Functional characterization and mapping of two MADS box genes from peach （Prunus persica）

Previously an AGAMOUS gene homologue PpMADS4 and a FRUITFULL gene homologue PpMADS6 were isolated from peach （Prunus persica）, and both genes were shown to express in the developing floral and fruits. To gain insight into their function, the two genes were constitutively expressed in Arabidopsis thaliana and their effects on plant growth and floral organ development were studied in this work. The transgenic plants all displayed early flowering and conversion of inflorescence to floral meristem. However, the two genes had different effects on the floral organ structures in A. thaliana. The transgenic plants overexpressing PpMADS4 displayed homeotic conversion of floral organs, and particularly the perianth abscission was inhibited. The plants overexpressing PpMADS6 showed early flowering, produced higher number of carpels, petals, and stamens than nontransgenic plants, and pod shatter was prevented; significantly, the transgenic plants yielded more than one siliques from a single flower. A SSR molecular marker was developed for PpMADS4, and it was then assigned into the G5 linkage group of Prunus sp. Both PpMADS4 and PpMADS6 genes were located at the same region in the G5 linkage group. Our results showed the potential application of these two MADS box genes for crop and fruit tree improvement.     

The war of the whorls: genetic interactions controlling flower development.

The analysis of mutations affecting flower structure has led to the identification of some of the genes that direct flower development. Cloning of these genes has allowed the formulation of molecular models of how floral meristem and organ identity may be specified, and has shown that the distantly related flowering plants Arabidopsis thaliana and Antirrhinum majus use homologous mechanisms in floral pattern formation.     

SPL转录因子调控植物花发育及其分子机制研究进展

SPL(squamosa promoter-binding protein-like)转录因子是植物所特有的一类基因家族,广泛存在于绿色植物中,在植物生长发育中具有重要作用。花发育是植物生殖发育中最为重要的一个过程,涉及不同发育方式的转变,即开花决定、花的发端和花器官发生与发育。简要综述了SPL基因的结构与功能并着重阐述了SPL基因在植物花发育过程中的分子机制及生物学功能。最后总结出: SPL转录因子可直接或间接通过参与光周期途径,赤霉素途径及年龄途径来调控植物的开花时间; SPL基因可通过直接激活下游花分生组织特异基因,如LEAFY(LFY),从而调控植物的成花转变; SPL基因可通过与下游花器官特征基因相互作用来调控花器官及其育性的发育,如调控花序、花柄的长度与外形及花器官的大小; SPL基因可调控植物大小孢子发生及雌雄配子体发育。据拟南芥的相关研究结果,初步构绘出拟南芥开花调控中的分子机制。     

Association of dwarfism and floral induction with a grape 'green revolution' mutation

The transition from vegetative to reproductive growth is an essential process in the life cycle of plants. Plant floral induction pathways respond to both environmental and endogenous cues and much has been learnt about these genetic pathways by studying mutants of Arabidopsis. Gibberellins (GAs) are plant growth regulators important in many aspects of plant growth and in Arabidopsis they promote flowering. Here we provide genetic evidence that GAs inhibit flowering in grapevine. A grapevine dwarf mutant derived from the L1 cell layer of the champagne cultivar Pinot Meunier produces inflorescences along the length of the shoot where tendrils are normally formed. The mutated gene associated with the phenotype is a homologue of the wheat 'green revolution' gene Reduced height-1 (ref. 6) and the Arabidopsis gene GA insensitive (GAI). The conversion of tendrils to inflorescences in the mutant demonstrates that the grapevine tendril is a modified inflorescence inhibited from completing floral development by GAs.     

Evolution of genetic mechanisms controlling petal development.

Molecular genetic studies in Arabidopsis thaliana and other higher-eudicot flowering plants have led to the development of the 'ABC' model of the determination of organ identity in flowers, in which three classes of gene, A, B and C, are thought to work together to determine organ identity. According to this model, the B-class genes APETALA3 (AP3) and PISTILLATA (PI) act to specify petal and stamen identity. Here we test whether the roles of these genes are conserved throughout the angiosperms by analysing the expression of AP3 and PI orthologues in the lower eudicot subclass Ranunculidae. We show that, although expression of these orthologues in the stamens is conserved, the expression patterns in the petals differ from those found in the higher eudicots. The differences between these expression patterns suggest that the function of AP3 and PI homologues as B-class organ-identity genes is not rigidly conserved among all angiosperms. These observations have important implications for understanding the evolution of both angiosperm petals and the genetic mechanisms that control the identities of floral organs.     

