植物中SWEET基因家族研究进展

SWEET基因家族是一个新的糖转运蛋白,具有2个MtN3/saliva跨膜结构域,从单细胞的原生生物到高等的真核生物中均有出现。目前对该家族功能研究较少,尽管基于MtN3/saliva的不同类型的基因已经被确定,但确切的生物学功能与该跨膜结构域的分子功能仍有待研究。近来的研究表明MtN3/saliva/SWEET基因可能作为糖转运蛋白或通过与离子转运蛋白的互作促进离子转运,调节不同的生理过程,在包括转运糖类、发育、环境适应性、宿主-病原体的相互作用中发挥作用。本文介绍了MtN3/saliva/SWEET基因结构功能的最新研究进展,将为阐明其在不同植物中的功能提供分子基础。     

植物SWEET基因家族结构、功能及调控研究进展

SWEET(sugars will eventually be exported transporter)基因家族是一类新型的糖转运蛋白,可顺浓度梯度对糖分进行双向跨膜运输。SWEET在植物光合同化物韧皮部装载、蜜腺花蜜分泌、种子灌浆、花粉发育、病原菌互作、逆境调控等过程中起着关键作用,近年来受到广泛关注。尽管SWEET广泛存在于植物中,但目前对其功能研究主要集中在水稻和拟南芥上。介绍了SWEET基因家族的发现、蛋白结构特征、生理功能及逆境调控的最新研究进展,有助于将来对SWEET基因家族进行更深入和全面的研究。     

棉花类结瘤素MtN21基因家族生物信息学分析

结瘤素基因主要参与豆科植物根瘤的形成。非结瘤植物中也存在类结瘤素基因, 主要调控植物的生长发育。MtN21 (Medicago truncatula NODULIN 21)基因家族属于类结瘤素基因家族, 仅少数成员已被鉴定。以拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana) MtN21家族为参考, 对棉花(Gossypium hirsutum) MtN21基因家族进行了生物信息学分析, 发现棉花与拟南芥的 MtN21基因同源性较高, 有共同的跨膜结构域EamA和PLN00411; 棉花中仅含PLN00411结构域的MtN21蛋白等电点低于含EamA结构域的蛋白; 亚细胞定位主要在质膜、液泡膜和叶绿体, 少数在细胞核; MtN21蛋白具有膜内侧的磷酸化位点。研究结果表明, 棉花MtN21为跨膜蛋白, 具有转运活性, 可能在棉花生长发育和病原体免疫方面发挥一定的作用。     

牡丹开花相关SWEET家族基因生物信息学与表达模式分析

为了揭示SWEET家族基因在牡丹开花过程中的作用,该研究以‘洛阳红’牡丹花瓣转录组数据库为基础,利用生物信息学方法对SWEET家族基因进行鉴定和分析。结果表明:(1)实验共得到10个具有完整开放阅读框的牡丹SWEET基因。(2)牡丹SWEET家族成员蛋白等电点、消光系数等差别不大,其中5个牡丹SWEET基因编码的蛋白为不稳定蛋白;亚细胞定位预测这10个牡丹SWEET基因编码的蛋白均定位在细胞膜;进化树分析显示,牡丹SWEET基因与拟南芥亲缘关系更近;结构分析表明,牡丹SWEET蛋白结构在进化过程中非常保守,这10个牡丹SWEET蛋白同时具有5个相同的Motif且均含2个MtN3 saliva结构域。(3)可溶性糖含量分析显示,从小风铃期到盛花期,牡丹花瓣中蔗糖含量不断降低,果糖和葡萄糖含量不断升高,均在盛花期达到峰值。(4)qRT-PCR分析显示,PsSWEET4盛花期表达量是小风铃期的34倍,PsSWEET8盛花期表达量是小风铃期的60倍。结合这2个基因表达与进化关系及可溶性糖变化值,初步推测PsSWEET4和PsSWEET8在开花过程中可能通过调控果糖、葡萄糖的转运而间接调控开花过程;该结果为进一步研究PsSWEET基因在牡丹生长发育过程中的功能奠定了基础。     

分子伴侣的多重功能

分子伴侣(molecular chaperone)在原核生物和真核生物的细胞中广泛存在.分子伴侣可稳定未折叠或部分折叠的多肽,并防止不适当的多肽链内或链间相互作用;有些分子伴侣也可与天然构象的蛋白质相互作用以促使寡聚态蛋白质发生结构重排.基于分子伴侣能识别并调节细胞内多肽的折叠,因此它们还具有介导线粒体蛋白跨膜转运,调控信息传导通路和转录、复制,以及参与微管形成与修复等功能.     

