割手密2C型蛋白磷酸酶ScPP2C基因的克隆与表达分析

割手密由于具有抗病、抗虫、抗逆等潜在的有利基因,历来被用于甘蔗的抗性遗传改良。在割手密中克隆编码2C型蛋白磷酸酶(protein phosphatase 2C, PP2C)的基因,并分析其在干旱胁迫下的差异表达。本研究利用RT-PCR方法从割手密叶片中克隆得到PP2C基因的CDS全长序列,利用生物信息学在线软件对PP2C蛋白的理化性质、蛋白结构进行预测分析,并采用实时荧光定量的方法分析该基因在不同干旱处理下的差异表达。结果显示从割手密中克隆到一个全长951 bp编码316个氨基酸的2C型蛋白磷酸酶基因,命名为ScPP2C,GenBank登录号为MG322120。荧光定量分析表明,随着干旱胁迫时间的延长,其表达量呈先上调后下调的表达模式,说明该基因是干旱胁迫诱导型基因。本研究通过挖掘甘蔗野生种割手密中的抗旱新基因ScPP2C,为甘蔗野生种质资源开发利用、转基因抗旱甘蔗新品种的选育提供了参考依据。     

巴西橡胶树HbbZIP40转录因子基因的克隆与分析

bZIP转录因子普遍存在于真核生物中,参于多种生物学过程。为分析橡胶树bZIP转录因子的结构功能,本研究克隆了1个bZIP基因家族成员,命名为HbbZIP40(登录号:KY807075)。该基因属于bZIP转录因子基因家族A亚族,全长1 110 bp,包含一个长为900 bp的完整开放读码框,含bZIP结构域,是bZIP基因家族成员。q RT-PCR技术检测分析发现,HbbZIP40在草甘膦和干旱处理下显著上调表达,推测HbbZIP40与橡胶树干旱、草甘膦药害胁迫相关。研究橡胶树bZIP转录因子,对弄清其在橡胶树抗逆机制中的作用与机制具有重要意义。     

中间锦鸡儿CiPP2C8-like基因的克隆及表达分析

蛋白磷酸酶PP2C作为调节因子直接或间接调控逆境胁迫信号途径和生长发育过程。本研究从已构建好的抑制性消减文库(SSH)中获得1条PP2C基因序列,对其进行了克隆。测序表明该基因c DNA长为999 bp,共编码333个氨基酸,推导该蛋白分子量为36.12 k D,等电点为6.71,是一种亲水蛋白。经氨基酸序列比对和进化树分析表明,该基因属于PP2C家族成员,并命名为Ci PP2C8-like。实时荧光定量PCR检测表明中间锦鸡儿Ci PP2C8-like基因表达受盐和脱水胁迫诱导。     

巴西橡胶树HbRop基因家族5个成员的染色体物理定位

巴西橡胶中Rop家族基因能调控植物小G蛋白合成,是分子信号开关,参与橡胶树刮伤诱导乳管分化、防御胁迫应答和胶乳再生。为了揭示巴西橡胶树HbRop基因家族5个成员在细胞核染色体上的实际位置,展现家族基因之间的分布特点和连锁遗传关系,丰富橡胶树分子细胞遗传学信息,为橡胶树的分子辅助育种和比较基因组学研究提供分子细胞遗传学的科学理论依据。本研究以巴西橡胶树‘热研7-33-97’品种为材料将HbRop基因家族5个成员(HbRop1, HbRop2, HbRop3, HbRop4, HbRop5)定位在细胞核染色体上,通过双探针荧光原位杂交技术对橡胶树Rop小G蛋白基因家族5个成员在细胞核染色体上进行物理定位分析。实验结果表明:HbRop1基因定位在第1号染色体的短臂上,其信号位点到着丝粒的平均百分距离是63.34;HbRop2、HbRop3、HbRop4和HbRop5分别定位在第4、第3、第7和第10号染色体的长臂上,这些基因的信号位点到对应染色体着丝粒的平均百分距离分别是25.13、44.68、44.33和17.46,同时还讨论了它们与其他已定位的基因的位置关系。HbRop基因家族5个基因分别位于不同的染色体上,彼此间不存在连锁现象。     

