Pre-mRNA选择性剪接对植物盐碱胁迫响应的调控机制

梁雪枫 ,  方淑梅 ,  梁喜龙

草业学报 ›› 2026, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (09) : 236 -246.

PDF (1162KB)
草业学报 ›› 2026, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (09) : 236 -246. DOI: 10.11686/cyxb2025447
综合评述

Pre-mRNA选择性剪接对植物盐碱胁迫响应的调控机制

作者信息 +

Regulatory mechanisms of pre-mRNA alternative splicing in plant responses to saline-alkali stress

Author information +
文章历史 +
PDF (1189K)

摘要

选择性剪接(AS)作为真核生物转录后调控的关键机制,通过对pre-mRNA进行差异化剪接,显著扩展蛋白质组多样性,在植物生长发育及逆境响应中发挥重要作用。本研究系统阐述了AS在植物盐碱胁迫响应中的调控作用与功能机制的研究进展。AS通过调控盐超敏感(SOS)、活性氧(ROS)及脱落酸(ABA)信号通路等,参与离子稳态维持、活性氧平衡、渗透调节等生理过程。探讨了AS在植物盐碱胁迫记忆的形成与跨代传递过程中的潜在作用。未来可进一步通过RNA-seq、RT-PCR、基因编辑及生物信息学等技术,探究AS在调控植物响应非生物胁迫方面的机制,进一步揭示AS在植物耐盐碱机制中的核心作用,从而为作物抗逆遗传改良提供新的理论依据与育种策略。

Abstract

Alternative splicing (AS) is a critical post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism in eukaryotes, and significantly expands protein diversity through differential modification of pre-mRNAs, playing a key role in plant growth and development as well as stress responses. This study systematically reviews the research progress in defining the regulatory function and operational mechanisms of AS in plant responses to saline-alkali stress. It analyzes how AS participates in physiological processes such as ion homeostasis maintenance, reactive oxygen species (ROS) balance, and osmotic regulation by modulating signaling pathways including the salt overly sensitive (SOS), ROS, and abscisic acid (ABA) pathway. This study investigated the potential role of AS in the formation and transgenerational transmission of saline-alkali stress memory in plants. Furthermore, AS reshapes splicing patterns of stress-related genes, thereby influencing the establishment and transgenerational transmission of stress memory in plants. Future research employing RNA-seq, RT-PCR, gene editing, and bioinformatics technologies can further explore the mechanisms by which the AS regulates plant responses to abiotic stress. This will reveal the key roles of AS in plant salt stress resistance mechanisms, providing new theoretical foundations and breeding strategies for genetic improvement of crop stress tolerance.

Graphical abstract

关键词

选择性剪接 / pre-mRNA / 盐碱胁迫 / 植物响应 / 分子调控

Key words

alternative splicing / pre-mRNA / saline-alkali stress / plant response / molecular regulation

引用本文

引用格式 ▾
梁雪枫,方淑梅,梁喜龙. Pre-mRNA选择性剪接对植物盐碱胁迫响应的调控机制[J]. 草业学报, 2026, 35(09): 236-246 DOI:10.11686/cyxb2025447

登录浏览全文

4963

注册一个新账户 忘记密码

选择性剪接(alternative splicing, AS)是广泛存在于动植物体内的一种重要的转录后调控途径,通过对pre-mRNA的精准剪接加工,使单个基因能够编码产生功能各异的蛋白质变体,从而使植物能够适应复杂多变的环境1。在植物中,AS的主要类型包括内含子保留(intron retention, IR)、外显子跳跃(exon skipping, ES)、互斥外显子(mutually exclusive exons, MXE)以及可变5′/3′剪接位点(alternative 5′ splice site/alternative 3′ splice site, A5SS/A3SS)。研究发现不同类型选择性剪接事件的发生频率具有物种特异性,在拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)、玉米(Zea mays)等植物中IR占比最高(约60%~70%),而动物中则以ES为主(约35%)2,这种差异可能与植物应对环境胁迫的快速适应性需求密切相关。
植物在整个生命周期中,常遭遇多种生物及非生物胁迫。在非生物胁迫条件下,AS可迅速而灵活地调整胁迫响应基因的表达3,通过对基因表达的精准调控赋予植物应对环境变化的适应性,这种灵活的AS调控作用具体体现为其对基因表达的双向性特征:一方面,通过产生功能特异的异构体直接参与生理过程,如拟南芥中的营养生长向生殖生长转变因子VRF1(vegetative growth to reproductive growth transformation factor 1)可产生两种功能异构体VRF1-AS1和VRF1-AS3,前者调节开花时间,后者增强抗旱性4;另一方面,通过产生含提前终止密码子(premature termination codon, PTC)的变体,经无义介导的降解(nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, NMD)途径下调靶基因表达,实现对基因剂量的精细控制5。国内外研究发现在非生物胁迫下,AS可使植物在不同逆境条件下,迅速调整关键生理过程相关蛋白的功能与活性,从而高效适配逆境环境的动态变化。小麦(Triticum aestivum)在适应高温胁迫时,TaHSFA6e[热休克转录因子(heat shock factor a6e, HSFA6e)]经可变剪接所产生的不同转录物会对TaHSP70[热休克蛋白(heat shock protein 70, HSP70)]的转录活性产生影响,进而介导植物适应热胁迫途径6。在水稻(Oryza sativa)中,AS可通过关键剪接因子OsRS33(rich splicing factor 33)和OsRS2Z38增强水稻耐寒性7。此外,水稻中OsIM1[不育相关MADS盒蛋白(infertility-related MADS-box protein 1, IM1)]发现两种AS亚型,它们能在耐盐与盐敏感的水稻品种中受盐胁迫的差异调节8。这些研究为植物快速响应非生物胁迫、提升逆境适应性奠定了重要基础。

