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Rao X, Yang S, Lü S, Yang P. DNA Methylation Dynamics in Response to Drought Stress in Crops. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:1977. [PMID: 39065503 PMCID: PMC11280950 DOI: 10.3390/plants13141977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Drought is one of the most hazardous environmental factors due to its severe damage on plant growth, development and productivity. Plants have evolved complex regulatory networks and resistance strategies for adaptation to drought stress. As a conserved epigenetic regulation, DNA methylation dynamically alters gene expression and chromosome interactions in plants' response to abiotic stresses. The development of omics technologies on genomics, epigenomics and transcriptomics has led to a rapid increase in research on epigenetic variation in non-model crop species. In this review, we summarize the most recent findings on the roles of DNA methylation under drought stress in crops, including methylating and demethylating enzymes, the global methylation dynamics, the dual regulation of DNA methylation on gene expression, the RNA-dependent DNA methylation (RdDM) pathway, alternative splicing (AS) events and long non-coding RNAs (lnc RNAs). We also discuss drought-induced stress memory. These epigenomic findings provide valuable potential for developing strategies to improve crop drought tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Pingfang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China; (X.R.); (S.Y.); (S.L.)
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Fan Y, Sun C, Yan K, Li P, Hein I, Gilroy EM, Kear P, Bi Z, Yao P, Liu Z, Liu Y, Bai J. Recent Advances in Studies of Genomic DNA Methylation and Its Involvement in Regulating Drought Stress Response in Crops. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:1400. [PMID: 38794470 PMCID: PMC11125032 DOI: 10.3390/plants13101400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
As global arid conditions worsen and groundwater resources diminish, drought stress has emerged as a critical impediment to plant growth and development globally, notably causing declines in crop yields and even the extinction of certain cultivated species. Numerous studies on drought resistance have demonstrated that DNA methylation dynamically interacts with plant responses to drought stress by modulating gene expression and developmental processes. However, the precise mechanisms underlying these interactions remain elusive. This article consolidates the latest research on the role of DNA methylation in plant responses to drought stress across various species, focusing on methods of methylation detection, mechanisms of methylation pattern alteration (including DNA de novo methylation, DNA maintenance methylation, and DNA demethylation), and overall responses to drought conditions. While many studies have observed significant shifts in genome-wide or gene promoter methylation levels in drought-stressed plants, the identification of specific genes and pathways involved remains limited. This review aims to furnish a reference for detailed research into plant responses to drought stress through epigenetic approaches, striving to identify drought resistance genes regulated by DNA methylation, specific signaling pathways, and their molecular mechanisms of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youfang Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (Y.F.); (P.L.); (Z.B.); (P.Y.); (Z.L.); (Y.L.)
| | - Chao Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (Y.F.); (P.L.); (Z.B.); (P.Y.); (Z.L.); (Y.L.)
| | - Kan Yan
- School of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China;
| | - Pengcheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (Y.F.); (P.L.); (Z.B.); (P.Y.); (Z.L.); (Y.L.)
| | - Ingo Hein
- The James Hutton Institute, Dundee DD2 5DA, UK; (I.H.); (E.M.G.)
| | | | - Philip Kear
- International Potato Center (CIP), CIP China Center for Asia Pacific (CCCAP), Beijing 102199, China;
| | - Zhenzhen Bi
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (Y.F.); (P.L.); (Z.B.); (P.Y.); (Z.L.); (Y.L.)
| | - Panfeng Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (Y.F.); (P.L.); (Z.B.); (P.Y.); (Z.L.); (Y.L.)
| | - Zhen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (Y.F.); (P.L.); (Z.B.); (P.Y.); (Z.L.); (Y.L.)
| | - Yuhui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (Y.F.); (P.L.); (Z.B.); (P.Y.); (Z.L.); (Y.L.)
| | - Jiangping Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Aridland Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China; (Y.F.); (P.L.); (Z.B.); (P.Y.); (Z.L.); (Y.L.)