植物PP2C蛋白磷酸酶ABA信号转导及逆境胁迫调控机制研究进展

蛋白磷酸酶(protein phosphatase,PP)是蛋白质可逆磷酸化调节机制中的关键酶,而PP2C磷酸酶是一类丝氨酸/苏氨酸残基蛋白磷酸酶,是高等植物中最大的蛋白磷酸酶家族,包含76个家族成员,广泛存在于生物体中。迄今为止,在植物体内已经发现了4种PP2C蛋白磷酸酶。蛋白激酶和蛋白磷酸酶协同催化蛋白质可逆磷酸化,在植物体内信号转导和生理代谢中起着重要的调节作用,蛋白质的磷酸化几乎存在于所有的信号转导途径中。大量研究表明,PP2Cs参与多条信号转导途径,包括PP2C参与ABA调控,对干旱、低温、高盐等逆境胁迫的响应,参与植物创伤和种子休眠或萌发等信号途径,其调控机制不同,但酶催化活性都依赖于Mg2+或Mn2+的浓度。植物PP2C蛋白的C端催化结构域高度保守,而N端功能各异。文中还综述了高等植物PP2C的分类、结构、ABA受体与PP2Cs蛋白互作、PP2C基因参与ABA信号途径以及其他逆境信号转导途径的研究进展。     

巴西橡胶树HbCRK1的克隆及表达分析

钙离子依赖蛋白激酶相关激酶(CDPK-related kinase, CRK)在植物对生物和非生物胁迫抗性中具有重要作用。为了揭示CRK家族成员在橡胶树抗逆机制中的作用,本研究从巴西橡胶树品种热研7-33-97叶片中克隆了一个CRK基因,其推导氨基酸含有特征性STKc_CAMK结构域,命名为HbCRK1。该基因在树皮、花、叶片和胶乳中均有表达,在叶片中的表达量最高;在干旱、机械伤害、白粉菌侵染和激素处理下均显著上调。本研究结果表明HbCRK1受逆境反应诱导,参与橡胶树抗逆响应的生理和分子机制,为揭示HbCRK1基因的功能和橡胶树抗逆响应的研究提供理论指导。     

桑树MaPP2C8基因克隆及其干旱胁迫下的表达

该研究基于桑树转录组测序结果及基因组数据库,采用PCR技术,克隆获得桑树2C型蛋白磷酸酶基因MaPP2C8的cDNA及其启动子序列,运用生物信息学方法对序列进行分析,并采用qRT-PCR方法检测MaPP2C8在干旱胁迫处理下的表达特性,为进一步研究MaPP2C8基因在干旱胁迫响应中的功能奠定基础。结果显示:(1)MaPP2C8基因cDNA全长为1 309 bp,开放阅读框(ORF)全长为1 053 bp,编码350个氨基酸。(2)MaPP2C8蛋白与桑科其他植物亲缘关系较近,归属于PP2Cs家族中的A亚族。(3)MaPP2C8蛋白分布于细胞中的多个位置,包括细胞质、细胞核及细胞膜等。(4)克隆获得MaPP2C8基因编码起始位点上游长度为1 612 bp启动子序列,该启动子含有3类激素相关的顺式作用元件,且与ABA相关的元件多达3个。(5)MaPP2C8基因受干旱胁迫诱导上调表达,复水处理后,其表达量显著下调。研究表明,MaPP2C8基因在桑树响应干旱胁迫过程中可能起重要作用。     

