Zhenhai Han

Overexpression of MzASMT improves melatonin production and enhances drought tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants.

Melatonin is a potent naturally occurring reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) scavenger in plants. Melatonin protects plants from oxidative stress and, therefore, it improves their tolerance against a variety of environmental abiotic stressors. N‐acetylserotonin‐O‐methyltransferase (ASMT) is a specific enzyme required for melatonin synthesis. In this report, an ASMT gene was cloned from apple rootstock (Malus zumi Mats) and designated as MzASMT1 (KJ123721). The MzASMT1 expression was induced by drought stress in apple leaves. The upregulation of MzASMT1 in the apple leaf positively relates to melatonin production over a 24‐hr dark/light cycle. Purified MzASMT1 protein expressed in E. coli converted its substrates to melatonin with an activity of approximately 5.5 pmol/min/mg protein. The transient transformation in tobacco identified that MzASMT1 is located in cytoplasm of the cell. When MzASMT1 gene driven by 35S promoter was transferred to Arabidopsis, melatonin levels in transgenic Arabidopsis plants were 2–4 times higher than those in the wild type. The transgenic Arabidopsis plants had significantly lower intrinsic ROS than the wild type and therefore these plants exhibited greater tolerance to drought stress than that of wild type. This is, at least partially, attributed to the elevated melatonin levels resulting from the overexpression of MzASMT1. The results elucidated the important role that membrane‐located melatonin synthase plays in drought tolerance. These findings have significant implications in agriculture.

Identification, characterization, and utilization of genome-wide simple sequence repeats to identify a QTL for acidity in apple

BackgroundApple is an economically important fruit crop worldwide. Developing a genetic linkage map is a critical step towards mapping and cloning of genes responsible for important horticultural traits in apple. To facilitate linkage map construction, we surveyed and characterized the distribution and frequency of perfect microsatellites in assembled contig sequences of the apple genome.ResultsA total of 28,538 SSRs have been identified in the apple genome, with an overall density of 40.8 SSRs per Mb. Di-nucleotide repeats are the most frequent microsatellites in the apple genome, accounting for 71.9% of all microsatellites. AT/TA repeats are the most frequent in genomic regions, accounting for 38.3% of all the G-SSRs, while AG/GA dimers prevail in transcribed sequences, and account for 59.4% of all EST-SSRs. A total set of 310 SSRs is selected to amplify eight apple genotypes. Of these, 245 (79.0%) are found to be polymorphic among cultivars and wild species tested. AG/GA motifs in genomic regions have detected more alleles and higher PIC values than AT/TA or AC/CA motifs. Moreover, AG/GA repeats are more variable than any other dimers in apple, and should be preferentially selected for studies, such as genetic diversity and linkage map construction. A total of 54 newly developed apple SSRs have been genetically mapped. Interestingly, clustering of markers with distorted segregation is observed on linkage groups 1, 2, 10, 15, and 16. A QTL responsible for malic acid content of apple fruits is detected on linkage group 8, and accounts for ~13.5% of the observed phenotypic variation.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that di-nucleotide repeats are prevalent in the apple genome and that AT/TA and AG/GA repeats are the most frequent in genomic and transcribed sequences of apple, respectively. All SSR motifs identified in this study as well as those newly mapped SSRs will serve as valuable resources for pursuing apple genetic studies, aiding the apple breeding community in marker-assisted breeding, and for performing comparative genomic studies in Rosaceae.

Comparison of cadmium-induced iron-deficiency responses and genuine iron-deficiency responses in Malus xiaojinensis.

The effects of the heavy metal Cd in Malus xiaojinensis were investigated using hydroponic cultures. Chlorophyll and Fe concentrations in young leaves were markedly decreased by Cd treatment, although Fe concentration was significantly enhanced in the roots. A comparative examination of the Fe-deficiency responses due to Fe deficiency and Cd treatment was also performed. Both Fe deficiency and Cd treatment induced responses similar to those of Fe-deficiency in M. xiaojinensis, including acidification of the rhizosphere, enhanced Fe(III) chelate reductase activity, and upregulation of the Fe-deficiency-responsive genes MxIRT1 and MxFRO2-Like. However, the Fe-deficiency responses induced by Cd treatment were different in intensity and timing from those induced by Fe deficiency.

