Karrikins信号传导通路及功能研究进展

Current understanding of signaling transduction pathway and biological functions of Karrikins

Karrikins是从野火烟中发现的一类具有促进某些植物种子(如拟南芥、野燕麦)萌发的信号分子。自2004年其结构首次被解析以来,目前已经发现6种不同形式的Karrikin,其活性各有不同。虽然Karrikins被发现的时间较短,但其已成为植物分子生物学领域的研究热点。研究发现,Karrikins除促进种子萌发以外,还具有调控植物光形态建成、叶片发生等过程等生物学功能;此外,Karrikins与植物激素独脚金内酯(Strigolactone)在结构、信号传导通路等方面具有非常高的相似性。本文从Karrikins的发现史、信号传导通路、生物学功能及生态学意义等方面综述了其最新的研究进展,并探讨了Karrikins领域未来的研究方向。

Karrikins are a class of signaling molecules discovered in wildfire smoke, which can significantly promote seed germination in some species（such as Arabidopsis and Avena fatua）. The structures of Karrikins were first elucidated in2004. At present, six different types of Karrikins have been documented, and their biological activities vary significantly. So far, studies for Karrikins have become a hot spot in the plant molecular biology field. Recent advances demonstrate that Karrikins regulate plant photomorphogenesis and leaf differentiation effectively, in addition to the effect on seed germination. Furthermore, Karrikins share highly similar molecular structures and signaling transduction pathways with strigolactone. In this review, we summarize the history of discovery, signaling transduction pathways,physiological functions and ecological significance of Karrikins, and further discuss the future research directions.