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Singha DL, Das D, Sarki YN, Chowdhury N, Sharma M, Maharana J, Chikkaputtaiah C. Harnessing tissue-specific genome editing in plants through CRISPR/Cas system: current state and future prospects. PLANTA 2021; 255:28. [PMID: 34962611 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-021-03811-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In a nutshell, tissue-specific CRISPR/Cas genome editing is the most promising approach for crop improvement which can bypass the hurdle associated with constitutive GE such as off target and pleotropic effects for targeted crop improvement. CRISPR/Cas is a powerful genome-editing tool with a wide range of applications for the genetic improvement of crops. However, the constitutive genome editing of vital genes is often associated with pleiotropic effects on other genes, needless metabolic burden, or interference in the cellular machinery. Tissue-specific genome editing (TSGE), on the other hand, enables researchers to study those genes in specific cells, tissues, or organs without disturbing neighboring groups of cells. Until recently, there was only limited proof of the TSGE concept, where the CRISPR-TSKO tool was successfully used in Arabidopsis, tomato, and cotton, laying a solid foundation for crop improvement. In this review, we have laid out valuable insights into the concept and application of TSGE on relatively unexplored areas such as grain trait improvement under favorable or unfavorable conditions. We also enlisted some of the prominent tissue-specific promoters and described the procedure of their isolation with several TSGE promoter expression systems in detail. Moreover, we highlighted potential negative regulatory genes that could be targeted through TSGE using tissue-specific promoters. In a nutshell, tissue-specific CRISPR/Cas genome editing is the most promising approach for crop improvement which can bypass the hurdle associated with constitutive GE such as off target and pleotropic effects for targeted crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhanawantari L Singha
- Biological Sciences and Technology Division, CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology (CSIR-NEIST), Jorhat, Assam, 785006, India.
| | - Debajit Das
- Biological Sciences and Technology Division, CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology (CSIR-NEIST), Jorhat, Assam, 785006, India
| | - Yogita N Sarki
- Biological Sciences and Technology Division, CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology (CSIR-NEIST), Jorhat, Assam, 785006, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Naimisha Chowdhury
- Biological Sciences and Technology Division, CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology (CSIR-NEIST), Jorhat, Assam, 785006, India
| | - Monica Sharma
- Biological Sciences and Technology Division, CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology (CSIR-NEIST), Jorhat, Assam, 785006, India
| | - Jitendra Maharana
- Distributed Information Centre (DIC), Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, India
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Channakeshavaiah Chikkaputtaiah
- Biological Sciences and Technology Division, CSIR-North East Institute of Science and Technology (CSIR-NEIST), Jorhat, Assam, 785006, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India.
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Ezura K, Ji-Seong K, Mori K, Suzuki Y, Kuhara S, Ariizumi T, Ezura H. Genome-wide identification of pistil-specific genes expressed during fruit set initiation in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). PLoS One 2017; 12:e0180003. [PMID: 28683065 PMCID: PMC5500324 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2017] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Fruit set involves the developmental transition of an unfertilized quiescent ovary in the pistil into a fruit. While fruit set is known to involve the activation of signals (including various plant hormones) in the ovary, many biological aspects of this process remain elusive. To further expand our understanding of this process, we identified genes that are specifically expressed in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) pistils during fruit set through comprehensive RNA-seq-based transcriptome analysis using 17 different tissues including pistils at six different developmental stages. First, we identified 532 candidate genes that are preferentially expressed in the pistil based on their tissue-specific expression profiles. Next, we compared our RNA-seq data with publically available transcriptome data, further refining the candidate genes that are specifically expressed within the pistil. As a result, 108 pistil-specific genes were identified, including several transcription factor genes that function in reproductive development. We also identified genes encoding hormone-like peptides with a secretion signal and cysteine-rich residues that are conserved among some Solanaceae species, suggesting that peptide hormones may function as signaling molecules during fruit set initiation. This study provides important information about pistil-specific genes, which may play specific roles in regulating pistil development in relation to fruit set.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kentaro Ezura
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Kim Ji-Seong
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Kazuki Mori
- Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yutaka Suzuki
- Department of Computational Biology, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
| | - Satoru Kuhara
- Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Tohru Ariizumi
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Ezura
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
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3
