Sequence and analysis of chromosome 2 of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana

Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) is unique among plant model organisms in having a small genome (130-140 Mb), excellent physical and genetic maps, and little repetitive DNA. Here we report the sequence of chromosome 2 from the Columbia ecotype in two gap-free assemblies (contigs) of 3.6 and 16 megabases (Mb). The latter represents the longest published stretch of uninterrupted DNA sequence assembled from any organism to date. Chromosome 2 represents 15% of the genome and encodes 4,037 genes, 49% of which have no predicted function. Roughly 250 tandem gene duplications were found in addition to large-scale duplications of about 0.5 and 4.5 Mb between chromosomes 2 and 1 and between chromosomes 2 and 4, respectively. Sequencing of nearly 2 Mb within the genetically defined centromere revealed a low density of recognizable genes, and a high density and diverse range of vestigial and presumably inactive mobile elements. More unexpected is what appears to be a recent insertion of a continuous stretch of 75% of the mitochondrial genome into chromosome 2.     

Sequence and analysis of chromosome 3 of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana

Arabidopsis thaliana is an important model system for plant biologists. In 1996 an international collaboration (the Arabidopsis Genome Initiative) was formed to sequence the whole genome of Arabidopsis and in 1999 the sequence of the first two chromosomes was reported. The sequence of the last three chromosomes and an analysis of the whole genome are reported in this issue. Here we present the sequence of chromosome 3, organized into four sequence segments (contigs). The two largest (13.5 and 9.2 Mb) correspond to the top (long) and the bottom (short) arms of chromosome 3, and the two small contigs are located in the genetically defined centromere. This chromosome encodes 5,220 of the roughly 25,500 predicted protein-coding genes in the genome. About 20% of the predicted proteins have significant homology to proteins in eukaryotic genomes for which the complete sequence is available, pointing to important conserved cellular functions among eukaryotes.     

Sequence and analysis of chromosome 5 of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana

The genome of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana has been sequenced by an international collaboration, The Arabidopsis Genome Initiative. Here we report the complete sequence of chromosome 5. This chromosome is 26 megabases long; it is the second largest Arabidopsis chromosome and represents 21% of the sequenced regions of the genome. The sequence of chromosomes 2 and 4 have been reported previously and that of chromosomes 1 and 3, together with an analysis of the complete genome sequence, are reported in this issue. Analysis of the sequence of chromosome 5 yields further insights into centromere structure and the sequence determinants of heterochromatin condensation. The 5,874 genes encoded on chromosome 5 reveal several new functions in plants, and the patterns of gene organization provide insights into the mechanisms and extent of genome evolution in plants.     

Sequence and analysis of chromosome 1 of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana

The genome of the flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana has five chromosomes. Here we report the sequence of the largest, chromosome 1, in two contigs of around 14.2 and 14.6 megabases. The contigs extend from the telomeres to the centromeric borders, regions rich in transposons, retrotransposons and repetitive elements such as the 180-base-pair repeat. The chromosome represents 25% of the genome and contains about 6,850 open reading frames, 236 transfer RNAs (tRNAs) and 12 small nuclear RNAs. There are two clusters of tRNA genes at different places on the chromosome. One consists of 27 tRNA(Pro) genes and the other contains 27 tandem repeats of tRNA(Tyr)-tRNA(Tyr)-tRNA(Ser) genes. Chromosome 1 contains about 300 gene families with clustered duplications. There are also many repeat elements, representing 8% of the sequence.     

Sequence and analysis of rice chromosome 4

Rice is the principal food for over half of the population of the world. With its genome size of 430 megabase pairs (Mb), the cultivated rice species Oryza sativa is a model plant for genome research. Here we report the sequence analysis of chromosome 4 of O. sativa, one of the first two rice chromosomes to be sequenced completely. The finished sequence spans 34.6 Mb and represents 97.3% of the chromosome. In addition, we report the longest known sequence for a plant centromere, a completely sequenced contig of 1.16 Mb corresponding to the centromeric region of chromosome 4. We predict 4,658 protein coding genes and 70 transfer RNA genes. A total of 1,681 predicted genes match available unique rice expressed sequence tags. Transposable elements have a pronounced bias towards the euchromatic regions, indicating a close correlation of their distributions to genes along the chromosome. Comparative genome analysis between cultivated rice subspecies shows that there is an overall syntenic relationship between the chromosomes and divergence at the level of single-nucleotide polymorphisms and insertions and deletions. By contrast, there is little conservation in gene order between rice and Arabidopsis.     

