Crit Rev Biotechnol , IF:8.108 , 2021 Apr : P1-24 doi: 10.1080/07388551.2021.1898332
Can omics deliver temperature resilient ready-to-grow crops?
Key Lab of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Wuhan, China.; State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, China National Rice Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science (CAAS), Hangzhou, China.; Center of Excellence in Genomics & Systems Biology, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, India.; The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
Plants are extensively well-thought-out as the main source for nourishing natural life on earth. In the natural environment, plants have to face several stresses, mainly heat stress (HS), chilling stress (CS) and freezing stress (FS) due to adverse climate fluctuations. These stresses are considered as a major threat for sustainable agriculture by hindering plant growth and development, causing damage, ultimately leading to yield losses worldwide and counteracting to achieve the goal of "zero hunger" proposed by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Notably, this is primarily because of the numerous inequities happening at the cellular, molecular and/or physiological levels, especially during plant developmental stages under temperature stress. Plants counter to temperature stress via a complex phenomenon including variations at different developmental stages that comprise modifications in physiological and biochemical processes, gene expression and differences in the levels of metabolites and proteins. During the last decade, omics approaches have revolutionized how plant biologists explore stress-responsive mechanisms and pathways, driven by current scientific developments. However, investigations are still required to explore numerous features of temperature stress responses in plants to create a complete idea in the arena of stress signaling. Therefore, this review highlights the recent advances in the utilization of omics approaches to understand stress adaptation and tolerance mechanisms. Additionally, how to overcome persisting knowledge gaps. Shortly, the combination of integrated omics, genome editing, and speed breeding can revolutionize modern agricultural production to feed millions worldwide in order to accomplish the goal of "zero hunger."
PMID: 33827346
Plant Physiol , IF:6.902 , 2021 Apr , V185 (4) : P1903-1923 doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiaa116
A multifaceted module of BRI1 ETHYLMETHANE SULFONATE SUPRESSOR1 (BES1)-MYB88 in growth and stress tolerance of apple.
State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas/Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Apple, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.; College of Grassland Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
The R2R3 transcription factor MdMYB88 has previously been reported to function in biotic and abiotic stress responses. Here, we identify BRI1 ETHYLMETHANE SULFONATE SUPRESSOR1 (MdBES1), a vital component of brassinosteroid (BR) signaling in apple (Malus x domestica) that directly binds to the MdMYB88 promoter, regulating the expression of MdMYB88 in a dynamic and multifaceted mode. MdBES1 positively regulated expression of MdMYB88 under cold stress and pathogen attack, but negatively regulated its expression under control and drought conditions. Consistently, MdBES1 was a positive regulator for cold tolerance and disease resistance in apple, but a negative regulator for drought tolerance. In addition, MdMYB88 participated in BR biosynthesis by directly regulating the BR biosynthetic genes DE ETIOLATED 2 (MdDET2), DWARF 4 (MdDWF4), and BRASSINOSTEROID 6 OXIDASE 2 (MdBR6OX2). Applying exogenous BR partially rescued the erect leaf and dwarf phenotypes, as well as defects in stress tolerance in MdMYB88/124 RNAi plants. Moreover, knockdown of MdMYB88 in MdBES1 overexpression (OE) plants decreased resistance to a pathogen and C-REPEAT BINDING FACTOR1 expression, whereas overexpressing MdMYB88 in MdBES1 OE plants increased expression of SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE 3 MdSPL3 and BR biosynthetic genes, suggesting that MdMYB88 contributes to MdBES1 function during BR biosynthesis and the stress response. Taken together, our results reveal multifaceted regulation of MdBES1 on MdMYB88 in BR biosynthesis and stress tolerance.
PMID: 33793930
Mol Ecol Resour , IF:6.286 , 2021 Apr , V21 (3) : P661-676 doi: 10.1111/1755-0998.13280
The genome of Draba nivalis shows signatures of adaptation to the extreme environmental stresses of the Arctic.
Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.; CEITEC, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.; Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.; Science for Life Laboratory and Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.; Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.; Department of Botany, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
The Arctic is one of the most extreme terrestrial environments on the planet. Here, we present the first chromosome-scale genome assembly of a plant adapted to the high Arctic, Draba nivalis (Brassicaceae), an attractive model species for studying plant adaptation to the stresses imposed by this harsh environment. We used an iterative scaffolding strategy with data from short-reads, single-molecule long reads, proximity ligation data, and a genetic map to produce a 302 Mb assembly that is highly contiguous with 91.6% assembled into eight chromosomes (the base chromosome number). To identify candidate genes and gene families that may have facilitated adaptation to Arctic environmental stresses, we performed comparative genomic analyses with nine non-Arctic Brassicaceae species. We show that the D. nivalis genome contains expanded suites of genes associated with drought and cold stress (e.g., related to the maintenance of oxidation-reduction homeostasis, meiosis, and signaling pathways). The expansions of gene families associated with these functions appear to be driven in part by the activity of transposable elements. Tests of positive selection identify suites of candidate genes associated with meiosis and photoperiodism, as well as cold, drought, and oxidative stress responses. Our results reveal a multifaceted landscape of stress adaptation in the D. nivalis genome, offering avenues for the continued development of this species as an Arctic model plant.
PMID: 33058468
Plant J , IF:6.141 , 2021 Apr , V106 (2) : P379-393 doi: 10.1111/tpj.15170
Ethylene increases the cold tolerance of apple via the MdERF1B-MdCIbHLH1 regulatory module.
State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China.; College of Horticulture Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China.
Cold stress has always been a major abiotic factor affecting the yield and quality of temperate fruit crops. Ethylene plays a critical regulatory role in the cold stress response, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we revealed that ethylene positively modulates apple responses to cold stress. Treatment with 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (an ethylene precursor) and aminoethoxyvinylglycine (an ethylene biosynthesis inhibitor) respectively increased and decreased the cold tolerance of apple seedlings. Consistent with the positive effects of ethylene on cold stress responses, a low-temperature treatment rapidly induced ethylene release and the expression of MdERF1B, which encodes an ethylene signaling activator, in apple seedlings. Overexpression of MdERF1B significantly increased the cold tolerance of apple plant materials (seedlings and calli) and Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. A quantitative real-time PCR analysis indicated that MdERF1B upregulates the expression of the cold-responsive gene MdCBF1 in apple seedlings. Moreover, MdCIbHLH1, which functions upstream of CBF-dependent pathways, enhanced the binding of MdERF1B to target gene promoters as well as the consequent transcriptional activation. The stability of MdERF1B-MdCIbHLH1 was affected by cold stress and ethylene. Furthermore, MdERF1B interacted with the promoters of two genes critical for ethylene biosynthesis, MdACO1 and MdERF3. The resulting upregulated expression of these genes promoted ethylene production. However, the downregulated MdCIbHLH1 expression in MdERF1B-overexpressing apple calli significantly inhibited ethylene production. These findings imply that MdERF1B-MdCIbHLH1 is a potential regulatory module that integrates the cold and ethylene signaling pathways in apple.
PMID: 33497017
J Exp Bot , IF:5.908 , 2021 Apr , V72 (8) : P3168-3184 doi: 10.1093/jxb/erab071
Frozen in the dark: interplay of night-time activity of xanthophyll cycle, xylem attributes, and desiccation tolerance in fern resistance to winter.
Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, University of La Laguna (ULL), Tenerife 38200, Spain.; Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain.; Laboratory of Macromolecular Chemistry (Labquimac), Department of Physical Chemistry, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain.; Department of Botany and Centre for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), University of Innsbruck, Sternwartestrasse 15, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
While most ferns avoid freezing as they have a tropical distribution or shed their fronds, wintergreen species in temperate and boreoalpine ecosystems have to deal with sub-zero temperatures. Increasing evidence has revealed overlapping mechanisms of desiccation and freezing tolerance in angiosperms, but the physiological mechanisms behind freezing tolerance in ferns are far from clear. We evaluated photochemical and hydraulic parameters in five wintergreen fern species differing in their ability to tolerate desiccation. We assessed frond freezing tolerance, ice nucleation temperature and propagation pattern, and xylem anatomical traits. Dynamics of photochemical performance and xanthophyll cycle were evaluated during freeze-thaw events under controlled conditions and, in selected species, in the field. Only desiccation-tolerant species, which possessed a greater fraction of narrow tracheids (<18 mum) than sensitive species, tolerated freezing. Frond freezing occurred in the field at -3.4 +/- 0.9 degrees C (SD) irrespective of freezing tolerance, freezable water content, or tracheid properties. Even in complete darkness, maximal photochemical efficiency of photosystem II was down-regulated concomitantly with zeaxanthin accumulation in response to freezing. This was reversible upon re-warming only in tolerant species. Our results suggest that adaptation for freezing tolerance is associated with desiccation tolerance through complementary xylem properties (which may prevent risk of irreversible cavitation) and effective photoprotection mechanisms. The latter includes de-epoxidation of xanthophylls in darkness, a process evidenced for the first time directly in the field.
PMID: 33617637
J Integr Plant Biol , IF:4.885 , 2021 Apr doi: 10.1111/jipb.13100
Reciprocal regulation between the negative regulator PP2CG1 phosphatase and the positive regulator OST1 kinase confers cold response in Arabidopsis.
State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.; Institute of Plant Stress Biology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Crop Stress Biology, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475001, China.
Protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation have been reported to play important roles in plant cold responses. In addition, phospho-regulatory feedback is a conserved mechanism for biological processes and stress responses in animals and plants. However, it is less well known that a regulatory feedback loop formed by the protein kinase and the protein phosphatase in plant responses to cold stress. Here, we report that OST1 and PP2CG1 (protein phosphatase 2C G group 1) reciprocally regulate the activity during the cold stress response. The interaction of PP2CG1 and OST1 is inhibited by cold stress, which results in the release of OST1 at the cytoplasm and nucleus from suppression by PP2CG1. Interestingly, cold-activated OST1 phosphorylates PP2CG1 to suppress its phosphatase activity, thereby amplifying cold signaling in plants. Mutations of PP2CG1 and its homolog PP2CG2 enhance freezing tolerance, whereas overexpression of PP2CG1 decreases freezing tolerance. Moreover, PP2CG1 negatively regulates protein levels of CBFs under cold stress. Our results uncover a phosphor/dephosphor-regulatory feedback loop mediated by PP2CG1 phosphatase and OST1 protein kinase in plant cold responses. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
PMID: 33871153
Front Plant Sci , IF:4.402 , 2021 , V12 : P638392 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2021.638392
Citrullination of Proteins as a Specific Response Mechanism in Plants.
Division of Biological and Chemical Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.; Rijk Zwaan, De Lier, Netherlands.; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe.; Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.; Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Wenzhou-Kean University, Wenzhou, China.; Zhejiang Bioinformatics International Science and Technology Cooperation Center of Wenzhou-Kean University, Wenzhou, China.; Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Arginine deimination, also referred to as citrullination of proteins by L-arginine deiminases, is a post-translational modification affecting histone modifications, epigenetic transcriptional regulation, and proteolysis in animals but has not been reported in higher plants. Here we report, firstly, that Arabidopsis thaliana proteome contains proteins with a specific citrullination signature and that many of the citrullinated proteins have nucleotide-binding regulatory functions. Secondly, we show that changes in the citrullinome occur in response to cold stress, and thirdly, we identify an A. thaliana protein with peptidyl arginine deiminase activity that was shown to be calcium-dependent for many peptide substrates. Taken together, these findings establish this post-translational modification as a hitherto neglected component of cellular reprogramming during stress responses.
PMID: 33897727
Plant Physiol Biochem , IF:3.72 , 2021 Apr , V161 : P86-97 doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2021.02.005
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase genes of winter wheat enhance the cold tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis.
