Project description:The invasive marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis has displaced the native congener Mytilus trossulus from central and southern California, but the native species remains dominant at more northerly sites that have high levels of freshwater input. To determine the extent to which interspecific differences in physiological tolerance to low salinity might explain limits to the invasive species’ biogeography, we used an oligonucleotide microarray to compare the transcriptional responses of these two species to an acute decrease in salinity. Among 6,777 genes on the microarray, 117 genes showed significant changes that were similar between species, and 12 genes showed significant species-specific responses to salinity stress. Osmoregulation and cell cycle control were important aspects of the shared transcriptomic response to salinity stress, whereas the genes with species-specific expression patterns were involved in mRNA splicing, polyamine synthesis, exocytosis, translation, cell adhesion, and cell signaling. Forty-five genes that changed expression significantly during salinity stress also changed expression during heat stress, but the direction of change in expression was typically opposite for the two forms of stress. These results (i) provide insights into the role of changes in gene expression in establishing physiological tolerance to acute decreases in salinity, and (ii) indicate that transcriptomic differences between M. galloprovincialis and M. trossulus in response to salinity stress are subtle and involve only a minor fraction of the overall suite of gene regulatory responses.
Project description:The mechanisms of cellular and molecular adaptation of fungi to salinity have been commonly drawn from halotolerant strains, although some exceptions in basidiomycete fungi can be found. These studies have been conducted in settings where cells are subjected to stress, either hypo or hyperosmotic, which can be a confounding factor in describing physiological mechanisms related to salinity. Here, we have studied transcriptomic changes in Aspergillus sydowii, a halophilic species, when growing in three different salinity conditions (No salt, 0.5M and 2.0M NaCl). In this fungus salinity related responses occur under high salinity (2.0M NaCl) and not when cultured under optimal conditions (0.5M NaCl), suggesting that in this species, most of the mechanisms described for halophilic growth are a consequence of saline stress response and not an adaptation to saline conditions.
Project description:A comparative transcriptomics approach was used as a tool to unravel gene regulatory networks underlying salinity response in olive trees by simulating as much as possible olive growing conditions in the field. Specifically, we investigated the genotype-dependent differences in the transcriptome response of two olive cultivars, a salt tolerant and a salt sensitive. A 135 day long comparative salinity experiment was conducted using one year old trees exposed to NaCl stress for 90 days followed by 45 days of post-stress period. Total RNA was extracted from the root samples after 15, 45 and 90 days of NaCl-treated and un-treated olive trees as well as after 15 and 45 days of post-treatment period and used for microarray hybridizations using a loop design. Hierarchical clustering of differentially expressed transcripts revealed two major, distinct clusters for each cultivar. Despite the limited number of probe set, transcriptional regulatory networks were constructed for the salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive cultivar. The comparison of the salt responsive transcriptional regulatory networks in olive with those reported for Arabidopsis suggests that a tree species might respond in a similar to Arabidopsis way at the transcriptome level under salinity stress.
Project description:Oilseed mustard, Brassica juncea, exhibits high levels of genetic variability for salinity tolerance. To obtain the global view of transcriptome and investigate the molecular basis of salinity tolerance in a salt-tolerant variety CS52 of B. juncea, we performed transcriptome sequencing of control and salt-stressed seedlings. De novo assembly of 184 million high-quality paired-end reads yielded 42,327 unique transcripts longer than 300 bp with RPKM ≥1. When compared with non-redundant proteins, we could annotate 67% unigenes obtained in our study. Based on the mapping to expressed sequence tags (ESTs), 52.6% unigenes are novel compared to EST data available for B. juncea and constituent genomes. Differential expression analysis revealed altered expression of 1469 unigenes in response to salinity stress. Of these, 587, mainly associated with ROS detoxification, sulfur assimilation and calcium signaling pathways, are up regulated. Notable of these is RSA1 (SHORT ROOT IN SALT MEDIUM 1) INTERACTING TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR 1 (RITF1) homolog up regulated by >100 folds in response to stress. RITF1, encoding a bHLH transcription factor, is a positive regulator of SOS1 and several key genes involved in scavenging of salt stress-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS). Further, we performed comparative expression profiling of key genes implicated in ion homeostasis and sequestration (SOS1, SOS2, SOS3, ENH1, NHX1), calcium sensing pathway (RITF1) and ROS detoxification in contrasting cultivars, B. juncea and B. nigra, for salinity tolerance. The results revealed higher transcript accumulation of most of these genes in B. juncea var. CS52 compared to salt-sensitive cultivar even under normal growth conditions. Together, these findings reveal key pathways and signaling components that contribute to salinity tolerance in B. juncea var. CS52. We report transcriptome sequencing of two-weeks-old seedlings of B. juncea var. CS52 under normal growth conditions (CTRL) and in response to salinity stress (SS) using Illumina paired-end sequencing
Project description:In low rainfall regions soils are naturally conditioned with frequent co-occurrence of salinity and alkalinity. Plant salinity responses both at physiological and molecular level have been extensively researched. However, effects of the combined treatment of alkaline salinity that could greatly reduce plant growth and the mechanisms responsible for tolerance remain indeterminate. In Brassica juncea, large reductions in biomass and increased leaf Na+ concentration under alkaline salinity indicates that the combined treatment had greater negative effect than salinity on both growth and the physiological responses of the plant. To determine molecular mechanisms potentially controlling adaptive tolerance responses to salinity and alkaline salinity, the moderately tolerant genotype NDR 8501 was further investigated using microarray analysis. The transcripts of treated leaf tissues verses those of the untreated control sample were analysed after prolonged stress of four weeks. In total, 528 salinity responsive and 1245 alkaline salinity responsive genes were indentified and only 101 genes were expressed jointly in either of the two treatments. Transcription of 37% more genes involved in response to alkaline salinity than salinity alone, which suggests the increased impact and severity of the combined stress on the plant, indicating the transcription of a far greater number of genes likely involved in mitigation and damage control. Transcription of KUP2 and KUP7 genes involved in potassium homeostasis under salinity alone and NHX1 and ENH1 genes for ion (K+ and Na+) homeostasis under alkaline salinity, clearly demonstrated that different genes and genetic pathways are involved in response to each stress. They further provide supporting evidence for the physiological responses that occur in the plant, with massive reprogramming of the transcriptome leading to partial ion exclusion, shuttling and compartmentation.
