Malvastrum yellow vein virus,a new Begomovirus species associated with satellite DNA molecule

Virus isolate Y47 was obtained from Malvastrum coromandelianum showing yellow vein symptom in Honghe, Yunnan Province. The complete nudcotide sequence of DNA-A was determined, it contains 2731 nuclcotides,having typical genomic organiTation of a begomovirns, encoding 6ORFs with 2ORFs [AVI(CP) and AV2] in virionsense DNA and 40RFs (ACl-AC4) in complementary-sense DNA. Comparisons show that the total DNA-A of Y47 has the highest sequence identity (77%) with that of Okra yellow vein mosaic virus-[201] (AJ002451), while less than 76% identities are found when compared with other begomoviruses. The molecular data show that virus isolate Y47 is a distinct begomovirns species, for which the name Maivastrum yellow vein vorus is proposed. Satellite DNA molecule (Y47β) was found to be associated with Y47 using the primers (beta01 and beta02) specific for DNAβ Y47β consists of 1348 nuclcotides, with a functional ORF (CI) in complemen-tary-sense DNA.Y47β has 62%--67% sequence identity with DNAβ molecule associated with Cotton leaf curl Muitan virus or Cotton leaf curl Rajasthan virus, while lower than 46% sequence identities are found when compared with other reported DNA[~ molecules. Relationship dendrograms show that DNAβ molecules are co-evolved with their help begomoviruses.     

Identification of a bi-directional promoter from Tomato yellow leaf curl China virus

A bi-directional promoter of Tomato yellow leaf curl China virus (TYLCCNV) was obtained with the total DNA from TYLCCNV isolate Y10 infected tobacco leaves as a template. Plant expression vectors were constructed by fusing the amplified DNA fragment with the gus gene and nopaline terminator in different orientations. The vectors containing promoter fragments were transferred into leaf cells and plant stems of Nicotiana benthamiana by Agrobacterium-mediated method. Transient expression results showed that both the complementary and virion-sense promoters could drive the gus gene to express, and the GUS activity of the complementary-sense promoter was stronger than that of the virion-sense. Co-expression of the vector containing βC1 gene of TYLCCNV DNAβ with the vector containing a bi-directional promoter revealed that the βC1 protein has no impact on expression of either the virion- or the complementary-sense promoter.     

Role of Ppt1 in multiple stress responses in Candida albicans

To study the function of CaPptl, we deleted PPT1 gene from the Candida albicans genome by sequentially replacing the entire coding region with the selectable markers ARG4 and HIS1. The results showed that the deletion of Pptl did not affect the hyphal formation of C. albicans under serum induction and caused enhanced sensitivity to DNA damage, Calcofluor white and salt- induced stress. We also found that Pptl was not required for the phenotypic response of cells treated with the genotoxins, methylmethane sulfonate and hydroxyurea. Flow cytometric analyses indicated that pptlA cells and wild-type cells showed similar G2/M arrest profiles when exposed to DNA damage stress. Pptl was not required for the activation of the DNA damage response pathway, as indicated by normal phosphorylation of Rad53 and Rfa2 in pptlA cells under DNA damage stress. We suggest that Pptl plays important roles in response to various stress conditions in C. albicans.     

Genetic analysis and fine mapping of an enclosed panicle mutant esp2 in rice （Oryza sativa L.）