College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, PR China.; College of Agriculture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, PR China.; College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, PR China. Electronic address: 1936958667@qq.com.
In this study, winter wheat G6PDH (TaG6PDH) and 6PGDH (Ta6PGDH) were investigated. Both their expression and their activity were upregulated under cold stress, suggesting that TaG6PDH and Ta6PGDH positively respond to cold stress in winter wheat. Exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) treatment markedly increased the expression and activity levels of TaG6PDH and Ta6PGDH in winter wheat under cold stress. Subsequently, TaG6PDH-and Ta6PGDH were overexpressed in Arabidopsis, and showed stronger reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging ability and higher survival rate compared with wild-type (WT) plants under cold stress. In addition, we found that TaG6PDH and Ta6PGDH overexpression can promote the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (OPPP) in the cytoplasm and peroxisomes of Arabidopsis. In summary, Arabidopsis overexpressing TaG6PDH and Ta6PGDH showed improved cold tolerance.
PMID: 33581622
Plant Mol Biol , IF:3.302 , 2021 Apr , V105 (6) : P585-599 doi: 10.1007/s11103-020-01111-x
Natural population re-sequencing detects the genetic basis of local adaptation to low temperature in a woody plant.
Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China.; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.; Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China. shshen@ibcas.ac.cn.
KEY MESSAGE: Total of 14 SNPs associated with overwintering-related traits and 75 selective regions were detected. Important candidate genes were identified and a possible network of cold-stress responses in woody plants was proposed. Local adaptation to low temperature is essential for woody plants to against changeable climate and safely survive the winter. To uncover the specific molecular mechanism of low temperature adaptation in woody plants, we sequenced 134 core individuals selected from 494 paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera), which naturally distributed in different climate zones and latitudes. The population structure analysis, PCA analysis and neighbor-joining tree analysis indicated that the individuals were classified into three clusters, which showed forceful geographic distribution patterns because of the adaptation to local climate. Using two overwintering phenotypic data collected at high latitudes of 40 degrees N and one bioclimatic variable, genome-phenotype and genome-environment associations, and genome-wide scans were performed. We detected 75 selective regions which possibly undergone temperature selection and identified 14 trait-associated SNPs that corresponded to 16 candidate genes (including LRR-RLK, PP2A, BCS1, etc.). Meanwhile, low temperature adaptation was also supported by other three trait-associated SNPs which exhibiting significant differences in overwintering traits between alleles within three geographic groups. To sum up, a possible network of cold signal perception and responses in woody plants were proposed, including important genes that have been confirmed in previous studies while others could be key potential candidates of woody plants. Overall, our results highlighted the specific and complex molecular mechanism of low temperature adaptation and overwintering of woody plants.
PMID: 33651261
PLoS One , IF:2.74 , 2021 , V16 (4) : Pe0249975 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249975
Cold stress triggers premature fruit abscission through ABA-dependent signal transduction in early developing apple.
Apple Research Institute, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Rural Development Administration, Gunwi, South Korea.; School of Biological Sciences, College of National Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea.; The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Fruit abscission is a complex physiological process that is regulated by internal and environmental factors. During early development, apple fruit are exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations that are associated with premature fruit drop; however, their effect on fruit abscission is largely unknown. We hypothesized that fruit abscission is triggered by cold stress and investigated the molecular basis of premature fruit drop using RNA-Seq and metabolomics data from apple fruit undergoing abscission following cold stress in the field. Genes responsive to abscisic acid signaling and cell wall degradation were upregulated during abscission, consistent with the increased abscisic acid concentrations detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. We performed ex vivo cold shock experiments with excised tree subunits consisting of a branch, pedicel, and fruit. Abscission induction occurred in the cold-stressed subunits with concurrent upregulation of abscisic acid biosynthesis (MdNCED1) and metabolism (MdCYP707A) genes, and ethylene biosynthesis (MdACS1) and receptor (MdETR2) genes in the pedicel. Another key finding was the activation of cytoplasmic streaming in abscission-zone cells detected by electron microscopy. Our results provide a novel insight into the molecular basis of fruit abscission physiology in response to cold stress in apple.
