Nat Commun , IF:14.919 , 2024 Oct , V15 (1) : P8693 doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-52945-8
AtPRMT3-RPS2B promotes ribosome biogenesis and coordinates growth and cold adaptation trade-off.
Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. z.wang@genetics.ac.cn.; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. z.wang@genetics.ac.cn.; John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom. z.wang@genetics.ac.cn.; Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.; John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom.; Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. xfcao@genetics.ac.cn.; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. xfcao@genetics.ac.cn.
Translation, a fundamental process regulating cellular growth and proliferation, relies on functional ribosomes. As sessile organisms, plants have evolved adaptive strategies to maintain a delicate balance between growth and stress response. But the underlying mechanisms, particularly on the translational level, remain less understood. In this study, we revealed the mechanisms of AtPRMT3-RPS2B in orchestrating ribosome assembly and managing translational regulation. Through a forward genetic screen, we identified PDCD2-D1 as a suppressor gene restoring abnormal development and ribosome biogenesis in atprmt3-2 mutants. Our findings confirmed that PDCD2 interacts with AtPRMT3-RPS2B, and facilitates pre-ribosome transport through nuclear pore complex, finally ensuring normal ribosome translation in the cytoplasm. Additionally, the dysfunction of AtPRMT3-RPS2B was found to enhance freezing tolerance. Moreover, we revealed that AtPRMT3-RPS2B promotes the translation of housekeeping mRNAs while concurrently repressing stress-related mRNAs. In summary, our study sheds light on the regulatory roles of AtPRMT3-RPS2B in ribosome assembly and translational balance, enabling the trade-off between growth and stress.
PMID: 39375381
Mol Plant , IF:13.164 , 2024 Oct , V17 (10) : P1520-1538 doi: 10.1016/j.molp.2024.08.006
The OsSRO1c-OsDREB2B complex undergoes protein phase transition to enhance cold tolerance in rice.
National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.; Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Vegetale, Universite Grenoble-Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INRAE, IRIG-DBSCI, 38000 Grenoble, France.; National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China. Electronic address: xuelei_lai@mail.hzau.edu.cn.; National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China. Electronic address: lizhongx@mail.hzau.edu.cn.
Cold stress is one of the major abiotic stress factors affecting rice growth and development, leading to significant yield loss in the context of global climate change. Exploring natural variants that confer cold resistance and the underlying molecular mechanism responsible for this is the major strategy to breed cold-tolerant rice varieties. Here, we show that natural variations of a SIMILAR to RCD ONE (SRO) gene, OsSRO1c, confer cold tolerance in rice at both seedling and booting stages. Our in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrated that OsSRO1c possesses intrinsic liquid-liquid phase-separation ability and recruits OsDREB2B, an AP2/ERF transcription factor that functions as a positive regulator of cold stress, into its biomolecular condensates in the nucleus, resulting in elevated transcriptional activity of OsDREB2B. We found that the OsSRO1c-OsDREB2B complex directly responds to low temperature through dynamic phase transitions and regulates key cold-response genes, including COLD1. Furthermore, we showed that introgression of an elite haplotype of OsSRO1c into a cold-susceptible indica rice could significantly increase its cold resistance. Collectively, our work reveals a novel cold-tolerance regulatory module in rice and provides promising genetic targets for molecular breeding of cold-tolerant rice varieties.
PMID: 39169629
Plant Cell , IF:11.277 , 2024 Oct doi: 10.1093/plcell/koae268
Evolution and functional divergence of glycosyltransferase genes shaped the quality and cold tolerance of tea plants.
State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang Ave W., Hefei, Anhui 230036, People's Republic of China.; International Joint Laboratory on Tea Chemistry and Health Effects, Anhui Agricultural University, 130 Changjiang Ave W., Hefei, Anhui 230036, People's Republic of China.; Institute of Health Sciences and Technology, Anhui University, 111 Jiulong RD., Hefei, Anhui 230601, People's Republic of China.; Biotechnology of Natural Products, Technische Universitat Munchen, Liesel-Beckmann-Str. 1, 85354 Freising, Germany.
Plant glycosyltransferases (UGTs) play a key role in plant growth and metabolism. Here, we examined the evolutionary landscape among UGTs in 28 fully sequenced species from early algae to angiosperms. Our findings revealed a distinctive expansion and contraction of UGTs in the G and H groups in tea (Camellia sinensis), respectively. Whole-genome duplication and tandem duplication events jointly drove the massive expansion of UGTs, and the interplay of natural and artificial selection has resulted in marked functional divergence within the G group of the sinensis-type tea population. In Cluster II of group G, differences in substrate selection (e.g., Abscisic Acid) of the enzymes encoded by UGT genes led to their functional diversification, and these genes influence tolerance to abiotic stresses such as low temperature and drought via different modes of positive and negative regulation, respectively. UGTs in Cluster III of the G group have diverse aroma substrate preferences, which contributes a diverse aroma spectrum of the sinensis-type tea population. All Cluster III genes respond to low-temperature stress, whereas UGTs within Cluster III-1, shaped by artificial selection, are unresponsive to drought. This suggests that artificial selection of tea plants focused on improving quality and cold tolerance as primary targets.
PMID: 39365921
Plant Cell , IF:11.277 , 2024 Oct , V36 (10) : P4356-4371 doi: 10.1093/plcell/koae177
Differential phosphorylation of Ca2+-permeable channel CYCLIC NUCLEOTIDE-GATED CHANNEL20 modulates calcium-mediated freezing tolerance in Arabidopsis.
State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China.; School of Life Science, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei 071002, China.
Plants respond to cold stress at multiple levels, including increasing cytosolic calcium (Ca2+) influx and triggering the expression of cold-responsive genes. In this study, we show that the Ca2+-permeable channel CYCLIC NUCLEOTIDE-GATED CHANNEL20 (CNGC20) positively regulates freezing tolerance in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) by mediating cold-induced Ca2+ influx. Moreover, we demonstrate that the leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase PLANT PEPTIDE CONTAINING SULFATED TYROSINE1 RECEPTOR (PSY1R) is activated by cold, phosphorylating and enhancing the activity of CNGC20. The psy1r mutant exhibits decreased cold-evoked Ca2+ influx and freezing tolerance. Conversely, COLD-RESPONSIVE PROTEIN KINASE1 (CRPK1), a protein kinase that negatively regulates cold signaling, phosphorylates and facilitates the degradation of CNGC20 under prolonged periods of cold treatment, thereby attenuating freezing tolerance. This study thus identifies PSY1R and CRPK1 kinases that regulate CNGC20 activity and stability, respectively, thereby antagonistically modulating freezing tolerance in plants.
PMID: 38875155
Plant Cell , IF:11.277 , 2024 Oct , V36 (10) : P4274-4275 doi: 10.1093/plcell/koae217
A double-edged sword: Phosphorylation of Ca2+ channel CNGC20 fine-tunes plant freezing tolerance.
Assistant Features Editor, The Plant Cell, American Society of Plant Biologists.; Department of Plant Pathology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Crop Diseases and Pests, Ministry of Education, Nanjing, 210095, China.; The Key Laboratory of Plant Immunity, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
PMID: 39041852
New Phytol , IF:10.151 , 2024 Nov , V244 (3) : P798-810 doi: 10.1111/nph.20062
HOS15-mediated turnover of PRR7 enhances freezing tolerance.
Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.; Division of Applied Life Science (BK21 Four), Plant Biological Rhythm Research Center (PBRRC), Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Research Center (PMBBRC), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Korea.
Arabidopsis PSEUDORESPONSE REGULATOR7 (PRR7) is a core component of the circadian oscillator which also plays a crucial role in freezing tolerance. PRR7 undergoes proteasome-dependent degradation to discretely phase maximal expression in early evening. While its repressive activity on downstream genes is integral to cold regulation, the mechanism of the conditional regulation of the PRR7 abundance is unknown. We used mutant analysis, protein interaction and ubiquitylation assays to establish that the ubiquitin ligase adaptor, HIGH EXPRESSION OF OSMOTICALLY RESPONSIVE GENE 15 (HOS15), controls the protein accumulation pattern of PRR7 through direct protein-protein interactions at low temperatures. Freezing tolerance and electrolyte leakage assays show that PRR7 enhances cold temperature sensitivity, supported by ChIP-qPCR at C-REPEAT BINDING FACTOR1 (CBF1) and COLD-REGULATED 15A (COR15A) promoters where PRR7 levels were higher in hos15 mutants. HOS15 mediates PRR7 turnover through enhanced ubiquitylation at low temperature in the dark. Under the same conditions, increased PRR7 association with the promoters of CBFs and COR15A in hos15 correlates with decreased CBF1 and COR15A transcription and enhanced freezing sensitivity. We propose a novel mechanism whereby HOS15-mediated degradation of PRR7 provides an intersection between the circadian system and other cold acclimation pathways that lead to increased freezing tolerance.
PMID: 39155726
Plant Biotechnol J , IF:9.803 , 2024 Nov , V22 (11) : P3037-3050 doi: 10.1111/pbi.14426
Genetic variation in the aquaporin TONOPLAST INTRINSIC PROTEIN 4;3 modulates maize cold tolerance.
State Key Laboratory of Plant Environmental Resilience, College of Biological Sciences, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Center for Crop Functional Genomics and Molecular Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.; Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences (Northeast Agricultural Research Center of China), Changchun, China.; National Maize Improvement Center, Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
Cold stress is a major abiotic stress that threatens maize (Zea mays L.) production worldwide. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying cold tolerance is crucial for breeding resilient maize varieties. Tonoplast intrinsic proteins (TIPs) are a subfamily of aquaporins in plants. Here, we report that TIP family proteins are involved in maize cold tolerance. The expression of most TIP genes was responsive to cold stress. Overexpressing TIP2;1, TIP3;2 or TIP4;3 reduced the cold tolerance of maize seedlings, while loss-of-function mutants of TIP4;3 exhibited enhanced cold tolerance. Candidate gene-based association analysis revealed that a 328-bp transposon insertion in the promoter region of TIP4;3 was strongly associated with maize cold tolerance. This transposon insertion conferred cold tolerance by repressing TIP4;3 expression through increased methylation of its promoter region. Moreover, TIP4;3 was found to suppress stomatal closure and facilitate reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation under cold stress, thereby inhibiting the expression of cold-responsive genes, including DEHYDRATION-RESPONSIVE ELEMENT BINDING FACTOR 1 (DREB1) genes and a subset of peroxidase genes, ultimately attenuating maize cold tolerance. This study thus elucidates the mechanism underlying TIP-mediated cold tolerance and identifies a favourable TIP4;3 allele as a potential genetic resource for breeding cold-tolerant maize varieties.
PMID: 39024420
Cell Rep , IF:9.423 , 2024 Oct , V43 (10) : P114828 doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114828
Bioengineering for robust tolerance against cold and drought stresses via co-overexpressing three Cu-miRNAs in major food crops.
Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Sanya, Hainan 572000, China; National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.; School of Breeding and Multiplication (Sanya Institute of Breeding and Multiplication), Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China.; National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.; Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Sanya, Hainan 572000, China.; State Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Henan Grain Crops, Center for Crop Genome Engineering, College of Agronomy, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.; State Key Laboratory of Ecological Control of Fujian-Taiwan Crop Pests, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Genetics, Breeding and Multiple Utilization of Crops, Plant Immunity Center, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.; Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Sanya, Hainan 572000, China; National Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Germplasm Resources, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China. Electronic address: liangwu@zju.edu.cn.
