植物维管形成层发育及其调控的研究进展

维管形成层是植物的次生分生组织,它的活动促进植物侧向生长。近年来,大量研究成果加深了对维管形成层的了解,但与顶端分生组织相比,对维管形成层还是知之甚少。遗传与分子生物学研究发现,形成层的增殖与分化受多因素调控,包括长距离激素信号、短距离肽信号及两者之间的相互作用。除此之外,各种转录因子和microRNAs在维管形成层活动的调控过程中也发挥着关键作用。本文主要阐述了维管形成层发育及调控其增殖分化的新发现,并且对该领域目前的研究现状以及未来研究的重点方向进行了总结与展望。     

植物幼苗顶端弯钩形成机制研究的重要进展

正顶端弯钩的形成对于幼苗的成功出土至关重要,顶端弯钩形成缺陷突变体(如hookless1突变体,hls1)不能从土壤中出土见光生长,因此难以存活。过去研究发现,植物激素在调控顶端弯钩形成的过程中发挥重要作用,其中乙烯通过稳定其信号通路核心转录因子EIN3/EIL1进而促进顶端弯钩形成,而茉莉素抑制顶端弯钩形成并拮抗乙烯的促进     

植物肽类信号分子

近年来研究表明植物中也存在着肽类信号分子,类似于动物的肽激素。目前可分成三类：即EN-OD40、植物硫动蛋白（phytosulfokine）和系统素。ENOD40影响着细胞分裂,可能是参与控制了细胞对生长素的反应所致。植物硫动蛋白最初从芦笋叶肉细胞培养中分离,是一种减数分裂诱导因子,为细胞增殖必需,但具体机制还不清楚。系统素的研究较为深入,巳提出了它所激发的植物伤诱信号传导过程和模型。     

泡桐维管形成层及木质部区的转录组分析

采用Illumina HiSeqTM2500高通量测序技术,获得泡桐维管形成层及木质部区组织转录组的109021918条clean reads(16.35 Gb)。将clean reads从头组装得到104432个单基因簇(Unigene),平均长度662 nt。将组装得到的Unigenes与公共数据库进行序列比对,分别有40789(Nr:39.05%)、31675(NT:30.33%)、15539(COG:14.87%)、29168(GO:27.93%)、16316(KEGG:15.62%)、30499(SwissProt:29.20%)以及28828(Pfam:27.6%)个Unigenes获得功能注释。通过与GO数据库的比对分析,注释的29168个Unigenes归于生物过程、细胞组分及分子功能三大类的55个功能组;15539条Unigenes注释到COG数据库,被分为25个类别中;基于KEGG数据库可将16316个Unigenes归于130个代谢途径。此外,在泡桐的维管形成层及木质部区转录组中共检测出16118个简单序列重复(SSR)位点。为进一步挖掘泡桐重要功能基因提供了大量数据。     

植物DREB转录因子与植物激素的相互作用

DREB是植物中重要的转录因子,调控一系列非生物胁迫相关基因的表达,增强植物抵抗环境胁迫的能力.同时,当植物受到逆境胁迫时,植物体内的酶和激素都会发生变化,从而影响一系列的生理活动或生化变化来产生抵御胁迫的适应能力.近些年来,研究者们发现DREB与植物激素之间关系密切,从植物激素角度入手研究DREB的功能逐渐成为热点.就逆境胁迫下DREB转录因子与激素之间的相互作用进行阐述.     

植物干细胞功能的分子调控研究进展

植物干细胞是植物体内具有自我更新和多向分化潜能的细胞群体,主要位于植物体茎尖分生组织、根尖分生组织和维管形成层中.它们既可以通过细胞分裂维持自身细胞群体的大小,也可以分化成为各种不同的组织器官.维持干细胞的分裂与分化之间的平衡,是植物通过纵向伸长生长和径向增粗生长不断积累生物量的基础,这一过程受基因、microRNAs...     

Class Ⅱ TCP转录因子的主要功能和分子调控机制

TCP家族作为一类植物特有的转录因子,广泛参与各类群植物多个阶段的生长发育调控.其中Class ⅡTCP转录因子亚家族在植物的叶片发育、侧枝形成及花发育中发挥核心调控功能.TCP转录因子的活性在转录和转录后水平上均受到复杂而严密的调控.同时,TCP转录因子可通过直接结合基因启动子和增强子,或改变染色质结构等多种方式精细...     