PMID: 33836019
Funct Plant Biol , IF:2.617 , 2021 Apr , V48 (5) : P542-555 doi: 10.1071/FP20046
Identification and characterisation of cold stress-related proteins in Oryza rufipogon at the seedling stage using label-free quantitative proteomic analysis.
College of Life Science, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, PR China.; College of Life Science, Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang 330022, PR China; and Corresponding authors. Email: xdluolf@163.com; xiejiankun@yahoo.com.
In this study, label-free quantitative proteomics were used to study cold stress-related proteins in Dongxiang wild rice (Oryza rufipogon Griff., DWR) and cold sensitive cultivated rice 'Xieqingzao B'(Oryza sativa L. ssp. indica cv., XB). The results demonstrated the presence of 101 and 216 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were detected in DWR and XB, respectively, after cold stress. Bioinformatics analysis showed that DWR and XB differed significantly in their ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) and regulate energy metabolism. Of the 101 DEPs of DWR, 46 DEPs related to differential expressed genes were also detected by transcriptome analysis. And 13 out of 101 DEPs were located in previous cold related quantitative trait loci (QTL). Quantitative real-time PCR analysis indicated that protein expression and transcription patterns were not similar in XB and DWR. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constituted using the DEPs of DWR and XB, and the following three centre proteins were identified: Q8H3I3, Q9LDN2, and Q2QXR8. Next, we selected a centre protein and two of the 37 DEPs with high levels of differential expression (fold change >/= 2) were used for cloning and prokaryotic expression. We found that Q5Z9Q8 could significantly improve the cold tolerance of Escherichia coli.
PMID: 33487217
Cryobiology , IF:2.283 , 2021 Apr , V99 : P64-77 doi: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2021.01.012
Differential proteome between ejaculate and epididymal sperm represents a key factor for sperm freezability in wild small ruminants.
Department of Animal Reproduction, Spanish National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA), Avda Puerta de Hierro km 5.9, 28040, Madrid, Spain; Department of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Institute of Animal Science, Endenicher Allee 15, University of Bonn, 53115, Bonn, Germany; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research 'Campus Mare Nostrum', University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain.; Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Nussallee 11, 53115, Bonn, Germany.; Institute for Medical Biometry, Informatics and Epidemiology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany; Institute for Genomic Statistics and Bioinformatics, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany.; Centre for Biotechnology and Plant Genomic, Polytechnic University of Madrid-National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (UPM-INIA), Autopista M-40 Km 38, 28223, Madrid, Spain.; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research 'Campus Mare Nostrum', University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100, Murcia, Spain.; Department of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Institute of Animal Science, Endenicher Allee 15, University of Bonn, 53115, Bonn, Germany.; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, Colorado State University, 3105 Rampart Rd, 80521, Fort Collins, CO, USA.; Department of Animal Reproduction, Spanish National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA), Avda Puerta de Hierro km 5.9, 28040, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: moreno@inia.es.
Epididymal sperm shows higher cryoresistance than ejaculated sperm. Although the sperm proteome seems to affect cell cryoresistance, studies aiming at identifying proteins involved in sperm freezing-tolerance are scarce. The aims of this study were to investigate differences of sperm freezability and proteome between epididymal and ejaculated sperm in three mountain ungulates: Iberian ibex, Mouflon and Chamois. Sperm samples were cryopreserved in straws by slow freezing. Tandem mass tag-labeled peptides from sperm samples were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer in three technical replicates. The statistical analysis was done using the moderated t-test of the R package limma. Differences of freezability between both types of sperm were associated with differences of the proteome. Overall, epididymal sperm showed higher freezability than ejaculated sperm. Between 1490 and 1883 proteins were quantified in each species and type of sperm sample. Cross species comparisons revealed a total of 76 proteins that were more abundant in epididymal than in ejaculated sperm in the three species of study whereas 3 proteins were more abundant in ejaculated than epididymal sperm in the three species of study (adjusted P < 0.05; |log2| fold-change > 0.5). Many of the proteins that were associated with higher cryoresistance are involved in stress response and redox homeostasis. In conclusion, marked changes of sperm proteome were detected between epididymal and ejaculated sperm. This work contributes to update the sperm proteome of small ruminants and to identify candidate markers of sperm freezability.
