NTR/NRX Define a New Thioredoxin System in the Nucleus of Arabidopsis thaliana Cells

Thioredoxins （TRX） are key components of cellular redox balance, regulating many target proteins through thiol/disulfide exchange reactions. In higher plants, TRX constitute a complex multigenic family whose members have been found in almost all cellular compartments. Although chloroplastic and cytosolic TRX systems have been largely studied, the presence of a nuclear TRX system has been elusive for a long time. Nucleoredoxins （NRX） are potential nuclear TRX found in most eukaryotic organisms. In contrast to mammals, which harbor a unique NRX, angiosperms gen- erally possess multiple NRX organized in three subfamilies. Here, we show thatArabidopsis thaliana has two NRXgenes （AtNRX1 and AtNRX2）, respectively, belonging to subgroups I and III. While NRX1 harbors typical TRX active sites （WCG/ PPC）, NRX2 has atypical active sites （WCRPC and WCPPF）. Nevertheless, both NRXl and NRX2 have disulfide reduction capacities, although NRX1 alone can be reduced by the thioredoxin reductase NTRA. We also show that both NRX1 and NRX2 have a dual nuclear/cytosolic localization. Interestingly, we found that NTRA, previously identified as a cytosolic protein, is also partially localized in the nucleus, suggesting that a complete TRX system is functional in the nucleus. We show that NRX1 is mainly found as a dimer in vivo. nrxl and nrx2 knockout mutant plants exhibit no phenotypic perturbations under standard growth conditions. However, the nrxl mutant shows a reduced pollen fertility phenotype, suggesting a specific role of NRX1 at the haploid phase.     

The Arabidopsis thaliana RNA Editing FactorSLO2, which Affects the Mitochondrial ElectronTransport Chain,Participates in Multiple Stressand Hormone Resoonses

Recently, we reported that the novel mitochondrial RNA editing factor SLO2 is essential for mitochondrialelectron transport, and vital for plant growth through regulation of carbon and energy metabolism. Here, we show thatmutation in SL02 causes hypersensitivity to ABA and insensitivity to ethylene, suggesting a link with stress responses.Indeed, slo2 mutants are hypersensitive to salt and osmotic stress during the germination stage, while adult plantsshow increased drought and salt tolerance. Moreover, slo2 mutants are more susceptible to Botrytis cinerea infection.An increased expression of nuclear-encoded stress-responsive genes, as well as mitochondrial-encoded NAD genes ofcomplex I and genes of the alternative respiratory pathway, was observed in slo2 mutants, further enhanced by ABAtreatment. In addition, H202 accumulation and altered amino acid levels were recorded in slo2 mutants. We conclude thatSLO2 is required for plant sensitivity to ABA, ethylene, biotic, and abiotic stress. Although two stress-related RNA editingfactors were reported very recently, this study demonstrates a unique role of SLO2, and further supports a link betweenmitochondrial RNA editing events and stress response.     

一个特异水稻原纤蛋白FBN11的生物信息学和基因表达特性分析

Fibrillin 11(FBN 11)是植物质体中FBN蛋白家族的重要成员之一,比其他成员多300~500个氨基酸残基,说明其可能存在某些特异性结构和功能。本研究在水稻幼苗中扩增获得到了一个受非生物逆境胁迫诱导的OsFBN11基因的全长cDNA,该基因含有12个内含子和13个外显子。其编码蛋白的分子量为72.36 kD,pI值为9.26。生物信息学分析结果表明,该蛋白含有无规则卷曲、α螺旋和β-折叠3种氨基酸二级结构,不含有跨膜结构域,蛋白亲水性强,PSORT软件预测该蛋白可能定位于叶绿体中。进一步对14种植物FBN11蛋白的同源性和5个物种该蛋白的保守结构域分析,发现该蛋白兼有典型的PAP-Fibrillin结构域和蛋白激酶PKc结构域。水稻全生育期芯片分析显示该基因主要在愈伤组织、叶片和根系中高水平表达。RT-PCR检测结果显示,该基因在水稻幼苗中受ABA、NaCl和干旱胁迫处理上调表达。上述结果表明,OsFBN11可能在水稻质体发育和抗非生物胁迫反应中发挥重要作用。     

RNA编辑的研究进展

RNA编辑,即通过碱基的插入、删除和替换对RNA进行的转录后加工过程,这一表观遗传现象也被认为是在RNA水平上对遗传信息进行修复的一种修正机制.本文主要综述了目前植物中基于PPR基因家族等编辑复合体以及动物中关于CRISPR/Cas系统的两种RNA编辑系统,并介绍了RNA编辑在植物生长发育过程中的重要作用,并展望了RN...     

