Multiomics analyses unveil the involvement of microRNAs in pear fruit senescence under high- or low-temperature conditions

Senescence leads to declines in fruit quality and shortening of shelf life. It is known that low temperatures (LTs) efficiently delay fruit senescence and that high temperatures (HTs) accelerate senescence. However, the molecular mechanism by which temperature affects senescence is unclear. Herein, through multiomics analyses of fruits subjected to postharvest HT, LT, and room temperature treatments, a total of 56 metabolic compounds and 700 mRNAs were identified to be associated with fruit senescence under HT or LT conditions. These compounds could be divided into antisenescent (I→III) and prosenescent (IV→VI) types. HT affected the expression of 202 mRNAs to enhance the biosynthesis of prosenescent compounds of types V and VI and to inhibit the accumulation of antisenescent compounds of types II and III. LT affected the expression of 530 mRNAs to promote the accumulation of antisenescent compounds of types I and II and to impede the biosynthesis of prosenescent compounds of types IV and V. Moreover, 16 microRNAs were isolated in response to HT or LT conditions and interacted with the mRNAs associated with fruit senescence under HT or LT conditions. Transient transformation of pear fruit showed that one of these microRNAs, Novel_188, can mediate fruit senescence by interacting with its target Pbr027651.1. Thus, both HT and LT conditions can affect fruit senescence by affecting microRNA–mRNA interactions, but the molecular networks are different in pear fruit.

Mammalian-unique eIF4E2 maintains GSK3β proline kinase activity to resist senescence against hypoxia

Cellular senescence is a stable state of cell cycle arrest elicited by various stresses. Hypoxia modulates senescence, but its consequences and implications in living organisms remains unknown. Here we identified the eIF4E2-GSK3β pathway regulated by hypoxia to maintain p53 proline-directed phosphorylation (S/T-P) to prevent senescence. We previously knew that GSK3β activates p53 translation through phosphorylation of RBM38 Ser195 (-Pro196). Unexpectedly, eIF4E2 directly binds to GSK3β via a conserved motif, mediating Ser195 phosphorylation. Phosphoproteomics revealed that eIF4E2-GSK3β specifically regulates proline-directed phosphorylation. Peptide e2-I or G3-I that disrupts this pathway dephosphorylates p53 at multiple S/T-P, which accelerate senescence by transcriptional suppressing TOPBP1 and TRX1. Consistently, peptides induce liver senescence that is rescued by TOPBP1 expression, and mediate senescence-dependent tumor regression. Furthermore, hypoxia inhibits eIF4E2-GSK3β. Inspiringly, eIF4E2-GSK3β is unique to mammals, which maintains mice viability and prevents liver senescence against physiological hypoxia. Interestingly, this mammalian eIF4E2 protects heart of zebrafish against hypoxia. Together, we identified a mammalian -unique eIF4E2-GSK3β pathway preventing senescence and guarding against hypoxia in vivo.

Structure and ion physiology of Brasenia schreberi glandular trichomes in vivo

Brasenia schreberi is a critically endangered aquatic basal angiosperm. In this work, we characterized the structure of the glandular trichomes of B. schreberi morphologically and histochemically. We used a variety of structural, histochemical and permeability stains for the characterization, and we tested the effects of stress in vivo using NaCl and ethanol. We observed that the glandular trichome of B. schreberi are composed of two disk-like stalk cells, and a glandular cell which surround a cuticular storage space. The cuticle is discontinuous at the surface of the shoots. Nearly half of young trichomes senesced in 0.9% NaCl, and mature trichomes senesced at 1.8% NaCl. About half of young trichomes senesced under 3% ethanol and mature trichomes senesced in 2% ethanol after 20 min of treatment. The physiology of glandular trichomes affects the way they secrete mucilage via storage space at a young stage. The trichomes become permeable and absorb ions when mature. This transition depends on the osmiophilic material and the dynamic protoplast. It can accelerate senescence and disassembly by ion accumulation. Permeability tests and ion treatments of glandular trichomes provide new insights for fertilizer research. Our study highlights the structure and physiology of B. schreberi glandular trichomes.

Older paternal ages and grandpaternal ages at conception predict longer telomeres in human descendants

Telomere length (TL) declines with age in most human tissues, and shorter TL appears to accelerate senescence. By contrast, men's sperm TL is positively correlated with age. Correspondingly, in humans, older paternal age at conception (PAC) predicts longer offspring TL. We have hypothesized that this PAC effect could persist across multiple generations, and thereby contribute to a transgenerational genetic plasticity that increases expenditures on somatic maintenance as the average age at reproduction is delayed within a lineage. Here, we examine TL data from 3282 humans together with PAC data across four generations. In this sample, the PAC effect is detectable in children and grandchildren. The PAC effect is transmitted through the matriline and patriline with similar strength and is characterized by a generational decay. PACs of more distant male ancestors were not significant predictors, although statistical power was limited in these analyses. Sensitivity analyses suggest that the PAC effect is linear, not moderated by offspring age, or maternal age, and is robust to controls for income, urbanicity and ancestry. These findings show that TL reflects the age at the reproduction of recent male matrilineal and patrilineal ancestors, with an effect that decays across generations.

