植物维生素E合成酶基因克隆及其逆境生理研究进展

Progress in vitamin E synthesis-related enzyme gene cloning and stress physiology in plants

维生素E是一种脂溶性的抗氧化剂,在高等植物和蓝细菌光合器官中合成。其天然产物有8种类型,分别为α、β、γ、δ-生育酚和α、β、γ、δ-生育三酚,对植物、动物和人类都具有十分重要的生理作用。笔者通过对近30年文献的回顾,综述了维生素E在植物体内合成途径中相关酶基因的克隆及其在转基因植物中的表达和在植物逆境胁迫下的作用,并展望了研究方向。目前已从模式植物拟南芥和集胞蓝藻中克隆出了与维生素E合成相关的所有酶基因,约有26种植物中维生素E合成相关酶基因也已被克隆,维生素E生理功能被初步阐明。未来的研究尚需进一步证实其生理功能及其关系,加强对生育三酚的研究,还应当侧重运用已知基因,结合最新的基因工程、作物育种技术,将生育酚的重要价值进行应用和推广。

Vitamin E is an important class of lipid-soluble compounds with antioxidant activities. It can be synthesized in the photosynthetic organs of higher plants and cyanobacteria. The eight natural products of vitamin E （designated as α、β、γ、δ- toeopherol and α、β、γ、δ-ocotrienol） play an important role in human and animal life. In this article, the metabolic process of vitamin E in vivo, the current progress in synthesis-related enzyme gene cloning and manifestations of vitamin E transgenic plant in abiotic stress are summarized. At present, all the enzyme genes for vitamin E synthesis have been cloned from the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and from Cyanobacteria. Vitamin E genes in over 26 plants have also been cloned and the functions of antioxidant activities have been preliminarily clarified. In future work, the function and the relationships of vitamin E should be further clarified, especially the tocotrienols. The important values of tocopherols should be extended by the use of genetic engineering.