毛竹SWEET基因家族的全基因组鉴定与分析

糖外排转运蛋白(Sugars will eventually be exported transporters, SWEETs)在植物生理活动和发育过程中起重要作用。为探究SWEET基因家族在毛竹(Phyllostachys edulis)的生长发育过程中起的作用,基于毛竹基因组数据,通过生物信息学方法对SWEET基因家族成员进行鉴定,并对其编码的蛋白质理化性质、系统进化及共线性关系、基因结构、启动子元件及表达模式、蛋白互作网路分析、GO注释等进行细致分析。研究结果表明:该家族基因结构、基序和结构域相对保守,所有成员均含有MtN3_slv结构域。上游启动子序列中含有多个同非生物胁迫以及生长发育相关元件,结合转录组表达量分析显示,多个家族成员在毛竹不同组织器官均有表达。共线性分析揭示毛竹SWEET家族在演化过程中存在全基因组多倍化事件。蛋白互作网路分析挖掘出2个重要核心家族成员,GO注释分析进一步证实毛竹SWEET主要负责体内糖类物质的转运。以上结果为毛竹SWEET基因功能鉴定提供了重要参考,对于毛竹快速生长分子机制研究打下了基础。     

细胞分裂素结合蛋白的研究进展

迄今为止,已从多种植物中分离到细胞分裂素结合蛋白(CBPs),它们可能在细胞分裂素的信号转导、体内运输及代谢中起作用。根据现有研究结果认为,大多数CTKs受体可能位于膜上,通过与G_蛋白耦联的信号转导系统或双组分信号转导系统完成CTKs信号的跨膜转导。少数CTKs受体可能位于细胞质中,与胞内CTKs结合后进入细胞核,直接调节基因的表达。本文综述了近年来对CBPs的研究进展,分析了CTKs受体的可能类型及CBPs作用的可能机制。     

细胞分裂素结合蛋白的研究进展

迄今为止,已从多种植物中分离到细胞分裂素结合蛋白（ＣＢＰｓ）,它们可能在细胞分裂素的信号转导、体内运输及代谢中起作用。根据现有研究结果认为,大多数ＣＴＫｓ受体可能位于膜上,通过与Ｇ－蛋白耦联的信号转导系统或双组分信号转导系统完成ＣＴＫｓ信号的跨膜转导。少数ＣＴＫｓ受体可能位于细胞质中,与胞内ＣＴＫｓ结合后进入细胞核,直接调节基因的表达。本文综述了近年来对ＣＢＰｓ的研究进展,分析了ＣＴＫｓ受体的可能     

蔗糖膜运输系统与植物整体碳分配相关（综述）

蔗糖是光合作用的主要产物,作为碳同化的产物在植物体内进行分配。蔗糖的转运机制和效率通过减弱产物抑制来影响光合产率,通过控制源／库关系和生物量分配来调控植物活性。蔗糖在细胞质合成,或通过胞间连丝进行细胞问转运,或跨膜区域化,或外输入质外体被相邻细胞吸收。作为相对大极性的化合物,蔗糖的有效膜转运需要转运蛋白协助。跨液泡膜运输机制可能通过异化扩散、质子对向运输和同向运输;而跨质膜的运输则可能通过质子同向运输和异化扩散类似机制。近几十年仅在分子水平对质子同向运输进行了较为详尽的研究。这篇综述旨在综合介绍最近和过去关于蔗糖跨膜转运与植物整体碳分布机制。     

原核生物的细胞分裂

自然界中所有的生物有机体都可以根据它们的细胞结构而明确地被划分为原核生物或真核生物。细菌和蓝藻和类菌质体属于原核生物,其它的有机体都属于真核生物。原核生物细胞一般比真核细胞小。细胞内的遗传物质 D N A 分散于细胞中央一个较大的区域,没有膜包围,故称这个区域为拟核。在细胞质中没有内质网、高尔基体、线粒体和     

