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Wang X, Yamaguchi N. Cause or effect: Probing the roles of epigenetics in plant development and environmental responses. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 81:102569. [PMID: 38833828 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2024.102569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications are inheritable, reversible changes that control gene expression without altering the DNA sequence itself. Recent advances in epigenetic and sequencing technologies have revealed key regulatory regions in genes with multiple epigenetic changes. However, causal associations between epigenetic changes and physiological events have rarely been examined. Epigenome editing enables alterations to the epigenome without changing the underlying DNA sequence. Modifying epigenetic information in plants has important implications for causality assessment of the epigenome. Here, we briefly review tools for selectively interrogating the epigenome. We highlight promising research on site-specific DNA methylation and histone modifications and propose future research directions to more deeply investigate epigenetic regulation, including cause-and-effect relationships between epigenetic modifications and the development/environmental responses of Arabidopsis thaliana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejing Wang
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5, Takayama, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan
| | - Nobutoshi Yamaguchi
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5, Takayama, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan.
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2
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Doddavarapu B, Lata C, Shah JM. Epigenetic regulation influenced by soil microbiota and nutrients: Paving road to epigenome editing in plants. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2024; 1868:130580. [PMID: 38325761 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2024.130580] [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] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Soil is a complex ecosystem that houses microbes and nutrients that are necessary for plant development. Edaphic properties of the soil and environmental conditions influence microbial growth and nutrient accessibility. Various environmental stimuli largely affect the soil microbes and ionic balance, in turn influencing plants. Soil microflora helps decompose organic matter and is involved in mineral uptake. The combination of soil microbes and mineral nutrients notably affects plant growth. Recent advancements have enabled a deeper understanding of plant genetic/molecular regulators. Deficiencies/sufficiencies of soil minerals and microbes also alter plant gene regulation. Gene regulation mediated by epigenetic mechanisms comprises conformational alterations in chromatin structure, DNA/histone modifications, or involvement of small RNAs. Epigenetic regulation is unique due to its potential to inherit without involving alteration of the DNA sequence. Thus, the compilation study of heritable epigenetic changes driven by nutrient imbalances and soil microbes would facilitate understanding this molecular phenomenon in plants. This information can aid in epigenome editing, which has recently emerged as a promising technology for plant non-transgenic/non-mutagenic modification. Potential epigenetic marks induced by biotic and abiotic stresses in plants could be explored as target sites for epigenome editing. This review discusses novel ways of epigenome editing to create epigenome edited plants with desirable and heritable phenotypes. As plants are sessile and in constant exposure to the soil microbiome and nutrients, epigenetic changes induced by these factors could provide more effective, stable and a sustainable molecular solution for crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhavya Doddavarapu
- Department of Plant Science, Central University of Kerala, Kerala, India
| | - Charu Lata
- Inclusive Health & Traditional Knowledge Studies Division, CSIR- National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Jasmine M Shah
- Department of Plant Science, Central University of Kerala, Kerala, India.
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3
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Bajpai SK, Nisha, Pandita S, Bahadur A, Verma PC. Recent advancements in the role of histone acetylation dynamics to improve stress responses in plants. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:413. [PMID: 38472555 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09300-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
In eukaryotes, transcriptional regulation is determined by the DNA sequence and is facilitated through sophisticated and complex chromatin alterations and histone remodelling. Recent research has shown that the histone acetylation dynamic, an intermittent and reversible substitution, constitutes a prerequisite for chromatin modification. These changes in chromatin structure modulate genome-wide and specific changes in response to external and internal cues like cell differentiation, development, growth, light temperature, and biotic stresses. Histone acetylation dynamics also control the cell cycle. HATs and HDACs play a critical role in gene expression modulation during plant growth and response to environmental circumstances. It has been well established that HATs and HDACs interact with various distinct transcription factors and chromatin-remodelling proteins (CRPs) involved in the transcriptional regulation of several developmental processes. This review explores recent research on histone acyltransferases and histone deacetylases, mainly focusing on their involvement in plant biotic stress responses. Moreover, we also emphasized the research gaps that must be filled to fully understand the complete function of histone acetylation dynamics during biotic stress responses in plants. A thorough understanding of histone acetylation will make it possible to enhance tolerance against various kinds of stress and decrease yield losses in many crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay Kumar Bajpai
- Molecular Biology & Biotechnology Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, UP, 226001, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, 201002, India
| | - Nisha
- Molecular Biology & Biotechnology Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, UP, 226001, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, 201002, India
| | - Shivali Pandita
- Molecular Biology & Biotechnology Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, UP, 226001, India
- Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226007, India
| | - Anand Bahadur
- Molecular Biology & Biotechnology Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, UP, 226001, India
- Department of Botany, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226007, India
| | - Praveen C Verma
- Molecular Biology & Biotechnology Division, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, UP, 226001, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, 201002, India.
