植物基因上游开放阅读框的研究进展

Advances in Upstream Open Reading Frame in Plant Genes

上游开放阅读框(upstream open reading frame, uORF)是一类能够精确控制蛋白质翻译的mRNA元件,位于mRNA的5'端前导区,主要通过抑制翻译起始来调节下游主体开放阅读框(main open reading frame, mORF)的翻译。目前对植物uORF的预测和鉴定主要集中于生物信息学和翻译组学鉴定技术。植物uORF广泛参与调节生长发育、营养代谢、抗病免疫等多个生命活动过程。本文对植物uORF的分类、功能机制、预测和鉴定方法、植物规避uORF的方式以及植物uORF的工程应用等进行综述归纳,旨在更系统和深入地理解植物uORF的功能与机制,并为uORF应用于作物分子育种工作提供参考。

uORF(upstream open reading frame)is a kind of mRNA element that can accurately control protein translation.It is located in the 5'leader region of mRNA.It has been reported to regulate the translation rate of downstream mORF(main open reading frame)by inhibiting the initiation of translation.Currently,the prediction and identification of plant uORF mainly focus on bioinformatics prediction and translatomics identification technology.uORF has regulatory roles on plants in many aspects,such as growth and development,nutrition and metabolism,disease resistance and immunity.In this review,we summarize the classification,functional mechanism,prediction and identification methods of plant uORF,strategies for plants to evade uORF,and the application progress of plant uORF in engineering.The purpose of this paper is to gain a more systematic and in-depth understanding of the function and mechanism of plant uORFs,and to provide a reference for the application of uORF in crop molecular breeding.