水蕨(Ceratopteris thalictroides)两条MADS-box基因的克隆与分析

MADS-box转录因子,作为一个大的基因家族,在植物生长发育过程中起重要作用,尤其是作为开花植物花器官形成的主要调控者.该基因家族在揭示进化方面也有着重大意义.为了探究MADS-box基因的进化,需要更多的非开花植物中MADS-box基因的信息.选取水蕨(Ceratopteris thalictroides)作为材料,用RACE方法对其MADS-box基因进行克隆与分析.在水蕨中克隆得到两条MADS-box基因,分别命名为CtMADS1和CtMADS2.分析显示:CtMADS1属于MIKC*分支,而CtMADS2属于MIKCc分支,水蕨的这2条MADS-box基因与开花植物的MADS-box基因有着很近的亲缘关系,现在维管植物最近的共同祖先中至少存在2条不同的花同源异形基因,即MADS-box基因.     

Adaptation of photoperiodic control pathways produces short-day flowering in rice

The photoperiodic control of flowering is one of the important developmental processes of plants because it is directly related to successful reproduction. Although the molecular genetic analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana, a long-day (LD) plant, has provided models to explain the control of flowering time in this species, very little is known about its molecular mechanisms for short-day (SD) plants. Here we show how the photoperiodic control of flowering is regulated in rice, a SD plant. Overexpression of OsGI, an orthologue of the Arabidopsis GIGANTEA (GI) gene in transgenic rice, caused late flowering under both SD and LD conditions. Expression of the rice orthologue of the Arabidopsis CONSTANS (CO) gene was increased in the transgenic rice, whereas expression of the rice orthologue of FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) was suppressed. Our results indicate that three key regulatory genes for the photoperiodic control of flowering are conserved between Arabidopsis, a LD plant, and rice, a SD plant, but regulation of the FT gene by CO was reversed, resulting in the suppression of flowering in rice under LD conditions.     

甘蓝型油菜角果和种子发育相关的Bna-novel-miR432功能分析

为了探究miRNA在油菜花器官发育、角果和种子发育中的功能，本研究在甘蓝型油菜不同发育阶段角果和种子小RNA测序数据分析中，筛选到一个新的miRNA，命名为Bna-novel-miR432，并将其转化至拟南芥中进行功能分析.研究发现过表达Bna-novel-miR432拟南芥开花时间显著提前，并且发现其雄蕊发育存在缺陷，导致雌蕊授粉不完全. 在对其花粉育性进行检测时发现过表达材料花粉育性显著降低. 对角果发育统计发现，过表达拟南芥株系的角果变短，角果中种子数量显著减少，且部分角果存在败育的现象. 此外，在种子发育方面，过表达材料种子中胚的发育也出现滞后的现象. 以上结果表明，Bna-novel-miR432参与调控植物开花时间、雄蕊和花粉的发育以及果实的形成等生物学过程中发挥一定的调控功能.     

Overexpression of OsRAA1 promotes flowering and hypocotyls elongation in Arabidopsis

Previously, OsRAA1, an AtFPF1 homologue gene, was found to play an important role in modulating rice root development. In the current study, OsRAA1 was overexpressed in Arabidopsis, and the transgenic plants showed early flowering and elongated hypocotyl phenotypes as compared with the wild-type under white-light conditions. The hypocotyls of transgenic lines were twice as long as those of wild-type plants under red-light conditions but were indistinguishable from those of the wild-type under blue and far-red light and darkness. In addition, the phenotypes of AtFPF1 transgenic lines were similar to those of OsRAA1 transgenic lines. These results suggested that OsRAAI/AtFPF1 protein is involved in regulating flowering time and plays an important role in the inhibition of hypocotyl elongation under continuous red light. The functions were preserved during the evolution.     

