Fe homeostasis in plants are currently intensively studied. The activation of Fe uptake reactions requires an overall adaptation of the primary metabolism because these activities need the constant supply of energetic substrates (i.e., NADPH and ATP). Several studies concerning the metabolism of Fe-deficient plants have been conducted, but research focused on mitochondrial implications in adaptive responses to nutritional stress has only begun in recent years. Mitochondria are the energetic centre of the root cell, and they are strongly affected by Fe deficiency. Nevertheless, they display a high level of functional flexibility, which allows them to maintain the viability of the cell. Mitochondria represent a crucial target of studies on plant homeostasis, and it might be of interest to concentrate future research on understanding how mitochondria orchestrate the reprogramming of root cell metabolism under Fe deficiency. In this review, I summarise what it is known about the effect of Fe deficiency on mitochondrial metabolism and morphology. Moreover, I present a detailed view of the possible roles of mitochondria in the development of plant responses to Fe deficiency, integrating old findings with new and discussing new hypotheses for future investigations.     

Biodiversity within Medicago truncatula genotypes toward response to iron deficiency: Investigation of main tolerance mechanisms

Iron (Fe) deficiency is one of the major environmental stresses affecting plant production in the world. The selection of tolerant genotypes is considered an effective remediation strategy for this stress. The present study was carried out in order to investigate the biodiversity within Medicago truncatula plants in response to Fe deficiency, to identify tolerant genotypes and to assess the main tolerance mechanisms. To do this, a screening test was performed on 20 M. truncatula genotypes cultivated in minimal medium. Biometric and physiological markers were analyzed, including plant biomass, chlorophyll and root architecture. Results showed a biodiversity among the 20 genotypes. Interestingly, Fe deficiency tolerance was highest in TN8.20 and A17 genotypes. However, the lowest tolerance behavior was observed in TN1.11 and TN6.18. In order to investigate the main tolerance mechanisms, an experiment was conducted in the hydroponic system on already selected genotypes. Assessment of Fe deficiency tolerance was performed mainly on plant growth parameters, Fe (III)-chelate-reductase activity, rhizosphere acidification and antioxidant system defense. The relative better tolerance of A17 and TN8.20 to Fe deficiency was positively correlated with their capacity to maintain higher Fe-acquisition efficiency in roots via rhizosphere acidification and the stimulation of Fe (III)-chelate-reductase activity. Moreover, tolerant genotypes showed the lowest decreases in chlorophyll content and photosynthetic activity (CO₂ assimilation) compared to the sensitive ones. The efficiency of antioxidant capacity of the tolerant genotypes was revealed in stimulation of catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POX) activities as well as accumulation of polyphenols, leading to the maintenance of cell integrity under Fe deficiency.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis and abiotic stress in plants: A review

Abiotic stresses (such as salinity, drought, cold, heat, mineral deficiency and metals/metalloids) have become major threats to the global agricultural production. These stresses in isolation and/or combination control plant growth, development and productivity by causing physiological disorders, ion toxicity, and hormonal and nutritional imbalances. Some soil microorganisms like arbuscular mycorhizal fungi (AMF) inhabit the rhizosphere and develop a symbiotic relationship with the roots of most plant species. AMF can significantly improve resistance of host plants to varied biotic and abiotic stresses. Taking into account recent literature, this paper: (a) overviews major abiotic stresses and introduces the arbuscular mycorrhizae symbiosis (b) appraises the role and underlying major mechanisms of AMF in plant tolerance to major abiotic stresses including salinity, drought, temperature regimes (cold and heat), nutrient-deficiency, and metal/metalloids; (c) discusses major molecular mechanisms potentially involved in AMF-mediated plant-abiotic stress tolerance; and finally (d) highlights major aspects for future work in the current direction.     

Stable isotopes in studies of intestinal absorption, exchangeable pools and mineral status: the example of magnesium.