1 选择性剪接广泛地参与植物盐碱胁迫响应

随着高通量测序技术与剪接变体分析算法的发展,AS在植物盐碱胁迫响应中的普遍性逐渐被揭示。植物中42%~61%含内含子的基因存在AS9,而非生物胁迫可使AS事件发生率进一步增加210,远高于转录水平的变化幅度911,且其响应特征随胁迫类型、强度及持续时间呈现显著差异。

1.1 盐胁迫诱导AS的普遍性

盐胁迫通过渗透胁迫与离子毒害的双重作用诱导植物发生AS,这种胁迫响应机制在不同植物类群中既展现出核心通路基因的AS富集,也因物种进化特性呈现显著的物种特异性,具体从以下模式植物、作物及盐生植物的代表性研究中系统梳理:模式植物拟南芥在100 mmol·L-1的NaCl中胁迫24 h后,转录组分析显示约32%的表达基因(3826个)发生至少1种AS事件,显著高于正常生长条件下的15%~20%基线水平12;番茄(Solanum lycopersicum)盐胁迫响应中,988个基因发生AS,IR为主要类型,且这些基因多富集于离子转运与氧化还原调控通路13,体现了模式植物中AS响应盐胁迫的核心调控方向。除模式植物外,作物中盐胁迫诱导的AS响应更凸显出与品种耐盐性的关联。盐敏感小麦品种中国春与耐盐小麦品种青麦6号在盐胁迫后,分别检测到4747与4129个AS事件,且两类品种中80%以上的AS事件均在胁迫48 h内快速诱发,这种AS响应的时效性与品种间的事件数量差异,表明AS调控与作物耐盐性形成存在时间维度上的协同14;大麦(Hordeum vulgare)中也存在类似的AS调控机制,HvDRF1[脱水响应因子1(dehydration-responsive factor 1, DRF1)]基因通过AS产生3种转录本,其中两种可编码AP2(APETALA 2)家族转录因子,该家族蛋白是盐胁迫响应的核心调控因子15。与普通植物相比,盐生植物因长期适应高盐生境,其AS响应更具基因针对性,主要围绕离子平衡相关基因的剪接调控,从而增强极端盐环境下的适应和生存能力。例如盐芥(Thellungiella salsuginea)在200 mmol·L-1的NaCl胁迫下,TsHKT1[高亲和性钾离子转运蛋白1(high-affinity K+ transporter 1, HKT1)]通过AS产生6种剪接变体,其中TsHKT1-3与TsHKT1-5可形成互作复合体,通过降低根际Na+吸收效率维持胞内Na+/K+平衡16;胡杨(Populus euphratica)作为典型的耐盐木本植物,其PeuHKT1;3基因通过A3SS剪接产生PeuHKT1;3a变体,该变体可改变离子选择性,显著增强高盐环境下的K+吸收能力,进一步优化离子稳态17

1.2 碱胁迫诱导AS的普遍性

碱胁迫除引发渗透与离子胁迫外,还会使土壤pH普遍超过8.5,高pH条件会破坏植物根际微环境的酸碱平衡,抑制根系对矿质元素的选择性吸收,导致钙、镁等必需营养元素有效性下降,进一步加剧营养匮乏胁迫,使得植物对碱胁迫的响应机制比盐胁迫更为复杂,也增加了相关研究的难度。相较于盐胁迫,针对碱胁迫特异性诱导AS事件的研究起步较晚。研究发现大豆(Glycine max)在碳酸氢盐胁迫下,叶片与根中分别鉴定出913与1974个差异AS基因,其中剪接因子GmRSZ22通过AS产生的功能变体可激活抗氧化酶系统,而转录因子NAC [无顶端分生组织蛋白(no apical meristem, NAM);拟南芥转录激活因子(Arabidopsis transcription activation factor 1/2, ATAF1/2);杯状子叶蛋白(cup-shaped cotyledon 2, CUC2)]的GmNTL9 [类转录因子9(transcription factor-like 9, TL9)]产生AS变体调控渗透调节物质合成18;野生大豆(Glycine soja)GsSCL30a [类稻草人蛋白(scarecrow-like protein 30a, SCL30a)]的AS具有碱胁迫依赖性,其pre-mRNA中含保守GAAG基序的第3个内含子在碱胁迫下被优先剪接,生成功能性剪接变体,且该过程受GsSnRK1 [蔗糖非发酵-1相关蛋白激酶1(sucrose non-fermenting-1-related protein kinase 1, SnRK1)]的磷酸化调控19。值得注意的是,碱胁迫诱导的AS还涉及微外显子调控,大豆AP2基因中9 bp微外显子的选择性缺失可增强其对盐碱胁迫的抗性,该微外显子的边界序列与内含子剪接位点存在相似性,且该微外显子的选择性缺失并未改变其编码蛋白质的结构,却能特异性提升大豆对盐碱胁迫的耐受能力20。目前,碱胁迫特异性AS的研究仍滞后于盐胁迫,但其独特的响应模式为揭示植物耐碱机制提供了新视角。

2 盐碱胁迫中的信号转导与选择性剪接的偶联

盐碱胁迫信号通过盐超敏感(salt overly sensitive, SOS)、活性氧(reactive oxygen species, ROS)与脱落酸(abscisic acid, ABA)等核心响应通路交织成动态响应网络21-22。近年来研究发现AS通过调控通路关键组分的剪接模式,反向重塑信号网络,形成信号-剪接的双向调控循环。

