scholarly journals Transcriptome and Oxylipin Profiling Joint Analysis Reveals Opposite Roles of 9-Oxylipins and Jasmonic Acid in Maize Resistance to Gibberella Stalk Rot

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Wang ◽  
Yali Sun ◽  
Fang Wang ◽  
Pei-Cheng Huang ◽  
Yinying Wang ◽  
...  

Gibberella stalk rot caused by Fusarium graminearum is one of the devastating diseases of maize that causes significant yield losses worldwide. The molecular mechanisms regulating defense against this pathogen remain poorly understood. According to recent studies, a major oxylipin hormone produced by 13-lipoxygenases (LOX) namely jasmonic acid (JA) has been associated with maize susceptibility to GSR. However, the specific roles of numerous 9-LOX-derived oxylipins in defense against Gibberella stalk rot (GSR) remain unexplained. In this study, we have shown that disruption of a 9-LOX gene, ZmLOX5, resulted in increased susceptibility to GSR, indicating its role in defense. To understand how ZmLOX5 regulates GSR resistance, we conducted transcriptome and oxylipin profiling using a zmlox5-3 mutant and near-isogenic wild type B73, upon infection with F. graminearum. The results showed that JA biosynthetic pathway genes were highly up-regulated, whereas multiple 9-LOX pathway genes were down-regulated in the infected zmlox5-3 mutant. Furthermore, oxylipin profiling of the mutant revealed significantly higher contents of several jasmonates but relatively lower levels of 9-oxylipins in zmlox5-3 upon infection. In contrast, B73 and W438, a more resistant inbred line, displayed relatively lower levels of JAs, but a considerable increase of 9-oxylipins. These results suggest antagonistic interaction between 9-oxylipins and JAs, wherein 9-oxylipins contribute to resistance while JAs facilitate susceptibility to F. graminearum.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanan Chen ◽  
Panpan Feng ◽  
Boyan Tang ◽  
Zongli Hu ◽  
Qiaoli Xie ◽  
...  

Abstract The process of plant senescence is complex and highly coordinated, and is regulated by many endogenous and environmental signals. Ethylene and jasmonic acid are well-known senescence inducers, but their molecular mechanisms for inducing leaf senescence have not been fully elucidated. Here, we studied a receptor gene downstream of an ethylene signal transduction pathway, ETHYLENE RESPONSE FACTOR F5 (SlERF.F5). The silence of SlERF.F5 causes accelerated senescence induced by age, darkness, ethylene, and jasmonic acid. However, overexpression of SlERF.F5 may delay leaf senescence. We further found that silencing of SlERF.F5 inhibited the expression of chlorophyll-related genes CHLH, CHLM, POR, CAO1, GUN4, PPH, SGR1, RBCS, and AUREA genes, and the light-responsive RBCS and LHCA1 gene. Moreover, silencing of SlERF.F5 increases the sensitivity of SlERF.F5-RNAi lines to ethylene and jasmonic acid compared to wild type. In the dark-induced aging experiment, the qRT-PCR analysis showed the expression levels of genes related to the ethylene biosynthesis pathway and the jasmonic acid signaling pathway in SlERF.F5-RNAi lines increased compared with wild type. Yeast two-hybrid experiments showed that SlERF.F5 and SlMYC2 (a transcription factor downstream of the JA receptor) can interact physically, thereby mediating the role of SlERF.F5 in jasmonic acid-induced leaf senescence. Collectively, our research provides new insights into how ethylene and jasmonic acid promote leaf senescence in tomatoes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yali Sun ◽  
Xinsen Ruan ◽  
Qing Wang ◽  
Yu Zhou ◽  
Fang Wang ◽  
...  

Gibberella stalk rot (GSR) caused by Fusarium graminearum is one of the most devastating diseases causing significant yield loss of maize, and GSR resistance is a quantitative trait controlled by multiple genes. Although a few quantitative trait loci/resistance genes have been identified, the molecular mechanisms underlying GSR resistance remain largely unexplored. To identify potential resistance genes and to better understand the molecular mechanism of GSR resistance, a joint analysis using a comparative transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches was conducted using two inbred lines with contrasting GSR resistance, K09 (resistant) and A08 (susceptible), upon infection with F. graminearum. While a substantial number of differentially expressed genes associated with various defense-related signaling pathways were identified between two lines, multiple hub genes likely associated with GSR resistance were pinpointed using Weighted Gene Correlation Network Analysis and K-means clustering. Moreover, a core set of metabolites, including anthocyanins, associated with the hub genes was determined. Among the complex co-expression networks, ZmHIR3 showed strong correlation with multiple key genes, and genetic and histological studies showed that zmhir3 mutant is more susceptible to GSR, accompanied by enhanced cell death in the stem in response to infection with F. graminearum. Taken together, our study identified differentially expressed key genes and metabolites, as well as co-expression networks associated with distinct infection stages of F. graminearum. Moreover, ZmHIR3 likely plays a positive role in disease resistance to GSR, probably through the transcriptional regulation of key genes, functional metabolites, and the control of cell death.


