Floral evolution： Beyond traditional viewpoint of pollinator mediated floral design

High diversity of floral design in angiosperms provides ideal materials for studying adaptive evolution. This is clearly demonstrated by the fact that Darwin supported well his new hypothesis of natural selection by focusing on floral design and function in the flowers of orchids[1] and other angiosperm species[2]. Nowadays, the adaptive analysis of floral evolution has become an active area of evolutionary research[3]. The rise and development of pol-lination biology is a process that continu…     

Complexes of MADS-box proteins are sufficient to convert leaves into floral organs

Genetic studies, using floral homeotic mutants, have led to the ABC model of flower development. This model proposes that the combinatorial action of three sets of genes, the A, B and C function genes, specify the four floral organs (sepals, petals, stamens and carpels) in the concentric floral whorls. However, attempts to convert vegetative organs into floral organs by altering the expression of ABC genes have been unsuccessful. Here we show that the class B proteins of Arabidopsis, PISTILLATA (PI) and APETALA3 (AP3), interact with APETALA1 (AP1, a class A protein) and SEPALLATA3 (SEP3, previously AGL9), and with AGAMOUS (AG, a class C protein) through SEP3. We also show that vegetative leaves of triply transgenic plants, 35S::PI;35S::AP3;35S::AP1 or 35S::PI;35S::AP3;35S::SEP3, are transformed into petaloid organs and that those of 35S::PI;35S::AP3;35S::SEP3;35S::AG are transformed into staminoid organs. Our findings indicate that the formation of ternary and quaternary complexes of ABC proteins may be the molecular basis of the ABC model, and that the flower-specific expression of SEP3 restricts the action of the ABC genes to the flower.     

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.     

The discovery of Jurassic plants in Shenzhen of Guangdong,southern China and related significance

Investigations of major marine and non-marine geologic and biotic events across the Triassic-Jurassic transition rely predominantly on detailed stratigraphic frameworks and biodiversity analyses. The alternating sequences of marine and terrestrial Triassic-Jurassic for- mations in Guangdong Province represent one of the most remarkable coal-bearing series in southern China. The Lower Jurassic Jinji Formation is widely distributed in Guangdong, with continuously outcropped sections and rich marine and non-marine fossil fauna. However, as little research has been conducted on fossil plant remains in the Jinji Formation, it is difficult to understand the systematics, diversity, and floral aspects of the Jurassic. Here we report on the recent collection of rich fossil plants from the Jinji Formation in the Dapeng area of Shenzhen, southern Guangdong Province. Our studies demonstrate taxonomical affiliations, preservation status, and diversity features of these plant fossils, which are marked by the close associ- ation of densely preserved, pinnae and rachis connected leaves, and the bennettitalean reproductive organs of Wil- liamsoniella, which may represent an Early Jurassic plant community dominated by Otozamites of the bennettitales. This work not only represents the first discovery of fossil plants in the Shenzhen area, but is also the first docu- mentation of Jurassic plants in Guangdong and the Pearl River Delta regions. Research related to these plant fossils will be helpful in the correlation of the Early Mesozoiccoal-bearing strata in Guangdong, and will provide a dee- per understanding of variations in plant diversity of the Triassic and Jurassic transition in southern China. Addi- tionally, it will provide terrestrial plant evidence for explorations in Jurassic palaeoecology, palaeoclimatology, and palaeogeography of southern China.     

植物AGAMOUS同源基因的表达调控

AGAMOUS基因（AG基因）是控制高等植物花器官发育的一类非常重要的基因.以拟南芥AG基因为例,重点综述了近20年来AG基因及其同源基因的结构、功能及与其它基因之间的调控关系的研究进展。在此基础上,对AG基因的表达和应用进行了探讨.     

A new method of research on molecular evolution of proteinase superfamily

The molecular evolutionary tree, also known as a phylogenetic tree, of the serine proteinase superfamily was constructed by means of structural alignment. Three-dimensional structures of proteins were aligned by the SSAP program of Orengo and Taylor to obtain evolutionary distances. The resulting evolutionary tree provides a topology graph that can reflect the evolution of structure and function of homology proteinase. Moreover, study on evolution of the serine proteinase superfamily can lead to better understanding of the relationship and evolutionary difference among proteins of the superfamily, and is of significance to protein engineering, molecular design and protein structure prediction. Structure alignment is one of the useful methods of research on molecular evolution of protein.     

硬叶兜兰花芽SSH文库的构建

以硬叶兜兰花芽cDNA为Tester,营养芽cDNA为Driver,利用SMART策略构建了硬叶兜兰花芽的抑制性消减杂交(SSH)文库.通过PCR对文库中插入的片段进行检测后,筛选了288个插入片段为500bp以上的克隆进行测序.测序结果去除载体序列后聚类得到18条差异表达片段,用BLAST进行比对分析表明,这些差异表达基因所编码的蛋白与光合作用、合成代谢、基因调控等功能有关,其中包括多个转座子和反转录转座子的同源基因.     

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 par- ticularly 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.     

