1
|
Yong Y, Hu S, Zhong M, Wen Y, Zhou Y, Ma R, Jiang X, Zhang Q. Horizontal gene transfer from chloroplast to mitochondria of seagrasses in the yellow-Bohai seas. Genomics 2024; 116:110940. [PMID: 39303860 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2024.110940] [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: 06/01/2024] [Revised: 09/13/2024] [Accepted: 09/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
Seagrasses are ideal for studying plant adaptation to marine environments. In this study, the mitochondrial (mt) and chloroplast (cp) genomes of Ruppia sinensis were sequenced. The results showed an extensive gene loss in seagrasses, including a complete loss of cp-rpl19 genes in Zosteraceae, most cp-ndh genes in Hydrocharitaceae, and mt-rpl and mt-rps genes in all seagrasses, except for the mt-rpl16 gene in Phyllospadix iwatensis. Notably, most ribosomal protein genes were lost in the mt and cp genomes. The deleted cp genes were not transferred to the mt genomes through horizontal gene transfer. Additionally, a significant DNA transfer between seagrass organelles was found, with the mt genomes of Zostera containing numerous sequences from the cp genome. Rearrangement analyses revealed an unreported inversion of the cp genome in R. sinensis. Moreover, four positively selected genes (atp8, nad5, atp4, and ccmFn) and five variable regions (matR, atp4, atp8, rps7, and ccmFn) were identified.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yushun Yong
- Ocean School, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, PR China; Shandong Marine Resources and Environment Research Institute, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Restoration for Marine Ecology, Yantai 264006, PR China
| | - Shunxin Hu
- Ocean School, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, PR China; Shandong Marine Resources and Environment Research Institute, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Restoration for Marine Ecology, Yantai 264006, PR China
| | - Mingyu Zhong
- Ocean School, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, PR China
| | - Yun Wen
- Ocean School, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, PR China
| | - Yue Zhou
- Ocean School, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, PR China
| | - Ruixue Ma
- Ocean School, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, PR China
| | - Xiangyang Jiang
- Shandong Marine Resources and Environment Research Institute, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Restoration for Marine Ecology, Yantai 264006, PR China
| | - Quansheng Zhang
- Ocean School, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, PR China; Shandong Marine Resources and Environment Research Institute, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Restoration for Marine Ecology, Yantai 264006, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Xu S, Shao S, Feng X, Li S, Zhang L, Wu W, Liu M, Tracy ME, Zhong C, Guo Z, Wu CI, Shi S, He Z. Adaptation in Unstable Environments and Global Gene Losses: Small but Stable Gene Networks by the May-Wigner Theory. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae059. [PMID: 38507653 PMCID: PMC10991078 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Although gene loss is common in evolution, it remains unclear whether it is an adaptive process. In a survey of seven major mangrove clades that are woody plants in the intertidal zones of daily environmental perturbations, we noticed that they generally evolved reduced gene numbers. We then focused on the largest clade of Rhizophoreae and observed the continual gene set reduction in each of the eight species. A great majority of gene losses are concentrated on environmental interaction processes, presumably to cope with the constant fluctuations in the tidal environments. Genes of the general processes for woody plants are largely retained. In particular, fewer gene losses are found in physiological traits such as viviparous seeds, high salinity, and high tannin content. Given the broad and continual genome reductions, we propose the May-Wigner theory (MWT) of system stability as a possible mechanism. In MWT, the most effective solution for buffering continual perturbations is to reduce the size of the system (or to weaken the total genic interactions). Mangroves are unique as immovable inhabitants of the compound environments in the land-sea interface, where environmental gradients (such as salinity) fluctuate constantly, often drastically. Extending MWT to gene regulatory network (GRN), computer simulations and transcriptome analyses support the stabilizing effects of smaller gene sets in mangroves vis-à-vis inland plants. In summary, we show the adaptive significance of gene losses in mangrove plants, including the specific role of promoting phenotype innovation and a general role in stabilizing GRN in unstable environments as predicted by MWT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shaohua Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Ecology, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shao Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lingjie Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weihong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Min Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Miles E Tracy
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Cairong Zhong
- Institute of Wetland Research, Hainan Academy of Forestry (Hainan Academy of Mangrove), Haikou, China
| | - Zixiao Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chung-I Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Suhua Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ziwen He
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Moreira-Saporiti A, Teichberg M, Garnier E, Cornelissen JHC, Alcoverro T, Björk M, Boström C, Dattolo E, Eklöf JS, Hasler-Sheetal H, Marbà N, Marín-Guirao L, Meysick L, Olivé I, Reusch TBH, Ruocco M, Silva J, Sousa AI, Procaccini G, Santos R. A trait-based framework for seagrass ecology: Trends and prospects. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1088643. [PMID: 37021321 PMCID: PMC10067889 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1088643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
