scholarly journals Epigenetic Landmarks of Leaf Senescence and Crop Improvement

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (14) ◽  
pp. 5125
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Ostrowska-Mazurek ◽  
Piotr Kasprzak ◽  
Szymon Kubala ◽  
Magdalena Zaborowska ◽  
Ewa Sobieszczuk-Nowicka

This review synthesizes knowledge on epigenetic regulation of leaf senescence and discusses the possibility of using this knowledge to improve crop quality. This control level is implemented by different but interacting epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, covalent histone modifications, and non-covalent chromatin remodeling. The genetic and epigenetic changes may act alone or together and regulate the gene expression, which may result in heritable (stress memory) changes and may lead to crop survival. In the review, the question also arises whether the mitotically stable epigenetic information can be used for crop improvement. The barley crop model for early and late events of dark-induced leaf senescence (DILS), where the point of no return was defined, revealed differences in DNA and RNA modifications active in DILS compared to developmental leaf senescence. This suggests the possibility of a yet-to-be-discovered epigenetic-based switch between cell survival and cell death. Conclusions from the analyzed research contributed to the hypothesis that chromatin-remodeling mechanisms play a role in the control of induced leaf senescence. Understanding this mechanism in crops might provide a tool for further exploitation toward sustainable agriculture: so-called epibreeding.

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1226
Author(s):  
Chao Sun ◽  
Kazim Ali ◽  
Kan Yan ◽  
Sajid Fiaz ◽  
Richard Dormatey ◽  
...  

Crop plants often have challenges of biotic and abiotic stresses, and they adapt sophisticated ways to acclimate and cope with these through the expression of specific genes. Changes in chromatin, histone, and DNA mostly serve the purpose of combating challenges and ensuring the survival of plants in stressful environments. Epigenetic changes, due to environmental stress, enable plants to remember a past stress event in order to deal with such challenges in the future. This heritable memory, called “plant stress memory”, enables plants to respond against stresses in a better and efficient way, not only for the current plant in prevailing situations but also for future generations. Development of stress resistance in plants for increasing the yield potential and stability has always been a traditional objective of breeders for crop improvement through integrated breeding approaches. The application of epigenetics for improvements in complex traits in tetraploid and some other field crops has been unclear. An improved understanding of epigenetics and stress memory applications will contribute to the development of strategies to incorporate them into breeding for complex agronomic traits. The insight in the application of novel plant breeding techniques (NPBTs) has opened a new plethora of options among plant scientists to develop germplasms for stress tolerance. This review summarizes and discusses plant stress memory at the intergenerational and transgenerational levels, mechanisms involved in stress memory, exploitation of induced and natural epigenetic changes, and genome editing technologies with their future possible applications, in the breeding of crops for abiotic stress tolerance to increase the yield for zero hunger goals achievement on a sustainable basis in the changing climatic era.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 3936
Author(s):  
Ahmed G. Gad ◽  
Habiba ◽  
Xiangzi Zheng ◽  
Ying Miao

Leaf senescence, as an integral part of the final development stage for plants, primarily remobilizes nutrients from the sources to the sinks in response to different stressors. The premature senescence of leaves is a critical challenge that causes significant economic losses in terms of crop yields. Although low light causes losses of up to 50% and affects rice yield and quality, its regulatory mechanisms remain poorly elucidated. Darkness-mediated premature leaf senescence is a well-studied stressor. It initiates the expression of senescence-associated genes (SAGs), which have been implicated in chlorophyll breakdown and degradation. The molecular and biochemical regulatory mechanisms of premature leaf senescence show significant levels of redundant biomass in complex pathways. Thus, clarifying the regulatory mechanisms of low-light/dark-induced senescence may be conducive to developing strategies for rice crop improvement. This review describes the recent molecular regulatory mechanisms associated with low-light response and dark-induced senescence (DIS), and their effects on plastid signaling and photosynthesis-mediated processes, chloroplast and protein degradation, as well as hormonal and transcriptional regulation in rice.


Plants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salman Ahmad ◽  
Yongfeng Guo

Leaf senescence is a degenerative process that is genetically controlled and involves nutrient remobilization prior to the death of leaf tissues. Age is a key developmental determinant of the process along with other senescence inducing factors. At the cellular level, different hormones, signaling molecules, and transcription factors contribute to the regulation of senescence. This review summarizes the recent progress in understanding the complexity of the senescence process with primary focuses on perception and transduction of senescence signals as well as downstream regulatory events. Future directions in this field and potential applications of related techniques in crop improvement will be discussed.