Environmental stresses threaten global food security by reducing major crop productivity. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs, function as master regulators of gene expression in plants. In this study, we co-overexpressed three copper-miRNAs (miR397, miR408, and miR528) in three major food crops (referred to as 3miR-OE), which simultaneously silenced several target laccase genes, resulting in reduced lignin contents but increased flavonoid metabolites. Importantly, we observed that, compared to wild-type and single miRNA overexpression lines, the 3miR-OE transgenic Japonica and Indica rice exhibited significantly enhanced tolerance against cold and drought stresses throughout the growth period. In addition, 3miR-OE transgenic maize and wheat also exhibited robust resistance to cold and water-deficit conditions, suggesting that co-overexpressing three Cu-miRNAs is a powerful tool for improving resilience to abiotic stresses across diverse crops. Altogether, we have developed a bioengineering strategy to maintain crop growth and yield under unfavorable environmental conditions.
PMID: 39368086
Plant Physiol , IF:8.34 , 2024 Oct , V196 (2) : P961-978 doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiae337
LUX ARRHYTHMO links CBF pathway and jasmonic acid metabolism to regulate cold tolerance of tea plants.
State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.; Center of Genetics and Life Sciences, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sirius 354340, Russia.; National Center for Tea Plant Improvement, Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310008, China.
Cold stress declines the quality and yield of tea, yet the molecular basis underlying cold tolerance of tea plants (Camellia sinensis) remains largely unknown. Here, we identified a circadian rhythm component LUX ARRHYTHMO (LUX) that potentially regulates cold tolerance of tea plants through a genome-wide association study and transcriptomic analysis. The expression of CsLUX phased with sunrise and sunset and was strongly induced by cold stress. Genetic assays indicated that CsLUX is a positive regulator of freezing tolerance in tea plants. CsLUX was directly activated by CsCBF1 and repressed the expression level of CsLOX2, which regulates the cold tolerance of tea plants through dynamically modulating jasmonic acid content. Furthermore, we showed that the CsLUX-CsJAZ1 complex attenuated the physical interaction of CsJAZ1 with CsICE1, liberating CsICE1 with transcriptional activities to withstand cold stress. Notably, a single-nucleotide variation of C-to-A in the coding region of CsLUX was functionally validated as the potential elite haplotype for cold response, which provided valuable molecular markers for future cold resistance breeding in tea plants.
PMID: 38875158
Sci Total Environ , IF:7.963 , 2024 Nov , V951 : P175554 doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175554
Adaptation of Rhizobium leguminosarum sv. trifolii strains to low temperature stress in both free-living stage and during symbiosis with clover.
Department of Industrial and Environmental Microbiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, 19 Akademicka, 20-033 Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: monika.janczarek@mail.umcs.pl.; Department of Industrial and Environmental Microbiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, 19 Akademicka, 20-033 Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: paulina.adamczyk@mail.umcs.pl.; Department of Industrial and Environmental Microbiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, 19 Akademicka, 20-033 Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: anna.gromada@mail.umcs.pl.; Department of Natural Environment Biogeochemistry, Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 4 Doswiadczalna, 20-290 Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: c.polakowski@ipan.lublin.pl.; Institute of Biological Basis of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 13 Akademicka Street, 20-950 Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: karolina.wengerska@up.lublin.pl.; Department of Natural Environment Biogeochemistry, Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 4 Doswiadczalna, 20-290 Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: a.bieganowski@ipan.lublin.pl.
Legume-rhizobial symbiosis plays an important role in agriculture and ecological restoration. This process occurs within special new structures, called nodules, formed mainly on legume roots. Soil bacteria, commonly known as rhizobia, fix atmospheric dinitrogen, converting it into a form that can be assimilated by plants. Various environmental factors, including a low temperature, have an impact on the symbiotic efficiency. Nevertheless, the effect of temperature on the phenotypic and symbiotic traits of rhizobia has not been determined in detail to date. Therefore, in this study, the influence of temperature on different cell surface and symbiotic properties of rhizobia was estimated. In total, 31 Rhizobium leguminosarum sv. trifolii strains isolated from root nodules of red clover plants growing in the subpolar and temperate climate regions, which essentially differ in year and day temperature profiles, were chosen for this analysis. Our results showed that temperature has a significant effect on several surface properties of rhizobial cells, such as hydrophobicity, aggregation, and motility. Low temperature also stimulated EPS synthesis and biofilm formation in R. leguminosarum sv. trifolii. This extracellular polysaccharide is known to play an important protective role against different environmental stresses. The strains produced large amounts of EPS under tested temperature conditions that facilitated adherence of rhizobial cells to different surfaces. The high adaptability of these strains to cold stress was also confirmed during symbiosis. Irrespective of their climatic origin, the strains proved to be highly effective in attachment to legume roots and were efficient microsymbionts of clover plants. However, some diversity in the response to low temperature stress was found among the strains. Among them, M16 and R137 proved to be highly competitive and efficient in nodule occupancy and biomass production; thus, they can be potential yield-enhancing inoculants of legumes.
PMID: 39151610
Sci Total Environ , IF:7.963 , 2024 Nov , V949 : P175184 doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175184
A novel strategy of artificially regulating plant rhizosphere microbial community to promote plant tolerance to cold stress.
College of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Straw Comprehensive Utilization and Black Soil Conservation, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China.; College of Life Science, Key Laboratory of Straw Comprehensive Utilization and Black Soil Conservation, Ministry of Education, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China. Electronic address: zjjx124@163.com.
Artificial regulation of plant rhizosphere microbial communities through the synthesis of microbial communities is one of the effective ways to improve plant stress resistance. However, the process of synthesizing stress resistant microbial communities with excellent performance is complex, time-consuming, and costly. To address this issue, we proposed a novel strategy for preparing functional microbial communities. We isolated a cultivable cold tolerant bacterial community (PRCBC) from the rhizosphere of peas, and studied its effectiveness in assisting rice to resist stress. The results indicate that PRCBC can not only improve the ability of rice to resist cold stress, but also promote the increase of rice yield after cold stress relieved. This is partly because PRCBC increases the nitrogen content in the rhizosphere soil, and promotes rice's absorption of nitrogen elements, thereby promoting rice growth and enhancing its ability to resist osmotic stress. More importantly, the application of PRCBC drives the succession of rice rhizosphere microbial communities, and promotes the succession of rice rhizosphere microbial communities towards stress resistance. Surprisingly, PRCBC drives the succession of rice rhizosphere microbial communities towards a composition similar to PRCBC. This provides a feasible novel method for artificially and directionally driving microbial succession. In summary, we not only proposed a novel and efficient strategy for preparing stress resistant microbial communities to promote plant stress resistance, but also unexpectedly discovered a possible directionally driving method for soil microbial community succession.
PMID: 39089386
Plant Cell Environ , IF:7.228 , 2024 Oct doi: 10.1111/pce.15196
Amur Grape VaMYB4a-VaERF054-Like Module Regulates Cold Tolerance Through a Regulatory Feedback Loop.
College of Enology and Horticulture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China.; School of Life Science, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China.; Engineering Research Center of Grape and Wine, Ministry of Education, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China.; Key Laboratory of Modern Molecular Breeding for Dominant and Special Crops in Ningxia, Yinchuan, China.; State Key Laboratory of Efficient Production of Forest Resources, Yinchuan, China.
Cold stress can limit the growth and development of grapevines, which can ultimately reduce productivity. However, the mechanisms by which grapevines respond to cold stress are not yet fully understood. Here, we characterized an APETALA2/ethylene response factor (AP2/ERF) which was shown to be a target gene of our previously identified VaMYB4a from Amur grape. We further investigated the molecular interactions between VaMYB4a and VaERF054-like transcription factors in grapes and their role in cold stress tolerance. Our results demonstrated that VaMYB4a directly binds to and activates the VaERF054-like gene promoter, leading to its enhanced expression. Moreover, we also explored the influence of ethylene precursors and inhibitors on VaERF054-like expression and grape cold tolerance. Our findings indicate that VaERF054-like contribute to cold tolerance in grapes through modulation of the ethylene pathway and the CBF signal pathway. Overexpression of VaERF054-like in Vitis vinifera 'Chardonnay' calli and transgenic grape lines resulted in increased freezing stress tolerance, confirming its role in the cold stress response. We further confirmed the interaction between VaMYB4a and VaERF054-like in vivo and in vitro. The co-transformation of VaMYB4a and VaERF054-like in grape calli demonstrates a synergistic interaction, enhancing the cold tolerance through a regulatory feedback mechanism. Our finding provides new insights into grape cold tolerance mechanisms, potentially contributing to the development of cold-resistant grape varieties.
PMID: 39412230
Plant Cell Environ , IF:7.228 , 2024 Nov , V47 (11) : P4071-4085 doi: 10.1111/pce.15005
OsJRL negatively regulates rice cold tolerance via interfering phenylalanine metabolism and flavonoid biosynthesis.
State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology and Key Lab of the Ministry of Agriculture for Nuclear Agricultural Sciences, Institute of Nuclear Agricultural Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.; Institute of Rural Development, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China.; Hainan Institute, Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, Zhejiang University, Sanya, China.
The identification of new genes involved in regulating cold tolerance in rice is urgent because low temperatures repress plant growth and reduce yields. Cold tolerance is controlled by multiple loci and involves a complex regulatory network. Here, we show that rice jacalin-related lectin (OsJRL) modulates cold tolerance in rice. The loss of OsJRL gene functions increased phenylalanine metabolism and flavonoid biosynthesis under cold stress. The OsJRL knock-out (KO) lines had higher phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity and greater flavonoid accumulation than the wild-type rice, Nipponbare (NIP), under cold stress. The leaves had lower levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and showed significantly enhanced cold tolerance compared to NIP. In contrast, the OsJRL overexpression (OE) lines had higher levels of ROS accumulation and showed lower cold tolerance than NIP. Additionally, the OsJRL KO lines accumulated more abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonic acid (JA) under cold stress than NIP. The OsJRL OE lines showed increased sensitivity to ABA compared to NIP. We conclude that OsJRL negatively regulates the cold tolerance of rice via modulation of phenylalanine metabolism and flavonoid biosynthesis.
PMID: 38884189
J Integr Plant Biol , IF:7.061 , 2024 Oct , V66 (10) : P2175-2190 doi: 10.1111/jipb.13737
Genomic variation of 363 diverse tea accessions unveils the genetic diversity, domestication, and structural variations associated with tea adaptation.
State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China.; School of Information and Artificial Intelligence, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China.; School of Computer and Artificial Intelligence, Hefei Normal University, Hefei, 230061, China.; Tea Research Institute, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China.
Domestication has shaped the population structure and agronomic traits of tea plants, yet the complexity of tea population structure and genetic variation that determines these traits remains unclear. We here investigated the resequencing data of 363 diverse tea accessions collected extensively from almost all tea distributions and found that the population structure of tea plants was divided into eight subgroups, which were basically consistent with their geographical distributions. The genetic diversity of tea plants in China decreased from southwest to east as latitude increased. Results also indicated that Camellia sinensis var. assamica (CSA) illustrated divergent selection signatures with Camellia sinensis var. sinensis (CSS). The domesticated genes of CSA were mainly involved in leaf development, flavonoid and alkaloid biosynthesis, while the domesticated genes in CSS mainly participated in amino acid metabolism, aroma compounds biosynthesis, and cold stress. Comparative population genomics further identified ~730 Mb novel sequences, generating 6,058 full-length protein-encoding genes, significantly expanding the gene pool of tea plants. We also discovered 217,376 large-scale structural variations and 56,583 presence and absence variations (PAVs) across diverse tea accessions, some of which were associated with tea quality and stress resistance. Functional experiments demonstrated that two PAV genes (CSS0049975 and CSS0006599) were likely to drive trait diversification in cold tolerance between CSA and CSS tea plants. The overall findings not only revealed the genetic diversity and domestication of tea plants, but also underscored the vital role of structural variations in the diversification of tea plant traits.
