An F-box protein from wheat, TaFBA-2A, negatively regulates JA biosynthesis and confers improved salt tolerance and increased JA responsiveness to transgenic rice plants.

Soil salinity is a serious problem encountered by agriculture worldwide, which will lead to many harmful effects on plant growth, development, and even crop yield. F-box protein is the core subunit of the Skp1-Cullin-F-box (SCF) complex E3 ligase and plays crucial roles in regulating the growth, development, biotic & abiotic stresses, as well as hormone signaling pathway in plants. In this study, an FBA type F-box gene TaFBA-2A was isolated from wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). This study showed that TaFBA-2A could interact with TaSKP1, and TaOPR2, the crucial enzyme involving in jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis. TaFBA-2A negatively regulates JA biosynthesis, probably by mediating the degradation of TaOPR2 via the ubiquitin-26S proteasome pathway. Ectopic expression of TaFBA-2A improved the salt tolerance and increased the JA responsiveness of the transgenic rice lines. In addition, some agronomic traits closely related to crop yield were significantly enhanced in the rice lines ectopic expressing TaFBA-2A. The data obtained in this study shed light on the function and mechanisms of TaFBA-2A in JA biosynthesis and the responses to salt stress and JA treatment; this study also suggested that TaFBA-2A has the potential in improving the salt tolerance and crop yield of transgenic rice plants.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of calmodulin and calmodulin-like genes in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Calmodulin (CaM) and calmodulin-like (CML) genes are widely involved in plant growth and development and mediating plant stress tolerance. However, the whole genome scale studies about CaM and CML gene families have not been done in wheat, and the possible functions of most wheat CaM/CML gene members are still unknown. In this study, a total of 18 TaCaM and 230 TaCML gene members were identified in wheat genome. Among these genes, 28 TaCaM/CML gene members have 74 duplicated copies, while 21 genes have 48 transcript variants, resulting in 321 putative TaCaM/CML transcripts totally. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that they can be classified into 7 subfamilies. Similar gene structures and protein domains can be found in members of the same gene cluster. The TaCaM/CML genes were spread among all 21 chromosomes with unbalanced distributions, while most of the gene clusters contained 3 homoeologous genes located in the same homoeologous chromosome group. Synteny analysis showed that most of TaCaM/CMLs gene members can be found with 1-4 paralogous genes in T. turgidum and Ae. Tauschii. High numbers of cis-acting elements related to plant hormones and stress responses can be observed in the promoters of TaCaM/CMLs. The spatiotemporal expression patterns showed that most of the TaCaM/TaCML genes can be detected in at least one tissue. The expression levels of TaCML17, 21, 30, 50, 59 and 75 in the root or shoot can be up-regulated by abiotic stresses, suggesting that TaCML17, 21, 30, 50, 59 and 75 may be related with responses to abiotic stresses in wheat. The spatiotemporal expression patterns of TaCaM/CML genes indicated they may be involved widely in wheat growth and development. Our results provide important clues for exploring functions of TaCaMs/CMLs in growth and development as well as responses to abiotic stresses in wheat in the future.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the calmodulin-binding transcription activator (CAMTA) gene family in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

BACKGROUND: Plant calmodulin-binding transcription activator (CAMTA) proteins play important roles in hormone signal transduction, developmental regulation, and environmental stress tolerance. However, in wheat, the CAMTA gene family has not been systematically characterized. RESULTS: In this work, 15 wheat CAMTA genes were identified using a genome-wide search method. Their chromosome location, physicochemical properties, subcellular localization, gene structure, protein domain, and promoter cis-elements were systematically analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis classified the TaCAMTA genes into three groups (groups A, B, and C), numbered 7, 6, and 2, respectively. The results showed that most TaCAMTA genes contained stress-related cis-elements. Finally, to obtain tissue-specific and stress-responsive candidates, the expression profiles of the TaCAMTAs in various tissues and under biotic and abiotic stresses were investigated. Tissue-specific expression analysis showed that all of the 15 TaCAMTA genes were expressed in multiple tissues with different expression levels, as well as under abiotic stress, the expressions of each TaCAMTA gene could respond to at least one abiotic stress. It also found that 584 genes in wheat genome were predicted to be potential target genes by CAMTA, demonstrating that CAMTA can be widely involved in plant development and growth, as well as coping with stresses. CONCLUSIONS: This work systematically identified the CAMTA gene family in wheat at the whole-genome-wide level, providing important candidates for further functional analysis in developmental regulation and the stress response in wheat.