Genetic mechanisms of floral trait correlations in a natural population

Genetic correlations among traits are important in evolution, as they can constrain evolutionary change or reflect past selection for combinations of traits. Constraints and integration depend on whether the correlations are caused by pleiotropy or linkage disequilibrium, but these genetic mechanisms underlying correlations remain largely unknown in natural populations. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping studies do not adequately address the mechanisms of within-population genetic correlations because they rely on crosses between distinct species, inbred lines or selected lines (see ref. 5), and they cannot distinguish moderate linkage disequilibrium from pleiotropy because they commonly rely on only one or two episodes of recombination. Here I report that after nine generations of enforced random mating (nine episodes of recombination), correlations between six floral traits in wild radish plants are unchanged, showing that pleiotropy generates the correlations. There is no evidence for linkage disequilibrium despite previous correlational selection acting on one functionally integrated pair of traits. This study provides direct evidence of the genetic mechanisms underlying correlations between quantitative traits in a natural population and suggests that there may be constraints on the independent evolution of pairs of highly correlated traits.     

蝴蝶兰花发育相关基因pPI9的克隆与表达分析

为研究具有复杂而特异花型的蝴蝶兰花发育的分子机制,利用RT-PCR方法从蝴蝶兰花瓣总RNA中分离出834 bp长的cDNA片断.序列分析表明,该cDNA片断与拟南芥的PI基因有60%的同源性,命名为pPI9.它包含一个开放阅读框,具有编码24.5 ku蛋白质的能力.推导的氨基酸序列中,N端包含一个完整的MADS盒,C端有明显的PI基序.半定量PCR结果表明该基因只在植株的生殖器官中表达,而在营养器官中不表达,推测其可能参与花形态建成过程的调节.     

人类及部分实验动物MHC-DRB3.2基因核苷酸序列同源性分析

目的研究人类及部分实验动物DRB3.2基因核苷酸序列的同源性。方法利用PCR技术扩增得到牛的DRB3.2基因片段,并测定其核苷酸序列;从GenBank中下载人类、猕猴、绵羊、山羊、猪的相应基因片段;利用DNAMAN软件进行碱基组成分析、同源性分析和构建分子进化树。结果所分析的物种该基因片段大小为267bp,没有发现碱基的缺失以及插入现象;A、T、G、C四种碱基以及G+C的含量在不同物种之间相差较小。就某种动物来说,G的含量最高,T的含量最低,G+C的含量要明显高于A+T含量;人类与猕猴、绵羊、山羊、牛、猪的同源性分别为91.8%、82.8%、82.4%、81.3%、81.6%。结论不同物种MHC-DRB3.2基因核苷酸序列的同源性都比较高;在研究人类有些疾病时,猕猴是其它实验动物不可替代的;DRB3.2基因是研究生物进化和系统发育分析的一个理想遗传标记。     

Crucial function of histone lysine methylation in plant reproduction

Unlike animals, plants do not set aside germ cells early in development. In angiosperm species, reproduction occurs in the adult plant upon flowering. The multicellular male and female gametophytes differentiate from meiotic products within reproductive floral organs. Double fertilization is another remarkable feature of most angiosperm species. The zygote derived from fertilization of the egg cell by one of the sperm cells and the endosperm from fertilization of the central cell by the second sperm cell develop in a coordinated manner together and enclosed in the sporophytic maternal integuments, forming the seed. Understanding plant reproduction is biologically pertinent and agronomically and ecologically important. Here, we describe the known functions of histone lysine methylations in various steps of reproduction in the reference plant Arabidopsis thaliana. It is emerging that histone lysine methylation is key for understanding epigenetic regulation networks of genome function.     

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．     

金钗石斛DnMSI1-like基因的克隆和表达分析

MSIL(MSI1-like)是一类在真核生物中保守的蛋白质,在动物和植物的发育过程中具有多种的功能.本研究从金钗石斛花芽中分离了一个MSIL蛋白的c DNA序列,长度为1 640 bp,含有一个长度为1 206 bp的开放阅读框;预测其编码的蛋白质在序列、结构域组织和空间结构上均与拟南芥At MSI1蛋白相似,故命名为Dn MSI1-like.Dn MSI1-like基因的表达具有明显的组织差异性,在金钗石斛的根、花和腋芽中表达较高,但在叶和假鳞茎中表达较低;低温处理时,花芽中Dn MSI1-like的表达急剧升高.研究结果为深入探索金钗石斛的生长发育如低温相关的开花调控机制提供基础.     