PMID: 38990113
J Exp Bot , IF:6.992 , 2024 Oct , V75 (20) : P6346-6368 doi: 10.1093/jxb/erae335
Primary multistep phosphorelay activation comprises both cytokinin and abiotic stress responses: insights from comparative analysis of Brassica type-A response regulators.
CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5/A2, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.; National Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5/A2, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic.; Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.; Faculty of Natural Sciences, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.; Department of Biology, University of York, York, UK.; PSI (Photon Systems Instruments), Ltd, Drasov, 66424 Drasov, Czech Republic.
Multistep phosphorelay (MSP) signaling integrates hormonal and environmental signals to control both plant development and adaptive responses. Type-A RESPONSE REGULATOR (RRA) genes, the downstream members of the MSP cascade and cytokinin primary response genes, are thought to mediate primarily the negative feedback regulation of (cytokinin-induced) MSP signaling. However, transcriptional data also suggest the involvement of RRA genes in stress-related responses. By employing evolutionary conservation with the well-characterized Arabidopsis thaliana RRA genes, we identified five and 38 novel putative RRA genes in Brassica oleracea and Brassica napus, respectively. Our phylogenetic analysis suggests the existence of gene-specific selective pressure, maintaining the homologs of ARR3, ARR6, and ARR16 as singletons during the evolution of Brassicaceae. We categorized RRA genes based on the kinetics of their cytokinin-mediated up-regulation and observed both similarities and specificities in this type of response across Brassicaceae species. Using bioinformatic analysis and experimental data demonstrating the cytokinin and abiotic stress responsiveness of the A. thaliana-derived TCSv2 reporter, we unveil the mechanistic conservation of cytokinin- and stress-mediated up-regulation of RRA genes in B. rapa and B. napus. Notably, we identify partial cytokinin dependency of cold stress-induced RRA transcription, thus further demonstrating the role of cytokinin signaling in crop adaptive responses.
PMID: 39171371
J Exp Bot , IF:6.992 , 2024 Oct , V75 (20) : P6625-6643 doi: 10.1093/jxb/erae333
The transcription factor EjNAC5 regulates loquat fruit chilling lignification.
College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou 310058, China.; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Integrative Biology, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou 310058, China.; The State Agriculture Ministry Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth, Development and Quality Improvement, Zhejiang University, Zijingang Campus, Hangzhou 310058, China.; Division of Plant and Crop Sciences, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UK.
Changes in both lignin biosynthesis and DNA methylation have been reported to be associated with chilling stress in plants. When stored at low temperatures, red-fleshed loquat is prone to lignification, with increased lignin content and fruit firmness, which has deleterious effects on taste and eating quality. Here, we found that 5 degrees C storage mitigated the increasing firmness and lignin content of red-fleshed 'Dahongpao' ('DHP') loquat fruit that occurred during 0 degrees C storage. EjNAC5 was identified by integrating RNA sequencing with whole-genome bisulfite sequencing analysis of 'DHP' loquat fruit. The transcript levels of EjNAC5 were positively correlated with changes in firmness and negatively correlated with changes in DNA methylation level of a differentially methylated region in the EjNAC5 promoter. In white-fleshed 'Baisha' ('BS') loquat fruit, which do not undergo chilling-induced lignification at 0 degrees C, the transcripts of EjNAC5 remained low and the methylation level of the differentially methylated region in the EjNAC5 promoter was higher, compared with 'DHP' loquat fruit. Transient overexpression of EjNAC5 in loquat fruit and stable overexpression in Arabidopsis and liverwort led to an increase in lignin content. Furthermore, EjNAC5 interacts with EjERF39 and EjHB1 and activates the transcription of Ej4CL1 and EjPRX12 genes involved in lignin biosynthesis. This regulatory network involves different transcription factors from those involved in the lignification pathway. Our study indicates that EjNAC5 promoter methylation modulates EjNAC5 transcript levels and identifies novel EjNAC5-EjERF39-Ej4CL1 and EjNAC5-EjHB1-EjPRX12 regulatory modules involved in chilling induced-lignification.
PMID: 39086268
J Exp Bot , IF:6.992 , 2024 Oct , V75 (20) : P6405-6422 doi: 10.1093/jxb/erae316
Evolution of drought and frost responses in cool season grasses (Pooideae): was drought tolerance a precursor to frost tolerance?
Department of Plant Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1432 As, Norway.; Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.; Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.; Department of Plant Biology, The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA.
Frost tolerance has evolved many times independently across flowering plants. However, conservation of several frost tolerance mechanisms among distant relatives suggests that apparently independent entries into freezing climates may have been facilitated by repeated modification of existing traits ('precursor traits'). One possible precursor trait for freezing tolerance is drought tolerance, because palaeoclimatic data suggest plants were exposed to drought before frost and several studies have demonstrated shared physiological and genetic responses to drought and frost stress. Here, we combine ecophysiological experiments and comparative analyses to test the hypothesis that drought tolerance acted as a precursor to frost tolerance in cool-season grasses (Pooideae). Contrary to our predictions, we measured the highest levels of frost tolerance in species with the lowest ancestral drought tolerance, indicating that the two stress responses evolved independently in different lineages. We further show that drought tolerance is more evolutionarily labile than frost tolerance. This could limit our ability to reconstruct the order in which drought and frost responses evolved relative to each other. Further research is needed to determine whether our results are unique to Pooideae or general for flowering plants.
PMID: 39066622
Int J Biol Macromol , IF:6.953 , 2024 Nov , V279 (Pt 3) : P133245 doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133245
Genome-wide and functional analysis of late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) genes during dormancy and sprouting periods of kernel consumption apricots (P. armeniaca L. x P. sibirica L.).
State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Experimental Center of Forestry in North China, National Permanent Scientific Research Base for Warm Temperate Zone Forestry of Jiulong Mountain in Beijing, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, PR China. Electronic address: Lisf@caf.ac.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Non-timber Forestry Research and Development Center, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhengzhou 450003, PR China. Electronic address: tanatanan@caf.ac.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Non-timber Forestry Research and Development Center, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Zhengzhou 450003, PR China. Electronic address: wanglinjt@caf.ac.cn.; Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PR China.; State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Experimental Center of Forestry in North China, National Permanent Scientific Research Base for Warm Temperate Zone Forestry of Jiulong Mountain in Beijing, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, PR China. Electronic address: happyth@caf.ac.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Experimental Center of Forestry in North China, National Permanent Scientific Research Base for Warm Temperate Zone Forestry of Jiulong Mountain in Beijing, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, PR China. Electronic address: zhangyaodan@caf.ac.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Experimental Center of Forestry in North China, National Permanent Scientific Research Base for Warm Temperate Zone Forestry of Jiulong Mountain in Beijing, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, PR China. Electronic address: wshaoli@iccas.ac.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Experimental Center of Forestry in North China, National Permanent Scientific Research Base for Warm Temperate Zone Forestry of Jiulong Mountain in Beijing, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, PR China. Electronic address: yxxia@caf.ac.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Experimental Center of Forestry in North China, National Permanent Scientific Research Base for Warm Temperate Zone Forestry of Jiulong Mountain in Beijing, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, PR China. Electronic address: liuxx@caf.ac.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Experimental Center of Forestry in North China, National Permanent Scientific Research Base for Warm Temperate Zone Forestry of Jiulong Mountain in Beijing, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100091, PR China.; Jiangsu Key Laboratory for the Research and Utilization of Plant Resources, Institute of Botany, Jiangsu Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Nanjing Botany Garden Mem. Sun Yat-Sen), Nanjing 210014, PR China. Electronic address: fennilv@cnbg.net.; Experimental Center of Tropical Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Pingxiang 532600, PR China. Electronic address: xjhsoso@163.com.; Institute of Ecological Conservation and Restoration, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing 100093, PR China. Electronic address: tangzm@caf.ac.cn.
Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins play a crucial role in protecting cells from stress, making them potential contributors to abiotic stress tolerance. This study focuses on apricot (P. armeniaca L. x P. sibirica L.), where a comprehensive genome-wide analysis identified 54 LEA genes, categorized into eight subgroups based on phylogenetic relationships. Synteny analysis revealed 14 collinear blocks containing LEA genes between P. armeniaca x P. sibirica and Arabidopsis thaliana, with an additional 9 collinear blocks identified between P. armeniaca x P. sibirica and poplar. Examination of gene structure and conserved motifs indicated that these subgroups exhibit consistent exon-intron patterns and shared motifs. The expansion and duplication of LEA genes in P. armeniaca x P. sibirica were driven by whole-genome duplication (WGD), segmental duplication, and tandem duplication events. Expression analysis, utilizing RNA-seq data and quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR), indicated induction of PasLEA2-20, PasLEA3-2, PasLEA6-1, Pasdehydrin-3, and Pasdehydrin-5 in flower buds during dormancy and sprouting phases. Coexpression network analysis linked LEA genes with 15 cold-resistance genes. Remarkably, during the four developmental stages of flower buds in P. armeniaca x P. sibirica - physiological dormancy, ecological dormancy, sprouting period, and germination stage - the expression patterns of all PasLEAs coexpressed with cold stress-related genes remained consistent. Protein-protein interaction networks, established using Arabidopsis orthologs, emphasized connections between PasLEA proteins and cold resistance pathways. Overexpression of certain LEA genes in yeast and Arabidopsis conferred advantages under cold stress, including increased pod length, reduced bolting time and flowering time, improved survival and seed setting rates, elevated proline accumulation, and enhanced antioxidative enzymatic activities. Furthermore, these overexpressed plants exhibited upregulation of genes related to flower development and cold resistance. The Y1H assay confirmed that PasGBF4 and PasDOF3.5 act as upstream regulatory factors by binding to the promoter region of PasLEA3-2. PasDOF2.4, PasDnaJ2, and PasAP2 were also found to bind to the promoter of Pasdehydrin-3, regulating the expression levels of downstream genes. This comprehensive study explores the evolutionary relationships among PasLEA genes, protein interactions, and functional analyses during various stages of dormancy and sprouting in P. armeniaca x P. sibirica. It offers potential targets for enhancing cold resistance and manipulating flower bud dormancy in this apricot hybrid.
PMID: 38977045
Hortic Res , IF:6.793 , 2024 Oct , V11 (10) : Puhae219 doi: 10.1093/hr/uhae219
CaMYB80 enhances the cold tolerance of pepper by directly targeting CaPOA1.