A dense SNP genetic map constructed using restriction site-associated DNA sequencing enables detection of QTLs controlling apple fruit quality

BackgroundGenetic map based quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis is an important method for studying important horticultural traits in apple. To facilitate molecular breeding studies of fruit quality traits in apple, we aim to construct a high density map which was efficient for QTL mapping and possible to search for candidate genes directly in mapped QTLs regions.MethodsA total of 1733 F1 seedlings derived from ‘Jonathan’ × ‘Golden Delicious’ was used for the map constructionand QTL analysis. The SNP markers were developed by restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq). Phenotyping data of fruit quality traits were calculated in 2008-2011. Once QTLs were mapped, candidate genes were searched for in the corresponding regions of the apple genome sequence underlying the QTLs. Then some of the candidate genes were validated using real-time PCR.ResultsA high-density genetic map with 3441 SNP markers from 297 individuals was generated. Of the 3441 markers, 2017 were mapped to ‘Jonathan’ with a length of 1343.4 cM and the average distance between markers was 0.67 cM, 1932 were mapped to ‘Golden Delicious’ with a length of 1516.0 cM and the average distance between markers was 0.78 cM. Twelve significant QTLs linked to the control of fruit weight, fruit firmness, sugar content and fruit acidity were mapped to seven linkage groups. Based on gene annotation, 80, 64 and 17 genes related to fruit weight, fruit firmness and fruit acidity, respectively, were analyzed.Among the 17 candidate genes associated with control of fruit acidity, changes in the expression of MDP0000582174 (MdMYB4) were in agreement with the pattern of changes in malic acid content in apple during ripening, and the relative expression of MDP0000239624 (MdME) was significantly correlated withfruit acidity.ConclusionsWe demonstrated the construction of a dense SNP genetic map in apple using next generation sequencing and that the increased resolution enabled the detection of narrow interval QTLs linked to the three fruit quality traits assessed. The candidate genes MDP0000582174 and MDP0000239624 were found to be related to fruit acidity regulation. We conclude that application of RADseq for genetic map construction improved the precision of QTL detection and should be utilized in future studies on the regulatory mechanisms of important fruit traits in apple.

A Genome-Wide Expression Profile of Salt-Responsive Genes in the Apple Rootstock Malus zumi

In some areas of cultivation, a lack of salt tolerance severely affects plant productivity. Apple, Malus x domestica Borkh., is sensitive to salt, and, as a perennial woody plant the mechanism of salt stress adaption will be different from that of annual herbal model plants, such as Arabidopsis. Malus zumi is a salt tolerant apple rootstock, which survives high salinity (up to 0.6% NaCl). To examine the mechanism underlying this tolerance, a genome-wide expression analysis was performed, using a cDNA library constructed from salt-treated seedlings of Malus zumi. A total of 15,000 cDNA clones were selected for microarray analysis. In total a group of 576 cDNAs, of which expression changed more than four-fold, were sequenced and 18 genes were selected to verify their expression pattern under salt stress by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Our genome-wide expression analysis resulted in the isolation of 50 novel Malus genes and the elucidation of a new apple-specific mechanism of salt tolerance, including the stabilization of photosynthesis under stress, involvement of phenolic compounds, and sorbitol in ROS scavenging and osmoprotection. The promoter regions of 111 genes were analyzed by PlantCARE, suggesting an intensive cross-talking of abiotic stress in Malus zumi. An interaction network of salt responsive genes was constructed and molecular regulatory pathways of apple were deduced. Our research will contribute to gene function analysis and further the understanding of salt-tolerance mechanisms in fruit trees.

Both immanently high active iron contents and increased root ferrous uptake in response to low iron stress contribute to the iron deficiency tolerance in Malus xiaojinensis

To better understand the mechanism of low-iron stress tolerance in Malus xiaojinensis, the differences in physiological parameters and gene expression between an iron deficiency-sensitive species, Malus baccata, and an iron deficiency-tolerant species, M. xiaojinensis were investigated under low-iron (4 μM Fe) conditions. Under iron sufficient conditions, the expressions of iron uptake- and transport-related genes, i.e. FIT1, IRT1, CS1, FRD3 and NRMAP1, and the immanent leaf and root active iron contents were higher in M. xiaojinensis than those in M. baccata. However, on the first three days of low iron stress, the rhizospheric pH decreased and the root ferric chelate reductase (FCR) activity and the expression of ferrous uptake- and iron transport-related genes in the roots increased significantly only in M. xiaojinensis. Leaf chlorosis occurred on the 3rd and the 9th day after low-iron treatment in M. baccata and M. xiaojinensis, respectively. The expression of iron relocalization-related genes, such as NAS1, FRD3 and NRMAP3, increased after the 5th or 6th day of low iron stress in leaves of M. xiaojinensis, whereas the expression of NAS1, FRD3 and NRMAP3 in the leaves of M. baccata increased immediately after the onset of low iron treatment. Conclusively, the relative high active iron contents caused by the immanently active root ferrous uptake and the increased root ferrous uptake in response to low iron stress were the dominant mechanisms for the tolerance to iron deficiency in M. xiaojinensis.

