Genome-scale identification of MLO domain-containing genes in soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.)

In plants, powdery-mildew-resistance locus o (Mlo) genes encode proteins that are calmodulin-binding proteins involved in a variety of cellular processes. However, systematic characterization of this gene family in soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) has not been yet reported. In this study, we identified MLO domain-contained members in soybean and examined their expression under phytohormone treatment and abiotic stress conditions. A total of 20 soybean Mlo genes were identified (GmMlo1-20), which are distributed on 13 chromosomes, and display diverse exon-intron structures. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the Mlo family can be classified into four subfamilies. Sequence comparison was used to reveal the conserved calmodulin-binding domain (CaMBD) in GmMLO proteins. The expression of GmMlo genes was influenced by various phytohormone treatments and abiotic stresses, suggesting that these Mlo genes have various roles in the response of soybean to environmental stimuli. Promoter sequence analysis revealed an overabundance of stress and/or phytohormone-related cis-elements in GmMlo genes. These data provide important clues for elucidating the functions of genes of the Mlo gene family.     

小麦TaMlo基因的原核表达、抗体制备及细胞化学分析(简报)

白粉病菌(Blumeria graminis)是一类高度专化性的寄生真菌,可侵染650多种单子叶植物和 9000多种双子叶植物,能够引起多种麦类作物的白粉病,给农业生产带来巨大的损失。由于白粉病菌生理小种多、变异快,所以利用专化性抗病基因难以解决植物的持久抗病性问题。人们在研究大麦白粉病时．发现大麦Mlo基因的隐性突变可导致大麦对绝大多数白粉病菌生理小种的高效持久的广谱抗病性。Schulze-Lefert等多家实验室合作于1997年成功克隆了野生的 Mlo基因。进一步研究表明．该基因编码一种植物特有的具有7个跨膜区和羧基端长尾的膜蛋白(Mlo),它可能对植物细胞的坏死起负调控作用。但Mlo基因如何表达及其在白粉病菌发育中的作用机制尚不清楚。     

小麦TaMlo基因的原核表达、抗体制备及细胞化学分析（简报）

白粉病菌（Blumeria graminis）是一类高度专化性的寄生真菌。可侵染650多种单子叶植物和9000多种双子叶植物．能够引起多种麦类作物的白粉病。给农业生产带来巨大的损失。由于白粉病菌生理小种多、变异快。所以利用专化性抗病基因难以解决植物的持久抗病性问题。人们在研究大麦白粉病时。发现大麦Mlo基因的隐性突变可导致大麦对绝大多数白粉病菌生理小种的高效持久的广谱抗病性。Schulze—Lefert等多家实验室合作于1997年成功克隆了野生的Mlo基因。进一步研究表明。该基因编码一种植物特有的具有7个跨膜区和羧基端长尾的膜蛋白（Mlo）,它可能对植物细胞的坏死起负调控作用。但Mlo基因如何表达及其在白粉病菌发育中的作用机制尚不清楚。     

控制基因盐诱导且根系优势表达的小麦启动子Tasipro3克隆及功能分析

在土壤盐胁迫下,小麦根系吸收水分和营养物质的功能受到抑制,从而影响植株的经济产量。因而,开展小麦耐盐育种,提高根系耐盐性是重要途径之一。使耐盐基因在根系中优势表达,并且在盐胁迫下增强表达,将显著提高根系耐盐性。而克隆和鉴定具有双重控制功能的启动子,是实现耐盐基因精准调控的基础。鉴于此,本研究利用Genevestigator在线生物信息学分析软件,筛选到425个盐诱导根系优势表达的探针,并从中选出2个候选探针,用于启动子验证。以1周龄小麦品种中国春的幼苗为材料,将其根系置于200 mmol/L的NaCl溶液中,分别于0 h、0.5 h、1 h、2 h、4 h和8 h进行根系取样,用于表达模式分析。结果表明,Ta.5463.1.A1_at探针的基因表达模式更符合生物信息学预测的结果,受盐胁迫诱导表达显著上调,且基因优势表达于根系。为进一步验证相应基因启动子的功能,对此探针对应的启动子区进行了克隆,并连接到启动子验证载体中,遗传转化获得转基因拟南芥植株。盐诱导后GUS染色的实验结果表明,该启动子使GUS报告基因在盐处理下表达量显著提高,且主要在根系表达。本研究成功克隆了耐盐遗传改良专用启动子,为小麦分子抗逆育种提供了优异资源。     

