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Rosenkranz RRE, Vraggalas S, Keller M, Sankaranarayanan S, McNicoll F, Löchli K, Bublak D, Benhamed M, Crespi M, Berberich T, Bazakos C, Feldbrügge M, Schleiff E, Müller-McNicoll M, Zarnack K, Fragkostefanakis S. A plant-specific clade of serine/arginine-rich proteins regulates RNA splicing homeostasis and thermotolerance in tomato. Nucleic Acids Res 2024:gkae730. [PMID: 39180404 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Global warming poses a threat for crops, therefore, the identification of thermotolerance mechanisms is a priority. In plants, the core factors that regulate transcription under heat stress (HS) are well described and include several HS transcription factors (HSFs). Despite the relevance of alternative splicing in HS response and thermotolerance, the core regulators of HS-sensitive alternative splicing have not been identified. In tomato, alternative splicing of HSFA2 is important for acclimation to HS. Here, we show that several members of the serine/arginine-rich family of splicing factors (SRSFs) suppress HSFA2 intron splicing. Individual-nucleotide resolution UV cross-linking and immunoprecipitation (iCLIP) combined with RNA-Seq revealed that RS2Z35 and RS2Z36, which make up a plant-specific clade of SR proteins, not only regulate HSFA2 but approximately 50% of RNAs that undergo HS-sensitive alternative splicing, with preferential binding to purine-rich RNA motifs. Single and double CRISPR rs2z mutant lines show a dysregulation of splicing and exhibit lower basal and acquired thermotolerance compared to wild type plants. Our results suggest that RS2Z35 and RS2Z36 have a central role in mitigation of the negative effects of HS on RNA splicing homeostasis, and their emergence might have contributed to the increased capacity of plants to acclimate to high temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remus R E Rosenkranz
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Molecular and Cell Biology of Plants, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Stavros Vraggalas
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Molecular and Cell Biology of Plants, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Mario Keller
- Buchmann Institute of Molecular Life Sciences & Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Computational RNA Biology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | | | - François McNicoll
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, RNA Regulation in Higher Eukaryotes, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Karin Löchli
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Molecular and Cell Biology of Plants, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Daniela Bublak
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Molecular and Cell Biology of Plants, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Moussa Benhamed
- Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay-CNRS, Orsay, France
| | - Martin Crespi
- Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay, Université Paris-Saclay-CNRS, Orsay, France
| | - Thomas Berberich
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Center, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Christos Bazakos
- Department of Comparative Development and Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Köln, Germany
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, ELGO DEMETER, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Michael Feldbrügge
- Institute of Microbiology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Enrico Schleiff
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Molecular and Cell Biology of Plants, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Michaela Müller-McNicoll
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, RNA Regulation in Higher Eukaryotes, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
- Max-Planck Institute for Biophysics, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Kathi Zarnack
- Buchmann Institute of Molecular Life Sciences & Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Computational RNA Biology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Sotirios Fragkostefanakis
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Molecular and Cell Biology of Plants, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
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Wang W, Wei Y, Xu Z, Shen C, Li A, Guan D, Zhang X, Liu B. Evidence Supporting a Role of Alternative Splicing Participates in Melon ( Cucumis melo L.) Fruit Ripening. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5886. [PMID: 38892093 PMCID: PMC11172951 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115886] [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: 04/21/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
One key post-transcriptional modification mechanism that dynamically controls a number of physiological processes in plants is alternative splicing (AS). However, the functional impacts of AS on fruit ripening remain unclear. In this research, we used RNA-seq data from climacteric (VED, Harukei 3) and non-climacteric (PI, PS) melon cultivars to explore alternative splicing (AS) in immature and mature fruit. The results revealed dramatic changes in differential AS genes (DAG) between the young and mature fruit stages, particularly in genes involved in fruit development/ripening, carotenoid and capsaicinoid biosynthesis, and starch and sucrose metabolism. Serine/arginine-rich (SR) family proteins are known as important splicing factors in AS events. From the melon genome, a total of 17 SR members were discovered in this study. These genes could be classified into eight distinct subfamilies based on gene structure and conserved motifs. Promoter analysis detected various cis-acting regulatory elements involved in hormone pathways and fruit development. Interestingly, these SR genes exhibited specific expression patterns in reproductive organs such as flowers and ovaries. Additionally, concurrent with the increase in AS levels in ripening fruit, the transcripts of these SR genes were activated during fruit maturation in both climacteric and non-climacteric melon varieties. We also found that most SR genes were under selection during domestication. These results represent a novel finding of increased AS levels and SR gene expression during fruit ripening, indicating that alternative splicing may play a role in fruit maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjiao Wang
- College of Horticulture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.W.); (C.S.)