2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (11) ◽  
pp. 1263-1276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawn A. Christensen ◽  
Andriy Nemchenko ◽  
Yong-Soon Park ◽  
Eli Borrego ◽  
Pei-Cheng Huang ◽  
...  

Fusarium verticillioides is a major limiting factor for maize production due to ear and stalk rot and the contamination of seed with the carcinogenic mycotoxin fumonisin. While lipoxygenase (LOX)-derived oxylipins have been implicated in defense against diverse pathogens, their function in maize resistance against F. verticillioides is poorly understood. Here, we functionally characterized a novel maize 9-LOX gene, ZmLOX12. This gene is distantly related to known dicot LOX genes, with closest homologs found exclusively in other monocot species. ZmLOX12 is predominantly expressed in mesocotyls in which it is strongly induced in response to F. verticillioides infection. The Mutator transposon-insertional lox12-1 mutant is more susceptible to F. verticillioides colonization of mesocotyls, stalks, and kernels. The infected mutant kernels accumulate a significantly greater amount of the mycotoxin fumonisin. Reduced resistance to the pathogen is accompanied by diminished levels of the jasmonic acid (JA) precursor 12-oxo phytodienoic acid, JA-isoleucine, and expression of jasmonate-biosynthetic genes. Supporting the strong defense role of jasmonates, the JA-deficient opr7 opr8 double mutant displayed complete lack of immunity to F. verticillioides. Unexpectedly, the more susceptible lox12 mutant accumulated higher levels of kauralexins, suggesting that F. verticillioides is tolerant to this group of antimicrobial phytoalexins. This study demonstrates that this unique monocot-specific 9-LOX plays a key role in defense against F. verticillioides in diverse maize tissues and provides genetic evidence that JA is the major defense hormone against this pathogen.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (23) ◽  
pp. 13027
Author(s):  
Yuxiu Luo ◽  
Shoulian Teng ◽  
Hengxia Yin ◽  
Shengping Zhang ◽  
Xiaoyun Tuo ◽  
...  

Rapeseed (Brassica napus) is one of the major important oil crops worldwide and is largely cultivated in the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau (QTP), where long and strong solar-radiation is well-known. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying rapeseed’s response to light stress are largely unknown. In the present study, the color of rapeseed seedlings changed from green to purple under high light (HL) stress conditions. Therefore, changes in anthocyanin metabolism and the transcriptome of rapeseed seedlings cultured under normal light (NL) and HL conditions were analyzed to dissect how rapeseed responds to HL at the molecular level. Results indicated that the contents of anthocyanins, especially glucosides of cyanidin, delphinidin, and petunidin, which were determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), increased by 9.6-, 4.2-, and 59.7-fold in rapeseed seedlings exposed to HL conditions, respectively. Next, RNA-sequencing analysis identified 7390 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which included 4393 up-regulated and 2997 down-regulated genes. Among the up-regulated genes, many genes related to the anthocyanin-biosynthetic pathway were enriched. For example, genes encoding dihydroflavonol reductase (BnDFR) and anthocyanin synthase (BnANS) were especially induced by HL conditions, which was also confirmed by RT-qPCR analysis. In addition, two PRODUCTION OF ANTHOCYANIN PIGMENTATION 2 (BnPAP2) and GLABRA3 (BnGL3) genes encoding MYB-type and bHLH-type transcription factors, respectively, whose expression was also up-regulated by HL stress, were found to be associated with the changes in anthocyanin biosynthesis. Many genes involved in the jasmonic acid (JA)-biosynthetic pathway were also up-regulated under HL conditions. This finding, which is in agreement with the well-known positive regulatory role of JA in anthocyanin biosynthesis, suggests that the JA may also play a key role in the responses of rapeseed seedlings to HL. Collectively, these data indicate that anthocyanin biosynthesis-related and JA biosynthesis-related pathways mediate HL responses in rapeseed. These findings collectively provide mechanistic insights into the mechanisms involved in the response of rapeseed to HL stress, and the identified key genes may potentially be used to improve HL tolerance of rapeseed cultivars through genetic engineering or breeding strategies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian-Hao Zhu ◽  
Warwick Stiller ◽  
Philippe Moncuquet ◽  
Stuart Gordon ◽  
Yuman Yuan ◽  
...  

