一个新的玉米NAC类基因(ZmNAC1)的克隆与分析

NAC转录因子是近十年来新发现的具有多种生物功能的植物特异转录因子,在植物生长发育、激素调节和抵抗逆境等方面发挥着重要的作用。本研究利用电子克隆方法,结合RT-PCR分析,从玉米中克隆了一个与NAC类基因同源的全长cDNA序列,命名为ZmNAC1（GenBank登录号EU224278）,该基因全长为1029bp,具有完整的开放阅读框架（ORF,26~907bp）,推测编码蛋白含有293个氨基酸,分子量为32.3KD,等电点为8.65。半定量RT-PCR分析表明,ZmNAC1可以被低温、聚乙二醇（polyethylene glycol, PEG）、高盐和ABA诱导。这些结果表明,ZmNAC1可能在植物逆境反应中起作用。本研究是有关玉米NAC转录因子基因的首次报道。     

Ectopic expression of a cold-inducible transcription factor, CBF1/DREB1b, in transgenic rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The gene encoding C-repeat/dehydration-responsive element binding factor 1 (CBF1/DREB1b) of Arabidopsis was introduced into rice (Oryza sativa L.) under the control of the maize ubiquitin promoter. Its incorporation and expression in transgenic rice plants were confirmed by DNA and RNA gel-blot analyses. Cold tolerance in the transgenics was not significantly different from that of the wild-type plants, as determined by ion leakage, chlorophyll fluorescence, and survival rates. However, the cold-responsive genes lip5, lip9, and OsDhn1 were up-regulated in the transgenic plants, suggesting that the cold signal transduction pathway involving CBF1 is partially conserved in this cold-labile plant.     

转录因子DREB1A基因的克隆与植物表达载体的构建

根据GenBank中已发表的转录因子DREB1A基因的cDNA序列设计并合成了一对引物,通过RT-PCR的方法从低温处理的拟南芥总RNA中扩增出DREB1A基因的全长cDNA片段。将其克隆到pMD18 T-vector中。经测序证明该片段与GenBank上报道的序列具有99.8%的同源性。2个碱基的置换导致了一处氨基酸的差异,但这一氨基酸并不在基因的功能结构域上,推测其不会影响基因功能。以植物表达载体pBch为基础,构建了由组成型启动子35S调控的DREB1A基因的植物表达载体pBDR35S,为利用DREB1A基因改良植物抗逆性奠定了物质基础。     

冠突散囊菌转录因子stf1基因的克隆及其表达分析

利用RACE技术获得了冠突散囊菌stf1基因的全长DNA序列。该序列全长3 029bp,开放阅读框长度为2 664bp,从114–2 908bp,在253bp处含有一个131bp的内含子,预测编码887个氨基酸。同源分析结果表明该基因与Snd1/p100转录因子同源。应用相对定量SYBR Green I荧光定量PCR技术对stf1基因在不同发育时期的表达量的差异进行了检测。结果表明,这个基因在子囊孢子时期的表达量最高,在分生孢子时期的表达量最低,相比子囊孢子时期下降了1倍。为深入研究冠突散囊菌的产孢调控机制奠定了一定的基础。     

玉米逆境响应相关转录因子ZmC2H2-1基因克隆及功能验证

玉米是我国第一大作物,提高玉米的抗逆性是玉米育种的重要目标性状之一。植物C2H2型锌指蛋白广泛参与植物各个时期的生长发育及逆境应答过程。本研究从玉米中分离了转录因子ZmC2H2-1基因并对其功能进行了初步研究。结果表明,ZmC2H2-1属于C2H2锌指蛋白转录因子家族,编码蛋白主要位于细胞核中,酵母自激活实验表明ZmC2H2-1不具有自激活活性;干旱、盐和ABA等逆境可抑制ZmC2H2-1基因在玉米中的表达;过表达ZmC2H2-1基因的拟南芥叶片失水速率更快,在PEG、高盐和ABA处理条件下,与对照相比转ZmC2H2-1基因拟南芥耐逆性降低,以上结果说明ZmC2H2-1基因是作为玉米抗逆的负调控因子参与了逆境胁迫应答。本研究为深入解析玉米ZmC2H2-1的调控网络和玉米的抗逆调控机制奠定了基础。     

Cloning and expression analysis of some genes involved in the phosphoinositide and phospholipid signaling pathways from maize (Zea mays L.)

Previous studies have indicated the phosphoinositide and phospholipid signaling pathways play a key role in plant growth, development and responses to environmental stresses. However, little is known about the phosphoinositide and phospholipid signaling pathways in maize (Zea mays L.). To better understand the function of genes involved in the phosphoinositide and phospholipid signaling pathways in maize, the cDNA sequences of ZmPIS2, ZmPLC2, ZmDGK1, ZmDGK2 and ZmDGK3 were obtained by RACE (rapid amplification of cDNA ends) or in silico cloning combined with PCR. RT-PCR analysis of cDNA from five tissues (roots, stems, leaves, tassels, and ears) indicated that the expression patterns of the five cDNAs we isolated as well as ZmPIS, ZmPLC, ZmPLD varied in different tissues. To determine the effects of different environmental conditions such as cold, drought and various phytohormones (abscisic acid, indole-3-acetic acid and gibberellic acid) on gene expression, we analyzed expression by Real-Time (RT-PCR), and found that the different isoforms of these gene families involved in the phosphoinositide and phospholipid signaling pathways have specific expression patterns. Our results suggested that these genes may be involved in the responses to environmental stresses, but have different functions. The isolation and analysis of expression patterns of genes involved in the phosphoinositide and phospholipid signaling pathways provides a good basis for further research of the phosphoinositide and phospholipid signaling pathways in maize and is a novel supplement to our comprehension of these pathways in plants.     