2.1 AS调控SOS信号通路

SOS信号途径是植物应对盐胁迫、维持细胞离子稳态的核心通路,通过钙信号介导的蛋白互作与磷酸化级联反应,精准调控Na+外排与平衡,而AS作为关键的转录后调控机制,并非独立于该通路,而是通过靶向调控SOS通路组分及剪接因子活性,进一步优化盐胁迫适应过程。如图1所示,盐胁迫下Na+可通过非选择性阳离子通道(non-selective cation channel, NSCC)进入胞内,引发胞质Ca2+浓度升高。细胞质中Ca2+作为盐胁迫下的早期信号分子,可通过两条关键途径启动下游调控:一方面激活钙调磷酸酶B样蛋白(calcium-dependent phosphatase B-like protein, CBLs)与互作蛋白激酶(CBL-interacting protein kinases, CIPK)家族,另一方面激活钙依赖蛋白激酶(calcium-dependent protein kinases, CDPKs),通过调控细胞核内早期转录因子的活性,进而启动盐反应基因的转录程序21。其中,CBLs与CIPKs的互作是SOS通路激活的核心环节,在质膜Na+/H+逆向转运过程中,SOS2(CIPK24)受SOS3(CBL4)调控发生自身蛋白磷酸化,并与SOS3结成蛋白复合体,共同调控下游SOS1蛋白的逆向运输功能,从而增强植物对盐离子的抗性。AS通过对SOS通路中这类关键转运蛋白的pre-mRNA进行选择性剪接,优化其功能特异性或表达效率,从而强化离子稳态调控的精准性与适应性,在棉花(Gossypium hirsutum)响应盐胁迫的过程中,GhSOS2存在两种可选择性剪接体,参与棉花的Na+/H+逆向转运蛋白(Na+/H+ antiporter, NHX)途径并发挥一定作用23。NHX介导的钠隔离产生的H+电化学梯度触发液泡膜上NHX活性,促进Na+跨膜运输,进而促进Na+的液泡隔离,从而提高植物耐盐性22。水稻中液泡OsNHX1的pre-mRNA通过AS产生3种异构体,这些异构体可通过优化液泡Na+区隔化能力,与SOS1介导的胞外Na+外排形成协同,共同增强耐盐性24;谷子(Setaria italica)在盐胁迫下显著富集SOS通路与CDPK级联通路,并发现与耐盐性密切相关的SiCYP19[细胞色素P450 19(cytochrome p450 19, CYP19)]的两个剪接变体SiCYP19-a和SiCYP19-b25。此外,盐胁迫会导致细胞损伤,自由基诱导的细胞死亡蛋白(radical-induced cell death 1, RCD1)通过减少由环境胁迫引起的氧化损伤来保护细胞。剪接体核心组分小核糖核蛋白E(small nuclear ribonucleoprotein E, SmEb)可精确调控抗盐基因RCD1的AS,若SmEb功能异常,RCD1剪接紊乱会直接导致SOS1等排Na+关键蛋白活性下降,使植株盐敏感性显著增强26;进一步研究发现,AS对盐胁迫响应的调控还延伸至剪接因子自身的功能优化与次级调控网络构建。富丝氨酸(serine-rich, SR)蛋白作为高度保守的pre-mRNA可变剪接因子,其家族成员SR45a在盐胁迫下通过AS产生SR45a-1a与SR45a-1b两种变体,这两种变体可与mRNA加帽复合体核心组分帽结合蛋白20(cap-binding protein 20, CBP20)互作,将mRNA加帽与剪接过程耦合,在转录后水平重塑盐胁迫响应网络27;而SnRK1激酶则通过磷酸化修饰剪接因子富丝氨酸剪接因子相关基质蛋白1L(serine-rich splicing factor-related matrix protein 1L, SRRM1L),使其特异性结合核因子Y亚基A10(nuclear factor-Y subunit A10, NF-YA10)的pre-mRNA并引导其正确剪接,显著提升功能性变体NF-YA10.1的表达,该变体进一步与NF-YB、NF-YC组装成NF-Y复合体,直接激活下游耐盐基因的表达28,与SOS通路形成协同,共同增强植物盐胁迫耐受性。综上所述,植物应对盐胁迫时,SOS信号途径通过调控Na+外排与离子稳态奠定耐盐基础,而AS则通过靶向调控SOS通路组分剪接、维持剪接保真性及构建剪接因子的调控网络,进一步优化盐胁迫适应机制。