In the last three decades, quantitative approaches that rely on organism traits instead of taxonomy have advanced different fields of ecological research through establishing the mechanistic links between environmental drivers, functional traits, and ecosystem functions. A research subfield where trait-based approaches have been frequently used but poorly synthesized is the ecology of seagrasses; marine angiosperms that colonized the ocean 100M YA and today make up productive yet threatened coastal ecosystems globally. Here, we compiled a comprehensive trait-based response-effect framework (TBF) which builds on previous concepts and ideas, including the use of traits for the study of community assembly processes, from dispersal and response to abiotic and biotic factors, to ecosystem function and service provision. We then apply this framework to the global seagrass literature, using a systematic review to identify the strengths, gaps, and opportunities of the field. Seagrass trait research has mostly focused on the effect of environmental drivers on traits, i.e., "environmental filtering" (72%), whereas links between traits and functions are less common (26.9%). Despite the richness of trait-based data available, concepts related to TBFs are rare in the seagrass literature (15% of studies), including the relative importance of neutral and niche assembly processes, or the influence of trait dominance or complementarity in ecosystem function provision. These knowledge gaps indicate ample potential for further research, highlighting the need to understand the links between the unique traits of seagrasses and the ecosystem services they provide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Agustín Moreira-Saporiti
- Faculty for Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
- Algae and Seagrass Ecology Group, Department of Ecology, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Bremen, Germany
| | - Mirta Teichberg
- Algae and Seagrass Ecology Group, Department of Ecology, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Bremen, Germany
| | - Eric Garnier
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | | | | | - Mats Björk
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences (DEEP), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Emanuela Dattolo
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - Johan S. Eklöf
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences (DEEP), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Nuria Marbà
- Global Change Research Group, Institut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats (IMEDEA, CSIC-UIB), Esporles Illes Balears, Spain
| | - Lázaro Marín-Guirao
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
- Oceanographic Center of Murcia, Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC), Murcia, Spain
| | - Lukas Meysick
- Åbo Akademi University, Environmental and Marine Biology, Åbo, Finland
- Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB) at the University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Germany
| | - Irene Olivé
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
- School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Thorsten B. H. Reusch
- Marine Evolutionary Ecology, Division of Marine Ecology, GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Miriam Ruocco
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - João Silva
- Centro de Ciências do Mar, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal
| | - Ana I. Sousa
- CESAM – Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Gabriele Procaccini
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - Rui Santos
- Centro de Ciências do Mar, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hu Y, Wang X, Xu Y, Yang H, Tong Z, Tian R, Xu S, Yu L, Guo Y, Shi P, Huang S, Yang G, Shi S, Wei F. Molecular mechanisms of adaptive evolution in wild animals and plants. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2023; 66:453-495. [PMID: 36648611 PMCID: PMC9843154 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-022-2233-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Wild animals and plants have developed a variety of adaptive traits driven by adaptive evolution, an important strategy for species survival and persistence. Uncovering the molecular mechanisms of adaptive evolution is the key to understanding species diversification, phenotypic convergence, and inter-species interaction. As the genome sequences of more and more non-model organisms are becoming available, the focus of studies on molecular mechanisms of adaptive evolution has shifted from the candidate gene method to genetic mapping based on genome-wide scanning. In this study, we reviewed the latest research advances in wild animals and plants, focusing on adaptive traits, convergent evolution, and coevolution. Firstly, we focused on the adaptive evolution of morphological, behavioral, and physiological traits. Secondly, we reviewed the phenotypic convergences of life history traits and responding to environmental pressures, and the underlying molecular convergence mechanisms. Thirdly, we summarized the advances of coevolution, including the four main types: mutualism, parasitism, predation and competition. Overall, these latest advances greatly increase our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms for diverse adaptive traits and species interaction, demonstrating that the development of evolutionary biology has been greatly accelerated by multi-omics technologies. Finally, we highlighted the emerging trends and future prospects around the above three aspects of adaptive evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yibo Hu
- CAS Key Lab of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
| | - Xiaoping Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Yongchao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Hui Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Zeyu Tong
- Institute of Evolution and Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Ran Tian
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Shaohua Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Key Lab of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Li Yu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China.
| | - Yalong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China.
| | - Peng Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China.
| | - Shuangquan Huang
- Institute of Evolution and Ecology, School of Life Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
| | - Guang Yang
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, 511458, China.