小麦苗期盐胁迫下DREB基因的表达

为了从全基因组和转录组水平鉴定响应盐胁迫的小麦DREB (dehydration responsive element binding,DREB) 基因,该研究对小麦耐盐材料CH7034苗期施加盐胁迫后的根部样本进行Illumina转录组测序,从中分离TaDREB家族成员的表达数据和可变剪接信息,并对其下游靶基因进行预测;利用 qRT PCR对盐胁迫响应TaDREB成员和预测靶基因进行验证。结果显示：(1)从小麦中共鉴定出48个DREB成员(204个拷贝序列),命名为TaDREB1~TaDREB48,分布于21条染色体。(2)TaDREB家族分为14组(G1~G14),位于G2、G5、G10和G14的TaDREB成员受NaCl胁迫后转录水平均无显著变化,其余组中共有25个(52%) TaDREB成员表现出对盐胁迫不同程度的响应;其中有9个成员在盐胁迫后持续上调(含5个新报道基因),有2个成员表现为持续下调;蛋白互作预测结果显示,下调成员TaDREB35的编码蛋白可能会受到1个小麦RING型E3泛素连接酶作用而降解。(3)盐胁迫后有9个成员TaDREB3、TaDREB6、TaDREB16、TaDREB19、TaDREB21、TaDREB24、TaDREB25.12、TaDREB43和TaDREB47发生了可变剪切变化。(4)从转录组差异表达基因中进一步鉴定出3个起始密码子上游2 000 bp序列,包含DRE/CRT元件且在A/B/D组间表达趋势一致的候选靶基因TaRD29、TaGLOS和TaCKX。(5)qRT PCR验证结果显示,上调成员中,除TaDREB19外,其余成员以及TaDREB16均表现出持续上升的趋势;下调成员中只有TaDREB25和TaDREB35的表达量呈持续下降的趋势;3个预测靶基因的表达量均持续上升,验证结果与转录组测序结果一致。该研究鉴定出的11个盐胁迫响应TaDREB成员以及预测的3个下游靶基因为小麦耐盐机制解析和分子育种奠定了基础。     

番茄AT-hook基因家族的鉴定及胁迫条件下的表达分析

AT-hook蛋白家族在植物生长发育、器官构建及逆境胁迫和激素信号应答中发挥重要作用。本研究在番茄基因组范围内,利用生物信息学方法对番茄AT-hook基因家族的成员、分布、结构和功能进行分析。结果表明,番茄AT-hook家族包含32个成员,分为3种类型,其中类型Ⅰ含有13个成员;遗传进化分析表明番茄AT-hook基因成员与拟南芥家族基因具有相似分类。利用实时荧光定量PCR对番茄32个基因开展组织表达分析,结果表明AT-hook基因具有表达差异,主要在根和花中表达较高。氧化胁迫分析结果表明,32个基因受ABA、SA、盐、高温和低温诱导表达,其中部分基因显著上调或下调表达,很可能参与了番茄逆境胁迫条件下的防御应答反应。本研究结果将为番茄AT-hook家族基因的深入研究提供依据,为进一步解析番茄AT-hook基因的功能奠定基础。     

