APETALA1突变影响WRKY基因的基础表达

拟南芥APETALA1（AP1）既是一个花分生组织特征基因又是一个花器官特征基因,在花器官发育中控制花萼和花瓣的发育。通过GUS染色进一步证实AP1主要在茎尖、花萼、花瓣和花托的位置表达。启动子分析发现,AP1启动子区包含了包括W-box在内的大量顺式作用元件,暗示相关转录调控因子参与了对AP1的调控。21个WRKY基因单突变后并不改变AP1在花中的表达,但是AP1突变则增强了检测的10个WRKY基因中7个WRKY基因的表达,暗示AP1参与了对WRKY基因的基础表达的调控。这个结果也暗示AP1可能通过控制花萼和花瓣的发育从而参与了对花的基础抗性。     

Molecular cloning and characterization of the promoter for the multiple stress-inducible gene <Emphasis Type="Italic">BjCHI1</Emphasis> from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica juncea</Emphasis>

We have previously isolated a Brassica juncea cDNA encoding a novel chitinase BjCHI1 with two chitin-binding domains (Zhao and Chye in Plant Mol Biol 40:1009–1018, 1999). The expression of BjCHI1 was highly inducible by methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment, wounding, caterpillar feeding, and pathogenic fungal infection. These observations suggest that the promoter of BjCHI1 gene might contain specific cis-acting elements for stress responses. Here, we report the cloning and characterization of the BjCHI1 promoter. A 1,098 bp BjCHI1 genomic DNA fragment upstream of the ATG start codon was isolated by PCR walking and various constructs were made by fusing the BjCHI1 promoter or its derivatives to β-glucuronidase reporter gene. The transgenic Arabidopsis plants showed that the BjCHI1 promoter responded to wounding and MeJA treatment, and to treatments with either NaCl or polyethyleneglycol (PEG 6000), indicating that the BjCHI1 promoter responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses. A transient gene expression system of Nicotiana benthamiana leaves was adopted for promoter deletion analysis, and the results showed that a 76 bp region from −695 to −620 in the BjCHI1 promoter was necessary for MeJA-responsive expression. Furthermore, removal of a conserved T/G-box (AACGTG) at −353 to −348 of the promoter greatly reduced the induction by MeJA. This is the first T/G-box element identified in a chitinase gene promoter. Gain-of-function analysis demonstrated that the cis-acting element present in the 76 bp region requires coupling with the T/G-box to confer full magnitude of BjCHI1 induction by MeJA.     

一种转录受病原物接种和机械创伤诱导的水稻WRKY基因的鉴定

WRKY基因编码一类植物特异性转录因子,该类基因目前在双子叶植物中得到了较好的研究.为了研究WRKY基因在单子叶植物中的生物学功能,从水稻(Oryza sativa L.)中分离了OsiWRKY基因的cDNA.该cDNA可编码一个含482个氨基酸残基的蛋白质,该蛋白质预测的一级结构中含有一个WRKY结构域,在该结构域中发现了一个典型的C2-H2锌指结构模块.OsiWRKY预测的一级结构中还可能含有一个细胞核定位因子;利用瞬时表达体系,发现OsiWRKY与GFP绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)的融合蛋白的确定位在水稻细胞核中.在凝胶阻滞实验中,体外表达的OsiWRKY蛋白可特异地结合W-box顺式因子.在水稻白叶枯病原细菌接种实验中,OsiWRKy基因的转录本在抗病品种(IR-26)中的诱导增加强度明显高于感病品种(Jingang 30).在模拟接种的水稻中,OsiWRKy基因的转录本也表现诱导增加,但其诱导增加的起始时间和幅度要显著低于水稻白叶枯病原细菌接种的水稻植株.这些结果表明,OsiWRKY基因可能编码了一个含有WRKY结构域的转录因子,该转录因子可能参与了水稻对病原物接种和机械创伤的反应,但OsiWRKY蛋白调节两种反应的机制可能有所不同.     

水稻转录因子WRKY42的转录、表达及其与W-box的结合特征分析

WRKY是植物中最大的转录因子家族之一.本文对水稻WRKY42基因的转录分析发现,该基因在水稻苗期和花药中转录,其蛋白质可在各时期的叶片中检测到.在Xa21介导的抗白叶枯病过程中,接菌后期可检测到明显的诱导表达条带,比较其在抗、感和对照反应中的表达丰度发现,在抗、感反应中的表达相似但均明显大于对照反应,推测WRKY42蛋白质在水稻-白叶枯病菌互作反应中发挥作用.我们克隆并在细菌中表达了WRKY42蛋白质,采用微量热泳动(microscale thermophoresis)技术,调查了WRKY42与病程相关基因PR1a和PR1b启动子区顺式元件W-box的互作,发现它们之间可发生特异结合,其解离常数分别为73.3μmol/L和58.3μmol/L.上述数据提供了WRKY42调控下游基因的直接证据,支持WRKY42在水稻抗病过程中发挥作用.文章提出了WRKY转录因子在水稻与白叶枯病菌互作过程中的作用模式.     

