1
|
Marks RA. Resurrection plants revisited: bridging the gap between bryophytes and angiosperms to decode desiccation tolerance. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 243:828-829. [PMID: 38548687 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
This article is a Commentary on Zhang et al. (2024), 243: 981–996.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rose A Marks
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- Department of Plant Biology, School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Marks RA, Van Der Pas L, Schuster J, Gilman IS, VanBuren R. Convergent evolution of desiccation tolerance in grasses. NATURE PLANTS 2024:10.1038/s41477-024-01729-5. [PMID: 38906996 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-024-01729-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Desiccation tolerance has evolved repeatedly in plants as an adaptation to survive extreme environments. Plants use similar biophysical and cellular mechanisms to survive life without water, but convergence at the molecular, gene and regulatory levels remains to be tested. Here we explore the evolutionary mechanisms underlying the recurrent evolution of desiccation tolerance across grasses. We observed substantial convergence in gene duplication and expression patterns associated with desiccation. Syntenic genes of shared origin are activated across species, indicative of parallel evolution. In other cases, similar metabolic pathways are induced but using different gene sets, pointing towards phenotypic convergence. Species-specific mechanisms supplement these shared core mechanisms, underlining the complexity and diversity of evolutionary adaptations to drought. Our findings provide insight into the evolutionary processes driving desiccation tolerance and highlight the roles of parallel and convergent evolution in response to environmental challenges.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rose A Marks
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
- Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
- Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA.
| | - Llewelyn Van Der Pas
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jenny Schuster
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Ian S Gilman
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Robert VanBuren
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
- Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
- Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Marks RA, Delgado P, Makonya GM, Cooper K, VanBuren R, Farrant JM. Higher order polyploids exhibit enhanced desiccation tolerance in the grass Microchloa caffra. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2024; 75:3612-3623. [PMID: 38511472 PMCID: PMC11156804 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erae126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Desiccation tolerance evolved recurrently across diverse plant lineages to enable survival in water-limited conditions. Many resurrection plants are polyploid, and several groups have hypothesized that polyploidy contributed to the evolution of desiccation tolerance. However, due to the vast phylogenetic distance between resurrection plant lineages, the rarity of desiccation tolerance, and the prevalence of polyploidy in plants, this hypothesis has been difficult to test. Here, we surveyed natural variation in morphological, reproductive, and desiccation tolerance traits across several cytotypes of a single species to test for links between polyploidy and increased resilience. We sampled multiple natural populations of the resurrection grass Microchloa caffra across an environmental gradient ranging from mesic to xeric in South Africa. We describe two distinct ecotypes of M. caffra that occupy different extremes of the environmental gradient and exhibit consistent differences in ploidy, morphological, reproductive, and desiccation tolerance traits in both field and common growth conditions. Interestingly, plants with more polyploid genomes exhibited consistently higher recovery from desiccation, were less reproductive, and were larger than plants with smaller genomes and lower ploidy. These data indicate that selective pressures in increasingly xeric sites may play a role in maintaining and increasing desiccation tolerance and are mediated by changes in ploidy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rose A Marks
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Paula Delgado
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Givemore Munashe Makonya
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
- Washington State University, Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Centre, Prosser, WA 99350, USA
| | - Keren Cooper
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Robert VanBuren
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Jill M Farrant
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Gao B, Li X, Liang Y, Chen M, Liu H, Liu Y, Wang J, Zhang J, Zhang Y, Oliver MJ, Zhang D. Drying without dying: A genome database for desiccation-tolerant plants and evolution of desiccation tolerance. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 194:2249-2262. [PMID: 38109500 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Desiccation is typically fatal, but a small number of land plants have evolved vegetative desiccation tolerance (VDT), allowing them to dry without dying through a process called anhydrobiosis. Advances in sequencing technologies have enabled the investigation of genomes for desiccation-tolerant plants over the past decade. However, a dedicated and integrated database for these valuable genomic resources has been lacking. Our prolonged interest in VDT plant genomes motivated us to create the "Drying without Dying" database, which contains a total of 16 VDT-related plant genomes (including 10 mosses) and incorporates 10 genomes that are closely related to VDT plants. The database features bioinformatic tools, such as blast and homologous cluster search, sequence retrieval, Gene Ontology term and metabolic pathway enrichment statistics, expression profiling, co-expression network extraction, and JBrowser exploration for each genome. To demonstrate its utility, we conducted tailored PFAM family statistical analyses, and we discovered that the drought-responsive ABA transporter AWPM-19 family is significantly tandemly duplicated in all bryophytes but rarely so in tracheophytes. Transcriptomic investigations also revealed that response patterns following desiccation diverged between bryophytes and angiosperms. Combined, the analyses provided genomic and transcriptomic evidence supporting a possible divergence and lineage-specific evolution of VDT in plants. The database can be accessed at http://desiccation.novogene.com. We expect this initial release of the "Drying without Dying" plant genome database will facilitate future discovery of VDT genetic resources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bei Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
| | - Xiaoshuang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
| | - Yuqing Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
| | - Moxian Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Huiliang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
| | - Yinggao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
| | - Jiancheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
| | - Jianhua Zhang
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Yuanming Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
| | - Melvin J Oliver
- Division of Plant Sciences, Interdisciplinary Plant Group, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Daoyuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Key Laboratory of Ecological Safety and Sustainable Development in Arid Lands, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Gupta S, Petrov V, Garg V, Mueller-Roeber B, Fernie AR, Nikoloski Z, Gechev T. The genome of Haberlea rhodopensis provides insights into the mechanisms for tolerance to multiple extreme environments. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:117. [PMID: 38443747 PMCID: PMC10914886 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05140-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Haberlea rhodopensis, a resurrection species, is the only plant known to be able to survive multiple extreme environments, including desiccation, freezing temperatures, and long-term darkness. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying tolerance to these stresses are poorly studied. Here, we present a high-quality genome of Haberlea and found that ~ 23.55% of the 44,306 genes are orphan. Comparative genomics analysis identified 89 significantly expanded gene families, of which 25 were specific to Haberlea. Moreover, we demonstrated that Haberlea preserves its resurrection potential even in prolonged complete darkness. Transcriptome profiling of plants subjected to desiccation, darkness, and low temperatures revealed both common and specific footprints of these stresses, and their combinations. For example, PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE 2C (PP2C) genes were substantially induced in all stress combinations, while PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR 1 (PIF1) and GROWTH RESPONSE FACTOR 4 (GRF4) were induced only in darkness. Additionally, 733 genes with unknown functions and three genes encoding transcription factors specific to Haberlea were specifically induced/repressed upon combination of stresses, rendering them attractive targets for future functional studies. The study provides a comprehensive understanding of the genomic architecture and reports details of the mechanisms of multi-stress tolerance of this resurrection species that will aid in developing strategies that allow crops to survive extreme and multiple abiotic stresses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saurabh Gupta
- Intercellular Macromolecular Transport, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany.
- Curtin Medical School, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI), Curtin University, Perth, WA, 6102, Australia.
| | - Veselin Petrov
- Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 14 Knyaz Boris I Pokrastitel Str., 4023, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Department of Plant Physiology, Biochemistry and Genetics, Agricultural University Plovdiv, 12 Mendeleev Str., 4000, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Vanika Garg
- Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, 14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
- State Agricultural Biotechnology Centre, Centre for Crop and Food Innovation, Food Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Bernd Mueller-Roeber
- Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 14 Knyaz Boris I Pokrastitel Str., 4023, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, 14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
- Plant Signalling, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 14 Knyaz Boris I Pokrastitel Str., 4023, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Central Metabolism, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Zoran Nikoloski
- Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 14 Knyaz Boris I Pokrastitel Str., 4023, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, 14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
- Systems Biology and Mathematical Modelling, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Tsanko Gechev
- Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 14 Knyaz Boris I Pokrastitel Str., 4023, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
- Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, Plovdiv University, 24 Tsar Assen Str., 4000, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Hembach L, Niemeyer PW, Schmitt K, Zegers JMS, Scholz P, Brandt D, Dabisch JJ, Valerius O, Braus GH, Schwarzländer M, de Vries J, Rensing SA, Ischebeck T. Proteome plasticity during Physcomitrium patens spore germination - from the desiccated phase to heterotrophic growth and reconstitution of photoautotrophy. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 117:1466-1486. [PMID: 38059656 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
The establishment of moss spores is considered a milestone in plant evolution. They harbor protein networks underpinning desiccation tolerance and accumulation of storage compounds that can be found already in algae and that are also utilized in seeds and pollen. Furthermore, germinating spores must produce proteins that drive the transition through heterotrophic growth to the autotrophic plant. To get insight into the plasticity of this proteome, we investigated it at five timepoints of moss (Physcomitrium patens) spore germination and in protonemata and gametophores. The comparison to previously published Arabidopsis proteome data of seedling establishment showed that not only the proteomes of spores and seeds are functionally related, but also the proteomes of germinating spores and young seedlings. We observed similarities with regard to desiccation tolerance, lipid droplet proteome composition, control of dormancy, and β-oxidation and the glyoxylate cycle. However, there were also striking differences. For example, spores lacked any obvious storage proteins. Furthermore, we did not detect homologs to the main triacylglycerol lipase in Arabidopsis seeds, SUGAR DEPENDENT1. Instead, we discovered a triacylglycerol lipase of the oil body lipase family and a lipoxygenase as being the overall most abundant proteins in spores. This finding indicates an alternative pathway for triacylglycerol degradation via oxylipin intermediates in the moss. The comparison of spores to Nicotiana tabacum pollen indicated similarities for example in regards to resistance to desiccation and hypoxia, but the overall developmental pattern did not align as in the case of seedling establishment and spore germination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lea Hembach
- Green Biotechnology, Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology (IBBP), University of Münster, 48143, Münster, Germany
| | - Philipp W Niemeyer
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Göttingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kerstin Schmitt
- Department for Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB) and Service Unit LCMS Protein Analytics, Institute for Microbiology, University of Göttingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jaccoline M S Zegers
- Department of Applied Bioinformatics, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB) and Campus Institute Data Science (CIDAS), Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Patricia Scholz
- Laboratoire Reproduction et Développement des Plantes (RDP), UCB Lyon 1, CNRS, INRAE, Université de Lyon, ENS de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Dennis Brandt
- Plant Energy Biology, Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology (IBBP), University of Münster, 48143, Münster, Germany
| | - Janis J Dabisch
- Green Biotechnology, Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology (IBBP), University of Münster, 48143, Münster, Germany
| | - Oliver Valerius
- Department for Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB) and Service Unit LCMS Protein Analytics, Institute for Microbiology, University of Göttingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gerhard H Braus
- Department for Molecular Microbiology and Genetics, Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB) and Service Unit LCMS Protein Analytics, Institute for Microbiology, University of Göttingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Markus Schwarzländer
- Plant Energy Biology, Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology (IBBP), University of Münster, 48143, Münster, Germany
| | - Jan de Vries
- Department of Applied Bioinformatics, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB) and Campus Institute Data Science (CIDAS), Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefan A Rensing
- Plant Cell Biology, Department of Biology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Till Ischebeck
- Green Biotechnology, Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology (IBBP), University of Münster, 48143, Münster, Germany
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Göttingen, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Liu J, Wang Y, Chen X, Tang L, Yang Y, Yang Z, Sun R, Mladenov P, Wang X, Liu X, Jin S, Li H, Zhao L, Wang Y, Wang W, Deng X. Specific metabolic and cellular mechanisms of the vegetative desiccation tolerance in resurrection plants for adaptation to extreme dryness. PLANTA 2024; 259:47. [PMID: 38285274 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-023-04323-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
MAIN CONCLUSION Substantial advancements have been made in our comprehension of vegetative desiccation tolerance in resurrection plants, and further research is still warranted to elucidate the mechanisms governing distinct cellular adaptations. Resurrection plants are commonly referred to as a small group of extremophile vascular plants that exhibit vegetative desiccation tolerance (VDT), meaning that their vegetative tissues can survive extreme drought stress (> 90% water loss) and subsequently recover rapidly upon rehydration. In contrast to most vascular plants, which typically employ water-saving strategies to resist partial water loss and optimize water absorption and utilization to a limited extent under moderate drought stress, ultimately succumbing to cell death when confronted with severe and extreme drought conditions, resurrection plants have evolved unique mechanisms of VDT, enabling them to maintain viability even in the absence of water for extended periods, permitting them to rejuvenate without harm upon water contact. Understanding the mechanisms associated with VDT in resurrection plants holds the promise of expanding our understanding of how plants adapt to exceedingly arid environments, a phenomenon increasingly prevalent due to global warming. This review offers an updated and comprehensive overview of recent advances in VDT within resurrection plants, with particular emphasis on elucidating the metabolic and cellular adaptations during desiccation, including the intricate processes of cell wall folding and the prevention of cell death. Furthermore, this review highlights existing unanswered questions in the field, suggests potential avenues for further research to gain deeper insights into the remarkable VDT adaptations observed in resurrection plants, and highlights the potential application of VDT-derived techniques in crop breeding to enhance tolerance to extreme drought stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- Shandong Provincial University Laboratory for Protected Horticulture, Weifang University of Science and Technology, Shouguang, 262700, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiuxiu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ling Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhaolin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Runze Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Petko Mladenov
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- Agrobioinstitute, Agricultural Academy Bulgaria, Sofia, 1164, Bulgaria
| | - Xiaohua Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Songsong Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Hui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Li Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yafeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Wenhe Wang
- Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Xin Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China.