拟南芥AtGluRS相互作用蛋白质VDAC及其转基因植物表型分析

电压依赖性阴离子通道蛋白质(voltage-dependent anion channel,VDAC)是拟南芥谷氨酰tRNA合成酶(AtGluRS)相互作用的蛋白质．为了研究VDAC蛋白的功能和作用,通过构建VDAC稳定表达载体,农杆菌介导的方法转化拟南芥,筛选和鉴定出VDAC过量和抑制表达植株．研究结果证实VDAC的过量和抑制表达植株影响气孔关闭和种子萌发．VDAC的过量表达导致植株对ABA敏感,VDAC的抑制表达降低了植株对ABA的敏感性．推测VDAC蛋白可能参与ABA信号途径．     

拟南芥雄性不育突变体nps的基因定位

nps是经EMS诱变筛选得到的一拟南芥雄性不育突变体．通过背景纯化与遗传分析，发现nps突变体是受隐性单基因控制．形态学观察表明，突变体的花缺失花瓣和雄蕊，主要由两轮萼片和一轮肥大的雌蕊组成．利用图位克隆的方法对不育基因NPs进行了定位，结果表明NPS位于第五条染色体上分子标记F15L12和MHJ24之间1378kb的区间内．数据库预测该区间内包含10个与花发育ABC模型相关的基因，因此，对NPS基因的研究有助于深入了解拟南芥的花发育过程与花器官形成．     

Isolation and ectopic expression of a bamboo MADS-box gene

A cDNA named DIMADS18 was isolated from the young spikelets of the sweet bamboo, Dendrocalamus latiflorus by RACE. DNA sequence analysis showed that DIMADS18 was composed of full ORF and 3UTR, but without 5UTR. The cDNA contained 1039 nucleotides and encoded a putative protein of 249 amino acid residues. The gene displayed the structure of a typical plant MADS box gene, which consisted of an MADS domain, K domain, a short I region, and the C-terminal region. Phylogenetic analysis of plant MADS box genes based on amino acid sequences revealed that DlMADS18 was grouped into the AGAMOUS-LIKE 6 (AGL6)-like subfamily. It was most likely homologous to the OsMADS6 of rice (Oryza sativa), with 88% sequence identity for the entire amino acid sequences. The DlMADS18 also showed relatively high amino acid sequence identity (59%) to AGL6 ofArabidopsis thaliana. To study the functions of DlMADS18, DlMADS18 cDNA clone driven by the CaMV 35S promoter was transformed into Arabidopsis plants. Transgenic plants of DlMADS18 exhibited the phenotypes of curled leaves, dwarfism, and early flowering with clustered terminal flowers. These results indicated that DlMADS18 may probably be involved in controlling the flowering time of D.latiflorus.     

Integration of floral inductive signals in Arabidopsis

Flowering of Arabidopsis is regulated by a daylength-dependent pathway that accelerates flowering in long days and a daylength-independent pathway that ensures flowering in the absence of inductive conditions. These pathways are genetically separable, as there are mutations that delay flowering in long but not short days. Conversely, mutations that block synthesis of the hormone gibberellin abolish flowering in short days, but have on their own only a minor effect in long days. A third pathway, the autonomous pathway, probably acts by modulating the other two pathways. Understanding where and how these pathways are integrated is a prerequisite for understanding why similar environmental or endogenous cues can elicit opposite flowering responses in different plants. In Arabidopsis, floral induction leads ultimately to the upregulation of floral meristem-identity genes such as LEAFY, indicating that floral inductive signals are integrated upstream of LEAFY Here we show that gibberellins activate the LEAFY promoter through cis elements that are different from those that are sufficient for the daylength response, demonstrating that the LEAFY promoter integrates environmental and endogenous signals controlling flowering time.     

拟南芥中一个镍离子转运蛋白的亚细胞定位

离子的跨膜转运是细胞获取养分的重要环节，亦是植物在组织和器官水平上进行养分吸收运移的基础．在植物中镍（Ni）元素主要以Ni^2＋的形式存在，并通过Ni^2＋转运蛋白将其跨膜转运至相应的组织器官，参与氢酶和脲酶的合成．生物信息学分析表明，拟南芥中一个Ni^2＋转运蛋白AT2G16800含有叶绿体定位信息．克隆该基因5’端编码转运肽的272bp片段，与绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）基因融合后，在拟南芥中高效表达，对其进行了亚细胞定位的研究．转基因植株通过共聚焦扫描显微镜的观察，发现GFP荧光信号只存在于叶绿体中，该结果表明A他G16800为叶绿体蛋白．     

