Expression of an antisense Datura stramonium S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase cDNA in tobacco: changes in enzyme activity, putrescine-spermidine ratio, rhizogenic potential, and response to methyl jasmonate

S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase activity (SAMDC; EC 4.1.1.21) leads to spermidine and spermine synthesis through specific synthases which use putrescine, spermidine and decarboxylated S-adenosylmethionine as substrates. In order to better understand the regulation of polyamine (PA), namely spermidine and spermine, biosynthesis, a SAMDC cDNA of Datura stramonium was introduced in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Xanthi) in antisense orientation under the CaMV 35S promoter, by means of Agrobacterium tumefaciens and leaf disc transformation. The effect of the genetic manipulation on PA metabolism, ethylene production and plant morphology was analysed in primary transformants (R0), and in the transgenic progeny (second generation, R1) of self-fertilised primary transformants, relative to empty vector-transformed (pBin19) and wild-type (WT) controls. All were maintained in vitro by micropropagation. Primary transformants, which were confirmed by Southern and northern analyses, efficiently transcribed the antisense SAMDC gene, but SAMDC activity and PA titres did not change. By contrast, in most transgenic R1 shoots, SAMDC activity was remarkably lower than in controls, and the putrescine-to-spermidine ratio was altered, mainly due to increased putrescine, even though putrescine oxidising activity (diamine oxidase, EC 1.4.3.6) did not change relative to controls. Despite the reduction in SAMDC activity, the production of ethylene, which shares with PAs the common precursor SAM, was not influenced by the foreign gene. Some plants were transferred to pots and acclimatised in a growth chamber. In these in vivo-grown second generation transgenic plants, at the vegetative stage, SAMDC activity was scarcely reduced, and PA titres did not change. Finally, the rhizogenic potential of in vitro-cultured leaf explants excised from antisense plants was significantly diminished as compared with WT ones, and the response to methyl jasmonate, a stress-mimicking compound, in terms of PA conjugation, was higher and differentially affected in transgenic leaf discs relative to WT ones. The effects of SAMDC manipulation are discussed in relation to plant generation, culture conditions and response to stress.     

Overexpression of suadea salsa <Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>-adenosylmethionine synthetase gene promotes salt tolerance in transgenic tobacco

The suadea salsa full-length S-adenosylmethionine synthetase (SsSAMS2) was introduced into tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. The gene transformation and expression in tobacco were confirmed by PCR, RT-PCR and Northern blotting analysis. Several transgenic lines (ST lines) overexpressing SsSAMS2 gene under the control of cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter showed more seeds number and weight, and accumulated higher free total polyamines (PAs) than wild-type plants (WT lines) and transformants with blank vector (BT lines). Salt stress-induced damage was attenuated in these transgenic plants, in the symptom of maintaining higher photosynthetic rate and biomass. These results that the transgenic plants overexpressing suadea salsa SAMS2 are more tolerant to salt stress than wild-type plants suggest that PAs may play an important role in contributing salt tolerance to plants.     

A choline monooxygenase gene promoter from Salicornia europaea increases expression of the beta-glucuronidase gene under abiotic stresses in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.)

A 1312 bp 5' flanking region of Salicornia europaea choline monooxygenase (SeCMO) gene was isolated using the anchored PCR. To investigate the mechanism of regulation for this stress-induced gene, the SeCMO promoter-beta-glucuronidase (GUS) chimeric gene constructs containing five deletions F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5 were introduced into tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The functional properties of each promoter fragment were examined by assaying GUS activity in the leaves of transgenic tobacco treated with abiotic stresses (NaCl, PEG6000 and low temperature). The GUS activity in transgenic tobacco with F2 (-1056 to +8) construct showed highest increase under all the three abiotic stresses. Thus, the study provided a potential promoter induced by the salt, dehydration and cold for the plant genetic manipulation.     

Antisense expression of carnation cDNA encoding ACC synthase or ACC oxidase enhances polyamine content and abiotic stress tolerance in transgenic tobacco plants

The amount of polyamines (such as putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) increased under environmental stress conditions. We used transgenic technology in an attempt to evaluate their potential for mitigating the adverse effects of several abiotic stresses in plants. Because there is a metabolic competition for S-adenosylmethionine as a precursor between polyamine (PA) and ethylene biosyntheses, it was expected that the antisense-expression of ethylene biosynthetic genes could result in an increase in PA biosynthesis. Antisense constructs of cDNAs for senescence-related 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) synthase (CAS) and ACC oxidase (CAO) were isolated from carnation flowers that were introduced into tobacco by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Several transgenic lines showed higher PA contents than wild-type plants. The number and weight of seeds also increased. Stress-induced senescence was attenuated in these transgenic plants in terms of total chlorophyll loss and phenotypic changes after oxidative stress with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), high salinity, acid stress (pH 3.0), and ABA treatment. These results suggest that the transgenic plants with antisense CAS and CAO cDNAs are more tolerant to abiotic stresses than wild-type plants. This shows a positive correlation between PA content and stress tolerance in plants.     