Analysis of the genome sequence of the flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana

The flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana is an important model system for identifying genes and determining their functions. Here we report the analysis of the genomic sequence of Arabidopsis. The sequenced regions cover 115.4 megabases of the 125-megabase genome and extend into centromeric regions. The evolution of Arabidopsis involved a whole-genome duplication, followed by subsequent gene loss and extensive local gene duplications, giving rise to a dynamic genome enriched by lateral gene transfer from a cyanobacterial-like ancestor of the plastid. The genome contains 25,498 genes encoding proteins from 11,000 families, similar to the functional diversity of Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans--the other sequenced multicellular eukaryotes. Arabidopsis has many families of new proteins but also lacks several common protein families, indicating that the sets of common proteins have undergone differential expansion and contraction in the three multicellular eukaryotes. This is the first complete genome sequence of a plant and provides the foundations for more comprehensive comparison of conserved processes in all eukaryotes, identifying a wide range of plant-specific gene functions and establishing rapid systematic ways to identify genes for crop improvement.     

拟南芥 BAH1 与大肠杆菌热胁迫耐受的关系分析

拟南芥BAH1含有保守的C3H4型RING结构域,与DnaJ锌指结构类似.利用原核表达纯化的BAH1进行体外泛素化实验证明了BAH1具有E3连接酶活性.然后通过表型回复实验发现BAH1融合J-domain结构域后(JdBAH1)和DnaJ一样能明显弥补danJ突变株MF634的热敏表型,在43℃存活;而转入突变锌指结构的JdBAH1C231S,C234S,C276S,C279S(JdBAH1△Zn1/2)菌株在43℃高温条件下不能存活,说明BAH1在大肠杆菌内具有类似DnaJ锌指结构的功能.因此,BAH1在E.coli中的功能有可能与DnaJ相似,通过锌指结构参与了DnaK/DnaJ伴侣系统发挥功能.     

拟南芥CARK4与RCAR12相互作用的研究

本研究采用酵母双杂交(Y2H)、GST-融合蛋白沉降技术(GST-pull-down)及双分子荧光互补实验(BiFC)实验方法研究蛋白质激酶CARK4与脱落酸受体RCAR12之间的相互作用.酵母双杂交(Y2H)试验显示,缺失氮端的CARK4(CARK4ΔN)与RCAR12具有明显的相互作用.体外GST-融合蛋白沉降技术试验进一步得出CARK4能拉下RCAR12,而不能结合负对照GST,这证明CARK4可以直接与RCAR12相互作用.为了确定CARK4与RCAR12在植物体内是否也存在相互作用,利用农杆菌介导的烟草叶片瞬时表达来进行BiFC实验,结果表明在烟草中共注射CARK4与RCAR12能发激发荧光,而负对照却没有,这说明CARK4与RCAR12在植物体内存在相互作用.研究结果表明,CARK4与RCAR12在植物体内、体外均具有相互作用.     

Sequence and analysis of chromosome 2 of Dictyostelium discoideum

The genome of the lower eukaryote Dictyostelium discoideum comprises six chromosomes. Here we report the sequence of the largest, chromosome 2, which at 8 megabases (Mb) represents about 25% of the genome. Despite an A + T content of nearly 80%, the chromosome codes for 2,799 predicted protein coding genes and 73 transfer RNA genes. This gene density, about 1 gene per 2.6 kilobases (kb), is surpassed only by Saccharomyces cerevisiae (one per 2 kb) and is similar to that of Schizosaccharomyces pombe (one per 2.5 kb). If we assume that the other chromosomes have a similar gene density, we can expect around 11,000 genes in the D. discoideum genome. A significant number of the genes show higher similarities to genes of vertebrates than to those of other fully sequenced eukaryotes. This analysis strengthens the view that the evolutionary position of D. discoideum is located before the branching of metazoa and fungi but after the divergence of the plant kingdom, placing it close to the base of metazoan evolution.     

盐胁迫下拟南芥去乙酰化酶基因的转录组分析

为了探究盐胁迫下拟南芥HD2去乙酰化酶调控的下游基因,本研究以拟南芥野生型WT和四突(hd2q,HD2四个基因的突变体)为材料,采用RNA-seq技术和生物信息学方法,对生长10d的幼苗在高盐(150mmol/LNaCl)处理前和后进行比较转录组分析,并结合实时荧光定量PCR验证转录组数据的可靠性.结果显示:在高盐处理...     

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.     

拟南芥PAL基因家族鉴定及表达模式分析

为研究苯丙氨酸解氨酶（PAL）作为苯丙烷类代谢途径的关键酶,在植物响应环境胁迫过程中的重要作用,本研究利用HMMER、Pfam与SMART等工具,从拟南芥全基因组中筛选获得 9 个PAL成员,分析其编码酶蛋白的理化性质、二级结构与保守基序等信息.同时,结合转录组与定量PCR分析PAL成员在干旱与盐胁迫条件下的表达模式.结果表明,拟南芥PAL成员的二级结构主要由α-螺旋和无规则卷曲组成;亮氨酸和丙氨酸为含量较高的氨基酸残基;拟南芥PAL成员含有 20 种不同的保守基序,其中motif6含有ASG活性位点,为所有PAL成员所共有;较多PAL成员具有光响应、激素响应、胁迫响应和生长发育相关的顺式调控元件.转录组学与定量PCR分析发现,AT3G53260.1、AT3G53260.2与AT3G47660.1的mRNA表达水平在干旱与盐胁迫后发生显著变化,推测这 3 条基因可能参与拟南芥对干旱及盐胁迫的响应过程,表明PAL基因在调控植物生长发育与非生物胁迫响应过程中发挥重要作用.     