miR156靶基因SPL在植物中的系统分布和进化模式分析

Squamosa promoterbinding proteinlike genes （SPLs）在植物发育过程中具有重要作用。很多SPLs被miR156调节,然而,对于它们在植物中的系统分布和进化模式还知之甚少。本文对9个测序物种（藻类,苔藓,石松,单子叶和双子叶植物）的183个SPLs进行了生物信息学分析。结果表明miR156应答元件（MREs）仅在陆生植物SPLs中发现,藻类中不存在。系统进化分析显示陆生植物SPLs分为两大分支：group I和group II。 MiR156靶基因仅分布于group II,表明它们有着共同的祖先。Group II进一步分为7个亚支（IIaIIg）,miR156靶基因分布在除IId外的其余6个亚支的特定SPLs。系统分类与基因结构的相关性反映了SPL靶基因结构上的变化。在进化过程中,它们可能发生外显子的丢失且伴随MRE的丢失。另外,基因重复对SPL靶基因的丰度变化影响很大,尤其是被子植物与低等植物分歧后它们数量明显增加。以拟南芥为模式植物分析发现串联重复和片段重复是SPL靶基因扩张的主要机制。     

miR156靶基因SPL在植物中的系统分布和进化模式分析

Squamosa promoter binding protein like genes (SPLs)在植物发育过程中具有重要作用。很多SPLs被miR156调节,然而,对于它们在植物中的系统分布和进化模式还知之甚少。本文对9个测序物种（藻类,苔藓,石松,单子叶和双子叶植物）的183个SPLs进行了生物信息学分析。结果表明miR156应答元件（MREs）仅在陆生植物SPLs中发现,藻类中不存在。系统进化分析显示陆生植物SPLs分为两大分支：group I和group II。 MiR156靶基因仅分布于group II,表明它们有着共同的祖先。Group II进一步分为7个亚支(IIa IIg),miR156靶基因分布在除IId外的其余6个亚支的特定SPLs。系统分类与基因结构的相关性反映了SPL靶基因结构上的变化。在进化过程中,它们可能发生外显子的丢失且伴随MRE的丢失。另外,基因重复对SPL靶基因的丰度变化影响很大,尤其是被子植物与低等植物分歧后它们数量明显增加。以拟南芥为模式植物分析发现串联重复和片段重复是SPL靶基因扩张的主要机制。     

Stem anatomy and development of inter- and intraxylary phloem in Leptadenia pyrotechnica (Forssk.) Decne. (Asclepiadaceae)

Modification of external morphology and internal structure of plants is a key feature of their successful survival in extreme habitats. They adapt to arid habitats not only by modifying their leaves, but also show several modifications in their conducting system. Therefore, the present study is aimed to investigate the pattern of secondary growth in Leptadenia pyrotechnica (Forssk.) Decne., (Asclepiadaceae), one such species growing in Kachchh district, an arid region of Gujarat State. A single ring of vascular cambium, responsible for radial growth, divided bidirectionally and formed the secondary xylem centripetally and the phloem centrifugally. After a short period of secondary xylem differentiation, small arcs of cambium began to form secondary phloem centripetally instead of secondary xylem. After a short duration of such secondary phloem formation, these segments of cambium resumed their normal function to produce secondary xylem internally. Thus, the phloem strands became embedded within the secondary xylem and formed interxylary phloem islands. Such a recurrent behavior of the vascular cambium resulted in the formation of several patches of interxylary phloem islands. In thick stems the earlier formed non-conducting interxylary phloem showed heavy accumulation of callose on the sieve plates followed by their crushing in response to the addition of new sieve elements. Development of intraxylary phloem is also observed from the cells situated on the pith margin. As secondary growth progresses further, small arcs of internal cambium get initiated between the protoxylem and intraxylary phloem. In the secondary xylem, some of the vessels are exceptionally thick-walled, which may be associated with dry habitats in order to protect the vessel from collapsing during the dryer part of the year. The inter- and intraxylary phloem may also be an adaptive feature to prevent the sieve elements to become non-conducting during summer when the temperature is much higher.     

Regulation of cytokinin biosynthesis, compartmentalization and translocation

Cytokinins, a group of mobile phytohormones, play an important role in plant growth and development, and their activity is finely controlled by environmental factors in the control of morphogenic and metabolic adaptations. Inorganic nitrogen sources, such as nitrate, are a major factor regulating gene expression of adenosine phosphate-isopentenyltransferase (IPT), a key enzyme of cytokinin biosynthesis. Modulation of IPT and macronutrient transporter gene expression in response to nitrate, sulphate and phosphate, and cytokinin-dependent repression of the transporter genes suggest that cytokinins play a critical role in balancing acquisition and distribution of macronutrients. Biased distribution of trans-zeatin (tZ)-type cytokinins in xylem and N(6)-(Delta(2)-isopentenyl)adenine (iP)-type cytokinins in phloem saps suggest that, in addition to acting as local signals, cytokinins communicate acropetal and systemic long-distance signals, and that structural side chain variations mediate different biological messages. The compartmentalization of tZ- and iP-type cytokinins implies the involvement of a selective transport system. Recent studies have raised the possibility of subsets of the purine permease family as a transporter of cytokinin nucleobases and equilibrative nucleoside transporters (ENT) for cytokinin nucleosides. These biochemical and transgenic data suggest that AtENT6, an Arabidopsis ENT, could also participate in cytokinin nucleoside transport with a preference for iP riboside in vascular tissue.     