2.2 AS调控ROS信号通路

盐胁迫下植物细胞会大量积累ROS引发膜脂过氧化、蛋白氧化等氧化损伤,AS通过直接调控抗氧化基因剪接或间接耦合ROS信号通路,精准维持ROS稳态,为植物应对盐胁迫提供重要保障,具体调控路径可从直接调控与信号耦合两个维度展开。首先,AS可通过直接优化抗氧化基因的剪接效率或产生功能特异的剪接变体,增强ROS的清除能力。具体来看,木薯(Manihot esculenta)中剪接因子MeSR34的过表达,能显著提升抗氧化酶基因过氧化氢酶1(catalase 1, CAT1)与超氧化物歧化酶2(superoxide dismutase 2, SOD2)的剪接效率,减少盐胁迫下ROS的积累,进而提升植株的耐盐性29;谷子中SiCYP19基因通过AS产生的剪接变体SiCYP19-b,不仅能上调脯氨酸合成关键基因Δ¹-吡咯啉-5-羧酸合成酶1(Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase 1, P5CS1)的表达以增强渗透调节能力,还能激活抗氧化基因抗坏血酸过氧化物酶1(ascorbate peroxidase 1, APX1)的表达,双重作用下显著减少ROS的积累25;毛白杨(Populus tomentosa)中碱性亮氨酸拉链49L(basic leucine zipper 49L, bZIP49L)基因经AS产生的功能性变体,可直接结合ROS清除相关基因过氧化物酶5(peroxidase 5, POD5)的启动子,促进其转录表达,进一步强化ROS的清除能力30。这些研究表明,AS可通过靶向抗氧化通路基因的剪接调控,直接参与盐胁迫下ROS稳态的维持。不仅如此,ROS信号与AS的调控并非单向作用,二者还通过丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(mitogen-activated protein kinase, MAPK)级联反应形成双向耦合机制。盐胁迫下,过量积累的ROS会首先激活MAPKKK-MAPKK-MAPK信号级联(图1),该级联反应通过磷酸化修饰下游剪接因子,进而调控抗氧化基因的AS模式,确保ROS清除相关蛋白的功能性表达31;而木薯中剪接因子MeRS40的研究进一步揭示了这种剪接的精细性,MeRS40可通过与剪接体组分MeU1-70Ka/b互作,负反馈调节自身pre-mRNA的剪接,其产生的剪接变体MeRS40.2能抑制MAPK6的活性,从而减弱ROS信号;但在盐胁迫条件下,MeRS40.2的丰度会降低,这种降低可解除对MAPK6的抑制,使MAPK级联反应正常激活,进而增强ROS清除效率32。表明盐胁迫下AS对ROS稳态的调控呈现直接调控抗氧化基因剪接与通过MAPK级联耦合ROS信号的双重路径,前者确保ROS清除机制的高效启动,后者则通过信号反馈实现调控精度的优化,二者共同构成AS维持ROS稳态的精细调控网络。

2.3 AS调控ABA信号通路

ABA作为应答非生物胁迫的核心通路,其信号通路组分也受到AS的调控。转录组数据表明,ABA处理不仅增加AS基因的总数,在转录水平上也提高了AS基因的百分比33,研究发现拟南芥AtDGCR14L[迪乔治综合征关键区域14类蛋白(digeorge syndrome critical region 14-like, DGCR14L)]对于维持植物盐分胁迫耐受性和ABA响应基因的构造性剪接和活性异构体是必需的34DGCR14L通过调控染色质重塑复合物亚基SWI3A(SWITCH/sucrose nonfermenting 3A, SWI3A)的剪接,显著增强盐应激耐受性。最新研究发现棉花响应ABA和盐胁迫的一个关键调控模块GhTOPP4aD-GhRAF36-GhABI1(type one protein phosphatase 4aD, GhTOPP4aD;raf-like kinase 36, RAF36;abscisic acid insensitive 1, ABI1)能通过可逆磷酸化精确调控棉花对盐胁迫的适应性35。盐胁迫诱导ABA积累,进而激活蛋白磷酸酶2C(protein phosphatase 2C, PP2C)家族成员36。PP2C家族重要成员ABA高敏感蛋白1(hypersensitive to ABA 1, HAB1)受到剪接因子RNA结合蛋白25(RNA-binding protein 25, RMB25)介导的AS,可通过其正常功能剪接变体HAB1.1和缺失功能剪接变体HAB1.2的比例来调节植物对ABA的应答,但剪接体核心组分是否参与该过程调控仍不清楚37。此外,ABA还通过调控bZIP、NAC、MYB/MYC等家族的转录因子调节植物耐盐机制(图1)。在这类转录因子的功能调控中,选择性剪接的作用逐渐被证实,毛白杨中鉴定出bZIP49转录因子产生两种剪接变体会对盐胁迫作出反应30。黄芩(Scutellaria baicalensis)的MYB转录因子SbMYB13可以产生4种可变剪接异构体,通过调控类黄酮合成调控植物耐盐性38。AS整合环境信号并同步调控ABA通路中多个组分的剪接事件,从而实现对胁迫应答的整体协调,剪接因子SR蛋白作为一个中枢整合点,通过分层调控其他剪接因子的可变剪接,将雷帕霉素靶蛋白激酶(target of rapamycin, TOR)信号通路与ABA信号通路连接起来,从而协调植物的生长和胁迫响应39

2.4 AS调控盐碱胁迫信号传导

碱性盐胁迫下,植物除了应对渗透压胁迫、离子毒害及氧化胁迫外,还需要适应高pH胁迫及碳酸氢盐和碳酸盐胁迫。拟南芥通过细胞表面的肽和受体复合物感知胞外pH变化,高pH通过抑制肽和受体激酶RGF1-RGFRs(root growth factor 1-root growth factor receptors)的相互作用,并转而促进Peps-PEPRs(plant elicitor peptides-plant elicitor peptide receptors)的结合,从而实现信号传导40。碱胁迫常伴随HCO3-/CO32-积累的高pH信号,其感知、传导至细胞核的过程与AS存在紧密关联,是植物适应碱胁迫的核心调控网络。因此明确这一过程发生的AS事件是揭示植物耐碱机制的关键41。近年来研究表明,这一过程涉及复杂的信号网络,其中蛋白磷酸化修饰与剪接因子的调控居于核心地位。在野生大豆中,发现了一个关键的碱胁迫响应模块GsSnRK1-GsSCL30a。GsSCL30a是一个重要的RNA剪接因子,它能够对自身pre-mRNA中第3个含有保守GAAG基序的内含子进行选择性剪接,从而调控其成熟mRNA的丰度。更重要的是,丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶GsSnRK1能够通过磷酸化修饰直接激活GsSCL30a的剪接活性。在碱胁迫下,GsSnRK1被上游信号激活,进而磷酸化GsSCL30a,增强对自身及其下游靶基因pre-mRNA的剪接效率,显著提升转基因植物的耐碱能力19。该研究揭示了蛋白激酶通过磷酸化剪接因子来直接连接碱胁迫信号与AS调控的分子通路。此外,通过对大豆碳酸氢盐胁迫下的全基因组AS分析发现,剪接因子GmRSZ22和转录因子GmNTL9等关键调控因子本身也发生显著的选择性剪接18。这表明在碱胁迫中,存在AS调控的复杂的信号网络,上游剪接因子首先被胁迫信号修饰改变活性,进而调控下游胁迫响应基因的剪接,从而对植物的转录组进行重编程,实现适应性响应。