F1000Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan M Kozub ◽  
Ryan M Carr ◽  
Gwen L Lomberk ◽  
Martin E Fernandez-Zapico

Histone-modifying enzymes play a critical role in chromatin remodeling and are essential for influencing several genome processes such as gene expression and DNA repair, replication, and recombination. The discovery of lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1), the first identified histone demethylase, dramatically revolutionized research in the field of epigenetics. LSD1 plays a pivotal role in a wide range of biological operations, including development, cellular differentiation, embryonic pluripotency, and disease (for example, cancer). This mini-review focuses on the role of LSD1 in chromatin regulatory complexes, its involvement in epigenetic changes throughout development, and its importance in physiological and pathological processes.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. e0146826 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eun Ju Cho ◽  
Seung Hee Choi ◽  
Ji Hong Kim ◽  
Ji Eun Kim ◽  
Min Hee Lee ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Neli Didebulidze MBiol ◽  
Sopiko Kandelaki ◽  
Manana Kakabadze ◽  
Salome Kordzaia ◽  
Dimitri Kordzaia ◽  
...  

Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the restoration of metabolic imbalance related with deficiency of insulin by the exogenous androgen supplementation in the experimental model of alloxan-induced diabetes in Wistar male rats. Methods: The experimental diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal administration of alloxan. The concentrations of glucose, immunereactive insulin, corticosterone, testosterone and estradiol were examined in blood, the intensity of DNA and RNA synthesis and androgen receptor expression were studied in the liver tissue – at 15th, 30th and 45th days of alloxan-induced diabetes. The synthetic androgen methyltrienolone was administered to rats with 30-days diabetes during 15 days. All data were compared to control group received solvent. Results: The induction of diabetes increased the concentrations of glucose, corticosterone and estradiol while decreases insulin and testosterone concentration in blood as well as DNA/RNA synthesis and androgen receptors expression in hepatocytes. The administration of exogenous androgen significantly restored the metabolic imbalance and the expression of androgen receptors and increased DNA/RNA synthesis in liver cells maintained close to control level. Conclusion: The administration of methyltrienolone reduced the effect of “diabetic stress” and restored the hormonal dysfunction induced by alloxan.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aliki Kapazoglou ◽  
Eleni Tani ◽  
Evangelia V. Avramidou ◽  
Eleni M. Abraham ◽  
Maria Gerakari ◽  
...  

Plant grafting is an ancient agricultural practice widely employed in crops such as woody fruit trees, grapes, and vegetables, in order to improve plant performance. Successful grafting requires the interaction of compatible scion and rootstock genotypes. This involves an intricate network of molecular mechanisms operating at the graft junction and associated with the development and the physiology of the scion, ultimately leading to improved agricultural characteristics such as fruit quality and increased tolerance/resistance to abiotic and biotic factors. Bidirectional transfer of molecular signals such as hormones, nutrients, proteins, and nucleic acids from the rootstock to the scion and vice versa have been well documented. In recent years, studies on rootstock-scion interactions have proposed the existence of an epigenetic component in grafting reactions. Epigenetic changes such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and the action of small RNA molecules are known to modulate chromatin architecture, leading to gene expression changes and impacting cellular function. Mobile small RNAs (siRNAs) migrating across the graft union from the rootstock to the scion and vice versa mediate modifications in the DNA methylation pattern of the recipient partner, leading to altered chromatin structure and transcriptional reprogramming. Moreover, graft-induced DNA methylation changes and gene expression shifts in the scion have been associated with variations in graft performance. If these changes are heritable they can lead to stably altered phenotypes and affect important agricultural traits, making grafting an alternative to breeding for the production of superior plants with improved traits. However, most reviews on the molecular mechanisms underlying this process comprise studies related to vegetable grafting. In this review we will provide a comprehensive presentation of the current knowledge on the epigenetic changes and transcriptional reprogramming associated with the rootstock–scion interaction focusing on woody plant species, including the recent findings arising from the employment of advanced—omics technologies as well as transgrafting methodologies and their potential exploitation for generating superior quality grafts in woody species. Furthermore, will discuss graft—induced heritable epigenetic changes leading to novel plant phenotypes and their implication to woody crop improvement for yield, quality, and stress resilience, within the context of climate change.


