Severe reduction in growth rate and grain filling of rice mutants lacking OsGS1;1, a cytosolic glutamine synthetase1;1

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants possess three homologous but distinct genes for cytosolic glutamine synthetase (GS1): these are OsGS1;1, OsGS1;2, and OsGS1;3. OsGS1;1 was expressed in all organs tested with higher expression in leaf blades, while OsGS1;2, and OsGS1;3 were expressed mainly in roots and spikelets, respectively. We characterized knockout mutants caused by insertion of endogenous retrotransposon Tos17 into the exon-8 (lines ND8037 and ND9801) or the exon-10 (line NC2327) of OsGS1;1. Mendelian segregation occurred in each progeny. Homozygously inserted mutants showed severe retardation in growth rate and grain filling when grown at normal nitrogen concentrations. Abnormal mRNA for GS1;1 was transcribed, and the GS1 protein and its activity in the leaf blades were barely detectable in these mutants. The glutamine pool in the roots and leaf blades of the mutants was lower than that of the wild type. Re-introduction of OsGS1;1 cDNA under the control of its own promoter into the mutants successfully complemented these phenotypes. Progeny where Tos17 was heterozygously inserted or deleted during segregation showed normal phenotypes. The results indicate that GS1;1 is important for normal growth and grain filling in rice; GS1;2 and GS1;3 were not able to compensate for GS1;1 function.     

水稻叶绿素a氧化酶基因突变体的鉴定及其对氮营养的响应

对从日本获得的水稻Tos17插入突变基因进行了鉴定,并通过PCR技术对其插入位点和纯合体进行了分析和筛选。结果表明,Tos17插入在序列号为DP000086的基因,在此基因反向互补序列的1579bp处,在mRNA序列的第5个外显子区域,是水稻的一个叶绿素a氧化酶基因,而且此基因在单一的铵营养下表达减弱,氮饥饿条件下表达增强。利用Tos17未端和插入位点上下游设计引物进行PCR反应,鉴定到3株纯合突变体株,为进一步研究其功能奠定了基础。     

Immunoreactive-beta-endorphin, -adrenocorticotropin and -calcitonin in extracts of anaplastic or differentiated (rat) medullary thyroid carcinoma.

Fifteen analogs of luliberin (2, LRH) were synthesized by the solid phase method and examined for their ability to block ovulation in the rat. Two analogs, [Ac-DAla¹,DPhe²,DTrp^3,6]-LRH and [Ac-DPhe¹,DPhe²,DTrp^3,6]-LRH, each blocked ovulation at a single injection dose of 250 μg administered at noon on the day of proestrus; three peptides, [Ac-DPro¹,DPhe²,DTrp^3,6]-LRH, [Ac-DThi¹,DPhe²,DTrp^3,6]-LRH and [Ac-DTrp¹,DPhe²,DTrp^3,6]-LRH, were effective at doses of 500 μg each; and four others, [Ac-DTrp¹,DPhe²,DTrp³,DTrp(Nps)⁶]-LRH, [Chlorambucil-DPhe¹, DPhe², DTrp^3,6]-LRH, [1,DThi²,DTrp^3,6]-LRH and [(2-DLys⁶]-LRH, gave partial inhibition at doses tested.     

Characterization of CONSTITUTIVE PHOTOMORPHOGENESIS AND DWARFISM Homologs in Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

To enhance our understanding of brassinosteroid (BR) biosynthesis in rice, we attempted to identify putative rice homologs of Arabidopsis CYP90A1/ CPD and related mutants. Two candidate genes, designated CYP90A3/OsCPD1 and CYP90A4/OsCPD2, are located on chromosomes 11 (2.0 cM) and 12 (1.9 cM), respectively. Based on sequence similarity with the Arabidopsis CYP90A1/CPD gene, we predict that the CYP90A3/OsCPD1 and CYP90A4/OsCPD2 gene products function as C-23α hydroxylases in the BR biosynthesis pathway. Both are broadly expressed in wild-type rice, and their expression is regulated by a feedback mechanism. A retrotransposon insertion mutant of CYP90A3/OsCPD1, oscpd1-1, did not produce any BR-deficient phenotype or feedback upregulation of genes for BR biosynthesis enzymes. These results indicate that if, as predicted, the CYP90A3/OsCPD1 and CYP90A4/OsCPD2 genes do function in the BR biosynthesis pathway, they may each have enough capacity to catalyze BR biosynthesis on their own. As a consequence, the oscpd1-1 mutant may not be deficient in endogenous BRs. Interestingly, BR biosynthesis enzymes except C-6 oxidase are encoded by plural genes in rice but by single genes in Arabidopsis (again, except C-6 oxidase). On the basis of these findings, we discuss the differences in BR biosynthesis between rice and Arabidopsis.     

逆转座子Tos17的激活与水稻白叶枯病成株抗性的关系

为了研究水稻白叶枯病成株抗性是否与逆转子激活有关,运用SSAP (sequence-specific amplification polymorphism) 对成株抗性品种苗期和成株期接种白叶枯病原菌、清水接种及健康植株的基因组进行了逆转座子扫描。在筛选的约2000个逆转座子基因片段中,9个受苗期生长发育诱导激活,两个受成株期生长发育诱导激活,苗期和成株期各有3个受病原菌诱导激活。苗期生长发育诱导激活产生的逆转座子数目高于成株期,而病原菌诱导产生的逆转座子数目与成株期相当,表明水稻白叶枯病成株抗性可能与生长发育诱导的逆转座子激活相关。