3 盐碱胁迫响应中选择性剪接的关键基因

植物在长期进化中形成了应对盐碱胁迫的适应性机制,其耐盐碱能力取决于基因型差异及胁迫记忆效应。在盐碱响应过程中,蛋白质组与代谢物谱发生动态重编程,一方面抑制正常生长发育的相关蛋白,另一方面选择性激活胁迫保护蛋白42-43。通过重构AS精确调控转录组,生成功能多样的变体蛋白,从而迅速响应胁迫应答路径。研究表明,盐碱胁迫可诱导植物细胞中AS事件发生率提高2~3倍,远高于转录水平变化幅度11。以下是近些年国内外研究中关于盐碱胁迫下的AS事件(表1)。AtSR45通过其SR45.1亚型特异性调控SOS通路关键基因的选择性剪接,促进Na+外排及液泡区隔化,从而维持胞内离子稳态44AtSR45a在盐胁迫下产生的两种剪接变体(SR45a-1a/1b)可与加帽复合体核心组分CBP20互作,其中SR45a-1b能增强复合体结合稳定性,协同调控盐胁迫核心因子的pre-mRNA加工过程27AtSR34b通过优化IRT1基因的剪接效率及mRNA稳定性,促进铁转运蛋白积累以缓解盐碱胁迫下的营养失衡45AtSAD1[ABA干旱超敏感蛋白1(super sensitive to ABA and drought 1, SAD1)]和AtSKIP[SKI互作蛋白(ski-interacting protein, SKIP)]分别通过提高胁迫相关基因的剪接效率和参与剪接位点识别,确保胁迫条件下pre-mRNA的正常加工46-47;此外,盐响应性选择性剪接蛋白1(salt responsive alternative splicing 1, SRAS1)编码的E3泛素连接酶通过蛋白质降解途径调控剪接因子动态平衡,而AtRCD1的剪接变体可减少细胞程序性死亡,共同增强植物耐逆性48。在其他物种中,AS同样展现出多样化的

胁迫适应策略。水稻OsIM1产生两种AS亚型,在耐盐与盐敏感的水稻品种中受盐胁迫的差异调节8OsNHX1pre-mRNA通过选择性剪接产生3种异构体来增强耐盐性24OsMAPK5通过选择性剪接产生维持激酶活性的OsMAPK5a亚型正向调控水稻对盐胁迫的耐受性49;大麦HvDRF1通过AS产生功能性AP2转录激活因子,精准调控下游胁迫响应基因的表达;谷子SiCYP19的剪接变体通过提高脯氨酸含量和ROS清除能力,从而增强耐逆性25;胡杨PeuHKT1;3通过产生PeuHKT1;3a变体改变离子选择性,优化Na+/K+平衡17;在葡萄(Vitis vinifera)中,VvcircABH可通过抑制其亲本基因VvABH的pre-mRNA正常剪接,干扰油菜素内酯(brassinosteroid, BR)信号通路的传导,进而影响植株的盐胁迫耐受性50;百慕大草CdDHN4的剪接变体通过减少电解质渗漏和维持光合系统完整性增强细胞抗逆性51;盐芥TsHKT1则通过AS形成功能性蛋白复合体,直接参与根际Na+/K+平衡调控16。此外,在对碱胁迫敏感的大豆研究中,研究人员发现了多个通过AS调控耐碱性的关键基因。GmPeNTL9剪接变体激活抗氧化清除系统,响应碳酸氢盐胁迫18GsSCL30aGsSnRK1协同作用可增强植株的耐碱性19AP2基因中微外显子的缺失增强了对盐碱胁迫的抗性。综上可见,AS通过产生功能特异的异构体,使植物在应对胁迫时能够快速调整转录组和蛋白质组成,从而在多层次上协调盐碱胁迫响应。

4 选择性剪接参与胁迫记忆的建立

植物作为固着生物,在长期进化过程中发展出了胁迫记忆这一适应性机制。研究表明,经历轻度胁迫的植物在遭遇后续胁迫时能表现出更快、更强的防御反应52。在植物应对盐碱胁迫的过程中,AS已从基础的转录后加工机制演化为胁迫记忆建立的核心调控枢纽。盐碱胁迫通过离子毒害、渗透压失衡及pH扰动等信号,快速激活SOS、ROS及ABA信号通路等重要响应途径53。这些通路不仅调控基因转录,还通过磷酸化修饰剪接体组分,动态调节AS过程,实现对胁迫信号的快速适应。AS通过ES和IR等方式重塑转录组,初次胁迫时,IR可通过NMD精确调控基因表达,防止防御反应过度激活;而在二次胁迫中,IR事件显著减少,功能性转录本迅速积累,形成典型的剪接记忆特征,显著增强植物的抗逆能力54

