Ethylene suppresses jasmonate-induced gene expression in nicotine biosynthesis

In Nicotiana sylvestris, a set of nicotine biosynthesis genes were activated by exogenous application of methyl jasmonate, but the activation was effectively suppressed by simultaneous treatment with ethylene. When N. sylvestris transgenic hairy roots were treated with a natural ethylene precursor, the jasmonate-responsive expression of the promoter from a nicotine pathway enzyme gene was completely suppressed, and this suppressive effect was abolished when ethylene perception was blocked with silver cation. These and additional immunoblot results suggest that ethylene signal antagonizes jasmonate signal in nicotine biosynthesis.     

Water stress enhances expression of an alpha-amylase gene in barley leaves

The amylases of the second leaves of barley seedlings (Hordeum vulgare L. cv Betzes) were resolved into eight isozymes by isoelectric focusing, seven of which were β-amylase and the other, α-amylase. The α-amylase had the same isoelectric point as one of the gibberellin-induced α-amylase isozymes in the aleurone layer. This and other enzyme characteristics indicated that the leaf isozyme corresponded to the type A aleurone α-amylase (low pI group). Crossing experiments indicated that leaf and type A aleurone isozymes resulted from expression of the same genes.

In unwatered seedlings, leaf α-amylase increased as leaf water potential decreased and ABA increased. Water stress had no effect on β-amylase. α-Amylase occurred uniformly along the length of the leaf but β-amylase was concentrated in the basal half of the leaf. Cell fractionation studies indicated that none of the leaf α-amylase occurred inside chloroplasts.

Leaf radiolabeling experiments followed by extraction of α-amylase by affinity chromatography and immunoprecipitation showed that increase of α-amylase activity involved synthesis of the enzyme. However, water stress caused no major change in total protein synthesis. Hybridization of a radiolabeled α-amylase-related cDNA clone to size fractionated RNA showed that water-stressed leaves contained much more α-amylase mRNA than unstressed plants. The results of these and other studies indicate that regulation of gene expression may be a component in water-stress induced metabolic changes.

     

Temporal reiteration of a precise gene expression pattern during nematode development.

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is contained within a multifunctional exoskeleton, the cuticle, that contains a large number of distinct collagens. As the nematode proceeds from the egg through four larval stages to the adult, transition between larval stages is marked by synthesis of a new cuticle and subsequent moulting of the old one. This is a cyclically repeated developmental event, frequently described as the moulting cycle. We have examined the temporal expression of a group of six genes encoding distinct cuticular collagens. As expected, mRNA abundance for each of the six genes tested is found to oscillate, peaking once during each larval stage. Unexpectedly, the periods of abundance for each gene do not coincide, different genes being expressed at different times relative to one another within the moulting cycle. We detect a programme of temporally distinct waves of collagen gene expression, the precise pattern of which is repeated during each of the four larval stages. This multiphasic pattern of oscillating cuticular collagen gene expression indicates an unexpected complexity of temporal control during the nematode moulting cycle and has implications for collagen trimerization and cuticle synthesis.     

Effects of water stress on major photosystem II gene expression and protein metabolism in barley leaves

Although it has long been recognized that water deficit in plants reduces photosystem (PS) II mRNAs and proteins, the detailed mechanisms behind this have not been thoroughly elucidated. In the present study, effects of water stress in barley leaves on degradation of major PSII mRNA and dissociation and migration of PSII proteins were investigated. The results indicated that (1) the steady-state levels of major PSII mRNAs and proteins declined with increasing water stress, as a consequence of increased degradation; under severe water stress, the half-lives of D1 and D2 proteins decreased from 12–14 h to 7–8 h and the half-lives of psbA and psbD mRNA decreased from above 16 to 6–10 h; (2) monomerization of PSII were increased during water stress. Severe water stress accelerated turnover of PSII and inhibited PSII activities.     

Spectroscopic analysis of desiccation-induced alterations of the chlorophyllide transformation pathway in etiolated barley leaves

Effects of water deficit on the chlorophyllide (Chlide) transformation pathway were studied in etiolated barley (Hordeum vulgare) leaves by analyzing absorption spectra and 77-K fluorescence spectra deconvoluted in components. Chlide transformations were examined in dehydrated leaves exposed to a 35-ms saturating flash triggering protochlorophyllide (Pchlide) and Chlide transformation processes. During the 90 min following the flash, we found that dehydration induced modifications of Chlide transformations, but no effect on Pchlide phototransformation into Chlide was observed. During this time, content of NADPH-Pchlide oxydoreductase in leaves did not change. Chlide transformation process in dehydrated leaves was characterized by the alteration of the Shibata shift process, by the appearance of a new Chlide species emitting at 692 nm, and by the favored formation of Chl(ide) A(668)F(676). The formation of Chl(ide) A(668)F(676), so-called "free Chlide," was probably induced by disaggregation of highly aggregated Chlide complexes. Here, we offer evidence for the alteration of photoactive Pchlide regeneration process, which may be caused by the desiccation-induced inhibition of Pchlide synthesis.     