Magnesium (Mg) is a biologically essential mineral and Mg deficiency is known to lead to severe biochemical and symptomatic disorders. Radioactive isotopes and, more recently, stable isotopes have been used as research tools to determine intestinal Mg absorption in humans and animals under different nutritional and physiological conditions. Mg isotopes are given orally or orally plus intravenously and analysed in faeces and/or in plasma and urine in order to calculate intestinal Mg absorption and possibly endogenous Mg excretion. Mg isotopes have been used to assess exchangeable pools of Mg under nutritional and physiopathological conditions. Mg isotopes are given intravenously and are analysed in plasma and urine to calculate the size and half-life of the various Mg exchangeable pools. More recently, in vitro isotopic tests have been developed to study the need of cells for Mg in different nutritional and genetic conditions. Whole blood is incubated with Mg isotopes and isotopic blood cell enrichment is measured, which reflects the avidity of cells for Mg and thus its initial status. This paper is a report on the use of stable Mg isotopes and their advantages in these different fields of Mg absorption and metabolism. The studies available have clearly demonstrated that stable isotopes provide a useful research tool for determining intestinal Mg absorption, and represent a precious research tool for the study of Mg metabolism and the assessment of Mg status.     

Micronutrient composition of xylem sap and needles as a result of P-fertilization in maritime pine

Xylem sap and foliar compositions (P, Cu, Zn, Mn) were examined over 4 months in control and P-fertilized maritime pine in a 7-year-old plantation. The absorption of copper, zinc, and boron appears to be reduced by phosphate fertilization. Manganese concentrations are positively related to P-supply increase. Foliar analysis and sap provides the same type of information in terms of antagonism or synergism between elements but the response to treatment is more often significant with sap throughout the seasons and is completely non-existent on a single classical autumn diagnosis with foliar concentration (i.e. Zn and Cu). In consequence foliar analysis is not sensitive enough for copper or zinc deficiency diagnoses in young plantations where nutritional growth disorders appear in a short period of spring, and xylem chemistry appears to be a convenient tool in monitoring micronutrient disorders in pine plantations.     

A comparative proteome approach to decipher the mechanism of rice adaptation to phosphorous deficiency

Mineral deficiency limits crop production in most soils and in Asia alone, about 50% of rice lands are phosphorous deficient. In an attempt to determine the mechanism of rice adaptation to phosphorous deficiency, changes in proteome patterns associated with phosphorous deficiency have been investigated. We analyzed the parental line Nipponbare in comparison to its near isogenic line (NIL6‐4) carrying a major phosphorous uptake QTL (Pup1) on chromosome 12. Using 2‐DE, the proteome pattern of roots grown under 1 and 100 μM phosphorous were compared. Out of 669 proteins reproducibly detected on root 2‐DE gels, 32 proteins showed significant changes in the two genotypes. Of them, 17 proteins showed different responses in two genotypes under stress condition. MS resulted in identification of 26 proteins involved in major phosphorous deficiency adaptation pathways including reactive oxygen scavenging, citric acid cycle, signal transduction, and plant defense responses as well as proteins with unknown function. Our results highlighted a coordinated response in NIL in response to phosphorous deficiency which may confer higher adaptation to nutrient deficiency.     

Theoretical and practical approaches to the genetic specificity of mineral nutrition of plants

Summary Mineral nutrition of plants is one of the most important factors controlling biomass production. However, the efficiency of utilizing certain elements of mineral nutrition in biomass production is highly related to the genetic specificity of plants. The present paper deals with problems and former results regarding plant mineral nutrition presented from the genetic aspects. Particular attention has been devoted to the increased efficiency of using both the natural fertility of soils and mineral fertilizers by creating and utilizing suitable cultivars and hybrids, increased efficiency of using mineral nutrients under certain ecological conditions, plant-specific role of microorganisms in enriching soil with nitrogen and soluble forms of other elements, role of genetic specificity of mineral nutrition in plants in solving the problems of environmental pollution, principles of evaluating the genetic specificity of mineral nutrition in plants, genotype features influencing uptake of mineral nutrients, criteria for evaluating the genetic specificity of mineral nutrition of plants, and also to the methods for selecting genotypes for specific soil types, and mineral nutrition.     

X-Linked dominant disorders of cholesterol biosynthesis in man and mouse

The X-linked dominant male-lethal mouse mutations tattered and bare patches are homologous to human X-linked dominant chondrodysplasia punctata and CHILD syndrome, rare human skeletal dysplasias. These disorders also affect the skin and can cause cataracts and microphthalmia in surviving, affected heterozygous females. They have recently been shown to result from mutations in genes encoding enzymes involved in sequential steps in the conversion of lanosterol to cholesterol. This review will summarize clinical features of the disorders and describe recent biochemical and molecular investigations that have resulted in the elucidation of the involved genes and their metabolic pathway. Finally, speculations about possible mechanisms of pathogenesis will be provided.     