miRNA在植物病原调控方面的研究进展

miRNA是一类在真核生物体内普遍存在的,长度在22 nt左右的单链小RNA分子。大量研究发现,miRNA可广泛参与植物的生长发育、新陈代谢、物质运输、逆境响应及病原防御等多种生理生化过程。目前已经从植物中鉴定到大量的miRNA,但其中参与植物病原调控相关miRNA的研究较少。miRNA作为一种重要的转录调控因子,可参与调控病原相关分子模式触发的免疫反应和效应因子触发的免疫反应。拟南芥中,miRNA393通过靶向生长素受体基因对植物生长素进行负调控,从而在抵御细菌侵染方面发挥作用;水稻中,miRNA528可响应水稻条纹病毒(RSV)的侵染,人为提高miRNA528水平有助于维持水稻对RSV的抗性。阐述了miRNA的作用机制,与植物细菌、真菌和病毒侵染相关的miRNA研究进展,总结了葡萄,苹果,梨和桃等具有重要经济价值果树中病原调控相关miRNA研究情况,旨在为今后miRNA在植物,特别是在果树抗病研究方面提供全面的理论依据。     

植物MicroRNA功能的研究进展

MicroRNA(miRNA)是真核生物基因表达的一类负调控因子,植物miRNA主要在转录水平上通过介导靶基因的甲基化、在转录后水平介导靶mRNA的切割或降低靶mRNA的翻译来调节基因的表达,从而调控植物器官的形态建成、生长发育、激素分泌与信号转导以及植物对逆境胁迫因素的应答能力。该文主要综述了近年来植物miRNA在植物生长发育、激素调节与信号转导以及逆境胁迫应答中的重要作用,并针对miRNA的网络调控特征提出了今后miRNA功能研究的方向。     

木栓质的转录调控及其对环境的响应

【目的】木栓质是一种聚酯型生物聚合物,特异性沉积在植物的内皮层、周皮、种皮和伤口外表皮等组织中。作为植物与环境之间的屏障,木栓质通过控制水和溶质运输保护植物免受环境胁迫和病原侵袭。文章论述了木栓质生物合成的关键酶和转录因子,探讨了环境因子对木栓质合成和沉积的影响,并展望了未来研究方向。【评论】木栓质的调控涉及多种因素,包括关键酶[如β-酮脂酰-CoA合成酶(KCS)、脂肪酰基还原酶(FAR)、细胞色素P450酶(CYP家族)等]和转录因子(如MYB、NAC、WRKY等),环境因子也通过复杂的信号转导途径调控木栓质的生物合成与沉积。【展望】未来研究应聚焦木栓质生物合成的关键调控节点,尤其是在作物中探究影响木栓质物种差异性沉积的因素,并借助多组学等方法解析其运输、组装及后转录调控机制,有望为作物高养分利用和抗逆性遗传改良提供新策略。     

Fluctuations of cambial activity in relation to precipitation result in annual rings and intra-annual growth zones of xylem and phloem in teak (Tectona grandis) in Ivory Coast

Background and Aims Teak forms xylem rings that potentially carry records of carbon sequestration and climate in the tropics. These records are only useful when the structural variations of tree rings and their periodicity of formation are known. Methods The seasonality of ring formation in mature teak trees was examined via correlative analysis of cambial activity, xylem and phloem formation, and climate throughout 1·5 years. Xylem and phloem differentiation were visualized by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Key Results A 3 month dry season resulted in semi-deciduousness, cambial dormancy and formation of annual xylem growth rings (AXGRs). Intra-annual xylem and phloem growth was characterized by variable intensity. Morphometric features of cambium such as cambium thickness and differentiating xylem layers were positively correlated. Cambium thickness was strongly correlated with monthly rainfall (R(2) = 0·7535). In all sampled trees, xylem growth zones (XGZs) were formed within the AXGRs during the seasonal development of new foliage. When trees achieved full leaf, the xylem in the new XGZs appeared completely differentiated and functional for water transport. Two phloem growth rings were formed in one growing season. Conclusions The seasonal formation pattern and microstructure of teak xylem suggest that AXGRs and XGZs can be used as proxies for analyses of the tree history and climate at annual and intra-annual resolution.     

Vascular transport of auxins and cytokinins in Ricinus

Analyses of vascular saps supplying source and sink organs havedemonstrated the presence of major endogenous hormones and/or theirprecursors. Indol-3yl-acetic acid, a number of gibberellins, cytokininsand abscisic acid, as well as the precursor for ethylene production havebeen found in these vascular saps, allowing the sites of hormonalsynthesis and putative target tissues to be deduced. Exogenously appliedhormones are also readily loaded into these vascular pathways and may betranslocated over considerable distances from a point of application.Observations such as these indicate a possible co-ordination systembetween source and sink regulated by the synthesis and transport ofendogenous hormones. It is widely accepted that the partitioning ofassimilates between photosynthetic source organs and utilising sinkorgans is regulated by endogenous plant hormones. The key intermediatesteps involved in assimilate transport, such as phloem loading andunloading, have been shown to be responsive to applied hormones,although the role of endogenous hormones in these processes remainsessentially unresolved. Results of the analyses of vascular saps fromRicinus communis, which have been obtained using a range ofphysicochemical methods, are compared and contrasted with those obtainedby the application of exogenous hormones or their precursors. Theseresults are evaluated critically and interpreted in the light of currentmodels of source:sink regulatory processes and the long-distancetransport of auxins and cytokinins in higher plants.