锌指蛋白(ZFP)是一类重要的转录因子, 广泛参与植物的生长发育和非生物胁迫应答。新疆小拟南芥(Arabidopsispumila)又名无苞芥, 是十字花科短命植物, 具有高光效、繁殖力强和适应干旱等生物学特征, 而且比模式植物拟南芥(A.thaliana)更耐高盐胁迫。将前期克隆的小拟南芥锌指蛋白基因ApZFP通过花滴法转化到哥伦比亚生态型拟南芥(Col-0)中,获得了独立表达的转基因株系。表型观察发现, 过量表达ApZFP基因可促使拟南芥在长短日照下均提前开花。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示, 转基因拟南芥株系中, 光周期途径中的CO基因和年龄途径中的SPL基因表达上调; 春化、环境温度和自主途径中的FLC基因表达下调; 编码成花素的基因FT及下游开花相关基因AP1和LFY的表达量均升高。进一步通过盐、干旱和ABA胁迫处理ApZFP转基因株系的种子和幼苗, 发现在胁迫处理下, 与对照相比, 转基因拟南芥种子萌发率较高, 幼苗主根较长。因此推测, ApZFP在植物发育过程中具有多种功能, 可能既参与植物的开花转变过程, 又同其它植物的锌指蛋白基因一样, 参与植物的耐逆过程。

Zinc finger proteins (ZFPs) are important transcription factors widely involved in plant growth and development, as well as response to abiotic stress. Arabidopsis pumila (synonym: Olimarabidopsis pumila) is a cruciferous ephemeral plant, possessing biological characteristics of strong photosynthesis, high reproductive capacity and drought tolerance, and is more tolerant to salt stress than A. thaliana. To study the physiological functions of ZFP (ApZFP), the 35S::ApZFP construct we cloned previously was transformed into Arabidopsis (Col-0) by the floral dip method, then independent transgenic lines were determined. Overexpression of ApZFP in Arabidopsis promotes Arabidopsis flowering under long- and short-day conditions. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR revealed that overexpression of ApZFP in Arabidopsis increases the expression of the photoperiod pathway gene CO, age pathway gene SPL, FT encoding florigen gene and downstream flowering-related genes AP1 and LFY; it decreases the expression of the vernalization, autonomous and ambient temperature pathway gene FLC. In addition, the germination rates are higher in 35S::ApZFP transgenic plants than the wild type, and the primary root length during seedling growth is longer under abiotic stress such as salt, mannitol and ABA treatment. ApZFP has multifaceted roles during plant development, participating in flowering transition and stress tolerance in Arabidopsis.