Transgenic Analysis Reveals 5′ Abbreviated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Os</Emphasis>RGLP2 Promoter(s) as Responsive to Abiotic Stresses

Germins and germin-like proteins are ubiquitous, expressed at various developmental stages and in response to various abiotic and biotic stresses. In this study, to functionally validate the OsRGLP2 promoter, 5′ deletion analysis of the promoter sequences was performed and the deletion fragments fused with the β-glucuronidase (GUS) and green fluorescent protein reporter genes were used for transient expression in tobacco as well as for generating stable transgenic Arabidopsis plants. Very high level of GUS activity was observed in agroinfiltrated tobacco leaves by the construct carrying the P-1063 and P-565 when subjected to abiotic stresses. Histochemical analysis of transgenic Arabidopsis plants revealed expression of reporter gene in root, leaf and stem sections of plants harboring P-1063 and P-565. Real-time qPCR analysis of transiently expressed tobacco leaves and transgenic Arabidopsis plants subjected to several abiotic stresses supported histochemical data and showed that P-565 responded to all the stresses to which the full-length promoter was responsive. The data suggest that P-565 may be a good alternative to full-length promoter region that harbors the necessary cis-elements in providing stable and high level of expression in response to wound, salt and temperature stresses.     

Polyamine Accumulation in Transgenic Tomato Enhances the Tolerance to High Temperature Stress

Polyamines play an important role in plant response to abiotic stress. S-adenosyl-I-methionine decarboxylase (SAMDC) is one of the key regulatory enzymes in the biosynthesis of polyamines. In order to better understand the effect of regulation of polyamine biosynthesis on the tolerance of high-temperature stress in tomato, SAMDC Cdna isolated from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was introduced into tomato genome by means of Agrobacterium tumefaciens through leaf disc transformation. Transgene and expression was confirmed by Southern and Northern blot analyses, respectively. Transgenic plants expressing yeast SAMDC produced 1.7- to 2.4-fold higher levels of spermidine and spermine than wild-type plants under high temperature stress, and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity and the protection of membrane lipid peroxidation was also observed. This subsequently improved the efficiency of CO2 assimilation and protected the plants from high temperature stress, which indicated that the transgenic tomato presented an enhanced tolerance to high temperature stress (38℃) compared with wild-type plants, Our results demonstrated clearly that increasing polyamine biosynthesis in plants may be a means of creating high temperature-tolerant germplasm.     

Overexpression of Pp14-3-3 from Pyrus pyrifolia fruit increases drought and salt tolerance in transgenic tobacco plant

Drought and salinity are the major abiotic stresses, which reduce agricultural productivity. In plants, 14-3-3s function as regulators of many target proteins through direct protein-protein interactions and play an important role during response to abiotic stresses. Here we report that CaMV 35S promoter driven overexpression of a Pyrus pyrifolia 14-3-3 gene, Pp14-3-3, improves drought and NaCl tolerance in T1 generation plants of transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Xanthi). Under drought and NaCl stresses, the Pp14-3-3 was largely expressed in T1 transgenic tobacco lines, and compared with the wild-type (WT), transgenic tobacco plants showed relatively normal growth condition. In addition, the levels of membrane lipid peroxidation in T1 transgenic lines were definitely lower than that in WT according to the significantly decreased content of malondialdehyde. Meanwhile, the T1 transgenic tobacco lines showed significantly slower superoxide anion production rate than the WT under abiotic stress. Moreover, both the glutathione S-transferase (GST) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities in T1 transgenic lines were markedly higher than those in WT. GSTs and APXs are important components of plant antioxidant system, and the results of present study suggested that Pp14-3-3 should play a crucial role in reducing oxidative damage caused by drought and salt stresses.     

水稻NHX1基因启动子和C末端的调控功能研究

为了解水稻Na+/H+逆向转运蛋白(OsNHX1)在植物应答非生物胁迫中的分子调控机制,采用RT-PCR方法克隆OsNHX1基因上游2 000bp的启动子序列,并通过基因枪轰击瞬时转化洋葱表皮细胞,检测不同非生物胁迫下启动子的活性和表达模式;同时,分别克隆全长和C末端缺失的OsNHX1基因,通过花序浸染法转化拟南芥,研究OsNHX1基因及其C末端的功能。结果显示:OsNHX1启动子受逆境胁迫诱导,在盐、干旱、脱落酸胁迫处理下GUS表达活性明显升高;过表达OsNHX1的转基因拟南芥中,种子萌发率、根长、丙二醛含量和相对含水量的测定结果均显示其胁迫耐受性得到改善,但过表达OsNHX1C末端缺失基因对转基因植株的胁迫耐受性无明显影响。研究表明,Na+/H+逆向转运蛋白有助于提高植物耐盐性,且其C末端区域对该转运蛋白活性的发挥具有关键作用。     