毛果杨CNGC家族全基因组鉴定及胁迫响应分析

植物环核苷酸门控离子通道（cyclic nucleotide-gated channels,CNGC）家族具有多种生物学功能,尤其是在植物的生长发育及逆境胁迫响应中发挥着重要的作用。本研究通过生物信息学方法及qRT-PCR对PtrCNGC家族成员蛋白的基本理化性质与结构特征、系统发育、基因结构和保守基序、启动子顺式作用元件,以及基因表达模式进行分析。结果表明：在毛果杨（Populus trichocarpa）全基因组中共鉴定出19个PtrCNGC基因,PtrCNGC家族成员可分为4个亚群（Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ亚群）,其中第Ⅳ亚群分为2个亚组（Ⅳa组和Ⅳb组）。PtrCNGC基因编码的蛋白均为碱性蛋白,此外,该家族仅有1个成员为疏水性蛋白,其余成员全部为亲水性蛋白。19个PtrCNGC不均匀地分布于毛果杨的11条染色体上,剩余8条染色体上没有成员分布。PtrCNGC家族包含7对同源基因且它们之间的K_a/K_s值均远小于1。PtrCNGC家族各亚群成员之间的基因结构、蛋白保守基序分布差异较小。启动子顺式作用元件预测分析发现,PtrCNGC基因序列启动子区域存在响应多种激素以及逆境胁迫相关的作用元件。qRT-PCR结果表明,PtrCNGC家族在不同组织中的表达具有特异性,在茎中的表达量较高,在根和叶中的表达量较低;在盐胁迫和干旱胁迫下,PtrCNGC家族同一分支上的多数成员表现出相似的表达模式。本研究结果为进一步研究毛果杨CNGC家族在非生物胁迫中的功能提供参考。     

短期NaCl胁迫对不同小麦品种幼苗K+吸收和Na+、K+积累的影响

为研究盐胁迫下小麦幼苗生长及Na⁺、K⁺的吸收和积累规律,以中国春、洲元9369和长武134等3种耐盐性不同小麦品种为材料,采用非损伤微测技术检测盐胁迫2 d后的根系K⁺离子流变化,并对植株体内的Na⁺、K⁺含量进行测定。结果表明:短期(2d)盐胁迫对小麦生长有抑制作用,且对根系的抑制大于地上部,耐盐品种下降幅度小于盐敏感品种。盐胁迫下,小麦根际的 K⁺大量外流,盐敏感品种中国春K⁺流速显著高于耐盐品种长武134,最高可达15倍。小麦幼苗地上部分和根系均表现为Na⁺积累增加,K⁺积累减少,Na⁺/K⁺比随盐浓度增加而上升。中国春限Na⁺能力显著低于长武134,Na⁺/K⁺则显著高于长武134。综上所述,盐胁迫下造成小麦组织器官中Na⁺/K⁺比上升的主要原因是根系K⁺大量外流和Na⁺的过量积累,耐盐性不同的小麦品种间差异显著,并认为根系对K⁺的保有能力可能是作物耐盐性评价的一个重要指标。     

Expression profiling of the Arabidopsis ferric chelate reductase (FRO) gene family reveals differential regulation by iron and copper

The Arabidopsis FRO2 gene encodes the iron deficiency-inducible ferric chelate reductase responsible for reduction of iron at the root surface; subsequent transport of iron across the plasma membrane is carried out by a ferrous iron transporter (IRT1). Genome annotation has identified seven additional FRO family members in the Arabidopsis genome. We used real-time RT-PCR to examine the expression of each FRO gene in different tissues and in response to iron and copper limitation. FRO2 and FRO5 are primarily expressed in roots while FRO8 is primarily expressed in shoots. FRO6 and FRO7 show high expression in all the green parts of the plant. FRO3 is expressed at high levels in roots and shoots, and expression of FRO3 is elevated in roots and shoots of iron-deficient plants. Interestingly, when plants are Cu-limited, the expression of FRO6 in shoot tissues is reduced. Expression of FRO3 is induced in roots and shoots by Cu-limitation. While it is known that FRO2 is expressed at high levels in the outer layers of iron-deficient roots, histochemical staining of FRO3-GUS plants revealed that FRO3 is predominantly expressed in the vascular cylinder of roots. Together our results suggest that FRO family members function in metal ion homeostasis in a variety of locations in the plant.     