小麦ARF基因家族生物信息学分析及在干旱胁迫下的表达特性研究

植物生长素响应因子ARF(auxin response factor)参与调节了植物的向性运动、顶端优势、微观的分化、侧根和茎的形态发生等众多生理反应,在植物生长发育的整个过程都起到重要调控作用。本研究通过对小麦最新基因组数据进行分析,获得了61个ARF家族基因,命名为TaARFs,根据染色体编号排列为TaARF1~TaARF61,对61个TaARFs基因进行系统生物信息学分析后发现ARF家族基因结构较为复杂,外显子数量从1个到15个变化不等,除了4号染色体和5A和5B染色体之外,其余的染色体均有ARF家族基因分布。ARF家族基因大多包含B3 DNA结构域、ARF结构域(Auxin-resp)和Aux/IAA结构域;同源进化分析表明,小麦ARF家族基因的旁系同源基因数量明显多于大麦和二穗短柄草。通过拟南芥数据库比对获得14个高同源的根系发育相关的小麦ARF家族基因,利用二系杂交小麦京麦6号及父母本根系为试材进行干旱胁迫处理及实时荧光定量PCR(qPCR)筛选。结果表明,7个小麦ARF基因不同程度受到干旱胁迫诱导,其在旱胁迫下的表达量显著高于正常条件下的表达量,可能参与干旱胁迫应答;此外本研究还发现,ARF基因在F1杂交种中表达量显著高于双亲,表现出超亲表达模式,可能参与了根系抗旱杂种优势基因表达调控网络。     

橡胶树胶乳4个HbRab基因的克隆和表达分析

克隆了橡胶树胶乳中表达的4个Rab基因的全长cDNA,命名为HbRab5-HbRab8。它们编码22～24kDa的蛋白,均具有小G蛋白家族共有的GTP／GDP结合保守结构域,分别属于植物Rab家族的F、D、A和B亚家族成员。组织表达分析显示,除HbRab69外,其他3个HbRab6基因均在胶乳中表达丰度最高。在胶乳中,伤害处理显著下调HbRab6表达而上调HbRab7表达：乙烯和水杨酸处理下调HbRab6和HbRab8的表达,甲基茉莉酸处理上调HbRab5、HbRab7、HbRab8的表达,细胞分裂素上调HbRab5的表达。本文结果为橡胶树胶乳再生相关Rab基因的筛选与功能阐述奠定了基础。     

橡胶树胶乳高表达热激蛋白HbHSP90.4基因抗逆功能分析

为了分析热激蛋白90（HSP90）基因在橡胶树（Hevea brasiliensis）逆境胁迫和激素转导中的作用,利用PCR技术从橡胶树品种热研73397胶乳中克隆得到HbHSP90.4基因全长cDNA序列,该基因含有1个2 451 bp开放阅读框（ORF）,编码816个氨基酸。生物信息学分析结果表明,HbHSP90.4含有HSP90 superfamily和HATPase superfamily结构域,属于HSP90家族成员。系统进化分析发现该蛋白与木薯MeHSP90具有较近的亲缘关系。亚细胞定位预测显示HbHSP90.4基因定位在内质网。qRT-PCR结果表明HbHSP90.4基因主要在橡胶树胶乳中表达。干旱、冷胁迫、橡胶树白粉菌侵染、H₂O₂和MeJA处理均可促进胶乳HbHSP90.4基因上调表达,而其在ETH、SA和ABA处理中均呈现显著下调表达。构建植物表达载体HbHSP90.4-mScarlet,为进一步的转基因植物的做成准备了材料。本研究为阐明胶乳HbHSP90.4基因响应橡胶树逆境胁迫过程和植物激素信号传导途径分子调控机制奠定坚实基础。     

Expression profiles and genomic organisation of group A protein phosphatase 2C genes in Brassica oleracea

We investigated the expression profiles and genomic organisation of the ABA‐responsive genes encoding protein phosphatases 2C (PP2C, group A members) in Brassica oleracea to better understand their functional and genetic relations. Gene expression profiling of drought responsive genes in B. oleracea and Arabidopsis thaliana revealed significant differences in the gene expression pattern of a key regulator of ABA signalling—ABI1 PP2C. This finding prompted us to study genetic relations within the PP2Cs group A in the Brassica species. Twenty homologous B. oleracea sequences were identified and characterised as putative PP2C group A members. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the B. oleracea homologues were closely related to the particular members of the A. thaliana PP2C. The genetic analysis corroborated the presence of two to three gene copies in B. oleracea in comparison to the nine unique PP2C genes in the A. thaliana genome. Gene expression analyses showed significant differences in PP2C gene expression pattern in B. oleracea. Our results indicate that PP2C‐based drought stress signalling in B. oleracea has evolved distinctly. Different reactions of particular B. oleracea PP2C genes to drought stress and ABA treatment indicate low conservation of gene expression patterns and functional divergence between B. oleracea and A. thaliana homologous genes.     