| | - Yuping Wei
- College of Horticulture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.W.); (C.S.)
- Hami-Melon Research Center, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 830091, China;
| | - Zhaoying Xu
- College of Horticulture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.W.); (C.S.)
- Hami-Melon Research Center, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 830091, China;
| | - Chengcheng Shen
- College of Horticulture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Jinzhong 030801, China; (Y.W.); (C.S.)
- Hami-Melon Research Center, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 830091, China;
| | - Ang Li
- College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, China;
| | - Dailu Guan
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
| | - Xuejun Zhang
- Hami-Melon Research Center, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 830091, China;
| | - Bin Liu
- Hami-Melon Research Center, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 830091, China;
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Chen S, Zhang Y, Liu L, Mo Y, Li J, Chen B, Zhou Y, Lin J, Jiang X, Wei L, Ling Y. Transcription and splicing variations of SR genes accompany with genome-wide accumulation of long-introns in pine. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 342:112056. [PMID: 38438082 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Most of mRNAs in Eukaryote were matured after the removal of introns in their pre-mRNA transcripts. Serine/arginine-rich (SR) proteins are a group of splicing regulators regulating the splicing processes globally. Expressions of SR proteins themselves were extensively regulated, at both transcription and splicing levels, under different environmental conditions, specially heat stress conditions. The pine genome is characterized by super-long and easily methylated introns in a large number of genes that derived from the extensive accumulation of transposons (TEs). Here, we identified and analyzed the phylogenetic characteristics of 24 SR proteins and their encoding genes from the pine genome. Then we explored transcription and pre-mRNA splicing expression patterns of SR genes in P. massoniana seedlings under normal and heat stress temperature conditions. Our results showed that the transcription patterns of SR genes in pine exhibited significant changes compared to other plant species, and these changes were not strictly correlated with the intron length and DNA methylation intensity of the SR genes. Interestingly, none of the long introns of SR genes underwent alternative splicing (AS) in our experiment. Furthermore, the intensity of AS regulation may be related to the potential DNA methylation intensity of SR genes. Taken together, this study explores for the first time the characteristics of significant variations in the transcription and splicing patterns of SR proteins in a plant species with an over-accumulation of super-long introns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanlan Chen
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Yingjie Zhang
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Li Liu
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Yujian Mo
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Junyi Li
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Beibei Chen
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Yi Zhou
- Guangdong Academy of Forestry/Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Silviculture, Protection and Utilization/Guangdong Coastal Shelter-belt Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station Guangzhou, Guangdong 510520, China
| | - Jinxing Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xingyu Jiang
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; South China Branch of National Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice Technology Innovation Center, Zhanjiang 524088, China
| | - Long Wei
- Guangdong Academy of Forestry/Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Silviculture, Protection and Utilization/Guangdong Coastal Shelter-belt Forest Ecosystem National Observation and Research Station Guangzhou, Guangdong 510520, China.
| | - Yu Ling
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China; South China Branch of National Saline-Alkali Tolerant Rice Technology Innovation Center, Zhanjiang 524088, China.
