植物纤维素合酶基因研究进展

纤维素合酶催化合成的β_1,4糖苷链构成植物细胞壁中含量最丰富的组份纤维素。植物体中存在着众多纤维素合酶,同时还具多种与之相关的纤维素合酶相似蛋白,它们组成了一个庞大的纤维素合酶超家族。纤维素合酶的催化机理尚不清楚,纤维素合酶相似蛋白的功能更有待于深入研究。本文综述了近年植物纤维素合酶及其相似蛋白编码基因的研究进展。     

植物纤维素合酶基因研究进展

纤维素合酶催化合成的 β_1 ,4糖苷链构成植物细胞壁中含量最丰富的组份纤维素。植物体中存在着众多纤维素合酶 ,同时还具多种与之相关的纤维素合酶相似蛋白 ,它们组成了一个庞大的纤维素合酶超家族。纤维素合酶的催化机理尚不清楚 ,纤维素合酶相似蛋白的功能更有待于深入研究。本文综述了近年植物纤维素合酶及其相似蛋白编码基因的研究进展。     

高等植物纤维素合酶超家族

从1996年第一个植物纤维素合酶基因的鉴定,人们对植物体内纤维素合成的研究已经走过了10年的历程。10多年中,人们取得了很大的成果,也有很多问题有待解决。该文主要介绍拟南芥和毛果杨基因组中的纤维素合酶超家族。     

苎麻纤维素合酶基因BnCesA1全长cDNA的克隆与表达分析

苎麻是中国的传统纤维作物,能够生产最长的自然纤维。本研究旨在克隆苎麻纤维素合酶基因BnCesA1全长编码序列,对其表达模式进行分析。以已知的苎麻纤维素合酶基因序列(DQ077190)为基础,设计5’RACE引物,以湘苎三号为材料,得到了BnCesA1的5’端,拼接后得到了BnCesA1的全长序列,并从湘苎三号的cDNA中成功克隆到包括BnCesA1全部编码序列的cDNA序列。扩增得到的BnCesA1基因cDNA为3253bp,编码区3246bp,编码含1082个氨基酸的多肽。通过对这个基因进行核酸序列和蛋白结构域分析表明,BnCesA1和毛果杨、欧美山杨、巨桉、大叶相思等其他物种的纤维素合酶基因都有很高的同源性,根据得到的BnCesA1的5’端设计特异性表达检测引物,分析其在湘苎三号苎麻品种各组织中的表达情况,结果显示BnCesA1在所检测的各组织中均有表达,表达量为茎皮>叶>顶芽>根。本研究首次克隆到苎麻中编码全长蛋白的纤维素合酶基因,并且苎麻BnCesA1在茎皮中高表达提示该基因可能在苎麻韧皮纤维合成中有重要作用。     

毛白杨蔗糖合酶基因PtSUS1的克隆及其表达模式分析

蔗糖合酶（sucrose synthase）与植物库强调节、次生壁的形成和纤维素合成等有着密切的联系,其中在纤维素合成过程中的作用尤为显著。本研究根据我们已获得的毛白杨PtSUS1基因片段设计引物,采用RACE技术,获得了毛白杨PtSUS1的基因序列,测序结果显示该基因序列全长为2 669 bp,包括一个完整的阅读框,编码805个氨基酸。通过Blast检索分析表明,PtSUS1与拟南芥、巨桉、陆地棉、温州蜜柑、毛果杨SUS1的核酸和氨基酸序列的同源性分别达到76%~97%和82%~97%。运用生物信息软件对PtSUS1编码的蛋白进行了二级结构预测和功能位点分析,结果显示该蛋白氨基酸序列包括两个功能域,存在可能的磷酸化位点38个,无跨膜结构域存在。系统进化分析表明PtSUS1与PtSUS2关系最为接近。RT-PCR分析结果显示,PtSUS1在被检测的毛白杨根、茎、叶及雌雄花芽组织和器官中均有表达,呈现组成型表达模式。该研究为进一步深入探索毛白杨蔗糖合酶基因PtSUS1的功能奠定了基础。     

苎麻纤维素合酶BnCesA1高变区蛋白的原核表达与条件优化

高等植物纤维素合酶是含有多个功能结构域的糖苷转移酶,催化合成β-1 ,4葡萄糖苷链,即高等植物细胞壁的重要成分之一纤维素。在同一物种例如在拟南芥中比对纤维素合酶家族各成员的序列信息,发现其蛋白序列中存在两个高变异区域（HVR）,其中第一个HVR靠近NH2端（NHVR）,富含酸性氨基酸。本研究克隆了苎麻纤维素合酶基因（BnCesA1） 的NHVR编码序列,并以正确的阅读框亚克隆至含有6×His接头的pQE-N1原核表达载体,构建了pQE-N1-NHVR重组表达载体。在大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）中表达的重组蛋白His-tag-NHVR经Western-blotting验证后,正交优化得到该蛋白小量表达的最优条件组合为：所挑取的2号菌落在37 ℃下,IPTG的诱导浓度为0.1 mmol/L, 诱导表达4 hr。本研究结果为纯化His-tag-NHVR融合蛋白,制备其抗体及进一步研究苎麻纤维素合酶局部功能或其组织特异性作用打下基础。     