Transcriptome analysis of activated charcoal-induced growth promotion of wheat seedlings in tissue culture.

BACKGROUND: Activated charcoal (AC) is highly adsorbent and is often used to promote seedling growth in plant tissue culture; however, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. In this study, root and leaf tissues of 10-day-old seedlings grown via immature embryo culture in the presence or absence of AC in the culture medium were subjected to global transcriptome analysis by RNA sequencing to provide insights into the effects of AC on seedling growth. RESULTS: In total, we identified 18,555 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Of these, 11,182 were detected in the roots and 7373 in the leaves. In seedlings grown in the presence of AC, 9460 DEGs were upregulated and 7483 DEGs were downregulated in the presence of AC as compared to the control. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed 254 DEG-enriched pathways, 226 of which were common between roots and leaves. Further analysis of the major metabolic pathways revealed that AC stimulated the expression of nine genes in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, including PLA, CYP73A, COMT, CYP84A, and 4CL, the protein products of which promote cell differentiation and seedling growth. Further, AC upregulated genes involved in plant hormone signaling related to stress resistance and disease resistance, including EIN3, BZR1, JAR1, JAZ, and PR1, and downregulated genes related to plant growth inhibition, including BKI1, ARR-B, DELLA, and ABF. CONCLUSIONS: Growth medium containing AC promotes seedling growth by increasing the expression of certain genes in the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway, which are related to cell differentiation and seedling growth, as well as genes involved in plant hormone signaling, which is related to resistance.

Sterically expanded CGC catalysts: substituent effects on ethylene and α-olefin polymerization.

Several analogues of the sterically expanded constrained geometry catalyst Me2Si(η(1)-C29H36)(η(1)-N-tBu)ZrCl2·OEt2 (2) were synthesized to assess the effect on branching and molecular weight for ethylene homopolymerization. Catalysts based on tetramethyltetrahydrobenzofluorene (TetH), ethylTetH, t-butylTetH, and octamethyloctahydrodibenzofluorenyl (OctH) bearing a diphenylsilyl bridge were prepared and characterized: Me2Si(η(5)-C21H22)(η(1)-N-tBu)ZrCl2 (3); Me2Si(η(5)-C23H26)(η(1)-N-tBu)ZrCl2 (4); and Me2Si(η(5)-C25H30)(η(1)-N-tBu)ZrCl2 (5); Me2Si(η(5)-C21H22)(η(1)-N-tBu)ZrMe2 (6); and Ph2Si(η(5)-C29H36)(η(1)-N-tBu)ZrCl2 (7). Complexes 4, 5, 6, and 7 were characterized by X-ray crystallography and displayed η(5) hapticity to the carbon ring in each case, in contrast to 2. In comparison to 2, complexes 3, 4, 5, and 7 (in combination with methylaluminoxane = MAO) showed diminished branching, higher molecular weight, and higher polydispersity indices for obtained ethylene homopolymers. While 4/MAO produced the greatest molecular weight polymers, no branching was observed. Reactivity ratios were determined for the copolymerization of ethylene and 1-decene with 2/MAO. A value of r(ethylene) = 14.9 and an exceedingly high value of r(1-decene) = 0.49 were found--in line with previous reports of this catalyst's unusual affinity for α-olefins.

Base free lithium-organoaluminate and the gallium congener: potential precursors to heterometallic assemblies.

The first examples of base free lithium-organoaluminate and the corresponding gallium compound [LM(Me)OLi]3 (M = Al (3), Ga (4); L = HC{C(Me)N-2,6-iPr2C6H3}2) have been prepared by the reaction of Li[N(SiMe3)2] with the corresponding metal hydroxides LM(Me)OH (M = Al (1), Ga(2)); the oxygen atom in the M-O-Li fragment exists as oxide ion and is involved in the central Li3O3 six-membered ring formation.