DIW1 encoding a clade I PP2C phosphatase negatively regulates drought tolerance by de-phosphorylating TaSnRK1.1 in wheat

Drought seriously impacts wheat production (Triticum aestivum L.), while the exploitation and utilization of genes for drought tolerance are insufficient. Leaf wilting is a direct reflection of drought tolerance in plants. Clade A PP2Cs are abscisic acid (ABA) co-receptors playing vital roles in the ABA signaling pathway, regulating drought response. However, the roles of other clade PP2Cs in drought tolerance, especially in wheat, remain largely unknown. Here, we identified a gain-of-function drought-induced wilting 1 (DIW1) gene from the wheat Aikang 58 mutant library by map-based cloning, which encodes a clade I protein phosphatase 2C (TaPP2C158) with enhanced protein phosphatase activity. Phenotypic analysis of overexpression and CRISPR/Cas9 mutant lines demonstrated that DIW1/TaPP2C158 is a negative regulator responsible for drought resistance. We found that TaPP2C158 directly interacts with TaSnRK1.1 and de-phosphorylates it, thus inactivating the TaSnRK1.1–TaAREB3 pathway. TaPP2C158 protein phosphatase activity is negatively correlated with ABA signaling. Association analysis suggested that C-terminal variation of TaPP2C158 changing protein phosphatase activity is highly correlated with the canopy temperature, and seedling survival rate under drought stress. Our data suggest that the favorable allele with lower phosphatase activity of TaPP2C158 has been positively selected in Chinese breeding history. This work benefits us in understanding the molecular mechanism of wheat drought tolerance, and provides elite genetic resources and molecular markers for improving wheat drought tolerance.     

Unique Drought Resistance Functions of the Highly ABA-Induced Clade A Protein Phosphatase 2Cs

Six Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) clade A protein phosphatase 2Cs (PP2Cs) have established abscisic acid (ABA) signaling roles; however, phenotypic roles of the remaining three "HAI" PP2Cs, Highly ABA-Induced1 (HAI1), AKT1-Interacting PP2C1/HAI2, and HAI3, have remained unclear. HAI PP2C mutants had enhanced proline and osmoregulatory solute accumulation at low water potential, while mutants of other clade A PP2Cs had no or lesser effect on these drought resistance traits. hai1-2 also had increased expression of abiotic stress-associated genes, including dehydrins and late embryogenesis abundant proteins, but decreased expression of several defense-related genes. Conversely, the HAI PP2Cs had relatively less impact on several ABA sensitivity phenotypes. HAI PP2C single mutants were unaffected in ABA sensitivity, while double and triple mutants were moderately hypersensitive in postgermination ABA response but ABA insensitive in germination. The HAI PP2Cs interacted most strongly with PYL5 and PYL7 to -10 of the PYL/RCAR ABA receptor family, with PYL7 to -10 interactions being relatively little affected by ABA in yeast two-hybrid assays. HAI1 had especially limited PYL interaction. Reduced expression of the main HAI1-interacting PYLs at low water potential when HAI1 expression was strongly induced also suggests limited PYL regulation and a role of HAI1 activity in negatively regulating specific drought resistance phenotypes. Overall, the HAI PP2Cs had greatest effect on ABA-independent low water potential phenotypes and lesser effect on classical ABA sensitivity phenotypes. Both this and their distinct PYL interaction demonstrate a new level of functional differentiation among the clade A PP2Cs and a point of cross talk between ABA-dependent and ABA-independent drought-associated signaling.     

