Project description:To analyze the molecular function of ethanol in salt stress responses in Arabidopsis, we conducted microarray analysis using 4-day-old plants, which were treated with 0.3 % ethanol or water for 24 h, and then treated with or without 100 mM NaCl for 2 h
Project description:Soil salinity is a major environmental constraint affecting crop growth and threatening global food security. Plants adapt to salinity by optimizing performance of stomata, the microscopic sphincters inserted into the wax-covered epidermis of the shoot, which balance CO2 intake for photosynthetic carbon gain and concomitant water loss. Stomata are formed by two guard cells (GCs) that are morphologically and functionally distinct from the other leaf cells. In order to better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying stomatal function under saline conditions we used proteomics approach to study isolated GCs from the salt-tolerant sugar beet species.
Project description:We exploited the extraordinary ecomorphological diversity of squamates to assess brain phenotypic diversification with respect to locomotor specialization, by integrating transcriptomic data along with other methods. We reveal significant changes in cerebellar morphology as well as dynamic gene expression that all correlate with locomotor behaviours.
Project description:Purpose: We aim to reveal maize transcriptomic changes with water and salinity treatment. Methods: RNA-seq were used to reveal transcriptome of maize biological replicates with water and salinity treatment. Results: Differentially expressed transcripts were identified by the comparison of biological replicates with water and salinity treatment. Conclusions: We identified differentially expressed genes in respone to salinity treatment in maize.
Project description:Seminal fluid protein (SFP) composition is complex and commonly assumed to be rapidly divergent due to functional interactions with both sperm and the female reproductive tract (FRT), both of which evolve rapidly. In addition to sperm, seminal fluid may contain structures, such as mating plugs and spermatophores. Here, we investigate the evolutionary diversification of a lesser-known ejaculate structure: the spermatostyle, which has independently arisen in several families of beetles and true bugs. We characterized the spermatostyle proteome, in addition to spermatostyle and FRT morphology, in six species of whirligig beetles (family Gyrinidae). Spermatostyles were enriched for proteolytic enzymes, and assays confirmed they possess proteolytic activity. Sperm leucyl aminopeptidases (S-LAPs) were particularly abundant, and their localization to spermatostyles was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Although there was evidence for functional conservation of spermatostyle proteomes across species, phylogenetic regressions suggest evolutionary covariation between protein composition and the morphology of both spermatostyles and FRTs. We postulate that S-LAPs (and other proteases) have evolved a novel structural role in spermatostyles and discuss spermatostyles as adaptations for delivering male-derived materials to females.
Project description:Strophostyles helvola is a close relative to common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and inhabits both coastal and non-coastal regions in North America. However, the mechanism of saline adaptation in S. helvola remains unclear. A transcriptome profiling would facilitate dissecting the underlying molecular mechanisms in salinity-adapted S. helvola. In this study, we reported the RNAseq analyses of two genotypes (a salt-tolerant beach genotype and a salt-sensitive inland genotype) of S. helvola stressed with salt. S. helvola plants were grown in pots and treated with half lethal-guided dose of NaCl solution for 3h, 24h, and 7d. The plants supplied with the same amount of water were used as controls. The whole roots sampled from the three time points were equally pooled as one biological replicate, and three replicates were used for library construction and transcriptome sequencing on Illumina Hiseq 2500. The comparative analyses of root transcriptomes presented here provides a valuable resource for discovery of genes and networks involved in salt tolerance in S. helvola.
Project description:Phenotypic and transcriptomic responses to salinity stress across genetically and geographically divergent Tigriopus californicus populations
Project description:Salinity stress is a major problem affecting plant growth and crop productivity. While plant biostimulants have been reported to be an effective solution to tackle salinity stress in different crops, the key genes and metabolic pathways involved in these tolerance processes remain unclear. This study focused on integrating phenotypic, physiological, biochemical and transcriptome data obtained from different tissues of Solanum lycopersicum L. plants (cv. Micro-Tom) subjected to a saline irrigation water program for 61 days (EC: 5.8 dS/m) and treated with a combination of protein hydrolysate and Ascophyllum nodosum-derived biostimulant, namely PSI-475. The biostimulant application was associated with the maintenance of higher K+/Na+ ratios in both young leaf and root tissue and the overexpression of transporter genes related to ion homeostasis (e.g., NHX4, HKT1;2). A more efficient osmotic adjustment was characterized by a significant increase in relative water content (RWC), which most likely was associated with osmolyte accumulation and upregulation of genes related to aquaporins (e.g., PIP2.1, TIP2.1). A higher content of photosynthetic pigments (+19.8% to +27.5%), increased expression of genes involved in photosynthetic efficiency and chlorophyll biosynthesis (e.g., LHC, PORC) and enhanced primary carbon and nitrogen metabolic mechanisms were observed, leading to a higher fruit yield and fruit number (47.5% and 32.5%, respectively). Overall, it can be concluded that the precision engineered PSI-475 biostimulant can provide long-term protective effects on salinity stressed tomato plants through a well-defined mode of action in different plant tissues.