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He R, Wu J, Zhang Y, Agüero CB, Li X, Liu S, Wang C, Walker MA, Lu J. Overexpression of a thaumatin-like protein gene from Vitis amurensis improves downy mildew resistance in Vitis vinifera grapevine. PROTOPLASMA 2017; 254:1579-1589. [PMID: 27900595 DOI: 10.1007/s00709-016-1047-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2016] [Accepted: 11/10/2016] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Downy mildew is a highly destructive disease in grapevine production. A gene encoding pathogenesis-related (PR) thaumatin-like protein was isolated from the downy mildew-resistant grapevine "Zuoshan-1," a clonal selection from wild Vitis amurensis Rupr. The predicted thaumatin-like protein (VaTLP) has 225 amino acids and it is acidic, with a calculated isoelectric point of 4.8. The full length of the VaTLP gene was transformed into somatic embryogenic calli of V. vinifera 'Thompson Seedless' via Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Real-time RT-PCR confirmed that the VaTLP gene was expressed at a high level in the transgenic grapevines. Improved resistance of the transgenic lines against downy mildew was evaluated using leaf disks and whole plants inoculated with Plasmopara viticola, the pathogen causing grapevine downy mildew disease. Bioassay of the pathogen showed that both hyphae growth and asexual reproduction were inhibited significantly among the transgenic plants. Histological analysis also confirmed this disease resistance by demonstrating the inhibition and malformation of hyphae development in leaf tissue of the transgenic plants. These results indicated that the accumulation of VaTLP could enhance resistance to P. viticola in transgenic 'Thompson Seedless' grapevines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongrong He
- The Viticulture and Enology Program, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
- Department of Viticulture and Enology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Jiao Wu
- The Viticulture and Enology Program, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yali Zhang
- The Viticulture and Enology Program, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Cecilia B Agüero
- Department of Viticulture and Enology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Xinlong Li
- The Viticulture and Enology Program, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Shaoli Liu
- The Viticulture and Enology Program, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Chaoxia Wang
- The Viticulture and Enology Program, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - M Andrew Walker
- Department of Viticulture and Enology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| | - Jiang Lu
- The Viticulture and Enology Program, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100083, China.
- Center for Viticulture and Enology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200024, China.
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Zafra A, Carmona R, Traverso JA, Hancock JT, Goldman MHS, Claros MG, Hiscock SJ, Alche JD. Identification and Functional Annotation of Genes Differentially Expressed in the Reproductive Tissues of the Olive Tree ( Olea europaea L.) through the Generation of Subtractive Libraries. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:1576. [PMID: 28955364 PMCID: PMC5601413 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.01576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/28/2017] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The olive tree is a crop of high socio-economical importance in the Mediterranean area. Sexual reproduction in this plant is an essential process, which determines the yield. Successful fertilization is mainly favored and sometimes needed of the presence of pollen grains from a different cultivar as the olive seizes a self-incompatibility system allegedly determined of the sporophytic type. The purpose of the present study was to identify key gene products involved in the function of olive pollen and pistil, in order to help elucidate the events and signaling processes, which happen during the courtship, pollen grain germination, and fertilization in olive. The use of subtractive SSH libraries constructed using, on the one hand one specific stage of the pistil development with germinating pollen grains, and on the other hand mature pollen grains may help to reveal the specific transcripts involved in the cited events. Such libraries have also been created by subtracting vegetative mRNAs (from leaves), in order to identify reproductive sequences only. A variety of transcripts have been identified in the mature pollen grains and in the pistil at the receptive stage. Among them, those related to defense, transport and oxidative metabolism are highlighted mainly in the pistil libraries where transcripts related to stress, and response to biotic and abiotic stimulus have a prominent position. Extensive lists containing information as regard to the specific transcripts determined for each stage and tissue are provided, as well as functional classifications of these gene products. Such lists were faced up to two recent datasets obtained in olive after transcriptomic and genomic approaches. The sequences and the differential expression level of the SSH-transcripts identified here, highly matched the transcriptomic information. Moreover, the unique presence of a representative number of these transcripts has been validated by means of qPCR approaches. The construction of SSH libraries using pistil and pollen, considering the high interaction between male-female counterparts, allowed the identification of transcripts with important roles in stigma physiology. The functions of many of the transcripts obtained are intimately related, and most of them are of pivotal importance in defense, pollen-stigma interaction and signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adoración Zafra
- Plant Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology of Plants, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasGranada, Spain