PMID: 33485896
Plant Signal Behav , IF:1.671 , 2021 Apr : P1913307 doi: 10.1080/15592324.2021.1913307
SnRK2.6 interacts with phytochrome B and plays a negative role in red light-induced stomatal opening.
College of Life Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, China.
Light is an important environmental factor for plant growth and development. Phytochrome B (phyB), a classical red/far-red light receptor, plays vital role in controlling plant photomorphogenesis and light-induced stomatal opening. Phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) accumulates rapidly and triggers a series of physiological and molecular events during the responses to multiple abiotic stresses. Recent studies showed that phyB mutant synthesizes more ABA and exhibits improved tolerance to salt and cold stress, suggesting that a crosstalk exists between light and ABA signaling pathway. However, whether ABA signaling components mediate responses to light remains unclear. Here, we showed that SnRK2.6 (Sucrose Nonfermenting 1-Related Protein Kinase 2.6), a key regulator in ABA signaling, interacts with phyB and participates in light-induced stomatal opening. First, we checked the interaction between phyB and SnRK2s, and found that SnRK2.2/2.3/2.6 kinases physically interacted with phyB in yeast and in vitro. We also performed co-IP assay to support that SnRK2.6 interacts with phyB in plant. To investigate the role of SnRK2.6 in red light-induced stomatal opening, we obtained the snrk2.6 mutant and overexpression lines, and found that snrk2.6 mutant exhibited a significantly larger stomatal aperture under red light treatment, while the two independent overexpression lines showed significantly smaller stomatal aperture, indicative of a negative role for SnRK2.6 in red light-induced stomatal opening. The interaction of SnRK2.6 with red light receptor and the negative role of SnRK2.6 in red light-induced stomatal opening provide new evidence for the crosstalk between ABA and red light in guard cell signaling.
PMID: 33853508
J Biomol Struct Dyn , 2021 Apr , V39 (7) : P2575-2584 doi: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1751295
Understanding the thermal response of rice eukaryotic transcription factor eIF4A1 towards dynamic temperature stress: insights from expression profiling and molecular dynamics simulation.
Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, India.; Distributed Information Centre (DIC), Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, India.; Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.; Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
Eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs) are the group of regulatory proteins that are involved in the initiation of translation events. Among them, eIF4A1, a member of the DEAD-box RNA helicase family, participates in a wide spectrum of activities which include, RNA splicing, ribosome biogenesis, and RNA degradation. It is well known that ATP-binding and subsequent hydrolysis activities are crucial for the functionality of such helicases. Although the stress-responsive upregulation of eIF4A1 has been reported in plants during stress, it is difficult to anticipate the functionality of the corresponding protein product. Therefore, to understand the activity of eIF4A1 in rice in response to temperature stress, we first conducted an expression analysis of the gene and further investigated the structural stability of the eIF4A1-ATP/Mg(2+) complex through molecular dynamics (MD) simulations at different temperature conditions (277 K, 300 K, and 315 K). Our results demonstrated a three to fourfold increased expression of rice eIF4A1 both in root and shoot at 42 degrees C compared to control. Furthermore, the MD simulation portrayed strong ATP/Mg(2+) binding at a higher temperature in comparison to control and cold temperature. Overall, the increased expression pattern of eIF4A1 and strong ATP/Mg(2+) binding at higher temperature indicated the heat stress-tolerant capacity of the gene in rice. The results from our study will help in understanding the activity of gene and guide the researchers for screening of novel stress inducible candidate genes for the engineering of temperature stress tolerant plants.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
PMID: 32367760