植物器官大小相关基因研究进展

Research Progresses on Genes Involved in Regulation of Plant Organ Size

摘要:

器官大小是植物形态的一个重要特征,而且具有严格的种属特异性。植物器官大小虽然受到外在的环境因素(如光照、营养等)的影响,但它是由内在特有的细胞数目和细胞大小决定的。许多基因能通过转录调节、蛋白合成、激素调节或松弛细胞壁等途径作用于植物细胞繁殖和/ 或细胞扩张,它们的过表达或缺失表达能改变植物器官大小和加快植物生长。尽管如此,这些基因是通过相对独立的途径起作用,在植物中难以阐明一个相对整合的器官大小基因调控网络,这也是亟待解决的问题。目前,一些与器官大小相关的基因已经应用于农作物育种,并培育出显著增大的农作物品种,这也证实了利用器官大小基因进行植物品种选育的可行性。因此,通过研究药用植物器官大小的基因,在分子水平上有目的地调控器官的大小和形态,是缓解当前许多药用植物面临的资源紧缺、枯竭、濒危困境的可考虑途径之一。

Abstract:

Organ size is an important morphological trail in plants, and shows significant differences among species. Organ growth is influenced by environmental factors, such as light and nutrients; however, it is determined by the intrinsic information of cell number and cell size. A large number of genes involved in regulation of cell proliferation and/or cell expansion have been identified, and their up-regulated or down-regulated expression change organ size and accelerate organ growth by means of transcription regulation, protein synthesis and modification, hormonal regulation and cell-wall loosening, and so on. In spite of this, these genes act through relative independent pathways, making it difficult to demonstrate an integrated regulation network in plants. Further challenges will be the regulation pattern and molecular changes in different plant species. Several genes participated in organ growth have been used in crop breeding, and produced significantly large crops. Similarly, characterization of the genes involved in organ size control of Chinese herbs to artificially promote organ size and morphology at the molecular level will contribute to overcome the shortage and endangerment of medicinal plants.