Abstract Fiber mutants are unique and valuable resources for understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms controlling initiation and development of cotton fibers that are extremely elongated single epidermal cells protruding from the seed coat of cottonseeds. In this study, we reported a new fuzzless-tufted cotton mutant (Gossypium hirsutum) and showed that fuzzless-tufted near-isogenic lines (NILs) had similar agronomic traits and a higher ginning efficiency compared to their recurrent parents with normal fuzzy seeds. Genetic analysis revealed that the mutant phenotype is determined by a single incomplete dominant locus, designated N5. The mutation was fine mapped to an approximately 250-kb interval containing 33 annotated genes using a combination of bulked segregant sequencing, SNP chip genotyping, and fine mapping. Comparative transcriptomic analysis using 0–6 days post-anthesis (dpa) ovules from NILs segregating for the phenotypes of fuzzless-tufted (mutant) and normal fuzzy cottonseeds (wild-type) uncovered candidate genes responsible for the mutant phenotype. It also revealed that the flanking region of the N5 locus is enriched with differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the mutant and wild-type. Several of those DEGs are members of the gene families with demonstrated roles in cell initiation and elongation, such as calcium-dependent protein kinase and expansin. The transcriptome landscape of the mutant was significantly reprogrammed in the 6 dpa ovules and, to a less extent, in the 0 dpa ovules, but not in the 2 and 4 dpa ovules. At both 0 and 6 dpa, the reprogrammed mutant transcriptome was mainly associated with cell wall modifications and transmembrane transportation, while transcription factor activity was significantly altered in the 6 dpa mutant ovules. These results imply a similar molecular basis for initiation of lint and fuzz fibers despite certain differences.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruiqi Wang ◽  
Kun Li ◽  
Jifang Yu ◽  
Jiaoyu Deng ◽  
Yaokai Chen

AbstractPrevious studies showed that mutation of folC caused decreased expression of the dihydropteroate synthase encoding gene folP2 in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). We speculated that mutation of folC in M. tuberculosis might affect the susceptibility to sulfamethoxazole (SMX). To prove this, 53 clinical isolates with folC mutations were selected and two folC mutants (I43A, I43T) were constructed based on M. tuberculosis H37Ra. The results showed that 42 of the 53 clinical isolates (79.2%) and the two lab-constructed folC mutants were more sensitive to SMX. To probe the mechanism by which folC mutations make M. tuberculosis more sensitive to SMX, folP2 was deleted in H37Ra, and expression levels of folP2 were compared between H37Ra and the two folC mutants. Although deletion of folP2 resulted in increased susceptibility to SMX, no difference in folP2 expression was observed. Furthermore, production levels of para-aminobenzoic acid (pABA) were compared between the folC mutants and the wild-type strain, and results showed that folC mutation resulted in decreased production of pABA. Taken together, we show that folC mutation leads to decreased production of pABA in M. tuberculosis and thus affects its susceptibility to SMX, which broadens our understanding of mechanisms of susceptibilities to antifolates in this bacterium.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 767
Author(s):  
Kamar Hamade ◽  
Ophélie Fliniaux ◽  
Jean-Xavier Fontaine ◽  
Roland Molinié ◽  
Elvis Otogo Nnang ◽  
...  