AS通过多层次网络协同建立和维持盐碱胁迫记忆。同时,AS通过调控DNA甲基转移酶和组蛋白修饰酶的活性与定位,影响记忆基因的染色质状态,实现记忆的长期留存55-56;拟南芥逆境基因的AS变体存在NMD降解差异,部分剪接变体可通过序列特征规避NMD降解,实现转录本积累57。盐碱胁迫记忆的形成是一个由AS主导的复杂转录重塑过程,从被信号通路调控到通过产生异构体反馈调节信号通路,AS的角色已从基础的转录后加工跃升为胁迫记忆的枢纽决策者。其对转录组的再编程能力,确保植物在复杂性胁迫中具有生存优势。阐明这一剪接记忆的核心代码,将是实现作物抗逆能力定向提升的关键。在大豆中,盐胁迫幼苗表现出全基因组水平的组蛋白修饰重编程,包括组蛋白H3K4me2去甲基化、H3K4me3三甲基化及H3K9ac乙酰化等变化,这些表观遗传修饰的动态调控可能作为一种胁迫记忆形式,潜在地增强了对后代盐胁迫的转录响应能力,从而协同提升植物的耐盐性58。植物在应对盐胁迫时形成的胁迫记忆,呈现出严格的母体种系传递倾向,这一现象的核心驱动力与植物亲子代间高度重合的生存环境密切相关。母体通过种系将盐胁迫记忆传递给子代,使其在萌发早期即可继承已有的抗逆调控机制,显著提升在胁迫环境中的生存竞争能力,这一定向传递模式是植物进化中形成的适应性策略,并增强胁迫记忆遗传的针对性与实用性59。这些发现揭示,AS通过对转录组的重编程与记忆留存,为植物在周期性盐碱胁迫中提供了生存优势。

5 结论与展望

AS作为植物盐碱胁迫响应的核心调控机制,通过与SOS、ROS、ABA等信号通路的耦合,以及对关键靶基因的剪接重塑,实现对离子稳态、ROS平衡与胁迫记忆的多层次调控,其响应的普遍性与特异性为理解植物耐盐碱分子机制提供了新框架。然而,当前研究仍存在诸多不足:1)剪接因子的调控网络尚未明晰,如SnRK1与GsSCL30a的磷酸化互作是否涉及其他激酶,剪接因子间的蛋白与蛋白相互作用图谱仍需构建;2)碱胁迫特异性AS的调控机制研究滞后,高pH信号如何通过受体传递至剪接体,以及微外显子剪接的分子基础仍需解析;3)AS记忆的跨代传递机制不明确,表观修饰如何稳定AS模式,以及种系传递中的调控壁垒需进一步探索。

未来研究可聚焦以下方向:1)结合蛋白质互作组学与磷酸化组学,解析剪接因子的互作网络与修饰动态,明确AS调控的核心节点;2)利用单细胞RNA-seq技术,揭示盐碱胁迫下不同细胞类型的AS异质性,以及根冠与根尖之间的剪接信号传递;3)通过基因编辑技术定向改造关键基因的剪接位点,验证AS模式对耐盐碱表型的影响,为作物耐逆育种提供新策略。

参考文献

[1]

Marasco L E, Kornblihtt A R. The physiology of alternative splicing. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 2023, 24(4): 242-254.

[2]

Filichkin S, Priest H D, Megraw M, et al. Alternative splicing in plants: directing traffic at the crossroads of adaptation and environmental stress. Current Opinion in Plant Biology, 2015, 24(2): 125-135.

[3]

Alhabsi A, Ling Y, Crespi M, et al. Alternative splicing dynamics in plant adaptive responses to stress. Annual Review of Plant Biology, 2025, 76(1): 687-717.

[4]

Chen M X, Tian Y, Zhu F Y, et al. Alternative splicing of VRF1 acts as a molecular switch to regulate stress-induced early flowering. Cell Reports, 2024, 43(11): 114918.

[5]

Syed N H, Kalyna M, Marquez Y, et al. Alternative splicing in plants-coming of age. Trends in Plant Science, 2012, 17(10): 616-623.

[6]

Wen J J, Qin Z, Sun L, et al. Alternative splicing of TaHSFA6e modulates heat shock protein-mediated translational regulation in response to heat stress in wheat. New Phytologist, 2023, 239(6): 2235-2247.

[7]

Zhong Y Y, Luo Y H, Sun J L, et al. Pan-transcriptomic analysis reveals alternative splicing control of cold tolerance in rice. The Plant Cell, 2024, 36(6): 2117-2139.

[8]

Kong J, Gong J M, Zhang Z G, et al. A new AOX homologous gene OsIM1 from rice (Oryza sativa L.) with an alternative splicing mechanism under salt stress. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 2003, 107(2): 326-331.

[9]

Zhang R, Calixto C P G, Marquez Y, et al. A high quality Arabidopsis transcriptome for accurate transcript-level analysis of alternative splicing. Nucleic Acids Research, 2017, 45(9): 5061-5073.

[10]

Kubota N, Chen L, Zheng S. Shiba: a versatile computational method for systematic identification of differential RNA splicing across platforms. Nucleic Acids Research, 2025, 53(4): gkaf098.

[11]

Alyahya N, Taybi T. Transcriptome-wide characterization of alternative splicing regulation in Najran wheat (Triticum aestivum) under salt stress. Current Plant Biology, 2024, 38(2): 100334.

[12]

Hernández-Urrieta J, Álvarez J M, O’Brien J A. Exploring alternative splicing in response to salinity: A tissue-level comparative analysis using Arabidopsis thaliana public transcriptomic data. Plants, 2025, 14(7): 1064.

