The Mechanisms of Brassinosteroids＇ Action： From Signal Transduction to Plant Development

Brassinosteroids play diverse roles in plant growth and development. Plants deficient in brassinosteroid （BR） biosynthesis or defective in signal transduction show many abnormal developmental phenotypes, indicating the importance of both BR biosynthesis and the signaling pathway in regulating these biological processes. Recently, using genetics, proteomics, genomics, cell biology, and many other approaches, more components involved in the BR signaling pathway were identified. Furthermore, the physiological, cellular, and molecular mechanisms by which BRs regulate various aspects of plant development, are being discovered. These include root development, anther and pollen development and formation, stem elongation, vasculature differentiation, and cellulose biosynthesis, suggesting that the biological functions of BRs are far beyond promoting cell elongation, This review will focus on the up-to-date progresses about regulatory mechanisms of the BR signaling pathway and the physiological and molecular mechanisms whereby BRs regulate plant growth and development.

Small G Protein as a Novel Component of the Rice Bmssinosteroid Signal Transduction

Brassinosteroids （BRs） are a class of steroid hormones that are essential for plant growth and development. The BR signal transduction pathway in the dicot model plantArabidopsis is well established, but the components connecting the BR signaling steps in rice have not been fully explored. For example, how the BR signaling is fine-tuned in rice, especially at the BR receptor level, is largely unknown. Here we show that OsPRA2, a rice small G protein, plays a repressive role in the BR signaling pathway. Lamina inclination, coleoptile elongation, and root inhibition assays indicated that rice plants with suppressed expression of OsPRA2 were more sensitive to exogenously applied brassinolide than the wild-type plants. Conversety, rice overexpressing OsPRA2 was less sensitive to exogenous brassinolide. Further study uncovered that OsPRA2 inhibited the dephosphorylation of, and thus inactivated the transcription factor BRASSINAZOLE- RESISTANT 1 （OsBZR1）. More importantly, OsPRA2 was found to co-localize with and directly bind to rice BR receptor BRASSlNOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE 1 （OsBRI1） at the plasma membrane. Additionally, the in vitro assays showed that OsPRA2 inhibits its autophosphorylation. This OsPRA2-OsBRI1 interaction led to the dissociation of OsBRI1 from its co-receptor OsBAK1, and abolished OsBRIl-mediated phosphorylation of OsBAK1. Together, these results reveal a possible working mechanism of OsPRA2 as a novel negative regu- lator on OsBRI1 and OsBZR1 and extend the knowledge about the regulatory mechanism of rice BR signaling.

Origin, evolution, and molecular function of DELLA proteins in plants

Gibberellic acid(GA), a ubiquitous phytohormone, has various effects on regulators of plant growth and development. GAs promote growth by overcoming growth restraint mediated by DELLA proteins(DELLAs). DELLAs, in the GRAS family of plant-specific nuclear proteins, are nuclear transcriptional regulators harboring a unique N-terminal GA perception region for binding the GA receptor GIBBERELLIN INSENSITIVE DWARF1(GID1) and a C-terminal GRAS domain necessary for GA repression activity via interaction with multiple regulatory proteins. The N-terminal conserved region of DELLAs evolved to form a mode of GID1/DELLA-mediated GA signaling originating in bryophytes and ferns. Binding of GA to GID1 increases the affinity between DELLAs and a SCF E3 ubiquitin–ligase complex, thus promoting the eventual destruction of DELLAs by the 26 S proteasome. DELLAs negatively regulate GA response by releasing transcription factors to directly activate downstream genes and indirectly regulate GA biosynthesis genes increasing GA responsiveness and feedback control by promoting GID1 transcription. GA communicates extensively with other plant hormones and uses crosstalk to regulate plant growth and development. In this review, we summarize current understanding of evolutionary DELLA-mediated gibberellin signaling and functional diversification of DELLA, focusing primarily on interactions of DELLAs with diverse phytohormones.