慈竹纤维素合酶BeCesA4的克隆及功能分析

非木造浆是解决国内纸浆短缺的重要手段。慈竹(Bambusa emeiensis)是我国非木造浆的主要原材料之一,提高慈竹中纤维素的含量能够有效提高竹类造浆的效率。通过前期对慈竹进行的转录组测序分析,挖掘出慈竹中一个与植物中纤维素合酶亚基A(cellulose synthase A,CesA)同源的基因,命名为BeCesA4。结果显示,克隆出的BeCesA4基因编码一个含有982个氨基酸的蛋白质,具备CesA家族的保守结构域;BeCesA4在慈竹快速生长的笋与茎中显著表达;过量表达该基因会使转基因植物出现生物量提升、纤维素含量升高和次生细胞壁加厚等现象。结果表明,BeCesA4的表达量与慈竹茎内纤维素的积累呈正相关。本研究结果为进一步揭示慈竹纤维素合成机制奠定了基础。     

蔗糖合酶基因AtSUS3干涉后对拟南芥角果发育的影响

蔗糖合酶(SuSy)是植物蔗糖代谢关键酶之一,该研究利用反向遗传学手段,采用RNAi技术抑制拟南芥中AtSUS3基因的表达,测定纯系转基因植株的抽苔率,并对酶活性、糖含量等指标以及糖代谢相关基因的表达进行了检测,探讨SuSy在植物发育中的作用。结果显示:(1)转基因拟南芥的抽苔平均早于野生型植株2～3d,且优先3～4d完成抽苔。(2)开花后生长天数对角果蔗糖和葡萄糖含量有显著影响,而对果糖含量影响不显著;开花后5d时,野生型株系的葡萄糖含量显著高于转基因株系SUS3-2,至15d时,两种转基因株系葡萄糖含量均显著低于野生型株系。(3)开花后生长天数对SuSy、SPS、INV的活性均有显著影响,随开花时间延长,野生型株系SuSy活性显著低于转基因株系,而SPS和INV则相反。(4)AtSUS3基因沉默对其他糖代谢基因有不同程度的影响,开花后5d时,转基因植株的角果中AtCesA1、AtCesA7和AtCINV1的表达量较野生型都有所增加;开花后15d时,转基因植株的角果中AtCesA1、AtCesA7的表达量较野生型高,而AtCINV、AtCwINV的表达量比野生型低。研究表明,拟南芥AtSUS3基因沉默后,在正常生长条件下未造成植株发育异常,同时还可能通过同源家族中其他SuSy的表达水平增加,促进了该酶及糖代谢相关基因整体水平的增加,有助于角果成熟。     

拟南芥MATE家族基因DTX12的表达模式分析

拟南芥多药物和有毒化合物排出家族属次级转运蛋白家族,此类转运蛋白与解毒内源的次生代谢物和外源的有毒化合物有关。通过PCR的方法从拟南芥基因组中扩增到该家族成员DTX12的启动子序列,构建双元载体pBI101.2-ProDTX12-GUS,通过农杆菌介导的方法转化拟南芥,然后对转基因植株用GUS底物进行组织化学显色分析。同时,通过半定量RT-PCR的方法,进一步验证了DTX12在不同组织中的表达情况。结果表明该基因在成熟的花器官的花药中和幼苗的根尖特异表达,另外,在子叶的尖端也有少量的表达。由于DTX12编码的是一个具有转运有毒化合物功能的蛋白,推测其功能可能是转运与细胞分裂或生长有关的次生代谢物。     

拟南芥芥子酶基因TGG6是花特异表达的假基因

芥子酶是一类催化硫代葡萄糖苷水解的同工酶．TGG6是在拟南芥中新发现的芥子酶基因．从拟南芥几个不同生态型中克隆了他G6基因的全长核基因和cDNA片段．序列分析结果表明,所有供斌的生态型的他G6基因都与拟南芥第3个芥子酶基因彤G3类似,在编码区存在1个以上移码突变,不能编码完整多肽．生态型Col-0第10个内含子的剪切边界还发生了缺失,导致内含子不能被切除．初步确定TGG6是一个假基因．然而,RT-PCR结果却表明TGG6在花器中特异性表达,说明TGG6在进化的某个阶段可能是有功能的基因,由于某种原因。该基因在进化过程中被失活．     

Profiling the Expression of Genes Controlling Rice Grain Quality

Rice provides a staple source of energy, protein and other nutrients to half of the world population. Over 90 of the rice seeds consists of starch and protein by dry weight. The quantity and property of starch and protein thus play a dominant role in the yield and quality of rice. The amylase content of starch is a determining factor in the eating and cooking quality while the amount and essential amino acids balance of storage proteins affect the nutritional quality of rice. In China, the super-hybrid rice currently under the last phase of development has a 35 yield advantage over the best inbred rice varieties. However, its grain quality needs further improvement. This study reported the expression patterns of 44 genes participating in starch, storage protein, and lysine synthesis in the developing rice grain. Field grown rice cultivar 9311, the paternal line of an elite super-hybrid rice LYP9with its draft genomic sequence released, was used as plant material. Results revealed diverse yet coordinated expression profiles of the genes involved in the three pathways which lead to the final composition and property of starch, protein and lysine that determine the quality of rice, providing useful information for rice quality improvement.     

