假禾谷镰孢转录因子FpAPSES的鉴定与功能分析

【目的】假禾谷镰孢(Fusarium pseudograminearum)侵染小麦引起的小麦茎基腐病严重影响中国小麦的安全生产。查找假禾谷镰孢中的APSES转录因子,分析其在病原菌致病过程中的作用,为解析假禾谷镰孢的致病机制及小麦茎基腐病的防治提供理论依据。【方法】从GenBank获得物种中已知的APSES氨基酸序列,利用BLASTP方法在假禾谷镰孢中查找APSES同源蛋白,利用Pfam软件预测蛋白结构域,采用MEGA5.05构建APSES蛋白的系统进化树。利用实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)方法分析A组APSES转录因子基因FpAPSES1和FpAPSES4在假禾谷镰孢侵染过程中的表达。通过PEG介导的原生质体转化和PCR筛选FpAPSES1和FpAPSES4基因缺失的突变体菌株。在PDA培养基上测定假禾谷镰孢野生型菌株Wz2-8A、Δfpapses1和Δfpapses4突变体菌株的菌丝形态和生长速率;测定在CMC培养液中培养后的分生孢子产生情况、形态以及在无菌水中的萌发率;利用菌丝块和分生孢子接种小麦胚芽鞘和大麦叶片以及盆栽试验测定其致病性;采用ELISA方法测定小米培养基中脱氧雪腐镰刀菌烯醇(DON)的含量。【结果】假禾谷镰孢中有4个APSES同源蛋白,均含有保守的DNA结合结构域HTH。与其他物种的APSES蛋白构建系统进化树,发现FpAPSES1、FpAPSES2和FpAPSES4属于A组APSES,FpAPSES3分布在C组。FpAPSES1和FpAPSES4在侵染阶段诱导表达,推测可能参与假禾谷镰孢的致病。分别获得2个FpAPSES1和FpAPSES4基因缺失的突变体菌株Δfpapses1-T10、Δfpapses1-T27和Δfpapses4-T1、Δfpapses4-T2。表型测定结果显示,与野生型相比,FpAPSES1和FpAPSES4基因缺失突变体在PDA平板上的生长速率明显减慢、色素积累明显增多;FpAPSES1基因缺失突变体菌丝形态无差异,而FpAPSES4基因缺失突变体菌丝弯曲、分支明显增多;FpAPSES1和FpAPSES4基因缺失突变体在CMC液体中的分生孢子产生明显减少,分别比野生型下降了99.5%和97.4%,产生的分生孢子变短、隔膜减少、萌发率有所降低;与野生型相比,FpAPSES1和FpAPSES4基因缺失突变体菌丝体和分生孢子对小麦胚芽鞘的致病力明显降低,菌丝在小麦胚芽鞘表皮细胞中的扩展明显受阻;FpAPSES1和FpAPSES4基因缺失突变体对大麦叶片和小麦根部的致病力也明显降低;FpAPSES1和FpAPSES4基因缺失突变体在小米培养基中产生的DON毒素分别比野生型下降了约78%和44%。【结论】编码A组APSES同源蛋白的FpAPSES1和FpAPSES4对假禾谷镰孢的菌丝生长、分生孢子产生和致病力均具有重要作用。

禾谷炭疽菌转录因子CgrStuA调控营养生长、孢子产生、萌发及附着枝形成

【背景】禾谷炭疽菌[Colletotrichum graminicola(Ces.)G.W.Wilson]是一种重要的植物病原真菌,可导致玉米炭疽病的发生。APSES(Asm-1、Phd1、Sok2、Efg1和StuA)型转录因子StuA是真菌特有的螺旋-环-螺旋(helix-loop-helix)转录因子,参与调控真菌的营养生长、孢子产量、萌发和致病性等。【目的】在禾谷炭疽菌中鉴定一个APSES型转录因子CgrStuA,明确其在禾谷炭疽菌生长和发育中的作用。【方法】利用同源重组的原理构建禾谷炭疽菌CgrstuA基因敲除突变菌株,并对突变体进行表型分析,包括营养生长、孢子产量、孢子萌发及致病力等。【结果】CgrstuA编码一个含有707个氨基酸的蛋白,含有一个KilA-N结构域。CgrstuA缺失突变体表现为营养生长减缓,两种类型的孢子产量降低,卵圆形孢子的萌发率极低,附着枝的数量明显增加,但致病性与野生型相比无显著差异。【结论】CgrStuA在禾谷炭疽菌的营养生长、孢子产量、萌发及附着枝的形成调控中发挥重要作用,但不影响致病性。