Synthesis, characterization, and hydrolysis of aluminum(III) compounds bearing the C6F5-substituted beta-diketiminate HC[(CMe)(NC6F5)]2 (L) ligand.

A series of Al(III) compounds containing the C6F5-substituted beta-diketiminate ligands LAlMeCl (2), LAlMe2 (3), LAlMeI (4), and LAlBr2 (5) (L = HC[(CMe)(NC6F5)]2) were synthesized and characterized. The hydrolysis of 2 and 4 in the presence of 1,3-diisopropyl-4,5-dimethylimidazol-2-ylidene as the hydrogen halide acceptor both lead to (LAlMe)2(mu-O) (6), a methylalumoxane derivative, which is the first hydrolysis product with the general formula of (RAlMe)(n)O. A comparison of the hydrolysis products of 2 and 4 with that of L'AlMeCl (L' = HC[(CMe)(NAr)]2, Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3) shows that with the C6F5-substituted beta-diketiminate ligand, it was not possible to generate LAlMe(OH). This is obviously due to the stronger Brönsted acidity of the proton and the smaller size of the C6F5 group in this compound compared to that of the corresponding 2,6-iPr2C6H3 derivative.

Low-valent low-coordinated manganese(I) ion dimer: a temperature dependent W-band EPR study.

W-Band EPR spectra of [[HC(CMeNAr)(2)]Mn](2) (Ar = 2,6-(i)Pr(2)C(6)H(3)) have been measured at different temperatures. The spectra show a behavior which is typical for an antiferromagnetically coupled dimer with excited states populating upon increasing temperature. By following the intensity variation of the different features of the spectra with temperature, we attributed different groups of resonances to the S = 1, 2, and 3 states of the dimer. Their corresponding spin Hamiltonian parameters were derived from simulations. The zero-field-splitting parameters measured in this way were D(S=1) = 1.57 cm(-1) and E(S=1) = 0.064 cm(-1), D(S=2) = 0.266 cm(-1) and E(S=2) = 0.0045 cm(-1), and D(S=3) = 0.075 cm(-1) and E(S=3) = 0. On the basis of the molecular structure of the system, we could estimate that zero-field splitting (ZFS) is the result of anisotropic exchange and single-ion anisotropic contributions of similar magnitude (|D| approximately 0.2 cm(-1)). These results allow a deeper insight into the electronic structure of the Mn(I) centers in low-coordination environments, further supporting the electronic structure of Mn(I) to be 4s(1)3d(5), as previously indicated by DFT calculations.

The selective preparation of an aluminum oxide and its isomeric C-H-activated hydroxide.

An aluminum oxide [LAlO]2 (1) has been prepared by the oxidative addition of aluminum(I) monomer LAl (L = HC[(CMe)(NAr)]2, Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3) with molecular oxygen. The short Al-O bonds in Al2(mu-O)2 result in short Al...Al contacts and subsequent steric crowding of the Ar substituents from the two oriented L. 1 hydrolyzes to form [LAl(OH)]2(mu-O) (2). A C-H-activated aluminum hydroxide 4, an isomer of 1, however, is obtained by hydrolysis of the bulky aluminum amide 3 rather than by a conversion by high temperature treatment of 1. This indicates selective preparation of isomers 1 and 4.

Synthesis and reaction of [[HC(CMeNAr)2]Mn]2 (Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3): the complex containing three-coordinate manganese(I) with a Mn-Mn bond exhibiting unusual magnetic properties and electronic structure.