Project description:Five allotetraploid cotton species have adapted, through their transcriptional responses, to unique environments with distinct levels of inherent abiotic stresses. The transcriptional responses of leaf and root tissue in five allotetraploid cotton species (Gossypium hirsutum, G. barbadense, G. tomentosum, G. mustelinum, and G. darwinii) under salt stress have been investigated in this study using cotton long oligonucleotide microarrays. Physiological responses to salinity such as stomatal conductance, ion and osmoprotectant contents were also measured as indicators of imposed stress. Accessions from these five cotton species were hydroponically grown and gradually introduced to a NaCl treatment (15 dS m-1). The microarray results identified 2721 and 2460 differentially expressed genes under salt stress that were significant in leaf and root tissue, respectively. Many of these genes were classified under gene ontology (GO) categories that suggest abiotic stress. These allotetraploid cottons shared transcriptional responses to salinity, but also showed responses that were species-specific. No consistent differences in transcriptional response among the previously estimated phylogenetic branches were found. Stomatal conductance, ion accumulation, and betaine, trigonelline, and trehalose contents also indicated salt stress. This global assessment of transcriptional and physiological responses to salt stress of these cotton species may identify possible gene targets for crop improvement and evolutionary studies of cotton. Keywords: CEGC Cotton oligo salt stress The transcriptional responses of leaf and root tissue in five allotetraploid cotton species (Gossypium hirsutum, G. barbadense, G. tomentosum, G. mustelinum, and G. darwinii) under salt stress have been investigated in this study using cotton long oligonucleotide microarrays. Physiological responses to salinity such as stomatal conductance, ion and osmoprotectant contents were also measured as indicators of imposed stress. Accessions from these five cotton species were hydroponically grown and gradually introduced to a NaCl treatment (15 dS m-1).
Project description:A comparative transcriptomics approach was used as a tool to unravel gene regulatory networks underlying salinity response in olive trees by simulating as much as possible olive growing conditions in the field. Specifically, we investigated the genotype-dependent differences in the transcriptome response of two olive cultivars, a salt tolerant and a salt sensitive. A 135 day long comparative salinity experiment was conducted using one year old trees exposed to NaCl stress for 90 days followed by 45 days of post-stress period. Total RNA was extracted from the root samples after 15, 45 and 90 days of NaCl-treated and un-treated olive trees as well as after 15 and 45 days of post-treatment period and used for microarray hybridizations using a loop design. Hierarchical clustering of differentially expressed transcripts revealed two major, distinct clusters for each cultivar. Despite the limited number of probe set, transcriptional regulatory networks were constructed for the salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive cultivar. The comparison of the salt responsive transcriptional regulatory networks in olive with those reported for Arabidopsis suggests that a tree species might respond in a similar to Arabidopsis way at the transcriptome level under salinity stress. Five experimental time-points were analyzed: 15days stress, 45days stress, 90days stress, 15days post-stress and 45days post-stress. In each timepoint treated and untreated (control) samples were obtained. Dye swap hybridizations and 4 biological replicates were performed for each treatment/timepoint in a loop design experimental setup. Each sample included three spot replicates.
Project description:RSS1 is required for maintenance of meristematic activity under salinity conditions in rice. We carried out transcriptome analysis using shoot basal tissues in wild type and rss1-2 grown under non-stress and salt-stress conditions.
Project description:In order to reveal so far unknown facets of the adaptation of B. subtilis to growth under high-salinity conditions, a whole-transcriptome analysis of B. subtilis BSB (168 Trp+) was performed using strand-specific tiling arrays (tiling step of 22 nucleotides). In addition, the effects of glycine betaine (GB) were analyzed under high salinity and standard growth conditions in a chemically defined medium. Important novel findings were a sustained low-level induction of the SigB-dependent general stress response and strong repression of biofilm matrix genes under high-salinity conditions. GB influences gene expression not only under high-salinity, but also under standard growth conditions without additional salt.