1
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Duscher AA, Vroom MM, Foster JS. Impact of modeled microgravity stress on innate immunity in a beneficial animal-microbe symbiosis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2912. [PMID: 38316910 PMCID: PMC10844198 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53477-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The innate immune response is the first line of defense for all animals to not only detect invading microbes and toxins but also sense and interface with the environment. One such environment that can significantly affect innate immunity is spaceflight. In this study, we explored the impact of microgravity stress on key elements of the NFκB innate immune pathway. The symbiosis between the bobtail squid Euprymna scolopes and its beneficial symbiont Vibrio fischeri was used as a model system under a simulated microgravity environment. The expression of genes associated with the NFκB pathway was monitored over time as the symbiosis progressed. Results revealed that although the onset of the symbiosis was the major driver in the differential expression of NFκB signaling, the stress of simulated low-shear microgravity also caused a dysregulation of expression. Several genes were expressed at earlier time points suggesting that elements of the E. scolopes NFκB pathway are stress-inducible, whereas expression of other pathway components was delayed. The results provide new insights into the role of NFκB signaling in the squid-vibrio symbiosis, and how the stress of microgravity negatively impacts the host immune response. Together, these results provide a foundation to develop mitigation strategies to maintain host-microbe homeostasis during spaceflight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandrea A Duscher
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Space Life Science Lab, University of Florida, Merritt Island, FL, 32953, USA
- Chesapeake Bay Governor's School, Warsaw, VA, 22572, USA
| | - Madeline M Vroom
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Space Life Science Lab, University of Florida, Merritt Island, FL, 32953, USA
- Vaxxinity, Space Life Sciences Lab, Merritt Island, FL, 32953, USA
| | - Jamie S Foster
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, Space Life Science Lab, University of Florida, Merritt Island, FL, 32953, USA.
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2
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Ferl RJ, Zhou M, Strickland HF, Haveman NJ, Callaham JB, Bandla S, Ambriz D, Paul AL. Transcriptomic dynamics in the transition from ground to space are revealed by Virgin Galactic human-tended suborbital spaceflight. NPJ Microgravity 2023; 9:95. [PMID: 38123588 PMCID: PMC10733374 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-023-00340-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The Virgin Galactic Unity 22 mission conducted the first astronaut-manipulated suborbital spaceflight experiment. The experiment examined the operationalization of Kennedy Space Center Fixation Tubes (KFTs) as a generalizable approach to preserving biology at various phases of suborbital flight. The biology chosen for this experiment was Arabidopsis thaliana, ecotype Col-0, because of the plant history of spaceflight experimentation within KFTs and wealth of comparative data from orbital experiments. KFTs were deployed as a wearable device, a leg pouch attached to the astronaut, which proved to be operationally effective during the course of the flight. Data from the inflight samples indicated that the microgravity period of the flight elicited the strongest transcriptomic responses as measured by the number of genes showing differential expression. Genes related to reactive oxygen species and stress, as well as genes associated with orbital spaceflight, were highly represented among the suborbital gene expression profile. In addition, gene families largely unaffected in orbital spaceflight were diversely regulated in suborbital flight, including stress-responsive transcription factors. The human-tended suborbital experiment demonstrated the operational effectiveness of the KFTs in suborbital flight and suggests that rapid transcriptomic responses are a part of the temporal dynamics at the beginning of physiological adaptation to spaceflight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Ferl
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, 2550 Hull Road, Fifield Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
- UF Research, University of Florida, 1523 Union Rd, Grinter Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
| | - Mingqi Zhou
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, 2550 Hull Road, Fifield Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Hunter F Strickland
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, 2550 Hull Road, Fifield Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
- Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Florida, 2550 Hull Road, Fifield Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Natasha J Haveman
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, 2550 Hull Road, Fifield Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Jordan B Callaham