茎瘤芥异戊烯基转移酶家族基因全基因组鉴定及表达分析北大核心CSCD

该研究以茎瘤芥栽培品种‘永安小叶’为实验材料,在全基因组水平对茎瘤芥基因组中异戊烯基转移酶(IPT)家族基因成员进行鉴定;通过荧光定量PCR检测各基因在不同组织、盐胁迫和根肿菌胁迫条件下的表达模式。结果显示:(1)在茎瘤芥基因组中共鉴定到27个IPT家族基因,分布在14条染色体上,它们在系统进化树中可聚类为7个分支。(2)大部分IPT家族基因主要在茎瘤芥的根和茎中表达,在叶片、花和种荚中表达量相对较低。BjuB006281在茎中的表达水平最高,BjuA027211、BjuB010173、BjuB010174和BjuA001839在根中的表达水平较高。(3)大部分的IPT基因表达受盐胁迫抑制,BjuB006281、BjuA036403、BjuB010173、BjuB026254在盐胁迫12~48 h显著下调表达;BjuB022918和BjuB007352则在盐胁迫24~48 h显著下调表达。(4)大部分茎瘤芥IPT基因在12 h受到根肿菌侵染的显著诱导,其中BjuB006281、BjuA014415、BjuB022918在侵染后12 h的表达水平为0 h对照的15倍以上。该研究鉴定出多个响应盐胁迫和根肿菌胁迫的IPT基因,为进一步研究他们的基因功能奠定了基础。     

Rice Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Gene Family and Its Role in Biotic and Abiotic Stress Response

The mitogen-activated protein kinase （MAPK） cascade is an important signaling module that transduces extracellular stimuli into intracellular responses in eukaryotic organisms. An increasing body of evidence has shown that the MAPK-mediated cellular signaling is crucial to plant growth and development, as well as biotic and abiotic stress responses. To date, a total of 17 MAPK genes have been Identified from the rice genome. Expression profiling, biochemical characterization and/or functional analysis were carried out with many members of the rice MAPK gene family, especially those associated with biotic and abiotic stress responses. In this review, the phylogenetic relationship and classification of rice MAPK genes are discussed to facilitate a simple nomenclature and standard annotation of the rice MAPK gene family. Functional data relating to biotic and abiotic stress responses are reviewed for each MAPK group and show that despite overlapping in functionality, there is a certain level of functional specificity among different rice MAP kinases. The future challenges are to functionally characterize each MAPK, to identify their downstream substrates and upstream kinases, and to genetically manipulate the MAPK signaling pathway in rice crops for the Improvement of agronomically important traits.     

七鳃鳗KCTD基因家族成员全基因组鉴定及进化分析

钾离子通道四聚化结构域(KCTD)蛋白基因家族是一个保守的基因家族,该家族成员的共同特征是具有一个含有BTB保守结构域的N-末端和一个可变的C-末端。KCTD基因的突变或不正常调控与人类多种疾病相关。七鳃鳗是现存最原始的脊椎动物,作为联系无脊椎动物和脊椎动物之间的桥梁,在生物进化研究中占有重要地位。本研究通过对海七鳃鳗(Petromyzon marinus)和日本七鳃鳗(Lethenteron japonicum)基因组和转录组数据分析,全面系统地鉴定了海七鳃鳗和日本七鳃鳗KCTD基因家族成员,并对其基因结构特征、蛋白保守基序和基因表达模式进行了分析。在海七鳃鳗和日本七鳃鳗中分别鉴定出13个和14个KCTD基因,基因长度和外显子数目在不同KCTD基因间变化很大,KCTD蛋白中4个基序保守性显著,大多数KCTD基因呈泛表达模式,并且在胚胎发育时期明显高表达。除七鳃鳗外,对12个无脊椎动物和脊椎动物代表物种KCTD基因家族成员进行了鉴定,并对KCTD基因家族成员的进化关系进行了分析。根据进化树聚类情况,将KCTD基因家族成员分为11个亚家族。进化分析结果显示,KCTD基因家族从低等的无脊椎动物线虫和果蝇到高等的人类都存在;线虫中仅有5个成员,果蝇中有8个成员,随着物种进化程度由低到高,KCTD家族成员数目呈现增加的趋势;从爬行类开始,脊椎动物KCTD基因数目稳定在24个左右。硬骨鱼类特有的全基因组复制事件影响鱼类KCTD基因数目。本研究结果不仅丰富了七鳃鳗KCTD基因家族信息,同时也对KCTD家族基因间的进化关系进行了探究,为深入研究该家族基因功能提供了一定的依据。     

miR-171基因家族进化分析及靶基因预测

运用生物信息学方法在miRBase中搜索植物miR-171基因家族的序列,分析miR-171序列的进化特征并预测其靶基因。结果表明,在38种植物中共搜索到219条miR-171序列,大部分miR-171基因都存在于基因间隔区。进化分析表明,miR-171基因家族的进化与物种进化关联不大。采用3个miRNA靶基因预测软件对大豆和玉米miR-171基因的靶基因进行预测,发现了miR-171可能参与生长因子、转录因子、蛋白酶等的调控,作用范围非常广泛。