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Sun Y, Wang X, Di Y, Li J, Li K, Wei H, Zhang F, Su Z. Systematic Analysis of DNA Demethylase Gene Families in Foxtail Millet ( Setaria italica L.) and Their Expression Variations after Abiotic Stresses. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4464. [PMID: 38674049 PMCID: PMC11050331 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084464] [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: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation is a highly conserved epigenetic modification involved in many biological processes, including growth and development, stress response, and secondary metabolism. DNA demethylase (DNA-deMTase) genes have been identified in some plant species; however, there are no reports on the identification and analysis of DNA-deMTase genes in Foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.). In this study, seven DNA-deMTases were identified in S. italica. These DNA-deMTase genes were divided into four subfamilies (DML5, DML4, DML3, and ROS1) by phylogenetic and gene structure analysis. Further analysis shows that the physical and chemical properties of these DNA-deMTases proteins are similar, contain the typical conserved domains of ENCO3c and are located in the nucleus. Furthermore, multiple cis-acting elements were observed in DNA-deMTases, including light responsiveness, phytohormone responsiveness, stress responsiveness, and elements related to plant growth and development. The DNA-deMTase genes are expressed in all tissues detected with certain tissue specificity. Then, we investigated the abundance of DNA-deMTase transcripts under abiotic stresses (cold, drought, salt, ABA, and MeJA). The results showed that different genes of DNA-deMTases were involved in the regulation of different abiotic stresses. In total, our findings will provide a basis for the roles of DNA-deMTase in response to abiotic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Sun
- College of Life Sciences, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; (Y.S.); (X.W.); (Y.D.); (J.L.); (K.L.); (H.W.); (F.Z.)
| | - Xin Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; (Y.S.); (X.W.); (Y.D.); (J.L.); (K.L.); (H.W.); (F.Z.)
| | - Yunfei Di
- College of Life Sciences, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; (Y.S.); (X.W.); (Y.D.); (J.L.); (K.L.); (H.W.); (F.Z.)
| | - Jinxiu Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; (Y.S.); (X.W.); (Y.D.); (J.L.); (K.L.); (H.W.); (F.Z.)
| | - Keyu Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; (Y.S.); (X.W.); (Y.D.); (J.L.); (K.L.); (H.W.); (F.Z.)
| | - Huanhuan Wei
- College of Life Sciences, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; (Y.S.); (X.W.); (Y.D.); (J.L.); (K.L.); (H.W.); (F.Z.)
| | - Fan Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; (Y.S.); (X.W.); (Y.D.); (J.L.); (K.L.); (H.W.); (F.Z.)
| | - Zhenxia Su
- College of Life Sciences, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China; (Y.S.); (X.W.); (Y.D.); (J.L.); (K.L.); (H.W.); (F.Z.)
- Xinghuacun College (Shanxi Institute of Brewing Technology and Industry), Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
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Yadav S, Meena S, Kalwan G, Jain PK. DNA methylation: an emerging paradigm of gene regulation under drought stress in plants. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:311. [PMID: 38372841 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09243-9] [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: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Drought is an enormous threat to global crop production. In order to ensure food security for the burgeoning population, we must develop drought tolerant crop varieties. This necessitates the identification of drought-responsive genes and understanding the mechanisms involved in their regulation. DNA methylation is a widely studied mechanism of epigenetic regulation of gene expression, which is known to play vital role in conferring tolerance to various biotic and abiotic stress factors. The recent advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, has allowed unprecedented access to genome-wide methylation marks, with single base resolution. The most important roles of DNA methylation have been studied in terms of gene body methylation (gbM), which is associated with regulation of both transcript abundance and its stability. The availability of mutants for the various genes encoding enzymes involved in methylation of DNA has allowed ascertainment of the biological significance of methylation. Even though a vast number of reports have emerged in the recent past, where both genome-wide methylation landscape and locus specific changes in DNA methylation have been studied, a conclusive picture with regards to the biological role of DNA methylation is still lacking. Compounding this, is the lack of sufficient evidence supporting the heritability of these epigenetic changes. Amongst the various epigenetic variations, the DNA methylation changes are observed to be the most stable. This review describes the drought-induced changes in DNA methylation identified across different plant species. We also briefly describe the stress memory contributed by these changes. The identification of heritable, drought-induced methylation marks would broaden the scope of crop improvement in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheel Yadav
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India
- PG School, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
- Division of Genomic Resources, ICAR-National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Shashi Meena
- PG School, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
- Division of Plant Physiology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - Gopal Kalwan
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India
- PG School, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, 110012, India
| | - P K Jain
- ICAR-National Institute for Plant Biotechnology, New Delhi, 110012, India.