拟南芥冷诱导型启动子CBF 3的克隆及活性检测

目的：构建冷诱导型启动子CBF3基因的植物表达载体,并将其转入烟草。方法：以拟南芥基因组DNA为模板,通过特异PCR扩增,克隆冷诱导表达启动子CBF3（C-repeat binding factor）。用CBF3启动子替换pBI121载体上的35S启动子构建新的载体pBC-GUS,通过农杆菌介导的叶盘法转化烟草。结果：获得了转基因烟草,转基因烟草的GUS组织化学染色及PCR分析结果表明,在低温诱导下,CBF3启动子可增强GUS基因表达。结论：CBF3启动子可应用于植物抗冷基因工程研究。     

Spermidine exodus and oxidation in the apoplast induced by abiotic stress is responsible for H2O2 signatures that direct tolerance responses in tobacco

Polyamines (PAs) exert a protective effect against stress challenges, but their molecular role in this remains speculative. In order to detect the signaling role of apoplastic PA-derived hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) under abiotic stress, we developed a series of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cv Xanthi) transgenic plants overexpressing or downregulating apoplastic polyamine oxidase (PAO; S-pao and A-pao plants, respectively) or downregulating S-adenosyl-l-methionine decarboxylase (samdc plants). Upon salt stress, plants secreted spermidine (Spd) into the apoplast, where it was oxidized by the apoplastic PAO, generating H2O2. A-pao plants accumulated less H2O2 and exhibited less programmed cell death (PCD) than did wild-type plants, in contrast with S-pao and samdc downregulating plants. Induction of either stress-responsive genes or PCD was dependent on the level of Spd-derived apoplastic H2O2. Thus, in wild-type and A-pao plants, stress-responsive genes were efficiently induced, although in the latter at a lower rate, while S-pao plants, with higher H2O2 levels, failed to accumulate stress-responsive mRNAs, inducing PCD instead. Furthermore, decreasing intracellular PAs, while keeping normal apoplastic Spd oxidation, as in samdc downregulating transgenic plants, caused enhanced salinity-induced PCD. These results reveal that salinity induces the exodus of Spd into the apoplast, where it is catabolized by PAO, producing H2O2. The accumulated H2O2 results in the induction of either tolerance responses or PCD, depending also on the levels of intracellular PAs.     

Accumulation of overproduced ferritin in the chloroplast provides protection against photoinhibition induced by low temperature in tobacco plants

Wild-type tobacco plants (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Petit Havanna line SR1) and plants transformed with full-length alfalfa ferritin cDNA with the chloroplast transit peptide under the control of a Rubisco small subunit gene promoter (C3 and C8) were cold-treated at 0 degrees C with continuous light (250mumolm(-2)s(-1)). These transgenic plants had higher chlorophyll content and higher F(v)/F(m) chlorophyll-a fluorescence induction parameters than wild-type plants after 2 or 3d of cold treatment in C3 and C8 transgenic plants, respectively. Thermoluminescence studies on the high-temperature bands suggest that these plants suffered less oxidative damage in comparison to the wild-type genotype. The present experiments provide evidence that transgenic tobacco lines overexpressing alfalfa ferritin, which is accumulated in the chloroplasts, may show higher tolerance to various stress factors, generating ROS including low temperature-induced photoinhibition.     

人工合成根特异启动子SRSP的功能分析

根负责吸收水分和养分,是重要的植物组织,但易受生物及非生物胁迫,影响作物的生长发育和产量。设计合成根特异启动子,可为与胁迫相关的抗性基因在作物根部的功能研究及高效表达提供候选启动子。文中将4拷贝的根特异性顺式作用元件(OSE1ROOTNODULE、OSE2ROOTNODULE、SP8BFIBSP8AIB和ROOTMOTIFAPOX1)以串联排列方式设计合成了一个根特异性模块(pro-SRS),并与来自CaMV35S启动子的最小启动子融合,合成一个人工合成启动子SRSP。通过替换CaMV35S启动子将SRSP启动子克隆到pCAMBIA2300.1中以驱动GUS表达。将携带SRSP启动子的构建体通过农杆菌介导的方法转化到烟草中。GUS组织化学染色分析和实时PCR (RT-PCR)分析显示SRSP启动子在转基因烟草中赋予根特异性表达。说明顺式作用元件重复排列可实现启动子预期功能,本研究为理性设计植物组织特异启动子奠定了理论基础。