College of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
Cold temperatures negatively impact crop yield and quality, posing significant limitations to the advancement of the vegetable industry. MYB transcription factors are pivotal in enhancing plant resilience against various abiotic stresses, including low-temperature stress. Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is a nutrient-rich vegetable crop sensitive to low temperatures. This study aimed to determine the function of CaMYB80 in the cold stress response of pepper through virus-induced silencing. The study also conducted heterologous expression of CaMYB80 in Arabidopsis and tomato plants. The results showed that CaMYB80 could respond to low-temperature stress in pepper. CaMYB80 was localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm and exhibited transcriptional activation ability. Moreover, CaMYB80 silencing decreased cold tolerance in pepper, while its heterologous overexpression increased cold tolerance in Arabidopsis and tomato. Further analysis showed that CaMYB80 interacted with CaPOA1 (peroxidase N1-like). Similarly, the expression of CaPOA1 also responded to low-temperature stress. Overexpression of CaPOA1 enhanced freezing tolerance in Arabidopsis, while its silencing reduced cold stress tolerance in pepper. Furthermore, overexpression of CaMYB80 in Arabidopsis and tomato could increase the activity of peroxidases and the expression levels of genes in the ICE-CBF-COR (inducer of CBF expression, C-repeat binding factor, cold-responsive) regulatory network. In conclusion, our research results indicate that CaMYB80 enhances pepper cold tolerance by interacting with CaPOA1 to increase peroxidase activity and influence the expression of ICE-CBF-COR related genes.
PMID: 39398950
Hortic Res , IF:6.793 , 2024 Oct , V11 (10) : Puhae216 doi: 10.1093/hr/uhae216
Orphan gene BR2 positively regulates bolting resistance through the vernalization pathway in Chinese cabbage.
Molecular Biology of Vegetable Laboratory, College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang 110866, China.; School of Agriculture, Jilin Agricultural Science and Technology University, Jilin 132101, China.
Orphan genes (OGs) are unique to the specific species or lineage, and whose homologous sequences cannot be found in other species or lineages. Furthermore, these genes lack recognizable domains or functional motifs, which make their characterization difficult. Here, we identified a Brassica rapa OG named BOLTING RESISTANCE 2 (BR2) that could positively modulate bolting resistance. The expression of BR2 was developmentally regulated and the BR2 protein was localized to the cell membrane. BR2 overexpression not only markedly delayed flowering time in Arabidopsis transgenic plants, but substantially affected the development of leaves and flower organs. Flowering repressor AtFLC gene was significantly up-regulated transcribed in Arabidopsis BR2 overexpression lines, while AtFT and AtSOC1 expression was decreased. In addition, the BR2 expression was enhanced in bolting-resistant type Chinese cabbage and was reduced in non-resistant type. Moreover, chilling stress inhibited the BR2 expression levels. Overexpression of BR2 also delayed flowering time in Chinese cabbage. In vernalized Chinese cabbage BR2 overexpression plants, BrVIN3.b and BrFRI were significantly down-regulated, while BrFLC5 was substantially up-regulated. Key floral factors, including three BrSOC1s, two BrLFYs, and four BrFTs were down-regulated. The expression changes of these key genes were consistent with the delayed flowering phenotype of Chinese cabbage BR2 overexpressing plants. Thus, we predicted that BR2 may predominantly function via the vernalization pathway. Our findings propose that the OG BR2 acts as a novel modulator of flowering time in Chinese cabbage, which provides a new insight on the breeding of varieties that are resistant to bolting.
PMID: 39398948
Plant J , IF:6.417 , 2024 Nov , V120 (3) : P1112-1124 doi: 10.1111/tpj.17040
SlBTB19 interacts with SlWRKY2 to suppress cold tolerance in tomato via the CBF pathway.
Department of Horticulture, Zijingang Campus, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China.; Hainan Institute, Zhejiang University, Sanya, 572025, People's Republic of China.; Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth and Development, Agricultural Ministry of China, Yuhangtang Road 866, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China.
Cold stress restricts the metabolic and physiological activities of plants, thereby affecting their growth and development. Although broad-complex, tramtrack, and bric-a-brac (BTB) proteins are essential for diverse biological processes and stress responses, the mechanisms underlying BTB-mediated cold responses remain not fully understood. Here, we characterize the function of the cold-induced SlBTB19 protein in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Overexpression of SlBTB19 resulted in increased plant sensitivity to cold stress, whereas SlBTB19 knockout mutants exhibited a cold-tolerance phenotype. Further analyses, including protein-protein interaction studies and cell-free degradation assays, revealed that SlBTB19 interacts with and destabilizes the transcription factor SlWRKY2. Using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) to silence SlWRKY2 in both wild-type and slbtb19 mutants, we provided genetic evidence that SlWRKY2 acts downstream of SlBTB19 in regulating cold tolerance. Importantly, we demonstrated that SlWRKY2 positively regulates cold tolerance in a CRT/DRE binding factor (CBF)-dependent manner. Under cold stress, SlWRKY2 binds to the W-box in the CBF1 and CBF3 promoters, directly activating their expression. In summary, our findings identify a SlBTB19-SlWRKY2 module that negatively regulates the CBF-dependent cold tolerance pathway in tomato.
PMID: 39323012
Front Plant Sci , IF:5.753 , 2024 , V15 : P1422374 doi: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1422374
Effects of different cold-resistant agents and application methods on yield and cold-resistance of machine-transplanted early rice.
College of Agronomy, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China.
Cold stress is a critical factor affecting rice production worldwide. The application of cold-resistant agents may improve the cold resistance and yield of crops. To screen for suitable cold-resistant agents for machine-transplanted early rice, the effects of uniconazole, abscisic acid, and zinc-amino acids chelate and their spraying times (seed soaking stage, one leaf and one heart stage, two leaves and one heart stage, 7 days before the transplanting stage, and regreening stage) on the yield and cold resistance of machine-transplanted early rice were investigated. Moreover, the application method (spraying amount: 750 and 1125 g ha(-1); spraying time: 7 days before the transplanting stage, transplanting stage, regreening stage, and transplanting stage and regreening stage) for the most suitable cold-resistant agent was optimized. The zinc-amino acids chelate was better than the other two cold-resistant agents for promoting rice tillering and increasing the leaf area index, dry matter weight, antioxidant enzyme activities (CAT, SOD, POD) and yield (i.e., 9.22% and 7.14% higher than uniconazole and abscisic acid, respectively), especially when it was applied in the regreening stage. The examination of spraying amounts and times indicated that the zinc-amino acids chelate dosage had no significant effect on the yield and cold resistance of early rice. However, the rice yield and antioxidant enzyme activities were highest when samples were sprayed once in the transplanting stage and the regreening stage. On the basis of the study results, 750 g ha(-1) zinc-amino acids chelate applications in the transplanting and regreening stages of machine-transplanted early rice plants may be ideal for increasing cold stress resistance and yield.
PMID: 39416474
Plant Cell Physiol , IF:4.927 , 2024 Oct , V65 (9) : P1363-1376 doi: 10.1093/pcp/pcae072
ATBS1-INTERACTING FACTOR 2 Positively Regulates Freezing Tolerance via INDUCER OF CBF EXPRESSION 1/C-REPEAT BINDING FACTOR-Induced Cold Acclimation Pathway.
Division of Biological Science and Technology, Yonsei University, 1 Yonseidae-Gil, Wonju-Si 220-710, Republic of Korea.; Department of Systems Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea.
The INDUCER OF CBF EXPRESSION 1/C-REPEAT BINDING FACTOR (ICE1/CBF) pathway plays a crucial role in plant responses to cold stress, impacting growth and development. Here, we demonstrated that ATBS1-INTERACTING FACTOR 2 (AIF2), a non-DNA-binding basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, positively regulates freezing tolerance through the ICE1/CBF-induced cold tolerance pathway in Arabidopsis. Cold stress transcriptionally upregulated AIF2 expression and induced AIF2 phosphorylation, thereby stabilizing the AIF2 protein during early stages of cold acclimation. The AIF2 loss-of-function mutant, aif2-1, exhibited heightened sensitivity to freezing before and after cold acclimation. In contrast, ectopic expression of AIF2, but not the C-terminal-deleted AIF2 variant, restored freezing tolerance. AIF2 enhanced ICE1 stability during cold acclimation and promoted the transcriptional expression of CBFs and downstream cold-responsive genes, ultimately enhancing plant tolerance to freezing stress. MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASES 3 and 6 (MPK3/6), known negative regulators of freezing tolerance, interacted with and phosphorylated AIF2, subjecting it to protein degradation. Furthermore, transient co-expression of MPK3/6 with AIF2 and ICE1 downregulated AIF2/ICE1-induced transactivation of CBF2 expression. AIF2 interacted preferentially with BRASSINOSTEROID-INSENSITIVE 2 (BIN2) and MPK3/6 during the early and later stages of cold acclimation, respectively, thereby differentially regulating AIF2 activity in a cold acclimation time-dependent manner. Moreover, AIF2 acted additively in a gain-of-function mutant of BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT 1 (BZR1; bzr1-1D) and a triple knockout mutant of BIN2 and its homologs (bin2bil1bil2) to induce CBFs-mediated freezing tolerance. This suggests that cold-induced AIF2 coordinates freezing tolerance along with BZR1 and BIN2, key positive and negative components, respectively, of brassinosteroid signaling pathways.
PMID: 38957969
Plant Sci , IF:4.729 , 2024 Oct , V350 : P112293 doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112293
VvbZIP22 regulates quercetin synthesis to enhances cold resistance in grape.
College of Life Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.; College of Food Science and Engineering, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.; College of Life Science, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China. Electronic address: liuxin6080@126.com.
Grapes are one of the important fruit crops widely cultivated in the world, with high nutritional and economic value. However, with the intensification of global warming, extreme low temperature has seriously affected the development of the grape industry. Quercetin is a highly antioxidant active substance that can enhance the tolerance of plants to external environmental stress, but its function and mechanism in response to low-temperature stress in grapes are still unclear. Here, we found that grapes accumulate more quercetin under low-temperature stress, and exogenous quercetin can significantly improve the cold resistance of grapes. The key quercetin synthesis gene VvFLS1 (flavanol synthase 1) is up-regulated after low-temperature treatment, and overexpression of VvFLS1 increases quercetin content and enhances the cold resistance of grape. Yeast one-hybrid and dual luciferase reporter systems demonstrate that VvbZIP22 (basic-leucine zipper 22) directly binds to the VvFLS1 promoter, and VvbZIP22 has cold-induced expression characteristics. Overexpression of VvbZIP22 significantly improves the cold resistance of grape. The above results indicate that quercetin plays an important role in the response of grapes to low-temperature stress. Under low temperature, VvbZIP22 can mediate quercetin synthesis through regulating VvFLS1, alleviate oxidative damage, and improve the cold resistance of grapes.
PMID: 39414149
Plant Sci , IF:4.729 , 2024 Dec , V349 : P112260 doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112260
Lack of Arabidopsis chloroplastic glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase 1 (G6PD1) affects lipid synthesis during cold stress response.
Università di Napoli ''Federico II'', Dipartimento di Biologia, Via Cinthia, Napoli I-80126, Italy.; Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry (ICB), CNR, Via Campi Flegrei 34, Pozzuoli, Napoli 80078, Italy.; Università di Napoli ''Federico II'', Dipartimento di Biologia, Via Cinthia, Napoli I-80126, Italy; Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry (ICB), CNR, Via Campi Flegrei 34, Pozzuoli, Napoli 80078, Italy.; Università di Napoli ''Federico II'', Dipartimento di Biologia, Via Cinthia, Napoli I-80126, Italy. Electronic address: sergio.esposito@unina.it.