This paper reports on the synthesis, X-ray structure, magnetic properties, and DFT calculations of [[HC(CMeNAr)2]Mn]2 (Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3) (2), the first complex with three-coordinate manganese(I). Reduction of the iodide [[HC(CMeNAr)2]Mn(mu-I)]2 (1) with Na/K in toluene afforded 2 as dark-red crystals. The molecule of 2 contains a Mn2(2+) core with a Mn-Mn bond. The magnetic investigations show a rare example of a high-spin manganese(I) complex with an antiferromagnetic interaction between the two Mn(I) centers. The DFT calculations indicate a strong s-s interaction of the two Mn(I) ions with the open shell configuration (3d54s1). This suggests that the magnetic behavior of 2 could be correctly described as the coupling between two S1 = S2 = 5/2 spin centers. The Mn-Mn bond energy is estimated at 44 kcal mol(-1) by first principle calculations with the B3LYP functional. The further oxidative reaction of 2 with KMnO4 or O2 resulted in the formation of manganese(III) oxide [[HC(CMeNAr)2]Mn(mu-O)]2 (3). Compound 3 shows an antiferromagnetic coupling between the two oxo-bridged manganese(III) centers by magnetic measurements.

Synthesis of a new class of compounds containing a Ln-O-Al arrangement and their reactions and catalytic properties.

Synthesis of a new class of compounds containing a Ln-O-Al moiety has been accomplished by the reaction of LAlOH(Me) (L = HC(CMeNAr)(2), Ar = 2,6-iPr(2)C(6)H(3)) with a series of Cp(3)Ln compounds. The terminal Al-OH group shows selective reactivity, and the complexes Cp(2)Ln(THF)-O-AlL(Me) (Ln = Yb, 1; Er, 2; Dy, 3), Cp(2)Yb-O-AlL(Me) (4), and Cp(3)Ln(mu-OH)AlL(Me) (Ln = Er, 5; Dy, 6; Sm, 7) were obtained. This allows further insight into the proton exchange process, and two different mechanisms, intermolecular and intramolecular elimination of CpH, are proposed under different conditions. Complexes 1-4, 6, and 7 have been characterized by X-ray structural analyses which reveals a Ln-O-Al or Ln(mu-OH)Al core in these complexes. The obtuse Ln-O-Al angles fall in the range 151.9-169.8 degrees . The reaction of 1 or 4 with Me(3)SnF in toluene under refluxing conditions unexpectedly yielded the compounds [Cp(2)Yb(mu-OSnMe(3))](2) (8) and LAl(Me)F (9). Reactions of LAlOH(Me) with the mono- and dicyclopentadienyl complexes LYbCp(Cl) (10) and LYbCp(2) (11) supported by the bulky beta-diketiminate ligand were unsuccessful. However, the reaction of LAl(OH)Me with LYbN(SiMe(3))(2)Cl (12) containing a labile Yb-N bond leads to the formation of LYbCl-O-AlL(Me) (13) under elimination of HN(SiMe(3))(2). Furthermore, complexes 1, 3, 4, and 6 exhibit good catalytic activity for the polymerization of epsilon-caprolactone.

A seven-membered aluminum sulfur allenyl heterocycle arising from the conversion of an aluminacyclopropene with CS2.

The reaction of an aluminacyclopropene LAl[eta2-C2(SiMe3)2] (1, L = HC(CMeNAr)2, Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3) with CS2 in the temperature range from -78 degrees C to room temperature affords the first seven-membered aluminum sulfur-containing heterocyclic compound [LAl]2(mu-S)[eta2-SC(SiMe3)=C=C(SiMe3)] (2) bearing an allenyl group. The structural characterization of 2 and the analogous compound LAl[OC(O)C2(SiMe3)2] (3) of the proposed intermediate A and the variable-temperature 1H NMR kinetic study of this reaction may give a better understanding on this unusual conversion.

Two types of intramolecular addition of an Al-N multiple-bonded monomer LAlNAr' arising from the reaction of LAl with N3Ar' (L = HC[(CMe)(NAr)]2, Ar' = 2,6-Ar2C6H3, Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3).

The reaction of beta-diketiminated aluminum(I) monomer LAl with a large bulky azide N3Ar' (L = HC(CMeNAr)2, Ar' = 2,6-Ar2C6H3, Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3) in the temperature range from -78 degrees C to room temperature affords two different isomers 2 and 3, which have been characterized by spectroscopic and X-ray structural analyses, as well as elemental analysis. The variable-temperature 1H NMR kinetic studies of this reaction indicate the existence of the monomer LAlNAr' (1) at low temperature and the thermal stability of the compounds increases in the order of 1 < 2 < 3.