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Red Light Enhances Plant Adaptation to Spaceflight and Mars g-Levels. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12101484. [PMID: 36294919 PMCID: PMC9605285 DOI: 10.3390/life12101484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how plants respond and adapt to extraterrestrial conditions is essential for space exploration initiatives. Deleterious effects of the space environment on plant development have been reported, such as the unbalance of cell growth and proliferation in the root meristem, or gene expression reprogramming. However, plants are capable of surviving and completing the seed-to-seed life cycle under microgravity. A key research challenge is to identify environmental cues, such as light, which could compensate the negative effects of microgravity. Understanding the crosstalk between light and gravity sensing in space was the major objective of the NASA-ESA Seedling Growth series of spaceflight experiments (2013–2018). Different g-levels were used, with special attention to micro-g, Mars-g, and Earth-g. In spaceflight seedlings illuminated for 4 days with a white light photoperiod and then photostimulated with red light for 2 days, transcriptomic studies showed, first, that red light partially reverted the gene reprogramming induced by microgravity, and that the combination of microgravity and photoactivation was not recognized by seedlings as stressful. Two mutant lines of the nucleolar protein nucleolin exhibited differential requirements in response to red light photoactivation. This observation opens the way to directed-mutagenesis strategies in crop design to be used in space colonization. Further transcriptomic studies at different g-levels showed elevated plastid and mitochondrial genome expression in microgravity, associated with disturbed nucleus–organelle communication, and the upregulation of genes encoding auxin and cytokinin hormonal pathways. At the Mars g-level, genes of hormone pathways related to stress response were activated, together with some transcription factors specifically related to acclimation, suggesting that seedlings grown in partial-g are able to acclimate by modulating genome expression in routes related to space-environment-associated stress.
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Baba AI, Mir MY, Riyazuddin R, Cséplő Á, Rigó G, Fehér A. Plants in Microgravity: Molecular and Technological Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810548. [PMID: 36142459 PMCID: PMC9505700 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Plants are vital components of our ecosystem for a balanced life here on Earth, as a source of both food and oxygen for survival. Recent space exploration has extended the field of plant biology, allowing for future studies on life support farming on distant planets. This exploration will utilize life support technologies for long-term human space flights and settlements. Such longer space missions will depend on the supply of clean air, food, and proper waste management. The ubiquitous force of gravity is known to impact plant growth and development. Despite this, we still have limited knowledge about how plants can sense and adapt to microgravity in space. Thus, the ability of plants to survive in microgravity in space settings becomes an intriguing topic to be investigated in detail. The new knowledge could be applied to provide food for astronaut missions to space and could also teach us more about how plants can adapt to unique environments. Here, we briefly review and discuss the current knowledge about plant gravity-sensing mechanisms and the experimental possibilities to research microgravity-effects on plants either on the Earth or in orbit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abu Imran Baba
- Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-901 83 Umeå, Sweden
- Correspondence: or
| | - Mohd Yaqub Mir
- Doctoral School of Neuroscience, Semmelweis University, H-1083 Budapest, Hungary
- Theoretical Neuroscience and Complex Systems Group, Department of Computational Sciences, Wigner Research Centre for Physics, H-1121 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Riyazuddin Riyazuddin
- Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
- Biological Research Centre (BRC), Institute of Plant Biology, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Ágnes Cséplő
- Biological Research Centre (BRC), Institute of Plant Biology, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gábor Rigó
- Biological Research Centre (BRC), Institute of Plant Biology, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Attila Fehér
- Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
- Biological Research Centre (BRC), Institute of Plant Biology, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
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Schulz H, Strauch SM, Richter P, Wehland M, Krüger M, Sahana J, Corydon TJ, Wise P, Baran R, Lebert M, Grimm D. Latest knowledge about changes in the proteome in microgravity. Expert Rev Proteomics 2022; 19:43-59. [PMID: 35037812 DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2022.2030711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION : A long-term stay of humans in space causes a large number of well-known health problems and changes in protists and plants. Deep space exploration will increase the time humans or rodents will spend in microgravity (µg). Moreover, they are exposed to cosmic radiation, hypodynamia, and isolation. OMICS investigations will increase our knowledge of the underlying mechanisms of µg-induced alterations in vivo and in vitro. AREAS COVERED : We summarize the findings over the recent 3 years on µg-induced changes in the proteome of protists, plants, rodent and human cells. Considering the thematic orientation of microgravity-related publications in that time frame, we focus on medicine-associated findings such as the µg-induced antibiotic resistance of bacteria, the myocardial consequences of µg-induced calpain activation and the role of MMP13 in osteoarthritis. All these point to the fact that µg is an extreme stressor that could not be evolutionarily addressed on Earth. EXPERT COMMENTARY : In conclusion, when interpreting µg-experiments, the direct, mostly unspecific stress response, must be distinguished from specific µg-effects. For this reason, recent studies often do not consider single protein findings but place them in the context of protein-protein interactions. This enables an estimation of functional relationships, especially if these are supported by epigenetic and transcriptional data (multi-omics).