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Zhang D, Gan Y, Le L, Pu L. Epigenetic variation in maize agronomical traits for breeding and trait improvement. J Genet Genomics 2024:S1673-8527(24)00028-6. [PMID: 38310944 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2024.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetics-mediated breeding (Epibreeding) involves engineering crop traits and stress responses through the targeted manipulation of key epigenetic features to enhance agricultural productivity. While conventional breeding methods raise concerns about reduced genetic diversity, epibreeding propels crop improvement through epigenetic variations that regulate gene expression, ultimately impacting crop yield. Epigenetic regulation in crops encompasses various modes, including histone modification, DNA modification, RNA modification, non-coding RNA, and chromatin remodeling. This review summarizes the epigenetic mechanisms underlying major agronomic traits in maize and identifies candidate epigenetic landmarks in the maize breeding process. We propose a valuable strategy for improving maize yield through epibreeding, combining CRISPR/Cas-based epigenome editing technology and Synthetic Epigenetics (SynEpi). Finally, we discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with maize trait improvement through epibreeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daolei Zhang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; School of Life Science, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010021, China
| | - Yujun Gan
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Liang Le
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Li Pu
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
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Singh VK, Ahmed S, Saini DK, Gahlaut V, Chauhan S, Khandare K, Kumar A, Sharma PK, Kumar J. Manipulating epigenetic diversity in crop plants: Techniques, challenges and opportunities. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2024; 1868:130544. [PMID: 38104668 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130544] [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] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications act as conductors of inheritable alterations in gene expression, all while keeping the DNA sequence intact, thereby playing a pivotal role in shaping plant growth and development. This review article presents an overview of techniques employed to investigate and manipulate epigenetic diversity in crop plants, focusing on both naturally occurring and artificially induced epialleles. The significance of epigenetic modifications in facilitating adaptive responses is explored through the examination of how various biotic and abiotic stresses impact them. Further, environmental chemicals are explored for their role in inducing epigenetic changes, particularly focusing on inhibitors of DNA methylation like 5-AzaC and zebularine, as well as inhibitors of histone deacetylation including trichostatin A and sodium butyrate. The review delves into various approaches for generating epialleles, including tissue culture techniques, mutagenesis, and grafting, elucidating their potential to induce heritable epigenetic modifications in plants. In addition, the ground breaking CRISPR/Cas is emphasized for its accuracy in targeting specific epigenetic changes. This presents a potent tools for deciphering the intricacies of epigenetic mechanisms. Furthermore, the intricate relationship between epigenetic modifications and non-coding RNA expression, including siRNAs and miRNAs, is investigated. The emerging role of exo-RNAi in epigenetic regulation is also introduced, unveiling its promising potential for future applications. The article concludes by addressing the opportunities and challenges presented by these techniques, emphasizing their implications for crop improvement. Conclusively, this extensive review provides valuable insights into the intricate realm of epigenetic changes, illuminating their significance in phenotypic plasticity and their potential in advancing crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shoeb Ahmed
- Ch. Charan Singh University, Meerut 250004, India
| | - Dinesh Kumar Saini
- Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Vijay Gahlaut
- University Centre for Research and Development, Chandigarh University, Mohali 140413, Punjab, India
| | | | - Kiran Khandare
- Center of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing, Mohali 140308, Punjab, India
| | - Ashutosh Kumar
- Center of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing, Mohali 140308, Punjab, India
| | - Pradeep Kumar Sharma
- Ch. Charan Singh University, Meerut 250004, India; Maharaja Suhel Dev State University, Azamgarh 276404, U.P., India
| | - Jitendra Kumar
- National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute, Sector-81, Mohali 140306, Punjab, India.
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Seem K, Kaur S, Kumar S, Mohapatra T. Epigenome editing for targeted DNA (de)methylation: a new perspective in modulating gene expression. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 2024; 59:69-98. [PMID: 38440883 DOI: 10.1080/10409238.2024.2320659] [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] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Traditionally, it has been believed that inheritance is driven as phenotypic variations resulting from changes in DNA sequence. However, this paradigm has been challenged and redefined in the contemporary era of epigenetics. The changes in DNA methylation, histone modification, non-coding RNA biogenesis, and chromatin remodeling play crucial roles in genomic functions and regulation of gene expression. More importantly, some of these changes are inherited to the next generations as a part of epigenetic memory and play significant roles in gene expression. The sum total of all changes in DNA bases, histone proteins, and ncRNA biogenesis constitutes the epigenome. Continuous progress in deciphering epigenetic regulations and the existence of heritable epigenetic/epiallelic variations associated with trait of interest enables to deploy epigenome editing tools to modulate gene expression. DNA methylation marks can be utilized in epigenome editing for the manipulation of gene expression. Initially, genome/epigenome editing technologies relied on zinc-finger protein or transcriptional activator-like effector protein. However, the discovery of clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats CRISPR)/deadCRISPR-associated protein 9 (dCas9) enabled epigenome editing to be more specific/efficient for targeted DNA (de)methylation. One of the major concerns has been the off-target effects, wherein epigenome editing may unintentionally modify gene/regulatory element which may cause unintended change/harmful effects. Moreover, epigenome editing of germline cell raises several ethical/safety issues. This review focuses on the recent developments in epigenome editing tools/techniques, technological limitations, and future perspectives of this emerging technology in therapeutics for human diseases as well as plant improvement to achieve sustainable developmental goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karishma Seem
- Division of Biochemistry, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Simardeep Kaur
- Division of Biochemistry, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Suresh Kumar
- Division of Biochemistry, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India
| | - Trilochan Mohapatra
- Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers' Rights Authority, New Delhi, India
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Chauhan PK, Upadhyay SK, Rajput VD, Dwivedi P, Minkina T, Wong MH. Fostering plant growth performance under drought stress using rhizospheric microbes, their gene editing, and biochar. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2024; 46:41. [PMID: 38227068 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-023-01823-1] [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: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
Stress due to drought lowers crop yield and frequently leads to a rise in food scarcity. Plants' intricate metabolic systems enable them to tolerate drought stress, but they are unable to handle it well. Adding some external, environmentally friendly supplements can boost plant growth and productivity when it comes to drought-stressed plants. In order to prevent the detrimental effects of drought in agricultural regions, environmentally friendly practices must be upheld. Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can exhibit beneficial phytostimulation, mineralization, and biocontrol activities under drought stress. The significant impact of the PGPR previously reported has not been accepted as an effective treatment to lessen drought stress. Recent studies have successfully shown that manipulating microbes can be a better option to reduce the severity of drought in plants. In this review, we demonstrate how modifying agents such as biochar, PGPR consortia, PGPR, and mycorrhizal fungi can help overcome drought stress responses in crop plants. This article also discusses CRISPR/Cas9-modifiable genes, increase plant's effectiveness in drought conditions, and increase plant resistance to drought stress. With an eco-friendly approach in mind, there is a need for practical management techniques having potential prospects based on an integrated strategy mediated by CRISPR-Cas9 editing, PGPR, which may alleviate the effects of drought stress in crops and aid in achieving the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs-2030).