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, China.
| | - Suhua Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Key Lab of Plant Resources, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China.
| | - Fuwen Wei
- CAS Key Lab of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou), Guangzhou, 511458, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Chen J, Zang Y, Shang S, Yang Z, Liang S, Xue S, Wang Y, Tang X. Chloroplast genomic comparison provides insights into the evolution of seagrasses. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 23:104. [PMID: 36814193 PMCID: PMC9945681 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-023-04119-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Seagrasses are a polyphyletic group of monocotyledonous angiosperms that have evolved to live entirely submerged in marine waters. Thus, these species are ideal for studying plant adaptation to marine environments. Herein, we sequenced the chloroplast (cp) genomes of two seagrass species (Zostera muelleri and Halophila ovalis) and performed a comparative analysis of them with 10 previously published seagrasses, resulting in various novel findings. RESULTS The cp genomes of the seagrasses ranged in size from 143,877 bp (Zostera marina) to 178,261 bp (Thalassia hemprichii), and also varied in size among different families in the following order: Hydrocharitaceae > Cymodoceaceae > Ruppiaceae > Zosteraceae. The length differences between families were mainly related to the expansion and contraction of the IR region. In addition, we screened out 2,751 simple sequence repeats and 1,757 long repeat sequence types in the cp genome sequences of the 12 seagrass species, ultimately finding seven hot spots in coding regions. Interestingly, we found nine genes with positive selection sites, including two ATP subunit genes (atpA and atpF), three ribosome subunit genes (rps4, rps7, and rpl20), one photosystem subunit gene (psbH), and the ycf2, accD, and rbcL genes. These gene regions may have played critical roles in the adaptation of seagrasses to diverse environments. In addition, phylogenetic analysis strongly supported the division of the 12 seagrass species into four previously recognized major clades. Finally, the divergence time of the seagrasses inferred from the cp genome sequences was generally consistent with previous studies. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we compared chloroplast genomes from 12 seagrass species, covering the main phylogenetic clades. Our findings will provide valuable genetic data for research into the taxonomy, phylogeny, and species evolution of seagrasses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jun Chen
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Yu Zang
- Ministry of Natural Resources, Key Laboratory of Marine Eco-Environmental Science and Technology, First Institute of Oceanography, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Shuai Shang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Zhibo Yang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Shuo Liang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Song Xue
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Ying Wang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
- Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
| | - Xuexi Tang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
- Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Sandoval-Gil JM, Ruiz JM, Marín-Guirao L. Advances in understanding multilevel responses of seagrasses to hypersalinity. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 183:105809. [PMID: 36435174 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Human- and nature-induced hypersaline conditions in coastal systems can lead to profound alterations of the structure and vitality of seagrass meadows and their socio-ecological benefits. In the last two decades, recent research efforts (>50 publications) have contributed significantly to unravel the physiological basis underlying the seagrass-hypersalinity interactions, although most (∼70%) are limited to few species (e.g. Posidonia oceanica, Zostera marina, Thalassia testudinum, Cymodocea nodosa). Variables related to photosynthesis and carbon metabolism are among the most prevalent in the literature, although other key metabolic processes such as plant water relations and responses at molecular (i.e. gene expression) and ultrastructure level are attracting attention. This review emphasises all these latest insights, offering an integrative perspective on the interplay among biological responses across different functional levels (from molecular to clonal structure), and their interaction with biotic/abiotic factors including those related to climate change. Other issues such as the role of salinity in driving the evolutionary trajectory of seagrasses, their acclimation mechanisms to withstand salinity increases or even the adaptive properties of populations that have historically lived under hypersaline conditions are also included. The pivotal role of the costs and limits of phenotypic plasticity in the successful acclimation of marine plants to hypersalinity is also discussed. Finally, some lines of research are proposed to fill the remaining knowledge gaps.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jose Miguel Sandoval-Gil
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC), Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanológicas (IIO), Marine Botany Research Group, Ensenada, Baja California, 22860, Mexico
| | - Juan M Ruiz
- Seagrass Ecology Group, Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC), C/ Varadero s/n, 30740 San Pedro del Pinatar, Murcia, Spain
| | - Lázaro Marín-Guirao