Isolation and characterisation of a nicotianamine synthase gene MxNas1 in Malus xiaojinensis.

Summary Iron (Fe) is one of the essential micronutrients required by all living organisms. In order to isolate genes involved in Fe-uptake, a subtracted cDNA library from roots of Malus xiaojinensis ‘Cheng et Jiang’ (Accession No. DGB0458 in the National Fruit Germplasm Repository) was constructed using suppression subtractive hybridisation (SSH). MxNas1, a gene that encodes a putative nicotianamine (NA) synthase, was cloned by differential screening of the subtracted library. By complementation, we demonstrated that MxNas1 was able to rescue the phenotype of an NA synthesis-defective tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) mutant ‘chloronerva’, suggesting it was a functional NA synthase. Transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants that over-expressed MxNas1 were more tolerant to Fe-deficiency than wild-type tobacco plants. In contrast, when MxNas1 was introduced into plants in an anti-sense orientation, to reduce endogenous transcript levels of NA synthase genes, the resulting transgenic tobacco plants exhibited symptoms of Fe-deficiency earlier than control plants. Increased expression of MxNas1 in transgenic tobacco plants also resulted in increased concentrations of Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn in the leaves.

Heterologous functional analysis of the Malus xiaojinensis MxIRT1 gene and the His-box motif by expression in yeast

Malus xiaojinensis is an important, iron-efficient rootstock germplasm. Iron uptake is an elaborately controlled process in plant roots, involving specialized transporters. MxIRT1, a Fe(II) transporter gene of M. xiaojinensis, is homologous to other iron transporters at the amino acid level. In the current study, the plasmid pYES2.0-MxIRT1, containing MxIRT1 cDNA, was constructed and transformed into yeast mutants. The results indicated that it could reverse the phenotype of yeast strain DEY1453, an iron uptake mutant. Complementation tests suggested that it might not be a specific transporter, as it was able to restore the phenotypes of other yeast mutant strains, including Mn, Cu and Zn uptake mutants. The functions of the critical histidine residues in the His-box of MxIRT1 were tested by transforming mutant yeast strain DEY1453 with different His residues altered by directed mutagenesis. The His-box of MxIRT1 was found to be necessary for iron transport, with different histidine residues (H1–4) playing different roles in the transport.

Isolation and Characterization of the Iron-Regulated MxbHLH01 Gene in Malus xiaojinensis

Some of the genes involved in iron signaling in Malus xiaojinensis have been isolated and characterized; however, their regulatory control is yet to be elucidated. In this study, rapid amplification of complementary DNA ends was used to obtain a full-length cDNA fragment of the MxbHLH01 gene encoding a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) protein. This protein shared 35.31% amino acid sequence identity with AtFRU and 31.88% amino acid sequence identify with LeFER. Real-time quantitative PCR revealed that MxbHLH01 was upregulated in roots grown under iron-deficient conditions. In addition, the MxbHLH01 protein was localized within the nuclei of plant cells and incapable of activating transcription in yeast. This indicated that MxbHLH01 might act as an iron regulator, but requiring other proteins to form heterodimer(s) to regulate gene expression response to iron deficiency.

Characterization of MxFIT, an iron deficiency induced transcriptional factor in Malus xiaojinensis.

Iron deficiency often results in nutritional disorder in fruit trees. Transcription factors play an important role in the regulation of iron uptake. In this study, we isolated an iron deficiency response transcription factor gene, MxFIT, from an iron-efficient apple genotype of Malus xiaojinensis. MxFIT encoded a basic helix-loop-helix protein and contained a 966 bp open reading frame. MxFIT protein was targeted to the nucleus in onion epidermal cells and showed strong transcriptional activation in yeast cells. Spatiotemporal expression analysis revealed that MxFIT was up-regulated in roots under iron deficiency at both mRNA and protein levels, while almost no expression was detected in leaves irrespective of iron supply. Ectopic expression of MxFIT resulted in enhanced iron deficiency responses in Arabidopsis under iron deficiency and stronger resistance to iron deficiency. Thus, MxFIT might be involved in iron uptake and plays an important role in iron deficiency response.