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Affiliation(s)
- Prabhat K Chauhan
- Department of Environmental Science, V.B.S. Purvanchal University, Jaunpur, 222003, India
| | - Sudhir K Upadhyay
- Department of Environmental Science, V.B.S. Purvanchal University, Jaunpur, 222003, India.
| | - Vishnu D Rajput
- Academy of Biology and Biotechnology, Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia, 344090
| | - Padmanabh Dwivedi
- Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Tatiana Minkina
- Academy of Biology and Biotechnology, Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia, 344090
| | - Ming Hung Wong
- Consortium On Health, Environment, Education, and Research (CHEER), and Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, Hong Kong, 999077, China
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Shi L, Su J, Cho MJ, Song H, Dong X, Liang Y, Zhang Z. Promoter editing for the genetic improvement of crops. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023; 74:4349-4366. [PMID: 37204916 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erad175] [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: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Gene expression plays a fundamental role in the regulation of agronomically important traits in crop plants. The genetic manipulation of plant promoters through genome editing has emerged as an effective strategy to create favorable traits in crops by altering the expression pattern of the pertinent genes. Promoter editing can be applied in a directed manner, where nucleotide sequences associated with favorable traits are precisely generated. Alternatively, promoter editing can also be exploited as a random mutagenic approach to generate novel genetic variations within a designated promoter, from which elite alleles are selected based on their phenotypic effects. Pioneering studies have demonstrated the potential of promoter editing in engineering agronomically important traits as well as in mining novel promoter alleles valuable for plant breeding. In this review, we provide an update on the application of promoter editing in crops for increased yield, enhanced tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses, and improved quality. We also discuss several remaining technical bottlenecks and how this strategy may be better employed for the genetic improvement of crops in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Shi
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Food Quality and Safety-State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Ministry of Science and Technology, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Jing Su
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Plant Genome Editing, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Myeong-Je Cho
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA
| | - Hao Song
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Plant Genome Editing, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xiaoou Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for Plant Genome Editing, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya 572025, China
- Zhongshan Biological Breeding Laboratory, No. 50 Zhongling Street, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210014, China
| | - Ying Liang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Food Quality and Safety-State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Ministry of Science and Technology, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Zhiyong Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Food Quality and Safety-State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Ministry of Science and Technology, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China
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Landi S, Punzo P, Nurcato R, Albrizio R, Sanseverino W, Aiese Cigliano R, Giorio P, Fratianni F, Batelli G, Esposito S, Grillo S. Transcriptomic landscape of tomato traditional long shelf-life landraces under low water regimes. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2023; 201:107877. [PMID: 37473675 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.107877] [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: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
'Corbarino' (COR) and 'Lucariello' (LUC) belong to the family of Mediterranean long shelf-life tomato landraces, producing high quality fruits under low water input cultivation regime in their traditional cultivation area. Understanding the morpho-physiological and molecular details of the peculiar drought stress tolerance of these two genotypes may be key to their valorization as breeding material. RNA sequencing of leaf samples of COR and LUC subjected to drought stress by water withholding in a semi-controlled greenhouse identified 3089 and 2135 differentially expressed genes respectively. These included COR- and LUC-specific annotated genes, as well as genes containing single nucleotide polymorphisms as compared to reference genome. Enriched Gene Ontology categories showed that categories such as response to water, oxidoreductase activity, nucleotide salvation and lipid biosynthesis-related processes were enriched among up-regulated DEGs. By contrast, growth and photosynthesis related genes were down-regulated after drought stress, consistent with leaf gas exchange and biomass accumulation measurements. Genes encoding cell wall degrading enzymes of the pectinase family were also down-regulated in drought stress conditions and upregulated in rewatering, indicating that cell wall composition/hardness is important for drought stress responses. Globally our results contribute to understanding the transcriptomic and physiological responses of representative tomato genotypes from Southern Italy, highlighting a promising set of genes to be investigated to improve tomato tolerance to drought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Landi
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, Research Division Portici (CNR-IBBR), Portici, 80055, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, 80126, Italy
| | - Paola Punzo
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, Research Division Portici (CNR-IBBR), Portici, 80055, Italy
| | - Roberta Nurcato
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, Research Division Portici (CNR-IBBR), Portici, 80055, Italy
| | - Rossella Albrizio
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute for Agriculture and Forestry Systems in the Mediterranean (CNR-ISAFoM), Portici, 80055, Italy
| | - Walter Sanseverino
- Sequentia Biotech SL, Carrer Dr. Trueta 179, 3°5a, 08005, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Pasquale Giorio
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute for Agriculture and Forestry Systems in the Mediterranean (CNR-ISAFoM), Portici, 80055, Italy
| | - Florinda Fratianni
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Food Sciences (CNR-ISA), Avellino, 83100, Italy
| | - Giorgia Batelli
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, Research Division Portici (CNR-IBBR), Portici, 80055, Italy
| | - Sergio Esposito
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, 80126, Italy
| | - Stefania Grillo
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, Research Division Portici (CNR-IBBR), Portici, 80055, Italy.