2016 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
. PRIYONO ◽  
Riza Arief PUTRANTO

AbstrakAnalisis genetik telah  menjadi alat yang penting  dalam  pemuliaan  tanaman untuk perbaikan sifat penting tanaman. Salah satu potensi terbesar dari analisis tersebut adalah identifikasi penanda molekuler yang berguna untuk pemetaan genetik. Pemetaan genetik  merupakan  salah satu langkah penting dari analisis  genetik.  Intisari  dari   semua pemetaan genetik adalah  menempatkan  koleksi  pe- nanda molekuler pada posisi tertentu dalam genom. Hal tersebut dapat kemudian digunakan untuk meng- identifikasi lokus sifat kuantitatif (QTLs) dengan memanfaatan keragaman genetik alami yang tersedia dan meningkatkan sifat-sifat penting serta berharga. Sampai saat ini, tiga belas peta genetik telah dipublikasi dan tersedia pada Coffea sp. yang menciptakan database besar untuk kerangka genetik. Sebuah peta genetik terbaru dengan akses terbuka dan berfungsi sebagai referensi telah dibangun oleh International Coffee Genomics Network (ICGN). Peta tersebut tediri dari 3230 lokus, dengan panjang peta 1471 cM (1cm ~ 500 Kb) serta kepadatan satu penanda setiap 220 Kb. Peta-peta genetik pada tanaman kopi telah digunakan dari karakterisasi gen hingga analisis komparatif genom dengan spesies tanaman yang berbeda. Saat ini, pesatnya kemajuan teknologi New Genome Sequencing (NGS) untuk sekuensing DNA dan RNA memungkinkan validasi dari peta-peta genetik untuk prediksi QTLs serta gen-gen yang membawa sifat penting Coffea sp.AbstractGenetic analysis has become an important tool in plant breeding for crop improvement. One of their greatest potential appears to be the identification of molecular markers useful for genetic mapping. Genetic mapping is one of important steps in genetic analysis. The essence of all genetic mapping is to place a collection of molecular markers onto their respective positions on the genome. Thus, it leads to identification of new quantitative trait loci (QTLs) by making benefits of natural available genetic diversity.and to improve important and valuable traits. Until present, thirteen genetic maps were published and available in Coffea sp. creating a huge database for genetic framework. One most recent and open reference genetic map for robusta coffee has been generated by the International Coffee Genomics Network (ICGN) comprising 3230 loci, genetic size 1471 cM (1cM ~500 Kb), with an average density close to one marker every 220 Kb. The Coffea genetic maps have been utilized from gene characterization to genomic comparative analysis with different plant species. Nowadays, the feasibility of NGS for DNA and RNA sequencing allow the validation of genetic map related to the prediction of QTLs and adjacent genes related to important traits for Coffea sp. 


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (13) ◽  
pp. 3061
Author(s):  
Maria Assunta Potenza ◽  
Dominga Iacobazzi ◽  
Luca Sgarra ◽  
Monica Montagnani

The pandemic proportion of diabesity—a combination of obesity and diabetes—sets a worldwide health issue. Experimental and clinical studies have progressively reinforced the pioneering epidemiological observation of an inverse relationship between consumption of polyphenol-rich nutraceutical agents and mortality from cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. With chemical identification of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) as the most abundant catechin of green tea, a number of cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the activities of this unique catechin have been proposed. Favorable effects of EGCG have been initially attributed to its scavenging effects on free radicals, inhibition of ROS-generating mechanisms and upregulation of antioxidant enzymes. Biologic actions of EGCG are concentration-dependent and under certain conditions EGCG may exert pro-oxidant activities, including generation of free radicals. The discovery of 67-kDa laminin as potential EGCG membrane target has broaden the likelihood that EGCG may function not only because of its highly reactive nature, but also via receptor-mediated activation of multiple signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation, angiogenesis and apoptosis. Finally, by acting as epigenetic modulator of DNA methylation and chromatin remodeling, EGCG may alter gene expression and modify miRNA activities. Despite unceasing research providing detailed insights, ECGC composite activities are still not completely understood. This review summarizes the most recent evidence on molecular mechanisms by which EGCG may activate signal transduction pathways, regulate transcription factors or promote epigenetic changes that may contribute to prevent pathologic processes involved in diabesity and its cardiovascular complications.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 792-808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin-Yong Zhao ◽  
Jinghui Song ◽  
Yibin Liu ◽  
Chun-Xiao Song ◽  
Chengqi Yi

Abstract Over 17 and 160 types of chemical modifications have been identified in DNA and RNA, respectively. The interest in understanding the various biological functions of DNA and RNA modifications has lead to the cutting-edged fields of epigenomics and epitranscriptomics. Developing chemical and biological tools to detect specific modifications in the genome or transcriptome has greatly facilitated their study. Here, we review the recent technological advances in this rapidly evolving field. We focus on high-throughput detection methods and biological findings for these modifications, and discuss questions to be addressed as well. We also summarize third-generation sequencing methods, which enable long-read and single-molecule sequencing of DNA and RNA modification.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document