Cross talk between the KNOX and ethylene pathways is mediated by intron-binding transcription factors in barley

In the barley (Hordeum vulgare) Hooded (Kap) mutant, the duplication of a 305-bp intron sequence leads to the overexpression of the Barley knox3 (Bkn3) gene, resulting in the development of an extra flower in the spikelet. We used a one-hybrid screen to identify four proteins that bind the intron-located regulatory element (Kap intron-binding proteins). Three of these, Barley Ethylene Response Factor1 (BERF1), Barley Ethylene Insensitive Like1 (BEIL1), and Barley Growth Regulating Factor1 (BGRF1), were characterized and their in vitro DNA-binding capacities verified. Given the homology of BERF1 and BEIL1 to ethylene signaling proteins, we investigated if these factors might play a dual role in intron-mediated regulation and ethylene response. In transgenic rice (Oryza sativa), constitutive expression of the corresponding genes produced phenotypic alterations consistent with perturbations in ethylene levels and variations in the expression of a key gene of ethylene biosynthesis. In barley, ethylene treatment results in partial suppression of the Kap phenotype, accompanied by up-regulation of BERF1 and BEIL1 expression, followed by down-regulation of Bkn3 mRNA levels. In rice protoplasts, BEIL1 activates the expression of a reporter gene driven by the 305-bp intron element, while BERF1 can counteract this activation. Thus, BEIL1 and BERF1, likely in association with other Kap intron-binding proteins, should mediate the fine-tuning of Bkn3 expression by ethylene. We propose a hypothesis for the cross talk between the KNOX and ethylene pathways.     

Identification of Quantitative Trait Loci Controlling High Calcium Response in Arabidopsis thaliana

Natural variation for primary root growth response to high Ca stress in Arabidopsis thaliana was studied by screening a series of accessions (ecotypes) under high Calcium (40 mM CaCl₂ ) conditions. The genetic basis of this variation was further investigated by QTL analysis using recombinant inbred lines from Landsberg erecta (Ler)×Cape Verde Islands (Cvi) cross. Four QTLs were identified in chromosome 1, 2 and 5,and named response to high Calcium (RHCA) 1–4. The three QTLs (RHCA1, RHCA2 and RHCA4) were further confirmed by analysis of near isogenic lines harboring Cvi introgression fragments in Ler background. Real-time PCR analysis showed that several genes associated with high Ca response including SMT1 and XHT25 have changed expression pattern between Ler and near isogenic lines. These results were useful for detecting molecular mechanisms of plants for high Ca adaption.     

花生根瘤菌Bradyrhizobium sp.MM6 Ⅲ型分泌系统的结构和功能

【目的】探究花生根瘤菌Bradyrhizobium sp.MM6的Ⅲ型分泌系统(T3SS)的结构及其在根瘤菌与不同宿主建立共生关系中的作用。【方法】同源比对分析菌株MM6的T3SS基因簇的结构特征,并采用三亲本接合转移的方法构建T3SS调节基因ttsI突变菌株;通过蛭石结瘤和石蜡切片实验,比较突变体与野生型的共生固氮表型差异。【结果】经预测,MM6的T3SS基因簇编码区长约34.1 kb,可分为3个区域,包含10个保守结构基因和8个效应蛋白基因,与B.diazoefficiens USDA110相应基因的序列相似性为83%–93%;成功构建了MM6的ttsI突变株;ttsI突变株与野生型分别与花生(S523和Y45)、野大豆和大豆中黄57结瘤,ttsI突变体在花生中的总瘤数显著增加(P<0.05),根瘤中含菌细胞更多;ttsI突变体在野大豆中平均每株植物增加4个根瘤,根瘤中含菌细胞更多,地上部干重相比野生型MM6显著增加(P<0.05);在大豆中黄57中,野生型MM6能形成红色的有效根瘤,ttsI突变体不结瘤,且植株叶片发黄,地上部干重相比野生型MM6显著降低(P<0.05)。【结论】MM6的T3SS在花生和野大豆共生体系中起着有害的作用,而在大豆中黄57的共生体系中起着有利的作用。     

玉米/花生混作改善花生铁营养对花生根瘤碳氮代谢及固氮的影响

研究了石灰性土壤上玉米 (Zea mays L.) /花生 (Arachishypogaea L.)混作改善花生铁营养对花生光合速率、光合产物的运输、花生各部位糖类含量、固氮酶活性以及根瘤内碳氮代谢及其有关酶活性的影响。结果表明 ,玉米 /花生混作改善花生铁营养能够明显增强固氮酶活性 ,进而增加了间作花生根瘤氨基酸的含量 ,这主要是由于玉米 /花生混作改善花生铁营养促进了花生光合作用 ,提高光合产物数量 ,增加光合产物由地上部向地下部的运输 ,但是处理间花生根瘤蔗糖和可溶性糖含量变化不大 ,单作花生根瘤还积累较多淀粉 ,说明不是光合产物的供应导致了花生固氮活性的差异。玉米 /花生混作对花生根瘤碳水化合物代谢水平影响较大 ,混作花生根瘤异柠檬酸脱氢酶 (IDH)、苹果酸脱氢酶 (MDH)、琥珀酸脱氢酶活性明显高于单作 ,而磷酸烯醇丙酮酸羧激 (PEPCK)活性低于单作花生 ,表明混作花生根瘤内三羧酸循环代谢水平较高 ,形成类菌体直接吸收利用的能量物质苹果酸和琥珀酸多 ,能够满足类菌体的固氮需求 ,因此 ,玉米 /花生混作改善花生铁营养增强根瘤碳水化合物代谢水平是提高花生固氮作用的重要原因之一     

粘虫核型多角体病毒919bp片段的PCR双链直接序列测定

本文发展了ＰＣＲ克隆和亚克隆技术制备ＤＮＡ测序模板。首先,我们用ｐＵＣ／Ｍ１３系列质粒的通用正反向引物ＰＣＲ扩增出质粒ｐＢｌｕｅｓｃｒｉｐｔＫＳＤＮＡ的多克隆位点及其侧翼序列,用ＥｃｏＲＶ和ＸｈｏＩ消化成为左右两个引物多克隆臂,与粘虫核型多角体病毒（ＬｓＮＰＶ）的ＥｃｏＲＶ和ＸｈｏＩ约４００ｂｐ和５００ｂｐ片段分别连接,经ＰＣＲ扩增,得到两端具有上述正反向引物结合位点的测序模板,用ｄｄＮＴＰ链终止法／ＰＣＲ扩增／银染色,从片段两端测定了全部９１９ｂｐ序列,这种ｄｄＮＴＰ／ＰＣＲ／银染测序法简化了操作,大大缩短了测序模板的制备时间,易于实现自动化操作。