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Affiliation(s)
- Herbert Schulz
- Department of Microgravity and Translational Regenerative Medicine, Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,Research Group 'Magdeburger Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Forschung unter Raumfahrt- und Schwerelosigkeitsbedingungen' (MARS), Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian M Strauch
- Postgraduate Program in Health and Environment, University of Joinville Region, Rua Paulo Malschitzki, 10 - Zona Industrial Norte, Joinville, SC, CEP 89219-710, Brazil
| | - Peter Richter
- Gravitational Biology Group, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University, Staudtstraße 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Markus Wehland
- Department of Microgravity and Translational Regenerative Medicine, Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,Research Group 'Magdeburger Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Forschung unter Raumfahrt- und Schwerelosigkeitsbedingungen' (MARS), Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Marcus Krüger
- Department of Microgravity and Translational Regenerative Medicine, Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,Research Group 'Magdeburger Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Forschung unter Raumfahrt- und Schwerelosigkeitsbedingungen' (MARS), Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | | | - Thomas J Corydon
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark.,Department of Ophthalmology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Petra Wise
- Department of Microgravity and Translational Regenerative Medicine, Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Ronni Baran
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Michael Lebert
- Gravitational Biology Group, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University, Staudtstraße 5, 91058 Erlangen, Germany.,Space Biology Unlimited SAS, 24 Cours de l'Intendance, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Daniela Grimm
- Department of Microgravity and Translational Regenerative Medicine, Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,Research Group 'Magdeburger Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Forschung unter Raumfahrt- und Schwerelosigkeitsbedingungen' (MARS), Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.,Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
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Schierwater B, Osigus HJ, Bergmann T, Blackstone NW, Hadrys H, Hauslage J, Humbert PO, Kamm K, Kvansakul M, Wysocki K, DeSalle R. The enigmatic Placozoa part 2: Exploring evolutionary controversies and promising questions on earth and in space. Bioessays 2021; 43:e2100083. [PMID: 34490659 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202100083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The placozoan Trichoplax adhaerens has been bridging gaps between research disciplines like no other animal. As outlined in part 1, placozoans have been subject of hot evolutionary debates and placozoans have challenged some fundamental evolutionary concepts. Here in part 2 we discuss the exceptional genetics of the phylum Placozoa and point out some challenging model system applications for the best known species, Trichoplax adhaerens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernd Schierwater
- Institute of Animal Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Hans-Jürgen Osigus
- Institute of Animal Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Tjard Bergmann
- Institute of Animal Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Neil W Blackstone
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, USA
| | - Heike Hadrys
- Institute of Animal Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jens Hauslage
- Gravitational Biology, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Patrick O Humbert
- Department of Biochemistry & Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Research Centre for Molecular Cancer Prevention, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kai Kamm
- Institute of Animal Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Marc Kvansakul
- Department of Biochemistry & Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Research Centre for Molecular Cancer Prevention, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kathrin Wysocki
- Institute of Animal Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Rob DeSalle
- American Museum of Natural History, New York, New York, USA
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Sun Y, Kuang Y, Zuo Z. The Emerging Role of Macrophages in Immune System Dysfunction under Real and Simulated Microgravity Conditions. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:2333. [PMID: 33652750 PMCID: PMC7956436 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
In the process of exploring space, the astronaut's body undergoes a series of physiological changes. At the level of cellular behavior, microgravity causes significant alterations, including bone loss, muscle atrophy, and cardiovascular deconditioning. At the level of gene expression, microgravity changes the expression of cytokines in many physiological processes, such as cell immunity, proliferation, and differentiation. At the level of signaling pathways, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway participates in microgravity-induced immune malfunction. However, the mechanisms of these changes have not been fully elucidated. Recent studies suggest that the malfunction of macrophages is an important breakthrough for immune disorders in microgravity. As the first line of immune defense, macrophages play an essential role in maintaining homeostasis. They activate specific immune responses and participate in large numbers of physiological activities by presenting antigen and secreting cytokines. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent advances on the dysfunction of macrophages arisen from microgravity and to discuss the mechanisms of these abnormal responses. Hopefully, our work will contribute not only to the future exploration on the immune system in space, but also to the development of preventive and therapeutic drugs against the physiological consequences of spaceflight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulong Sun
- Key Laboratory for Space Biosciences & Biotechnology, Institute of Special Environmental Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, China; (Y.K.); (Z.Z.)
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