Analysis of differentially expressed genes in response to endogenous cytokinins during cotton leaf senescence

Cytokinins have been implicated in delaying leaf senescence. We previously generated transgenic cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) plants that harbor the Agrobacterium isopentenyl transferase gene (ipt) directed by a proteinase gene promoter. Here, we report that mRNAs were isolated from ipt cotton leaves and azygous leaves and were subsequently sequenced using Illumina Solexa technology. The sequence tags were searched against the TIGR database and the related gene expression profiles were compared resulting in the identification of 1 218 differentially expressed genes (DEGs): 719 up-regulated and 499 down-regulated. Analyzing the DEGs in the ipt cotton leaves showed that these genes belonged to four pathways: flavone biosynthesis, arginine and proline metabolism, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, and RNA degradation. These pathways increased the activities of antioxidants, inhibited the effect of ethylene, and prevented degradation of macromolecules during senescence. The expression patterns of 17 genes were evaluated by real-time PCR and results were in agreement with the patterns of sequencing analysis. The identification of the DEGs may help us to understand a role of cytokinins in leaf senescence.     

Supply of nitrogen can reverse senescence processes and affect expression of genes coding for plastidic glutamine synthetase and lysine-ketoglutarate reductase/saccharopine dehydrogenase

Nitrogen availability has a strong influence on developmental processes in plants. We show that the time of nitrogen supply regulates the course of leaf senescence in flag leaves of Hordeum vulgare . The senescence-specific decrease in chlorophyll content and photosystem II efficiency is clearly delayed when plants are fertilised with nitrate at the onset of leaf senescence. Concurrently, the additional supply of nitrate affects expression patterns of two marker genes of nitrogen metabolism. As shown by quantitative RT-PCR analyses, senescence-specific downregulation of plastidic glutamine synthetase ( GS2 ) and senescence-specific upregulation of lysine-ketoglutarate reductase/saccharopine dehydrogenase ( LKR/SDH ) are both clearly retarded. Depletion of nitrogen in experiments using hydroponic growth systems results in premature primary leaf senescence. The already started senescence processes can be even reversed by later nitrogen addition, as proved by a further increase in photosystem II efficiency and chlorophyll content, returning to the high values of controls which had not been deprived of nitrogen. Although both addition of nitrate or ammonium effectively reversed nitrogen depletion-induced primary leaf senescence, addition of urea did not. Additionally, effects of nitrogen supply on the course of leaf senescence were analysed in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Leaves of A. thaliana show the same reversion of senescence processes after receiving additional nitrogen supply, indicating that the nitrogen response of leaf development is conserved in different plant species.     

植物氮素营养与病害发生关系研究进展

氮素营养不仅影响植物的正常生长发育,还会影响植物的感病性或抗病性。该文主要综述了氮素营养及其代谢对植物病害发展的影响、诱导病原菌侵染的寄主氮营养信号和氮素营养对植物与病原菌互作相关基因表达的影响,尤其是氮素受限(饥饿)对病原菌基因的诱导表达、植物衰老基因和抗病基因的关系、植物衰老过程中防御基因的表达等国际研究的热点领域所取得的成果和进展,并讨论了有待深入研究的问题。     

Contrasting patterns of cytokinins between years in senescing aspen leaves

Cytokinins are plant hormones that typically block or delay leaf senescence. We profiled 34 different cytokinins/cytokinin metabolites (including precursors, conjugates and degradation products) in leaves of a free‐growing mature aspen (Populus tremula) before and after the initiation of autumnal senescence over three consecutive years. The levels and profiles of individual cytokinin species, or classes/groups, varied greatly between years, despite the fact that the onset of autumn senescence was at the same time each year, and senescence was not associated with depletion of either active or total cytokinin levels. Levels of aromatic cytokinins (topolins) were low and changed little over the autumn period. Diurnal variations and weather‐dependent variations in cytokinin content were relatively limited. We also followed the expression patterns of all aspen genes implicated as having roles in cytokinin metabolism or signalling, but neither the pattern of regulation of any group of genes nor the expression of any particular gene supported the notion that decreased cytokinin signalling could explain the onset of senescence. Based on the results from this tree, we therefore suggest that cytokinin depletion is unlikely to explain the onset of autumn leaf senescence in aspen.     

卵巢成熟期和退化期星斑川鲽脑垂体和下丘脑组织的转录组比较分析

为了解星斑川鲽（Starry Flounder,Platichthys stellatus）脑组织基因表达与卵巢发育调控的关系,发掘相关功能基因,研究提取卵巢成熟期和退化期星斑川鲽雌鱼脑垂体和下丘脑组织总RNA,运用HiSeq 2000高通量测序技术进行转录组测序分析。测序结果经拼接组装后共获得30640条Unigenes,Blast同源性比对显示,其中24128条Unigenes获得注释;经eggNog功能注释后29137条Unigenes序列分为26类,分别涉及信号转导、翻译机制等生理生化过程。KEGG pathway数据比对显示,卵巢成熟期涉及98种代谢途径,135条序列表达上调;卵巢退化期涉及192种代谢途径,648条序列表达上调。Unigenes表达量及表达差异分析表明在卵巢成熟期334条序列表达上调,卵巢退化期987条序列表达上调。获得功能注释的Unigene中,408条涉及生殖调控和内分泌调控,参与生殖调控的信号分子有1508条。试验采用实时定量PCR研究了涉及生殖调控和内分泌调控基因促性腺激素释放激素（GnRH）、神经激肽B（NKB）、促性腺激素（GtH）、促滤泡激素（FSH）、肿瘤转移抑制因子（Kiss）以及催乳素释放肽受体（PrRPR）在卵巢两个不同发育时期脑垂体和下丘脑的表达情况,结果表明除FSH外,其余均在卵巢退化期时期脑组织中表达升高,与转录组测序结果趋势一致。     

小麦叶锈菌休眠与萌发夏孢子的差异表达

【目的】小麦叶锈菌引起的小麦叶锈病是小麦的重要病害之一,孢子萌发和侵入气孔是保证叶锈菌正常侵染寄主的重要前提。本研究旨在研究小麦叶锈菌夏孢子萌发的差异表达特性,为揭示萌发的机制及其与致病的关系提供依据。【方法】利用小麦叶锈菌致病类型THTT的休眠夏孢子和萌发夏孢子进行RNA-seq分析。【结果】在萌发夏孢子中筛选出相比休眠夏孢子上调表达的基因为4400个,下调基因5325个。GO富集分析发现,上调差异基因主要涉及细胞进程、有机物代谢、信号传导、单个有机体过程、催化酶活性等;下调基因主要涉及单组织过程、单个有机体细胞过程、有机物代谢过程、催化活性调节等过程。利用KEGG分析发现,差异基因共参与109条通路,从中筛选出两条与孢子萌发相关的通路——丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)信号通路和囊泡运输中的SNARE蛋白交流。10个基因的定量分析结果与基因数字表达谱分析结果一致。【结论】研究获得了叶锈菌孢子萌发及侵入气孔过程中的重要差异基因,研究结果为研究叶锈菌致病机制奠定基础。