The phenomenon of panicle enclosure in rice is mainly caused by the shortening of uppermost internode.Elucidating the molecular mechanism of panicle enclosure will be helpful for solving the problem of panicle enclosure in male sterile lines and creating new germplasms in rice.We acquired a monogenic recessive enclosed panicle mutant,named as esp2 (enclosed shorter panicle 2),from the tissue culture progeny of indica rice cultivar Minghui-86.In the mutant,panicles were entirely enclosed by flag leaf sheaths and the uppermost internode was almost completely degenerated,but the other internodes did not have obvious changes in length.Genetic analysis indicated that the mutant phenotype was controlled by a recessive gene,which could be steadily inherited and was not affected by genetic background.Apparently,ESP2 is a key gene for the development of uppermost internode in rice.Using an F 2 population of a cross between esp2 and a japonica rice cultivar Xiushui-13 as well as SSR and InDel markers,we fine mapped ESP2 to a 14-kb region on the end of the short arm of chromosome 1.According to the rice genome sequence annotation,only one intact gene exists in this region,namely,a putative phosphatidylserine synthase gene.Sequencing analysis on the mutant and the wild type indicated that this gene was inserted by a 5287-bp retrotransposon sequence.Hence,we took this gene as a candidate of ESP2.The results of this study will facilitate the cloning and functional analysis of ESP2 gene.     

AC2 and AC4 proteins of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tomato yellow leaf curl China virus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tobacco curly shoot virus</Emphasis> mediate suppression of RNA silencing

Tomato yellow leaf curl China virus Y10 isolate (TYLCCNV-Y10) alone could systemically infect host plants such as Nicotiana benthamiana without symptoms. In contrast, Tobacco curly shoot virus Y35 isolate (TbCSV-Y35) alone induces leaf curl symptoms in N. benthamiana. When inoculated into transgenic N. benthamiana plants expressing GFP gene (line 16c), TYLCCNV-Y10 neither reverses the established GFP silencing nor blocks the onset of GFP silencing. In contrast, TbCSV-Y35 can partially reverse the established GFP silencing and block the onset of GFP silencing in new leaves. In the patch co-infiltration assays, the AC2 and AC4 proteins of TYLCCNV-Y10 and TbCSV-Y35 could suppress local GFP silencing and delay systemic GFP silencing, suggesting that they are suppressors of RNA silencing. Comparison of the accumulation levels of GFP mRNA in the co-infiltration patches showed that Y10 AC2 and Y35 AC2 proteins had similar efficiency for suppression of RNA silencing. However, Y35 AC4 protein functioned as a stronger suppressor of RNA silencing than Y10 AC4 protein. There-fore, the pathogenicity difference between TbCSV-Y35 and TYLCCNV-Y10 may be related to the functional difference in their AC4 proteins.     

Identification of a bi-directional promoter from Tomato yellow leaf curl China virus

A bi-directional promoter of Tomato yellow leaf curl China virus (TYLCCNV) was obtained with the total DNA from TYLCCNV isolate Y10 infected tobacco leaves as a template. Plant expression vectors were constructed by fusing the amplified DNA fragment with the gus gene and nopaline terminator in different orientations. The vectors containing promoter fragments were transferred into leaf cells and plant stems of Nicotiana benthamiana by Agrobacterium-mediated method. Transient expression results showed that both the complementary and virion-sense promoters could drive the gus gene to express, and the GUS activity of the complementary-sense promoter was stronger than that of the virion-sense. Co-expression of the vector containing βC1 gene of TYLCCNV DNAβ with the vector containing a bi-directional promoter revealed that the βC1 protein has no impact on expression of either the virion- or the complementary-sense promoter.     

Identification of a bi-directional promoter from Tomato yellow leaf curl China virus

A bi-directional promoter of Tomato yellow leaf curl China virus (TYLCCNV) was obtained with the total DNA from TYLCCNV isolate Y10 infected tobacco leaves as a template. Plant expression vectors were constructed by fusing the amplified DNA fragment with the gus gene and nopaline terminator in different orientations. The vectors containing promoter fragments were transferred into leaf cells and plant stems of Nicotiana benthamiana by Agrobacterium-mediated method. Transient expression results showed that both the complementary and virion-sense promoters could drive the gus gene to express, and the GUS activity of the complementary-sense promoter was stronger than that of the virion-sense. Co-expression of the vector containing βC1 gene of TYLCCNV DNAβ with the vector containing a bi-directional promoter revealed that the βC1 protein has no impact on expression of either the virion- or the complementary-sense promoter.     

