Analysis of Stored mRNA Degradation in Acceleratedly Aged Seeds of Wheat and Canola in Comparison to Arabidopsis

The role of redox-active small molecules and oxidative protein post-translational modifications in seed aging

Seed vigor is a crucial indicator of seed quality. Variations in seed vigor are closely associated with seed properties and storage conditions. The vigor of mature seeds progressively declines during storage, which is called seed deterioration or aging. Seed aging induces a cascade of cellular damage, including impaired subcellular structures and macromolecules, such as lipids, proteins, and DNA. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) act as signaling molecules during seed aging causing oxidative damage and triggering programmed cell death (PCD). Mitochondria are the main site of ROS production and change morphology and function before other organelles during aging. The roles of other small redox-active molecules in regulating cell and seed vigor, such as nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S), were identified later. ROS, NO, and H2S typically regulate protein function through post-translational modifications (PTMs), including carbonylation, S-glutathionylation, S-nitrosylation, and S-sulfhydration. These signaling molecules as well as the PTMs they induce interact to regulate cell fate and seed vigor. This review was conducted to describe the physiological changes and underlying molecular mechanisms that in seed aging and provides a comprehensive view of how ROS, NO, and H2S affect cell death and seed vigor.

Nitric Oxide in Seed Biology

Nitric oxide (NO) has been recognized as a gasotransmitter in the mainstream of plant research since the beginning of the 21st century. It is produced in plant tissue and the environment. It influences plant physiology during every ontogenetic stage from seed germination to plant senescence. In this review, we demonstrate the increased interest in NO as a regulatory molecule in combination with other signalling molecules and phytohormones in the information network of plant cells. This work is a summary of the current knowledge on NO action in seeds, starting from seed pretreatment techniques applied to increase seed quality. We describe mode of action of NO in the regulation of seed dormancy, germination, and aging. During each stage of seed physiology, NO appears to act as a key agent with a predominantly beneficial effect.

Nitric oxide-an antidote to seed aging modifies meta-tyrosine content and expression of aging-linked genes in apple embryos

Short-term (3 h) treatment of embryos isolated from accelerated aged apple seeds (Malus domestica Borkh.) with nitric oxide (NO) partially reduced the effects of aging. The study aimed to investigate the impact of the short-term NO treatment of embryos isolated from apple seeds subjected to accelerated aging on the expression of genes potentially linked to the regulation of seed aging. Apple seeds were artificially aged for 7, 14, or 21 days. Then, the embryos were isolated from the seeds, treated with NO, and cultured for 48 h. Progression of seed aging was associated with the decreased transcript levels of most of the analyzed genes (Lea1, Lea2a, Lea4, Hsp70b, Hsp20a, Hsp20b, ClpB1, ClpB4, Cpn60a, Cpn60b, Raptor, and Saur). The role of NO in the mitigation of seed aging depended on the duration of the aging. After 7 and 14 days of seed aging, a decreased expression of genes potentially associated with the promotion of aging (Tor, Raptor, Saur) was noted. NO-dependent regulation of seed aging was associated with the stimulation of the expression of genes encoding chaperones and proteins involved in the repair of damaged proteins. After NO application, the greatest upregulation of ClpB, Pimt was noted in the embryos isolated from seeds subjected to 7-day long accelerated aging, Hsp70b, Hsp70c, and Cpn in the embryos of seeds aged for 14 days, and Lea2a in the embryos of seeds after 21 days of aging. We also demonstrated the increased meta-tyrosine concentration depending or in respect the progression of artificial aging, and the NO-induced increased phenylalanine content in seeds artificially aged for 21 days. In the NO-treated embryos of seeds aged for 7 and 21 days, the level of tyrosine was almost doubled compared to the aged tissue. Our data confirmed the usage of meta-tyrosine as a marker of seed aging and indicated that the increased meta-tyrosine/tyrosine ratio could be related to the loss of seed viability.

Exploring Breakthroughs in Three Traits Belonging to Seed Life

Based on prior knowledge and with the support of new methodology, solid progress in the understanding of seed life has taken place over the few last years. This update reflects recent advances in three key traits of seed life (i.e., preharvest sprouting, genomic imprinting, and stored-mRNA). The first breakthrough refers to cloning of the mitogen-activated protein kinase-kinase 3 (MKK3) gene in barley and wheat. MKK3, in cooperation with ABA signaling, controls seed dormancy. This advance has been determinant in producing improved varieties that are resistant to preharvest sprouting. The second advance concerns to uniparental gene expression (i.e., imprinting). Genomic imprinting primarily occurs in the endosperm. Although great advances have taken place in the last decade, there is still a long way to go to complete the puzzle regarding the role of genomic imprinting in seed development. This trait is probably one of the most important epigenetic facets of developing endosperm. An example of imprinting regulation is polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2). The mechanism of PRC2 recruitment to target endosperm with specific genes is, at present, robustly studied. Further progress in the knowledge of recruitment of PRC2 epigenetic machinery is considered in this review. The third breakthrough referred to in this update involves stored mRNA. The role of the population of this mRNA in germination is far from known. Its relations to seed aging, processing bodies (P bodies), and RNA binding proteins (RBPs), and how the stored mRNA is targeted to monosomes, are aspects considered here. Perhaps this third trait is the one that will require greater experimental dedication in the future. In order to make progress, herein are included some questions that are needed to be answered.