Microsporogenesis and male gametogenesis are essential for the alternating life cycle of flowering plants between diploid sporophyte and haploid gametophyte generations. Rice （Oryza sativa） is the world＇s major sta...Microsporogenesis and male gametogenesis are essential for the alternating life cycle of flowering plants between diploid sporophyte and haploid gametophyte generations. Rice （Oryza sativa） is the world＇s major staple food, and manipulation of pollen fertility is particularly important for the demands to increase rice grain yield. Towards a better understanding of the mechanisms controlling rice male reproductive development, we describe here the cytological changes of anther development through 14 stages, including cell division, differentiation and degeneration of somatic tissues consisting of four concentric cell layers surrounding and supporting reproductive cells as they form mature pollen grains through meiosis and mitosis. Furthermore, we compare the morphological difference of anthers and pollen grains in both monocot rice and eudicot Arabidopsis thaliana. Additionally, we describe the key genes identified to date critical for rice anther development and pollen formation.展开更多
The heat shock transcription factors （HSFs） are the major heat shock factors regulating the heat stress response. They participate in regulating the expression of heat shock proteins （HSPs）, which are critical in ...The heat shock transcription factors （HSFs） are the major heat shock factors regulating the heat stress response. They participate in regulating the expression of heat shock proteins （HSPs）, which are critical in the protection against stress damage and many other important biological processes. Study of the HSF gene family is important for understanding the mechanism by which plants respond to stress. The completed genome sequences of rice （Oryza sativa） and Arabidopsis （Arabidopsis thaliana） constitute a valuable resource for comparative genomic analysis, as they are representatives of the two major evolutionary lineages within the angiosperms： the monocotyledons and the dicotyledons. The identification of phylogenefic relationships among HSF proteins in these species is a fundamental step to unravel the functionality of new and yet uncharacterized genes belonging to this family.In this study, the full complement of HSF genes in rice and Arabidopsis has probably been identified through the genome-wide scan. Phylogenetic analyses resulted in the identification of three major clusters of orthologous genes that contain members belonging to both species, which must have been represented in their common ancestor before the taxonomic splitting of the angiosperms. Fttrther analysis of the phylogenetic tree reveals a possible dicot specific gene group. We also identified nine pairs of paralogs, as evidence for studies on the evolution history of rice HSF family and rice genome evolution. Expression data analysis indicates that HSF proteins are widely expressed in plants. These results provide a solid base for future functional genomic studies of the HSF gene family in rice and Arabidopsis.展开更多
Abiotic stresses cause serious crop losses. Knowledge on genes functioning in plant responses to adverse growth conditions is essential for developing stress tolerant crops. Here we report that transgenic expression o...Abiotic stresses cause serious crop losses. Knowledge on genes functioning in plant responses to adverse growth conditions is essential for developing stress tolerant crops. Here we report that transgenic expression of MYB15, encoding a R2R3 MYB transcription factor in Arabidopsis thaliana, conferred hypersensitivity to exogenous abscisic acid （ABA） and improved tolerance to drought and salt stresses. The promoter of MYB15 was active in not only vegetative and reproductive organs but also the guard cells of stomata. Its transcript level was substantially upregulated by ABA, drought or salt treatments. Compared with wild type （WT） control, MYB15 overexpression lines were hypersensitive to ABA in germination assays, more susceptible to ABA-elicited inhibition of root elongation, and more sensitive to ABA-induced stomatal closure. In line with the above findings, the transcript levels of ABA biosynthesis （ABA1, ABA2）, signaling （AB13） and responsive genes （AtADH1, RD22, RD29B, AtEM6） were generally higher in MYB15 overexpression seedlings than in WT controls after treatment with ABA. MYB15 overexpression lines displayed improved survival and reduced water loss rates than WT control under water deficiency conditions. These overexpression lines also displayed higher tolerance to NaCI stress. Collectively, our data suggest that overexpression of MYB15 improves drought and salt tolerance in Arabidopsis possibly by enhancing the expression levels of the genes involved in ABA biosynthesis and signaling, and those encoding the stress-protective proteins.展开更多