Molecular analysis of C1 alleles in Zea mays defines regions involved in the expression of this regulatory gene

The structure and function of several C1 alleles have been investigated molecularly and the importance of C1 promoter sequences for gene expression was studied using transient transformation assays. The C1 mutants analyzed were the overexpressing allele C1-S, the light-inducible allele c1-p, the null recessive allele c1-n, and the Ds element-induced allele c1-m1. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the alleles revealed a number of differences, predominantly located at the 3′ end of the gene. The promoter sequences of the C1 alleles investigated so far (including wild-type and the dominant inhibitor C1-I allele) are almost identical except for two short footprint-like sequences (Box I and Box 11) close to the putative CAAT box. Northern blot experiments and transient expression in particle gun experiments indicate that these sequences may be correlated with the different expression patterns of the alleles in the aleurone of maturing and germinating kernels.     

HOS1, a genetic locus involved in cold-responsive gene expression in arabidopsis.

Low-temperature stress induces the expression of a variety of genes in plants. However, the signal transduction pathway(s) that activates gene expression under cold stress is poorly understood. Mutants defective in cold signaling should facilitate molecular analysis of plant responses to low temperature and eventually lead to the identification and cloning of a cold stress receptor(s) and intracellular signaling components. In this study, we characterize a plant mutant affected in its response to low temperatures. The Arabidopsis hos1-1 mutation identified by luciferase imaging causes superinduction of cold-responsive genes, such as RD29A, COR47, COR15A, KIN1, and ADH. Although these genes are also induced by abscisic acid, high salt, or polyethylene glycol in addition to cold, the hos1-1 mutation only enhances their expression under cold stress. Genetic analysis revealed that hos1-1 is a single recessive mutation in a nuclear gene. Our studies using the firefly luciferase reporter gene under the control of the cold-responsive RD29A promoter have indicated that cold-responsive genes can be induced by temperatures as high as 19 degrees C in hos1-1 plants. In contrast, wild-type plants do not express the luciferase reporter at 10 degrees C or higher. Compared with the wild type, hos1-1 plants are l ess cold hardy. Nonetheless, after 2 days of cold acclimation, hos1-1 plants acquired the same degree of freezing tolerance as did the wild type. The hos1-1 plants flowered earlier than did the wild-type plants and appeared constitutively vernalized. Taken together, our findings show that the HOS1 locus is an important negative regulator of cold signal transduction in plant cells and that it plays critical roles in controlling gene expression under cold stress, freezing tolerance, and flowering time.     

银杏bHLH91转录因子基因的克隆及表达分析

bHLH转录因子在植物的生长发育、胁迫应答和次生代谢中具有重要的调控作用。该研究通过PCR技术从银杏(Ginkgo biloba)叶中分离得到了一个bHLH基因的cDNA序列,并将其命名为GbbHLH91。序列分析结果显示扩增的GbbHLH91基因cDNA序列长度为1 425 bp,开放阅读框是1 065 bp,编码354个氨基酸,分子量为40.1 kDa,等电点为8.20。系统进化分析结果显示,从用于进化树构建的bHLH蛋白质聚类情况来看,银杏GbbHLH91蛋白与裸子植物油松(Pinus tabuliformis)bHLH蛋白亲缘关系最近,且与被子植物无油樟(Amborella trichopoda)bHLH蛋白相似性达到60%,表明该基因在进化过程中相对比较保守。实时荧光定量PCR分析发现银杏bHLH91基因在银杏的各个组织中均有表达,其中在银杏叶中表达量最高,在根和茎中基因的表达量次之,在银杏雌花和果中表达量较少,在雄花中的表达水平最低;GbbHLH91基因在不同发育时期的银杏叶片中,表达量也存在一定的差异,其中在4月中旬该基因的表达水平达到最高,而后随着叶片的生长发育,该基因的表达水平呈现下降趋势。该研究结果为进一步验证GbbHLH91基因的功能奠定了前期基础。     

根癌农杆菌介导转录因子CBF1基因对草莓的转化

以草莓(Fragaria ananassa Duch)品种“达斯莱克特“(Darselect)为试材,用根癌农杆菌介导的方法,将转录因子CBF1基因导入草莓叶盘细胞,经多次筛选获得了转基因植株.转化植株经PCR检测,证实了CBF1基因已经整合到草莓的基因组中.以电解质渗透法检测了植株的抗寒性,结果显示转基因草莓的抗寒能力较未转化植株有明显提高,且不同转基因株系之间提高程度有着差异.