Identification and expression of isoflavone synthase, the key enzyme for biosynthesis of isoflavones in legumes

Isoflavones have drawn much attention because of their benefits to human health. These compounds, which are produced almost exclusively in legumes, have natural roles in plant defense and root nodulation. Isoflavone synthase catalyzes the first committed step of isoflavone biosynthesis, a branch of the phenylpropanoid pathway. To identify the gene encoding this enzyme, we used a yeast expression assay to screen soybean ESTs encoding cytochrome P450 proteins. We identified two soybean genes encoding isoflavone synthase, and used them to isolate homologous genes from other leguminous species including red clover, white clover, hairy vetch, mung bean, alfalfa, lentil, snow pea, and lupine, as well as from the nonleguminous sugarbeet. We expressed soybean isoflavone synthase in Arabidopsis thaliana, which led to production of the isoflavone genistein in this nonlegume plant. Identification of the isoflavone synthase gene should allow manipulation of the phenylpropanoid pathway for agronomic and nutritional purposes.     

The novel pathogen-responsive glycosyltransferase UGT73C7 mediates the redirection of phenylpropanoid metabolism and promotes SNC1-dependent Arabidopsis immunity

Recent studies have shown that global metabolic reprogramming is a common event in plant innate immunity; however, the relevant molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we identified a pathogen-induced glycosyltransferase, UGT73C7, that plays a critical role in Arabidopsis disease resistance through mediating redirection of the phenylpropanoid pathway. Loss of UGT73C7 function resulted in significantly decreased resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000, whereas constitutive overexpression of UGT73C7 led to an enhanced defense response. UGT73C7-activated immunity was demonstrated to be dependent on the upregulated expression of SNC1, a Toll/interleukin 1 receptor-type NLR gene. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo assays indicated that UGT73C7 could glycosylate p-coumaric acid and ferulic acid, the upstream metabolites in the phenylpropanoid pathway. Mutations that lead to the loss of UGT73C7 enzyme activities resulted in the failure to induce SNC1 expression. Moreover, glycosylation activity of UGT73C7 resulted in the redirection of phenylpropanoid metabolic flux to biosynthesis of hydroxycinnamic acids and coumarins. The disruption of the phenylpropanoid pathway suppressed UGT73C7-promoted SNC1 expression and the immune response. This study not only identified UGT73C7 as an important regulator that adjusts phenylpropanoid metabolism upon pathogen challenge, but also provided a link between phenylpropanoid metabolism and an NLR gene.     

丹参转录因子基因SmMYCamiRNA表达载体的构建及其对丹参的转化

丹参（Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge）为我国传统中药,其活性成分的药理作用广泛,尤其在防治心血管病药物中具有重要作用。丹参水溶性酚酸类物质合成途径由苯丙烷代谢和酪氨酸代谢共同参与而成。转录因子对植物次生代谢起着十分重要的调节作用。我们前期测序结果显示,SmMyc是一个丹参bHLH类转录因子,可能参与丹参酚酸类化合物生物合成的调控。本研究利用拟南芥miRNA319前体为模板骨架,通过over-lappingPCR技术构建旨在能对SmMYC进行特异性沉默的at-tificalmiRNA（amiRNA）植物表达载体,命名为pCambial302-amiR-SmMYC,并通过农杆菌介导的遗传转化方法将其导入丹参。Real．timePCR结果显示,所得转化阳性株系SmMYC的mRNA水平均呈现不同程度的下降,同时酚酸类代谢途径中相关酶基因的表达也表现为相应程度的下调;福林酚法检测结果显示,转化株系中总酚酸含量均低于同期的野生型丹参。以上实验结果初步显示丹参SmMYC可能作为一个重要的转录因子参与酚酸类活性物质的代谢调控,同时为进一步研究SmMYC4丹参酚酸类化合物生物合成中的调控功能奠定了基础。     