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Kumar M, Rani K. Epigenomics in stress tolerance of plants under the climate change. Mol Biol Rep 2023:10.1007/s11033-023-08539-6. [PMID: 37294468 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08539-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Climate change has had a tremendous impact on the environment in general as well as agricultural crops grown in these situations as time passed. Agricultural production of crops is less suited and of lower quality due to disturbances in plant metabolism brought on by sensitivity to environmental stresses, which are brought on by climate change. Abiotic stressors that are specific to climate change, including as drought, extremes in temperature, increasing CO2, waterlogging from heavy rain, metal toxicity, and pH changes, are known to negatively affect an array of species. Plants adapt to these challenges by undergoing genome-wide epigenetic changes, which are frequently accompanied by differences in transcriptional gene expression. The sum of a cell's biochemical modifications to its nuclear DNA, post-translational modifications to histones, and variations in the synthesis of non-coding RNAs is called an epigenome. These modifications frequently lead to variations in gene expression that occur without any alteration in the underlying base sequence. EPIGENETIC MECHANISMS AND MARKS The methylation of homologous loci by three different modifications-genomic (DNA methylation), chromatin (histone modifications), and RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM)-could be regarded as epigenetic mechanisms that control the regulation of differential gene expression. Stresses from the environment cause chromatin remodelling, which enables plant cells to adjust their expression patterns temporarily or permanently. EPIGENOMICS' CONSEQUENCES FOR GENOME STABILITY AND GENE EXPRESSION: DNA methylation affects gene expression in response to abiotic stressors by blocking or suppressing transcription. Environmental stimuli cause changes in DNA methylation levels, either upward in the case of hypermethylation or downward in the case of hypomethylation. The type of stress response that occurs as a result also affects the degree of DNA methylation alterations. Stress is also influenced by DRM2 and CMT3 methylating CNN, CNG, and CG. Both plant development and stress reactions depend on histone changes. Gene up-regulation is associated with histone tail phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and acetylation, while gene down-regulation is associated with de-acetylation and biotinylation. Plants undergo a variety of dynamic changes to histone tails in response to abiotic stressors. The relevance of these transcripts against stress is highlighted by the accumulation of numerous additional antisense transcripts, a source of siRNAs, caused by abiotic stresses. The study highlights the finding that plants can be protected from a range of abiotic stresses by epigenetic mechanisms such DNA methylation, histone modification, and RNA-directed DNA methylation. TRANSGENERATIONAL INHERITANCE AND SOURCES OF EPIGENETIC VARIATION: Stress results in the formation of epialleles, which are either transient or enduring epigenetic stress memory in plants. After the stress is gone, the stable memory is kept for the duration of the plant's remaining developmental cycles or passed on to the next generations, leading to plant evolution and adaptability. The bulk of epigenetic changes brought on by stress are temporary and return to normal after the stress has passed. Some of the modifications, however, might be long-lasting and transmitted across mitotic or even meiotic cell divisions. Epialleles often have genetic or non-genetic causes. Epialleles can arise spontaneously due to improper methylation state maintenance, short RNA off-target effects, or other non-genetic causes. Developmental or environmental variables that influence the stability of epigenetic states or direct chromatin modifications may also be non-genetic drivers of epigenetic variation. Transposon insertions that change local chromatin and structural rearrangements, such copy number changes that are genetically related or unrelated, are two genetic sources of epialleles. EPIGENOMICS IN CROP IMPROVEMENT To include epigenetics into crop breeding, it is necessary to create epigenetic variation as well as to identify and evaluate epialleles. Epigenome editing or epi-genomic selection may be required for epiallele creation and identification. In order to combat the challenges given by changing environments, these epigenetic mechanisms have generated novel epialleles that can be exploited to develop new crop types that are more climate-resilient. Numerous techniques can be used to alter the epigenome generally or at specific target loci in order to induce the epigenetic alterations necessary for crop development. Technologies like CRISPR/Cas9 and dCas, which have recently advanced, have opened up new avenues for the study of epigenetics. Epialleles could be employed in epigenomics-assisted breeding in addition to sequence-based markers for crop breeding. CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE PROSPECTUS A few of the exciting questions that still need to be resolved in the area of heritable epigenetic variation include a better understanding of the epigenetic foundation of characteristics, the stability and heritability of epialleles, and the sources of epigenetic variation in crops. Investigating long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs) as an epigenetic process might open up a new path to understanding crop plant's ability to withstand abiotic stress. For many of these technologies and approaches to be more applicable and deployable at a lower cost, technological breakthroughs will also be necessary. Breeders will probably need to pay closer attention to crop epialleles and how they can affect future responses to climate changes. The development of epialleles suitable for particular environmental circumstances may be made possible by creating targeted epigenetic changes in pertinent genes and by comprehending the molecular underpinnings of trans generational epigenetic inheritance. More research on a wider variety of plant species is required in order to fully comprehend the mechanisms that produce and stabilise epigenetic variation in crops. In addition to a collaborative and multidisciplinary effort by researchers in many fields of plant science, this will require a greater integration of the epigenomic data gathered in many crops. Before it may be applied generally, more study is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mithlesh Kumar
- AICRN On Potential Crops, ARS Mandor, Agriculture University, Jodhpur, 342 304, Rajasthan, India.
| | - Kirti Rani
- ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), Regional Station, Jodhpur, 342 003, Rajasthan, India
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Zhang F, Neik TX, Thomas WJW, Batley J. CRISPR-Based Genome Editing Tools: An Accelerator in Crop Breeding for a Changing Future. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108623. [PMID: 37239967 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome editing is an important strategy to maintain global food security and achieve sustainable agricultural development. Among all genome editing tools, CRISPR-Cas is currently the most prevalent and offers the most promise. In this review, we summarize the development of CRISPR-Cas systems, outline their classification and distinctive features, delineate their natural mechanisms in plant genome editing and exemplify the applications in plant research. Both classical and recently discovered CRISPR-Cas systems are included, detailing the class, type, structures and functions of each. We conclude by highlighting the challenges that come with CRISPR-Cas and offer suggestions on how to tackle them. We believe the gene editing toolbox will be greatly enriched, providing new avenues for a more efficient and precise breeding of climate-resilient crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangning Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Ting Xiang Neik
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Semenyih 43500, Malaysia
| | - William J W Thomas
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Jacqueline Batley
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
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12