Several TCP genes have been reported to play Important roles in plant development; the TCP homologs encode a plant-specific family of putative transcription factors. To understand the evolutionary relationship of TCP ...Several TCP genes have been reported to play Important roles in plant development; the TCP homologs encode a plant-specific family of putative transcription factors. To understand the evolutionary relationship of TCP genes of Arabidopsis thallana and Oryza sativa L. （hereafter called rice）, we have identified 23 and 22 TCP genes in the Arabidopsis and rice genomea, respectively. Using phylogenetic analysis, we grouped these TCP genes into three classes. In addition, the motifs outside the TCP domain further support the evolutionary relationships among these genes. The genome distribution of the TCP genes strongly supports the hypothesis that genome-wlde and tandem duplication contributed to the expansion of the TCP gene family. The expression pattern of the TCP genes was analyzed further, providing useful clues about the function of these genes.展开更多
MicroRNAs （miRNAs） are -21-nucleotide noncoding RNAs that play critical roles in regulating plant growth and development through directing the degradation of target mRNAs. Axillary meristem activity, and hence shoot...MicroRNAs （miRNAs） are -21-nucleotide noncoding RNAs that play critical roles in regulating plant growth and development through directing the degradation of target mRNAs. Axillary meristem activity, and hence shoot branching, is influenced by a complicated network that involves phytohormones such as auxin, cytokinin, and strigolactone. GAI, RGA, and SCR （GRAS） family members take part in a variety of developmental processes, including axillary bud growth. Here, we show that the Arabidopsis thaliana microRNA171c （miR171c） acts to negatively regulate shoot branching through targeting GRAS gene family members SCARECROW-LIKE6-Ⅱ （SCL6-Ⅱ）, SCL6-Ⅲ, and SCL6-Ⅳ for cleavage. Transgenic plants overexpressing MIR171c （35Spro-MIR171c） and sd6-Ⅱ scl6-Ⅲ scl6-Ⅳ triple mutant plants exhibit a similar reduced shoot branching phenotype. Expression of any one of the miR171c-resistant versions of SCL6-Ⅱ, SCL6-Ⅲ, and SCL6-Ⅳ in 35Spro- MIR171c plants rescues the reduced shoot branching phenotype. Scl6-Ⅱ scl6-Ⅲ scl6-Ⅳ mutant plants exhibit pleiotropic phenotypes such as increased chlorophyll accumulation, decreased primary root elongation, and abnormal leaf and flower patterning. SCL6-Ⅱ, SCL6-Ⅲ, and SCL6-Ⅳ are located to the nucleus, and show transcriptional activation activity. Our results suggest that miR171c-targeted SCL6-Ⅱ, SCL6-Ⅲ, and SCL6-Ⅳ play an important role in the regulation of shoot branch production.展开更多
基金supported by the funds from the National Basic Research Program of China(Nos.2009CB941500 and 2007CB108700)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.30725022)+1 种基金the Chinese Transgenic Project(No. 2009ZX08009-108B)the National 863 High-Tech Project (No.2011AA10A101)
文摘Microsporogenesis and male gametogenesis are essential for the alternating life cycle of flowering plants between diploid sporophyte and haploid gametophyte generations. Rice （Oryza sativa） is the world＇s major staple food, and manipulation of pollen fertility is particularly important for the demands to increase rice grain yield. Towards a better understanding of the mechanisms controlling rice male reproductive development, we describe here the cytological changes of anther development through 14 stages, including cell division, differentiation and degeneration of somatic tissues consisting of four concentric cell layers surrounding and supporting reproductive cells as they form mature pollen grains through meiosis and mitosis. Furthermore, we compare the morphological difference of anthers and pollen grains in both monocot rice and eudicot Arabidopsis thaliana. Additionally, we describe the key genes identified to date critical for rice anther development and pollen formation.
文摘The heat shock transcription factors （HSFs） are the major heat shock factors regulating the heat stress response. They participate in regulating the expression of heat shock proteins （HSPs）, which are critical in the protection against stress damage and many other important biological processes. Study of the HSF gene family is important for understanding the mechanism by which plants respond to stress. The completed genome sequences of rice （Oryza sativa） and Arabidopsis （Arabidopsis thaliana） constitute a valuable resource for comparative genomic analysis, as they are representatives of the two major evolutionary lineages within the angiosperms： the monocotyledons and the dicotyledons. The identification of phylogenefic relationships among HSF proteins in these species is a fundamental step to unravel the functionality of new and yet uncharacterized genes belonging to this family.In this study, the full complement of HSF genes in rice and Arabidopsis has probably been identified through the genome-wide scan. Phylogenetic analyses resulted in the identification of three major clusters of orthologous genes that contain members belonging to both species, which must have been represented in their common ancestor before the taxonomic splitting of the angiosperms. Fttrther analysis of the phylogenetic tree reveals a possible dicot specific gene group. We also identified nine pairs of paralogs, as evidence for studies on the evolution history of rice HSF family and rice genome evolution. Expression data analysis indicates that HSF proteins are widely expressed in plants. These results provide a solid base for future functional genomic studies of the HSF gene family in rice and Arabidopsis.