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Jia ZC, Das D, Zhang Y, Fernie AR, Liu YG, Chen M, Zhang J. Plant serine/arginine-rich proteins: versatile players in RNA processing. PLANTA 2023; 257:109. [PMID: 37145304 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-023-04132-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
MAIN CONCLUSION Serine/arginine-rich (SR) proteins participate in RNA processing by interacting with precursor mRNAs or other splicing factors to maintain plant growth and stress responses. Alternative splicing is an important mechanism involved in mRNA processing and regulation of gene expression at the posttranscriptional level, which is the main reason for the diversity of genes and proteins. The process of alternative splicing requires the participation of many specific splicing factors. The SR protein family is a splicing factor in eukaryotes. The vast majority of SR proteins' existence is an essential survival factor. Through its RS domain and other unique domains, SR proteins can interact with specific sequences of precursor mRNA or other splicing factors and cooperate to complete the correct selection of splicing sites or promote the formation of spliceosomes. They play essential roles in the composition and alternative splicing of precursor mRNAs, providing pivotal functions to maintain growth and stress responses in animals and plants. Although SR proteins have been identified in plants for three decades, their evolutionary trajectory, molecular function, and regulatory network remain largely unknown compared to their animal counterparts. This article reviews the current understanding of this gene family in eukaryotes and proposes potential key research priorities for future functional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Chang Jia
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Debatosh Das
- College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR), Division of Plant Sciences and Technology, 52 Agricultural Building, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
| | - Youjun Zhang
- Center of Plant System Biology and Biotechnology, 4000, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Max-Planck-Institut Für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Center of Plant System Biology and Biotechnology, 4000, Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- Max-Planck-Institut Für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Ying-Gao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong, China
| | - Moxian Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for R&D of Fine Chemicals of Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Jianhua Zhang
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
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Kumar K, Sinha SK, Maity U, Kirti PB, Kumar KRR. Insights into established and emerging roles of SR protein family in plants and animals. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2023; 14:e1763. [PMID: 36131558 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Splicing of pre-mRNA is an essential part of eukaryotic gene expression. Serine-/arginine-rich (SR) proteins are highly conserved RNA-binding proteins present in all metazoans and plants. SR proteins are involved in constitutive and alternative splicing, thereby regulating the transcriptome and proteome diversity in the organism. In addition to their role in splicing, SR proteins are also involved in mRNA export, nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, mRNA stability, and translation. Due to their pivotal roles in mRNA metabolism, SR proteins play essential roles in normal growth and development. Hence, any misregulation of this set of proteins causes developmental defects in both plants and animals. SR proteins from the animal kingdom are extensively studied for their canonical and noncanonical functions. Compared with the animal kingdom, plant genomes harbor more SR protein-encoding genes and greater diversity of SR proteins, which are probably evolved for plant-specific functions. Evidence from both plants and animals confirms the essential role of SR proteins as regulators of gene expression influencing cellular processes, developmental stages, and disease conditions. This article is categorized under: RNA Processing > Splicing Mechanisms RNA Processing > Splicing Regulation/Alternative Splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kundan Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU), Amarkantak, India
| | - Shubham Kumar Sinha
- Department of Biotechnology, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU), Amarkantak, India
| | - Upasana Maity
- Department of Biotechnology, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University (IGNTU), Amarkantak, India
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Alternative Splicing in the Regulatory Circuit of Plant Temperature Response. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043878. [PMID: 36835290 PMCID: PMC9962249 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
As sessile organisms, plants have evolved complex mechanisms to rapidly respond to ever-changing ambient temperatures. Temperature response in plants is modulated by a multilayer regulatory network, including transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulations. Alternative splicing (AS) is an essential post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism. Extensive studies have confirmed its key role in plant temperature response, from adjustment to diurnal and seasonal temperature changes to response to extreme temperatures, which has been well documented by previous reviews. As a key node in the temperature response regulatory network, AS can be modulated by various upstream regulations, such as chromatin modification, transcription rate, RNA binding proteins, RNA structure and RNA modifications. Meanwhile, a number of downstream mechanisms are affected by AS, such as nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) pathway, translation efficiency and production of different protein variants. In this review, we focus on the links between splicing regulation and other mechanisms in plant temperature response. Recent advances regarding how AS is regulated and the following consequences in gene functional modulation in plant temperature response will be discussed. Substantial evidence suggests that a multilayer regulatory network integrating AS in plant temperature response has been unveiled.