Social life histories: jackdaw dominance increases with age, terminally declines and shortens lifespan

Behaviour may contribute to changes in fitness prospects with age, for example through effects of age-dependent social dominance on resource access. Older individuals often have higher dominance rank, which may reflect a longer lifespan of dominants and/or an increase in social dominance with age. In the latter case, increasing dominance could mitigate physiological senescence. We studied the social careers of free-living jackdaws over a 12 year period, and found that: (i) larger males attained higher ranks, (ii) social rank increased with age within individuals, and (iii) high-ranked individuals had shorter lifespan suggesting that maintaining or achieving high rank and associated benefits comes at a cost. Lastly, (iv) social rank declined substantially in the last year an individual was observed in the colony, and through its effect on resource access this may accelerate senescence. We suggest that behaviour affecting the ability to secure resources is integral to the senescence process via resource effects on somatic state, where behaviour may include not only social dominance, but also learning, memory, perception and (sexual) signalling. Studying behavioural effects on senescence via somatic state may be most effective in the wild, where there is competition for resources, which is usually avoided in laboratory conditions.

Elevated CO2 concentrations alter nitrogen metabolism and accelerate senescence in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants

Elevated CO₂ concentrations were found to cause early senescence during leaf development in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants, probably by reducing nitrogen availability since key enzymes of nitrogen metabolism, including nitrate reductase (NR); glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), were affected. Elevated CO₂ concentrations significantly decreased the activity of nitrogen assimilation enzymes (NR and GS) and increased GDH deaminating activities. Moreover, they substantially rose the transcript levels of GS1 while lowering those of GS2. Increased atmospheric CO₂ concentrations doubled the CO₂ fixation and increased transpiration rates, although these parameters decreased during leaf ontogeny. It can be concluded that elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations alter enzymes involved in nitrogen metabolism at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, thereby boosting mobilization of nitrogen in leaves and triggering early senescence in sunflower plants.

(168) Phospholipase Dα and Lipoxygenase Gene Expression in Fruit, Floral, and Vegetative Tissues of `Honey Brew' Hybrid Honeydew Melon

Increases in phospholipase D (PLD) and lipoxygenase (LOX) activities are thought to play a key role in senescence of mesocarp tissues in muskmelon fruit. We have cloned and characterized two full-length cDNAs, CmPLDα and CmLOX1, encoding PLDα and LOX proteins in honeydew melon (Cucumis melo L. Inodorus Group). Levels of expression of the corresponding genes were determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR in developing and mature fruit mesocarp tissues (20–60 d after pollination; DAP), and in roots, leaves, and stems from 4-week-old and flowers from 6-week-old plants. The coding regions of CmPLDα1 and CmLOX1 cDNAs are, respectively, 2427 and 2634 nucleotides long, encoding proteins 808 and 877 amino acids in length. CmPLDα1 is most similar to PLDα genes in castor bean, cowpea, strawberry, and tomato (77% nucleotide identity), and is the first cucurbit PLD gene cloned. CmLOX1 has 94% nucleotide identity to a cucumber LOX gene expressed in roots and 80% identity to cucumber cotyledon lipid body LOX. Transcript of CmPLDα1 was much more abundant than that of CmLOX1, but relative levels of transcript in the various organs and tissues were similar for the two genes. Expression was highest in roots, flowers, and fruit mesocarp tissues. CmPLDα1 expression in fruit was high throughout development, although maximum levels occurred at 50 and 55 DAP, respectively, in middle and hypodermal mesocarp. CmLOX1 expression was generally higher in middle than in hypodermal mesocarp with maximum transcript levels at 55 and 50 DAP, respectively. Overall, the patterns of expression of CmPLDα1 and CmLOX1 are consistent with a model in which their encoded enzymes act in tandem to promote or accelerate senescence in fruit mesocarp tissues.

Cloning of Phospholipase Dα and Lipoxygenase Genes CmPLDa1 and CmLOX1 and Their Expression in Fruit, Floral, and Vegetative Tissues of `Honey Brew' Hybrid Honeydew Melon

Increases in phospholipase D [PLD (EC 3.1.4.4)] and lipoxygenase [LOX (EC 1.13.11.12)] activities are thought to play a critical role in senescence of mesocarp tissues in netted and nonnetted muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.) fruits. We have cloned and characterized two full-length cDNAs, CmPLDα1 and CmLOX1, encoding PLDα and LOX proteins in honeydew melon (C. melo Inodorus Group cv. Honey Brew). Relative levels of expression of the corresponding genes were determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR in developing and mature fruit mesocarp tissues [20-60 d after pollination (DAP)], as well as in roots, leaves, and stems from 4-week-old and flowers from 6- to 7-week-old plants. The coding regions of CmPLDα1 and CmLOX1 cDNAs are, respectively, 2427 and 2634 nucleotides long, encoding proteins 808 and 877 amino acids in length. CmPLDα1 is very similar to PLDα genes from castor bean (Ricinis communis L.), cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.), strawberry (Fragaria ×ananassa Duch.) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) (77% nucleotide identity), and is the first PLD gene cloned from a cucurbit species. CmLOX1 has 94% nucleotide identity to a cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) LOX gene expressed in roots and 80% identity to cucumber cotyledon lipid body LOX. In general, transcript of CmPLDα1 was much more abundant than that of CmLOX1, but relative levels of transcript in the various organs and tissues were similar for the two genes. Expression was highest in roots, flowers, and fruit mesocarp tissues. CmPLDα1 expression in fruit was essentially constitutive throughout development, although maximum levels occurred at 50 and 55 DAP, respectively, in middle and hypodermal mesocarp. CmLOX1 expression was generally higher in middle than in hypodermal mesocarp with maximum transcript levels occurring at 55 and 50 DAP, respectively. Overall, the patterns of expression of CmPLDα1 and CmLOX1 are consistent with a model in which their encoded enzymes act in tandem to promote or accelerate senescence in fruit mesocarp tissues.