- Seagrass Ecology Group, Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC), C/ Varadero s/n, 30740 San Pedro del Pinatar, Murcia, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Chen J, Zang Y, Liang S, Xue S, Shang S, Zhu M, Wang Y, Tang X. Comparative analysis of mitochondrial genomes reveals marine adaptation in seagrasses. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:800. [PMID: 36463111 PMCID: PMC9719629 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-09046-x] [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: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Seagrasses are higher marine flowering plants that evolved from terrestrial plants, but returned to the sea during the early evolution of monocotyledons through several separate lineages. Thus, they become a good model for studying the adaptation of plants to the marine environment. Sequencing of the mitochondrial (mt) genome of seagrasses is essential for understanding their evolutionary characteristics. RESULTS In this study, we sequenced the mt genome of two endangered seagrasses (Zostera japonica and Phyllospadix iwatensis). These data and data on previously sequenced mt genomes from monocotyledons provide new evolutionary evidence of genome size reduction, gene loss, and adaptive evolution in seagrasses. The mt genomes of Z. japonica and P. iwatensis are circular. The sizes of the three seagrasses (including Zostera marine) that have been sequenced to date are smaller than that of other monocotyledons. Additionally, we found a large number of repeat sequences in seagrasses. The most abundant long repeat sequences were 31-40 bp repeats. Our study also found that seagrass species lost extensive ribosomal protein genes during evolution. The rps7 gene and the rpl16 gene of P. iwatensis are exceptions to this trend. The phylogenetic analysis based on the mt genome strongly supports the previous results. Furthermore, we identified five positive selection genes (atp8, nad3, nad6, ccmFn, and matR) in seagrasses that may be associated with their adaptation to the marine environment. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we sequenced and annotated the mt genomes of Z. japonica and P. iwatensis and compared them with the genome of other monocotyledons. The results of this study will enhance our understanding of seagrass adaptation to the marine environment and can inform further investigations of the seagrass mt genome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jun Chen
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong China
| | - Yu Zang
- grid.508334.90000 0004 1758 3791Key Laboratory of Marine Eco-Environmental Science and Technology, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao, Shandong China
| | - Shuo Liang
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong China
| | - Song Xue
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong China
| | - Shuai Shang
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong China
| | - Meiling Zhu
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong China
| | - Ying Wang
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong China ,grid.484590.40000 0004 5998 3072Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong China
| | - Xuexi Tang
- grid.4422.00000 0001 2152 3263College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong China ,grid.484590.40000 0004 5998 3072Laboratory for Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
The evolutionary past and the uncertain future of foundational species. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2211134119. [PMID: 35939678 PMCID: PMC9388067 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2211134119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
|
9
|
Booth MW, Breed MF, Kendrick GA, Bayer PE, Severn-Ellis AA, Sinclair EA. Tissue-specific transcriptome profiles identify functional differences key to understanding whole plant response to life in variable salinity. Biol Open 2022; 11:276025. [PMID: 35876771 PMCID: PMC9428325 DOI: 10.1242/bio.059147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants endure environmental stressors via adaptation and phenotypic plasticity. Studying these mechanisms in seagrasses is extremely relevant as they are important primary producers and functionally significant carbon sinks. These mechanisms are not well understood at the tissue level in seagrasses. Using RNA-seq, we generated transcriptome sequences from tissue of leaf, basal leaf meristem and root organs of Posidonia australis, establishing baseline in situ transcriptomic profiles for tissues across a salinity gradient. Samples were collected from four P. australis meadows growing in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Analysis of gene expression showed significant differences between tissue types, with more variation among leaves than meristem or roots. Gene ontology enrichment analysis showed the differences were largely due to the role of photosynthesis, plant growth and nutrient absorption in leaf, meristem and root organs, respectively. Differential gene expression of leaf and meristem showed upregulation of salinity regulation processes in higher salinity meadows. Our study highlights the importance of considering leaf meristem tissue when evaluating whole-plant responses to environmental change. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. Summary: Differences in seagrass leaf, meristem and root transcriptomes across variable salinities are due to tissue-specific processes. Leaf meristem contained the broadest process range, indicating preferential use for inferring plant-wide activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell W Booth
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.,Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Martin F Breed
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia
| | - Gary A Kendrick
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.,Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Philipp E Bayer
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Anita A Severn-Ellis
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.,Aquatic Animal Health Research, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia, 6020, Australia
| | - Elizabeth A Sinclair