Cold stress represents one of the major constraints for agricultural systems and crops productivity, inducing a wide range of negative effects. Particularly, long-term cold stress affects lipid metabolism, modifying the lipids/proteins ratio, the levels of phospholipids and glycolipids, and increasing lipids' unsaturation in bio-membranes. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) reported prominent roles as NADPH suppliers in response to oxidative perturbations. Cytosolic G6PDH was suggested as the main isoform involved in cold stress response, while a down-regulation of the chloroplastic P1-G6PDH was observed. We thus investigated an Arabidopsis mutant defective for the P1-G6PDH (KO-P1) using integrated approaches to verify a possible role of this isoform in low temperature tolerance. KO-P1 genotype showed an improved tolerance to cold stress, highlighting a better photosynthetic efficiency, a reduction in stress markers content and a different regulation of genes involved in stress response. Intriguingly, the lack of P1-G6PDH induced modification in the levels of the main fatty acid and lipid species affecting the morphology of chloroplasts and mitochondria, which was restored under cold. Globally, these results indicate a priming effect induced by the absence of P1-G6PDH able to improve the tolerance to abiotic stress. Our results suggest novel and specific abilities of P1-G6PDH, highlighting its central role in different aspects of plant physiology and metabolism.
PMID: 39277046
Plant Sci , IF:4.729 , 2024 Nov , V348 : P112237 doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112237
Characterization and fine mapping of cold-inducible parthenocarpy in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.).
State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang Campus, Nanjing, 210095, China. Electronic address: 2018204015@njau.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang Campus, Nanjing, 210095, China. Electronic address: liji1981@njau.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang Campus, Nanjing, 210095, China. Electronic address: 2019204025@njau.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang Campus, Nanjing, 210095, China. Electronic address: yuhui_wang@njau.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang Campus, Nanjing, 210095, China. Electronic address: chunyancheng@njau.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang Campus, Nanjing, 210095, China. Electronic address: qzzhao@njau.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement and Utilization, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Weigang Campus, Nanjing, 210095, China. Electronic address: jfchen@njau.edu.cn.
Cold stress detrimentally influences fruit development, leading to a substantial yield reduction in many fruit-bearing vegetables. Cucumber, a vegetable of subtropical origin, is especially sensitive to cold. Cold-inducible parthenocarpy (CIP) promises fruit yield under cold conditions. Previously, we identified a CIP line EC5 in cucumber, which showed strong parthenocarpy and sustained fruit growth under cold conditions (16 degrees C day/10 degrees C night). However, the candidate gene and genetic mechanism underlying CIP in cucumber remain unknown. In this study, both BSA-seq and conventional QTL mapping strategies were employed on F(2) populations to delve into the genetic control of CIP. A single QTL, CIP5.1, was consistently mapped across two winter seasons in 2021 and 2022. Fine mapping delimited the CIP locus into a 38.3 kb region on chromosome 5, harboring 8 candidate genes. Among these candidates, CsAGL11 (CsaV3_5G040370) was identified, exhibiting multiple deletions/insertions in the promoter and 5'UTR region. The CsAGL11 gene encodes a MADS-box transcription factor protein, which is homologous to the genes previously recognized as negative regulators in ovule and fruit development of Arabidopsis and tomato. Correspondingly, cold treatment resulted in decreased expression of CsAGL11 during the early developmental stage of the fruit in EC5. A promoter activity assay confirmed promoter polymorphisms leading to weak transcriptional activation of CsAGL11 under cold conditions. This study deepens our understanding of the genetic characteristics of CIP and elucidates the potential role of the CsAGL11 gene in developing cucumber cultivars with enhanced fruiting under cold conditions.
PMID: 39182620
Plant Cell Rep , IF:4.57 , 2024 Oct , V43 (11) : P265 doi: 10.1007/s00299-024-03353-1
Genome-wide identification of Aux/IAA gene family members in grape and functional analysis of VaIAA3 in response to cold stress.
College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China.; College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China. maojuan@gsau.edu.cn.
Twenty-five VvIAA genes and eighteen VaIAA genes were identified from Pinot Noir and Shanputao, respectively. The overexpression of VaIAA3 in transgenic Arabidopsis increased cold tolerance by regulating auxin, ABA and ethylene signaling. Aux/IAA genes are key genes involved in regulating auxin signal transduction in plants. Although IAA genes have been characterized in various plant species, the role of IAA genes in grape cold resistance is unclear. To further explore the members of the Aux/IAA gene family in grape and their functions, in this study, using genomic data for Pinot Noir (Vitis vinifera cv. 'Pinot Noir') and Shanputao (Vitis amurensis), 25 VvIAA genes and 18 VaIAA genes were identified. The VaIAA genes presented different expression patterns at five different temperatures (28 +/- 1 degrees C, 5 +/- 1 degrees C, 0 +/- 1 degrees C, -5 +/- 1 degrees C, and -10 +/- 1 degrees C) according to qRT‑PCR results. VaIAA3 was selected as a candidate gene for further functional analysis because of its high expression level under low-temperature stress. Subcellular localization experiments revealed that VaIAA3 was localized in the nucleus. Additionally, under 4 degrees C treatment for 24 h, relative expression level of VaIAA3, antioxidant enzyme activity, survival rate, and cold-responsive gene expression in three transgenic lines (OE-1, OE-2, OE-3) were greater, whereas relative electrolytic conductivity (REC), malondialdehyde (MDA) content and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) content were lower than those of the wild type (WT). Transcriptome sequencing analysis revealed that VaIAA3 regulated cold stress resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) through pathways involving auxin, ABA, JA, or ethylene. Importantly, heterologous overexpression of VaIAA3 increased the resistance of Arabidopsis to cold stress, which provides a theoretical basis for the further use of VaIAA3 to improve cold resistance in grape.
PMID: 39417869
Plant Physiol Biochem , IF:4.27 , 2024 Oct , V217 : P109214 doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.109214
Exogenous glucose irrigation alleviates cold stress by regulating soluble sugars, ABA and photosynthesis in melon seedlings.
College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, Henan, China; College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China; Henan Research Center of Protected Horticulture Engineering Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China.; College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China; Henan Research Center of Protected Horticulture Engineering Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China.; College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China; Henan Research Center of Protected Horticulture Engineering Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, China. Electronic address: xhj234@126.com.; College of Landscape Architecture and Art, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, Henan, China. Electronic address: fudeshang@henu.edu.cn.
Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is an important economic crop and widely planted around the world. Cold stress severely limits its development and yield. Carbohydrates play multiple roles in plant cold tolerance. However, little is known in melon. Based on the metabolome analysis, a total of 635 metabolites were identified upon cold stress in melon seedlings. KEGG analysis shows that differential metabolites were mainly enriched in the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathway and pentose phosphate pathway, with glucose being one of the most prominent metabolites. To further investigate the role of glucose in cold tolerance of melon seedlings. We found that root irrigation was more effective than foliar spraying for exogenous glucose application, with optimal concentrations of 0.5% and 1% for cold-tolerant and cold-sensitive genotypes, respectively. Glucose irrigation mainly promoted soluble sugar accumulation to reduce cold damage in melon seedlings. For cold-sensitive genotype, only the sucrose content could be increased, while for cold-tolerant genotype, sucrose, fructose and glucose content could be simultaneously increased. Meanwhile, glucose irrigation recruited ABA not antioxidant enzyme system to cope with cold stress. Hence, glucose watering could improve the maximum photochemical efficiency of seedling photosystem II (Fv/Fm), alleviate physiological drought, reduce the accumulation of malondialdehyde, and accelerated the photosynthetic efficiency of melon seedlings. Based on coefficient of variation and principal component analysis, it was confirmed again that glucose irrigation did alter the strategies for withstanding cold stress and enhance the cold tolerance of melon seedlings. Thus, the results would provide a theoretical basis and feasible measures to protect melon seedings from cold damage.
PMID: 39454537
Plant Physiol Biochem , IF:4.27 , 2024 Oct , V217 : P109222 doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.109222
Functional characterization of CaSOC1 at low temperatures and its role in low-temperature escape.
College of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.; College of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China. Electronic address: lihuanxiu@sicau.edu.cn.
Environmental factors such as light and temperature tightly regulate plant flowering time. Under stressful conditions, plants inhibit vegetative growth and accelerate flowering as an emergency response. This adaptive mechanism benefits the survival of species and enhances their reproductive success. This phenomenon is often referred to as stress escape. However, the signaling pathways between low-temperature signals and flowering time are poorly understood. In this study, the MIKC transcription factor, CaSOC1, was isolated from pepper (Capsicum annuum), which showed suppressed expression under low-temperature conditions. Silencing the expression of CaSOC1 in pepper plants resulted in reduced photosynthetic capacity, inhibited vegetative growth, and increased sensitivity to low temperatures. In contrast, overexpression of CaSOC1 increased the biomass of tomato plants under normal growth conditions but suppressed their antioxidant enzyme activity at low temperatures, which negatively regulated their cold tolerance. Furthermore, intermittent low-temperature treatment with CaSOC1 overexpression promoted early flowering in tomato plants. Our findings demonstrate that CaSOC1 reduced the cold tolerance of pepper plants under short term low-temperature conditions, whereas intermittent low-temperature treatment enhanced flower bud differentiation, enabling stress escape and adaptation to long low-temperature environments.
PMID: 39437668
Plant Physiol Biochem , IF:4.27 , 2024 Sep , V216 : P109168 doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.109168
gamma-aminobutyric acid contributes to a novel long-distance signaling in figleaf gourd rootstock-induced cold tolerance of grafted cucumber seedlings.
College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, PR China.; College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, PR China.; College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, PR China. Electronic address: piao1203@henau.edu.cn.; College of Horticulture, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, PR China. Electronic address: guozhixin666@henau.edu.cn.
Long-distance signals play a vital role in plant stress response. gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been proposed to be a signal and protects crops against diverse stresses. However, whether GABA acts as a long-distance signal to plant response to stresses remains unknown. Here, we found that the GABA content in cucurbita rootstocks, especially figleaf gourd, was significantly higher than that in cucumber. Figleaf gourd rootstock obviously enhanced cold tolerance and GABA accumulation in roots, xylem sap and leaves of grafting cucumber seedlings. Conversely, GABA synthesis inhibitor 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA) irrigation was more effective than its foliar application in inhibiting grafting-induced cold tolerance. Moreover, fluorescence microscopy confirmed that GABA can be transported from root to shoot through the xylem when the roots of grafted seedlings were fed with fluorescein isothiocyatate-labeled GABA under normal and cold stress conditions. Importantly, 3-MPA irrigation attenuated grafting-induced cold tolerance, as revealed by a decline in the GABA accumulation, the transcripts of ICE1, CBF1 and COR47, the activities of the antioxidant enzymes, and an increase in stomatal aperture. Collectively, our findings strongly support that GABA functions as a novel long-distance signal in figleaf gourd rootstock-induced cold tolerance of grafted cucumber seedlings by modulating CBF-signalling pathways, antioxidant system and stomatal aperture, providing new evidence for long-distance signaling-mediated cold response of plants.
PMID: 39366198
BMC Plant Biol , IF:4.215 , 2024 Oct , V24 (1) : P990 doi: 10.1186/s12870-024-05612-5
Genomic identification, characterization, and stress-induced expression profiling of glyoxalase and D-lactate dehydrogenase gene families in Capsicum annuum.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, 3114, Bangladesh.; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, 3114, Bangladesh. aghosh-bmb@sust.edu.