Topology, subcellular localization, and sequence diversity of the Mlo family in plants

Barley Mlo defines the founder of a novel class of plant integral membrane proteins. Lack of the wild type protein leads to broad spectrum disease resistance against the pathogenic powdery mildew fungus and deregulated leaf cell death. Scanning N-glycosylation mutagenesis and Mlo-Lep fusion proteins demonstrated that Mlo is membrane-anchored by 7 transmembrane (TM) helices such that the N terminus is located extracellularly and the C terminus intracellularly. Fractionation of leaf cells and immunoblotting localized the protein to the plant plasma membrane. A genome-wide search for Mlo sequence-related genes in Arabidopsis thaliana revealed approximately 35 family members, the only abundant gene family encoding 7 TM proteins in higher plants. The sequence variability of Mlo family members within a single species, their topology and subcellular localization are reminiscent of the most abundant class of metazoan 7 TM receptors, the G-protein-coupled receptors.     

毛竹萜类合成酶基因家族序列鉴定与表达分析

通过生物信息学方法,对毛竹(Phyllostachys edulis(Carrière)J.Houzeau)TPS基因家族的成员进行鉴定,并对其编码蛋白的理化性质、基因结构、进化关系、蛋白结构、启动子元件及表达模式进行了分析。结果表明,毛竹全基因组含有14个TPS候选基因,大小为693~2439 bp。编码蛋白等电点为5.08~8.17。系统发育分析结果显示,毛竹含有TPS-a、TPS-b、TPS-e/f、和TPS-g 4个亚家族,成员数目分别为6、5、2、1个。TPS蛋白质二级结构中,α-螺旋和无规则卷曲所占比重较大;毛竹TPS基因家族各成员蛋白三维结构比较相似。基因启动子分析共获得50个调控元件,可分为6大类,其中光响应相关元件数量最多,共包含17个顺式调控元件。基于转录组测序数据构建的基因表达谱热图分析结果表明,Pe TPS在叶、花和笋等7个组织中的表达差异明显,表现出组织特异性,其中Pe TPS9仅在早花期花序中表达,Pe TPS8仅在叶中表达。     

Proteome analysis of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) elucidates constitutive adaptation during the first phase of salt stress

Salinity is one of the major stress factors responsible for growth reduction of most of the higher plants. In this study, the effect of salt stress on protein pattern in shoots and roots of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) was examined. Sugar beet plants were grown in hydroponics under control and 125 mM salt treatments. A significant growth reduction of shoots and roots was observed. The changes in protein expression, caused by salinity, were monitored using two-dimensional gel-electrophoresis. Most of the detected proteins in sugar beet showed stability under salt stress. The statistical analysis of detected proteins showed that the expression of only six proteins from shoots and three proteins from roots were significantly altered. At this stage, the significantly changed protein expressions we detected could not be attributed to sugar beet adaptation under salt stress. However, unchanged membrane bound proteins under salt stress did reveal the constitutive adaptation of sugar beet to salt stress at the plasma membrane level.     

Potassium nitrate application alleviates sodium chloride stress in winter wheat cultivars differing in salt tolerance

A sand culture experiment was conducted to answer the question whether or not exogenous KNO(3) can alleviate adverse effects of salt stress in winter wheat by monitoring plant growth, K(+)/Na(+) accumulation and the activity of some antioxidant enzymes. Seeds of two wheat cultivars (CVs), DK961 (salt-tolerant) and JN17 (salt-sensitive), were planted in sandboxes and controls germinated and raised with Hoagland nutrient solution (6 mM KNO(3), no NaCl). Experimental seeds were exposed to seven modified Hoagland solutions containing increased levels of KNO(3) (11, 16, 21 mM) or 100 mM NaCl in combination with the four KNO(3) concentrations (6, 11, 16 and 21 mM). Plants were harvested 30 d after imbibition, with controls approximately 22 cm in height. Both CVs showed significant reduction in plant height, root length and dry weight of shoots and roots under KNO(3) or NaCl stress. However, the combination of increased KNO(3) and NaCl alleviated symptoms of the individual salt stresses by improving growth of shoots and roots, reducing electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde and soluble sugar contents and enhancing the activities of antioxidant enzymes. The salt-tolerant cultivar accumulated more K(+) in both shoots and roots compared with the higher Na(+) accumulation typical for the salt-sensitive cultivar. Soluble sugar content and activities of antioxidant enzymes were found to be more stable in the salt-tolerant cultivar. Our findings suggest that the optimal K(+)/Na(+) ratio of the nutrient solution should be 16:100 for both the salt-tolerant and the salt-sensitive cultivar under the experimental conditions used, and that the alleviation of NaCl stress symptoms through simultaneously applied elevated KNO(3) was more effective in the salt-tolerant than in the salt-sensitive cultivar.     