Mutual Information Flow between Beneficial Microorganisms and the Roots of Host Plants Determined the Bio-Functions of Biofertilizers

Modern agriculture is facing new challenges in which ecological and molecular approaches are being integrated to achieve higher crop yields while minimizing negative impacts on the environment. The application of biofertilzers could meet this requirement. Biofertilizer is a natural organic fertilizer that helps to provide all the nutrients required by the plants and helps to increase the quality of the soil with a natural microorganism environment. This paper reviewed the types of biofertilzers, the biological basic of biofertilizers in plant growth promotion. This paper also assayed the bidirectional information exchange between plant-microbes in rhizoshpere and the signal pathway of plant growth- promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and plant growth-promoting fungi (PGPF) in the course of plant infection. At last, the challenges of the application and the promising future of biofertilizers were also discussed.

植物异三聚体G蛋白研究进展

植物细胞中的异三聚体G蛋白信号转导系统包括异三聚体G蛋白、G蛋白偶联受体、类受体激酶、G蛋白信号调节因子等,这些信号转导组分在感受物理及化学刺激、启动细胞内信号级联反应、调控细胞内代谢和基因表达过程中发挥重要作用.异三聚体G蛋白参与调控植物生长发育(如胚胎形成、营养器官生长、有性生殖等)、植物对生物及非生物胁迫的响应、根瘤形成等过程.因此,异三聚体G蛋白信号系统组分参与调控多种农作物的农艺性状,并最终影响农产品的产量和品质.对植物异三聚体G蛋白的结构、活化机制和生理功能等方面近年来取得的研究进展进行了回顾和总结.

油菜素内酯调控植物生长发育的研究进展

油菜素内酯类化合物(brassinosteroids,BRs)是第六大类植物激素,对植物生长发育及逆境胁迫响应具有重要的调控作用。自1970年被发现至今,人们在BRs的生物学功能、结构及生物合成、信号转导通路和其对农作物重要农艺性状调控等方面研究取得一系列重要进展。本文就BRs生物合成途径、BRs信号转导通路及其对植物生长发育的调控机制等方面研究成果进行综述,并对其未来发展和研究方向进行展望。

Fibroblast growth factor(FGF)signaling in development and skeletal diseases

Fibroblast growth factors(FGF)and their receptors serve many functions in both the developing and adult organism.Humans contain 18 FGF ligands and four FGF receptors(FGFR).FGF ligands are polypeptide growth factors that regulate several developmental processes including cellular proliferation,differentiation,and migration,morphogenesis,and patterning.FGF-FGFR signaling is also critical to the developing axial and craniofacial skeleton.In particular,the signaling cascade has been implicated in intramembranous ossification of cranial bones as well as cranial suture homeostasis.In the adult,FGFs and FGFRs are crucial for tissue repair.FGF signaling generally follows one of three transduction pathways:RAS/MAP kinase,PI3/AKT,or PLCg.Each pathway likely regulates specific cellular behaviors.Inappropriate expression of FGF and improper activation of FGFRs are associated with various pathologic conditions,unregulated cell growth,and tumorigenesis.Additionally,aberrant signaling has been implicated in many skeletal abnormalities including achondroplasia and craniosynostosis.The biology and mechanisms of the FGF family have been the subject of significant research over the past 30 years.Recently,work has focused on the therapeutic targeting and potential of FGF ligands and their associated receptors.The majority of FGF-related therapy is aimed at age-related disorders.Increased understanding of FGF signaling and biology may reveal additional therapeutic roles,both in utero and postnatally.This review discusses the role of FGF signaling in general physiologic and pathologic embryogenesis and further explores it within the context of skeletal development.

Plant plasma membrane-resident receptors:Surveillance for infections and coordination for growth and development

As sessile organisms, plants are exposed to pathogen invasions and environmental fluctuations. To overcome the challenges of their surroundings, plants acquire the potential to sense endogenous and exogenous cues, resulting in their adaptability. Hence, plants have evolved a large collection of plasma membrane-resident receptors, including RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASEs(RLKs) and RECEPTOR-LIKE PROTEINs(RLPs) to perceive those signals and regulate plant growth,development, and immunity. The ability of RLKs and RLPs to recognize distinct ligands relies on diverse categories of extracellular domains evolved. Co-regulatory receptors are often required to associate with RLKs and RLPs to facilitate cellular signal transduction. RECEPTOR-LIKE CYTOPLASMIC KINASEs(RLCKs) also associate with the complex, bifurcating the signal to key signaling hubs, such as MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE(MAPK) cascades, to regulate diverse biological processes. Here, we discuss recent knowledge advances in understanding the roles of RLKs and RLPs in plant growth, development, and immunity, and their connection with co-regulatory receptors, leading to activation of diverse intracellular signaling pathways.

