Dynamic regulation of DNA methylation and histone modifications in response to abiotic stresses in plants

DNA methylation and histone modification are evolutionarily conserved epigenetic modifications that are crucial for the expression regulation of abiotic stress-responsive genes in plants. Dynamic changes in gene expression levels can result from changes in DNA methylation and histone modifications. In the last two decades, how epigenetic machinery regulates abiotic stress responses in plants has been extensively studied. Here, based on recent publications, we review how DNA methylation and histone modifications impact gene expression regulation in response to abiotic stresses such as drought, abscisic acid, high salt, extreme temperature, nutrient deficiency or toxicity, and ultraviolet B exposure. We also review the roles of epigenetic mechanisms in the formation of transgenerational stress memory. We posit that a better understanding of the epigenetic underpinnings of abiotic stress responses in plants may facilitate the design of more stress-resistant or -resilient crops, which is essential for coping with global warming and extreme environments.     

甘蓝型油菜扩展蛋白家族的全基因组鉴定及其对缺硼胁迫响应的差异分析

以甘蓝型油菜(Brassica napus L.)硼高效品种‘青油10号’和硼低效品种‘Westar 10’为研究对象,采用生物信息学分析、转录组测序和实时荧光定量PCR技术,鉴定其基因组中扩展蛋白的家族成员,并对该基因家族响应缺硼胁迫的表达差异进行分析。结果显示,甘蓝型油菜基因组中包含109个扩展蛋白,可分为4个亚家族,包括:79个扩展蛋白A(BnaEXPAs)、21个扩展蛋白B(BnaEXPBs)、5个类扩展蛋白A(BnaEXLAs)和4个类扩展蛋白B(BnaEXLBs)。同一亚家族中的扩展蛋白具有相对保守的基因结构和蛋白质基序组成。这些扩展蛋白基因分布在19条染色体上,其中10个位于硼高效QTL区间内。转录组测序分析结果表明,缺硼胁迫时‘青油10号’的根、幼叶和老叶中分别有40、18和30个扩展蛋白基因显著上调或下调表达;而‘Westar10’中分别有27、24和41个扩展蛋白基因显著上调或下调表达。其中‘青油10号’根中的BnaC04.EXPA6a,幼叶中的BnaA09.EXPA5以及老叶中的BnaA09.EXPA16、BnaC04.EXPA3、BnaCnn.EXPA5b和BnaA03.EXPA8基因的表达水平均显著高于‘Westar10’。研究结果说明甘蓝型油菜基因组中扩展蛋白基因家族数量庞大,其中高、低效品种间和不同硼水平中差异表达的扩展蛋白可能在甘蓝型油菜低硼适应性中发挥重要作用。