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, 100093, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Okemo PA, Njaci I, Kim YM, McClure RS, Peterson MJ, Beliaev AS, Hixson KK, Mundree S, Williams B. Tripogon loliiformis tolerates rapid desiccation after metabolic and transcriptional priming during initial drying. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20613. [PMID: 37996547 PMCID: PMC10667271 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47456-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Crop plants and undomesticated resilient species employ different strategies to regulate their energy resources and growth. Most crop species are sensitive to stress and prioritise rapid growth to maximise yield or biomass production. In contrast, resilient plants grow slowly, are small, and allocate their resources for survival in challenging environments. One small group of plants, termed resurrection plants, survive desiccation of their vegetative tissue and regain full metabolic activity upon watering. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying this extreme tolerance remain unknown. In this study, we employed a transcriptomics and metabolomics approach, to investigate the mechanisms of desiccation tolerance in Tripogon loliiformis, a modified desiccation-tolerant plant, that survives gradual but not rapid drying. We show that T. loliiformis can survive rapid desiccation if it is gradually dried to 60% relative water content (RWC). Furthermore, the gene expression data showed that T. loliiformis is genetically predisposed for desiccation in the hydrated state, as evidenced by the accumulation of MYB, NAC, bZIP, WRKY transcription factors along with the phytohormones, abscisic acid, salicylic acid, amino acids (e.g., proline) and TCA cycle sugars during initial drying. Through network analysis of co-expressed genes, we observed differential responses to desiccation between T. loliiformis shoots and roots. Dehydrating shoots displayed global transcriptional changes across broad functional categories, although no enrichment was observed during drying. In contrast, dehydrating roots showed distinct network changes with the most significant differences occurring at 40% RWC. The cumulative effects of the early stress responses may indicate the minimum requirements of desiccation tolerance and enable T. loliiformis to survive rapid drying. These findings potentially hold promise for identifying biotechnological solutions aimed at developing drought-tolerant crops without growth and yield penalties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pauline A Okemo
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Isaac Njaci
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Young-Mo Kim
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Ryan S McClure
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | | | - Alexander S Beliaev
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Physical and Chemical Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Kim K Hixson
- Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
- Physical and Chemical Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Sagadevan Mundree
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Brett Williams
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Barnes AC, Myers JL, Surber SM, Liang Z, Mower JP, Schnable JC, Roston RL. Oligogalactolipid production during cold challenge is conserved in early diverging lineages. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023; 74:5405-5417. [PMID: 37357909 PMCID: PMC10848234 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Severe cold, defined as a damaging cold beyond acclimation temperatures, has unique responses, but the signaling and evolution of these responses are not well understood. Production of oligogalactolipids, which is triggered by cytosolic acidification in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), contributes to survival in severe cold. Here, we investigated oligogalactolipid production in species from bryophytes to angiosperms. Production of oligogalactolipids differed within each clade, suggesting multiple evolutionary origins of severe cold tolerance. We also observed greater oligogalactolipid production in control samples than in temperature-challenged samples of some species. Further examination of representative species revealed a tight association between temperature, damage, and oligogalactolipid production that scaled with the cold tolerance of each species. Based on oligogalactolipid production and transcript changes, multiple angiosperm species share a signal of oligogalactolipid production initially described in Arabidopsis, namely cytosolic acidification. Together, these data suggest that oligogalactolipid production is a severe cold response that originated from an ancestral damage response that remains in many land plant lineages and that cytosolic acidification may be a common signaling mechanism for its activation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Allison C Barnes
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Jennifer L Myers
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
- Department of Horticulture, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Samantha M Surber
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Zhikai Liang
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Jeffrey P Mower
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - James C Schnable
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Rebecca L Roston
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Reshi ZA, Ahmad W, Lukatkin AS, Javed SB. From Nature to Lab: A Review of Secondary Metabolite Biosynthetic Pathways, Environmental Influences, and In Vitro Approaches. Metabolites 2023; 13:895. [PMID: 37623839 PMCID: PMC10456650 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13080895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Secondary metabolites are gaining an increasing importance in various industries, such as pharmaceuticals, dyes, and food, as is the need for reliable and efficient methods of procuring these compounds. To develop sustainable and cost-effective approaches, a comprehensive understanding of the biosynthetic pathways and the factors influencing secondary metabolite production is essential. These compounds are a unique type of natural product which recognizes the oxidative damage caused by stresses, thereby activating the defence mechanism in plants. Various methods have been developed to enhance the production of secondary metabolites in plants. The elicitor-induced in vitro culture technique is considered an efficient tool for studying and improving the production of secondary metabolites in plants. In the present review, we have documented various biosynthetic pathways and the role of secondary metabolites under diverse environmental stresses. Furthermore, a practical strategy for obtaining consistent and abundant secondary metabolite production via various elicitation agents used in culturing techniques is also mentioned. By elucidating the intricate interplay of regulatory factors, this review paves the way for future advancements in sustainable and efficient production methods for high-value secondary metabolites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zubair Altaf Reshi
- Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India; (Z.A.R.); (W.A.)
| | - Waquar Ahmad
- Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India; (Z.A.R.); (W.A.)
| | - Alexander S. Lukatkin
- Department of General Biology and Ecology, N.P. Ogarev Mordovia State University, 430005 Saransk, Russia
| | - Saad Bin Javed
- Plant Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India; (Z.A.R.); (W.A.)
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Wang Y, Yu J, Jiang M, Lei W, Zhang X, Tang H. Sequencing and Assembly of Polyploid Genomes. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2545:429-458. [PMID: 36720827 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2561-3_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Polyploidy has been observed throughout major eukaryotic clades and has played a vital role in the evolution of angiosperms. Recent polyploidizations often result in highly complex genome structures, posing challenges to genome assembly and phasing. Recent advances in sequencing technologies and genome assembly algorithms have enabled high-quality, near-complete chromosome-level assemblies of polyploid genomes. Advances in novel sequencing technologies include highly accurate single-molecule sequencing with HiFi reads, chromosome conformation capture with Hi-C technique, and linked reads sequencing. Additionally, new computational approaches have also significantly improved the precision and reliability of polyploid genome assembly and phasing, such as HiCanu, hifiasm, ALLHiC, and PolyGembler. Herein, we review recently published polyploid genomes and compare the various sequencing, assembly, and phasing approaches that are utilized in these genome studies. Finally, we anticipate that accurate and telomere-to-telomere chromosome-level assembly of polyploid genomes could ultimately become a routine procedure in the near future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yibin Wang
- Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, Key Laboratory of Genetics, Breeding and Multiple Utilization of Crops, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jiaxin Yu
- Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, Key Laboratory of Genetics, Breeding and Multiple Utilization of Crops, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Mengwei Jiang
- Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, Key Laboratory of Genetics, Breeding and Multiple Utilization of Crops, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wenlong Lei
- Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, Key Laboratory of Genetics, Breeding and Multiple Utilization of Crops, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xingtan Zhang
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Haibao Tang
- Center for Genomics and Biotechnology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Haixia Applied Plant Systems Biology, Key Laboratory of Genetics, Breeding and Multiple Utilization of Crops, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
St. Aubin B, Wai CM, Kenchanmane Raju SK, Niederhuth CE, VanBuren R. Regulatory dynamics distinguishing desiccation tolerance strategies within resurrection grasses. PLANT DIRECT 2022; 6:e457. [PMID: 36523607 PMCID: PMC9748243 DOI: 10.1002/pld3.457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Desiccation tolerance has evolved recurrently in grasses using two unique strategies of either protecting or dismantling the photosynthetic apparatus to minimize photooxidative damage under life without water (anhydrobiosis). Here, we surveyed chromatin architecture and gene expression during desiccation in two closely related grasses with distinguishing desiccation tolerance strategies to identify regulatory dynamics underlying these unique adaptations. In both grasses, we observed a strong association between nearby chromatin accessibility and gene expression in desiccated tissues compared to well-watered, reflecting an unusual chromatin stability under anhydrobiosis. Integration of chromatin accessibility (ATACseq) and expression data (RNAseq) revealed a core desiccation response across these two grasses. This includes many genes with binding sites for the core seed development transcription factor ABI5, supporting the long-standing hypothesis that vegetative desiccation tolerance evolved from rewiring seed pathways. Oropetium thomaeum has a unique set of desiccation induced genes and regulatory elements associated with photoprotection, pigment biosynthesis, and response to high light, reflecting its adaptation of protecting the photosynthetic apparatus under desiccation (homoiochlorophyly). By contrast, Eragrostis nindensis has unique accessible and expressed genes related to chlorophyll catabolism, scavenging of amino acids, and hypoxia, highlighting its poikilochlorophyllous adaptations of dismantling the photosynthetic apparatus and degrading chlorophyll under desiccation. Together, our results highlight the complex regulatory and expression dynamics underlying desiccation tolerance in grasses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian St. Aubin
- Department of HorticultureMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMIUSA
- Plant Resilience InstituteMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMIUSA
| | - Ching Man Wai
- Department of HorticultureMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMIUSA
- Plant Resilience InstituteMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMIUSA
| | | | | | - Robert VanBuren
- Department of HorticultureMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMIUSA
- Plant Resilience InstituteMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMIUSA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Sano N, Malabarba J, Chen Z, Gaillard S, Windels D, Verdier J. Chromatin dynamics associated with seed desiccation tolerance/sensitivity at early germination in Medicago truncatula. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1059493. [PMID: 36507374 PMCID: PMC9729785 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1059493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Desiccation tolerance (DT) has contributed greatly to the adaptation of land plants to severe water-deficient conditions. DT is mostly observed in reproductive parts in flowering plants such as seeds. The seed DT is lost at early post germination stage but is temporally re-inducible in 1 mm radicles during the so-called DT window following a PEG treatment before being permanently silenced in 5 mm radicles of germinating seeds. The molecular mechanisms that activate/reactivate/silence DT in developing and germinating seeds have not yet been elucidated. Here, we analyzed chromatin dynamics related to re-inducibility of DT before and after the DT window at early germination in Medicago truncatula radicles to determine if DT-associated genes were transcriptionally regulated at the chromatin levels. Comparative transcriptome analysis of these radicles identified 948 genes as DT re-induction-related genes, positively correlated with DT re-induction. ATAC-Seq analyses revealed that the chromatin state of genomic regions containing these genes was clearly modulated by PEG treatment and affected by growth stages with opened chromatin in 1 mm radicles with PEG (R1P); intermediate openness in 1 mm radicles without PEG (R1); and condensed chromatin in 5 mm radicles without PEG (R5). In contrast, we also showed that the 103 genes negatively correlated with the re-induction of DT did not show any transcriptional regulation at the chromatin level. Additionally, ChIP-Seq analyses for repressive marks H2AK119ub and H3K27me3 detected a prominent signal of H3K27me3 on the DT re-induction-related gene sequences at R5 but not in R1 and R1P. Moreover, no clear H2AK119ub marks was observed on the DT re-induction-related gene sequences at both developmental radicle stages, suggesting that silencing of DT process after germination will be mainly due to H3K27me3 marks by the action of the PRC2 complex, without involvement of PRC1 complex. The dynamic of chromatin changes associated with H3K27me3 were also confirmed on seed-specific genes encoding potential DT-related proteins such as LEAs, oleosins and transcriptional factors. However, several transcriptional factors did not show a clear link between their decrease of chromatin openness and H3K27me3 levels, suggesting that their accessibility may also be regulated by additional factors, such as other histone modifications. Finally, in order to make these comprehensive genome-wide analyses of transcript and chromatin dynamics useful to the scientific community working on early germination and DT, we generated a dedicated genome browser containing all these data and publicly available at https://iris.angers.inrae.fr/mtseedepiatlas/jbrowse/?data=Mtruncatula.
