Genome-wide identification of cold-responsive and new microRNAs in Populus tomentosa by high-throughput sequencing

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs that regulate the expression of target mRNAs in plant growth, development, abiotic stress responses, and pathogen responses. Cold stress is one of the most common abiotic factors affecting plants, and it adversely affects plant growth, development, and spatial distribution. To understand the roles of miRNAs under cold stress in Populus tomentosa, we constructed two small RNA libraries from plantlets treated or not with cold conditions (4 °C for 8 h). High-throughput sequencing of the two libraries identified 144 conserved miRNAs belonging to 33 miRNA families and 29 new miRNAs (as well as their corresponding miRNA¹s) belonging to 23 miRNA families. Differential expression analysis showed that 21 miRNAs were down-regulated and nine miRNAs were up-regulated in response to cold stress. Among them, 19 cold-responsive miRNAs, two new miRNAs and their corresponding miRNA¹s were validated by qRT-PCR. A total of 101 target genes of the new miRNAs were predicted using a bioinformatics approach. These target genes are involved in growth and resistance to various stresses. The results demonstrated that Populus miRNAs play critical roles in the cold stress response.     

植物冷驯化相关信号机制

植物经过非致死温度的处理可以获得更强的抗冷能力叫做冷驯化,主要包括寒驯化和冻驯化 .在冷驯化过程中,质膜首先感受冷信号,调节胞质中IP3的含量,诱导胞质Ca2+浓度的升高,从而激活CBF基因的表达.至今已经克隆了大量的冷调控基因,组成了复杂的信号传导网络,其中ICE1-CBF-COR通路在植物的冷驯化过程中起到重要的作用.ICE1基因编码一个MYB类型的碱性螺旋 环-螺旋（bHLH）转录因子,在上游调节CBF和 其它转录因子的表达,提高抗冷性. HOS1蛋白通过泛素化介导的蛋白降解负调控ICE1,另外,CBF还通过转录的自我调控保持恰当的表达水平.基因的分析研究证明,RNA修饰和核质转运在植物的抗冷过程中也具有重要作用.在不依赖于CBF的途径中,转录因子HOS9和HOS10在调节抗冷有关基因的表达和提高抗冷能力方面具有至关重要的作用.     

Suppression of phospholipase Dalpha1 induces freezing tolerance in Arabidopsis: response of cold-responsive genes and osmolyte accumulation

Phospholipase D (PLD; EC 3.1.4.4) plays an important role in membrane lipid hydrolysis and in mediation of plant responses to a wide range of stresses. PLDalpha1 abrogation through antisense suppression in Arabidopsis thaliana resulted in a significant increase in freezing tolerance of both non-acclimated and cold-acclimated plants. Although non-acclimated PLDalpha1-deficient plants did not show the activation of cold-responsive C-repeat/dehydration-responsive element binding factors (CBFs) and their target genes (COR47 and COR78), they did accumulate osmolytes to much higher levels than did the non-acclimated wild-type plants. However, a stronger expression of COR47 and COR78 in response to cold acclimation and to especially freezing was observed in PLDalpha1-deficient plants. Furthermore, a slower activation of CBF1 was observed in response to cold acclimation in these plants compared to the wild-type plants. Typically, cold acclimation resulted in a higher accumulation of osmolytes in PLDalpha1-deficient plants than in wild-type plants. Inhibition of PLD activity by using lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE) also increased freezing tolerance of Arabidopsis, albeit to a lesser extent than did the PLD antisense suppression. Exogenous LPE induced expression of COR15a and COR47 in the absence of cold stimulus. These results suggest that PLDalpha1 plays a key role in freezing tolerance of Arabidopsis by modulating the cold-responsive genes and accumulation of osmolytes.     

A proteomic analysis to identify cold acclimation associated proteins in wild wheat (Triticum urartu L.)

To gain a better understanding of cold acclimation process in wheat, we applied a 2-DE based proteomic approach to discover changes in proteome profile of a diploid wild wheat (Triticum urartu L.) during prolonged cold stress treatment. To this end, plants were grown in pots and the growing seedlings (4-leaf stage) were exposed to cold stress. After 4 weeks of cold acclimation (4–6 °C) and subsequent treatment for 12 h at ?2 °C, samples were collected from control and stressed plants and were subjected to proteome pattern analysis. Among approximately 450 reproducible protein spots displayed in each given 2-DE gels, 34 proteins changed significantly in abundance in response to cold stress. Among them, 25 and 9 proteins were up and down-regulated under stress condition, respectively. Analysis by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight/time of flight mass spectrometry coupled with non-redundant protein database search allowed the identification of 20 cold-induced proteins. Integrated proteomic and database survey resulted in identification of several cold stress related proteins such as pathogenesis related protein, cold regulated protein, cold-responsive LEA/RAB-related COR protein, oxygen-evolving enhancer protein and oxalate oxidase. The presumed functions of the identified proteins were mostly related to cold acclimation, oxidative stress and photosynthesis. The possible implications of differentially accumulated proteins in acquiring systemic tolerance to freezing stress following exposure to prolonged low temperature will be discussed.     