| | - Rosario Carmona
- Plant Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology of Plants, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasGranada, Spain
| | - José A. Traverso
- Plant Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology of Plants, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasGranada, Spain
| | - John T. Hancock
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of EnglandBristol, United Kingdom
| | - Maria H. S. Goldman
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil
| | - M. Gonzalo Claros
- Departamento de Biología Molecular y Bioquímica, Universidad de MálagaMálaga, Spain
| | - Simon J. Hiscock
- School of Biological Sciences, University of BristolBristol, United Kingdom
| | - Juan D. Alche
- Plant Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology of Plants, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones CientíficasGranada, Spain
- *Correspondence: Juan D. Alche
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Rather IA, Awasthi P, Mahajan V, Bedi YS, Vishwakarma RA, Gandhi SG. Molecular cloning and functional characterization of an antifungal PR-5 protein from Ocimum basilicum. Gene 2014; 558:143-51. [PMID: 25550044 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2014.12.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2014] [Revised: 11/28/2014] [Accepted: 12/25/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins are involved in biotic and abiotic stress responses of plants and are grouped into 17 families (PR-1 to PR-17). PR-5 family includes proteins related to thaumatin and osmotin, with several members possessing antimicrobial properties. In this study, a PR-5 gene showing a high degree of homology with osmotin-like protein was isolated from sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). A complete open reading frame consisting of 675 nucleotides, coding for a precursor protein, was obtained by PCR amplification. Based on sequence comparisons with tobacco osmotin and other osmotin-like proteins (OLPs), this protein was named ObOLP. The predicted mature protein is 225 amino acids in length and contains 16 cysteine residues that may potentially form eight disulfide bonds, a signature common to most PR-5 proteins. Among the various abiotic stress treatments tested, including high salt, mechanical wounding and exogenous phytohormone/elicitor treatments; methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and mechanical wounding significantly induced the expression of ObOLP gene. The coding sequence of ObOLP was cloned and expressed in a bacterial host resulting in a 25kDa recombinant-HIS tagged protein, displaying antifungal activity. The ObOLP protein sequence appears to contain an N-terminal signal peptide with signatures of secretory pathway. Further, our experimental data shows that ObOLP expression is regulated transcriptionally and in silico analysis suggests that it may be post-transcriptionally and post-translationally regulated through microRNAs and post-translational protein modifications, respectively. This study appears to be the first report of isolation and characterization of osmotin-like protein gene from O. basilicum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irshad Ahmad Rather
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Canal Road, Jammu 180001, India
| | - Praveen Awasthi
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Canal Road, Jammu 180001, India
| | - Vidushi Mahajan
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Canal Road, Jammu 180001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Canal Road, Jammu 180001, India
| | - Yashbir S Bedi
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Canal Road, Jammu 180001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Canal Road, Jammu 180001, India
| | - Ram A Vishwakarma
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Canal Road, Jammu 180001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Canal Road, Jammu 180001, India
| | - Sumit G Gandhi
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (CSIR-IIIM), Canal Road, Jammu 180001, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Canal Road, Jammu 180001, India.
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6
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Dutt M, Dhekney SA, Soriano L, Kandel R, Grosser JW. Temporal and spatial control of gene expression in horticultural crops. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2014; 1:14047. [PMID: 26504550 PMCID: PMC4596326 DOI: 10.1038/hortres.2014.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2014] [Revised: 07/19/2014] [Accepted: 08/06/2014] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Biotechnology provides plant breeders an additional tool to improve various traits desired by growers and consumers of horticultural crops. It also provides genetic solutions to major problems affecting horticultural crops and can be a means for rapid improvement of a cultivar. With the availability of a number of horticultural genome sequences, it has become relatively easier to utilize these resources to identify DNA sequences for both basic and applied research. Promoters play a key role in plant gene expression and the regulation of gene expression. In recent years, rapid progress has been made on the isolation and evaluation of plant-derived promoters and their use in horticultural crops, as more and more species become amenable to genetic transformation. Our understanding of the tools and techniques of horticultural plant biotechnology has now evolved from a discovery phase to an implementation phase. The availability of a large number of promoters derived from horticultural plants opens up the field for utilization of native sequences and improving crops using precision breeding. In this review, we look at the temporal and spatial control of gene expression in horticultural crops and the usage of a variety of promoters either isolated from horticultural crops or used in horticultural crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manjul Dutt
- Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 700 Experiment Station Road, Lake Alfred, FL 33850, USA
| | - Sadanand A Dhekney
- Department of Plant Sciences, Sheridan Research and Extension Center, University of Wyoming, Sheridan, WY 82801, USA
| | - Leonardo Soriano
- Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 700 Experiment Station Road, Lake Alfred, FL 33850, USA
- Universidade de Sao Paulo, Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Raju Kandel
- Department of Plant Sciences, Sheridan Research and Extension Center, University of Wyoming, Sheridan, WY 82801, USA
| | - Jude W Grosser
- Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, 700 Experiment Station Road, Lake Alfred, FL 33850, USA
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Liu XY, Wuyun TN, Zeng HY. Cloning, characterization and promoter analysis of S-RNase gene promoter from Chinese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia). Gene 2012; 505:246-53. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2012.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2012] [Revised: 05/22/2012] [Accepted: 06/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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8
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Wang Q, Li F, Zhang X, Zhang Y, Hou Y, Zhang S, Wu Z. Purification and characterization of a CkTLP protein from Cynanchum komarovii seeds that confers antifungal activity. PLoS One 2011; 6:e16930. [PMID: 21364945 PMCID: PMC3043079 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0016930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2010] [Accepted: 01/16/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cynanchum komarovii Al Iljinski is a desert plant that has been used as analgesic, anthelminthic and antidiarrheal, but also as a herbal medicine to treat cholecystitis in people. We have found that the protein extractions from C. komarovii seeds have strong antifungal activity. There is strong interest to develop protein medication and antifungal pesticides from C. komarovii for pharmacological or other uses. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS An antifungal protein with sequence homology to thaumatin-like proteins (TLPs) was isolated from C. komarovii seeds and named CkTLP. The three-dimensional structure prediction of CkTLP indicated the protein has an acid cleft and a hydrophobic patch. The protein showed antifungal activity against fungal growth of Verticillium dahliae, Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizoctonia solani, Botrytis cinerea and Valsa mali. The full-length cDNA was cloned by RT-PCR and RACE-PCR according to the partial protein sequences obtained by nanoESI-MS/MS. The real-time PCR showed the transcription level of CkTLP had a significant increase under the stress of abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), methyl jasmonate (MeJA), NaCl and drought, which indicates that CkTLP may play an important role in response to abiotic stresses. Histochemical staining showed GUS activity in almost the whole plant, especially in cotyledons, trichomes and vascular tissues of primary root and inflorescences. The CkTLP protein was located in the extracellular space/cell wall by CkTLP::GFP fusion protein in transgenic Arabidopsis. Furthermore, over-expression of CkTLP significantly enhanced the resistance of Arabidopsis against V. dahliae. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE The results suggest that the CkTLP is a good candidate protein or gene for contributing to the development of disease-resistant crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghua Wang
- College of Science, China Agricultural
University, Beijing, China
| | - Fuguang Li
- Cotton Research Institute, Chinese Academy of
Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, Henan, China
| | - Xue Zhang
- College of Science, China Agricultural
University, Beijing, China
| | - Yongan Zhang
- College of Science, China Agricultural
University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuxia Hou
- College of Science, China Agricultural
University, Beijing, China
| | - Shengrui Zhang
- College of Science, China Agricultural
University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhixia Wu
- Cotton Research Institute, Chinese Academy of
Agricultural Sciences, Anyang, Henan, China
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Liu JJ, Sturrock R, Ekramoddoullah AKM. The superfamily of thaumatin-like proteins: its origin, evolution, and expression towards biological function. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2010; 29:419-36. [PMID: 20204373 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-010-0826-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 197] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2010] [Revised: 01/26/2010] [Accepted: 01/28/2010] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Thaumatin-like proteins (TLPs) are the products of a large, highly complex gene family involved in host defence and a wide range of developmental processes in fungi, plants, and animals. Despite their dramatic diversification in organisms, TLPs appear to have originated in early eukaryotes and share a well-defined TLP domain. Nonetheless, determination of the roles of individual members of the TLP superfamily remains largely undone. This review summarizes recent advances made in elucidating the varied TLP activities related to host resistance to pathogens and other physiological processes. Also discussed is the current state of knowledge on the origins and types of TLPs, regulation of gene expression, and potential biotechnological applications for TLPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Jun Liu
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Pacific Forestry Centre, Victoria, BC, Canada.
