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Wang Y, Zhang H, Gu J, Chen C, Liu J, Zhang Z, Hua B, Miao M. The Sink-Source Relationship in Cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L.) Is Modulated by DNA Methylation. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:103. [PMID: 38202411 PMCID: PMC10780960 DOI: 10.3390/plants13010103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The optimization of the sink-source relationship is of great importance for crop yield regulation. Cucumber is a typical raffinose family oligosaccharide (RFO)-transporting crop. DNA methylation is a common epigenetic modification in plants, but its role in sink-source regulation has not been demonstrated in RFO-translocating species. Here, whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS-seq) was conducted to compare the nonfruiting-node leaves (NFNLs) and leaves of fruit setting (FNLs) at the 12th node by removing all female flowers in other nodes of the two treatments. We found considerable differentially methylated genes enriched in photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolic processes. Comparative transcriptome analysis between FNLs and NFNLs indicated that many differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with differentially methylated regions were involved in auxin, ethylene and brassinolide metabolism; sucrose metabolism; and RFO synthesis pathways related to sink-source regulation. Moreover, DNA methylation levels of six sink-source-related genes in the pathways mentioned above decreased in leaves after 5-aza-dC-2'-deoxycytidine (5-Aza-dC, a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor) treatment on FNLs, and stachyose synthase (CsSTS) gene expression, enzyme activity and stachyose content in RFO synthesis pathway were upregulated, thereby increasing fruit length and dry weight. Taken together, our findings proposed an up-to-date inference for the potential role of DNA methylation in the sink-source relationship, which will provide important references for further exploring the molecular mechanism of DNA methylation in improving the yield of RFO transport plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yudan Wang
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Y.W.); (J.G.); (C.C.); (J.L.); (Z.Z.); (B.H.)
| | - Huimin Zhang
- Jiangsu Yanjiang Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Nantong 226541, China;
| | - Jiawen Gu
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Y.W.); (J.G.); (C.C.); (J.L.); (Z.Z.); (B.H.)
| | - Chen Chen
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Y.W.); (J.G.); (C.C.); (J.L.); (Z.Z.); (B.H.)
| | - Jiexia Liu
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Y.W.); (J.G.); (C.C.); (J.L.); (Z.Z.); (B.H.)
| | - Zhiping Zhang
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Y.W.); (J.G.); (C.C.); (J.L.); (Z.Z.); (B.H.)
| | - Bing Hua
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Y.W.); (J.G.); (C.C.); (J.L.); (Z.Z.); (B.H.)
| | - Minmin Miao
- College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Y.W.); (J.G.); (C.C.); (J.L.); (Z.Z.); (B.H.)
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety of Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
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Jiang K, Guo H, Zhai J. Interplay of phytohormones and epigenetic regulation: A recipe for plant development and plasticity. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 65:381-398. [PMID: 36223083 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Both phytohormone signaling and epigenetic mechanisms have long been known to play crucial roles in plant development and plasticity in response to ambient stimuli. Indeed, diverse signaling pathways mediated by phytohormones and epigenetic processes integrate multiple upstream signals to regulate various plant traits. Emerging evidence indicates that phytohormones and epigenetic processes interact at multiple levels. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the interplay between phytohormones and epigenetic processes from the perspective of phytohormone biology. We also review chemical regulators used in epigenetic studies and propose strategies for developing novel regulators using multidisciplinary approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Jiang
- Institute of Plant and Food Science, Key Laboratory of Molecular Design for Plant Cell Factory of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Hongwei Guo
- Institute of Plant and Food Science, Key Laboratory of Molecular Design for Plant Cell Factory of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Jixian Zhai
- Institute of Plant and Food Science, Key Laboratory of Molecular Design for Plant Cell Factory of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, 518055, China
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Renard T, Gueydan C, Aron S. DNA methylation and expression of the egfr gene are associated with worker size in monomorphic ants. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21228. [PMID: 36481802 PMCID: PMC9732050 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25675-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The reproductive division of labour is a hallmark of eusocial Hymenoptera. Females are either reproductive queens or non-reproductive workers. In ants, workers often display further task specialisation that is associated with variation in size and/or morphology. Because female polyphenism is typically under environmental control, it is thought epigenetic mechanisms (such as DNA methylation) play a central role since they mediate gene-by-environment interactions. Methylation of the growth-promoting gene epidermal growth factor receptor (egfr) was indeed shown to control worker size in a highly polymorphic ant. However, it remains unknown if egfr methylation could also regulate worker size in monomorphic species. By combining experimental pharmacology and molecular biology, we show that worker size is associated with egfr methylation in two monomorphic ants. Furthermore, we functionally demonstrate that EGFR signalling affects worker size. These results indicate that worker size regulation by egfr methylation has been mechanistically conserved in ants but remains unexploited in monomorphic species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibaut Renard
- grid.4989.c0000 0001 2348 0746Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Avenue F.D. Roosevelt, 50, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Cyril Gueydan
- grid.4989.c0000 0001 2348 0746Molecular Biology of the Gene, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Rue Prof. Jeener et Brachet, 12, 6041 Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Serge Aron
- grid.4989.c0000 0001 2348 0746Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Avenue F.D. Roosevelt, 50, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
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