木薯SWEETs基因家族生物信息学及表达特性研究

SWEET (sugars will eventually be exported transporters)是植物中新发现的一类编码糖转运蛋白的基因,它在植物生长发育及糖代谢过程中发挥重要作用。该基因家族在木薯(Manihot esculenta)中尚未有详细的报道。本研究从Phytozome数据库获得了28个木薯SWEET候选基因并对其进行生物信息学分析,在华南124的木薯苗中通过荧光定量实验检测SWEET基因在旱胁迫下的表达水平。结果发现木薯SWEET基因被分为4簇,主要分布在第6条和第14条染色体上,编码234 aa与302 aa之间的氨基酸序列;木薯SWEET基因家族的表达在旱胁迫条件下发生了变化,其中明显上调的基因有9个,包括MeSWEET1b、MeSWEET2a、MeSWEET6、MeSWEET9a、MeSWEET9b、MeSWEET12、MeSWEET15a、MeSWEET15b和MeSWEET16c;而表达量明显下调的基因也有9个,为MeSWEET2b、MeSWEET3b、MeSWEET4、MeSWEET7、MeSWEET11、MeSWEET16a、MeSWEET16b、MeSWEET17a和MeSWEET17c。这些结果为进一步阐明SWEET基因家族在木薯中的功能提供理论依据。     

dbSWEET: An Integrated Resource for SWEET Superfamily to Understand,Analyze and Predict the Function of Sugar Transporters in Prokaryotes and Eukaryotes

SWEET (Sweet Will Eventually be Exported Transporter) proteins have been recently discovered and form one of the three major families of sugar transporters. Homologs of SWEET are found in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Bacterial SWEET homologs have three transmembrane segments forming a triple-helical bundle and the functional form is dimers. Eukaryotic SWEETs have seven transmembrane helical segments forming two triple-helical bundles with a linker helix. Members of SWEET homologs have been shown to be involved in several important physiological processes in plants. However, not much is known regarding the biological significance of SWEET homologs in prokaryotes and in mammals. We have collected more than 2000 SWEET homologs from both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. For each homolog, we have modeled three different conformational states representing outward open, inward open and occluded states. We have provided details regarding substrate-interacting residues and residues forming the selectivity filter for each SWEET homolog. Several search and analysis options are available. The users can generate a phylogenetic tree and structure-based sequence alignment for selected set of sequences. With no metazoan SWEETs functionally characterized, the features observed in the selectivity filter residues can be used to predict the potential substrates that are likely to be transported across the metazoan SWEETs. We believe that this database will help the researchers to design mutational experiments and simulation studies that will aid to advance our understanding of the physiological role of SWEET homologs. This database is freely available to the scientific community at http://bioinfo.iitk.ac.in/bioinfo/dbSWEET/Home.     

ATP binding cassette importers in eukaryotic organisms

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are ubiquitous across all realms of life. Dogma suggests that bacterial ABC transporters include both importers and exporters, whilst eukaryotic members of this family are solely exporters, implying that ABC import function was lost during evolution. This view is being challenged, for example energy-coupling factor (ECF)-type ABC importers appear to fulfil important roles in both algae and plants where they form the ABCI sub-family. Herein we discuss whether bacterial Type I and Type II ABC importers also made the transition into extant eukaryotes. Various studies suggest that Type I importers exist in algae and the liverwort family of primitive non-vascular plants, but not in higher plants. The existence of eukaryotic Type II importers is also supported: a transmembrane protein homologous to vitamin B12 import system transmembrane protein (BtuC), hemin transport system transmembrane protein (HmuU) and high-affinity zinc uptake system membrane protein (ZnuB) is present in the Cyanophora paradoxa genome. This protein has homologs within the genomes of red algae. Furthermore, its candidate nucleotide-binding domain (NBD) shows closest similarity to other bacterial Type II importer NBDs such as BtuD. Functional studies suggest that Type I importers have roles in maintaining sulphate levels in the chloroplast, whilst Type II importers probably act as importers of Mn²⁺ or Zn²⁺, as inferred by comparisons with bacterial homologs. Possible explanations for the presence of these transporters in simple plants, but not in other eukaryotic organisms, are considered. In order to utilise the existing nomenclature for eukaryotic ABC proteins, we propose that eukaryotic Type I and II importers be classified as ABCJ and ABCK transporters, respectively.     