Collapse
|
14
|
Hu M, Li Y, Zhang X, Song W, Jin W, Huang W, Zhao H. Maize sterility gene DRP1 encodes a desiccation-related protein that is critical for Ubisch bodies and pollen exine development. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:6800-6815. [PMID: 35922377 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Desiccation tolerance is a remarkable feature of pollen, seeds, and resurrection-type plants. Exposure to desiccation stress can cause sporophytic defects, resulting in male sterility. Here, we report the novel maize sterility gene DRP1 (Desiccation-Related Protein 1), which was identified by bulked-segregant analysis sequencing and encodes a desiccation-related protein. Loss of function of DRP1 results in abnormal Ubisch bodies, defective tectum of the pollen exine, and complete male sterility. Our results suggest that DRP1 may facilitate anther dehydration to maintain appropriate water status. DRP1 is a secretory protein that is specifically expressed in the tapetum and microspore from the tetrad to the uninucleate microspore stage. Differentially expressed genes in drp1 are enriched in Gene Ontology terms for pollen exine formation, polysaccharide catabolic process, extracellular region, and response to heat. In addition, DRP1 is a target of selection that appears to have played an important role in the spread of maize from tropical/subtropical to temperate regions. Taken together, our results suggest that DRP1 encodes a desiccation-related protein whose loss of function causes male sterility. Our findings provide a potential genetic resource that may be used to design crops for heterosis utilization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mingjian Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry and National Maize Improvement Center, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science and Center for Crop Genome Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yunfei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry and National Maize Improvement Center, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangbo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry and National Maize Improvement Center, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Weibin Song
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry and National Maize Improvement Center, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Weiwei Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry and National Maize Improvement Center, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- College of Agronomy & Resources and Environment, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin, China
| | - Wei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry and National Maize Improvement Center, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Haiming Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry and National Maize Improvement Center, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
- Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Exploring the High Variability of Vegetative Desiccation Tolerance in Pteridophytes. PLANTS 2022; 11:plants11091222. [PMID: 35567223 PMCID: PMC9103120 DOI: 10.3390/plants11091222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
In the context of plant evolution, pteridophytes, which is comprised of lycophytes and ferns, occupy an intermediate position between bryophytes and seed plants, sharing characteristics with both groups. Pteridophytes is a highly diverse group of plant species that occupy a wide range of habitats including ecosystems with extreme climatic conditions. There is a significant number of pteridophytes that can tolerate desiccation by temporarily arresting their metabolism in the dry state and reactivating it upon rehydration. Desiccation-tolerant pteridophytes exhibit a strategy that appears to be intermediate between the constitutive and inducible desiccation tolerance (DT) mechanisms observed in bryophytes and angiosperms, respectively. In this review, we first describe the incidence and anatomical diversity of desiccation-tolerant pteridophytes and discuss recent advances on the origin of DT in vascular plants. Then, we summarize the highly diverse adaptations and mechanisms exhibited by this group and describe how some of these plants could exhibit tolerance to multiple types of abiotic stress. Research on the evolution and regulation of DT in different lineages is crucial to understand how plants have adapted to extreme environments. Thus, in the current scenario of climate change, the knowledge of the whole landscape of DT strategies is of vital importance as a potential basis to improve plant abiotic stress tolerance.
Collapse
|
16
|
Bredeson JV, Lyons JB, Oniyinde IO, Okereke NR, Kolade O, Nnabue I, Nwadili CO, Hřibová E, Parker M, Nwogha J, Shu S, Carlson J, Kariba R, Muthemba S, Knop K, Barton GJ, Sherwood AV, Lopez-Montes A, Asiedu R, Jamnadass R, Muchugi A, Goodstein D, Egesi CN, Featherston J, Asfaw A, Simpson GG, Doležel J, Hendre PS, Van Deynze A, Kumar PL, Obidiegwu JE, Bhattacharjee R, Rokhsar DS. Chromosome evolution and the genetic basis of agronomically important traits in greater yam. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2001. [PMID: 35422045 PMCID: PMC9010478 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29114-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The nutrient-rich tubers of the greater yam, Dioscorea alata L., provide food and income security for millions of people around the world. Despite its global importance, however, greater yam remains an orphan crop. Here, we address this resource gap by presenting a highly contiguous chromosome-scale genome assembly of D. alata combined with a dense genetic map derived from African breeding populations. The genome sequence reveals an ancient allotetraploidization in the Dioscorea lineage, followed by extensive genome-wide reorganization. Using the genomic tools, we find quantitative trait loci for resistance to anthracnose, a damaging fungal pathogen of yam, and several tuber quality traits. Genomic analysis of breeding lines reveals both extensive inbreeding as well as regions of extensive heterozygosity that may represent interspecific introgression during domestication. These tools and insights will enable yam breeders to unlock the potential of this staple crop and take full advantage of its adaptability to varied environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessen V Bredeson
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Jessica B Lyons
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Ibukun O Oniyinde
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, PMB 5320, Oyo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Nneka R Okereke
- National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Nigeria
| | - Olufisayo Kolade
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, PMB 5320, Oyo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Ikenna Nnabue
- National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Nigeria
| | | | - Eva Hřibová
- Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Šlechtitelů 31, CZ-77900, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Matthew Parker
- School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Jeremiah Nwogha
- National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Nigeria
| | | | | | - Robert Kariba
- World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), Nairobi, Kenya
- African Orphan Crops Consortium, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Samuel Muthemba
- World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), Nairobi, Kenya
- African Orphan Crops Consortium, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Katarzyna Knop
- School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | | | - Anna V Sherwood
- School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Antonio Lopez-Montes
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, PMB 5320, Oyo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria
- International Trade Center, Accra, Ghana
| | - Robert Asiedu
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, PMB 5320, Oyo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Ramni Jamnadass
- World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), Nairobi, Kenya
- African Orphan Crops Consortium, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Alice Muchugi
- World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), Nairobi, Kenya
- African Orphan Crops Consortium, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Chiedozie N Egesi
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, PMB 5320, Oyo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria
- National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Nigeria
- Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
| | | | - Asrat Asfaw
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, PMB 5320, Oyo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Gordon G Simpson
- School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
- James Hutton Institute, Dundee, UK
| | - Jaroslav Doležel
- Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Šlechtitelů 31, CZ-77900, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Prasad S Hendre
- World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), Nairobi, Kenya
- African Orphan Crops Consortium, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Pullikanti Lava Kumar
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, PMB 5320, Oyo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Jude E Obidiegwu
- National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Nigeria.
| | - Ranjana Bhattacharjee
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, PMB 5320, Oyo Road, Ibadan, Nigeria.
| | - Daniel S Rokhsar
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
- Innovative Genomics Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Onna, Okinawa, Japan.
- Chan-Zuckerberg BioHub, 499 Illinois St., San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
A comparative genomics examination of desiccation tolerance and sensitivity in two sister grass species. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:2118886119. [PMID: 35082155 PMCID: PMC8812550 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2118886119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This is a significant sister group contrast comparative study of the underpinning genomics and evolution of desiccation tolerance (DT), a critical trait in the evolution of land plants. Our results revealed that the DT grass Sporobolus stapfianus is transcriptionally primed to tolerate a dehydration/desiccation event and that the desiccation response in the DT S. stapfianus is distinct from the water stress response of the desiccation-sensitive Sporobolus pyramidalis. Our results also show that the desiccation response is largely unique, indicating a recent evolution of this trait within the angiosperms, and that inhibition of senescence during dehydration is likely critical in rendering a plant desiccation tolerant. Desiccation tolerance is an ancient and complex trait that spans all major lineages of life on earth. Although important in the evolution of land plants, the mechanisms that underlay this complex trait are poorly understood, especially for vegetative desiccation tolerance (VDT). The lack of suitable closely related plant models that offer a direct contrast between desiccation tolerance and sensitivity has hampered progress. We have assembled high-quality genomes for two closely related grasses, the desiccation-tolerant Sporobolus stapfianus and the desiccation-sensitive Sporobolus pyramidalis. Both species are complex polyploids; S. stapfianus is primarily tetraploid, and S. pyramidalis is primarily hexaploid. S. pyramidalis undergoes a major transcriptome remodeling event during initial exposure to dehydration, while S. stapfianus has a muted early response, with peak remodeling during the transition between 1.5 and 1.0 grams of water (gH2O) g−1 dry weight (dw). Functionally, the dehydration transcriptome of S. stapfianus is unrelated to that for S. pyramidalis. A comparative analysis of the transcriptomes of the hydrated controls for each species indicated that S. stapfianus is transcriptionally primed for desiccation. Cross-species comparative analyses indicated that VDT likely evolved from reprogramming of desiccation tolerance mechanisms that evolved in seeds and that the tolerance mechanism of S. stapfianus represents a recent evolution for VDT within the Chloridoideae. Orthogroup analyses of the significantly differentially abundant transcripts reconfirmed our present understanding of the response to dehydration, including the lack of an induction of senescence in resurrection angiosperms. The data also suggest that failure to maintain protein structure during dehydration is likely critical in rendering a plant desiccation sensitive.