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Abdulraheem MI, Xiong Y, Moshood AY, Cadenas-Pliego G, Zhang H, Hu J. Mechanisms of Plant Epigenetic Regulation in Response to Plant Stress: Recent Discoveries and Implications. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:163. [PMID: 38256717 PMCID: PMC10820249 DOI: 10.3390/plants13020163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Plant stress is a significant challenge that affects the development, growth, and productivity of plants and causes an adverse environmental condition that disrupts normal physiological processes and hampers plant survival. Epigenetic regulation is a crucial mechanism for plants to respond and adapt to stress. Several studies have investigated the role of DNA methylation (DM), non-coding RNAs, and histone modifications in plant stress responses. However, there are various limitations or challenges in translating the research findings into practical applications. Hence, this review delves into the recent recovery, implications, and applications of epigenetic regulation in response to plant stress. To better understand plant epigenetic regulation under stress, we reviewed recent studies published in the last 5-10 years that made significant contributions, and we analyzed the novel techniques and technologies that have advanced the field, such as next-generation sequencing and genome-wide profiling of epigenetic modifications. We emphasized the breakthrough findings that have uncovered specific genes or pathways and the potential implications of understanding plant epigenetic regulation in response to stress for agriculture, crop improvement, and environmental sustainability. Finally, we concluded that plant epigenetic regulation in response to stress holds immense significance in agriculture, and understanding its mechanisms in stress tolerance can revolutionize crop breeding and genetic engineering strategies, leading to the evolution of stress-tolerant crops and ensuring sustainable food production in the face of climate change and other environmental challenges. Future research in this field will continue to unveil the intricacies of epigenetic regulation and its potential applications in crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukhtar Iderawumi Abdulraheem
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China or (M.I.A.); (Y.X.); (A.Y.M.); (H.Z.)
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Laser Technology in Agriculture Science, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Yani Xiong
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China or (M.I.A.); (Y.X.); (A.Y.M.); (H.Z.)
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Laser Technology in Agriculture Science, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Abiodun Yusuff Moshood
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China or (M.I.A.); (Y.X.); (A.Y.M.); (H.Z.)
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Laser Technology in Agriculture Science, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Gregorio Cadenas-Pliego
- Centro de Investigación en Química Aplicada, Blvd. Enrique Reyna 140, Saltillo 25294, Mexico;
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China or (M.I.A.); (Y.X.); (A.Y.M.); (H.Z.)
| | - Jiandong Hu
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China or (M.I.A.); (Y.X.); (A.Y.M.); (H.Z.)
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Laser Technology in Agriculture Science, Zhengzhou 450002, China
- State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Zhengzhou 450002, China
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Zheng J, Wen S, Yu Z, Luo K, Rong J, Ding M. Alternative Splicing during Fiber Development in G. hirsutum. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11812. [PMID: 37511571 PMCID: PMC10380772 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cotton is a valuable cash crop in many countries. Cotton fiber is a trichome that develops from a single epidermal cell and serves as an excellent model for understanding cell differentiation and other life processes. Alternative splicing (AS) of genes is a common post-transcriptional regulatory process in plants that is essential for plant growth and development. The process of AS during cotton fiber formation, on the other hand, is mainly unknown. A substantial number of multi-exon genes were discovered to be alternatively spliced during cotton fiber formation in this study, accounting for 23.31% of the total number of genes in Gossypium hirsutum. Retention intron (RI) is not necessarily the most common AS type, indicating that AS genes and processes during fiber development are very temporal and tissue-specific. When compared to fiber samples, AS is more prevalent at the fiber initiation stages and in the ovule, indicating that development stages and tissues use different AS strategies. Genes involved in fiber development have gone through stage-specific AS, demonstrating that AS regulates cotton fiber development. Furthermore, AS can be regulated by trans-regulation elements such as splicing factor and cis-regulation elements such as gene length, exon numbers, and GC content, particularly at exon-intron junction sites. Our findings also suggest that increased DNA methylation may aid in the efficiency of AS, and that gene body methylation is key in AS control. Finally, our research will provide useful information about the roles of AS during the cotton fiber development process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zheng
- The Key Laboratory for Quality Improvement of Agricultural Products of Zhejiang Province, College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Linan, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Shuhan Wen
- The Key Laboratory for Quality Improvement of Agricultural Products of Zhejiang Province, College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Linan, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Zhipeng Yu
- The Key Laboratory for Quality Improvement of Agricultural Products of Zhejiang Province, College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Linan, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Keyan Luo
- The Key Laboratory for Quality Improvement of Agricultural Products of Zhejiang Province, College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Linan, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Junkang Rong
- The Key Laboratory for Quality Improvement of Agricultural Products of Zhejiang Province, College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Linan, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Mingquan Ding
- The Key Laboratory for Quality Improvement of Agricultural Products of Zhejiang Province, College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang A&F University, Linan, Hangzhou 311300, China
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