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.,Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.,Kings Park Science, Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions, 1 Kattidj Close, West Perth, Western Australia, 6005, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Qu XJ, Zhang XJ, Cao DL, Guo XX, Mower JP, Fan SJ. Plastid and mitochondrial phylogenomics reveal correlated substitution rate variation in Koenigia (Polygonoideae, Polygonaceae) and a reduced plastome for Koenigia delicatula including loss of all ndh genes. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2022; 174:107544. [PMID: 35690375 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2022.107544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Koenigia, a genus proposed by Linnaeus, has a contentious taxonomic history. In particular, relationships among species and the circumscription of the genus relative to Aconogonon remain uncertain. To explore phylogenetic relationships of Koenigia with other members of tribe Persicarieae and to establish the timing of major evolutionary diversification events, genome skimming of organellar sequences was used to assemble plastomes and mitochondrial genes from 15 individuals representing 13 species. Most Persicarieae plastomes exhibit a conserved structure and content relative to other flowering plants. However, Koenigia delicatula has lost functional copies of all ndh genes and the intron from atpF. In addition, the rpl32 gene was relocated in the K. delicatula plastome, which likely occurred via overlapping inversions or differential expansion and contraction of the inverted repeat. The highly supported but conflicting relationships between plastome and mitochondrial trees and among gene trees complicates the circumscription of Koenigia, which could be caused by rapid diversification within a short period. Moreover, the plastome and mitochondrial trees revealed correlated variation in substitution rates among Persicarieae species, suggesting a shared underlying mechanism promoting evolutionary rate variation in both organellar genomes. The divergence of dwarf K. delicatula from other Koenigia species may be associated with the well-known Eocene Thermal Maximum 2 or Early Eocene Climatic Optimum event, while diversification of the core-Koenigia clade associates with the Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum and the uplift of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and adjacent areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Jian Qu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Research, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Ji'nan 250014, Shandong, China
| | - Xue-Jie Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Research, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Ji'nan 250014, Shandong, China
| | - Dong-Ling Cao
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Research, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Ji'nan 250014, Shandong, China
| | - Xiu-Xiu Guo
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Research, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Ji'nan 250014, Shandong, China
| | - Jeffrey P Mower
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA; Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA.
| | - Shou-Jin Fan
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Stress Research, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Ji'nan 250014, Shandong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Ruocco M, Jahnke M, Silva J, Procaccini G, Dattolo E. 2b-RAD Genotyping of the Seagrass Cymodocea nodosa Along a Latitudinal Cline Identifies Candidate Genes for Environmental Adaptation. Front Genet 2022; 13:866758. [PMID: 35651946 PMCID: PMC9149362 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.866758] [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: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant populations distributed along broad latitudinal gradients often show patterns of clinal variation in genotype and phenotype. Differences in photoperiod and temperature cues across latitudes influence major phenological events, such as timing of flowering or seed dormancy. Here, we used an array of 4,941 SNPs derived from 2b-RAD genotyping to characterize population differentiation and levels of genetic and genotypic diversity of three populations of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa along a latitudinal gradient extending across the Atlantic-Mediterranean boundary (i.e., Gran Canaria—Canary Islands, Faro—Portugal, and Ebro Delta—Spain). Our main goal was to search for potential outlier loci that could underlie adaptive differentiation of populations across the latitudinal distribution of the species. We hypothesized that such polymorphisms could be related to variation in photoperiod-temperature regime occurring across latitudes. The three populations were clearly differentiated and exhibited diverse levels of clonality and genetic diversity. Cymodocea nodosa from the Mediterranean displayed the highest genotypic richness, while the Portuguese population had the highest clonality values. Gran Canaria exhibited the lowest genetic diversity (as observed heterozygosity). Nine SNPs were reliably identified as outliers across the three sites by two different methods (i.e., BayeScan and pcadapt), and three SNPs could be associated to specific protein-coding genes by screening available C. nodosa transcriptomes. Two SNPs-carrying contigs encoded for transcription factors, while the other one encoded for an enzyme specifically involved in the regulation of flowering time, namely Lysine-specific histone demethylase 1 homolog 2. When analyzing biological processes enriched within the whole dataset of outlier SNPs identified by at least one method, “regulation of transcription” and “signalling” were among the most represented. Our results highlight the fundamental importance signal integration and gene-regulatory networks, as well as epigenetic regulation via DNA (de)methylation, could have for enabling adaptation of seagrass populations along environmental gradients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Marlene Jahnke