Automatic Assignment of Prokaryotic Genes to Functional Categories Using Literature Profiling

In the last years, there was an exponential increase in the number of publicly available genomes. Once finished, most genome projects lack financial support to review annotations. A few of these gene annotations are based on a combination of bioinformatics evidence, however, in most cases, annotations are based solely on sequence similarity to a previously known gene, which was most probably annotated in the same way. As a result, a large number of predicted genes remain unassigned to any functional category despite the fact that there is enough evidence in the literature to predict their function. We developed a classifier trained with term-frequency vectors automatically disclosed from text corpora of an ensemble of genes representative of each functional category of the J. Craig Venter Institute Comprehensive Microbial Resource (JCVI-CMR) ontology. The classifier achieved up to 84% precision with 68% recall (for confidence≥0.4), F-measure 0.76 (recall and precision equally weighted) in an independent set of 2,220 genes, from 13 bacterial species, previously classified by JCVI-CMR into unambiguous categories of its ontology. Finally, the classifier assigned (confidence≥0.7) to functional categories a total of 5,235 out of the ∼24 thousand genes previously in categories “Unknown function” or “Unclassified” for which there is literature in MEDLINE. Two biologists reviewed the literature of 100 of these genes, randomly picket, and assigned them to the same functional categories predicted by the automatic classifier. Our results confirmed the hypothesis that it is possible to confidently assign genes of a real world repository to functional categories, based exclusively on the automatic profiling of its associated literature. The LitProf - Gene Classifier web server is accessible at: www.cebio.org/litprofGC.     

Circadian Clock-Regulated Expression of Phytochrome and Cryptochrome Genes in Arabidopsis

Many physiological and biochemical processes in plants exhibit endogenous rhythms with a period of about 24 h. Endogenous oscillators called circadian clocks regulate these rhythms. The circadian clocks are synchronized to the periodic environmental changes (e.g. day/night cycles) by specific stimuli; among these, the most important is the light. Photoreceptors, phytochromes, and cryptochromes are involved in setting the clock by transducing the light signal to the central oscillator. In this work, we analyzed the spatial, temporal, and long-term light-regulated expression patterns of the Arabidopsis phytochrome (PHYA to PHYE) and cryptochrome (CRY1 and CRY2) promoters fused to the luciferase (LUC(+)) reporter gene. The results revealed new details of the tissue-specific expression and light regulation of the PHYC and CRY1 and 2 promoters. More importantly, the data obtained demonstrate that the activities of the promoter::LUC(+) constructs, with the exception of PHYC::LUC(+), display circadian oscillations under constant conditions. In addition, it is shown by measuring the mRNA abundance of PHY and CRY genes under constant light conditions that the circadian control is also maintained at the level of mRNA accumulation. These observations indicate that the plant circadian clock controls the expression of these photoreceptors, revealing the formation of a new regulatory loop that could modulate gating and resetting of the circadian clock.     

拟南芥ABC转运类蛋白家族的分子进化、表达模式和蛋白功能网络预测分析

ABC转运蛋白又称腺苷三磷酸结合盒转运蛋白(ATP-binding cassette transporters),该基因家族是目前已知最大、最古老的蛋白家族之一,在植物中ABC转运蛋白种类繁多、结构复杂、功能多样,涉及植物一切的生命活动过程。本研究系统介绍了拟南芥中131个ABC转运蛋白的亚家族分类、系统命名、蛋白大小以及蛋白亚细胞定位等基因信息,在此基础上,分析了ABC转运蛋白基因在染色体分布以及进化过程中发生的复制事件;其次在47个组织器官或发育阶段中聚类分析了ABC转运蛋白的表达模式和各个亚家族分布规律,结果表明ABC转运蛋白基因的表达具有明显的组织特异性和时空特异性,说明在进化过程中该类蛋白功能也进一步发生分化;我们以花药发育过程为例,说明ABC转运蛋白在花药发育过程中具有较高的协调性,在时空和组织上表达受到严格的调控;最后我们分析了ABC转运蛋白亚家族内部和各个亚家族之间可能存在的蛋白相互作用关系,推测ABC半分子转运蛋白形成同源或异源二聚体发挥功能的可能性,进一步说明ABC转运蛋白在蛋白互作水平上也存在功能多样性和严格的调控关系。