银鲫pou2基因在胚胎发育过程中的时空表达图式

用RACE-PCR方法从原肠期SMART文库中扩增到银鲫pou2基因的全长cDNA,其全长为2421bp,开放阅读框为1416bp,编码471个氨基酸,与斑马鱼pou2基因的氨基酸序列一致性高达91.0%。我们用RT-PCR和整体原位杂交的方法研究了银鲫pou2基因在胚胎发育过程中的时空表达图式。RT-PCR结果显示,银鲫pou2基因有母源转录本,其合子基因在高囊胚期强烈表达,在50%下包期和90%下包期也有高量的转录本,但在100%下包期表达量急剧降低,至体节期时已经完全检测不到其转录本。胚胎整体原位杂交结果显示其母源转录本在所有的胚盘细胞中。在高囊胚期和50%下包期,高度表达的合子转录本仍在所有的胚盘细胞中,但至90%下包期时,pou2的表达向胚胎背部的正中线汇聚,集中在神经板的两侧区域和脑部的两条横向条带。在100%下包期时,pou2的表达集中在神经板的中间区域以及预期形成的中后脑区域。至体节期时,转录本消失,这与RT-PCR结果高度一致。银鲫pou2基因的表达图式提示该基因在胚胎发育的早期具有重要作用,它可能参与调控神经板的形成和中后脑细胞的发育命运。     

Light-dependent expression of two catalase subunits in leaves of barley seedlings

In young barley seedlings high levels of a 57 kDa catalase subunit were found in the dark, while increased levels of a 53 kDa subunit were detected in the leaves after growth in the light. A catalase-deficient mutant fails to upregulate expression of the 53 kDa subunit after transfer to a high light intensity.     

Temporal regulation of gene expression

Molecular biology gives a static--not a dynamic--vision of the mechanisms regulating gene expression. Genetics already gave to time a limited place in the explanation of living phenomena. Such a static vision is supported by the techniques--such as X-ray crystallography--used by the biologists. However time is an important parameter in the control of gene expression during the cellular response to external signals, during life and aging of organisms or even in the succession of living forms which takes place in evolution. Models are slowly moving, due to the eruption of new technologies giving access to the fast events which occur inside living cells. A new dynamic vision is progressively replacing the old one. The consequences of these changes on the form of the future biology remain still unknown.     

Hydrogen peroxide is involved in methyl jasmonate-induced senescence of rice leaves

The role of H₂O₂ in the senescence of detached rice leaves induced by methyl jasmonate (MJ) was investigated. MJ treatment resulted in H₂O₂ production in detached rice leaves, which was prior to the occurrence of leaf senescence. Dimethylthiourea, a chemical trap of H₂O₂, was observed to be effective in inhibiting MJ‐induced senescence and MJ‐increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content in detached rice leaves. Diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI) and imidazole (IMD), inhibitors of NADPH oxidase, prevented MJ‐induced H₂O₂ production, suggesting that NADPH oxidase is a H₂O₂‐generating enzyme in MJ‐treated detached rice leaves. DPI and IMD also inhibited MJ‐promoted senescence and MJ‐increased MDA content in detached rice leaves. Phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase inhibitors wortmannin (WM) or LY 294002 (LY) inhibited MJ‐induced H₂O₂ production and senescence of detached rice leaves. Exogenous H₂O₂ reversed the inhibitory effect of WM or LY. In terms of leaf senescence, it was observed that rice seedlings of cultivar Taichung Native 1 (TN1) are jasmonic acid (JA)‐sensitive and those of cultivar Tainung 67 (TNG67) are JA‐insensitive. On treatment with JA, H₂O₂ accumulated in the leaves of TN1 seedlings but not in the leaves of TNG67. Evidence was also provided to show that MJ‐induced H₂O₂ production in detached rice leaves is abscisic acid (ABA)‐independent. Ethylene action inhibitor, silver thiosulfate, was observed to inhibit MJ‐ and ABA‐induced H₂O₂ production and senescence of detached rice leaves, suggesting that the action of MJ and ABA is ethylene‐dependent.