茉莉酸调控植物生长发育和胁迫的研究进展

植物作为不可移动的生物,感知外界刺激通过改变自身信号转导对其做出反应。植物激素作为重要的信号分子,在植物应对不同生物和非生物胁迫反应中发挥作用,以调节植物生长发育并适应不断变化的环境。茉莉酸是植物体内的重要激素之一,目前它的合成途径、生理作用等已有大量研究,但对其感知环境变化并做出反应的信号转导途径以及与其他植物激素的相互作用方面的研究还有空白之处。本文主要阐述茉莉酸在调控植物生长发育、胁迫应答及其与其他植物激素的相互作用方面的研究进展。

植物褪黑素功能及其作用机制的研究进展

褪黑素是一种重要的植物生长调节剂,在植物中具有多种功效。鉴于褪黑素在植物中的多种功能作用,为了给褪黑素在农业生产中的应用提供理论依据,通过查阅并梳理相关文献,阐述了植物中褪黑素的合成及代谢途径,褪黑素对植物生长发育的调控及对植物响应逆境胁迫的影响和褪黑素诱导作用的机制。褪黑素不仅参与植物种子萌发、根系发育、开花结果等生长发育过程,还能充当胁迫缓解剂,调节植物对多种生物胁迫/非生物胁迫的响应,且用外源褪黑素处理能够有效地缓解低温、干旱、盐碱以及病虫害等对植物的损伤程度,今后的研究应将盆栽试验与田间试验结合起来,以加速褪黑素在农业中的广泛应用。

Advances in structure and function of auxin response factor in plants

Auxin is a crucial phytohormone that has various effects on the regulators of plant growth and development.Auxin signal transduction is mainly controlled by two gene families:auxin response factor(ARF)and auxin/indole-3-acetic acid(Aux/IAA).ARFs are plant-specific transcription factors that bind directly to auxin response elements in the promoters of auxinresponsive genes.ARF proteins contain three conserved regions:a conserved N-terminal B3DNA-binding domain,a variable intermediate middle region domain that functions in activation or repression,and a C-terminal domain including the Phox and Bem1p region for dimerization,similar to theⅢandⅣelements of Aux/IAA,which facilitate protein–protein interaction through homodimerization of ARF proteins or heterodimerization of ARF and Aux/IAA proteins.In the two decades following the identification of the first ARF,23 ARF members have been identified and characterized in Arabidopsis.Using whole-genome sequencing,22,25,23,25,and 36 ARF genes have been identified in tomato,rice,wheat,sorghum,and maize,respectively,in addition to which the related biofunctions of some ARFs have been reported.ARFs play crucial roles in regulating the growth and development of roots,leaves,flowers,fruits,seeds,responses to biotic and abiotic stresses,and phytohormone signal crosstalk.In this review,we summarize the research progress on the structures and functions of ARFs in Arabidopsis,tomato,and cereal crops,to provide clues for future basic research on phytohormone signaling and the molecular design breeding of crops.

水稻光信号转导研究进展

光是影响植物生长和发育的一个重要因素,不仅为植物的整个生命周期提供能量,且作为信号物质调控植物生长发育的众多过程.通过对模式植物拟南芥的研究,已鉴定了多个植物光信号转导因子并初步建立了光信号转导调控网络,但水稻的光感受分子机制研究相对滞后.文章综述了近年来国内外关于水稻光信号转导的研究现状,并展望了今后的研究方向.