Magnaporthe oryzae MTP1 gene encodes a type III transmembrane protein involved in conidiation and conidial germination

In this study the MTP1 gene, encoding a type III integral transmembrane protein, was isolated from the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. The Mtp 1 protein is 520 amino acids long and is comparable to the Ytp 1 protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae with 46% sequence similarity. Prediction programs and MTP1-GFP （green fluorescent protein） fusion expression results indicate that Mtp 1 is a protein located at several membranes in the cytoplasm. The functions of the MTP1 gene in the growth and development of the fungus were studied using an MTP1 gene knockout mutant. The MTP1 gene was primarily expressed at the hyphal and conidial stages and is necessary for conidiation and conidial germination, but is not required for pathogenicity. The Amtpl mutant grew more efficiently than the wild type strain on non-fermentable carbon sources, implying that the MTP1 gene has a unique role in respiratory growth and carbon source use.     

Regulatory effect of cotton leaf curl virus AC2 on virion sense promoter

The AC2 gene of cotton leaf curl virus (CLCuV) was obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) . The total DNA of the CLCuV infected tomato leaves was used as template, and the amplified DNA fragment was inserted into a cloning vector. Transient expression vectors were constructed by inserting the AC2 gene into downstream region of CaMV 35S promoter. These constructs were delivered into tobacco and cotton leaf cells for transient expression by particle bombardment. The results indicated that the virion sense promoter was activated by AC2 and its activity increased remarkably. However, the activity of transactivated virion sense promoter was still lower than that of the complementary sense promoter. The expression pattern of transactivated virion sense promoter was similar to that of the complementary sense promoter, namely with high activity in both mesophyll and vascular tissues. The possibility of application of AC2 in plant genetic manipulation was also explored.     

ApcD is required for state transition but not involved in blue-light induced quenching in the cyanobacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anabaena</Emphasis> sp. PCC7120

Pbycobilisomes （PBS） are able to transfer absorbed energy to photosystem Ⅰ and Ⅱ, and the distribution of light energy between two photosystems is regulated by state transitions. In this study we show that energy transfer from PBS to photosystem Ⅰ （PSI） requires ApcD. Cells were unable to perform state transitions in the absence of ApcD. The apcD mutant grows more slowly in light mainly absorbed by PBS, indicating that ApcD-dependent energy transfer to PSI is required for optimal growth under this condition. The apcD mutant showed normal blue-light induced quenching, suggesting that ApcD is not required for this process and state transitions are independent of blue-light induced quenching. Under nitrogen fixing condition, the growth rates of the wild type and the mutant were the same, indicating that energy transfer from PBS to PSI in heterocysts was not required for nitrogen fixation.     

Cloning and Characterization of the fecC Gene Necessary for Optimal Growth under Iron-Deficiency Conditions in the Cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120

The fecC gene encoding a putative iron (Ⅲ) dicitrate transporte rwas cloned from nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120, and inactivated. The mutant grows normally in medium with NO3^- , NH1^- or without combined nitrogen. But in iron-deficient medium, the mutant grows slowly. Photosynthetic properties were compared between the mutant and the wildtype strain, the content of photosynthetic pigments in the mutant is lower than that of the wild-type. The results of RT-PCR experiments show that the fecC gene is expressed under iron-deficient conditions, but is not expressed under iron-replete conditions. These results revealed that fecC gene product is required for optimal growth under iron-deficient conditions in Anabaena sp. PCC 7120.     