Collapse
|
18
|
Matilla AJ. The Orthodox Dry Seeds Are Alive: A Clear Example of Desiccation Tolerance. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 11:plants11010020. [PMID: 35009023 PMCID: PMC8747232 DOI: 10.3390/plants11010020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
To survive in the dry state, orthodox seeds acquire desiccation tolerance. As maturation progresses, the seeds gradually acquire longevity, which is the total timespan during which the dry seeds remain viable. The desiccation-tolerance mechanism(s) allow seeds to remain dry without losing their ability to germinate. This adaptive trait has played a key role in the evolution of land plants. Understanding the mechanisms for seed survival after desiccation is one of the central goals still unsolved. That is, the cellular protection during dry state and cell repair during rewatering involves a not entirely known molecular network(s). Although desiccation tolerance is retained in seeds of higher plants, resurrection plants belonging to different plant lineages keep the ability to survive desiccation in vegetative tissue. Abscisic acid (ABA) is involved in desiccation tolerance through tight control of the synthesis of unstructured late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins, heat shock thermostable proteins (sHSPs), and non-reducing oligosaccharides. During seed maturation, the progressive loss of water induces the formation of a so-called cellular "glass state". This glassy matrix consists of soluble sugars, which immobilize macromolecules offering protection to membranes and proteins. In this way, the secondary structure of proteins in dry viable seeds is very stable and remains preserved. ABA insensitive-3 (ABI3), highly conserved from bryophytes to Angiosperms, is essential for seed maturation and is the only transcription factor (TF) required for the acquisition of desiccation tolerance and its re-induction in germinated seeds. It is noteworthy that chlorophyll breakdown during the last step of seed maturation is controlled by ABI3. This update contains some current results directly related to the physiological, genetic, and molecular mechanisms involved in survival to desiccation in orthodox seeds. In other words, the mechanisms that facilitate that an orthodox dry seed is a living entity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angel J Matilla
- Departamento de Biología Funcional (Área Fisiología Vegetal), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Tebele SM, Marks RA, Farrant JM. Two Decades of Desiccation Biology: A Systematic Review of the Best Studied Angiosperm Resurrection Plants. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:plants10122784. [PMID: 34961255 PMCID: PMC8706221 DOI: 10.3390/plants10122784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Resurrection plants have an extraordinary ability to survive extreme water loss but still revive full metabolic activity when rehydrated. These plants are useful models to understand the complex biology of vegetative desiccation tolerance. Despite extensive studies of resurrection plants, many details underlying the mechanisms of desiccation tolerance remain unexplored. To summarize the progress in resurrection plant research and identify unexplored questions, we conducted a systematic review of 15 model angiosperm resurrection plants. This systematic review provides an overview of publication trends on resurrection plants, the geographical distribution of species and studies, and the methodology used. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol we surveyed all publications on resurrection plants from 2000 and 2020. This yielded 185 empirical articles that matched our selection criteria. The most investigated plants were Craterostigma plantagineum (17.5%), Haberlea rhodopensis (13.7%), Xerophyta viscosa (reclassified as X. schlechteri) (11.9%), Myrothamnus flabellifolia (8.5%), and Boea hygrometrica (8.1%), with all other species accounting for less than 8% of publications. The majority of studies have been conducted in South Africa, Bulgaria, Germany, and China, but there are contributions from across the globe. Most studies were led by researchers working within the native range of the focal species, but some international and collaborative studies were also identified. The number of annual publications fluctuated, with a large but temporary increase in 2008. Many studies have employed physiological and transcriptomic methodologies to investigate the leaves of resurrection plants, but there was a paucity of studies on roots and only one metagenomic study was recovered. Based on these findings we suggest that future research focuses on resurrection plant roots and microbiome interactions to explore microbial communities associated with these plants, and their role in vegetative desiccation tolerance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shandry M. Tebele
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa; (S.M.T.); (R.A.M.)
| | - Rose A. Marks
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa; (S.M.T.); (R.A.M.)
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Plant Resiliency Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Jill M. Farrant
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7701, South Africa; (S.M.T.); (R.A.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Xu B, Liao M, Deng HN, Yan CC, Lv YY, Gao YD, Ju WB, Zhang JY, Jiang LS, Li X, Gao XF. Chromosome-level de novo genome assembly and whole-genome resequencing of the threatened species Acanthochlamys bracteata (Velloziaceae) provide insights into alpine plant divergence in a biodiversity hotspot. Mol Ecol Resour 2021; 22:1582-1595. [PMID: 34837470 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The Hengduan Mountains region is an important hotspot of alpine plant diversity and endemism. Acanthochlamys bracteata is a species of a threatened monotypic genus endemic to the Hengduan Mountains. In this study, we present a high-quality, chromosome-level reference genome for A. bracteata, constructed using long reads, short reads and Hi-C technology. We characterized its genetic diversity, population structure, demographic history and gene flow by resequencing individuals collected across its distribution. Comparative genomics analyses based on sequence information from single-copy orthologous genes revealed that A. bracteata and Dioscorea rotundata diverged ~104.5 million years ago. Whole-genome resequencing based on population genetic analysis revealed that the division of the 14 populations into 10 distinct clusters reflected geographical divergence, and three separate high levels of gene flow occurred sequentially between isolated populations of the Hengduan Mountains, a finding which is consistent with the turnover between ice ages and interglacial periods. Our findings indicate that Quaternary climatic changes played an important role in shaping the genetic structure and demographic trajectories of A. bracteata, and provide critical insights into the genetic status and evolutionary history of this poorly understood species, and possibly other alpine plants with a similar distribution. This study demonstrates the usefulness of population genomics for evaluating the effects of past climatic changes and identifying conservation units for the conservation and management of threatened species. Our high-quality genome represents a valuable resource for future studies of the underlying molecular mechanisms of adaptive evolution and provides insight for further comparative genomic analysis with other Velloziaceae species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bo Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Mangkang Ecological Station, Tibet Ecological Safety Monitor Network, Changdu, China
| | - Min Liao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Heng-Ning Deng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Chao-Chao Yan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yun-Yun Lv
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province for Fishes Conservation and Utilization in the Upper Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Life Sciences, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang, China
| | - Yun-Dong Gao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wen-Bin Ju
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jun-Yi Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Li-Sha Jiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiong Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xin-Fen Gao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mountain Ecological Restoration and Bioresource Utilization & Ecological Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Farrant JM, Hilhorst H. Crops for dry environments. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2021; 74:84-91. [PMID: 34808476 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2021.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Climate change necessitates increased stress resilience of food crops. We describe four potential solutions, with emphasis on a relatively novel approach aiming at true tolerance of drought rather than improved water-holding capacity of crops, which is a common approach in current breeding and genome editing efforts. Some Angiosperms are known to tolerate loss of 95% of their cellular water, without dying, not dissimilar to seeds. The molecular mechanisms and their regulation underlying this remarkable ability are potentially useful to design tolerant crops. Since most crops produce desiccation tolerant seeds, genomic information for this attribute is present but inactive in vegetative parts of the plant. Based on recent evidence from both seeds and desiccation tolerant Angiosperms we address possible routes to 'flipping the switch' to vegetative desiccation tolerance in major crops.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jill M Farrant
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Henk Hilhorst
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
A Label-Free Proteomic and Complementary Metabolomic Analysis of Leaves of the Resurrection Plant Xerophytaschlechteri during Dehydration. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11111242. [PMID: 34833116 PMCID: PMC8624122 DOI: 10.3390/life11111242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Vegetative desiccation tolerance, or the ability to survive the loss of ~95% relative water content (RWC), is rare in angiosperms, with these being commonly called resurrection plants. It is a complex multigenic and multi-factorial trait, with its understanding requiring a comprehensive systems biology approach. The aim of the current study was to conduct a label-free proteomic analysis of leaves of the resurrection plant Xerophyta schlechteri in response to desiccation. A targeted metabolomics approach was validated and correlated to the proteomics, contributing the missing link in studies on this species. Three physiological stages were identified: an early response to drying, during which the leaf tissues declined from full turgor to a RWC of ~80–70%, a mid-response in which the RWC declined to 40% and a late response where the tissues declined to 10% RWC. We identified 517 distinct proteins that were differentially expressed, of which 253 proteins were upregulated and 264 were downregulated in response to the three drying stages. Metabolomics analyses, which included monitoring the levels of a selection of phytohormones, amino acids, sugars, sugar alcohols, fatty acids and organic acids in response to dehydration, correlated with some of the proteomic differences, giving insight into the biological processes apparently involved in desiccation tolerance in this species.
Collapse
|
23
|
Pardo J, VanBuren R. Evolutionary innovations driving abiotic stress tolerance in C4 grasses and cereals. THE PLANT CELL 2021; 33:3391-3401. [PMID: 34387354 PMCID: PMC8566246 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koab205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Grasslands dominate the terrestrial landscape, and grasses have evolved complex and elegant strategies to overcome abiotic stresses. The C4 grasses are particularly stress tolerant and thrive in tropical and dry temperate ecosystems. Growing evidence suggests that the presence of C4 photosynthesis alone is insufficient to account for drought resilience in grasses, pointing to other adaptations as contributing to tolerance traits. The majority of grasses from the Chloridoideae subfamily are tolerant to drought, salt, and desiccation, making this subfamily a hub of resilience. Here, we discuss the evolutionary innovations that make C4 grasses so resilient, with a particular emphasis on grasses from the Chloridoideae (chloridoid) and Panicoideae (panicoid) subfamilies. We propose that a baseline level of resilience in chloridoid ancestors allowed them to colonize harsh habitats, and these environments drove selective pressure that enabled the repeated evolution of abiotic stress tolerance traits. Furthermore, we suggest that a lack of evolutionary access to stressful environments is partially responsible for the relatively poor stress resilience of major C4 crops compared to their wild relatives. We propose that chloridoid crops and the subfamily more broadly represent an untapped reservoir for improving resilience to drought and other abiotic stresses in cereals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Pardo
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
- Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
| | - Robert VanBuren
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
- Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Ekwealor JTB, Mishler BD. Transcriptomic Effects of Acute Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure on Two Syntrichia Mosses. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:752913. [PMID: 34777431 PMCID: PMC8581813 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.752913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a major environmental stressor for terrestrial plants. Here we investigated genetic responses to acute broadband UVR exposure in the highly desiccation-tolerant mosses Syntrichia caninervis and Syntrichia ruralis, using a comparative transcriptomics approach. We explored whether UVR protection is physiologically plastic and induced by UVR exposure, addressing the following questions: (1) What is the timeline of changes in the transcriptome with acute UVR exposure in these two species? (2) What genes are involved in the UVR response? and (3) How do the two species differ in their transcriptomic response to UVR? There were remarkable differences between the two species after 10 and 30 min of UVR exposure, including no overlap in significantly differentially abundant transcripts (DATs) after 10 min of UVR exposure and more than twice as many DATs for S. caninervis as there were for S. ruralis. Photosynthesis-related transcripts were involved in the response of S. ruralis to UVR, while membrane-related transcripts were indicated in the response of S. caninervis. In both species, transcripts involved in oxidative stress and those important for desiccation tolerance (such as late embryogenesis abundant genes and early light-inducible protein genes) were involved in response to UVR, suggesting possible roles in UVR tolerance and cross-talk with desiccation tolerance in these species. The results of this study suggest potential UVR-induced responses that may have roles outside of UVR tolerance, and that the response to URV is different in these two species, perhaps a reflection of adaptation to different environmental conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jenna T. B. Ekwealor
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- The University and Jepson Herbaria, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Brent D. Mishler
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- The University and Jepson Herbaria, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Artur MAS, Kajala K. Convergent evolution of gene regulatory networks underlying plant adaptations to dry environments. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2021; 44:3211-3222. [PMID: 34196969 PMCID: PMC8518057 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Plants transitioned from an aquatic to a terrestrial lifestyle during their evolution. On land, fluctuations on water availability in the environment became one of the major problems they encountered. The appearance of morpho-physiological adaptations to cope with and tolerate water loss from the cells was undeniably useful to survive on dry land. Some of these adaptations, such as carbon concentrating mechanisms (CCMs), desiccation tolerance (DT) and root impermeabilization, appeared in multiple plant lineages. Despite being crucial for evolution on land, it has been unclear how these adaptations convergently evolved in the various plant lineages. Recent advances on whole genome and transcriptome sequencing are revealing that co-option of genes and gene regulatory networks (GRNs) is a common feature underlying the convergent evolution of these adaptations. In this review, we address how the study of CCMs and DT has provided insight into convergent evolution of GRNs underlying plant adaptation to dry environments, and how these insights could be applied to currently emerging understanding of evolution of root impermeabilization through different barrier cell types. We discuss examples of co-option, conservation and innovation of genes and GRNs at the cell, tissue and organ levels revealed by recent phylogenomic (comparative genomic) and comparative transcriptomic studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariana A. S. Artur
- Laboratory of Plant PhysiologyWageningen UniversityWageningenThe Netherlands
- Plant Ecophysiology, Institute of Environmental BiologyUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Kaisa Kajala
- Plant Ecophysiology, Institute of Environmental BiologyUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Gechev T, Lyall R, Petrov V, Bartels D. Systems biology of resurrection plants. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:6365-6394. [PMID: 34390381 PMCID: PMC8558194 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03913-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Plant species that exhibit vegetative desiccation tolerance can survive extreme desiccation for months and resume normal physiological activities upon re-watering. Here we survey the recent knowledge gathered from the sequenced genomes of angiosperm and non-angiosperm desiccation-tolerant plants (resurrection plants) and highlight some distinct genes and gene families that are central to the desiccation response. Furthermore, we review the vast amount of data accumulated from analyses of transcriptomes and metabolomes of resurrection species exposed to desiccation and subsequent rehydration, which allows us to build a systems biology view on the molecular and genetic mechanisms of desiccation tolerance in plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tsanko Gechev
- Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 139 Ruski Blvd., Plovdiv, 4000, Bulgaria.
- Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, University of Plovdiv, 24 Tsar Assen Str., Plovdiv, 4000, Bulgaria.
| | - Rafe Lyall
- Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 139 Ruski Blvd., Plovdiv, 4000, Bulgaria
| | - Veselin Petrov
- Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 139 Ruski Blvd., Plovdiv, 4000, Bulgaria
- Department of Plant Physiology, Biochemistry and Genetics, Agricultural University - Plovdiv, 12, Mendeleev Str, Plovdiv, 4000, Bulgaria
| | | |
Collapse
|
27
|
Terlova EF, Holzinger A, Lewis LA. Terrestrial Green Algae Show Higher Tolerance to Dehydration than Do Their Aquatic Sister-Species. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2021; 82:770-782. [PMID: 33502573 PMCID: PMC7612456 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-020-01679-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Diverse algae possess the ability to recover from extreme desiccation without forming specialized resting structures. Green algal genera such as Tetradesmus (Sphaeropleales, Chlorophyceae) contain temperate terrestrial, desert, and aquatic species, providing an opportunity to compare physiological traits associated with the transition to land in closely related taxa. We subjected six species from distinct habitats to three dehydration treatments varying in relative humidity (RH 5%, 65%, 80%) followed by short- and long-term rehydration. We tested the capacity of the algae to recover from dehydration using the effective quantum yield of photosystem II as a proxy for physiological activity. The degree of recovery was dependent both on the habitat of origin and the dehydration scenario, with terrestrial, but not aquatic, species recovering from dehydration. Distinct strains of each species responded similarly to dehydration and rehydration, with the exception of one aquatic strain that recovered from the mildest dehydration treatment. Cell ultrastructure was uniformly maintained in both aquatic and desert species during dehydration and rehydration, but staining with an amphiphilic styryl dye indicated damage to the plasma membrane from osmotically induced water loss in the aquatic species. These analyses demonstrate that terrestrial Tetradesmus possess a vegetative desiccation tolerance phenotype, making these species ideal for comparative omics studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizaveta F Terlova
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA.
| | - Andreas Holzinger
- Department of Botany, Functional Plant Biology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Louise A Lewis
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Cheng SP, Jia KH, Liu H, Zhang RG, Li ZC, Zhou SS, Shi TL, Ma AC, Yu CW, Gao C, Cao GL, Zhao W, Nie S, Guo JF, Jiao SQ, Tian XC, Yan XM, Bao YT, Yun QZ, Wang XZ, Porth I, El-Kassaby YA, Wang XR, Li Z, Van de Peer Y, Mao JF. Haplotype-resolved genome assembly and allele-specific gene expression in cultivated ginger. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2021; 8:188. [PMID: 34354050 PMCID: PMC8342452 DOI: 10.1038/s41438-021-00599-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is one of the most valued spice plants worldwide; it is prized for its culinary and folk medicinal applications and is therefore of high economic and cultural importance. Here, we present a haplotype-resolved, chromosome-scale assembly for diploid ginger anchored to 11 pseudochromosome pairs with a total length of 3.1 Gb. Remarkable structural variation was identified between haplotypes, and two inversions larger than 15 Mb on chromosome 4 may be associated with ginger infertility. We performed a comprehensive, spatiotemporal, genome-wide analysis of allelic expression patterns, revealing that most alleles are coordinately expressed. The alleles that exhibited the largest differences in expression showed closer proximity to transposable elements, greater coding sequence divergence, more relaxed selection pressure, and more transcription factor binding site differences. We also predicted the transcription factors potentially regulating 6-gingerol biosynthesis. Our allele-aware assembly provides a powerful platform for future functional genomics, molecular breeding, and genome editing in ginger.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Ping Cheng
- Pingdingshan University, Henan Province Key Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Eco-economic Woody Plant, Pingdingshan, 467000, Henan, China
| | - Kai-Hua Jia
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Ren-Gang Zhang
- Ori (Shandong) Gene Science and Technology Co., Ltd, Weifang, 261000, Shandong, China
| | - Zhi-Chao Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Shan-Shan Zhou
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Tian-Le Shi
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Ai-Chu Ma
- Pingdingshan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Pingdingshan, 467000, Henan, China
| | - Cong-Wen Yu
- Pingdingshan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Pingdingshan, 467000, Henan, China
| | - Chan Gao
- Pingdingshan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Pingdingshan, 467000, Henan, China
| | - Guang-Lei Cao
- Pingdingshan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Pingdingshan, 467000, Henan, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, UPSC, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Shuai Nie
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Jing-Fang Guo
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Si-Qian Jiao
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Xue-Chan Tian
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Xue-Mei Yan
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yu-Tao Bao
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Quan-Zheng Yun
- Ori (Shandong) Gene Science and Technology Co., Ltd, Weifang, 261000, Shandong, China
| | - Xin-Zhu Wang
- Ori (Shandong) Gene Science and Technology Co., Ltd, Weifang, 261000, Shandong, China
| | - Ilga Porth
- Département des Sciences du Bois et de la Forêt, Faculté de Foresterie, de Géographie et Géomatique, Université Laval Québec, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Yousry A El-Kassaby
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Xiao-Ru Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, UPSC, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Zhen Li
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Yves Van de Peer
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
- VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, 9052, Ghent, Belgium.
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology Genetics, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa.
- College of Horticulture, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
| | - Jian-Feng Mao
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Tree Breeding by Molecular Design, National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Gao ZY, Li ZH, Lin DL, Jin XH. Chromosome-Scale Genome Assembly of the Resurrection Plant Acanthochlamys bracteata (Velloziaceae). Genome Biol Evol 2021; 13:6308943. [PMID: 34165527 PMCID: PMC8358219 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evab147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Acanthochlamys bracteata (Velloziaceae) is a resurrection plant with cold tolerance. Herein, a chromosome-level reference genome of A. bracteata based on Nanopore, Illumina, and Hi-C data is reported. The high-quality assembled genome was 197.97 Mb, with a scaffold N50 value of 8.64 Mb and a contig N50 value of 6.96 Mb. We annotated 23,509 protein-coding genes. Eight contracted gene families and three expanded gene families were detected. Repeat sequences accounted for approximately 28.63% of the genome. The LEA1 and Dehydrin gene families, which are involved in desiccation resistance, expanded in A. bracteata. We identified genes involved in chilling tolerance, COLD1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Yuan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhang-Hai Li
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Dong-Liang Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Hua Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Anjanappa RB, Gruissem W. Current progress and challenges in crop genetic transformation. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 261:153411. [PMID: 33872932 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2021.153411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Plant transformation remains the most sought-after technology for functional genomics and crop genetic improvement, especially for introducing specific new traits and to modify or recombine already existing traits. Along with many other agricultural technologies, the global production of genetically engineered crops has steadily grown since they were first introduced 25 years ago. Since the first transfer of DNA into plant cells using Agrobacterium tumefaciens, different transformation methods have enabled rapid advances in molecular breeding approaches to bring crop varieties with novel traits to the market that would be difficult or not possible to achieve with conventional breeding methods. Today, transformation to produce genetically engineered crops is the fastest and most widely adopted technology in agriculture. The rapidly increasing number of sequenced plant genomes and information from functional genomics data to understand gene function, together with novel gene cloning and tissue culture methods, is further accelerating crop improvement and trait development. These advances are welcome and needed to make crops more resilient to climate change and to secure their yield for feeding the increasing human population. Despite the success, transformation remains a bottleneck because many plant species and crop genotypes are recalcitrant to established tissue culture and regeneration conditions, or they show poor transformability. Improvements are possible using morphogenetic transcriptional regulators, but their broader applicability remains to be tested. Advances in genome editing techniques and direct, non-tissue culture-based transformation methods offer alternative approaches to enhance varietal development in other recalcitrant crops. Here, we review recent developments in plant transformation and regeneration, and discuss opportunities for new breeding technologies in agriculture.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ravi B Anjanappa
- Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 2, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Wilhelm Gruissem
- Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Biology, ETH Zurich, Universitätstrasse 2, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland; Advanced Plant Biotechnology Center, National Chung Hsing University, 145 Xingda Road, Taichung City 402, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Plant Transcription Factors Involved in Drought and Associated Stresses. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22115662. [PMID: 34073446 PMCID: PMC8199153 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) play a significant role in signal transduction networks spanning the perception of a stress signal and the expression of corresponding stress-responsive genes. TFs are multi-functional proteins that may simultaneously control numerous pathways during stresses in plants-this makes them powerful tools for the manipulation of regulatory and stress-responsive pathways. In recent years, the structure-function relationships of numerous plant TFs involved in drought and associated stresses have been defined, which prompted devising practical strategies for engineering plants with enhanced stress tolerance. Vast data have emerged on purposely basic leucine zipper (bZIP), WRKY, homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip), myeloblastoma (MYB), drought-response elements binding proteins/C-repeat binding factor (DREB/CBF), shine (SHN), and wax production-like (WXPL) TFs that reflect the understanding of their 3D structure and how the structure relates to function. Consequently, this information is useful in the tailored design of variant TFs that enhances our understanding of their functional states, such as oligomerization, post-translational modification patterns, protein-protein interactions, and their abilities to recognize downstream target DNA sequences. Here, we report on the progress of TFs based on their interaction pathway participation in stress-responsive networks, and pinpoint strategies and applications for crops and the impact of these strategies for improving plant stress tolerance.