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Qi Q, Hu B, Jiang W, Wang Y, Yan J, Ma F, Guan Q, Xu J. Advances in Plant Epigenome Editing Research and Its Application in Plants. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043442. [PMID: 36834852 PMCID: PMC9961165 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant epistatic regulation is the DNA methylation, non-coding RNA regulation, and histone modification of gene sequences without altering the genome sequence, thus regulating gene expression patterns and the growth process of plants to produce heritable changes. Epistatic regulation in plants can regulate plant responses to different environmental stresses, regulate fruit growth and development, etc. Genome editing can effectively improve plant genetic efficiency by targeting the design and efficient editing of genome-specific loci with specific nucleases, such as zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALEN), and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated 9 (CRISPR/Cas9). As research progresses, the CRISPR/Cas9 system has been widely used in crop breeding, gene expression, and epistatic modification due to its high editing efficiency and rapid translation of results. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of CRISPR/Cas9 in epigenome editing and look forward to the future development direction of this system in plant epigenetic modification to provide a reference for the application of CRISPR/Cas9 in genome editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaoyun Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Bichun Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Weiyu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Yixiong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Jinjiao Yan
- College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Fengwang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Qingmei Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Jidi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
- Correspondence:
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13
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Verma V, Kumar A, Partap M, Thakur M, Bhargava B. CRISPR-Cas: A robust technology for enhancing consumer-preferred commercial traits in crops. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1122940. [PMID: 36824195 PMCID: PMC9941649 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1122940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The acceptance of new crop varieties by consumers is contingent on the presence of consumer-preferred traits, which include sensory attributes, nutritional value, industrial products and bioactive compounds production. Recent developments in genome editing technologies provide novel insight to identify gene functions and improve the various qualitative and quantitative traits of commercial importance in plants. Various conventional as well as advanced gene-mutagenesis techniques such as physical and chemical mutagenesis, CRISPR-Cas9, Cas12 and base editors are used for the trait improvement in crops. To meet consumer demand, breakthrough biotechnologies, especially CRISPR-Cas have received a fair share of scientific and industrial interest, particularly in plant genome editing. CRISPR-Cas is a versatile tool that can be used to knock out, replace and knock-in the desired gene fragments at targeted locations in the genome, resulting in heritable mutations of interest. This review highlights the existing literature and recent developments in CRISPR-Cas technologies (base editing, prime editing, multiplex gene editing, epigenome editing, gene delivery methods) for reliable and precise gene editing in plants. This review also discusses the potential of gene editing exhibited in crops for the improvement of consumer-demanded traits such as higher nutritional value, colour, texture, aroma/flavour, and production of industrial products such as biofuel, fibre, rubber and pharmaceuticals. In addition, the bottlenecks and challenges associated with gene editing system, such as off targeting, ploidy level and the ability to edit organelle genome have also been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vipasha Verma
- Floriculture Laboratory, Agrotechnology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) –Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT), Palampur, India
| | - Akhil Kumar
- Floriculture Laboratory, Agrotechnology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) –Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT), Palampur, India
| | - Mahinder Partap
- Floriculture Laboratory, Agrotechnology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) –Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT), Palampur, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Meenakshi Thakur
- Floriculture Laboratory, Agrotechnology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) –Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT), Palampur, India
| | - Bhavya Bhargava
- Floriculture Laboratory, Agrotechnology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) –Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT), Palampur, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India
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14
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Sen MK, Hamouzová K, Košnarová P, Roy A, Soukup J. Herbicide resistance in grass weeds: Epigenetic regulation matters too. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1040958. [PMID: 36438151 PMCID: PMC9685620 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1040958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Although herbicides have been successfully used for controlling weeds, their continuous use has developed in the evolution of resistance to all major herbicide modes of action worldwide. Reports suggest that the members of Poaceae family are more prone to developing herbicide resistance than other families. In plants, epigenetic mechanisms play critical roles by increasing their stress-adaptive potential in a rapidly changing environment. Epigenetic mechanisms involve alteration of the expression of genetic elements, but without any changes in the DNA sequence. Although the possible roles of epigenetic mechanisms in contributing to survival and fitness under various stresses are well documented in model plants and crops, their contribution to herbicide resistance in weeds is still in its infancy. A few studies with herbicides have shown differential expression of DNA methyltransferases, histone methyltransferases and DNA demethylases in response to the herbicides; however, no further studies were conducted. In the case of herbicide stress, exploring how these epigenetic processes affect the gene expression pattern in individual plants subjected to recurrent selection would be exciting. Hence, our mini-review will focus on the potential contributions of epigenetic mechanisms to the adaptive responses of grass-weedy species to herbicide stress. A better understanding of these epigenetic changes will add novel perceptions to our knowledge of herbicide resistance evolution in weeds enabling the development of herbicides with novel targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhab Kumar Sen
- Department of Agroecology and Crop Production, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Katerina Hamouzová
- Department of Agroecology and Crop Production, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Pavlína Košnarová
- Department of Agroecology and Crop Production, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Amit Roy
- Excellent Team for Mitigation (E.T.M.), Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Praha, Czechia
| | - Josef Soukup
- Department of Agroecology and Crop Production, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
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15
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Genome-Wide Identification of Brassicaceae Hormone-Related Transcription Factors and Their Roles in Stress Adaptation and Plant Height Regulation in Allotetraploid Rapeseed. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158762. [PMID: 35955899 PMCID: PMC9369146 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Phytohormone-related transcription factors (TFs) are involved in regulating stress responses and plant growth. However, systematic analysis of these TFs in Brassicaceae is limited, and their functions in stress adaptation and plant height (PH) regulation remain unclear. In this study, 2115 hormone-related TFs were identified in nine Brassicaceae species. Specific domains were found in several Brassicaceae hormone-related TFs, which may be associated with diverse functions. Syntenic analysis indicated that expansion of these genes was mainly caused by segmental duplication, with whole-genome duplication occurring in some species. Differential expression analysis and gene co-expression network analysis identified seven phytohormone-related TFs (BnaWRKY7, 21, 32, 38, 52, BnaGL3-4, and BnaAREB2-5) as possible key genes for cadmium (Cd) toxicity, salinity stress, and potassium (K) and nitrogen (N) deficiencies. Furthermore, BnaWRKY42 and BnaARR21 may play essential roles in plant height. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified 15 phytohormone-related TFs and their potential target genes regulating stress adaptation and plant height. Among the above genes, BnaWRKY56 and BnaWRKY60 responded to four different stresses simultaneously, and BnaWRKY42 was identified in two dwarf rapeseeds. In summary, several candidate genes for stress resistance (BnaWRKY56 and BnaWRKY60) and plant height (BnaWRKY42) were identified. These findings should help elucidate the biological roles of Brassicaceae hormone-related TFs, and the identified candidate genes should provide a genetic resource for the potential development of stress-tolerant and dwarf oilseed plants.