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, 2550 Hull Road, Fifield Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Sirisha Bandla
- Virgin Galactic, 1700 Flight Way, 3rd Floor, Tustin, CA, 92782, USA
| | - Daniel Ambriz
- Virgin Galactic, 1700 Flight Way, 3rd Floor, Tustin, CA, 92782, USA
| | - Anna-Lisa Paul
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, 2550 Hull Road, Fifield Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
- Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, 2033 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
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3
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Kuya N, Nishijima R, Kitomi Y, Kawakatsu T, Uga Y. Transcriptome profiles of rice roots under simulated microgravity conditions and following gravistimulation. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1193042. [PMID: 37360733 PMCID: PMC10288856 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1193042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Root system architecture affects the efficient uptake of water and nutrients in plants. The root growth angle, which is a critical component in determining root system architecture, is affected by root gravitropism; however, the mechanism of root gravitropism in rice remains largely unknown. In this study, we conducted a time-course transcriptome analysis of rice roots under conditions of simulated microgravity using a three-dimensional clinostat and following gravistimulation to detect candidate genes associated with the gravitropic response. We found that HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN (HSP) genes, which are involved in the regulation of auxin transport, were preferentially up-regulated during simulated microgravity conditions and rapidly down-regulated by gravistimulation. We also found that the transcription factor HEAT STRESS TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR A2s (HSFA2s) and HSFB2s, showed the similar expression patterns with the HSPs. A co-expression network analysis and an in silico motif search within the upstream regions of the co-expressed genes revealed possible transcriptional control of HSPs by HSFs. Because HSFA2s are transcriptional activators, whereas HSFB2s are transcriptional repressors, the results suggest that the gene regulatory networks governed by HSFs modulate the gravitropic response through transcriptional control of HSPs in rice roots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriyuki Kuya
- Institute of Crop Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Ryo Nishijima
- Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yuka Kitomi
- Institute of Crop Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Taiji Kawakatsu
- Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yusaku Uga
- Institute of Crop Science, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Japan
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4
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Barker R, Kruse CPS, Johnson C, Saravia-Butler A, Fogle H, Chang HS, Trane RM, Kinscherf N, Villacampa A, Manzano A, Herranz R, Davin LB, Lewis NG, Perera I, Wolverton C, Gupta P, Jaiswal P, Reinsch SS, Wyatt S, Gilroy S. Meta-analysis of the space flight and microgravity response of the Arabidopsis plant transcriptome. NPJ Microgravity 2023; 9:21. [PMID: 36941263 PMCID: PMC10027818 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-023-00247-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Spaceflight presents a multifaceted environment for plants, combining the effects on growth of many stressors and factors including altered gravity, the influence of experiment hardware, and increased radiation exposure. To help understand the plant response to this complex suite of factors this study compared transcriptomic analysis of 15 Arabidopsis thaliana spaceflight experiments deposited in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's GeneLab data repository. These data were reanalyzed for genes showing significant differential expression in spaceflight versus ground controls using a single common computational pipeline for either the microarray or the RNA-seq datasets. Such a standardized approach to analysis should greatly increase the robustness of comparisons made between datasets. This analysis was coupled with extensive cross-referencing to a curated matrix of metadata associated with these experiments. Our study reveals that factors such as analysis type (i.e., microarray versus RNA-seq) or environmental and hardware conditions have important confounding effects on comparisons seeking to define plant reactions to spaceflight. The metadata matrix allows selection of studies with high similarity scores, i.e., that share multiple elements of experimental design, such as plant age or flight hardware. Comparisons between these studies then helps reduce the complexity in drawing conclusions arising from comparisons made between experiments with very different designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Barker
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Colin P S Kruse
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Bioscience Division, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
| | | | - Amanda Saravia-Butler
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA
- Logyx, LLC, Mountain View, CA, 94043, USA
| | - Homer Fogle
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA
- Bionetics, Yorktown, VA, 23693, USA
| | - Hyun-Seok Chang
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Ralph Møller Trane
- Department of Statistics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Noah Kinscherf
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Alicia Villacampa
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Aránzazu Manzano
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Raúl Herranz
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Laurence B Davin
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-741, USA
| | - Norman G Lewis
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164-741, USA
| | - Imara Perera
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Chris Wolverton
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH, 43015, USA
| | - Parul Gupta
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Pankaj Jaiswal
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Sigrid S Reinsch
- Space Biosciences Division, NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, 94035, USA
| | - Sarah Wyatt
- Department of Environmental and Plant Biology, Ohio University, Athens, OH, 45701, USA
| | - Simon Gilroy
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
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5
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Su SH, Levine HG, Masson PH. Brachypodium distachyon Seedlings Display Accession-Specific Morphological and Transcriptomic Responses to the Microgravity Environment of the International Space Station. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:life13030626. [PMID: 36983782 PMCID: PMC10058394 DOI: 10.3390/life13030626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Plants have been recognized as key components of bioregenerative life support systems for space exploration, and many experiments have been carried out to evaluate their adaptability to spaceflight. Unfortunately, few of these experiments have involved monocot plants, which constitute most of the crops used on Earth as sources of food, feed, and fiber. To better understand the ability of monocot plants to adapt to spaceflight, we germinated and grew Brachypodium distachyon seedlings of the Bd21, Bd21-3, and Gaz8 accessions in a customized growth unit on the International Space Station, along with 1-g ground controls. At the end of a 4-day growth period, seedling organ’s growth and morphologies were quantified, and root and shoot transcriptomic profiles were investigated using RNA-seq. The roots of all three accessions grew more slowly and displayed longer root hairs under microgravity conditions relative to ground control. On the other hand, the shoots of Bd21-3 and Gaz-8 grew at similar rates between conditions, whereas those of Bd21 grew more slowly under microgravity. The three Brachypodium accessions displayed dramatically different transcriptomic responses to microgravity relative to ground controls, with the largest numbers of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) found in Gaz8 (4527), followed by Bd21 (1353) and Bd21-3 (570). Only 47 and six DEGs were shared between accessions for shoots and roots, respectively, including DEGs encoding wall-associated proteins and photosynthesis-related DEGs. Furthermore, DEGs associated with the “Oxidative Stress Response” GO group were up-regulated in the shoots and down-regulated in the roots of Bd21 and Gaz8, indicating that Brachypodium roots and shoots deploy distinct biological strategies to adapt to the microgravity environment. A comparative analysis of the Brachypodium oxidative-stress response DEGs with the Arabidopsis ROS wheel suggests a connection between retrograde signaling, light response, and decreased expression of photosynthesis-related genes in microgravity-exposed shoots. In Gaz8, DEGs were also found to preferentially associate with the “Plant Hormonal Signaling” and “MAP Kinase Signaling” KEGG pathways. Overall, these data indicate that Brachypodium distachyon seedlings exposed to the microgravity environment of ISS display accession- and organ-specific responses that involve oxidative stress response, wall remodeling, photosynthesis inhibition, expression regulation, ribosome biogenesis, and post-translational modifications. The general characteristics of these responses are similar to those displayed by microgravity-exposed Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. However, organ- and accession-specific components of the response dramatically differ both within and between species. These results suggest a need to directly evaluate candidate-crop responses to microgravity to better understand their specific adaptability to this novel environment and develop cultivation strategies allowing them to strive during spaceflight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shih-Heng Su
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 425 G Henry Mall, Madison, WI 53706, USA
- Correspondence: (S.-H.S.); (P.H.M.)
| | - Howard G. Levine
- NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, FL 32899, USA
| | - Patrick H. Masson
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 425 G Henry Mall, Madison, WI 53706, USA
- Correspondence: (S.-H.S.); (P.H.M.)