Developmentally regulated organ-, tissue-, and cell-specific expression of calmodulin genes in common wheat

Recently, we reported on the characterization of the calmodulin (CaM) gene family in wheat [44]. We classified wheat CaM genes into four subfamilies (SFs) designated SF-1 to SF-4, each representing a series of homoeoallelic loci on the homoeologous chromosomes of the three genomes of common wheat. Here we studied the expression of these wheat CaM genes in the course of wheat development. Northern blot analysis using SF-specific probes revealed differences in SF expression levels in different organs and stages of development. Subsequently, cell-specific expression of CaM SFs was investigated by in situ RNA hybridization. In developing seeds, all CaM SFs showed highest expression in the embryo and less in the aleurone and in the starchy endosperm. In primary roots, all four CaM SFs were expressed in the root cap, meristematic regions and in differentiating cells. During development of the roots, expression gradually decreased. The wheat glutenin gene, which was used as a control throughout our experiments, was found to be expressed in the starchy endosperm but not in the aleurone, embryos or vegetative tissues. In stems, at advanced stages of growth, differences in cell-specific expression of CaM SFs were found. For example, SF-2 was highly expressed in differentiating phloem fibers. Thus, CaM genes in common wheat exhibit a developmentally regulated organ-, tissue-, cell- and SF-specific expression patterns.     

毛果杨nsLTP基因家族全基因组水平鉴定及其表达特性分析

植物非特异性脂质转移蛋白（non-specific lipid transfer proteins,nsLTP）是一类多基因家族编码碱性蛋白,负责脂肪酸体外结和与膜之间的磷脂转移,在植物生长发育和逆境胁迫响应中扮演着重要角色。目前为止,尚无模式植物毛果杨（Populus trichocarpa）nsLTP家族的研究报导。本研究从全基因组水平对PtrnsLTP家族成员的基因数量、亲缘关系、基因结构、编码蛋白保守基序等特性进行了分析,结果表明：PtrnsLTP家族共由39个基因组成,进化成5个亚家族,其中A亚族含有6个基因、B亚族含有2个、C亚族含有13个、D亚族含有3个、E亚族含有15个。PtrnsLTP家族包含7对旁系同源基因,其中1对大于1,6对Ka/Ks均远小于1,且这6对基因均处于同一个大的进化分支上,进化压力的不同导致基因间的功能出现了分化,编码蛋白均含有Motif 1和 Motif 2保守基序。利用qRT-PCR技术并结合杨树转录组数据对PtrnsLTP的组织表达与盐胁迫响应特性研究发现：各家族成员在毛果杨根、茎和叶中均有表达且经qRT-PCR技术验证后与网站预测结果基本吻合,有11、15和13个成员分别在根、茎和叶中有较高的表达,表明该基因家族参与了杨树不同组织的生长发育;NaCl胁迫下,该家族39个基因中分别有26个成员在根部、14个成员在叶部表达量随着胁迫时间的增加而升高,而32个基因在茎部表现为先升高后降低的趋势。本研究结果对于PtrnsLTP家族基因生物学功能的鉴定与盐胁迫响应基因资源的工作有着积极的推动作用。