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16
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A review on CRISPR/Cas-based epigenetic regulation in plants. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 219:1261-1271. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.08.182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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17
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Shin H, Choi WL, Lim JY, Huh JH. Epigenome editing: targeted manipulation of epigenetic modifications in plants. Genes Genomics 2022; 44:307-315. [PMID: 35000141 DOI: 10.1007/s13258-021-01199-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic modifications play important roles in diverse cellular processes such as X chromosome inactivation, cell differentiation, development and senescence. DNA methylation and histone modifications are major epigenetic modifications that regulate chromatin structure and gene expression without DNA sequence changes. Epigenetic alterations may induce phenotypic changes stable enough for mitotic or meiotic inheritance. Moreover, the reversibility of epigenetic marks makes the manipulation of chromatin and epigenetic signature an attractive strategy for therapeutic and breeding purposes. Targeted epigenetic manipulation, or epigenome editing, at the gene of interest commonly utilizes specific epigenetic modifiers fused with a targeting module of the conventional genome editing system. OBJECTIVE This review aims to summarize essential epigenetic components and introduce currently available epigenetic mutants and the corresponding epialleles in plants. Furthermore, advances in epigenome editing technology are discussed while proposing its potential application to plant breeding. CONCLUSIONS Epimutations associated with useful traits may provide a valuable resource for crop development. It is important to explore epimutations in a variety of crop species while understanding the fundamental aspects of epigenetic regulation of agronomically important traits such as yield, quality, disease resistance and stress tolerance. In the end, plant breeding programs through epigenome editing may help not only to expand the use of limited genetic resources but also to alleviate consumers' concerns about genetically manipulated crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hosub Shin
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Bioresources, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, 08826, Seoul, South Korea.,Plant Genomics and Breeding Institute, Seoul National University, 08826, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Woo Lee Choi
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Bioresources, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, 08826, Seoul, South Korea.,Plant Genomics and Breeding Institute, Seoul National University, 08826, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Joo Young Lim
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Bioresources, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, 08826, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jin Hoe Huh
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Bioresources, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, 08826, Seoul, South Korea. .,Plant Genomics and Breeding Institute, Seoul National University, 08826, Seoul, South Korea. .,Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, 08826, Seoul, South Korea.
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18
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Rasheed A, Gill RA, Hassan MU, Mahmood A, Qari S, Zaman QU, Ilyas M, Aamer M, Batool M, Li H, Wu Z. A Critical Review: Recent Advancements in the Use of CRISPR/Cas9 Technology to Enhance Crops and Alleviate Global Food Crises. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2021; 43:1950-1976. [PMID: 34889892 PMCID: PMC8929161 DOI: 10.3390/cimb43030135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome editing (GE) has revolutionized the biological sciences by creating a novel approach for manipulating the genomes of living organisms. Many tools have been developed in recent years to enable the editing of complex genomes. Therefore, a reliable and rapid approach for increasing yield and tolerance to various environmental stresses is necessary to sustain agricultural crop production for global food security. This critical review elaborates the GE tools used for crop improvement. These tools include mega-nucleases (MNs), such as zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), and transcriptional activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR). Specifically, this review addresses the latest advancements in the role of CRISPR/Cas9 for genome manipulation for major crop improvement, including yield and quality development of biotic stress- and abiotic stress-tolerant crops. Implementation of this technique will lead to the production of non-transgene crops with preferred characteristics that can result in enhanced yield capacity under various environmental stresses. The CRISPR/Cas9 technique can be combined with current and potential breeding methods (e.g., speed breeding and omics-assisted breeding) to enhance agricultural productivity to ensure food security. We have also discussed the challenges and limitations of CRISPR/Cas9. This information will be useful to plant breeders and researchers in the thorough investigation of the use of CRISPR/Cas9 to boost crops by targeting the gene of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adnan Rasheed
- Key Laboratory of Crops Physiology, Ecology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Education/College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (A.R.); (H.L.)
| | - Rafaqat Ali Gill
- Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430062, China; (R.A.G.); (Q.U.Z.)
| | - Muhammad Umair Hassan
- Research Center on Ecological Sciences, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (M.U.H.); (M.A.)
| | - Athar Mahmood
- Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan;
| | - Sameer Qari
- Biology Department, (Genetics and Molecular Biology Central Laboratory), Aljumum University College, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 24382, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Qamar U. Zaman
- Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430062, China; (R.A.G.); (Q.U.Z.)
| | - Muhammad Ilyas
- University College of Dera Murad Jamali, Nasirabad 80700, Balochistan, Pakistan;
| | - Muhammad Aamer
- Research Center on Ecological Sciences, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (M.U.H.); (M.A.)
| | - Maria Batool
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China;
| | - Huijie Li
- Key Laboratory of Crops Physiology, Ecology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Education/College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (A.R.); (H.L.)
- College of Humanity and Public Administration, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China
| | - Ziming Wu
- Key Laboratory of Crops Physiology, Ecology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Education/College of Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China; (A.R.); (H.L.)
- Correspondence:
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19
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Borjigin C, Schilling RK, Jewell N, Brien C, Sanchez-Ferrero JC, Eckermann PJ, Watson-Haigh NS, Berger B, Pearson AS, Roy SJ. Identifying the genetic control of salinity tolerance in the bread wheat landrace Mocho de Espiga Branca. FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY : FPB 2021; 48:1148-1160. [PMID: 34600599 DOI: 10.1071/fp21140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Salinity tolerance in bread wheat is frequently reported to be associated with low leaf sodium (Na+) concentrations. However, the Portuguese landrace, Mocho de Espiga Branca, accumulates significantly higher leaf Na+ but has comparable salinity tolerance to commercial bread wheat cultivars. To determine the genetic loci associated with the salinity tolerance of this landrace, an F2 mapping population was developed by crossing Mocho de Espiga Branca with the Australian cultivar Gladius. The population was phenotyped for 19 salinity tolerance subtraits using both non-destructive and destructive techniques. Genotyping was performed using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). Genomic regions associated with salinity tolerance were detected on chromosomes 1A, 1D, 4B and 5A for the subtraits of relative and absolute growth rate (RGR, AGR respectively), and on chromosome 2A, 2B, 4D and 5D for Na+, potassium (K+) and chloride (Cl-) accumulation. Candidate genes that encode proteins associated with salinity tolerance were identified within the loci including Na+/H+ antiporters, K+ channels, H+-ATPase, calcineurin B-like proteins (CBLs), CBL-interacting protein kinases (CIPKs), calcium dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) and calcium-transporting ATPase. This study provides a new insight into the genetic control of salinity tolerance in a Na+ accumulating bread wheat to assist with the future development of salt tolerant cultivars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chana Borjigin
- Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; and School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia
| | - Rhiannon K Schilling
- Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; and School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; and Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australian Research and Development Institute, Urrbrae, SA 5064, Australia
| | - Nathaniel Jewell
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; and Australian Plant Phenomics Facility, The Plant Accelerator, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia
| | - Chris Brien
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; and Australian Plant Phenomics Facility, The Plant Accelerator, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia
| | - Juan Carlos Sanchez-Ferrero
- Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; and School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia
| | - Paul J Eckermann
- Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; and School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia
| | - Nathan S Watson-Haigh
- Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; and School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; and South Australian Genomics Centre, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Bettina Berger
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; and Australian Plant Phenomics Facility, The Plant Accelerator, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia
| | - Allison S Pearson
- Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; and School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; and ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia
| | - Stuart J Roy
- Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; and School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; and ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Wheat in a Hot and Dry Climate, The University of Adelaide, PMB1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia
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20
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Karlson CKS, Mohd-Noor SN, Nolte N, Tan BC. CRISPR/dCas9-Based Systems: Mechanisms and Applications in Plant Sciences. PLANTS 2021; 10:plants10102055. [PMID: 34685863 PMCID: PMC8540305 DOI: 10.3390/plants10102055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
RNA-guided genomic transcriptional regulation tools, namely clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats interference (CRISPRi) and CRISPR-mediated gene activation (CRISPRa), are a powerful technology for gene functional studies. Deriving from the CRISPR/Cas9 system, both systems consist of a catalytically dead Cas9 (dCas9), a transcriptional effector and a single guide RNA (sgRNA). This type of dCas9 is incapable to cleave DNA but retains its ability to specifically bind to DNA. The binding of the dCas9/sgRNA complex to a target gene results in transcriptional interference. The CRISPR/dCas9 system has been explored as a tool for transcriptional modulation and genome imaging. Despite its potential applications and benefits, the challenges and limitations faced by the CRISPR/dCas9 system include the off-target effects, protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) sequence requirements, efficient delivery methods and the CRISPR/dCas9-interfered crops being labeled as genetically modified organisms in several countries. This review highlights the progression of CRISPR/dCas9 technology as well as its applications and potential challenges in crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chou Khai Soong Karlson
- Center for Research in Biotechnology for Agriculture (CEBAR), Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia;
| | - Siti Nurfadhlina Mohd-Noor
- Institute of Microengineering and Nanoelectronics (IMEN), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Malaysia;
| | - Nadja Nolte
- Department of Plant Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands;
| | - Boon Chin Tan
- Center for Research in Biotechnology for Agriculture (CEBAR), Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +60-3-7967-7982
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21
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Citiulo F, Crosatti C, Cattivelli L, Biselli C. Frontiers in the Standardization of the Plant Platform for High Scale Production of Vaccines. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:1828. [PMID: 34579360 PMCID: PMC8467261 DOI: 10.3390/plants10091828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the value of technologies that allow a fast setup and production of biopharmaceuticals in emergency situations. The plant factory system can provide a fast response to epidemics/pandemics. Thanks to their scalability and genome plasticity, plants represent advantageous platforms to produce vaccines. Plant systems imply less complicated production processes and quality controls with respect to mammalian and bacterial cells. The expression of vaccines in plants is based on transient or stable transformation systems and the recent progresses in genome editing techniques, based on the CRISPR/Cas method, allow the manipulation of DNA in an efficient, fast, and easy way by introducing specific modifications in specific sites of a genome. Nonetheless, CRISPR/Cas is far away from being fully exploited for vaccine expression in plants. In this review, an overview of the potential conjugation of the renewed vaccine technologies (i.e., virus-like particles-VLPs, and industrialization of the production process) with genome editing to produce vaccines in plants is reported, illustrating the potential advantages in the standardization of the plant platforms, with the overtaking of constancy of large-scale production challenges, facilitating regulatory requirements and expediting the release and commercialization of the vaccine products of genome edited plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Citiulo
- GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Cristina Crosatti
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Via San Protaso 302, 29017 Fiorenzuola d’Arda, Italy; (C.C.); (L.C.)
| | - Luigi Cattivelli
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Via San Protaso 302, 29017 Fiorenzuola d’Arda, Italy; (C.C.); (L.C.)
| | - Chiara Biselli
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Viticulture and Enology, Viale Santa Margherita 80, 52100 Arezzo, Italy
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22
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Deciphering Plant Chromatin Regulation via CRISPR/dCas9-Based Epigenome Engineering. EPIGENOMES 2021; 5:epigenomes5030017. [PMID: 34968366 PMCID: PMC8594717 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes5030017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-based epigenome editing uses dCas9 as a platform to recruit transcription or chromatin regulators at chosen loci. Despite recent and ongoing advances, the full potential of these approaches to studying chromatin functions in vivo remains challenging to exploit. In this review we discuss how recent progress in plants and animals provides new routes to investigate the function of chromatin regulators and address the complexity of associated regulations that are often interconnected. While efficient transcriptional engineering methodologies have been developed and can be used as tools to alter the chromatin state of a locus, examples of direct manipulation of chromatin regulators remain scarce in plants. These reports also reveal pitfalls and limitations of epigenome engineering approaches that are nevertheless informative as they are often associated with locus- and context-dependent features, which include DNA accessibility, initial chromatin and transcriptional state or cellular dynamics. Strategies implemented in different organisms to overcome and even take advantage of these limitations are highlighted, which will further improve our ability to establish the causality and hierarchy of chromatin dynamics on genome regulation.