青丝黄竹花形态与结构研究

青丝黄竹(Bambusa eutuldoides McClure var. viridi-vittata)又名惠阳花竹,是大眼竹的变种。笔者采用解剖观察及石蜡切片的方法,对青丝黄竹花器官形态与解剖结构特征进行描述和分析。结果表明:青丝黄竹的花序为假花序; 假小穗簇生,平均长度为2.34 cm,含5～7朵小花; 小花平均长度为1.12 cm; 具内稃、外稃各1片; 浆片3枚; 雄蕊6枚,雌蕊1枚; 花药紫红色,具4室药室,基着药,纵裂散粉,均长0.53 cm。未成熟花药壁4层,从外至内依次为表皮、药室内壁、中层和绒毡层。花粉粒为3细胞型,具1个萌发孔,花粉粒直径为21.09 μm; 子房1室,上位,侧膜胎座,倒立胚珠,双珠被。青丝黄竹3分枝的羽毛状柱头很长,属于短花柱长柱头型。     

3种(品种)地被竹花器官形态特征及学名订正

【目的】针对《中国观赏竹》、《The Bamboos of the World》等重要专著中广泛使用的翠竹、铺地竹以及黄条金刚竹拉丁学名存在有误问题,校正翠竹、铺地竹和黄条金刚竹这3种地被竹的拉丁学名,并补充描述此3种地被竹的花部特征。【方法】对南京林业大学竹园中翠竹、铺地竹和黄条金刚竹的开花样地进行调查,分别测量这3种地被竹盛花期小穗的长度、小花数、小穗轴长度,并在体视显微镜下拍照记录各竹种花器官的形态。【结果】根据3个竹种花器官的形态特征,认为翠竹、铺地竹的花器官形态特征符合苦竹属(Pleioblastus)花特征描述,如花序的类型、小穗的形态、雄蕊的数量等。与赤竹属(Sasa)有较大差异,如花序着生位置、小花外稃形态、雄蕊数量等; 黄条金刚竹的花器官形态与东芭竹属(Sasaella)(也称支笹属)花形态描述一致,表现在花序顶生、小穗具柄、小穗轴节间密被毛、雄蕊 6、花柱1、柱头 3、羽毛状,颖果。而与苦竹属(Pleioblastus)许多特征差异较大,如花序着生位置、雄蕊的数目等。【结论】翠竹、铺地竹的花器官形态特征不符合Sasa花特征,而符合苦竹属花特征描述。因此,宜将翠竹和铺地竹的拉丁学名订正为Pleioblastus pygmaeus 和Pleioblastus argenteastriatus。黄条金刚竹的花器官形态与Pleioblastus不符,而与东芭竹属(Sasaella)花形态描述一致。因此,将黄条金刚竹的学名订正为Sasaella kongosanensis ‘Aureostriatus’。     

JOINTLESS is a MADS-box gene controlling tomato flower abscission zone development

Abscission is a universal and dynamic process in plants whereby organs such as leaves, flowers and fruit are shed, both during normal development, and in response to tissue damage and stress. Shedding occurs by separation of cells in anatomically distinct regions of the plant, called abscission zones (AZs). During abscission, the plant hormone ethylene stimulates cells to produce enzymes that degrade the middle lamella between cells in the AZ. The physiology and regulation of abscission at fully developed AZs is well known, but the molecular biology underlying their development is not. Here we report the first isolation of a gene directly involved in the development of a functional plant AZ. Tomato plants with the jointless mutation fail to develop AZs on their pedicels and so abscission of flowers or fruit does not occur normally. We identify JOINTLESS as a new MADS-box gene in a distinct phylogenetic clade separate from those functioning in floral organs. We propose that a deletion in JOINTLESS accounts for the failure of activation of pedicel AZ development in jointless tomato plants.     

昆嵛山植物性别系统及其生态关联性

植物性别系统影响生态系统组成及种群进化,同时受多种生态因子影响.为分析昆嵛山种子植物性别系统分布及其生态关联性,调查了昆嵛山维管植物835种,详细观察、记录花部特征、果实类型、生活型、传粉特征.运用卡方检验分析上述特征与植物性别系统之间的关联性,对比昆嵛山植物与其他植物群落的性别系统组成,探讨影响植物性别系统组成的因素及其繁殖策略.结果表明:昆嵛山植物性别系统中79.2%为雌雄同体、11.3%为雌雄同株、9.5%为雌雄异株,雌雄同体植物比例明显高于北美洲温带森林,该组成与植物种系发生有关;生活型、花部特征、传粉方式、果实类型等特征与性别系统显著相关.     

Mitochondrial genome variation and the origin of modern humans

The analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has been a potent tool in our understanding of human evolution, owing to characteristics such as high copy number, apparent lack of recombination, high substitution rate and maternal mode of inheritance. However, almost all studies of human evolution based on mtDNA sequencing have been confined to the control region, which constitutes less than 7% of the mitochondrial genome. These studies are complicated by the extreme variation in substitution rate between sites, and the consequence of parallel mutations causing difficulties in the estimation of genetic distance and making phylogenetic inferences questionable. Most comprehensive studies of the human mitochondrial molecule have been carried out through restriction-fragment length polymorphism analysis, providing data that are ill suited to estimations of mutation rate and therefore the timing of evolutionary events. Here, to improve the information obtained from the mitochondrial molecule for studies of human evolution, we describe the global mtDNA diversity in humans based on analyses of the complete mtDNA sequence of 53 humans of diverse origins. Our mtDNA data, in comparison with those of a parallel study of the Xq13.3 region in the same individuals, provide a concurrent view on human evolution with respect to the age of modern humans.