BACKGROUND: Capsicum annuum, a significant agricultural and nutritional crop, faces production challenges due to its sensitivity to various abiotic stresses. Glyoxalase (GLY) and D-lactate dehydrogenase (D-LDH) enzymes play vital roles in mitigating these stresses by detoxifying the stress-induced cytotoxin, methylglyoxal (MG). METHODS: A genome-wide study was conducted to identify and characterize glyoxalase I (GLYI), glyoxalase II (GLYII), unique glyoxalase III or DJ-1 (GLYIII), and D-LDH gene candidates in Capsicum annuum. The identified members were evaluated based on their evolutionary relationships with known orthologues, as well as their gene and protein features. Their expression patterns were examined in various tissues, developmental stages, and in response to abiotic stress conditions using RNA-seq data and qRT-PCR. RESULTS: A total of 19 GLYI, 9 GLYII, 3 DJ-1, and 11 D-LDH members were identified, each featuring characteristic domains: glyoxalase, metallo-beta-lactamase, DJ-1_PfpI, and FAD_binding_4, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed distinct clades depending on functional diversification. Expression profiling demonstrated significant variability under stress conditions, underscoring their potential roles in stress modulation. Notably, gene-specific responses were observed with CaGLYI-2, CaGLYI-7, CaGLYII-6, CaDJ-1 A, and CaDLDH-1 showed upregulation under salinity, drought, oxidative, heat, and cold stresses, while downregulation were shown for CaGLYI-3, CaGLYII-1, CaDJ-1B, and CaDJ-1 C. Remarkably, CaGLYI-1 presented a unique expression pattern, upregulated against drought and salinity but downregulated under oxidative, heat, and cold stress. CONCLUSION: The identified GLY and D-LDH gene families in Capsicum annuum exhibited differential expression patterns under different abiotic stresses. Specifically, CaGLYI-2, CaGLYI-7, CaGLYII-6, CaDJ-1 A, and CaDLDH-1 were upregulated in response to all five analyzed abiotic stressors, highlighting their critical role in stress modulation amidst climate change. This study enhances our understanding of plant stress physiology and opens new avenues for developing stress-resilient crop varieties, crucial for sustainable agriculture.
PMID: 39428463
BMC Plant Biol , IF:4.215 , 2024 Oct , V24 (1) : P959 doi: 10.1186/s12870-024-05660-x
Transcriptome analysis reveals key regulatory networks and genes involved in the acquisition of cold stress memory in pepper seedlings.
College of Horticulture, Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou, 730070, China.; College of Biological and Agricultural Sciences, Honghe University, Mengzi, 661100, China.; College of Horticulture and Forestry, Tarim University, Alar, 843300, China.; College of Horticulture, Gansu Agriculture University, Lanzhou, 730070, China. yujihuagg@163.com.; College of Biological and Agricultural Sciences, Honghe University, Mengzi, 661100, China. gsau23@126.com.
Temperature is an important limiting factor in the counter-seasonal cultivation of pepper. Currently, there are no studies on transcriptomic analysis of 'cold stress memory' in pepper. In this study, in order to understand the mechanism of 'cold stress memory' in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), seedlings were subjected to the following treatments: normal temperature treatment (P0), the first cold treatment for 3 days (P3), the recovery temperature treatment for 3 days (R3), and another cold treatment for 3 days (RP3). The results showed that P3 plants wilted the most, RP3 the second and R3 the least. Leaf reactive oxygen species (ROS) and electrolyte leakage were the most in P3, the second in RP3 and the least in R3. In addition, RP3 had the highest accumulation of zeaxanthin, violaxanthin and beta-cryptoxanthin, followed by P3, and R3 had the least. These results suggest that pepper seedlings are characterized by 'cold stress memory'. Transcriptomics was used to analyze the key genes and transcription factors involved in the biosynthesis of zeaxanthin, violaxanthin and beta-cryptoxanthin during the formation of 'cold stress memory'. This study provides candidate genes and transcription factors for an in-depth study of the cold tolerance mechanism in pepper.
PMID: 39396950
BMC Plant Biol , IF:4.215 , 2024 Oct , V24 (1) : P931 doi: 10.1186/s12870-024-05635-y
Molecular regulation by H(2)S of antioxidant and glucose metabolism in cold-sensitive Capsicum.
College of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China.; Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Characteristic Plants, No.14 Yongxing Road, Chonglong Town, Zizhong County, Neijiang City, Sichuan Province, 641200, China.; College of Horticulture, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, China. huanxiuli62@163.com.
BACKGROUND: Cold is an important environmental limiting factor affecting plant yield and quality. Capsicum (chili pepper), a tropical and subtropical vegetable crop, is extremely sensitive to cold. Although H(2)S is an important signaling regulator in the responses of plant growth and development to abiotic stress, few studies have examined its effects on cold-sensitive capsicum varieties. Through biotechnology methods to enhance the cold resistance of peppers, to provide some reference for pepper breeding, investigated molecular regulation by H(2)S of responses to cold stress in cold-sensitive capsicum plants, via physiological and transcriptomic analyses. RESULTS: In capsicum seedlings, exogenous H(2)S enhanced relative electrical conductivity (REC) and levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) under cold stress, maintained membrane integrity, increased the activity of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, balanced reactive oxygen species levels (O(2)(.-) and H(2)O(2)), and improved photosynthesis, mitigating the damage caused by cold. In addition, 416 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were involved in the response to cold stress after H(2)S treatment. These DEGs were mainly enriched in the ascorbate-glutathione and starch-sucrose metabolic pathways and plant hormone signal-transduction pathways. Exogenous H(2)S altered the expression of key enzyme-encoding genes such as GST, APX, and MDHAR in the ascorbate-glutathione metabolism pathway, as well as that of regulatory genes for stimulatory hormones (auxin, cytokinins, and gibberellins) and inhibitory hormones (including jasmonate and salicylic acid) in the plant hormone signal-transduction pathway, helping to maintain the energy supply and intracellular metabolic stability under cold stress. CONCLUSIONS: These findings reveal that exogenous H(2)S improves cold tolerance in cold-sensitive capsicum plants, elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying its responses to cold stress. This study provides a theoretical basis for exploring and improving cold tolerance in capsicum plants.
PMID: 39375603
BMC Plant Biol , IF:4.215 , 2024 Sep , V24 (1) : P901 doi: 10.1186/s12870-024-05583-7
Muti-omics revealed the mechanisms of MT-conferred tolerance of Elymus nutans Griseb. to low temperature at XiZang.
Improvement, Institute of Pratacultural Science, Xizang Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Lhasa, Xizang, 850000, China.; Improvement, Institute of Pratacultural Science, Xizang Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Lhasa, Xizang, 850000, China. TBdj_66@163.com.; State Key Laboratory of Highland Barley and Yak Germplasm Resources and Genetic Improvement, Lhasa, Xizang, 850000, China. TBdj_66@163.com.; Department of Grassland Science, College of Grassland Agriculture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China. fujuanjuan@nwafu.edu.cn.; State Key Laboratory of Highland Barley and Yak Germplasm Resources and Genetic Improvement, Lhasa, Xizang, 850000, China. fujuanjuan@nwafu.edu.cn.
BACKGROUND: Low temperature seriously limited the development of grass and crops in plateau. Thus, it is urgent to develop an effective strategy for improving the plant cold tolerance and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. RESULTS: We found that MT alleviated the effects of cold stress on suppressing ENG growth, then improved cold tolerance of ENG. Integration of transcriptome and metabolome profiles showed that both cold exposure (TW) and MT reprogrammed the transcription pattern of galactose and flavonoids biosynthesis, leading to changes in compositions of soluble sugar and flavonoids in ENG. Additionally, TW inhibited the photosynthesis, and destroyed the antioxidant system of ENG, leading to accumulation of oxidant radicals represented by MDA. By contrast, MT promoted activities of antioxidant enzymes and flavonoid accumulation in ENG under cold condition, then reduced the MDA content and maintained normal expression of photosynthesis-related genes in ENG even under TW. Importantly, MT mainly enhanced cold tolerance of ENG via activating zeatin synthesis to regulate flavonoid biosynthesis in vivo. Typically, WRKY11 was identified to regulate MT-associated zeatin synthesis in ENG via directly binding on zeatin3 promoter. CONCLUSIONS: MT could enhance ENG tolerance to cold stress via strengthening antioxidant system and especially zeatin synthesis to promote accumulation of flavonoids in ENG. Thus, our research gain insight into the global mechanisms of MT in promoting cold tolerance of ENG, then provided guidance for protecting plant from cold stress in plateau.
PMID: 39350016
BMC Plant Biol , IF:4.215 , 2024 Oct , V24 (1) : P911 doi: 10.1186/s12870-024-05597-1
Genome-wide identification of the grapevine beta-1,3-glucanase gene (VviBG) family and expression analysis under different stresses.
College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, 453003, China. wangling@hist.edu.cn.; Henan Province Engineering Research Centers of Horticultural Plant Resource Utilization and Germplasm Enhancement, Xinxiang, 453003, China. wangling@hist.edu.cn.; College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, 453003, China.; Henan Province Engineering Research Centers of Horticultural Plant Resource Utilization and Germplasm Enhancement, Xinxiang, 453003, China.; State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.; College of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, 453003, China. ligrapes@hist.edu.cn.; Henan Province Engineering Research Centers of Horticultural Plant Resource Utilization and Germplasm Enhancement, Xinxiang, 453003, China. ligrapes@hist.edu.cn.
BACKGROUND: The beta-1,3-glucanase gene is widely involved in plant development and stress defense. However, an identification and expression analysis of the grape beta-1,3-glucanase gene (VviBG) family had not been conducted prior to this study. RESULTS: Here, 42 VviBGs were identified in grapevine, all of which contain a GH-17 domain and a variable C-terminal domain. VviBGs were divided into three clades alpha, beta and gamma, and six subgroups A-F, with relatively conserved motifs/domains and intron/exon structures within each subgroup. The VviBG gene family contained four tandem repeat gene clusters. There were intra-species synteny relationships between two pairs of VviBGs and inter-species synteny relationships between 20 pairs of VviBGs and AtBGs. The VviBG promoter contained many cis-acting elements related to stress and hormone responses. Tissue-specific analysis showed that VviBGs exhibited distinct spatial and temporal expression patterns. Transcriptome analysis indicated that many VviBGs were induced by wounds, UV, downy mildew, cold, salt and drought, especially eight VviBGs in subgroup A of the gamma clade. RT-qPCR analysis showed that these eight VviBGs were induced under abiotic stress (except for VviBG41 under cold stress), and most of them were induced at higher expression levels by PEG6000 and NaCl than under cold treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The chromosome localization, synteny and phylogenetic analysis of the VviBG members were first conducted. The cis-acting elements, transcriptome data and RT-qPCR analysis showed that VviBG genes play a crucial role in grape growth and stress (hormone, biotic and abiotic) responses. Our study laid a foundation for understanding their functions in grape resistance to different stresses.
PMID: 39350008
BMC Plant Biol , IF:4.215 , 2024 Sep , V24 (1) : P907 doi: 10.1186/s12870-024-05622-3
Exogenous strigolactones alleviate low-temperature stress in peppers seedlings by reducing the degree of photoinhibition.
College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Yingmen Village, Anning District, Lanzhou, 730070, China.; College of Horticulture, Gansu Agricultural University, Yingmen Village, Anning District, Lanzhou, 730070, China. xiejianminggs@126.com.
