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A Y, Shi S, Sun S, Jing Y, Li Z, Zhang X, Li X, Wu F. Telomerase activity, relative telomere length, and longevity in alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.). PeerJ 2022. [DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Medicago sativa L. ‘Qingshui’ is a valuable rhizomatous forage germplasm resource. We previously crossed Qingshui with the high-yielding Medicago sativa L. ‘WL168’ and obtained novel rhizomatous hybrid strains (RSA-01, RSA-02, and RSA-03). Telomere dynamics are more accurate predictors of survival and mortality than chronological age. Based on telomere analyses, we aimed to identify alfalfa varieties with increased stamina and longevity for the establishment of artificial grazing grasslands.
Methods
In this study, we performed longitudinal analysis of telomerase activity and relative telomere length in five alfalfa varieties (Qingshui, WL168, RSA-01, RSA-02, and RSA-03) at the age of 1 year and 5 years to examine the relationship among telomerase activity, rate of change in relative telomere length, and longevity. We further aimed to evaluate the longevity of the examined varieties. Telomerase activity and relative telomere length were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and real-time polymerase chain reaction, respectively.
Results
We observed significant differences in telomerase activity between plants aged 1 year and those aged 5 years in all varieties except WL168, and the rate of change in telomerase activity does not differ reliably with age. As telomerase activity and relative telomere length are complex phenomena, further studies examining the molecular mechanisms of telomere-related proteins are needed. Relative telomere lengths of Qingshui, WL168, RSA-01, RSA-02, and RSA-03 in plants aged 5 years were higher than those aged 1 year by 11.41, 11.24, 9.21, 10.23, and 11.41, respectively. Relative telomere length of alfalfa tended to increase with age. Accordingly, alfalfa varieties can be classified according to rate of change in relative telomere length as long-lived (Qingshui, WL168, and RSA-03), medium-lived (RSA-02) and short-lived (RSA-01). The differences in relative telomere length distances of Qingshui, WL168, RSA-01, RSA-02, and RSA-03 between plants aged 1 and 5 years were 10.40, 13.02, 12.22, 11.22, and 13.25, respectively. The largest difference in relative telomere length was found between Qingshui and RSA-02 at 2.20. Our findings demonstrated that relative telomere length in alfalfa is influenced by genetic variation and age, with age exerting a greater effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun A
- Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Shangli Shi
- Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | | | | | - Zili Li
- Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | | | - Xiaolong Li
- Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Fang Wu
- Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
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Aronen T, Virta S, Varis S. Telomere Length in Norway Spruce during Somatic Embryogenesis and Cryopreservation. PLANTS 2021; 10:plants10020416. [PMID: 33672393 PMCID: PMC7926734 DOI: 10.3390/plants10020416] [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: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres i.e., termini of the eukaryotic chromosomes protect chromosomes during DNA replication. Shortening of telomeres, either due to stress or ageing is related to replicative cellular senescence. There is little information on the effect of biotechnological methods, such as tissue culture via somatic embryogenesis (SE) or cryopreservation on plant telomeres, even if these techniques are widely applied. The aim of the present study was to examine telomeres of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) during SE initiation, proliferation, embryo maturation, and cryopreservation to reveal potential ageing or stress-related effects that could explain variation observed at SE process. Altogether, 33 genotypes from 25 families were studied. SE initiation containing several stress factors cause telomere shortening in Norway spruce. Following initiation, the telomere length of the embryogenic tissues (ETs) and embryos produced remains unchanged up to one year of culture, with remarkable genotypic variation. Being prolonged in vitro culture can, however, shorten the telomeres and should be avoided. This is achieved by successful cryopreservation treatment preserving telomere length. Somatic embryo production capacity of the ETs was observed to vary a lot not only among the genotypes, but also from one timepoint to another. No connection between embryo production and telomere length was found, so this variation remains unexplained.
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Li X, Ploner A, Wang Y, Magnusson PKE, Reynolds C, Finkel D, Pedersen NL, Jylhävä J, Hägg S. Longitudinal trajectories, correlations and mortality associations of nine biological ages across 20-years follow-up. eLife 2020; 9:e51507. [PMID: 32041686 PMCID: PMC7012595 DOI: 10.7554/elife.51507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological age measurements (BAs) assess aging-related physiological change and predict health risks among individuals of the same chronological age (CA). Multiple BAs have been proposed and are well studied individually but not jointly. We included 845 individuals and 3973 repeated measurements from a Swedish population-based cohort and examined longitudinal trajectories, correlations, and mortality associations of nine BAs across 20 years follow-up. We found the longitudinal growth of functional BAs accelerated around age 70; average levels of BA curves differed by sex across the age span (50-90 years). All BAs were correlated to varying degrees; correlations were mostly explained by CA. Individually, all BAs except for telomere length were associated with mortality risk independently of CA. The largest effects were seen for methylation age estimators (GrimAge) and the frailty index (FI). In joint models, two methylation age estimators (Horvath and GrimAge) and FI remained predictive, suggesting they are complementary in predicting mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Li
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and BiostatisticsKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | - Alexander Ploner
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and BiostatisticsKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | - Yunzhang Wang
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and BiostatisticsKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | - Patrik KE Magnusson
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and BiostatisticsKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | - Chandra Reynolds
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of California, RiversideRiversideUnited States
| | - Deborah Finkel
- Department of PsychologyIndiana University SoutheastNew AlbanyUnited States
- Institute for GerontologyJönköping UniversityJönköpingSweden
| | - Nancy L Pedersen
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and BiostatisticsKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | - Juulia Jylhävä
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and BiostatisticsKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | - Sara Hägg
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and BiostatisticsKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
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