ApcD is required for state transition but not involved in blue-light induced quenching in the cyanobacterium Anabaena sp.PCC7120

Pbycobilisomes(PBS) are able to transfer absorbed energy to photosystem I and Ⅱ,and the distribution of light energy between two photosystems is regulated by state transitions.In this study we show that energy transfer from PBS to photosystem I(PSI) requires ApcD.Cells were unable to perform state transitions in the absence of ApcD.The apcD mutant grows more slowly in light mainly absorbed by PBS,indicating that ApcD-dependent energy transfer to PSI is required for optimal growth under this condition.The apcD mutant showed normal blue-light induced quenching,suggesting that ApcD is not required for this process and state transitions are independent of blue-light induced quenching.Under nitrogen fixing condition,the growth rates of the wild type and the mutant were the same,indicating that energy transfer from PBS to PSI in heterocysts was not required for nitrogen fixation.     

Isolation and characterization of rl（t）, a gene that controls leaf rolling in rice

Moderate leaf rolling is one of the most important morphological traits in rice breeding for plant ideotype. Previous studies have shown that the rl（t） gene has a high breeding potential for developing hybrid-rice varieties with an ideal ideotype, because it leads to an appropriate leaf rolling index （LRI） of about 30 % in the heterozygous state, and had a positive effect on grain yield. In this study, we isolated rl（t） and performed a preliminary investigation of its function in regulating leaf rolling in rice. DNA sequencing identified a single base change （G to T） in the finely mapped region （11 kb） containing rl（t）, and this is located in 3′-untranslated region （3′-UTR） of the only predicted gene, Roc5 （Rice outermost cell-specific）. The expression level of Roc5 is significantly higher in the rl（t） mutant than in the wild-type. Using RNAi and overexpression analysis, we found that the expression level of Roc5 correlated with LRI and leaf bulliform area, and wasalso associated with leaf abaxial or adaxial rolling. These results confirmed that Roc5 controls leaf rolling in a dosagedependent manner. Bioinformatics analysis revealed a conserved 17-nt sequence （called the GU-rich element） in the 3′-UTR of HD-GL2 （Homeodomain-Glabra2） family genes including Roc5. Based on the model of this element in regulating mRNA stability in mammals, we speculate that the single nucleotide change in this element accounts for the higher expression level of Roc5 in the rl（t） mutant compared to the wild-type, which ultimately leads to adaxial rolling of the leaf. This discovery further enhances our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying leaf rolling in rice.     

Genetic analysis and molecular mapping of a presenescing leaf gene psl1 in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

A rice psl1 (presenescing leaf) mutant was obtained from a japonica variety Zhonghua 11 via radiation of 60Co-γ in M2 generation. Every leaf of the mutant began to wither after it reached the big-gest length,while the leaves of the wild variety could keep green for 25―35 d. In this study,genetic analysis and gene mapping were carried out for the mutant identified. The SSR marker analysis showed that the mutant was controlled by a single recessive gene (psl1) located on chromosome 2. Fine mapping of the psl1 locus was conducted with 34 new STS markers developed around psl1 anchored region based on the sequence diversity between Nippon-bare and 93-11. The psl1 was further mapped be-tween two STS markers,STS2-19 and STS2-26,with genetic distances of 0.43 and 0.11 cM,respectively,while cosegregated with STS2-25. A BAC contig was found to span the psl1 locus,the region being delim-ited to 48 kb. This result was very useful for cloning of the psl1 gene.     

Sinorhizobium meliloti nifA gene exerts a pleiotropic effect on nodulation through the enhanced plant defense response

Sinorhizobium meliloti nifA gene is required for the expression of a bunch of nif and fix genes. Here, we report its pleiotropic effects on the nodule formation. Compared with wild type strain, nifA mutant sig- nificantly reduced nodule suppression rate in split-root system. The plants inoculated with mutant strain produced lower amount of daidzein and less necrotic cells on their roots. In addition, the defense genes failed to be evoked by nifA mutant at the early nodulation stage. These findings indicated that host defense response was one of the mechanisms mediated by nifA gene to regulate nodule formation during symbiosis. Even though nifA mutant could increase the number of nodules in host plant, it synthesized lower Nod factors than wild type. This suggested that nifA gene mediated multiple and diverse instances in nodulation formation.     