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6
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Hosamani R, Swamy BK, Dsouza A, Sathasivam M. Plant responses to hypergravity: a comprehensive review. PLANTA 2022; 257:17. [PMID: 36534189 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-022-04051-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Hypergravity is an effective novel stimulus to elucidate plant gravitational and mechanobiological behaviour. Here, we review the current understanding of phenotypic, physio-biochemical, and molecular plant responses to simulated hypergravity. Plants readily respond to altered gravity conditions, such as microgravity or hypergravity. Hypergravity-a gravitational force higher than that on the Earth's surface (> 1g)-can be simulated using centrifuges. Exposing seeds, seedlings, or plant cell cultures to hypergravity elicits characteristic morphological, physio-biochemical, and molecular changes. While several studies have provided insights into plant responses and underlying mechanisms, much is still elusive, including the interplay of hypergravity with gravitropism. Moreover, hypergravity is of great significance for mechano- and space/gravitational biologists to elucidate fundamental plant behaviour. In this review, we provide an overview of the phenotypic, physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of plants to hypergravity. We then discuss the involvement of hypergravity in plant gravitropism-the directional growth along the gravity vector. Finally, we highlight future research directions to expand our understanding of hypergravity in plant biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravikumar Hosamani
- Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (IABT), University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, 580005, India.
| | - Basavalingayya K Swamy
- Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (IABT), University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, 580005, India
| | - Ajwal Dsouza
- Controlled Environment Systems Research Facility, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Malarvizhi Sathasivam
- Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (IABT), University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, 580005, India
- College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA
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7
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Kordyum EL, Artemenko OA, Hasenstein KH. Lipid Rafts and Plant Gravisensitivity. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:1809. [PMID: 36362962 PMCID: PMC9695138 DOI: 10.3390/life12111809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 07/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The necessity to include plants as a component of a Bioregenerative Life Support System leads to investigations to optimize plant growth facilities as well as a better understanding of the plant cell membrane and its numerous activities in the signaling, transport, and sensing of gravity, drought, and other stressors. The cell membrane participates in numerous processes, including endo- and exocytosis and cell division, and is involved in the response to external stimuli. Variable but stabilized microdomains form in membranes that include specific lipids and proteins that became known as (detergent-resistant) membrane microdomains, or lipid rafts with various subclassifications. The composition, especially the sterol-dependent recruitment of specific proteins affects endo- and exo-membrane domains as well as plasmodesmata. The enhanced saturated fatty acid content in lipid rafts after clinorotation suggests increased rigidity and reduced membrane permeability as a primary response to abiotic and mechanical stress. These results can also be obtained with lipid-sensitive stains. The linkage of the CM to the cytoskeleton via rafts is part of the complex interactions between lipid microdomains, mechanosensitive ion channels, and the organization of the cytoskeleton. These intricately linked structures and functions provide multiple future research directions to elucidate the role of lipid rafts in physiological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth L. Kordyum
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Institute of Botany NASU, Tereschenkivska Str. 2, 01601 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Olga A. Artemenko
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Institute of Botany NASU, Tereschenkivska Str. 2, 01601 Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Karl H. Hasenstein
- Biology Department, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504-3602, USA
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8