Lignans, phenolic plant secondary metabolites, are derived from the phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway. Although, being investigated for their health benefits in terms of antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, the role of these molecules in plants remains incompletely elucidated; a potential role in stress response mechanisms has been, however, proposed. In this study, a non-targeted metabolomic analysis of the roots, stems, and leaves of wild-type and PLR1-RNAi transgenic flax, devoid of (+) secoisolariciresinol diglucoside ((+) SDG)—the main flaxseed lignan, was performed using 1H-NMR and LC-MS, in order to obtain further insight into the involvement of lignan in the response of plant to osmotic stress. Results showed that wild-type and lignan-deficient flax plants have different metabolic responses after being exposed to osmotic stress conditions, but they both showed the capacity to induce an adaptive response to osmotic stress. These findings suggest the indirect involvement of lignans in osmotic stress response.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guiming Deng ◽  
Fangcheng Bi ◽  
Jing Liu ◽  
Weidi He ◽  
Chunyu Li ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundBanana plant height is an important trait for horticultural practices and semi-dwarf cultivars show better resistance to damages by wind and rain. However, the molecular mechanisms controlling the pseudostem height remain poorly understood. Herein, we studied the molecular changes in the pseudostem of a semi-dwarf banana mutant Aifen No. 1 (Musaspp. Pisang Awak sub-group ABB) as compared to its wild-type dwarf cultivar using a combined transcriptome and metabolome approach.ResultsA total of 127 differentially expressed genes and 48 differentially accumulated metabolites were detected between the mutant and its wild type. Metabolites belonging to amino acid and its derivatives, flavonoids, lignans, coumarins, organic acids, and phenolic acids were up-regulated in the mutant. The transcriptome analysis showed the differential regulation of genes related to the gibberellin pathway, auxin transport, cell elongation, and cell wall modification. Based on the regulation of gibberellin and associated pathway-related genes, we discussed the involvement of gibberellins in pseudostem elongation in the mutant banana. Genes and metabolites associated with cell wall were explored and their involvement in cell extension is discussed.ConclusionsThe results suggest that gibberellins and associated pathways are possibly developing the observed semi-dwarf pseudostem phenotype together with cell elongation and cell wall modification. The findings increase the understanding of the mechanisms underlying banana stem height and provide new clues for further dissection of specific gene functions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 99
Author(s):  
Rita Matos ◽  
Kaori L. Fonseca ◽  
Stefan Mereiter ◽  
Ana Raquel Maceiras ◽  
Joana Gomes ◽  
...  

Glycans display increasingly recognized roles in pathological contexts, however, their impact in the host-pathogen interplay in many infectious diseases remains largely unknown. This is the case for tuberculosis (TB), one of the ten most fatal diseases worldwide, caused by infection of the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We have recently reported that perturbing the core-2 O-glycans biosynthetic pathway increases the host susceptibility to M. tuberculosis infection, by disrupting the neutrophil homeostasis and enhancing lung pathology. In the present study, we show an increased expression of the sialylated glycan structure Sialyl-Lewis X (SLeX) in the lung epithelium upon M. tuberculosis infection. This increase in SLeX glycan epitope is accompanied by an altered lung tissue transcriptomic signature, with up-regulation of genes codifying enzymes that are involved in the SLeX core-2 O-glycans biosynthetic pathway. This study provides novel insights into previously unappreciated molecular mechanisms involving glycosylation, which modulate the host response to M. tuberculosis infection, possibly contributing to shape TB disease outcome.


1988 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 4185-4189 ◽  
Author(s):  
J A Greenspan ◽  
F M Xu ◽  
R L Davidson

The molecular mechanisms of ethyl methanesulfonate-induced reversion in mammalian cells were studied by using as a target a gpt gene that was integrated chromosomally as part of a shuttle vector. Murine cells containing mutant gpt genes with single base changes were mutagenized with ethyl methanesulfonate, and revertant colonies were isolated. Ethyl methanesulfonate failed to increase the frequency of revertants for cell lines with mutant gpt genes carrying GC----AT transitions or AT----TA transversions, whereas it increased the frequency 50-fold to greater than 800-fold for cell lines with mutant gpt genes carrying AT----GC transitions and for one cell line with a GC----CG transversion. The gpt genes of 15 independent revertants derived from the ethyl methanesulfonate-revertible cell lines were recovered and sequenced. All revertants derived from cell lines with AT----GC transitions had mutated back to the wild-type gpt sequence via GC----AT transitions at their original sites of mutation. Five of six revertants derived from the cell line carrying a gpt gene with a GC----CG transversion had mutated via GC----AT transition at the site of the original mutation or at the adjacent base in the same triplet; these changes generated non-wild-type DNA sequences that code for non-wild-type amino acids that are apparently compatible with xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase activity. The sixth revertant had mutated via CG----GC transversion back to the wild-type sequence. The results of this study define certain amino acid substitutions in the xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase polypeptide that are compatible with enzyme activity. These results also establish mutagen-induced reversion analysis as a sensitive and specific assay for mutagenesis in mammalian cells.


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