BACKGROUND: The growth and yield of pepper, a typical temperature-loving vegetable, are limited by low-temperature environments. Using low-temperature sensitive 'Hangjiao No. 4' (Capsicum annuum L.) as experimental material, this study analyzed the changes in plant growth and photosynthesis under different treatments: normal control (NT), low-temperature stress alone (LT), low-temperature stress in strigolactone pretreated plants (SL_LT), and low-temperature stress in strigolactone biosynthesis inhibitor pretreated plants (Tis_LT). RESULTS: SL pretreatment increased the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and PSII actual photochemical efficiency (phiPSII), reducing the inhibition of LT on the growth of pepper by 17.44% (dry weight of shoot). Due to promoting the accumulation of carotenoids, such as lutein, and the de-epoxidation of the xanthophyll cycle [(Z + A)/(Z + A + V)] by strigolactone after long-term low-temperature stress (120 h), non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) of pepper was increased to reduce the excess excitation energy [(1-qP)/NPQ] and the photoinhibition degree (Fv/Fm) of pepper seedlings under long-term low-temperature stress was alleviated. Twelve cDNA libraries were constructed from pepper leaves by transcriptome sequencing. There were 8776 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 4473 (51.0%) upregulated and 4303 (49.0%) downregulated genes. Gene ontology pathway annotation showed that based on LT, the DEGs of SL_LT and Tis_LT were significantly enriched in the cellular component, which is mainly related to the photosystem and thylakoids. Further analysis of the porphyrin and chlorophyll biosynthesis, carotenoid biosynthesis, photosynthesis-antenna protein, and photosynthetic metabolic pathways and the Calvin cycle under low-temperature stress highlighted 18, 15, 21, 29, and 31 DEGs for further study, which were almost all highly expressed under SL_LT treatment and moderately expressed under LT treatment, whereas Tis_LT showed low expression. CONCLUSION: The positive regulatory effect of SLs on the low-temperature tolerance of pepper seedlings was confirmed. This study provided new insights for the development of temperature-tolerant pepper lines through breeding programs.
PMID: 39349999
Tree Physiol , IF:4.196 , 2024 Oct , V44 (10) doi: 10.1093/treephys/tpae115
Effect of freeze-thaw treatments with different conditions on frost fatigue in three diffuse-porous trees.
College of Forestry, Northwest A&F University, Tai Cheng Road No. 3, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.; Qinling National Forest Ecosystem Research Station, Northwest A&F University, Tai Cheng Road No. 3, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
In addition to inducing xylem embolism, freeze-thaw events can cause frost fatigue phenomena. Freezing temperature, freezing times, number of freeze-thaw cycles and frost drought can affect the level of freeze-thaw-induced embolism, but it is unknown whether there is an effect on frost fatigue. We assessed whether these frost-related factors changed frost fatigue in the three diffuse-porous species by simulating freeze-thaw treatments under different conditions. We also proposed a new metric, embolism area, in place of embolism resistance, to more accurately quantify the shift of the vulnerability curve after experiencing freeze-thaw-induced embolism and refilling. Frost fatigue caused vulnerability curves of all species to change from S-shaped to double S-shaped or even R-shaped curves. When exposed to a freeze-thaw event, Acer truncatum showed strong resistance to frost fatigue; in contrast, Populus (I-101 x 84 K) and Liriodendron chinense were more vulnerable. Changing freezing temperature and times did not impact the response to frost fatigue in the three species, but a greater number of freeze-thaw cycles and more severe frost drought significantly exacerbated their fatigue degree. Considering that frost fatigue may be a widespread phenomenon among temperate diffuse-porous species, more work is needed in the future to reveal the mechanisms of frost fatigue.
PMID: 39244748
Planta , IF:4.116 , 2024 Oct , V260 (6) : P125 doi: 10.1007/s00425-024-04548-2
Plant membrane transporters function under abiotic stresses: a review.
The Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Utah, 257 1400 E, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA. gayatrimishra22@gmail.com.; The Department of Agricultural Statistics, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751030, India.; The Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, 751030, India. grrout@rediffmail.com.
In the present review, we discussed the detailed signaling cascades via membrane transporters that confer plant tolerance to abiotic stresses and possible significant use in plant development for climate-resilient crops. Plant transporters play significant roles in nutrient uptake, cellular balance, and stress responses. They facilitate the exchange of chemicals and signals across the plant's membrane by signal transduction, osmotic adjustment, and ion homeostasis. Therefore, research into plant transporters is crucial for understanding the mechanics of plant stress tolerance. Transporters have potential applications in crop breeding for increased stress resistance. We discuss new results about various transporter families (ABC, MATE, NRAMP, NRT, PHT, ZIP), including their functions in abiotic stress tolerance and plant development. Furthermore, we emphasize the importance of transporters in plant responses to abiotic stresses such as drought, cold, salt, and heavy metal toxicity, low light, flooding, and nutrient deficiencies. We discuss the transporter pathways and processes involved in diverse plant stress responses. This review discusses recent advances in the role of membrane transporters in abiotic stress tolerance in Arabidopsis and other crops. The review contains the genes discovered in recent years and associated molecular mechanisms that improve plants' ability to survive abiotic stress and their possible future applications by integrating membrane transporters with other technologies.
PMID: 39448443
Plant Mol Biol , IF:4.076 , 2024 Oct , V114 (6) : P116 doi: 10.1007/s11103-024-01513-1
A loss-of-function mutation in OsTZF5 confers sensitivity to low temperature and effects the growth and development in rice.
College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, 510225, China.; College of Medical Technology and Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, China.; College of Agriculture and Biology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou, 510225, China. huiwutang@zhku.edu.cn.
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is highly sensitive to low temperatures, which can significantly reduce its production. Cold tolerance in rice is a complex trait regulated by multiple mechanisms. OsTZF5, a member of the CCCH-type zinc finger gene family in rice, has been previously reported that overexpressing OsTZF5 under the stress-responsive promoter can confer drought resistance. In this study, we showed that the loss of function mutants of OsTZF5 decreased seed germination rate and chilling tolerance in rice, and influencing normal growth and development. OsTZF5 is expressed in various parts of the rice plant, including roots, stems, leaves and inflorescences, with the highest expression levels observed in leaves. Additionally, the expression of OsTZF5 gene was influenced by various stress conditions and hormone treatments. OsTZF5 knock-out mutants exhibited significantly lower survival rates compared to the wild type (Zhonghua11, ZH11) after cold stress, as well as fewer tillers, lower thousand-grain weight, and reduced grain yield under normal conditions. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that the expression of cold stress-related genes was significantly down-regulated in OsTZF5 knock-out mutants compared to ZH11 after cold stress. This down-regulation likely contributes to the reduced cold stress tolerance observed in OsTZF5 knock-out mutants. Our findings suggest that OsTZF5 is a multifunctional gene that plays a crucial role in regulating cold stress in rice.
PMID: 39438338
Biochim Biophys Acta Bioenerg , IF:3.991 , 2024 Nov , V1865 (4) : P149490 doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2024.149490
Photo-oxidative damage of photosystem I by repetitive flashes and chilling stress in cucumber leaves.
Universite Paris-Saclay, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France; Graduate School for Agricultural Science, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan.; Universite Paris-Saclay, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France.; Graduate School for Agricultural Science, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan.; Universite Paris-Saclay, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), CEA, CNRS, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France. Electronic address: anja.liszkay@i2bc.paris-saclay.fr.
Photosystem I (PSI) is an essential protein complex for oxygenic photosynthesis and is also known to be an important source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the light. When ROS are generated within PSI, the photosystem can be damaged. The so-called PSI photoinhibition is a lethal event for oxygenic phototrophs, and it is prevented by keeping the reaction center chlorophyll (P700) oxidized in excess light conditions. Whereas regulatory mechanisms for controlling P700 oxidation have been discovered already, the molecular mechanism of PSI photoinhibition is still unclear. Here, we characterized the damage mechanism of PSI photoinhibition by in vitro transient absorption and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy in isolated PSI from cucumber leaves that had been subjected to photoinhibition treatment. Photodamage to PSI was induced by two different light treatments: 1. continuous illumination with high light at low (chilling) temperature (C/LT) and 2. repetitive flashes at room temperature (F/RT). These samples were compared to samples that had been illuminated with high light at room temperature (C/RT). The [FeS] clusters F(X) and (F(A) F(B)) were destructed in C/LT but not in F/RT. Transient absorption spectroscopy indicated that half of the charge separation was impaired in F/RT, however, low-temperature EPR revealed the light-induced F(X) signal at a similar size as in the case of C/RT. This indicates that the two branches of electron transfer in PSI were affected differently. Electron transfer at the A-branch was inhibited in F/RT and also partially in C/LT, while the B-branch remained active.
PMID: 38960078
BMC Genomics , IF:3.969 , 2024 Oct , V25 (1) : P971 doi: 10.1186/s12864-024-10801-5
Transcriptome sequencing analysis of overexpressed SikCDPK1 in tobacco reveals mechanisms of cold stress response.
Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Phytomedicine Resource Utilization, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Key Laboratory of Oasis Town and Mountain-basin System Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, China.; Xinjiang Second Medical College, Karamay, Xinjiang, China.; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Xinjiang Phytomedicine Resource Utilization, Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Key Laboratory of Oasis Town and Mountain-basin System Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, 832003, Xinjiang, China. 302641316@qq.com.
BACKGROUND: Cold is a significant limiting factor in productivity, particularly in northwestern and eastern China. Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinases (CDPKs), a primary calcium signaling sensor in plants, play an important role in their response to cold. Snow lotus (Sasussured involucrata Kar L) is a plant that thrives in harsh climates and grows in northwest China. However, there were no reports on the transcriptome of OE-SikCDPK1 transgenic tobacco in response to cold. RESULTS: When exposed to cold stress, OE-SikCDPK1 plants displayed a cold-tolerant phenotype compared to non-transgenic tobacco. Under cold conditions, relative water content reduced, relative conductivity increased, malondialdehyde levels rose, and cold-responsive gene expression increased. The OE-SikCDPK1 gene and non-transgenic tobacco were employed for research purposes. The transcriptome of leaves was sequenced using the HISAT2 sequencing platform, and the data were used to examine gene function annotation and differentially expressed genes (DEGs). 53,022 DEGs in tobacco leaves under cold treatment were obtained. The GO enrichment results revealed that it was enriched for biological-process, defense response and other processes under cold stress. The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the metabolic pathways of significant enrichment of DEGs under cold stress mainly involved MAPK signaling pathway transduction. The transcription factor identification results showed that the transcription factors with the largest number of differential expressions under cold treatment were mainly from WRKY, AP2, MYB, bHLH, NAC and other transcription factor families. CONCLUSION: The cold tolerance mechanism of snow lotus SikCDPK1 was comprehensively analyzed at the transcriptional level for the first time using RNA-seq technology. This study demonstrates that SikCDPK1 can respond to cold by participating in the MAPK signaling pathway and regulating the expression levels of transcription factors, including WRKY, AP2, MYB, bHLH, and NAC. These results offer valuable insights for further exploration of the cold tolerance mechanism associated with SikCDPK1.
PMID: 39415130
BMC Genomics , IF:3.969 , 2024 Oct , V25 (1) : P953 doi: 10.1186/s12864-024-10868-0
Genome-wide identification, expression analysis of the R2R3-MYB gene family and their potential roles under cold stress in Prunus sibirica.