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Manzano A, Carnero-Diaz E, Herranz R, Medina FJ. Recent transcriptomic studies to elucidate the plant adaptive response to spaceflight and to simulated space environments. iScience 2022; 25:104687. [PMID: 35856037 PMCID: PMC9287483 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Discovering the adaptation mechanisms of plants to the space environment is essential for supporting human space exploration. Transcriptomic analyses allow the identification of adaptation response pathways by detecting changes in gene expression at the global genome level caused by the main factors of the space environment, namely altered gravity and cosmic radiation. This article reviews transcriptomic studies carried out from plants grown in spaceflights and in different ground-based microgravity simulators. Despite differences in plant growth conditions, these studies have shown that cell wall remodeling, oxidative stress, defense response, and photosynthesis are common altered processes in plants grown under spaceflight conditions. European scientists have significantly contributed to the acquisition of this knowledge, e.g., by showing the role of red light in the adaptation response of plants (EMCS experiments) and the mechanisms of cellular response and adaptation mostly affecting cell cycle regulation, using cell cultures in microgravity simulators. Cell wall, photosynthesis, and stress response are key in plant adaptation to space DNA methylation and alternative splicing are among the involved molecular mechanisms Light is an essential factor for plant development, even more in the space environment EMCS and simulation cell culture experiments are the main European contributions
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Affiliation(s)
- Aránzazu Manzano
- PCNPμG Lab (Plant Cell Nucleolus, Proliferation and Microgravity), Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas - CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Eugénie Carnero-Diaz
- Institut Systématique, Evolution, Biodiversité (ISYEB), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, EPHE, UA, Paris, 75005, France
| | - Raúl Herranz
- PCNPμG Lab (Plant Cell Nucleolus, Proliferation and Microgravity), Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas - CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - F Javier Medina
- PCNPμG Lab (Plant Cell Nucleolus, Proliferation and Microgravity), Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas - CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Uncovering Transcriptional Responses to Fractional Gravity in Arabidopsis Roots. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11101010. [PMID: 34685382 PMCID: PMC8539686 DOI: 10.3390/life11101010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Although many reports characterize the transcriptional response of Arabidopsis seedlings to microgravity, few investigate the effect of partial or fractional gravity on gene expression. Understanding plant responses to fractional gravity is relevant for plant growth on lunar and Martian surfaces. The plant signaling flight experiment utilized the European Modular Cultivation System (EMCS) onboard the International Space Station (ISS). The EMCS consisted of two rotors within a controlled chamber allowing for two experimental conditions, microgravity (stationary rotor) and simulated gravity in space. Seedlings were grown for 5 days under continuous light in seed cassettes. The arrangement of the seed cassettes within each experimental container results in a gradient of fractional g (in the spinning rotor). To investigate whether gene expression patterns are sensitive to fractional g, we carried out transcriptional profiling of root samples exposed to microgravity or partial g (ranging from 0.53 to 0.88 g). Data were analyzed using DESeq2 with fractional g as a continuous variable in the design model in order to query gene expression across the gravity continuum. We identified a subset of genes whose expression correlates with changes in fractional g. Interestingly, the most responsive genes include those encoding transcription factors, defense, and cell wall-related proteins and heat shock proteins.
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Paul AL, Haveman N, Califar B, Ferl RJ. Epigenomic Regulators Elongator Complex Subunit 2 and Methyltransferase 1 Differentially Condition the Spaceflight Response in Arabidopsis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:691790. [PMID: 34589093 PMCID: PMC8475764 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.691790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Background: Plants subjected to the novel environment of spaceflight show transcriptomic changes that resemble aspects of several terrestrial abiotic stress responses. Under investigation here is whether epigenetic modulations, similar to those that occur in terrestrial stress responses, have a functional role in spaceflight physiological adaptation. The Advanced Plant Experiment-04 - Epigenetic Expression experiment examined the role of cytosine methylation in spaceflight adaptation. The experiment was conducted onboard the International Space Station, and evaluated the spaceflight-altered, genome-wide methylation profiles of two methylation-regulating gene mutants [methyltransferase 1 (met1-7) and elongator complex subunit 2 (elp2-5)] along with a wild-type Col-0 control. Results: The elp2-5 plants suffered in their physiological adaptation to spaceflight in that their roots failed to extend away from the seed and the overall development of the plants was greatly impaired in space. The met1-7 plants suffered less, with their morphology affected by spaceflight in a manner similar to that of the Col-0 controls. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in spaceflight were dramatically different in the elp2-5 and met1-7 plants compared to Col-0, indicating that the disruptions in these mutants resulted in a reprogramming of their spaceflight responses, especially in elp2-5. Many of the genes comprising the spaceflight transcriptome of each genotype were differentially methylated in spaceflight. In Col-0 the majority of the DEGs were representative of the now familiar spaceflight response, which includes genes associated with cell wall remodeling, pathogen responses and ROS signaling. However, the spaceflight transcriptomes of met1-7 and elp2-5 each presented patterns of DEGs that are almost completely different than Col-0, and to each other. Further, the DEGs of the mutant genotypes suggest a more severe spaceflight stress response in the mutants, particularly in elp2-5. Conclusion: Arabidopsis physiological adaptation to spaceflight results in differential DNA methylation in an organ-specific manner. Disruption of Met1 methyltransferase function does not dramatically affect spaceflight growth or morphology, yet met1-7 reprograms the spaceflight transcriptomic response in a unique manner. Disruption of elp2-5 results in poor development in spaceflight grown plants, together with a diminished, dramatically reprogrammed transcriptomic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Lisa Paul
- Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Natasha Haveman
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Brandon Califar
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Robert J. Ferl
- Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Office of Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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11
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Evaluating the effect of spaceflight on the host-pathogen interaction between human intestinal epithelial cells and Salmonella Typhimurium. NPJ Microgravity 2021; 7:9. [PMID: 33750813 PMCID: PMC7943786 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-021-00136-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Spaceflight uniquely alters the physiology of both human cells and microbial pathogens, stimulating cellular and molecular changes directly relevant to infectious disease. However, the influence of this environment on host-pathogen interactions remains poorly understood. Here we report our results from the STL-IMMUNE study flown aboard Space Shuttle mission STS-131, which investigated multi-omic responses (transcriptomic, proteomic) of human intestinal epithelial cells to infection with Salmonella Typhimurium when both host and pathogen were simultaneously exposed to spaceflight. To our knowledge, this was the first in-flight infection and dual RNA-seq analysis using human cells.
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12
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Gregg RK. Implications of microgravity-induced cell signaling alterations upon cancer cell growth, invasiveness, metastatic potential, and control by host immunity. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 361:107-164. [PMID: 34074492 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2021.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The human endeavor to venture beyond the orbit of Earth is challenged by both continuous space radiation and microgravity-induced immune dysfunction. If cancers were to develop in astronauts, it is unclear how these abnormal cells would grow and progress in the microgravity environment. It is unknown if the astronaut's immune response would be able to control or eradicate cancer. A better molecular understanding of how the mechanical force of gravity affects the cell as well as the aggressiveness of cancers and the functionality of host immunity is needed. This review will summarize findings related to microgravity-mediated alterations in the cell cytoskeleton, cell-cell, and cell-extracellular matrix interactions including cadherins, immunoglobulin superfamily of adhesion molecules, selectins, and integrins and related cell signaling. The effects of spaceflight and simulated microgravity on cell viability, cancer cell growth, invasiveness, angiogenesis, metastasis as well as immune cell functions and the subsequent signaling pathways involved will be discussed. Microgravity-induced alterations in function and signaling of the major anti-cancer immune populations will be examined including natural killer cells, dendritic cells, CD4+ T cells, and CD8+ T cells. Further studies regarding the molecular events impacted by microgravity in both cancer and immune cells will greatly increase the development of therapies to restrict tumor growth and enhance cancer-specific responses for both astronauts and patients on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randal K Gregg
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine at Lincoln Memorial University-Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United States.
