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. 2014 Mar 28:3:163.
doi: 10.1186/2193-1801-3-163. eCollection 2014.

Sex- and season-dependent differences in telomere length and telomerase activity in the leaves of ash and willow

Ying Mu  1 , Lan-Fang Ren  1 , Zhi-Li Xun  1 , Dan-Dan Zhang  1 , Han Song  1 , Hai Lu  1 , Feng-Lan Li  1 , Di Liu  1
Affiliations

Sex- and season-dependent differences in telomere length and telomerase activity in the leaves of ash and willow

Ying Mu et al. Springerplus. .

Abstract

Telomeres and telomerase have important biological functions and can protect chromosome ends. In this study, sex- and season-dependent changes in telomere length and telomerase activity in ash and willow were analyzed. A statistical analysis showed that the telomere lengths of male and female trees differed significantly (P < 0.05). In ash, the telomere lengths of female trees were shorter than those of male trees. In willow, the telomere lengths of female trees were longer than those of male trees. During the annual developmental cycle, the telomere lengths of male and female ash and willow increased from April to May (P < 0.05), remained stable from May to August (P > 0.05), and decreased significantly in September and October (P < 0.05). Additionally, telomerase activities could be detected in both male and female ash and willow trees from April to October. Our results show that the telomere lengths changed according to season and sex in ash and willow. Telomere length did not have a direct positive correlation with telomerase activity.

Keywords: Ash; Season-specific; Sex-specific; Telomerase activity; Telomere length; Willow.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Representative Southern hybridization analysis images used to measure the telomere length in the leaves of male or female ash and willow trees. A Ash samples. B Willow samples. Lane M: DNA molecular weight marker II, digoxigenin-labeled (Roche); lanes 1–3: male trees; lanes 4–6: female trees. Leaves of ash and willow were sampled in October, 2011.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Leaf telomere lengths in male and female ash and willow trees in April. A Ash samples. The telomeres were longer in males than in females (P < 0.05). B Willow samples. The telomeres were shorter in males than in females (P < 0.05). The different lowercases above the bars indicate significance at the 0.05 level.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Representative TRAP analysis images used to measure the telomerase activity in leaves of male or female ash and willow. A Ash samples. Lane 1: telomerase-negative control M: 50-bp ladder DNA marker; lanes 2–4: male trees; lanes 5–7: female trees. B Willow samples. Lane 1: telomerase-negative control; lane M: 50-bp ladder DNA marker; lanes 2–5: male trees; lanes 6–9: female trees. Leaves of ash and willow were sampled in April, 2011.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Leaf telomerase activity level in male and female ash and willow trees in April. A Ash samples. The telomerase activity levels of male and female trees were equal (P > 0.05). B Willow samples. The telomerase activity levels of male and female trees were equal (P > 0.05). The lowercases above the bars indicate significance at the 0.05 level.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Leaf telomere length and telomerase activity in ash and willow trees from April to October. Leaf telomere length from April to October (A-D). A Male ash samples. B Female ash samples. C Male willow samples. D Female willow samples. Leaf telomerase activity from April to October (E-H). E Male ash samples. F Female ash samples. G Male willow samples. H Female willow samples. The different lowercases above the bars indicate significance at the 0.05 level.
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