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. 2015 Jul 22:2:15034.
doi: 10.1038/hortres.2015.34. eCollection 2015.

Transcriptomic analysis reveals numerous diverse protein kinases and transcription factors involved in desiccation tolerance in the resurrection plant Myrothamnus flabellifolia

Chao Ma  1 , Hong Wang  2 , Andrew J Macnish  1 , Alejandro C Estrada-Melo  1 , Jing Lin  2 , Youhong Chang  2 , Michael S Reid  1 , Cai-Zhong Jiang  3
Affiliations

Transcriptomic analysis reveals numerous diverse protein kinases and transcription factors involved in desiccation tolerance in the resurrection plant Myrothamnus flabellifolia

Chao Ma et al. Hortic Res. .

Abstract

The woody resurrection plant Myrothamnus flabellifolia has remarkable tolerance to desiccation. Pyro-sequencing technology permitted us to analyze the transcriptome of M. flabellifolia during both dehydration and rehydration. We identified a total of 8287 and 8542 differentially transcribed genes during dehydration and rehydration treatments respectively. Approximately 295 transcription factors (TFs) and 484 protein kinases (PKs) were up- or down-regulated in response to desiccation stress. Among these, the transcript levels of 53 TFs and 91 PKs increased rapidly and peaked early during dehydration. These regulators transduce signal cascades of molecular pathways, including the up-regulation of ABA-dependent and independent drought stress pathways and the activation of protective mechanisms for coping with oxidative damage. Antioxidant systems are up-regulated, and the photosynthetic system is modified to reduce ROS generation. Secondary metabolism may participate in the desiccation tolerance of M. flabellifolia as indicated by increases in transcript abundance of genes involved in isopentenyl diphosphate biosynthesis. Up-regulation of genes encoding late embryogenesis abundant proteins and sucrose phosphate synthase is also associated with increased tolerance to desiccation. During rehydration, the transcriptome is also enriched in transcripts of genes encoding TFs and PKs, as well as genes involved in photosynthesis, and protein synthesis. The data reported here contribute comprehensive insights into the molecular mechanisms of desiccation tolerance in M. flabellifolia.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Water loss curve of M. flabellifolia. Water loss is expressed as the percentage of IFW at each time point. Results are the means of three biological replicates ± SD.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Venn diagrams showing common genes significantly up- or down-regulated in dehydration and rehydration processes.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Validation of RNA-Seq data by qRT-PCR. RNA was extracted from leaf tissue taken at the indicated percentage of IFW under dehydration and at the indicated times of rehydration. Actin (comp22823_c0_seq1) was used as an internal control. The results are the means of three biological replicates ± SD.
Figure 4
Figure 4
GO functional classification analysis of DTGs during dehydration (a) and rehydration (b). Histograms representing enriched functional distributions in each stage.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Enriched pathways of DTGs during dehydration and rehydration.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Distribution of dehydration- and rehydration-responsive transcription factors and protein kinases in M. flabellifolia.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Hierarchical cluster analysis of differentially expressed transcription factors (a) and protein kinases (b) in M. flabellifolia. Log2 ratios are used to express the relative transcript abundance at the indicated percentage of IFW during dehydration (De-) or at the indicated time of rehydration (Re-) of leaves versus control hydrated leaves. Red squares indicate increased expression and blue squares indicate decreased.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Hierarchical clustering analysis of early dehydration up-regulated transcription factors (a) and protein kinases (b) in M. flabellifolia. Log2 ratios are used to express relative transcript abundance at the indicated percentage of IFW under dehydration (De-) or at the indicated time of rehydration (Re-) of leaves versus hydrated leaves. Red squares indicate increased abundance and blue squares indicate decreased abundance.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Representative pathways in de- and re-hydration treatments in M. flabellifolia transcript profiles. Log2 ratios are used to express relative transcript abundance at the indicated percentage of IFW during dehydration (De-) or at the indicated time of rehydration (Re-) of leaves versus hydrated leaves. Red squares indicate increased abundance and blue squares indicate decreased abundance.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Strategies in the response to desiccation in M. flabellifolia.
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