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10
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Rector BG. A sterile-female technique proposed for control of Striga hermonthica and other intractable weeds: advantages, shortcomings and risk management. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2009; 65:596-602. [PMID: 19288471 DOI: 10.1002/ps.1737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Weeds have posed intractable challenges to farmers since the dawn of agriculture. This article describes in detail a proposed control strategy based on the introduction of genes conferring female sterility into the genome of an intractable target weed. Spread of these genes through target populations via pollen would be facilitated by their incorporation within active transposable elements. Advantages (e.g. self-dissemination, self-proliferation, target specificity) and shortcomings (e.g. high cost, long project incubation period, limited range of possible targets) of this strategy are discussed in depth, as are assessment and management of its attendant biological and ecological risks, such as the risk of introduced genes spreading to non-target species. The parasitic weed Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. is examined as a potential target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian G Rector
- USDA-ARS, European Biological Control Laboratory, Montpellier, France.
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11
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Suárez-Cervera M, Castells T, Vega-Maray A, Civantos E, del Pozo V, Fernández-González D, Moreno-Grau S, Moral A, López-Iglesias C, Lahoz C, Seoane-Camba JA. Effects of air pollution on Cup a 3 allergen in Cupressus arizonica pollen grains. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2008; 101:57-66. [PMID: 18681086 DOI: 10.1016/s1081-1206(10)60836-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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12
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Pimentel C, Van Der Straeten D, Pires E, Faro C, Rodrigues-Pousada C. Characterization and expression analysis of the aspartic protease gene family of Cynara cardunculus L. FEBS J 2007; 274:2523-39. [PMID: 17433048 DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2007.05787.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Cardosin A and cardosin B are two aspartic proteases mainly found in the pistils of cardoon Cynara cardunculus L., whose flowers are traditionally used in several Mediterranean countries in the manufacture of ewe's cheese. We have been characterizing cardosins at the biochemical, structural and molecular levels. In this study, we show that the cardoon aspartic proteases are encoded by a multigene family. The genes for cardosin A and cardosin B, as well as those for two new cardoon aspartic proteases, designated cardosin C and cardosin D, were characterized, and their expression in C. cardunculus L. was analyzed by RT-PCR. Together with cardosins, a partial clone of the cyprosin B gene was isolated, revealing that cardosin and cyprosin genes coexist in the genome of the same plant. As a first approach to understanding what dictates the flower-specific pattern of cardosin genes, the respective gene 5' regulatory sequences were fused with the reporter beta-glucuronidase and introduced into Arabidopsis thaliana. A subsequent deletion analysis of the promoter region of the cardosin A gene allowed the identification of a region of approximately 500 bp essential for gene expression in transgenic flowers. Additionally, the relevance of the leader intron of the cardosin A and B genes for gene expression was evaluated. Our data showed that the leader intron is essential for cardosin B gene expression in A. thaliana. In silico analysis revealed the presence of potential regulatory motifs that lay within the aforementioned regions and therefore might be important in the regulation of cardosin expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Pimentel
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia do Centro de Neurociências de Coimbra, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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13
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Sassa H, Kakui H, Miyamoto M, Suzuki Y, Hanada T, Ushijima K, Kusaba M, Hirano H, Koba T. S locus F-box brothers: multiple and pollen-specific F-box genes with S haplotype-specific polymorphisms in apple and Japanese pear. Genetics 2007; 175:1869-81. [PMID: 17237509 PMCID: PMC1855134 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.106.068858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Although recent findings suggest that the F-box genes SFB/SLF control pollen-part S specificity in the S-RNase-based gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI) system, how these genes operate in the system is unknown, and functional variation of pollen S genes in different species has been reported. Here, we analyzed the S locus of two species of Maloideae: apple (Malus domestica) and Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia). The sequencing of a 317-kb region of the apple S9 haplotype revealed two similar F-box genes. Homologous sequences were isolated from different haplotypes of apple and Japanese pear, and they were found to be polymorphic genes derived from the S locus. Since each S haplotype contains two or three related genes, the genes were named SFBB for S locus F-box brothers. The SFBB genes are specifically expressed in pollen, and variable regions of the SFBB genes are under positive selection. In a style-specific mutant S haplotype of Japanese pear, the SFBB genes are retained. Apart from their multiplicity, SFBB genes meet the expected characteristics of pollen S. The unique multiplicity of SFBB genes as the pollen S candidate is discussed in the context of mechanistic variation in the S-RNase-based GSI system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidenori Sassa
- Faculty of Horticulture, Chiba University, Matsudo, Chiba 271-8510, Japan.
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