- Department of Marine Sciences, Tjärnö Marine Laboratory, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - João Silva
- Centre of Marine Sciences, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Chen LY, Lu B, Morales-Briones DF, Moody ML, Liu F, Hu GW, Huang CH, Chen JM, Wang QF. Phylogenomic Analyses of Alismatales Shed Light into Adaptations to Aquatic Environments. Mol Biol Evol 2022; 39:msac079. [PMID: 35438770 PMCID: PMC9070837 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Land plants first evolved from freshwater algae, and flowering plants returned to water as early as the Cretaceous and multiple times subsequently. Alismatales is the largest clade of aquatic angiosperms including all marine angiosperms, as well as terrestrial plants. We used Alismatales to explore plant adaptations to aquatic environments by analyzing a data set that included 95 samples (89 Alismatales species) covering four genomes and 91 transcriptomes (59 generated in this study). To provide a basis for investigating adaptations, we assessed phylogenetic conflict and whole-genome duplication (WGD) events in Alismatales. We recovered a relationship for the three main clades in Alismatales as (Tofieldiaceae, Araceae) + core Alismatids. We also found phylogenetic conflict among the three main clades that was best explained by incomplete lineage sorting and introgression. Overall, we identified 18 putative WGD events across Alismatales. One of them occurred at the most recent common ancestor of core Alismatids, and three occurred at seagrass lineages. We also found that lineage and life-form were both important for different evolutionary patterns for the genes related to freshwater and marine adaptation. For example, several light- or ethylene-related genes were lost in the seagrass Zosteraceae, but are present in other seagrasses and freshwater species. Stomata-related genes were lost in both submersed freshwater species and seagrasses. Nicotianamine synthase genes, which are important in iron intake, expanded in both submersed freshwater species and seagrasses. Our results advance the understanding of the adaptation to aquatic environments and WGDs using phylogenomics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Yun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden/Core Botanical Garden, Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
- Department of Resources Science of Traditional Chinese Medicines, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Bei Lu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden/Core Botanical Garden, Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
- College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Diego F. Morales-Briones
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, 140 Gortner Laboratory, 1479 Gortner Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
- Systematics, Biodiversity and Evolution of Plants, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Menzinger Str. 67, 80638 Munich, Germany
| | - Michael L. Moody
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, 500 West University Ave, El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Fan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden/Core Botanical Garden, Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Guang-Wan Hu
- Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden/Core Botanical Garden, Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Chien-Hsun Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Plant Biology, Institute of Biodiversity Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Jin-Ming Chen
- Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden/Core Botanical Garden, Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Qing-Feng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Germplasm Enhancement and Specialty Agriculture, Wuhan Botanical Garden/Core Botanical Garden, Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Mower JP, Guo W, Partha R, Fan W, Levsen N, Wolff K, Nugent JM, Pabón-Mora N, González F. Plastomes from tribe Plantagineae (Plantaginaceae) reveal infrageneric structural synapormorphies and localized hypermutation for Plantago and functional loss of ndh genes from Littorella. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2021; 162:107217. [PMID: 34082129 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Tribe Plantagineae (Plantaginaceae) comprises ~ 270 species in three currently recognized genera (Aragoa, Littorella, Plantago), of which Plantago is most speciose. Plantago plastomes exhibit several atypical features including large inversions, expansions of the inverted repeat, increased repetitiveness, intron losses, and gene-specific increases in substitution rate, but the prevalence of these plastid features among species and subgenera is unknown. To assess phylogenetic relationships and plastomic evolutionary dynamics among Plantagineae genera and Plantago subgenera, we generated 25 complete plastome sequences and compared them with existing plastome sequences from Plantaginaceae. Using whole plastome and partitioned alignments, our phylogenomic analyses provided strong support for relationships among major Plantagineae lineages. General plastid features-including size, GC content, intron content, and indels-provided additional support that reinforced major Plantagineae subdivisions. Plastomes from Plantago subgenera Plantago and Coronopus have synapomorphic expansions and inversions affecting the size and gene order of the inverted repeats, and particular genes near the inversion breakpoints exhibit accelerated nucleotide substitution rates, suggesting localized hypermutation associated with rearrangements. The Littorella plastome lacks functional copies of ndh genes, which may be related to an amphibious lifestyle and partial reliance on CAM photosynthesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey P Mower
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA; Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA.