基金supported by grants from Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KSCX2-SW-304)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30521001)
文摘Abiotic stresses cause serious crop losses. Knowledge on genes functioning in plant responses to adverse growth conditions is essential for developing stress tolerant crops. Here we report that transgenic expression of MYB15, encoding a R2R3 MYB transcription factor in Arabidopsis thaliana, conferred hypersensitivity to exogenous abscisic acid （ABA） and improved tolerance to drought and salt stresses. The promoter of MYB15 was active in not only vegetative and reproductive organs but also the guard cells of stomata. Its transcript level was substantially upregulated by ABA, drought or salt treatments. Compared with wild type （WT） control, MYB15 overexpression lines were hypersensitive to ABA in germination assays, more susceptible to ABA-elicited inhibition of root elongation, and more sensitive to ABA-induced stomatal closure. In line with the above findings, the transcript levels of ABA biosynthesis （ABA1, ABA2）, signaling （AB13） and responsive genes （AtADH1, RD22, RD29B, AtEM6） were generally higher in MYB15 overexpression seedlings than in WT controls after treatment with ABA. MYB15 overexpression lines displayed improved survival and reduced water loss rates than WT control under water deficiency conditions. These overexpression lines also displayed higher tolerance to NaCI stress. Collectively, our data suggest that overexpression of MYB15 improves drought and salt tolerance in Arabidopsis possibly by enhancing the expression levels of the genes involved in ABA biosynthesis and signaling, and those encoding the stress-protective proteins.
基金Supported by Funds from the National Key Basic Research Developments Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology, China （2006CB101700, 2005CB120802）, the High-Tech Research and Development （863） Programe of China （2005AA2710330）, the Shuguang Scholarship （04SG15）, and the Shanghai Institutes of Biological Sciences （Reproductive Development Project）. Publication of this paper is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （30624808）.
文摘Several TCP genes have been reported to play Important roles in plant development; the TCP homologs encode a plant-specific family of putative transcription factors. To understand the evolutionary relationship of TCP genes of Arabidopsis thallana and Oryza sativa L. （hereafter called rice）, we have identified 23 and 22 TCP genes in the Arabidopsis and rice genomea, respectively. Using phylogenetic analysis, we grouped these TCP genes into three classes. In addition, the motifs outside the TCP domain further support the evolutionary relationships among these genes. The genome distribution of the TCP genes strongly supports the hypothesis that genome-wlde and tandem duplication contributed to the expansion of the TCP gene family. The expression pattern of the TCP genes was analyzed further, providing useful clues about the function of these genes.
文摘MicroRNAs （miRNAs） are -21-nucleotide noncoding RNAs that play critical roles in regulating plant growth and development through directing the degradation of target mRNAs. Axillary meristem activity, and hence shoot branching, is influenced by a complicated network that involves phytohormones such as auxin, cytokinin, and strigolactone. GAI, RGA, and SCR （GRAS） family members take part in a variety of developmental processes, including axillary bud growth. Here, we show that the Arabidopsis thaliana microRNA171c （miR171c） acts to negatively regulate shoot branching through targeting GRAS gene family members SCARECROW-LIKE6-Ⅱ （SCL6-Ⅱ）, SCL6-Ⅲ, and SCL6-Ⅳ for cleavage. Transgenic plants overexpressing MIR171c （35Spro-MIR171c） and sd6-Ⅱ scl6-Ⅲ scl6-Ⅳ triple mutant plants exhibit a similar reduced shoot branching phenotype. Expression of any one of the miR171c-resistant versions of SCL6-Ⅱ, SCL6-Ⅲ, and SCL6-Ⅳ in 35Spro- MIR171c plants rescues the reduced shoot branching phenotype. Scl6-Ⅱ scl6-Ⅲ scl6-Ⅳ mutant plants exhibit pleiotropic phenotypes such as increased chlorophyll accumulation, decreased primary root elongation, and abnormal leaf and flower patterning. SCL6-Ⅱ, SCL6-Ⅲ, and SCL6-Ⅳ are located to the nucleus, and show transcriptional activation activity. Our results suggest that miR171c-targeted SCL6-Ⅱ, SCL6-Ⅲ, and SCL6-Ⅳ play an important role in the regulation of shoot branch production.