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Fraga OT, de Melo BP, Quadros IPS, Reis PAB, Fontes EPB. Senescence-Associated Glycine max ( Gm) NAC Genes: Integration of Natural and Stress-Induced Leaf Senescence. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:8287. [PMID: 34361053 PMCID: PMC8348617 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Leaf senescence is a genetically regulated developmental process that can be triggered by a variety of internal and external signals, including hormones and environmental stimuli. Among the senescence-associated genes controlling leaf senescence, the transcriptional factors (TFs) comprise a functional class that is highly active at the onset and during the progression of leaf senescence. The plant-specific NAC (NAM, ATAF, and CUC) TFs are essential for controlling leaf senescence. Several members of Arabidopsis AtNAC-SAGs are well characterized as players in elucidated regulatory networks. However, only a few soybean members of this class display well-known functions; knowledge about their regulatory circuits is still rudimentary. Here, we describe the expression profile of soybean GmNAC-SAGs upregulated by natural senescence and their functional correlation with putative AtNAC-SAGs orthologs. The mechanisms and the regulatory gene networks underlying GmNAC081- and GmNAC030-positive regulation in leaf senescence are discussed. Furthermore, new insights into the role of GmNAC065 as a negative senescence regulator are presented, demonstrating extraordinary functional conservation with the Arabidopsis counterpart. Finally, we describe a regulatory circuit which integrates a stress-induced cell death program with developmental leaf senescence via the NRP-NAC-VPE signaling module.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otto Teixeira Fraga
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570.000, MG, Brazil; (O.T.F.); (B.P.d.M.); (I.P.S.Q.); (P.A.B.R.)
- National Institute of Science and Technology in Plant-Pest Interactions, INCTIPP–BIOAGRO, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570.000, MG, Brazil
| | - Bruno Paes de Melo
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570.000, MG, Brazil; (O.T.F.); (B.P.d.M.); (I.P.S.Q.); (P.A.B.R.)
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília 70770.917, DF, Brazil
| | - Iana Pedro Silva Quadros
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570.000, MG, Brazil; (O.T.F.); (B.P.d.M.); (I.P.S.Q.); (P.A.B.R.)
- National Institute of Science and Technology in Plant-Pest Interactions, INCTIPP–BIOAGRO, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570.000, MG, Brazil
| | - Pedro Augusto Braga Reis
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570.000, MG, Brazil; (O.T.F.); (B.P.d.M.); (I.P.S.Q.); (P.A.B.R.)
- National Institute of Science and Technology in Plant-Pest Interactions, INCTIPP–BIOAGRO, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570.000, MG, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth Pacheco Batista Fontes
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570.000, MG, Brazil; (O.T.F.); (B.P.d.M.); (I.P.S.Q.); (P.A.B.R.)
- National Institute of Science and Technology in Plant-Pest Interactions, INCTIPP–BIOAGRO, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570.000, MG, Brazil
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Melo BP, Lourenço-Tessutti IT, Fraga OT, Pinheiro LB, de Jesus Lins CB, Morgante CV, Engler JA, Reis PAB, Grossi-de-Sá MF, Fontes EPB. Contrasting roles of GmNAC065 and GmNAC085 in natural senescence, plant development, multiple stresses and cell death responses. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11178. [PMID: 34045652 PMCID: PMC8160357 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90767-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
NACs are plant-specific transcription factors involved in controlling plant development, stress responses, and senescence. As senescence-associated genes (SAGs), NACs integrate age- and stress-dependent pathways that converge to programmed cell death (PCD). In Arabidopsis, NAC-SAGs belong to well-characterized regulatory networks, poorly understood in soybean. Here, we interrogated the soybean genome and provided a comprehensive analysis of senescence-associated Glycine max (Gm) NACs. To functionally examine GmNAC-SAGs, we selected GmNAC065, a putative ortholog of Arabidopsis ANAC083/VNI2 SAG, and the cell death-promoting GmNAC085, an ANAC072 SAG putative ortholog, for analyses. Expression analysis of GmNAC065 and GmNAC085 in soybean demonstrated (i) these cell death-promoting GmNACs display contrasting expression changes during age- and stress-induced senescence; (ii) they are co-expressed with functionally different gene sets involved in stress and PCD, and (iii) are differentially induced by PCD inducers. Furthermore, we demonstrated GmNAC065 expression delays senescence in Arabidopsis, a phenotype associated with enhanced oxidative performance under multiple stresses, higher chlorophyll, carotenoid and sugar contents, and lower stress-induced PCD compared to wild-type. In contrast, GmNAC085 accelerated stress-induced senescence, causing enhanced chlorophyll loss, ROS accumulation and cell death, decreased antioxidative system expression and activity. Accordingly, GmNAC065 and GmNAC085 targeted functionally contrasting sets of downstream AtSAGs, further indicating that GmNAC85 and GmNAC065 regulators function inversely in developmental and environmental PCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Paes Melo
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil.
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, CENARGEN, Brasília, Brazil.
- Pole Sophia Agrobiotech, Institute Nacional de la Recherche Agronomique, INRAE, Sophia Antipolis, France.
- National Institute in Science and Technology in Plant-Pest Interactions, NCTIPP, Bioagro, Viçosa, Brazil.
| | - Isabela Tristan Lourenço-Tessutti
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, CENARGEN, Brasília, Brazil
- Pole Sophia Agrobiotech, Institute Nacional de la Recherche Agronomique, INRAE, Sophia Antipolis, France
- National Institute in Science and Technology, INCT Plant Stress-Biotech, CENARGEN, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Otto Teixeira Fraga
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
- National Institute in Science and Technology in Plant-Pest Interactions, NCTIPP, Bioagro, Viçosa, Brazil
| | - Luanna Bezerra Pinheiro
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, CENARGEN, Brasília, Brazil
- Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology Program, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- National Institute in Science and Technology, INCT Plant Stress-Biotech, CENARGEN, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Camila Barrozo de Jesus Lins
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, CENARGEN, Brasília, Brazil
- National Institute in Science and Technology, INCT Plant Stress-Biotech, CENARGEN, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Carolina Vianna Morgante
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, CENARGEN, Brasília, Brazil
- National Institute in Science and Technology, INCT Plant Stress-Biotech, CENARGEN, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Janice Almeida Engler
- Pole Sophia Agrobiotech, Institute Nacional de la Recherche Agronomique, INRAE, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Pedro Augusto Braga Reis
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
- National Institute in Science and Technology in Plant-Pest Interactions, NCTIPP, Bioagro, Viçosa, Brazil
| | - Maria Fátima Grossi-de-Sá
- Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, CENARGEN, Brasília, Brazil
- Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology Program, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- National Institute in Science and Technology, INCT Plant Stress-Biotech, CENARGEN, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Elizabeth Pacheco Batista Fontes
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil.
- National Institute in Science and Technology in Plant-Pest Interactions, NCTIPP, Bioagro, Viçosa, Brazil.
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