PEG模拟干旱胁迫下马铃薯茎段转录组分析

该研究以‘青薯9号’马铃薯无菌苗为材料,采用转录组测序技术分析模拟干旱胁迫下马铃薯茎段的差异表达,探究茎段在干旱胁迫下的分子机制。结果表明:(1)不同程度干旱胁迫下,马铃薯叶片脯氨酸、可溶性糖以及可溶性蛋白含量明显增加;马铃薯茎段差异表达基因下调的数量均多于上调,其中3种处理条件下共有的差异表达基因有657个。(2)GO富集分析表明,马铃薯茎段差异表达基因主要集中在氧化还原过程、激素响应、氧化还原酶活性以及糖基水解酶活性;Pathway富集分析表明,马铃薯茎段差异表达基因主要集中在植物激素信号转导、苯丙酸生物合成、玉米素生物合成、苯丙氨酸代谢、淀粉和蔗糖代谢以及次生代谢产物的生物合成。(3)实时荧光定量PCR验证结果表明,6个差异表达基因在不同程度干旱胁迫中的差异表达与转录组分析的结果基本一致,证明转录组数据的可靠性。该结果对进一步研究马铃薯干旱胁迫响应机制有一定参考价值,也丰富了马铃薯抗旱育种的基因资源。     

Application of Pseudomonas fluorescens to Blackberry under Field Conditions Improves Fruit Quality by Modifying Flavonoid Metabolism

Application of a plant growth promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR), Pseudomonas fluorescens N21.4, to roots of blackberries (Rubus sp.) is part of an optimised cultivation practice to improve yields and quality of fruit throughout the year in this important fruit crop. Blackberries are especially rich in flavonoids and therefore offer potential benefits for human health in prevention or amelioration of chronic diseases. However, the phenylpropanoid pathway and its regulation during ripening have not been studied in detail, in this species. PGPR may trigger flavonoid biosynthesis as part of an induced systemic response (ISR) given the important role of this pathway in plant defence, to cause increased levels of flavonoids in the fruit. We have identified structural genes encoding enzymes of the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid biosynthetic pathways catalysing the conversion of phenylalanine to the final products including flavonols, anthocyanins and catechins from blackberry, and regulatory genes likely involved in controlling the activity of pathway branches. We have also measured the major flavonols, anthocyanins and catechins at three stages during ripening. Our results demonstrate the coordinated expression of flavonoid biosynthetic genes with the accumulation of anthocyanins, catechins, and flavonols in developing fruits of blackberry. Elicitation of blackberry plants by treatment of roots with P.fluorescens N21.4, caused increased expression of some flavonoid biosynthetic genes and an accompanying increase in the concentration of selected flavonoids in fruits. Our data demonstrate the physiological mechanisms involved in the improvement of fruit quality by PGPR under field conditions, and highlight some of the genetic targets of elicitation by beneficial bacteria.     

A rice fungal MAMP‐responsive MAPK cascade regulates metabolic flow to antimicrobial metabolite synthesis

Plants recognize potential microbial pathogens through microbial‐associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) and activate a series of defense responses, including cell death and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and diverse anti‐microbial secondary metabolites. Mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are known to play a pivotal role in mediating MAMP signals; however, the signaling pathway from a MAPK cascade to the activation of defense responses is poorly understood. Here, we found in rice that the chitin elicitor, a fungal MAMP, activates two rice MAPKs (OsMPK3 and OsMPK6) and one MAPK kinase (OsMKK4). OsMPK6 was essential for the chitin elicitor‐induced biosynthesis of diterpenoid phytoalexins. Conditional expression of the active form of OsMKK4 (OsMKK4^DD) induced extensive alterations in gene expression, which implied dynamic changes of metabolic flow from glycolysis to secondary metabolite biosynthesis while suppressing basic cellular activities such as translation and cell division. OsMKK4^DD also induced various defense responses, such as cell death, biosynthesis of diterpenoid phytoalexins and lignin but not generation of extracellular ROS. OsMKK4^DD‐induced cell death and expression of diterpenoid phytoalexin pathway genes, but not that of phenylpropanoid pathway genes, were dependent on OsMPK6. Collectively, the OsMKK4–OsMPK6 cascade plays a crucial role in reprogramming plant metabolism during MAMP‐triggered defense responses.