Collapse
|
32
|
Nadal M, Perera-Castro AV, Gulías J, Farrant JM, Flexas J. Resurrection plants optimize photosynthesis despite very thick cell walls by means of chloroplast distribution. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021; 72:2600-2610. [PMID: 33483750 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Resurrection plants are vascular species able to sustain extreme desiccation in their vegetative tissues. Despite its potential interest, the role of leaf anatomy in CO2 diffusion and photosynthesis under non-stressed conditions has not been explored in these species. Net CO2 assimilation (An) and its underlying diffusive, biochemical, and anatomical determinants were assessed in 10 resurrection species from diverse locations, including ferns, and homoiochlorophyllous and poikilochlorophyllous angiosperms. Data obtained were compared with previously published results in desiccation-sensitive ferns and angiosperms. An in resurrection plants was mostly driven by mesophyll conductance to CO2 (gm) and limited by CO2 diffusion. Resurrection species had a greater cell wall thickness (Tcw) than desiccation-sensitive plants, a feature associated with limited CO2 diffusion in the mesophyll, but also greater chloroplast exposure to intercellular spaces (Sc), which usually leads to higher gm. This combination enabled a higher An per Tcw compared with desiccation-sensitive species. Resurrection species possess unusual anatomical features that could confer stress tolerance (thick cell walls) without compromising the photosynthetic capacity (high chloroplast exposure). This mechanism is particularly successful in resurrection ferns, which display higher photosynthesis than their desiccation-sensitive counterparts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miquel Nadal
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), INAGEA, Carretera de Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Alicia V Perera-Castro
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), INAGEA, Carretera de Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Javier Gulías
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), INAGEA, Carretera de Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Jill M Farrant
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa
| | - Jaume Flexas
- Research Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), INAGEA, Carretera de Valldemossa Km 7.5, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Illes Balears, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Okemo P, Long H, Cheng Y, Mundree S, Williams B. Stachyose triggers apoptotic like cell death in drought sensitive but not resilient plants. Sci Rep 2021; 11:7099. [PMID: 33782503 PMCID: PMC8007635 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86559-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Programmed cell death (PCD) is one of the most intensively researched fields in modern mammalian biology with roles in cancer, aging, diabetes and numerous neurodegenerative diseases. It is becoming increasingly clear that PCD also plays significant roles in plant defence and responses to the environment. Given their unique ability to tolerate desiccation (cells remain viable even after they've lost 95% of their water), resurrection plants make ideal models to study the regulation of plant PCD pathways. Previously, we showed that the Australian resurrection plant, Tripogon loliiformis, suppresses plant PCD, via trehalose-mediated activation of autophagy pathways, during drying. In the present study, we created a full-length T. loliiformis cDNA library, performed a large-scale Agrobacterium screen for improved salinity tolerance and identified Stachyose synthase (TlStach) as a potential candidate for improving stress tolerance. Tripogon loliiformis shoots accumulate stachyose synthase transcripts and stachyose during drying. Attempts to generate transgenic plants expressing TlStach failed and were consistent with previous reports in mammals that demonstrated stachyose-mediated induction of apoptosis. Using a combination of transcriptomics, metabolomics and cell death assays (TUNNEL and DNA laddering), we investigated whether stachyose induces apoptotic-like cell death in T. loliiformis. We show that stachyose triggers the formation of the hallmarks of plant apoptotic-like cell death in the desiccation sensitive Nicotiana benthamiana but not the resilient T. loliiformis. These findings suggest that T. loliiformis suppresses stachyose-mediated apoptotic-like cell death and provides insights on the role of sugar metabolism and plant PCD pathways. A better understanding of how resilient plants regulate sugar metabolism and PCD pathways may facilitate future targeting of plant metabolic pathways for increased stress tolerance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Okemo
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Hao Long
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Yen Cheng
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Sagadevan Mundree
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Brett Williams
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Zhang J, Wu F, Yan Q, John UP, Cao M, Xu P, Zhang Z, Ma T, Zong X, Li J, Liu R, Zhang Y, Zhao Y, Kanzana G, Lv Y, Nan Z, Spangenberg G, Wang Y. The genome of Cleistogenes songorica provides a blueprint for functional dissection of dimorphic flower differentiation and drought adaptability. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2021; 19:532-547. [PMID: 32964579 PMCID: PMC7955882 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Cleistogenes songorica (2n = 4x = 40) is a desert grass with a unique dimorphic flowering mechanism and an ability to survive extreme drought. Little is known about the genetics underlying drought tolerance and its reproductive adaptability. Here, we sequenced and assembled a high-quality chromosome-level C. songorica genome (contig N50 = 21.28 Mb). Complete assemblies of all telomeres, and of ten chromosomes were derived. C. songorica underwent a recent tetraploidization (~19 million years ago) and four major chromosomal rearrangements. Expanded genes were significantly enriched in fatty acid elongation, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, starch and sucrose metabolism, and circadian rhythm pathways. By comparative transcriptomic analysis we found that conserved drought tolerance related genes were expanded. Transcription of CsMYB genes was associated with differential development of chasmogamous and cleistogamous flowers, as well as drought tolerance. Furthermore, we found that regulation modules encompassing miRNA, transcription factors and target genes are involved in dimorphic flower development, validated by overexpression of CsAP2_9 and its targeted miR172 in rice. Our findings enable further understanding of the mechanisms of drought tolerance and flowering in C. songorica, and provide new insights into the adaptability of native grass species in evolution, along with potential resources for trait improvement in agronomically important species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro‐ecosystemsKey Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsEngineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of EducationCollege of Pastoral Agriculture Science and TechnologyLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Fan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro‐ecosystemsKey Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsEngineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of EducationCollege of Pastoral Agriculture Science and TechnologyLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Qi Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro‐ecosystemsKey Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsEngineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of EducationCollege of Pastoral Agriculture Science and TechnologyLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Ulrik P John
- Agriculture Victoria Research, Department of Jobs, Precincts and RegionsAgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, La Trobe UniversityVictoriaAustralia
| | - Mingshu Cao
- AgResearch Limited, Grasslands Research CentrePalmerston NorthNew Zealand
| | - Pan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro‐ecosystemsKey Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsEngineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of EducationCollege of Pastoral Agriculture Science and TechnologyLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Zhengshe Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro‐ecosystemsKey Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsEngineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of EducationCollege of Pastoral Agriculture Science and TechnologyLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Tiantian Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro‐ecosystemsKey Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsEngineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of EducationCollege of Pastoral Agriculture Science and TechnologyLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Xifang Zong
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro‐ecosystemsKey Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsEngineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of EducationCollege of Pastoral Agriculture Science and TechnologyLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Jie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro‐ecosystemsKey Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsEngineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of EducationCollege of Pastoral Agriculture Science and TechnologyLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Ruijuan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau BiotaNorthwest Institute of Plateau BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesXiningChina
| | - Yufei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro‐ecosystemsKey Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsEngineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of EducationCollege of Pastoral Agriculture Science and TechnologyLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Yufeng Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro‐ecosystemsKey Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsEngineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of EducationCollege of Pastoral Agriculture Science and TechnologyLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Gisele Kanzana
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro‐ecosystemsKey Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsEngineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of EducationCollege of Pastoral Agriculture Science and TechnologyLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Yanyan Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro‐ecosystemsKey Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsEngineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of EducationCollege of Pastoral Agriculture Science and TechnologyLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - Zhibiao Nan
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro‐ecosystemsKey Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsEngineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of EducationCollege of Pastoral Agriculture Science and TechnologyLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| | - German Spangenberg
- Agriculture Victoria Research, Department of Jobs, Precincts and RegionsAgriBio, Centre for AgriBioscience, La Trobe UniversityVictoriaAustralia
| | - Yanrong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro‐ecosystemsKey Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsEngineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of EducationCollege of Pastoral Agriculture Science and TechnologyLanzhou UniversityLanzhouChina
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Silva AT, Gao B, Fisher KM, Mishler BD, Ekwealor JTB, Stark LR, Li X, Zhang D, Bowker MA, Brinda JC, Coe KK, Oliver MJ. To dry perchance to live: Insights from the genome of the desiccation-tolerant biocrust moss Syntrichia caninervis. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 105:1339-1356. [PMID: 33277766 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
With global climate change, water scarcity threatens whole agro/ecosystems. The desert moss Syntrichia caninervis, an extremophile, offers novel insights into surviving desiccation and heat. The sequenced S. caninervis genome consists of 13 chromosomes containing 16 545 protein-coding genes and 2666 unplaced scaffolds. Syntenic relationships within the S. caninervis and Physcomitrella patens genomes indicate the S. caninervis genome has undergone a single whole genome duplication event (compared to two for P. patens) and evidence suggests chromosomal or segmental losses in the evolutionary history of S. caninervis. The genome contains a large sex chromosome composed primarily of repetitive sequences with a large number of Copia and Gypsy elements. Orthogroup analyses revealed an expansion of ELIP genes encoding proteins important in photoprotection. The transcriptomic response to desiccation identified four structural clusters of novel genes. The genomic resources established for this extremophile offer new perspectives for understanding the evolution of desiccation tolerance in plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anderson T Silva
- Division of Plant Sciences and Interdisciplinary Plant Group, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, 65211, USA
| | - Bei Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Science, Urumqi, 830011, China
| | - Kirsten M Fisher
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, California, 90032, USA
| | - Brent D Mishler
- Department of Integrative Biology, University and Jepson Herbaria, University of California, Berkeley, California, 94720-2465, USA
| | - Jenna T B Ekwealor
- Department of Integrative Biology, University and Jepson Herbaria, University of California, Berkeley, California, 94720-2465, USA
| | - Lloyd R Stark
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89154-4004, USA
| | - Xiaoshuang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Science, Urumqi, 830011, China
| | - Daoyuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Science, Urumqi, 830011, China
| | - Matthew A Bowker
- School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, 86011, USA
| | - John C Brinda
- Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, Missouri, 63110-0299, USA
| | - Kirsten K Coe
- Department of Biology, Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont, 40506-0225, USA
| | - Melvin J Oliver
- Division of Plant Sciences and Interdisciplinary Plant Group, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, 65211, USA
- USDA-ARS-MWA, Plant Genetics Research Unit, Columbia, Missouri, 65211, USA
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Brůna T, Hoff KJ, Lomsadze A, Stanke M, Borodovsky M. BRAKER2: automatic eukaryotic genome annotation with GeneMark-EP+ and AUGUSTUS supported by a protein database. NAR Genom Bioinform 2021; 3:lqaa108. [PMID: 33575650 PMCID: PMC7787252 DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqaa108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 541] [Impact Index Per Article: 180.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The task of eukaryotic genome annotation remains challenging. Only a few genomes could serve as standards of annotation achieved through a tremendous investment of human curation efforts. Still, the correctness of all alternative isoforms, even in the best-annotated genomes, could be a good subject for further investigation. The new BRAKER2 pipeline generates and integrates external protein support into the iterative process of training and gene prediction by GeneMark-EP+ and AUGUSTUS. BRAKER2 continues the line started by BRAKER1 where self-training GeneMark-ET and AUGUSTUS made gene predictions supported by transcriptomic data. Among the challenges addressed by the new pipeline was a generation of reliable hints to protein-coding exon boundaries from likely homologous but evolutionarily distant proteins. In comparison with other pipelines for eukaryotic genome annotation, BRAKER2 is fully automatic. It is favorably compared under equal conditions with other pipelines, e.g. MAKER2, in terms of accuracy and performance. Development of BRAKER2 should facilitate solving the task of harmonization of annotation of protein-coding genes in genomes of different eukaryotic species. However, we fully understand that several more innovations are needed in transcriptomic and proteomic technologies as well as in algorithmic development to reach the goal of highly accurate annotation of eukaryotic genomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Brůna
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Katharina J Hoff
- Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
- Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Alexandre Lomsadze
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Mario Stanke
- Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
- Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Mark Borodovsky
- Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- School of Computational Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Marks RA, Farrant JM, Nicholas McLetchie D, VanBuren R. Unexplored dimensions of variability in vegetative desiccation tolerance. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2021; 108:346-358. [PMID: 33421106 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Desiccation tolerance has evolved recurrently across diverse land plant lineages as an adaptation for survival in regions where seasonal rainfall drives periodic drying of vegetative tissues. Growing interest in this phenomenon has fueled recent physiological, biochemical, and genomic insights into the mechanistic basis of desiccation tolerance. Although, desiccation tolerance is often viewed as binary and monolithic, substantial variation exists in the phenotype and underlying mechanisms across diverse lineages, heterogeneous populations, and throughout the development of individual plants. Most studies have focused on conserved responses in a subset desiccation-tolerant plants under laboratory conditions. Consequently, the variability and natural diversity of desiccation-tolerant phenotypes remains largely uncharacterized. Here, we discuss the natural variation in desiccation tolerance and argue that leveraging this diversity can improve our mechanistic understanding of desiccation tolerance. We summarize information collected from ~600 desiccation-tolerant land plants and discuss the taxonomic distribution and physiology of desiccation responses. We point out the need to quantify natural diversity of desiccation tolerance on three scales: variation across divergent lineages, intraspecific variation across populations, and variation across tissues and life stages of an individual plant. We conclude that this variability should be accounted for in experimental designs and can be leveraged for deeper insights into the intricacies of desiccation tolerance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rose A Marks
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
| | - Jill M Farrant
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
| | | | - Robert VanBuren
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Thanthrige N, Bhowmik SD, Ferguson BJ, Kabbage M, Mundree SG, Williams B. Potential Biotechnological Applications of Autophagy for Agriculture. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:760407. [PMID: 34777441 PMCID: PMC8579036 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.760407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Autophagy is a genetically regulated, eukaryotic cellular degradation system that sequestrates cytoplasmic materials in specialised vesicles, termed autophagosomes, for delivery and breakdown in the lysosome or vacuole. In plants, autophagy plays essential roles in development (e.g., senescence) and responses to abiotic (e.g., nutrient starvation, drought and oxidative stress) and biotic stresses (e.g., hypersensitive response). Initially, autophagy was considered a non-selective bulk degradation mechanism that provides energy and building blocks for homeostatic balance during stress. Recent studies, however, reveal that autophagy may be more subtle and selectively target ubiquitylated protein aggregates, protein complexes and even organelles for degradation to regulate vital cellular processes even during favourable conditions. The selective nature of autophagy lends itself to potential manipulation and exploitation as part of designer protein turnover machinery for the development of stress-tolerant and disease-resistant crops, crops with increased yield potential and agricultural efficiency and reduced post-harvest losses. Here, we discuss our current understanding of autophagy and speculate its potential manipulation for improved agricultural performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nipuni Thanthrige
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Sudipta Das Bhowmik
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Brett J. Ferguson
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Mehdi Kabbage
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Sagadevan G. Mundree
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Brett Williams
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- *Correspondence: Brett Williams,
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Marks RA, Smith JJ, VanBuren R, McLetchie DN. Expression dynamics of dehydration tolerance in the tropical plant Marchantia inflexa. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 105:209-222. [PMID: 33119914 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Tolerance to prolonged water deficit occurs along a continuum in plants, with dehydration tolerance (DhT) and desiccation tolerance (DT) representing some of the most extreme adaptations to water scarcity. Although DhT and DT presumably vary among individuals of a single species, this variability remains largely unstudied. Here, we characterized expression dynamics throughout a dehydration-rehydration time-course in six diverse genotypes of the dioecious liverwort Marchantia inflexa. We identified classical signatures of stress response in M. inflexa, including major changes in transcripts related to metabolism, expression of LEA and ELIP genes, and evidence of cell wall remodeling. However, we detected very little temporal synchronization of these responses across different genotypes of M. inflexa, which may be related to genotypic variation among samples, constitutive expression of dehydration-associated transcripts, the sequestration of mRNAs in ribonucleoprotein partials prior to drying, or the lower tolerance of M. inflexa relative to most bryophytes studied to date. Our characterization of intraspecific variation in expression dynamics suggests that differences in the timing of transcriptional adjustments contribute to variation among genotypes, and that developmental differences impact the relative tolerance of meristematic and differentiated tissues. This work highlights the complexity and variability of water stress tolerance, and underscores the need for comparative studies that seek to characterize variation in DT and DhT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rose A Marks
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Jeramiah J Smith
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA
| | - Robert VanBuren
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Lyall R, Nikoloski Z, Gechev T. Comparative Analysis of ROS Network Genes in Extremophile Eukaryotes. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E9131. [PMID: 33266251 PMCID: PMC7730656 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21239131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The reactive oxygen species (ROS) gene network, consisting of both ROS-generating and detoxifying enzymes, adjusts ROS levels in response to various stimuli. We performed a cross-kingdom comparison of ROS gene networks to investigate how they have evolved across all Eukaryotes, including protists, fungi, plants and animals. We included the genomes of 16 extremotolerant Eukaryotes to gain insight into ROS gene evolution in organisms that experience extreme stress conditions. Our analysis focused on ROS genes found in all Eukaryotes (such as catalases, superoxide dismutases, glutathione reductases, peroxidases and glutathione peroxidase/peroxiredoxins) as well as those specific to certain groups, such as ascorbate peroxidases, dehydroascorbate/monodehydroascorbate reductases in plants and other photosynthetic organisms. ROS-producing NADPH oxidases (NOX) were found in most multicellular organisms, although several NOX-like genes were identified in unicellular or filamentous species. However, despite the extreme conditions experienced by extremophile species, we found no evidence for expansion of ROS-related gene families in these species compared to other Eukaryotes. Tardigrades and rotifers do show ROS gene expansions that could be related to their extreme lifestyles, although a high rate of lineage-specific horizontal gene transfer events, coupled with recent tetraploidy in rotifers, could explain this observation. This suggests that the basal Eukaryotic ROS scavenging systems are sufficient to maintain ROS homeostasis even under the most extreme conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rafe Lyall
- Department Bioinformatics and Mathematical Modelling, Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 139 Ruski Blvd., 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (Z.N.); (T.G.)
| | - Zoran Nikoloski
- Department Bioinformatics and Mathematical Modelling, Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 139 Ruski Blvd., 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (Z.N.); (T.G.)
- Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
- Systems Biology and Mathematical Modelling Group, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Tsanko Gechev
- Department Bioinformatics and Mathematical Modelling, Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 139 Ruski Blvd., 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (Z.N.); (T.G.)
- Department of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, Plovdiv University, 24 Tsar Assen str., 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Yan Q, Wu F, Xu P, Sun Z, Li J, Gao L, Lu L, Chen D, Muktar M, Jones C, Yi X, Zhang J. The elephant grass (Cenchrus purpureus) genome provides insights into anthocyanidin accumulation and fast growth. Mol Ecol Resour 2020; 21:526-542. [PMID: 33040437 PMCID: PMC7821259 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Elephant grass (2n = 4x = 28; Cenchrus purpureus Schumach.), also known as Napier grass, is an important forage grass and potential energy crop in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa and America. However, no study has yet reported a genome assembly for elephant grass at the chromosome scale. Here, we report a high‐quality chromosome‐scale genome of elephant grass with a total size of 1.97 Gb and a 1.5% heterozygosity rate, obtained using short‐read sequencing, single‐molecule long‐read sequencing and Hi‐C chromosome conformation capture. Evolutionary analysis showed that subgenome A' of elephant grass and pearl millet may have originated from a common ancestor more than 3.22 million years ago (MYA). Further, allotetraploid formation occurred at approximately 6.61 MYA. Syntenic analyses within elephant grass and with other grass species indicated that elephant grass has experienced chromosomal rearrangements. We found that some key enzyme‐encoding gene families related to the biosynthesis of anthocyanidins and flavonoids were expanded and highly expressed in leaves, which probably drives the production of these major anthocyanidin compounds and explains why this elephant grass cultivar has a high anthocyanidin content. In addition, we found a high copy number and transcript levels of genes involved in C4 photosynthesis and hormone signal transduction pathways that may contribute to the fast growth of elephant grass. The availability of elephant grass genome data advances our knowledge of the genetic evolution of elephant grass and will contribute to further biological research and breeding as well as for other polyploid plants in the genus Cenchrus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qi Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Fan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Pan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zongyi Sun
- Nextomics Biosciences Institute, Wuhan, China
| | - Jie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Lijuan Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Liyan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Dongdong Chen
- Guangxi Institute of Animal Sciences, Nanning, China
| | - Meki Muktar
- Feed and Forage Development, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Chris Jones
- Feed and Forage Development, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Xianfeng Yi
- Guangxi Institute of Animal Sciences, Nanning, China
| | - Jiyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Engineering Research Center of Grassland Industry, Ministry of Education, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Dirk LMA, Abdel CG, Ahmad I, Neta ICS, Pereira CC, Pereira FECB, Unêda-Trevisoli SH, Pinheiro DG, Downie AB. Late Embryogenesis Abundant Protein-Client Protein Interactions. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 9:E814. [PMID: 32610443 PMCID: PMC7412488 DOI: 10.3390/plants9070814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The intrinsically disordered proteins belonging to the LATE EMBRYOGENESIS ABUNDANT protein (LEAP) family have been ascribed a protective function over an array of intracellular components. We focus on how LEAPs may protect a stress-susceptible proteome. These examples include instances of LEAPs providing a shield molecule function, possibly by instigating liquid-liquid phase separations. Some LEAPs bind directly to their client proteins, exerting a holdase-type chaperonin function. Finally, instances of LEAP-client protein interactions have been documented, where the LEAP modulates (interferes with) the function of the client protein, acting as a surreptitious rheostat of cellular homeostasis. From the examples identified to date, it is apparent that client protein modulation also serves to mitigate stress. While some LEAPs can physically bind and protect client proteins, some apparently bind to assist the degradation of the client proteins with which they associate. Documented instances of LEAP-client protein binding, even in the absence of stress, brings to the fore the necessity of identifying how the LEAPs are degraded post-stress to render them innocuous, a first step in understanding how the cell regulates their abundance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lynnette M. A. Dirk
- Department of Horticulture, University of Kentucky Seed Biology Program, Plant Science Building, 1405 Veterans Drive, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0312, USA;
| | - Caser Ghaafar Abdel
- Agriculture College, Al-Muthanna University, Samawah, Al-Muthanna 66001, Iraq;
| | - Imran Ahmad
- Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Crop Production Sciences, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 25120, Pakistan;
| | | | - Cristiane Carvalho Pereira
- Departamento de Agricultura—Setor de Sementes, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais CEP: 37200-000, Brazil;
| | | | - Sandra Helena Unêda-Trevisoli
- Department of Vegetable Production, (UNESP) National University of São Paulo, Jaboticabal, São Paulo CEP: 14884-900, Brazil;
| | - Daniel Guariz Pinheiro
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Philosophy, Science and Letters of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo CEP: 14040-901, Brazil;
| | - Allan Bruce Downie
- Department of Horticulture, University of Kentucky Seed Biology Program, Plant Science Building, 1405 Veterans Drive, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0312, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Pardo J, Man Wai C, Chay H, Madden CF, Hilhorst HWM, Farrant JM, VanBuren R. Intertwined signatures of desiccation and drought tolerance in grasses. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:10079-10088. [PMID: 32327609 PMCID: PMC7211927 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2001928117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Grasses are among the most resilient plants, and some can survive prolonged desiccation in semiarid regions with seasonal rainfall. However, the genetic elements that distinguish grasses that are sensitive versus tolerant to extreme drying are largely unknown. Here, we leveraged comparative genomic approaches with the desiccation-tolerant grass Eragrostis nindensis and the related desiccation-sensitive cereal Eragrostis tef to identify changes underlying desiccation tolerance. These analyses were extended across C4 grasses and cereals to identify broader evolutionary conservation and divergence. Across diverse genomic datasets, we identified changes in chromatin architecture, methylation, gene duplications, and expression dynamics related to desiccation in E. nindensis It was previously hypothesized that transcriptional rewiring of seed desiccation pathways confers vegetative desiccation tolerance. Here, we demonstrate that the majority of seed-dehydration-related genes showed similar expression patterns in leaves of both desiccation-tolerant and -sensitive species. However, we identified a small set of seed-related orthologs with expression specific to desiccation-tolerant species. This supports a broad role for seed-related genes, where many are involved in typical drought responses, with only a small subset of crucial genes specifically induced in desiccation-tolerant plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Pardo
- Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
- Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
| | - Ching Man Wai
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
- Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
| | - Hannah Chay
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
| | - Christine F Madden
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, 7701 Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Henk W M Hilhorst
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, 6708PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jill M Farrant