Role of proteomics in biomarker discovery and psychiatric disorders: current status,potentials, limitations and future challenges

Proteomic approaches have advanced clinical research towards more reliable, sensitive and specific biological diagnostic markers for diseases. Mood disorders are most difficult to diagnose and very much prevalent in society; hence, their proper diagnosis becomes essential. Despite tremendous research efforts to dissect the neurobiological basis of psychiatric disorders, the diagnosis and evaluation for such diseases is still poor. Biomarker discovery in psychiatry research has been accelerated by proteomic technologies, accepting the challenges in order to meet disease state-related investigations. Proteomics-based research for disease-specific protein signatures is expected to give a new direction in psychiatry research. Therefore, this may become a more powerful tool to predict the development, course and outcome of the disease towards personalized psychiatric ailments. The review discusses the role of proteomics in elucidating mechanisms of psychiatric disorders, current status, prospects, limitations and new possibilities towards a strong diagnostic tool in the clinical laboratory.     

Plant nutrition research: Priorities to meet human needs for food in sustainable ways

The world population is expanding rapidly and will likely be 10 billion by the year 2050. Limited availability of additional arable land and water resources, and the declining trend in crop yields globally make food security a major challenge in the 21st century. According to the projections, food production on presently used land must be doubled in the next two decades to meet food demand of the growing world population. To achieve the required massive increase in food production, large enhancements in application of fertilizers and improvements of soil fertility are indispensable approaches. Presently, in many developing countries, poor soil fertility, low levels of available mineral nutrients in soil, improper nutrient management, along with the lack of plant genotypes having high tolerance to nutrient deficiencies or toxicities are major constraints contributing to food insecurity, malnutrition (i.e., micronutrient deficiencies) and ecosystem degradation. Plant nutrition research provides invaluable information highly useful in elimination of these constraints, and thus, sustaining food security and well-being of humans without harming the environment. The fact that at least 60% of cultivated soils have growth-limiting problems with mineral-nutrient deficiencies and toxicities, and about 50% of the world population suffers from micronutrient deficiencies make plant nutrition research a major promising area in meeting the global demand for sufficient food production with enhanced nutritional value in this millennium. Integration of plant nutrition research with plant genetics and molecular biology is indispensable in developing plant genotypes with high genetic ability to adapt to nutrient deficient and toxic soil conditions and to allocate more micronutrients into edible plant products such as cereal grains.     

Genotypic variation in plant response to low boron and implications for plant breeding

Plant response to low B in the soil varies widely among species, and among genotypes within a species. Boron efficient genotypes are those that are able to grow well in soils in which other genotypes are adversely affected by B deficiency. This review considers the extent of variation in B efficiency in plant species and genotypes, the physiological nature of the efficiency mechanisms, what is known of the genetic basis for inheritance, screening techniques and the practical implications of the genotypic variations.Frequently, B efficiency is the sole reason for a difference between an average yield and complete crop failure. Severe yield losses can be effectively prevented by the inclusion of B efficiency as a selection criterion in crop breeding and improvement programmes for regions with low B soils. In addition, the expression of B deficiency primarily through male sterility, which is common in many species, creates opportunities for outcrossing in normally self-fertilised species. This, in turn, leads to two possibilities. Firstly, self fertilisation, and therefore maintenance of pure lines, cannot always be assumed in self pollinated species where B efficient and inefficient genotypes are grown side by side on low B soils. Secondly, B deficiency, in soil or artificial media, may be used as a fertility selective medium in which the male sterile B inefficient genotypes and the male fertile B efficient genotypes could hybridise naturally. This would be useful as a simple and economical method for creating heterozygous populations in breeding programmes as well as for producing hybrid seeds. Now that the roles of B in plant growth and development are beginning to be clarified, the efficiency mechanisms as well as the governing genetics can be explained. Practical benefits from the genetic diversity of B efficiency will be enhanced by a better understanding of B efficiency mechanisms and the molecular bases for their genetic control.     