GR5 acts in the G protein pathway to regulate grain size in rice

Grain size is an important determinant of grain yield in rice.Although dozens of grain size genes have been reported,the molecular mechanisms that control grain size remain to be fully clarified.Here,we report the cloning and characterization of GR5(GRAIN ROUND 5),which is allelic to SMOS1/SHB/RLA1/NGR5 and en-codes an AP2 transcription factor.GR5 acts as a transcriptional activator and determines grain size by influencing cell proliferation and expansion.We demonstrated that GR5 physically interacts withfive Gg subunit proteins(RGG1,RGG2,DEP1,GS3,and GGC2)and acts downstream of the G protein complex.Four downstream target genes of GR5 in grain development(DEP2,DEP3,DRW1,and CyCD5;2)were re-vealed and their core T/CGCAC motif identified by yeast one-hybrid,EMSA,and ChIP–PCR experiments.Our results revealed that GR5 interacts with Gg subunits and cooperatively determines grain size by regu-lating the expression of downstream target genes.Thesefindings provide new insight into the genetic reg-ulatory network of the G protein signaling pathway in the control of grain size and provide a potential target for high-yield rice breeding.

The Jasmonate-Responsive AP2/ERF Transcription Factors AaERF1 and AaERF2 Positively Regulate Artemisinin Biosynthesis in Artemisia annua L.

Plants of Artemisia annua produce artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone widely used in malaria treatment. Amorpha-4,11-diene synthase （ADS）, a sesquiterpene synthase, and CYP71AV1, a P450 monooxygenase, are two key enzymes of the artemisinin biosynthesis pathway. Accumulation of artemisinin can be induced by the phytohormone jasmonate （JA）. Here, we report the characterization of two JA-responsive AP2 family transcription factors-AaERF1 and AaERF2-from A. annua L. Both genes were highly expressed in inflorescences and strongly induced by JA. Yeast one- hybrid and electrophoretic mobility shift assay （EMSA） showed that they were able to bind to the CRTDREHVCBF2 （CBF2） and RAVlAAT （RAA） motifs present in both ADS and CYP71AV1 promoters. Transient expression of either AaERF1 or AaERF2 in tobacco induced the promoter activities of ADS or CYP71AV1, and the transgenic A. annua plants overexpressing either transcription factor showed elevated transcript levels of both ADS and CYP71AV1, resulting in increased accumulation of artemisinin and artemisinic acid. By contrast, the contents of these two metabolites were reduced in the RNAi transgenic lines in which expression of AaERF1 or AaERF2 was suppressed. These results demonstrate that AaERF1 and AaERF2 are two positive regulators of artemisinin biosynthesis and are of great value in genetic engineering of arte- misinin production.

Hairy Leaf 6, an AP2/ERF Transcription Factor, Interacts with OsWOX3B and Regulates Trichome Formation in Rice

Trichome formation has been extensively studied as a mechanistic model for epidermal cell differentiation and cell morphogenesis in plants. However, the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying trichome formation （i.e., initiation and elongation） in rice remain largely unclear. Here, we report an AP2/ERF transcription factor, Hairy Leaf 6 （HL6）, which controls trichome formation in rice. Functional analyses revealed that HL6 transcriptionally regulates trichome elongation in rice, which is dependent on functional OsWOX3B, a homeodomain-containing protein that acts as a key regulator in trichome initiation. Biochemical and molecular genetic analyses demonstrated that HL6 physically interacts with OsWOX3B, and both of them regulate the expression of some auxin-related genes during trichome formation, in which OsWOX3B likely enhances the binding ability of HL6 with one of its direct target gene, OsYUCCA5. Popu- lation genetic analysis indicated that HL6 was under negative selection during rice domestication. Taken together, our findings provide new insights into the molecular regulatory network of trichome formation in rice.