| | - Wenhu Guo
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA; School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Raghavendran Partha
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Weishu Fan
- Center for Plant Science Innovation, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA; Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
| | - Nick Levsen
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Kirsten Wolff
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Jacqueline M Nugent
- Department of Biology, National University of Ireland Maynooth, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - Natalia Pabón-Mora
- Instituto de Biología, Universidad de Antioquia, Apartado 1226, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Favio González
- Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Bogotá, Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Apartado 7495, Colombia
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Abstract
The plastid genome (plastome ) has proved a valuable source of data for evaluating evolutionary relationships among angiosperms. Through basic and applied approaches, plastid transformation technology offers the potential to understand and improve plant productivity, providing food, fiber, energy, and medicines to meet the needs of a burgeoning global population. The growing genomic resources available to both phylogenetic and biotechnological investigations is allowing novel insights and expanding the scope of plastome research to encompass new species. In this chapter, we present an overview of some of the seminal and contemporary research that has contributed to our current understanding of plastome evolution and attempt to highlight the relationship between evolutionary mechanisms and the tools of plastid genetic engineering.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tracey A Ruhlman
- Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
| | - Robert K Jansen
- Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Xu S, Wang J, Guo Z, He Z, Shi S. Genomic Convergence in the Adaptation to Extreme Environments. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2020; 1:100117. [PMID: 33367270 PMCID: PMC7747959 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2020.100117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Convergent evolution is especially common in plants that have independently adapted to the same extreme environments (i.e., extremophile plants). The recent burst of omics data has alleviated many limitations that have hampered molecular convergence studies of non-model extremophile plants. In this review, we summarize cases of genomic convergence in these taxa to examine the extent and type of genomic convergence during the process of adaptation to extreme environments. Despite being well studied by candidate gene approaches, convergent evolution at individual sites is rare and often has a high false-positive rate when assessed in whole genomes. By contrast, genomic convergence at higher genetic levels has been detected during adaptation to the same extreme environments. Examples include the convergence of biological pathways and changes in gene expression, gene copy number, amino acid usage, and GC content. Higher convergence levels play important roles in the adaptive evolution of extremophiles and may be more frequent and involve more genes. In several cases, multiple types of convergence events have been found to co-occur. However, empirical and theoretical studies of this higher level convergent evolution are still limited. In conclusion, both the development of powerful approaches and the detection of convergence at various genetic levels are needed to further reveal the genetic mechanisms of plant adaptation to extreme environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shaohua Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Dynamics and Conservation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiayan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Dynamics and Conservation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zixiao Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Dynamics and Conservation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ziwen He
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Dynamics and Conservation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Suhua Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Dynamics and Conservation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Pfeifer L, Classen B. The Cell Wall of Seagrasses: Fascinating, Peculiar and a Blank Canvas for Future Research. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:588754. [PMID: 33193541 PMCID: PMC7644952 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.588754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Seegrasses are a polyphyletic group of angiosperm plants, which evolved from early monocotyledonous land plants and returned to the marine environment around 140 million years ago. Today, seagrasses comprise the five families Zosteraceae, Hydrocharitaceae, Posidoniaceae, Cymodoceaceae, and Ruppiaceae and form important coastal ecosystems worldwide. Despite of this ecological importance, the existing literature on adaption of these angiosperms to the marine environment and especially their cell wall composition is limited up to now. A unique feature described for some seagrasses is the occurrence of polyanionic, low-methylated pectins mainly composed of galacturonic acid and apiose (apiogalacturonans). Furthermore, sulfated galactans have been detected in some species. Recently, arabinogalactan-proteins (AGPs), highly glycosylated proteins of the cell wall of land plants, have been isolated for the first time from a seagrass of the baltic sea. Obviously, seagrass cell walls are characterized by new combinations of structural polysaccharide and glycoprotein elements known from macroalgae and angiosperm land plants. In this review, current knowledge on cell walls of seagrasses is summarized and suggestions for future investigations are given.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Birgit Classen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Pharmaceutical Institute, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| |
Collapse
|