The ELF4 gene controls circadian rhythms and flowering time in Arabidopsis thaliana

Many plants use day length as an environmental cue to ensure proper timing of the switch from vegetative to reproductive growth. Day-length sensing involves an interaction between the relative length of day and night, and endogenous rhythms that are controlled by the plant circadian clock. Thus, plants with defects in circadian regulation cannot properly regulate the timing of the floral transition. Here we describe the gene EARLY FLOWERING 4 (ELF4), which is involved in photoperiod perception and circadian regulation. ELF4 promotes clock accuracy and is required for sustained rhythms in the absence of daily light/dark cycles. elf4 mutants show attenuated expression of CIRCADIAN CLOCK ASSOCIATED 1 (CCA1), a gene that is thought to function as a central oscillator component. In addition, elf4 plants transiently show output rhythms with highly variable period lengths before becoming arrhythmic. Mutations in elf4 result in early flowering in non-inductive photoperiods, which is probably caused by elevated amounts of CONSTANS (CO), a gene that promotes floral induction.     

Defining the core Arabidopsis thaliana root microbiome

Land plants associate with a root microbiota distinct from the complex microbial community present in surrounding soil. The microbiota colonizing the rhizosphere (immediately surrounding the root) and the endophytic compartment (within the root) contribute to plant growth, productivity, carbon sequestration and phytoremediation. Colonization of the root occurs despite a sophisticated plant immune system, suggesting finely tuned discrimination of mutualists and commensals from pathogens. Genetic principles governing the derivation of host-specific endophyte communities from soil communities are poorly understood. Here we report the pyrosequencing of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene of more than 600 Arabidopsis thaliana plants to test the hypotheses that the root rhizosphere and endophytic compartment microbiota of plants grown under controlled conditions in natural soils are sufficiently dependent on the host to remain consistent across different soil types and developmental stages, and sufficiently dependent on host genotype to vary between inbred Arabidopsis accessions. We describe different bacterial communities in two geochemically distinct bulk soils and in rhizosphere and endophytic compartments prepared from roots grown in these soils. The communities in each compartment are strongly influenced by soil type. Endophytic compartments from both soils feature overlapping, low-complexity communities that are markedly enriched in Actinobacteria and specific families from other phyla, notably Proteobacteria. Some bacteria vary quantitatively between plants of different developmental stage and genotype. Our rigorous definition of an endophytic compartment microbiome should facilitate controlled dissection of plant-microbe interactions derived from complex soil communities.     

拟南芥糖基转移酶基因UGT71C5启动子的克隆和功能分析

通过PCR扩增,从拟南芥中克隆到长度为903 bp的UGT71C5基因启动子,并构建了此种启动子与GUS嵌合的重组载体,通过农杆菌介导法转化拟南芥,得到转基因拟南芥,并且通过启动子分析软件对全序列进行分析,发现在该段序列中含有典型的TATA-box、CAAT-box和光应答元件GT1、干旱应答元件ERD等一些顺式作用元件.利用分光光度法测定转基因植株在光照、干旱和ABA等胁迫处理下的GUS酶活力,结果表明：转基因植株的GUS酶活力介于野生型和35S阳性对照之间,与正常条件下生长的转基因植物相比,光照处理     

拟南芥菜室内培养技术的改进

报道了室内培养拟南芥过程中的一些改进技术,在培养介质、播种、浇水、湿度、培养密度方面作了详细介绍,为研究工作者在简陋条件下进行拟南芥培养提供了经验。     

拟南芥Hsp40蛋白AtDjA5在大肠杆菌中的功能分析

通过分析大肠杆菌dnaJ缺失菌株在43℃下的生长表型, 发现AtDjA5及其J Domain能够功能性地替换DnaJ及其J Domain. 免疫共沉淀实验结果表明AtDjA5与DnaK存在相互作用. 由Western blot检测推测AtDjA5能够稳定大肠杆菌热激转录因子σ32并下调热激蛋白DnaK表达量. 这些发现说明AtDjA5在大肠杆菌中具有与DnaJ相似的功能.     

拟南芥MtN3/saliva基因家族分析

MtN3/saliva基因家族是含有2个MtN3/saliva跨膜结构域的膜整合蛋白,其成员广泛存在于真核生物中.目前对该家族功能研究较少,对其跨膜结构域的分子功能还不清楚.在拟南芥中该家族有18个成员,除了最近克隆的RPGl以外其他MtN3/saliva基因的功能均不清楚.对拟南芥MtN3/saliva基因家族进行了较为全面的分析,包括基因结构、染色体分布、蛋白结构域、系统进化关系、基因表达谱等.对其中预测在花药中高表达的4个基因进行了实时定量PCR分析,证实有3个基因在花中高效表达.这些结果促进了对MtN3/saliva基因家族的深入了解.     

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。