Genome-wide identification and analysis of AP2/ERF transcription factors related to camptothecin biosynthesis in Camptotheca acuminata

Camptotheca acuminata produces camptothecin(CPT),a monoterpene indole alkaloid(MIA)that is widely used in the treatment of lung,colorectal,cervical,and ovarian cancers.Its biosynthesis pathway has attracted significant attention,but the regulation of CPT biosynthesis by the APETALA2/ethylene-responsive factor(AP2/ERF)transcription factors(TFs)remains unclear.In this study,a systematic analysis of the AP2/ERF TFs family in C.acuminata was performed,including phylogeny,gene structure,conserved motifs,and gene expression profiles in different tissues and organs(immature bark,cotyledons,young flower,immature fruit,mature fruit,mature leaf,roots,upper stem,and lower stem)of C.acuminata.A total of 198 AP2/ERF genes were identified and divided into five relatively conserved subfamilies,including AP2(26 genes),DREB(61 genes),ERF(92 genes),RAV(18 genes),and Soloist(one gene).The combination of gene expression patterns in different C.acuminata tissues and organs,the phylogenetic tree,the co-expression analysis with biosynthetic genes,and the analysis of promoter sequences of key enzymes genes involved in CPT biosynthesis pathways revealed that eight AP2/ERF TFs in C.acuminata might be involved in CPT synthesis regulation,which exhibit relatively high expression levels in the upper stem or immature bark.Among these,four genes(Cac AP2/ERF123,Cac AP2/ERF125,Cac AP2/ERF126,and Cac AP2/ERF127)belong to the ERF–B2 subgroup;two genes(Cac AP2/ERF149 and Cac AP2/ERF152)belong to the ERF–B3 subgroup;and two more genes(Cac AP2/ERF095 and Cac AP2/ERF096)belong to the DREB–A6 subgroup.These results provide a foundation for future functional characterization of the AP2/ERF genes to enhance the biosynthesis of CPT compounds of C.acuminata.

The kinase OsSK41/OsGSK5 negatively regulates amylose content in rice endosperm by affecting the interaction between OsEBP89 and OsBP5

Amylose content(AC) is the main factor determining the palatability, viscosity, transparency, and digestibility of rice(Oryza sativa)grains. AC in rice grains is mainly controlled by different alleles of the Waxy(Wx) gene. The AP2/EREBP transcription factor OsEBP89 interacts with the MYC-like protein OsBP5 to synergistically regulate the expression of Wx.Here, we determined that the GLYCOGEN SYNTHASE KINASE 5(OsGSK5, also named SHAGGY-like kinase 41 [OsSK41]) inhibits the transcriptional activation activity of OsEBP89 in rice grains during amylose biosynthesis. The loss of OsSK41 function enhanced Wx expression and increased AC in rice grains. By contrast, the loss of function of OsEBP89 reduced Wx expression and decreased AC in rice grains. OsSK41 interacts with OsEBP89 and phosphorylates four of its sites(Thr-28,Thr-30, Ser-238, and Thr-257), which makes OsEBP89 unstable and attenuates its interaction with OsBP5. Wx promoter activity was relatively weak when regulated by the phosphomimicvariantOsEBP89E–OsBP5but relatively strong when regulated by the nonphosphorylatable variant OsEBP89A–OsBP5.Therefore, OsSK41-mediated phosphorylation of OsEBP89 represents an additional layer of complexity in the regulation of amylose biosynthesis during rice grain development. In addition, our findings provide four possible sites for regulating rice grain AC via precise gene editing.

TRICHOMEAND ARTEMISININ REGULATOR 1 Is Required for Trichome Development and Artemisinin Biosynthesis in Artemisia annua

Trichomes, small protrusions on the surface of many plant species, can produce and store various secondary metabolic products. Artemisinin, the most famous and potent medicine for malaria, is synthesized, stored, and secreted by Artemisia annua trichomes. However, the molecular basis regulating the biosynthesis of artemisinin and the development of trichomes in A. annua remains poorly understood. Here, we report that an AP2 transcription factor, TRICHOME AND ARTEMISININ REGULATOR 1 （TAR1）, plays crucial roles in regulating the development of trichomes and the biosynthesis of artemisinin in A. annua. TAR1, which encodes a protein specially located in the nucleus, is mainly expressed in young leaves, flower buds, and some trichomes. In TAR1-RNAi lines, the morphology of trichomes and the composition of cuticular wax were altered, and the artemisinin content was dramatically reduced, which could be significantly increased by TAR1 oeverexpression. Expression levels of several key genes that are involved in artemisinin biosynthesis were altered when TAR1 was silenced or overexpressed. By the electrophoretic mobility shift, yeast one-hybrid and transient transformation β-glucuronidase assays, we showed that ADS and CYP71AV1, two key genes in the biosynthesis pathway of artemisinin, are likely the direct targets of TAR1. Taken together, our results indicate that TAR1 is a key component of the molecular network regulating trichome development and artemisinin biosynthesis in A. annua.