Enhancement of abscisic acid sensitivity and reduction of water consumption in Arabidopsis by combined inactivation of the protein phosphatases type 2C ABI1 and HAB1

Abscisic acid (ABA) plays a key role in plant responses to abiotic stress, particularly drought stress. A wide number of ABA-hypersensitive mutants is known, however, only a few of them resist/avoid drought stress. In this work we have generated ABA-hypersensitive drought-avoidant mutants by simultaneous inactivation of two negative regulators of ABA signaling, i.e. the protein phosphatases type 2C (PP2Cs) ABA-INSENSITIVE1 (ABI1) and HYPERSENSITIVE TO ABA1 (HAB1). Two new recessive loss-of-function alleles of ABI1, abi1-2 and abi1-3, were identified in an Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) T-DNA collection. These mutants showed enhanced responses to ABA both in seed and vegetative tissues, but only a limited effect on plant drought avoidance. In contrast, generation of double hab1-1 abi1-2 and hab1-1 abi1-3 mutants strongly increased plant responsiveness to ABA. Thus, both hab1-1 abi1-2 and hab1-1 abi1-3 were particularly sensitive to ABA-mediated inhibition of seed germination. Additionally, vegetative responses to ABA were reinforced in the double mutants, which showed a strong hypersensitivity to ABA in growth assays, stomatal closure, and induction of ABA-responsive genes. Transpirational water loss under drought conditions was noticeably reduced in the double mutants as compared to single parental mutants, which resulted in reduced water consumption of whole plants. Taken together, these results reveal cooperative negative regulation of ABA signaling by ABI1 and HAB1 and suggest that fine tuning of ABA signaling can be attained through combined action of PP2Cs. Finally, these results suggest that combined inactivation of specific PP2Cs involved in ABA signaling could provide an approach for improving crop performance under drought stress conditions.     

Characterization of potential ABA receptors in Vitis vinifera

Molecular control mechanisms for abiotic stress tolerance are based on the activation and regulation of specific stress-related genes. The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) is a key endogenous messenger in a plant’s response to such stresses. A novel ABA binding mechanism which plays a key role in plant cell signaling cascades has recently been uncovered. In the absence of ABA, a type 2C protein phosphatase (PP2C) interacts and inhibits the kinase SnRK2. Binding of ABA to the PYR/PYLs receptors enables interaction between the ABA receptor and the PP2C protein, and abrogates the SnRK2 inactivation. The active SnRK2 is then free to activate the ABA-responsive element Binding Factors which target ABA-dependent gene expression. We used the grape as a model to study the ABA perception mechanism in fruit trees. The grape ABA signaling cascade consists of at least seven ABA receptors and six PP2Cs. We used a yeast two-hybrid system to examine physical interaction in vitro between the grape ABA receptors and their interacting partners, and found that twenty-two receptor-PP2C interactions can occur. Moreover, quantifying these affinities by the use of the LacZ reporter enables us to show that VvPP2C4 and VvPP2C9 are the major binding partners of the ABA receptor. We also tested in vivo the root and leaf gene expression of the various ABA receptors and PP2Cs in the presence of exogenic ABA and under different abiotic stresses such as high salt concentration, cold and drought, and found that many of these genes are regulated by such abiotic environmental factors. Our results indicate organ specificity in the ABA receptor genes and stress specificity in the VvPP2Cs. We suggest that VvPP2C4 is the major PP2C involved in ABA perception in leaves and roots, and VvRCAR6 and VvRCAR5 respectively, are the major receptors involved in ABA perception in these organs. Identification, characterization and manipulation of the central players in the ABA signaling cascades in fruit trees is likely to prove essential for improving their performance in the future.     

Protein Phosphatases 2C Regulate the Activation of the Snf1-Related Kinase OST1 by Abscisic Acid in Arabidopsis

The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) orchestrates plant adaptive responses to a variety of stresses, including drought. This signaling pathway is regulated by reversible protein phosphorylation, and genetic evidence demonstrated that several related protein phosphatases 2C (PP2Cs) are negative regulators of this pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana. Here, we developed a protein phosphatase profiling strategy to define the substrate preferences of the HAB1 PP2C implicated in ABA signaling and used these data to screen for putative substrates. Interestingly, this analysis designated the activation loop of the ABA activated kinase OST1, related to Snf1 and AMPK kinases, as a putative HAB1 substrate. We experimentally demonstrated that HAB1 dephosphorylates and deactivates OST1 in vitro. Furthermore, HAB1 and the related PP2Cs ABI1 and ABI2 interact with OST1 in vivo, and mutations in the corresponding genes strongly affect OST1 activation by ABA. Our results provide evidence that PP2Cs are directly implicated in the ABA-dependent activation of OST1 and further suggest that the activation mechanism of AMPK/Snf1-related kinases through the inhibition of regulating PP2Cs is conserved from plants to human.     