Cellular export of sugars and amino acids: role in feeding other cells and organisms

Sucrose, hexoses, and raffinose play key roles in the plant metabolism. Sucrose and raffinose, produced by photosynthesis, are translocated from leaves to flowers, developing seeds and roots. Translocation occurs in the sieve elements or sieve tubes of angiosperms. But how is sucrose loaded into and unloaded from the sieve elements? There seem to be two principal routes: one through plasmodesmata and one via the apoplasm. The best-studied transporters are the H⁺/SUCROSE TRANSPORTERs (SUTs) in the sieve element-companion cell complex. Sucrose is delivered to SUTs by SWEET sugar uniporters that release these key metabolites into the apoplasmic space. The H⁺/amino acid permeases and the UmamiT amino acid transporters are hypothesized to play analogous roles as the SUT-SWEET pair to transport amino acids. SWEETs and UmamiTs also act in many other important processes—for example, seed filling, nectar secretion, and pollen nutrition. We present information on cell type-specific enrichment of SWEET and UmamiT family members and propose several members to play redundant roles in the efflux of sucrose and amino acids across different cell types in the leaf. Pathogens hijack SWEETs and thus represent a major susceptibility of the plant. Here, we provide an update on the status of research on intercellular and long-distance translocation of key metabolites such as sucrose and amino acids, communication of the plants with the root microbiota via root exudates, discuss the existence of transporters for other important metabolites and provide potential perspectives that may direct future research activities.

An update on intercellular and long-distance translocation of sugars and amino acids, including plant-root microbiota communication, other metabolite transporters is provided, and perspectives are discussed.     

A SWEET surprise: Anaerobic fungal sugar transporters and chimeras enhance sugar uptake in yeast

In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, microbial fuels and chemicals production on lignocellulosic hydrolysates is constrained by poor sugar transport. For biotechnological applications, it is desirable to source transporters with novel or enhanced function from nonconventional organisms in complement to engineering known transporters. Here, we identified and functionally screened genes from three strains of early-branching anaerobic fungi (Neocallimastigomycota) that encode sugar transporters from the recently discovered Sugars Will Eventually be Exported Transporter (SWEET) superfamily in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A novel fungal SWEET, NcSWEET1, was identified that localized to the plasma membrane and complemented growth in a hexose transporter-deficient yeast strain. Single cross-over chimeras were constructed from a leading NcSWEET1 expression-enabling domain paired with all other candidate SWEETs to broadly scan the sequence and functional space for enhanced variants. This led to the identification of a chimera, NcSW1/PfSW2:TM5-7, that enhanced the growth rate significantly on glucose, fructose, and mannose. Additional chimeras with varied cross-over junctions identified residues in TM1 that affect substrate selectivity. Furthermore, we demonstrate that NcSWEET1 and the enhanced NcSW1/PfSW2:TM5-7 variant facilitated novel co-consumption of glucose and xylose in S. cerevisiae. NcSWEET1 utilized 40.1% of both sugars, exceeding the 17.3% utilization demonstrated by the control HXT7(F79S) strain. Our results suggest that SWEETs from anaerobic fungi are beneficial tools for enhancing glucose and xylose co-utilization and offers a promising step towards biotechnological application of SWEETs in S. cerevisiae.     

南瓜SWEET蛋白家族的全基因组鉴定与进化分析

SWEET(sugar will eventually be exported transporter)家族是一种新型的糖转运体,该家族基因在碳水化合物运输、发育、环境适应性和寄主-病原相互作用等多个过程中发挥着重要作用。为更好地了解南瓜发育的分子机理,该研究基于已知的南瓜基因组数据库,利用生物信息学方法对中国南瓜SWEET基因(CmSWEET)的系统发育树、基因结构、跨膜结构、保守基序、启动子预测、共线性预测和基因复制等进行综合分析。结果表明:共鉴定到21个CmSWEET基因,通过系统发育分析将21个CmSWEET基因分为4个亚族(I,II,III和IV),分别包含3、5、10和3个基因。此外,通过基因结构、跨膜结构域和保守基序发现CmSWEET在进化过程中是非常保守的。染色体定位结果显示,CmSWEET基因不均匀地分布在21条中国南瓜染色体中的13条染色体上,且在染色体Cm00、Cm01、Cm03、Cm05、Cm07、Cm09、Cm19和Cm20上不存在。启动子顺式作用元件分析显示,CmSWEET基因与植物激素(脱落酸、茉莉酸甲酯、水杨酸和生长素)响应有关,也可能参与各种环境胁迫的响应。从系统进化发育树和基因共线性方面揭示了CmSWEET基因与印度南瓜SWEET(CmaSWEET)之间的进化关系。该研究在全基因组水平上系统地鉴定了中国南瓜中SWEET基因家族,为进一步了解中国南瓜和其他葫芦科作物SWEET基因提供了基础,也为进一步的功能分析提供了重要的候选基因。