College of Forestry, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China.; Key Laboratory for Silviculture of Liaoning Province, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China.; College of Forestry, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China. liuquangang007@126.com.; Key Laboratory for Silviculture of Liaoning Province, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, China. liuquangang007@126.com.
BACKGROUND: The R2R3-MYB transcription factors in plants participate in various physiological and biochemical processes and responds to various external stimuli. Prunus sibirica (known as Siberian apricot) is a drupe tree species that produces extremely high nutritional value kernels. However, it is susceptiblility to frost damage during the flowering period, results in a marked reduction in kernel yield. RESULTS: In this study, the MYB gene family of P. sibirica (PsMYB) was systematically analyzed, and 116 R2R3-MYB genes that were distributed unevenly over eight chromosomes were ultimately screened. Phylogenetic analysis divided these 116 genes into 30 subgroups. We discovered that 37 PsMYBs had cold stress-responsive promoters, and six PsMYBs were annotated to be associated with cold response. Intraspecific homology analysis identified segmental duplication as the primary gene amplification mechanism, and homology analysis of the PsMYB genes with those of five other species revealed phylogenetic relationships with Rosaceae species. Protein interaction studies revealed collaborative regulation of the PsMYB proteins with Arabidopsis protein, and transcriptome analysis identified PsMYB genes that were highly expressed at low temperatures. Additionally, the expression levels of 22 PsMYBs in different tissue parts of P. sibirica and under different low-temperature stress conditions were evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR, with the results verifying that PsMYBs are specifically expressed in different plant parts and may be involved in the growth and development of P. sibirica species. Genes upregulated after exposure to low-temperature stress and likely involved in cold response were identified. CONCLUSION: This study lays a foundation for understanding the molecular biology of PsMYBs in P. sibirica and provides a theoretical basis for the future study of transgenic lines with cold resistance during the flowering period of this tree.
PMID: 39402463
Am J Bot , IF:3.844 , 2024 Oct , V111 (10) : Pe16424 doi: 10.1002/ajb2.16424
The roles of root-nodulating bacterial associations and cyanogenesis in the freezing sensitivities of herbaceous legumes.
Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St. N, London, N6A 5B7, ON, Canada.
PREMISE: Reduced snow cover and increasing temperature variability can increase freezing stress for herbaceous plants in northern temperate regions. Legumes have emerged as a plant functional group that is highly sensitive to these changes relative to other herbaceous species in these regions. We explored root-nodulating bacterial associations and cyanogenesis as potential mechanisms explaining this relatively low freezing tolerance of legumes. METHODS: To examine the influence of bacterial associations, we grew four legume species with or without crushed-nodule inoculum at three severities of freezing, and three concentrations of nitrogen to disambiguate the direct benefits of increased nitrogen from the total bacterial effect. We quantified cyanogenesis via hydrogen cyanide production in both true leaves and cotyledons for nine legume species. RESULTS: Root nodulation generally only affected legume survival under low nitrogen, when freezing severity was moderate or low. However, for the frost-surviving plants, the growth advantage provided by nodulation decreased (it was often no longer significant with increasing freezing severity), and greater freezing severity reduced total nodule mass. In contrast, cyanogenesis was only detected in two of the nine species. CONCLUSIONS: The diminished performance of nodulated plants in response to freezing could place legumes at a competitive disadvantage and potentially explain their high sensitivity to freezing relative to other herbaceous species in northern temperate regions. Overall, this result has important implications for changes in soil fertility, community composition, and plant productivity in these ecosystems in the context of a changing winter climate.
PMID: 39432397
PeerJ , IF:2.984 , 2024 , V12 : Pe18234 doi: 10.7717/peerj.18234
Predicting the influence of extreme temperatures on grain production in the Middle-Lower Yangtze Plains using a spatially-aware deep learning model.
Nanjing Smardaten Technologies Co., Ltd, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.; Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States of America.; Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United States of America.
Grain crops are vulnerable to anthropogenic climate change and extreme temperature events. Despite this, previous studies have often neglected the impact of the spatio-temporal distribution of extreme temperature events on regional grain outputs. This research focuses on the Middle-Lower Yangtze Plains and aims to address this gap as well as to provide a renewed projection of climate-induced grain production variability for the rest of the century. The proposed model performs significantly superior to the benchmark multilinear grain production model. By 2100, grain production in the MLYP is projected to decrease by over 100 tons for the low-radiative-forcing/sustainable development scenario (SSP126) and the medium-radiative-forcing scenario (SSP245), and about 270 tons for the high-radiative-forcing/fossil-fueled development scenario (SSP585). Grain production may experience less decline than previously projected by studies using Representative Concentration Pathways. This difference is likely due to a decrease in coldwave frequency, which can offset the effects of more frequent heatwaves on grain production, combined with alterations in supply-side policies. Notably, the frequency of encoded heatwaves and coldwaves has a stronger impact on grain production compared to precipitation and labor indicators; higher levels of projected heatwaves frequency correspond with increased output variability over time. This study emphasizes the need for developing crop-specific mitigation/adaptation strategies against heat and cold stress amidst global warming.
PMID: 39434796
Plant Signal Behav , IF:2.247 , 2024 Dec , V19 (1) : P2389496 doi: 10.1080/15592324.2024.2389496
Requirement of two simultaneous environmental signals for activation of Arabidopsis ELIP2 promoter in response to high light, cold, and UV-B stresses.
The United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan.; Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan.; Experimental Plant Division, RIKEN BioResource Research Center, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.; RIKEN CSRS, Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Japan.
Arabidopsis EARLY LIGH-INDUCIBLE PROTEIN 2 (ELIP2) is a chlorophyll- and carotenoid-binding protein and is involved in photoprotection under stress conditions. Because its expression is induced through high light, cold, or UV-B stressors, its mechanism of induction has been studied. It is known that a functional unit found in the promoter, which is composed of Element B and Element A, is required and sufficient for full activation by these stressors. In this study, the role of each element in the unit was analyzed by introducing weak mutations in each element as synthetic promoters in addition to intensive repeat constructs of each single element. The results suggest that a stressor like cold stress generates two parallel signals in plant cells, and they merge at the promoter region for the activation of ELIP2 expression, which constitutes an "AND" gate and has a potential to realize strong response with high specificity by an environmental trigger.
PMID: 39132719
Plant Signal Behav , IF:2.247 , 2024 Dec , V19 (1) : P2362518 doi: 10.1080/15592324.2024.2362518
Exploring cotton SFR2's conundrum in response to cold stress.
Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA.; United States Department of Agriculture, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Cotton is an important agricultural crop to many regions across the globe but is sensitive to low-temperature exposure. The activity of the enzyme SENSITIVE TO FREEZING 2 (SFR2) improves cold tolerance of plants and produces trigalactosylsyldiacylglycerol (TGDG), but its role in cold sensitive plants, such as cotton remains unknown. Recently, it was reported that cotton SFR2 produced very little TGDG under normal and cold conditions. Here, we investigate cotton SFR2 activation and TGDG production. Using multiple approaches in the native system and transformation into Arabidopsis thaliana, as well as heterologous yeast expression, we provide evidence that cotton SFR2 activates differently than previously found among other plant species. We conclude with the hypothesis that SFR2 in cotton is not activated in a similar manner regarding acidification or freezing like Arabidopsis and that other regions of SFR2 protein are critical for activation of the enzyme than previously reported.
PMID: 38836385
Plant Signal Behav , IF:2.247 , 2024 Dec , V19 (1) : P2318514 doi: 10.1080/15592324.2024.2318514
Insights on the enhancement of chilling tolerance in Rice through over-expression and knock-out studies of OsRBCS3.
Rice Research Institute, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jiamusi, China.; Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, China.
Chilling stress is an important environmental factor that affects rice (Oryza sativa L.) growth and yield, and the booting stage is the most sensitive stage of rice to chilling stress. In this study, we focused on OsRBCS3, a rice gene related to chilling tolerance at the booting stage, which encodes the key enzyme ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) small subunit in photosynthesis. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role and mechanism of OsRBCS3 in rice chilling tolerance at the booting stage. The expression levels of OsRBCS3 under chilling stress were compared in two japonica rice cultivars with different chilling tolerances: Kongyu131 (KY131) and Longjing11 (LJ11). A positive correlation was found between OsRBCS3 expression and chilling tolerance. Over-expression (OE) and knock-out (KO) lines of OsRBCS3 were constructed using over-expression and CRISPR/Cas9 technology, respectively, and their chilling tolerance was evaluated at the seedling and booting stages. The results showed that OE lines exhibited higher chilling tolerance than wild-type (WT) lines at both seedling and booting stages, while KO lines showed lower chilling tolerance than WT lines. Furthermore, the antioxidant enzyme activities, malondialdehyde (MDA) content and Rubisco activity of four rice lines under chilling stress were measured, and it was found that OE lines had stronger antioxidant and photosynthetic capacities, while KO lines had the opposite effects. This study validated that OsRBCS3 plays an important role in rice chilling tolerance at the booting stage, providing new molecular tools and a theoretical basis for rice chilling tolerance breeding.
PMID: 38375792
PNAS Nexus , 2024 Oct , V3 (10) : Ppgae424 doi: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae424
Progressive heterogeneity of enlarged and irregularly shaped apicoplasts in Plasmodium falciparum persister blood stages after drug treatment.
Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.; Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.; Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
Morphological modifications and shifts in organelle relationships are hallmarks of dormancy in eukaryotic cells. Communications between altered mitochondria and nuclei are associated with metabolic quiescence of cancer cells that can survive chemotherapy. In plants, changes in the pathways between nuclei, mitochondria, and chloroplasts are associated with cold stress and bud dormancy. Plasmodium falciparum parasites, the deadliest agent of malaria in humans, contain a chloroplast-like organelle (apicoplast) derived from an ancient photosynthetic symbiont. Antimalarial treatments can fail because a fraction of the blood-stage parasites enter dormancy and recrudesce after drug exposure. Altered mitochondrial-nuclear interactions in these persisters have been described for P. falciparum, but interactions of the apicoplast remained to be characterized. In the present study, we examined the apicoplasts of persisters obtained after exposure to dihydroartemisinin (a first-line antimalarial drug) followed by sorbitol treatment, or after exposure to sorbitol treatment alone. As previously observed, the mitochondrion of persisters was consistently enlarged and in close association with the nucleus. In contrast, the apicoplast varied from compact and oblate, like those of active ring-stage parasites, to enlarged and irregularly shaped. Enlarged apicoplasts became more prevalent later in dormancy, but regular size apicoplasts subsequently predominated in actively replicating recrudescent parasites. All three organelles, nucleus, mitochondrion, and apicoplast, became closer during dormancy. Understanding their relationships in erythrocytic-stage persisters may lead to new strategies to prevent recrudescences and protect the future of malaria chemotherapy.
PMID: 39381646
Plant Commun , 2024 Oct , V5 (10) : P100980 doi: 10.1016/j.xplc.2024.100980
The haplotype-resolved T2T genome assembly of the wild potato species Solanum commersonii provides molecular insights into its freezing tolerance.
School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Potato Biology, Yunnan Normal University, Southwest United Graduate School, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China.; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Cell Metabolism and Disease, Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China.; School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, China.; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Cell Metabolism and Disease, Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China. Electronic address: chengpeng@ynu.edu.cn.; School of Life Sciences, Yunnan Key Laboratory of Potato Biology, Yunnan Normal University, Southwest United Graduate School, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China. Electronic address: zhuguangtao@ynnu.edu.cn.
PMID: 38807365