Cotyledons Of Cotton Seedlings Research Articles

A New Method for Rapid Subcellular Localization and Gene Function Analysis in Cotton Based on Barley Stripe Mosaic Virus

The difficulty of genetic transformation has restricted research on functional genomics in cotton. Thus, a rapid and efficient method for gene overexpression that does not rely on genetic transformation is needed. Virus-based vectors offer a reasonable alternative for protein expression, as viruses can infect the host systemically to achieve expression and replication without transgene integration. Previously, a novel four-component barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV) was reported to overexpress large fragments of target genes in plants over a long period of time, which greatly simplified the study of gene overexpression. However, whether this system can infect cotton and stably overexpress target genes has not yet been studied. In this study, we verified that this new BSMV system can infect cotton through seed imbibition and systemically overexpress large fragments of genes (up to 2340 bp) in cotton. The target gene that was fused with GFP was expressed at a high level in the roots, stems, and cotyledons of cotton seedlings, and stable fluorescence signals were detected in the cotton roots and leaves even after 4 weeks. Based on the BSMV overexpression system, the subcellular localization marker line of endogenous proteins localized in the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, plasma membrane, Golgi body, mitochondria, peroxisomes, tonoplast, and plastids were quickly established. The overexpression of a cotton Bile Acid Sodium Symporter GhBASS5 using the BSMV system indicated that GhBASS5 negatively regulated salt tolerance in cotton by transporting Na+ from underground to the shoots. Furthermore, multiple proteins were co-delivered, enabling co-localization and the study of protein–protein interactions through co-transformation. We also confirmed that the BSMV system can be used to conduct DNA-free gene editing in cotton by delivering split-SpCas9/sgRNA. Ultimately, the present work demonstrated that this BSMV system could be used as an efficient overexpression system for future cotton gene function research.

Dry mycelium of Penicillium chrysogenum induces expression of pathogenesis-related protein genes and resistance against wilt diseases in Bt transgenic cotton

Dry mycelium (DM) of Penicillium chrysogenum (PEN), a waste product of the pharmaceutical industry, is used as an organic fertilizer for agricultural production. Our previous studies have indicated that DM of PEN is effective in controlling a number of soil born fungal diseases, but the mode of action is unclear. In the present study, DM of PEN was extracted with water and applied to the roots of the Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) transgenic cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) cultivar SCRC 21. The efficacy in controlling Fusarium oxysporum f.sp vasinfectum (Fov) and Verticillium dahliae Kleb (Vd), as well as the accumulation of pathogenesis-related (PR) protein transcripts in the plants were examined. The results showed that soil drench with PEN provided significant protection against Fov and Vd. The controlling efficacy of PEN was dose-dependent, and the highest efficacy was obtained with 5–7% PEN. Soil drench with 5% induced the accumulation of six PR protein transcripts, PR-1a, PR-1b, PR-2, PR-3, A-C and B-C in cotyledons of cotton seedlings, suggesting that these PR proteins may be involved in induced resistance against wilt diseases in cotton by PEN. It seems that DM of PEN represents a new agent capable of inducing both resistance and the accumulation of PR protein transcripts.

Regulation of carbonic anhydrase gene expression in cotyledons of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) seedlings during post-germinative growth.

Recently, plastidial carbonic anhydrase (CA) cDNA clones encoding functional carbonic anhydrase enzymes were isolated from a 48 h dark-grown cotton seedling (cotyledons) cDNA library (Hoang et al., Plant Cell Physiol. 40: 1999). Here we examined the levels of relative transcript abundance and enzyme activities in cotyledons at different developmental stages and under different environmental conditions (i.e. altering CO2 and light conditions), during post-germinative seedling growth. Relative CA transcript levels and total CA enzyme activity in cotyledons of cotton seedlings increased from 18 h to 72 h of post-germinative growth in the dark, although somewhat later than the glyoxylate cycle enzyme, MS. When 24 h old seedlings were exposed to light for an additional 24 h, CA activity in greening cotyledons increased about 2-fold (compared with controls kept in the dark), whereas relative CA transcript levels were essentially the same. Removal of seed coats from cotyledons of 24 h old seedlings dramatically increased relative CA transcript abundance (measured 24 h later) in the dark, but did not influence CA enzyme activity. Manipulation of external CO2 environments (zero, ambient, or high) modulated coordinately the relative transcript abundance of CA (and rbcS) in cotyledons, but did not affect enzyme activity. On the other hand, regardless of the external CO2 conditions, cotyledons of seedlings exposed to light exhibited increased CA activity, concomitant with increased Rubisco activity and increased chlorophyll content. Collectively, our data suggest that steady-state levels of CA and rbcS transcripts are increased in response to environmental CO2 conditions, while CA (and Rubisco) enzyme activities are likely modulated at the post-transcriptional level following exposure of seedlings to light, and in parallel with development of functional chloroplasts.