[13]

Gan J H, Qiu Y Q, Tao Y L, et al. RNA-seq analysis reveals transcriptome reprogramming and alternative splicing during early response to salt stress in tomato root. Frontiers in Plant Science, 2024, 15: 1394223.

[14]

Guo W W, Yu K H, Han L P, et al. Global profiling of alternative splicing landscape responsive to salt stress in wheat(Triticum aestivum L.). Plant Growth Regulation, 2020, 92(1): 107-116.

[15]

Xue G P, Loveridge C W. HvDRF1 is involved in abscisic acid-mediated gene regulation in barley and produces two forms of AP2 transcriptional activators, interacting preferably with a CT-rich element. The Plant Journal, 2004, 37(3): 326-339.

[16]

Lv M L, Xiong Y L, Yang H H, et al. The interaction complexes of TsHKT1 splicing variants enhance salt tolerance of Thellungiella salsuginea by decreasing Na+ uptake. Plant Science, 2025, 359(10): 112678.

[17]

Lv J J, Zhou F F, Wei Q Q, et al. An alternative 3′ splice site of PeuHKT1; 3 improves the response to salt stress through enhancing affinity to K+ in Populus. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 2024, 212(7): 108776.

[18]

Liu X, Li M L, Chen T, et al. A global survey of bicarbonate stress-induced pre-mRNA alternative splicing in soybean via integrative analysis of Iso-seq and RNA-seq. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024, 278(54): 135067.

[19]

Li M L, Liu X, Zhao X, et al. Phosphorylation of wild soybean (Glycine soja) splicing factor GsSCL30a by GsSnRK1 regulates soybean tolerance to alkali stress. Plant, Cell & Environment, 2025, 48(10): 7714-7728.

[20]

Li Y, Fang Q X, Cao Y X, et al. Identification and functional characterization of soybean microexon in response to saline-alkali stress. Plant, Cell & Environment, (2025-04-29)[2025-11-04]. https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.15596.

[21]

Zhu Y C, Li M X, Wang T, et al. Research advances of salt exclusion, salt sequestration, salt secretion, and salt signaling regulation in plants. Plant Stress, 2025, 17(3): 100952.

[22]

Deinlein U, Stephan A B, Horie T, et al. Plant salt-tolerance mechanisms. Trends in Plant Science, 2014, 19(6): 371-379.

[23]

Li F Z, Qiu X M, Wang M X, et al. Cloning and expression analysis of two splicing forms of protein phosphorylation homologous gene (GhSOS2) in cotton under salt stress. China Agricultural Science, 2010, 43(21): 4341-4348.

[24]

李付振, 邱新棉, 王美兴, 棉花盐胁迫途径中蛋白磷酸化同源基因(GhSOS2)2种剪接体的克隆及表达分析. 中国农业科学, 2010, 43(21): 4341-4348.

[25]

Amin U S M, Biswas S, Elias S M, et al. Enhanced salt tolerance conferred by the complete 2.3 kb cDNA of the rice vacuolar Na+/H+ antiporter gene compared to 1.9 kb coding region with 5′ UTR in transgenic lines of rice. Frontiers in Plant Science, 2016, 7: 14.

[26]

Zhang Y L, Chen Z T, Tian H W, et al. Alternative splicing plays a crucial role in the salt tolerance of foxtail millet. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2024, 72(19): 10814-10827.

[27]

Hong Y C, Gao Y, Pang J, et al. The Sm core protein SmEb regulates salt stress responses through maintaining proper splicing of RCD1 pre-mRNA in Arabidopsis. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 2023, 65(6): 1383-1393.

[28]

Li Y, Guo Q H, Liu P, et al. Dual roles of the serine/arginine-rich splicing factor SR45a in promoting and interacting with nuclear cap-binding complex to modulate the salt-stress response in Arabidopsis. New Phytologist, 2021, 230(2): 641-655.

[29]

Sun Q, Sun Y X, Liu X, et al. Regulation of plant resistance to salt stress by the SnRK1-dependent splicing factor SRRM1L. New Phytologist, 2024, 242(5): 2093-2114.

[30]

Gu J B, Ma S Y, Zhang Y N, et al. Genome-wide identification of cassava serine/arginine-rich proteins: insights into alternative splicing of pre-mRNAs and response to abiotic stress. Plant and Cell Physiology, 2020, 61(1): 178-191.

[31]

Liu X, Bao Y, Zhang M Y, et al. SC35-mediated bZIP49 splicing regulates K+ channel AKT1 for salt stress adaptation in poplar. Nature Communications, 2025, 16(1): 7266.

[32]

Miller G A D, Suzuki N, Ciftci-Yilmaz S, et al. Reactive oxygen species homeostasis and signalling during drought and salinity stresses. Plant, Cell & Environment, 2010, 33(4): 453-467.

[33]

Ma X W, Ma Q X, Ma M Q, et al. Cassava MeRS40 is required for the regulation of plant salt tolerance. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 2023, 22(5): 1396-1411.

[34]

Yang X, Jia Z C, Pu Q, et al. ABA mediates plant development and abiotic stress via alternative splicing. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022, 23(7): 3796.

[35]

Xie M, Tadesse D, Zhang J, et al. AtDGCR14L contributes to salt-stress tolerance via regulating pre-mRNA splicing in Arabidopsis. The Plant Journal, 2024, 120(6): 2668-2682.

[36]

Cao P F, Zhou L, Du M W, et al. GhTOPP4aD and GhRAF36 inversely regulate cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) response to ABA and salt stress through reversible phosphorylation of GhABI1. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 2025, 23(9): 3561-3580.