A serine/threonine protein phosphatase-like protein, CaPTC8, from Candida albicans defines a new PPM subfamily

Protein phosphatase M family (PPM; Mg²⁺-dependent protein phosphatases), which specifically dephosphorylates serine/threonine residues, consists of pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatases, SpoIIE, adenylate cyclase and protein phosphatase type 2Cs (PP2Cs). To identify Candida albicans PP2Cs, the archetype of the PPM Ser/Thr phosphatases, we thoroughly searched the public C. albicans genome database and identified seven PP2C members. One of the PP2Cs in C. albicans, designated as CaPTC8 gene, represents a new member of PP2C genes. Northern blot analysis showed that the expression of CaPTC8 was positively responsive to high osmolarity, temperature or serum-stimulated filamentous growth. Gene disruption further demonstrated that deletion of CaPTC8 gene caused the defect of hyphal formation. Sequence analysis revealed that two conserved amino acids His and Asn in the prototypical members of the PPM family were substituted by Val and Asp in the PTC8p-like proteins. In addition, posterior analysis for site-specific profile showed that seven more sites are under the selection of functional divergence between these two groups of proteins. Three-dimensional homology modeling illustrated the signatures of the two groups in the conserved catalytic region of the protein phosphatases. Hence, CaPTC8 plays a role in stress responses and is required for the yeast-hyphal transition, and the CaPTC8-related genes are evolutionarily conserved. The phylogenetic relationships of all members of the PPM family strongly support the existence of a distinct and new subfamily of the PP2C-related proteins, PP2CR.     

A type 2C protein phosphatase FgPtc3 is involved in cell wall integrity, lipid metabolism, and virulence in Fusarium graminearum

Type 2C protein phosphatases (PP2Cs) play important roles in regulating many biological processes in eukaryotes. Currently, little is known about functions of PP2Cs in filamentous fungi. The causal agent of wheat head blight, Fusarium graminearum, contains seven putative PP2C genes, FgPTC1, -3, -5, -5R, -6, -7 and -7R. In order to investigate roles of these PP2Cs, we constructed deletion mutants for all seven PP2C genes in this study. The FgPTC3 deletion mutant (ΔFgPtc3-8) exhibited reduced aerial hyphae formation and deoxynivalenol (DON) production, but increased production of conidia. The mutant showed increased resistance to osmotic stress and cell wall-damaging agents on potato dextrose agar plates. Pathogencity assays showed that ΔFgPtc3-8 is unable to infect flowering wheat head. All of the defects were restored when ΔFgPtc3-8 was complemented with the wild-type FgPTC3 gene. Additionally, the FgPTC3 partially rescued growth defect of a yeast PTC1 deletion mutant under various stress conditions. Ultrastructural and histochemical analyses showed that conidia of ΔFgPtc3-8 contained an unusually high number of large lipid droplets. Furthermore, the mutant accumulated a higher basal level of glycerol than the wild-type progenitor. Quantitative real-time PCR assays showed that basal expression of FgOS2, FgSLT2 and FgMKK1 in the mutant was significantly higher than that in the wild-type strain. Serial analysis of gene expression in ΔFgPtc3-8 revealed that FgPTC3 is associated with various metabolic pathways. In contrast to the FgPTC3 mutant, the deletion mutants of FgPTC1, FgPTC5, FgPTC5R, FgPTC6, FgPTC7 or FgPTC7R did not show aberrant phenotypic features when grown on PDA medium or inoculated on wheat head. These results indicate FgPtc3 is the key PP2C that plays a critical role in a variety of cellular and biological functions, including cell wall integrity, lipid and secondary metabolisms, and virulence in F. graminearum.