一种转录受病原物接种和机械创伤诱导的水稻WRKY基因的鉴定

WRKY基因编码一类植物特异性转录因子,该类基因目前在双子叶植物中得到了较好的研究。为了研究WRKY基因在单子叶植物中的生物学功能,从水稻(Oryza sativa L.)中分离了OsiWRKY基因的cDNA。该cDNA可编码一个含482个氨基酸残基的蛋白质,该蛋白质预测的一级结构中含有一个WRKY结构域,在该结构域中发现了一个典型的C2-H2锌指结构模块。OsiWRKY预测的一级结构中还可能含有一个细胞核定位因子;利用瞬时表达体系,发现OsiWRKY与GFP绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)的融合蛋白的确定位在水稻细胞核中。在凝胶阻滞实验中,体外表达的OsiWRKY蛋白可特异地结合W-box顺式因子。在水稻白叶枯病原细菌接种实验中,OsiWRKY基因的转录本在抗病品种(IR-26)中的诱导增加强度明显高于感病品种(Jingang 30)。在模拟接种的水稻中,OsiWRKY基因的转录本也表现诱导增加,但其诱导增加的起始时间和幅度要显著低于水稻白叶枯病原细菌接种的水稻植株。这些结果表明,OsiWRKY基因可能编码了一个含有WRKY结构域的转录因子,该转录因子可能参与了水稻对病原物接种和机械创伤的反应,但OsiWRKY蛋白调节两种反应的机制可能有所不同。     

植物WRKY转录因子结构特点及其生物学功能

WRKY转录因子是近年来在植物中发现的N-端含有WRKYGQK高度保守氨基酸序列的新型转录调控因子, 它能够与(T)(T)TGAC(C/T)序列(W-box)发生特异性作用, 调节启动子中含W-box元件的调节基因和/或功能基因的表达, 从而参与植物的各种防卫反应, 调节植物的生长发育等。文章主要论述了植物WRKY转录因子的基本结构及其生物学功能。     

Salicylic Acid and a Chitin Elicitor Both Control Expression of the CAD1 Gene Involved in the Plant Immunity of Arabidopsis

The Arabidopsis mutant cad1 (constitutively activated cell death 1) shows a phenotype that mimics hypersensitive response (HR)-like cell death. The CAD1 gene, which encodes a protein containing a domain with significant homology to the MACPF (membrane attach complex and perforin) domain of complement components and perforin, is likely to control plant immunity negatively and has a W-box cis-element in its promoter region. We found that expression of the CAD1 gene and other W-box containing genes, such as NPR1 and PR2, was promoted by salicylic acid (SA) and benzothiadiazole (BTH) as a SA agonist. The CAD1 gene was also stimulated by a purified chitin oligosaccharide elicitor (degree of polymerization = 8). This latter control was not under SA, because CAD1 expression was not suppressed in 35SnahG transgenic plants, which are unable to accumulate SA. These expression profiles were confirmed by promoter analysis using pCAD1::GUS transgenic plants. The CAD1 expression promoted by BTH and the chitin elicitor was not suppressed in the npr1 mutant, which is insensitive to SA signaling. These results indicate that the CAD1 gene is regulated by two distinct pathways involving SA and a chitin elicitor: viz., SA signaling mediated through an NPR1-independent pathway, and chitin elicitor signaling, through an SA-independent pathway. Three CAD1 homologs that have multiple W-box elements in their promoters were also found to be under the control of SA.     

植物WRKY转录因子家族研究进展

WRKY是植物特有的一类转录因子家族,因含有由WRKYGQK 7个氨基酸组成的保守序列而得名,在拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)中共发现了74个成员.WRKY蛋白能与TTGAC序列(又称W-box)专一结合调节基因转录,其表达主要受病原菌、损伤和信号分子SA的诱导.除主要与植物的抗逆反应和衰老有关外,WRKY也参与植物其他发育和代谢的调控.在植物的抗逆反应过程中,WRKY的表达通常发生在诱导的早期,且不需要蛋白质的重新合成.     

WRKY转录因子功能的多样化

WRKY是植物中一类重要的转录因子家族,其共同的特点是含有高度保守的核心氨基酸序列WRKYGQK,在C-末端有一个锌指结构。WRKY受到病原菌、损伤、SA(salicylic acid)等因子的诱导后表达,特异性识别(T)(T)TGAC(C/T)序列(W-box),调节基因的表达而参与许多生理过程,如抗病、损伤、生长发育以及衰老等。该文主要介绍了WRKY的结构特点及其功能的研究进展。