核黄素启动植物生长信号通路的初步研究

报道了核黄素促进植物生长的效应及分子反应。在实验室内对 7种粮食、蔬菜和经济作物使用核黄素后 ,植物生长量增加 2 3 8%～ 85 4 %。在田间试验中 ,烟草使用核黄素后 ,生长量提高 35 9%～ 10 8% ,烤烟叶产量提高 4 4 7%～110 3%。在拟南芥上 ,核黄素处理可以诱导PR 3b、PDF1 2、ETR1和EIN2基因的表达 ;PR 3b和PDF1 2是乙烯信号通路的分子标志 ,乙烯 /茉莉酸信号传导可以调控植物生长发育 ;ETR1和EIN2是乙烯信号通路上、下游的关键调控基因 ,其产物分别作为乙烯的受体和转录调控因子起作用。根据以上这些结果 ,核黄素启动了植物生长信号传导通路的分子反应 。

植物一氧化氮(NO)研究进展

一氧化氮 (NO)是植物的重要生物活性分子 ,它参与植物生长发育的许多过程 ,如种子萌发、下胚轴伸长、叶扩展、根生长、侧根形成、细胞凋亡以及植物抗逆反应等。大量的证据表明 ,植物可以通过与动物NO合酶类似的酶产生NO。此外 ,植物还可通过硝酸还原酶产生NO。NO在植物中的信号传递途径仍不十分清楚 ,植物有可能采用与动物相类似的机制。由于植物的大多数生长发育现象都受到植物激素的调节和控制 ,NO与植物激素之间的关系也受到越来越多的关注。通过激素起作用可能是植物内源NO作用的机理之一。

植物蛋白激酶研究进展

蛋白激酶是一类磷酸转移酶,其在细胞信号转导过程中起到较为重要作用。目前,在不同植物中分离了各种蛋白激酶基因。相关研究报道表明,这一类蛋白酶基因参与了植物的抗逆性、生长发育以及信号转导等一系列生命活动进程。着重从植物蛋白激酶分类、结构及其功能研究几个方面进行综述。

植物的光受体和光控发育研究

Phytochrome has fascinated plant scientists since its discovery in 1959-1960 by the Beltsville research group of the United States Department of Agriculture. Studies in the first 20 years had evidenced that phytochrome acts as an universal regulator in plant life adapting its behavior to the environmental light, and developed widely the physiological understanding of phytochrome action. In the following 20 years, some thirty world_wide major laboratories have published over two hundred papers a year on various aspects of the subject, and they are making steady progress. The authors’ work has also contributed to the following aspects: coaction of phytochrome and phytohormone in photomorphogenesis, phytochrome purification, phytochrome regulation of male fertility, as well as phytochrome A gene analysis and expression in photoperiod sensitive genic male sterile rice. In the recent decade significant advances have been made in studies on phytochrome molecules, genes and signal transduction in phytochrome response. This is largely due to the advances in molecular genetics, where experiments using mutants and transgenic plants, particularly in Arabidopsis, that have led to the significant insights at the molecular level. The topics in this review include:(1) Discovery of phytochrome; (2) Functions of phytochrome; (3) Phytochrome molecules; (4) Phytochrome regulation in gene expression.

油菜素内酯生物合成与功能的研究进展

植物激素油菜素内酯广泛调节植物的生长发育及对外界环境因子变化的反应,在作物上的应用也已引起人们的广泛兴趣。通过遗传学等手段对相关突变体及功能基因的研究为其生物合成与功能研究提供了基础。本文总结了油菜素内酯在植物各组织内的分布、生物合成、相关合成突变体及其编码基因的性质、生理功能以及与其它激素间的相互作用等。

生长素的运输及其在信号转导及植物发育中的作用

生长素作为一种重要的植物激素,参与调节植物生长发育的诸多过程,如器官发生、形态建成、向性反应、顶端优势及组织分化等,其作用机理长期以来备受人们关注。生长素的极性运输能使生长素积累在植物体某些特定部位,从而形成生长素浓度梯度,生长素对植物生长发育的调节主要依赖于这一特性。系统阐述生长素的运输特点、运输机理和相关生长素极性运输载体的研究进展;并对生长素信号转导途径中的重要组分及其机理进行了总结;同时较系统地对生长素参与植物体各器官发育过程及调节情况进行综述。

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。

拟南芥油菜素内酯信号转导研究进展

油菜素内酯(brassinosteroid)信号首先被膜上的受体BRI1/BAK1复合体感知,然后在一系列蛋白参与下传递到核内,进一步调控下游基因的表达。本文综述了拟南芥中油菜素内酯信号转导研究的进展,并对今后的研究方向进行了探讨。