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7
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Erlenbach TR, Wares JP. Latitudinal variation and plasticity in response to temperature in Geukensia demissa. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9856. [PMID: 36844674 PMCID: PMC9951329 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2023] Open
Abstract
As global temperatures warm, species must adapt to a changing climate or transition to a different location suitable for their survival. Understanding the extent to which species are able to do so, particularly keystone species, is imperative to ensuring the survival of key ecosystems. The ribbed mussel Geukensia demissa is an integral part of salt marshes along the Atlantic coast of North America. Spatial patterns of genomic and phenotypic divergence have been previously documented, although their link with coastal environmental variation is unknown. Here, we study how populations of G. demissa in the northern (Massachusetts) and southern (Georgia) portions of the species range respond to changes in temperature. We combine assays of variation in oxygen consumption and RNA transcriptomic data with genomic divergence analyses to identify how separate populations of G. demissa may vary in distinct thermal environments. Our results show differences in constitutive oxygen consumption between mussels from Georgia and Massachusetts, as well as shared and disparate patterns of gene expression across temperature profiles. We also find that metabolic genes seem to be a strong component of divergence between these two populations. Our analysis highlights the importance of studying integrative patterns of genomic and phenotypic variation in species that are key for particular ecosystems, and how they might respond to further changes in climate.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John P. Wares
- Department of GeneticsUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
- Odum School of EcologyUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
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8
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Ruggiero A, Punzo P, Van Oosten MJ, Cirillo V, Esposito S, Costa A, Maggio A, Grillo S, Batelli G. Transcriptomic and splicing changes underlying tomato responses to combined water and nutrient stress. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:974048. [PMID: 36507383 PMCID: PMC9732681 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.974048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Tomato is a horticultural crop of high economic and nutritional value. Suboptimal environmental conditions, such as limited water and nutrient availability, cause severe yield reductions. Thus, selection of genotypes requiring lower inputs is a goal for the tomato breeding sector. We screened 10 tomato varieties exposed to water deficit, low nitrate or a combination of both. Biometric, physiological and molecular analyses revealed different stress responses among genotypes, identifying T270 as severely affected, and T250 as tolerant to the stresses applied. Investigation of transcriptome changes caused by combined stress in roots and leaves of these two genotypes yielded a low number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in T250 compared to T270, suggesting that T250 tailors changes in gene expression to efficiently respond to combined stress. By contrast, the susceptible tomato activated approximately one thousand and two thousand genes in leaves and roots respectively, indicating a more generalized stress response in this genotype. In particular, developmental and stress-related genes were differentially expressed, such as hormone responsive factors and transcription factors. Analysis of differential alternative splicing (DAS) events showed that combined stress greatly affects the splicing landscape in both genotypes, highlighting the important role of AS in stress response mechanisms. In particular, several stress and growth-related genes as well as transcription and splicing factors were differentially spliced in both tissues. Taken together, these results reveal important insights into the transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms regulating tomato adaptation to growth under reduced water and nitrogen inputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Ruggiero
- CNR-IBBR, National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Research Division, Portici, Italy
| | - Paola Punzo
- CNR-IBBR, National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Research Division, Portici, Italy
| | | | - Valerio Cirillo
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples, Federico II, Portici, Italy
| | - Salvatore Esposito
- CREA-CI, Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Cereal and Industrial Crops, Foggia, Italy
| | - Antonello Costa
- CNR-IBBR, National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Research Division, Portici, Italy
| | - Albino Maggio
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples, Federico II, Portici, Italy
| | - Stefania Grillo
- CNR-IBBR, National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Research Division, Portici, Italy
| | - Giorgia Batelli
- CNR-IBBR, National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, Research Division, Portici, Italy
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9
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Chen S, Mo Y, Zhang Y, Zhu H, Ling Y. Insights into sweet potato SR proteins: from evolution to species-specific expression and alternative splicing. PLANTA 2022; 256:72. [PMID: 36083517 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-022-03965-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