拟南芥SnRK2.2/2.3激酶参与调节镉胁迫响应的机制探究

为探究拟南芥SnRK2.2和SnRK2.3基因对Cd胁迫响应的分子机制. 以野生型（WT）、双突变体SnRK2.2/2.3、过表达SnRK2.2和过表达SnRK2.3的转基因植物为材料,研究SnRK2.2和SnRK2.3基因与Cd胁迫响应的关系.发现过表达两个基因可以提高拟南芥对Cd的耐受性,表现为可以减少Cd、丙二醛（MDA）及活性氧（ROS）的累积量,增加抗氧化酶CAT、POD和SOD的活性. qRT PCR结果显示在Cd胁迫下,两种过表达植株中铁转运蛋白IRT1和转录因子FIT、bHLH038和bHLH039表达水平受到明显抑制,ABA合成相关基因AAO3和NCED3的表达量显著上调.在Cd胁迫下,两种过表达植株中ABA含量显著高于WT和双突变体. 以上结果表明：拟南芥遭受Cd胁迫时,SnRK2.2和SnRK2.3基因通过下调IRT1基因表达从而减少植物对Cd的吸收,同时通过增加内源ABA含量来缓解Cd对植物的毒害.     

多基因双T-DNA植物表达载体的构建及拟南芥转化

多基因植物表达载体用于植物遗传转化是培育具有多种优良品质作物的有效策略. 双T-DNA系统是实现筛选完成后选择标记基因删除的一种简便可行的方式. 为培育高度抗逆或去除标记基因的农作物，构建了多基因双T-DNA植物表达载体2T-bbgdD，其中含有一个抗除草剂基因bar, 3个抗逆相关基因(DREB1A, Na+依赖性Pi转运体基因（d5）, betA)和一个报告基因gfp. 利用农杆菌介导法将该载体转入拟南芥，获得了多基因共转化及去除标记基因的转基因拟南芥. 可将此植物表达载体进一步用于作物的遗传转化.     

棉花DELLA蛋白GhGAl4a基因在拟南芥中功能初步分析

为了探究棉花DELLA蛋白基因GhGAI4a在拟南芥中的功能,构建植物表达载体pBP35S：GhGAI4a和pBP35S：Ghgai4a,利用农杆菌介导的花滴法将其转入Col野生型拟南芥。结果显示,2个载体各自获得6个独立的转基因拟南芥纯合株系。分别统计48—96h种子萌发率,测量生长7d后幼苗的主根长度,与非转基因植株相比,过量表达GhGAI4a、Ghgai4a对拟南芥种子萌发及主根生长具有明显的抑制作用。1μmol／LGA处理转基因植株,GhGAI4a转基因植株主根长和萌发率均增大,而Ghgai4a转基因植株主根长度和萌发率均无显著变化。     

簸箕柳SPL基因家族分析

【目的】确定SPL基因家族在不同物种之间的选择性保留和丢失情况,为后续研究被子植物花发育提供参考。【方法】通过在拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)、毛果杨(Populus trichocarpa)、簸箕柳(Salix suchowensis)、葡萄(Vitis vinifera)、番木瓜(Carica papaya)、水稻(Oryza sativa)6种被子植物基因组中查找SPL结构域,寻找6个物种的SPL同源序列。对所找到的SPL序列进行BLASTN比对鉴定同源基因类型。使用自编Perl脚本结合KaKs_Calculator计算SPL同源基因的非同义突变(K_a)以及同义突变(K_s)值,采用共线性分析确定该基因家族的复制和扩张方式。【结果】在6种被子植物基因组中,共发现120个SPL基因。根据种内和种间旁系同源、直系同源基因以及这些同源基因选择压的计算显示:杨柳科SPL同源基因最多,共有旁系同源基因24对,直系同源基因50对; 番木瓜没有旁系同源基因。6个物种中,木本植物比草本植物直系同源基因更多,双子叶植物比单子叶植物直系同源基因更多; 所有旁系同源和直系同源基因的K_a/K_s值均小于1。系统发育树的分析结果与基因同源性分析基本吻合,证明了这两种分析方法具有较高的可靠性。此次研究选取了簸箕柳同一植株上开花和不开花的枝条进行了转录组测序分析,差异表达分析发现了1个SPL基因(willow_GLEAN_10025160)在两种枝条的转录组中表达差异显著(P≤0.01),其在开花枝条中的表达量显著高于未开花枝条,该基因被选为SPL基因家族中参与簸箕柳开花调控的候选基因。【结论】通过对6个物种SPL基因家族的分析,发现6个物种中所有直系同源和旁系同源基因都经历了纯化选择(K_a/K_s<1),基因功能保守。这6个物种除了经历过全基因组复制事件,还发生过大规模的基因丢失或者通过其他方式产生的基因扩张,阐明了它们在进化历史上的复制事件及SPL基因在不同物种中的选择性保留与丢失情况,为进一步研究其在调控簸箕柳开花中的作用提供了有力证据。