[37]

Rodriguez P L. Protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C) function in higher plants. Plant Molecular Biology, 1998, 38(6): 919-927.

[38]

Wang Z J, Ji H T, Yuan B J, et al. ABA signalling is fine-tuned by antagonistic HAB1 variants. Nature Communications, 2015, 6(1): 8138.

[39]

Xu Y, Liu Z Y, Cao W P, et al. Structural and functional assay of Scutellaria baicalensis gene SbMYB13, a potential flavonoid biosynthesis related transcription factor with four alternative isoforms. Industrial Crops and Products, 2025, 236(4): 121979.

[40]

Köster T, Venhuizen P, Lewinski M, et al. At-RS31 orchestrates hierarchical cross-regulation of splicing factors and integrates alternative splicing with TOR-ABA pathways. New Phytologist, 2025, 247(2): 738-759.

[41]

Liu L, Song W, Huang S J, et al. Extracellular pH sensing by plant cell-surface peptide-receptor complexes. Cell, 2022, 185(18): 3341-3355.

[42]

Fang S, Hou X, Liang X. Response mechanisms of plants under saline-alkali stress. Frontiers in Plant Science, 2021, 12: 667458.

[43]

Tibesigwa D G, Zhuang W, Matola S H, et al. Molecular insights into salt stress adaptation in plants. Plant, Cell & Environment, 2025, 48(7): 5604-5615.

[44]

Ma L, Li J R, Li J F, et al. Plant salt tolerance mechanisms: Classic signaling pathways, emerging frontiers, and future perspectives. Molecular Plant, 2026, 19(3): 538-570.

[45]

Albaqami M, Laluk K, Reddy A S N. The Arabidopsis splicing regulator SR45 confers salt tolerance in a splice isoform-dependent manner. Plant Molecular Biology, 2019, 100(4): 379-390.

[46]

Zhang W T, Du B J, Liu D, et al. Splicing factor SR34b mutation reduces cadmium tolerance in Arabidopsis by regulating iron-regulated transporter 1 gene. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2014, 455(3/4): 312-317.

[47]

Cui P, Zhang S D, Ding F, et al. Dynamic regulation of genome-wide pre-mRNA splicing and stress tolerance by the Sm-like protein LSm5 in Arabidopsis. Genome Biology, 2014, 15(1): R1.

[48]

Feng J L, Li J J, Gao Z X, et al. SKIP confers osmotic tolerance during salt stress by controlling alternative gene splicing in Arabidopsis. Molecular Plant, 2015, 8(7): 1038-1052.

[49]

Zhou Y, Li X H, Guo Q H, et al. Salt responsive alternative splicing of a RING finger E3 ligase modulates the salt stress tolerance by fine-tuning the balance of COP9 signalosome subunit 5A. PLoS Genetics, 2021, 17(11): e1009898.

[50]

Xiong L Z, Yang Y N. Disease resistance and abiotic stress tolerance in rice are inversely modulated by an abscisic acid-inducible mitogen-activated protein kinase. The Plant Cell, 2003, 15(3): 745-759.

[51]

Gao Z, Su Y F, Wang Y R, et al. The antisense CircRNA VvcircABH controls salt tolerance and the brassinosteroid signaling response by suppressing cognate mRNA splicing in grape. New Phytologist, 2025, 245(4): 1563-1576.

[52]

Zhang D, Lv A, Yang T C, et al. Protective functions of alternative splicing transcripts (CdDHN4-L and CdDHN4-S) of CdDHN4 from bermudagrass under multiple abiotic stresses. Gene, 2020, 763(Supple 1): 100033.

[53]

Sani E, Herzyk P, Perrella G, et al. Hyperosmotic priming of Arabidopsis seedlings establishes a long-term somatic memory accompanied by specific changes of the epigenome. Genome Biology, 2013, 14(6): R59.

[54]

Bawa G, Kong R, Chen X, et al. Signalling networks underlying cell wall responses to salinity stress. Plant, Cell & Environment, 2026, 49(1): 18-31.

[55]

Yang H, Li P, Jin G H, et al. Temporal regulation of alternative splicing events in rice memory under drought stress. Plant Diversity, 2022, 44(1): 116-125.

[56]

Sintaha M. Molecular mechanisms of plant stress memory: roles of non-coding RNAs and alternative splicing. Plants, 2025, 14(13): 2021.

[57]

Blencowe B J. Alternative splicing: new insights from global analyses. Cell, 2006, 126(1): 37-47.

[58]

Drechsel G, Kahles A, Kesarwani A K, et al. Nonsense-mediated decay of alternative precursor mRNA splicing variants is a major determinant of the Arabidopsis steady state transcriptome. The Plant Cell, 2013, 25(10): 3726-3742.

[59]

Yung W S, Wang Q W, Huang M K, et al. Priming-induced alterations in histone modifications modulate transcriptional responses in soybean under salt stress. The Plant Journal, 2022, 109(6): 1575-1590.

[60]

Wibowo A, Becker C, Marconi G, et al. Hyperosmotic stress memory in Arabidopsis is mediated by distinct epigenetically labile sites in the genome and is restricted in the male germline by DNA glycosylase activity. Elife, 2016, 5: e13546.

基金资助

国家自然科学基金面上项目(32472238)

国家自然科学基金面上项目(32272225)

黑龙江省自然科学基金(LH2023C079)

AI Summary AI Mindmap
PDF (1162KB)

0

访问

0

被引

详细

导航
相关文章

AI思维导图

/