N-Acylphosphatidylethanolamine Synthesis in Plants: Occurrence, Molecular Composition, and Phospholipid Origin

We have identified a microsomal phospholipid as Nacylphosphatidylethanolamine (NAPE) that was radio-labeled following incubation of 1-day-old cotyledons of cotton seedlings with [ 14C]ethanolamine. Radiolabeled NAPE comigrated with commercially available L-α-dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl( N-palmitoyl)ethanolamine (stdNAPE) in one- and two-dimensional TLC. This NAPE comprised 7.2 ± 1.0% (by weight) of microsomal phospholipids when hot isopropanol was used to inactivate endogenous phospholipases prior to extraction of lipids. In vitro degradation of putative cottonseed radiolabeled NAPE by Streptomyces chromofuscus phospholipase D resulted in production of a ninhydrin-reactive, radiolabeled lipid which comigrated with N-acylethanolamine (NAE) that was produced from a similar enzymatic cleavage of std-NAPE. Transmethylation of cottonseed radiolabeled NAE yielded radiolabeled ethanolamine and fatty acid methyl esters, nearly all of which were saturated (myristate, palmitate, and stearate together were 92% of the acyl components of cottonseed NAE). Positional analysis and relative abundance of the O-acyl groups of cottonseed microsomal NAPE were determined following a double enzymatic cleavage with Trimeresurus flavoviridis venom (phospholipase A 2 activity) and S. chromofuscus phospholipase D. We substantiated our identification of cottonseed NAPE by 1H NMR spectroscopy and by mass spectrometry (fast-atom-bombardment ionization and tandem MS, FAB-MS/MS). Radiolabeled NAPE was synthesized in vivo in varying amounts from [ 14C]ethanolamine applied to maturing seeds of cotton and soybean, cotyledons of dark-grown cotton and soybean seedlings, cotyledons of light-grown okra, cotton and soybean seedlings, endosperm tissue of castor bean, and suspension cell cultures of rice. In pulse-chase radiolaheling experiments in cotyledons of 1-day-old cotton seedlings, radiolabeled NAPE increased and radiolabeled phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) decreased over a 12-h chase period (in the dark or light), suggesting that NAPE was synthesized from PE in vivo. In vitro, the synthesis of NAPE from PE (radiolabeled in vivo) proceeded in a linear fashion in microsomes of cotton cotyledons with or without 1 mM EGTA and with or without 1 mM CaCl 2 for 90 min. NAPE was synthesized in vitro from PE synthesized by the exchange pathway (microsomes preincubated with [ 14C]ethanolamine) and from PE synthesized by the nucleotide pathway (microsomes preincubated with [ 14C]CDPethanolamine). Collectively, our data indicate that (a) NAPE is a widespread, natural phospholipid component of plants, (b) NAPE is synthesized in vivo under normal physiological growth conditions in cotyledons of cotton seedlings, (c) NAPE is localized and synthesized in cottonseed microsomes, and (d) NAPE is likely synthesized by a direct acylation of PE.

Intracellular Localization of Phosphatidylcholine and Phosphatidylethanolamine Synthesis in Cotyledons of Cotton Seedlings

Subfractionation of clarified cotyledon homogenates of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) seedlings on sucrose gradients revealed a single coincident peak of cholinephosphotransferase (EC 2.7.8.2) (CPT) and ethanolaminephosphotransferase (EC 2.7.8.1) (EPT) activities, which equilibrated with the main peak of Antimycin A-insensitive NADH:cytochrome c reductase (CCR) activity. The small percentage of CPT and EPT activities (less than 5% of the total) in glyoxysome-enriched pellets equilibrated with cytochrome c oxidase activity, not with catalase activity. Preincubation of microsomes (containing 83% of total CPT and EPT activities) in 0.2 millimolar MgCl(2) followed by subfractionation on sucrose gradients resulted in peak CPT and EPT activities equilibrating with peak CCR activity at 24% (w/w) sucrose. Preincubation of microsomes with (14)C-CDPcholine (or (14)C-CDPethanolamine) resulted in synthesis and incorporation of (14)C-phosphatidylcholine (PC) (or (14)C-phosphatidylethanolamine, PE) into membranes at the same density. Increasing the Mg(2+) concentration to 2.0 millimolar facilitated binding of ribosomes and caused a concomitant shift in density (to 34% w/w sucrose) of peak CPT, EPT, and CCR activities. Under these conditions, newly synthesized and incorporated (14)C-PC (or PE) was recovered in these membranes. Transmission electron microscopy of this fraction confirmed binding of ribosomes to membranes. Radiolabeling in vivo of cotyledons with [methyl-(14)C] choline chloride or [1,2 ethanolamine-(14)C] ethanolamine hydrochloride resulted in a linear incorporation of radiolabel into PC or PE in a time dependent manner. Subfractionation of homogenates of radiolabeled cotyledons on sucrose gradients showed that membranes sedimenting at 24% (w/w) sucrose (ER) contained the majority of radiolabeled PC and PE with a minor peak at 40% (w/w) sucrose (mitochondria), but no radioactive PC or PE was recovered in glyoxysomes. These results indicate that ER in cotyledons of germinated cotton seedlings is the primary subcellular site of PC and PE synthesis. This is similar to the situation in endosperm tissue but distinctly different from root and hypocotyl tissue where Golgi are a major subcellular site of PC and PE synthesis.