SR proteins from sweet potato have conserved functional domains and similar gene structures as that of Arabidopsis and rice in general. However, expression patterns and alternative splicing regulations of SR genes from different species have changed under stresses. Novel alternative splicing regulations were found in sweet potato SR genes. Serine/arginine-rich (SR) proteins play important roles in plant development and stress response by regulating the pre-mRNA splicing process. However, SR proteins have not been identified so far from an important crop sweet potato. Through bioinformatics analysis, our study identified 24 SR proteins from sweet potato, with comprehensively analyzing of protein characteristics, gene structure, chromosome localization, and cis-acting elements in promotors. Salt, heat, and mimic drought stresses triggered extensive but different expressional regulations on sweet potato SR genes. Interestingly, heat stress caused the most active disturbances in both gene transcription and pre-mRNA alternative splicing (AS). Tissue and species-specific transcriptional and pre-mRNA AS regulations in response to stresses were found in sweet potato, in comparison with Arabidopsis and rice. Moreover, novel patterns of pre-mRNA alternative splicing were found in SR proteins from sweet potato. Our study provided an insight into similarities and differences of SR proteins in different plant species from gene sequences to gene structures and stress responses, indicating SR proteins may regulate their downstream genes differently between different species and tissues by varied transcriptional and pre-mRNA AS regulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanlan Chen
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, People's Republic of China
| | - Yujian Mo
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingjie Zhang
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongbao Zhu
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Ling
- College of Coastal Agricultural Sciences, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, 524088, People's Republic of China.
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Rosenkranz RRE, Ullrich S, Löchli K, Simm S, Fragkostefanakis S. Relevance and Regulation of Alternative Splicing in Plant Heat Stress Response: Current Understanding and Future Directions. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:911277. [PMID: 35812973 PMCID: PMC9260394 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.911277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) is a major mechanism for gene expression in eukaryotes, increasing proteome diversity but also regulating transcriptome abundance. High temperatures have a strong impact on the splicing profile of many genes and therefore AS is considered as an integral part of heat stress response. While many studies have established a detailed description of the diversity of the RNAome under heat stress in different plant species and stress regimes, little is known on the underlying mechanisms that control this temperature-sensitive process. AS is mainly regulated by the activity of splicing regulators. Changes in the abundance of these proteins through transcription and AS, post-translational modifications and interactions with exonic and intronic cis-elements and core elements of the spliceosomes modulate the outcome of pre-mRNA splicing. As a major part of pre-mRNAs are spliced co-transcriptionally, the chromatin environment along with the RNA polymerase II elongation play a major role in the regulation of pre-mRNA splicing under heat stress conditions. Despite its importance, our understanding on the regulation of heat stress sensitive AS in plants is scarce. In this review, we summarize the current status of knowledge on the regulation of AS in plants under heat stress conditions. We discuss possible implications of different pathways based on results from non-plant systems to provide a perspective for researchers who aim to elucidate the molecular basis of AS under high temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah Ullrich
- Molecular Cell Biology of Plants, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Karin Löchli
- Molecular Cell Biology of Plants, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Stefan Simm
- Institute of Bioinformatics, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
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Xie M, Zuo R, Bai Z, Yang L, Zhao C, Gao F, Cheng X, Huang J, Liu Y, Li Y, Tong C, Liu S. Genome-Wide Characterization of Serine/Arginine-Rich Gene Family and Its Genetic Effects on Agronomic Traits of Brassica napus. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:829668. [PMID: 35251101 PMCID: PMC8889041 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.829668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Serine/arginine-rich (SR) proteins are indispensable factors for RNA splicing, and they play important roles in development and abiotic stress responses. However, little information on SR genes in Brassica napus is available. In this study, 59 SR genes were identified and classified into seven subfamilies: SR, SCL, RS2Z, RSZ, RS, SR45, and SC. In each subfamily, the genes showed relatively conserved structures and motifs, but displayed distinct expression patterns in different tissues and under abiotic stress, which might be caused by the varied cis-acting regulatory elements among them. Transcriptome datasets from Pacbio/Illumina platforms showed that alternative splicing of SR genes was widespread in B. napus and the majority of paralogous gene pairs displayed different splicing patterns. Protein-protein interaction analysis indicated that SR proteins were involved in the regulation of the whole lifecycle of mRNA, from synthesis to decay. Moreover, the association mapping analysis suggested that 12 SR genes were candidate genes for regulating specific agronomic traits, which indicated that SR genes could affect the development and hence influence the important agronomic traits of B. napus. In summary, this study provided elaborate information on SR genes in B. napus, which will aid further functional studies and genetic improvement of agronomic traits in B. napus.