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, 7701 Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Robert VanBuren
- Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824;
- Plant Resilience Institute, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Oliver MJ, Farrant JM, Hilhorst HWM, Mundree S, Williams B, Bewley JD. Desiccation Tolerance: Avoiding Cellular Damage During Drying and Rehydration. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PLANT BIOLOGY 2020; 71:435-460. [PMID: 32040342 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-071219-105542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Desiccation of plants is often lethal but is tolerated by the majority of seeds and by vegetative tissues of only a small number of land plants. Desiccation tolerance is an ancient trait, lost from vegetative tissues following the appearance of tracheids but reappearing in several lineages when selection pressures favored its evolution. Cells of all desiccation-tolerant plants and seeds must possess a core set of mechanisms to protect them from desiccation- and rehydration-induced damage. This review explores how desiccation generates cell damage and how tolerant cells assuage the complex array of mechanical, structural, metabolic, and chemical stresses and survive.Likewise, the stress of rehydration requires appropriate mitigating cellular responses. We also explore what comparative genomics, both structural and responsive, have added to our understanding of cellular protection mechanisms induced by desiccation, and how vegetative desiccation tolerance circumvents destructive, stress-induced cell senescence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melvin J Oliver
- Plant Genetics Research Unit, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA
- Current affiliation: Division of Plant Sciences, Interdisciplinary Plant Group, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA;
| | - Jill M Farrant
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa;
| | - Henk W M Hilhorst
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, 6706 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands;
| | - Sagadevan Mundree
- Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point Campus, Brisbane, 4001 Queensland, Australia; ,
| | - Brett Williams
- Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, Queensland University of Technology, Gardens Point Campus, Brisbane, 4001 Queensland, Australia; ,
| | - J Derek Bewley
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada;
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Wang B, Yang J, Xu C, Yi L, Wan C. Dynamic expression of intra‐ and extra‐cellular proteome and the influence of epiphytic bacteria for
Nostoc flagelliforme
in response to rehydration. Environ Microbiol 2020; 22:1251-1264. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bing Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life SciencesCentral China Normal University No. 152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430079 People's Republic of China
| | - Jingjing Yang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life SciencesCentral China Normal University No. 152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430079 People's Republic of China
| | - Chen Xu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life SciencesCentral China Normal University No. 152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430079 People's Republic of China
| | - Lanxing Yi
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life SciencesCentral China Normal University No. 152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430079 People's Republic of China
| | - Cuihong Wan
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, School of Life SciencesCentral China Normal University No. 152 Luoyu Road, Wuhan 430079 People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Lyall R, Schlebusch SA, Proctor J, Prag M, Hussey SG, Ingle RA, Illing N. Vegetative desiccation tolerance in the resurrection plant Xerophyta humilis has not evolved through reactivation of the seed canonical LAFL regulatory network. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 101:1349-1367. [PMID: 31680354 PMCID: PMC7187197 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
It has been hypothesised that vegetative desiccation tolerance in resurrection plants evolved via reactivation of the canonical LAFL (i.e. LEC1, ABI3, FUS3 and LEC2) transcription factor (TF) network that activates the expression of genes during the maturation of orthodox seeds leading to desiccation tolerance of the plant embryo in most angiosperms. There is little direct evidence to support this, however, and the transcriptional changes that occur during seed maturation in resurrection plants have not previously been studied. Here we performed de novo transcriptome assembly for Xerophyta humilis, and analysed gene expression during seed maturation and vegetative desiccation. Our results indicate that differential expression of a set of 4205 genes is common to maturing seeds and desiccating leaves. This shared set of genes is enriched for gene ontology terms related to abiotic stress, including water stress and abscisic acid signalling, and includes many genes that are seed-specific in Arabidopsis thaliana and targets of ABI3. However, while we observed upregulation of orthologues of the canonical LAFL TFs and ABI5 during seed maturation, similar to what is seen in A. thaliana, this did not occur during desiccation of leaf tissue. Thus, reactivation of components of the seed desiccation program in X. humilis vegetative tissues likely involves alternative transcriptional regulators.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rafe Lyall
- Department of Molecular and Cell BiologyUniversity of Cape TownRondebosch7701South Africa
| | - Stephen A. Schlebusch
- Department of Molecular and Cell BiologyUniversity of Cape TownRondebosch7701South Africa
| | - Jessica Proctor
- Department of Molecular and Cell BiologyUniversity of Cape TownRondebosch7701South Africa
| | - Mayur Prag
- Department of Molecular and Cell BiologyUniversity of Cape TownRondebosch7701South Africa
| | - Steven G. Hussey
- Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)University of PretoriaPretoria0002South Africa
| | - Robert A. Ingle
- Department of Molecular and Cell BiologyUniversity of Cape TownRondebosch7701South Africa
| | - Nicola Illing
- Department of Molecular and Cell BiologyUniversity of Cape TownRondebosch7701South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Wang W, Das A, Kainer D, Schalamun M, Morales-Suarez A, Schwessinger B, Lanfear R. The draft nuclear genome assembly of Eucalyptus pauciflora: a pipeline for comparing de novo assemblies. Gigascience 2020; 9:giz160. [PMID: 31895413 PMCID: PMC6939829 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giz160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Eucalyptus pauciflora (the snow gum) is a long-lived tree with high economic and ecological importance. Currently, little genomic information for E. pauciflora is available. Here, we sequentially assemble the genome of Eucalyptus pauciflora with different methods, and combine multiple existing and novel approaches to help to select the best genome assembly. FINDINGS We generated high coverage of long- (Nanopore, 174×) and short- (Illumina, 228×) read data from a single E. pauciflora individual and compared assemblies from 5 assemblers (Canu, SMARTdenovo, Flye, Marvel, and MaSuRCA) with different read lengths (1 and 35 kb minimum read length). A key component of our approach is to keep a randomly selected collection of ∼10% of both long and short reads separated from the assemblies to use as a validation set for assessing assemblies. Using this validation set along with a range of existing tools, we compared the assemblies in 8 ways: contig N50, BUSCO scores, LAI (long terminal repeat assembly index) scores, assembly ploidy, base-level error rate, CGAL (computing genome assembly likelihoods) scores, structural variation, and genome sequence similarity. Our result showed that MaSuRCA generated the best assembly, which is 594.87 Mb in size, with a contig N50 of 3.23 Mb, and an estimated error rate of ∼0.006 errors per base. CONCLUSIONS We report a draft genome of E. pauciflora, which will be a valuable resource for further genomic studies of eucalypts. The approaches for assessing and comparing genomes should help in assessing and choosing among many potential genome assemblies from a single dataset.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weiwen Wang
- Research School of Biology, the Australian National University. 134 Linnaeus Way, Acton, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Ashutosh Das
- Research School of Biology, the Australian National University. 134 Linnaeus Way, Acton, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
- Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University. Khulshi, Chattogram, 4225, Bangladesh
| | - David Kainer
- Research School of Biology, the Australian National University. 134 Linnaeus Way, Acton, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Miriam Schalamun
- Research School of Biology, the Australian National University. 134 Linnaeus Way, Acton, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
- Institute of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences. Muthgasse 18, Vienna, 1190 Wien, Austria
| | - Alejandro Morales-Suarez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University.Building 6SR (E8B), 6 Science Rd, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Benjamin Schwessinger
- Research School of Biology, the Australian National University. 134 Linnaeus Way, Acton, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| | - Robert Lanfear
- Research School of Biology, the Australian National University. 134 Linnaeus Way, Acton, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Gramzow L, Lobbes D, Innard N, Theißen G. Independent origin of MIRNA genes controlling homologous target genes by partial inverted duplication of antisense-transcribed sequences. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 101:401-419. [PMID: 31571291 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.14550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Some microRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of developmental processes, mainly by controlling the accumulation of transcripts encoding transcription factors that are important for morphogenesis. MADS-box genes encode a family of transcription factors which control diverse developmental processes in flowering plants. Here we study the convergent evolution of two MIRNA (MIR) gene families, named MIR444 and MIR824, targeting members of the same clade of MIKCC -group MADS-box genes. We show that these two MIR genes most likely originated independently in monocots (MIR444) and in Brassicales (eudicots, MIR824). We provide evidence that, in both cases, the future target gene was transcribed in antisense prior to the evolution of the MIR genes. Both MIR genes then likely originated by a partial inverted duplication of their target genes, resulting in natural antisense organization of the newly evolved MIR gene and its target gene at birth. We thus propose a model for the origin of MIR genes, MEPIDAS (MicroRNA Evolution by Partial Inverted Duplication of Antisense-transcribed Sequences). MEPIDAS is a refinement of the inverted duplication hypothesis. According to MEPIDAS, a MIR gene evolves at a genomic locus at which the future target gene is also transcribed in the antisense direction. A partial inverted duplication at this locus causes the antisense transcript to fold into a stem-loop structure that is recognized by the miRNA biogenesis machinery to produce a miRNA that regulates the gene at this locus. Our analyses exemplify how to elucidate the origin of conserved miRNAs by comparative genomics and will guide future studies. OPEN RESEARCH BADGE: This article has earned an Open Data Badge for making publicly available the digitally-shareable data necessary to reproduce the reported results. The data is available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genbank/.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Gramzow
- Department of Genetics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 12, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Dajana Lobbes
- Department of Genetics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 12, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Nathan Innard
- Department of Genetics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 12, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Günter Theißen
- Department of Genetics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 12, 07743, Jena, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Radermacher AL, du Toit SF, Farrant JM. Desiccation-Driven Senescence in the Resurrection Plant Xerophyta schlechteri (Baker) N.L. Menezes: Comparison of Anatomical, Ultrastructural, and Metabolic Responses Between Senescent and Non-Senescent Tissues. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:1396. [PMID: 31737017 PMCID: PMC6831622 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Drought-induced senescence is a degenerative process that involves the degradation of cellular metabolites and photosynthetic pigments and uncontrolled dismantling of cellular membranes and organelles. Angiosperm resurrection plants display vegetative desiccation tolerance and avoid drought-induced senescence in most of their tissues. Developmentally older tissues, however, fail to recover during rehydration and ultimately senesce. Comparison of the desiccation-associated responses of older senescent tissues (ST) with non-ST (NST) will allow for understanding of mechanisms promoting senescence in the former and prevention of senescence in the latter. In the monocotyledonous resurrection plant Xerophyta schlechteri (Baker) N.L. Menezes*, leaf tips senesce following desiccation, whereas the rest of the leaf blade survives. We characterized structural and metabolic changes in ST and NST at varying water contents during desiccation and rehydration. Light and transmission electron microscopy was used to follow anatomical and subcellular responses, and metabolic differences were studied using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and colorimetric metabolite assays. The results show that drying below 35% relative water content (0.7 gH2O/g dry mass) in ST resulted in the initiation of age-related senescence hallmarks and that these tissues continue this process after rehydration. We propose that an age-related desiccation sensitivity occurs in older tissues, in a process metabolically similar to that observed during age-related senescence in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jill M. Farrant
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Artur MAS, Rienstra J, Dennis TJ, Farrant JM, Ligterink W, Hilhorst H. Structural Plasticity of Intrinsically Disordered LEA Proteins from Xerophyta schlechteri Provides Protection In Vitro and In Vivo. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:1272. [PMID: 31681372 PMCID: PMC6798065 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins are essential to the ability of resurrection plants and orthodox seeds to protect the subcellular milieu against irreversible damage associated with desiccation. In this work, we investigated the structure and function of six LEA proteins expressed during desiccation in the monocot resurrection species Xerophyta schlechteri (XsLEAs). In silico analyses suggested that XsLEAs are hydrophilic proteins with variable intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) properties. Circular dichroism (CD) analysis indicated that these proteins are mostly unstructured in water but acquire secondary structure in hydrophobic solution, suggesting that structural dynamics may play a role in their function in the subcellular environment. The protective property of XsLEAs was demonstrated by their ability to preserve the activity of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) against desiccation, heat and oxidative stress, as well as growth of Escherichia coli upon exposure to osmotic and salt stress. Subcellular localization analysis indicated that XsLEA recombinant proteins are differentially distributed in the cytoplasm, membranes and nucleus of Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. Interestingly, a LEA_1 family protein (XsLEA1-8), showing the highest disorder-to-order propensity and protective ability in vitro and in vivo, was also able to enhance salt and drought stress tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. Together, our results suggest that the structural plasticity of XsLEAs is essential for their protective activity to avoid damage of various subcellular components caused by water deficit stress. XsLEA1-8 constitutes a potential model protein for engineering structural stability in vitro and improvement of water-deficit stress tolerance in plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Juriaan Rienstra
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Timothy J. Dennis
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jill M. Farrant
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Wilco Ligterink
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Henk Hilhorst
- Laboratory of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|