Genetic analysis and molecular mapping of a presenescing leaf gene psll in rice （Oryza sativa L.）

A rice psl1 （presenescing leaf） mutant was obtained from a japonica variety Zhonghua 11 via radiation of ^60Co-γ in M2 generation. Every leaf of the mutant began to wither after it reached the biggest length, while the leaves of the wild variety could keep green for 25--35 d. In this study, genetic analysis and gene mapping were carried out for the mutant identified. The SSR marker analysis showed that the mutant was controlled by a single recessive gene （psl1） located on chromosome 2. Fine mapping of the psl1 locus was conducted with 34 new STS markers developed around psl1 anchored region based on the sequence diversity between Nipponbare and 93-11. The psl1 was further mapped between two STS markers, STS2-19 and STS2-26, with genetic distances of 0.43 and 0.11 cM, respectively, while cosegregated with STS2-25. A BAC contig was found to span the psl1 locus, the region being delimited to 48 kb. This result was very useful for cloning of the psl1 gene.     

Genetic analysis and gene cloning of a triangular hull 1 (tri1) mutant in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Grain shape and size are two key factors that determine rice yield and quality. In the present study, a rice triangular hull mutant (tri1) was obtained from the progeny of japonica rice variety Taipei 309 treated with 60Co γ-rays. Compared to the wild type, the tri1 mutant presents a triangular hull, and exhibits an increase in grain thickness and protein content, but with a slight decrease in plant height and grain weight. Genetic analysis indicated that the mutant phenotype was controlled by a recessive nuclear gene which is stably inherited. Using a map-based cloning strategy, we fine-mapped tri1 to a 47-kb region between the molecular markers CHR0122 and CHR0127 on the long arm of chromosome 1, and showed that it co-segregates with the molecular marker CHR0119. According to the rice genome sequence annotation there are six predicated genes within the mapped region. Sequencing analysis of the mutant and the wild type indicated that there was a deletion of an A nucleotide in exon 3 of the OsMADS32 gene, which could result in a downstream frameshift mutation and premature termination of the predicted polypeptide. Both semi-quantitative and real-time RT-PCR analyses showed that this gene expressed highly in young inflorescences, while expressed at very low levels in other tissues. These results implied that the OsMADS32 gene could be a candidate of TRI1. Taken together, the results of this study lay the foundation for further investigation into the molecular mechanisms regulating rice caryopsis development.     

Morphological and physiological analysis of narrow and striped leaf 1 （nsl1） mutant of rice （Oryza sativa L.） and the gene mapping

The shape and color of rice leaves are impor- tant agronomic traits that directly influence the proportion of sunlight energy utilization and ultimately affect the yield and quality. A new mutant exhibiting stable inheritance was identified as derived from ethyl methane sulfonate （EMS）-treated restorer Jinhui 10, tentatively named as narrow and striped leaf 1 （nsll）. The nsll displayed pale white leaves at the seeding stage and then white striped leaves in parallel to the main vein at the jointing stage. Meanwhile, its leaf blades are significantly narrower than the control group of Jinhui 10. The chloroplast structures of cells in the white striped area of the nsll mutant break down, and the photosynthetic pigments are significantly lower than that of the wild type. Moreover, fluorescence parameters, such as Fo, Fv/Fm, ФpsⅡ, qP, and ETR, in the nsll mutant are significantly lower than those of the wild type, and the photosynthetic efficiency is also significantly decreased. These changes in leaf color and shape, together with physiological changes in the nsll, result in smaller plant height and a decrease in the most important agro- nomic traits, such as the number of grains per panicle, grain weight, etc. Genetic analysis shows that the narrow and striped traits of the nsll mutant are controlled by a single recessive nuclear gene, which is located between InDel 16 and InDel 12 in chromosome 3. The physical distance is 204 kb. So far, no similar genes of such leaf color and shape in this area have been reported, This study has laid asolid foundation for the gene cloning and function analysis of NSL 1.