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12
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Li Y, Di P, Tan J, Chen W, Chen J, Chen W. Alternative Splicing Dynamics During the Lifecycle of Salvia miltiorrhiza Root Revealed the Fine Tuning in Root Development and Ingredients Biosynthesis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 12:797697. [PMID: 35126423 PMCID: PMC8813970 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.797697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) is an essential post-transcriptional process that enhances the coding and regulatory potential of the genome, thereby strongly influencing multiple plant physiology processes, such as metabolic biosynthesis. To explore how AS affects the root development and synthesis of tanshinones and phenolic acid pathways in Salvia miltiorrhiza roots, we investigated the dynamic landscape of AS events in S. miltiorrhiza roots during an annual life history. Temporal profiling represented a distinct temporal variation of AS during the entire development stages, showing the most abundant AS events at the early seedling stage (ES stage) and troughs in 45 days after germination (DAG) and 120 DAG. Gene ontology (GO) analysis indicated that physiological and molecular events, such as lateral root formation, gravity response, RNA splicing regulation, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade, were greatly affected by AS at the ES stage. AS events were identified in the tanshinones and phenolic acids pathways as well, especially for the genes for the branch points of the pathways as SmRAS and SmKSL1. Fifteen Ser/Arg-rich (SR) proteins and eight phosphokinases (PKs) were identified with high transcription levels at the ES stage, showing their regulatory roles for the high frequency of AS in this stage. Simultaneously, a co-expression network that includes 521 highly expressed AS genes, SRs, and PKs, provides deeper insight into the mechanism for the variable programming of AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajing Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
- Center of Chinese Traditional Medicine Resources and Biotechnology, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Peng Di
- State Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Ginseng Breeding and Application, College of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Jingfu Tan
- Shangyao Huayu (Linyi) Traditional Chinese Resources Co. Ltd., Linyi, China
| | - Weixu Chen
- Shangyao Huayu (Linyi) Traditional Chinese Resources Co. Ltd., Linyi, China
| | - Junfeng Chen
- Center of Chinese Traditional Medicine Resources and Biotechnology, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wansheng Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
- Center of Chinese Traditional Medicine Resources and Biotechnology, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Plant RNA Binding Proteins as Critical Modulators in Drought, High Salinity, Heat, and Cold Stress Responses: An Updated Overview. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22136731. [PMID: 34201749 PMCID: PMC8269355 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Plant abiotic stress responses are tightly regulated by different players at multiple levels. At transcriptional or post-transcriptional levels, several RNA binding proteins (RBPs) regulate stress response genes through RNA metabolism. They are increasingly recognized as critical modulators of a myriad of biological processes, including stress responses. Plant RBPs are heterogeneous with one or more conservative RNA motifs that constitute canonical/novel RNA binding domains (RBDs), which can bind to target RNAs to determine their regulation as per the plant requirements at given environmental conditions. Given its biological significance and possible consideration as a potential tool in genetic manipulation programs to improve key agronomic traits amidst frequent episodes of climate anomalies, studies concerning the identification and functional characterization of RBP candidate genes are steadily mounting. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of canonical and novel RBPs and their functions in major abiotic stresses including drought, heat, salt, and cold stress conditions. To some extent, we also briefly describe the basic motif structure of RBPs that would be useful in forthcoming studies. Additionally, we also collected RBP genes that were modulated by stress, but that lacked functional characterization, providing an impetus to conduct further research.
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