Responses of temporal distribution of gastropods to individual and combined effects of elevated CO2 and N deposition in annual grassland

Terrestrial gastropods have been shown to exert major impacts on the plant structure and species composition of temperate grasslands and other terrestrial plant communities. In order to develop predictions of plant community responses to changing environments, it is critical to understand how factors structuring plant communities will be influenced by global changes. Nevertheless, little is known about the potential for the size and abundance of gastropods to be altered by the individual and combined effects of elevated atmospheric CO₂ and increased deposition of N. Previous work suggests that responses of herbivore abundance to these global changes seem likely to depend, in part, upon the changes in the quantity of plant biomass available for consumption, and changes in the nutritional quality of this plant material for gastropod survival, development, and reproduction. Therefore, in this study we investigated the effect of elevated CO₂ and increased N deposition on gastropod size and abundance, as well as the effects on plant community production and N status. Elevated CO₂ depressed the size of gastropods early in the growing season by 29% to 42%, increased mid-season gastropod abundance by 38% to 43%, and depressed abundance late in the growing season by 21% to 29%. These changes in gastropod size and abundance were due largely to the modification of plant tissue quality and quantity. Increased N deposition, in contrast, influenced neither gastropod abundance nor per capita biomass during any part of the growing season. Neither elevated CO₂ nor increased N deposition disrupted the temporal synchrony between plant production and slug abundance.     

Hormonal control of nitrogen acquisition: roles of auxin, abscisic acid, and cytokinin

Nitrogen is the mineral nutrient that often limits plant growth and development. In response to changes in nitrogen supply, plants display elaborate responses at both physiological and morphological levels to adjust their growth and development. Because higher plants consist of multiple organs with different functions and nutritional requirements, they rely on local and long-distance signalling pathways to coordinate the responses at the whole-plant level. Phytohormones have been considered as signalling substances of such pathways. Amongst phytohormones, abscisic acid, auxin, and cytokinins have been closely linked to nitrogen signalling. Recent evidence has provided some insights into how nitrogen and the phytohormone signals are integrated to bring about changes in physiology and morphology. In this review, the evidence is summarized, mostly focusing on examples related to nitrogen acquisition.     

植物根际促生菌及丛枝菌根真菌协助植物修复重金属污染土壤的机制

植物修复是一种前景广阔的重金属污染土壤的主要修复技术,在微生物的协助下效果更为显著。植物根际促生菌可通过分泌吲哚-3-乙酸(IAA)、产铁载体、固氮溶磷等方式促进植物生长、改善植物重金属耐受性,从而有效提高重金属污染土壤的植物修复效率。菌根真菌是土壤-植物系统中重要的功能菌群之一,可侵染植物根系改变根系形态和矿质营养状况,通过菌丝体吸附重金属,也可产生球囊霉素、有机酸、植物生长素等次生代谢产物改变重金属生物有效性。植物根际促生菌与丛枝菌根真菌可对植物产生协同促生作用,在重金属污染土壤修复中具有一定应用潜力。目前,国内外关于植物根际促生菌和丛枝菌根真菌互作已有大量研究,而二者的相互作用机理仍处于探索阶段。本文综述了近年来国内外植物根际促生菌和丛枝菌根真菌在重金属污染土壤植物修复中的作用机制,并对其研究前景进行展望。     

静电场对植物光合器官结构和功能变化的影响

静电场促进水萝卜对矿质元素的吸收,叶片光合色素的含量及光合、呼吸活性增加,使叶片光合细胞的数目、细胞中叶绿体数目、叶绿体中基粒及类囊体片尾数都趋增加。结果表明,先合结构及活性的改善与静电场促进植物的离子吸收有关,从而改善了植物的营养状况。     

Perspectives on methylmalonic acidemia resulting from molecular cloning of methylmalonyl CoA mutase

Methylmalonyl CoA mutase deficiency (methylmalonic acidemia) has been a paradigm for biochemical and somatic cell genetic approaches to human disease. Recently, genes encoding this enzyme have been cloned from several species. These studies have provided information about the primary structure and evolution of this enzyme, the mutations which underlie its deficiency state, and the structure-function determinants which are required for its activity. Gene transfer studies now permit restitution of this enzyme to genetically deficient cells and may enable somatic gene therapy to be undertaken. Molecular genetic studies not only provide more detailed information about this enzyme, but introduce new perspectives on the molecular mechanisms and dynamics of its function and raise new questions about the dyshomeostatic consequences of its deficiency.