HOS1, a genetic locus involved in cold-responsive gene expression in arabidopsis.

Low-temperature stress induces the expression of a variety of genes in plants. However, the signal transduction pathway(s) that activates gene expression under cold stress is poorly understood. Mutants defective in cold signaling should facilitate molecular analysis of plant responses to low temperature and eventually lead to the identification and cloning of a cold stress receptor(s) and intracellular signaling components. In this study, we characterize a plant mutant affected in its response to low temperatures. The Arabidopsis hos1-1 mutation identified by luciferase imaging causes superinduction of cold-responsive genes, such as RD29A, COR47, COR15A, KIN1, and ADH. Although these genes are also induced by abscisic acid, high salt, or polyethylene glycol in addition to cold, the hos1-1 mutation only enhances their expression under cold stress. Genetic analysis revealed that hos1-1 is a single recessive mutation in a nuclear gene. Our studies using the firefly luciferase reporter gene under the control of the cold-responsive RD29A promoter have indicated that cold-responsive genes can be induced by temperatures as high as 19 degrees C in hos1-1 plants. In contrast, wild-type plants do not express the luciferase reporter at 10 degrees C or higher. Compared with the wild type, hos1-1 plants are l ess cold hardy. Nonetheless, after 2 days of cold acclimation, hos1-1 plants acquired the same degree of freezing tolerance as did the wild type. The hos1-1 plants flowered earlier than did the wild-type plants and appeared constitutively vernalized. Taken together, our findings show that the HOS1 locus is an important negative regulator of cold signal transduction in plant cells and that it plays critical roles in controlling gene expression under cold stress, freezing tolerance, and flowering time.     

植物冷驯化相关基因研究进展

摘要 冷驯化是与提高植物抗冷性有关的生物化学及生理学过程, 主要包括寒驯化(cool acclimation)和冻驯化(freezing acdimation)。在冷驯化过程中, 植物体内许多基因在转录水平上的表达受到影响, 已经克隆了大量的相关基因,它们组成复杂的分子调控网络。目前研究表明不依赖ABA的低温信号转导途径是植物冷驯化机制的重要组成部分, 其中CBF/DREB1是该调控过程的关键转录因子, 与植物通过冷驯化而提高冰冻耐受能力密切相关。进一步利用转基因技术, 可有效地改善作物的耐冷性状。     

植物冷驯化相关基因研究进展

冷驯化是与提高植物抗冷性有关的生物化学及生理学过程,主要包括寒驯化（cool acclimation）和冻驯化（freezing acdimation）。在冷驯化过程中,植物体内许多基因在转录水平上的表达受到影响,已经克隆了大量的相关基因,它们组成复杂的分子调控网络。目前研究表明不依赖ABA的低温信号转导途径是植物冷驯化机制的重要组成部分,其中CBF/DREB1是该调控过程的关键转录因子,与植物通过冷驯化而提高冰冻耐受能力密切相关。进一步利用转基因技术,可以有效地改善作物的耐冷性状。     

Expression of a cold-responsive Lt-Cor gene and development of freezing tolerance during cold acclimation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Time-courses of the development of freezing tolerance and the expression of a cold-responsive gene wlt10 were monitored during cold acclimation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Bioassay showed that cold acclimation conferred much higher freezing tolerance on a winter cultivar than a spring cultivar. Northern blot analysis showed that the expression of wlt10 encoding a novel wheat member of a cereal-specific LT-COR protein family was specifically induced by low temperature. A freezing-tolerant winter cultivar accumulated the mRNA more rapidly and for a longer period than a susceptible spring cultivar. The increase in the amount of mRNA was temporary but the peak occurred at the time when the maximum level of freezing tolerance was attained. The mRNA accumulated more in the leaves than in the roots, and different light/dark regimes modulated the level of mRNA accumulation. Genomic Southern blot analyses using the nulli-tetrasomic series showed that the wlt10 homologues were located on the homologous group 2 chromosomes.