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13
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Sathasivam M, Hosamani R, K Swamy B, Kumaran G S. Plant responses to real and simulated microgravity. LIFE SCIENCES IN SPACE RESEARCH 2021; 28:74-86. [PMID: 33612182 DOI: 10.1016/j.lssr.2020.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Plant biology experiments in real and simulated microgravity have significantly contributed to our understanding of physiology and behavior of plants. How do plants perceive microgravity? How that perception translates into stimulus? And in turn plant's response and adaptation to microgravity through physiological, cellular, and molecular changes have been reasonably well documented in the literature. Knowledge gained through these plant biology experiments in microgravity helped to successfully cultivate crops in space. For instance, salad crop such as red romaine lettuce grown on the International Space Station (ISS) is allowed to incorporate into the crew's supplementary diet. However, the use of plants as a sustainable bio-regenerative life support system (BLSS) to produce fresh food and O2, reduce CO2 level, recycle metabolic waste, and efficient water management for long-duration space exploration missions requires critical gap filling research. Hence, it is inevitable to reflect and review plant biology microgravity research findings time and again with a new set of data available in the literature. With that in focus, the current article discusses phenotypic, physiological, biochemical, cell cycle, cell wall changes and molecular responses of plants to microgravity both in real and simulated conditions with the latest literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malarvizhi Sathasivam
- Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (IABT), University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka, 580005, India
| | - Ravikumar Hosamani
- Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (IABT), University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka, 580005, India.
| | - Basavalingayya K Swamy
- Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (IABT), University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, Karnataka, 580005, India
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Zhang Z, Pei X, Zhang R, Lu Y, Zheng J, Zheng Y. Molecular characterization and expression analysis of small heat shock protein 17.3 gene from Sorbus pohuashanensis (Hance) Hedl. in response to abiotic stress. Mol Biol Rep 2020; 47:9325-9335. [PMID: 33242181 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-06020-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Sorbus pohuashanensis, a native tree species in China that is distributed at high altitudes. However, the problem of adaptability when introducing S. pohuashanensis to low altitude areas has not been solved. sHSPs can respond and play an essential role when exposing to abiotic stresses for plants. In this study, we aimed to investigate the expression patterns underlying the abiotic stress response of the small heat shock protein 17.3 gene from S. pohuashanensis (SpHSP17.3) at growing low altitude. 1 to 4 years old seedlings of S. pohuashanensis were used as materials for the gene cloning, the tissue-specific expression and the expression analysis underlying the response to abiotic stress using the transgentic methods and qPCR. We identified the open reading frame (ORF) sequence of SpHSP17.3 of 471 bp, which encodes a 17.3 kD protein of 156 amino acids that is located in cytoplasmic. We found that SpHSP17.3 had the highest expression in the stem, followed sequentially by fruit, root, and flower. The expression level of SpHSP17.3 in the leaves was significantly induced by the high temperature (42 °C), NaCl salt and drought stress of S. pohuashanensis. Notably, the same SpHSP17.3 expression trend was detected in the SpHSP17.3-overexpressing homozygous transgenic Arabidopsis underlying the high temperature, NaCl salt and drought stress, and the SpHSP17.3-overexpressing homozygous transgenic Arabidopsis also showed higher seed germination rates under the NaCl salt stress conditions. Our results suggested that SpHSP17.3 is involved in the response to high temperature, Nacl salt, and drought stress which would play a certain effect in the adaptability of introduction and domestication of S. pohuashanensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze Zhang
- School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Xin Pei
- School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Ruili Zhang
- School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, 102206, China
| | - Yizeng Lu
- Shandong Provincial Center of Forest Tree Germplasm Resources, Jinan, 250102, Shandong Province, China
| | - Jian Zheng
- School of Landscape Architecture, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, 102206, China.
| | - Yongqi Zheng
- Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 100091, China
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15
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Abstract
Abstract
Because of difficulties during the fixation in space and the often reported enhanced expression of stress-related genes in space experiments, we investigated the possible effect of fixation on gene expression. Comparing two fixatives (RNAlater® and 70% ethanol), two-day-old Brassica rapa seedlings were either fixed by gradual exposure or immediate and complete immersion in fixative for two days. Neither fixative yielded high amounts of rRNA; RNAlater® resulted in higher RNA yield in shoot tissue but qPCR data showed higher yield in ethanol-fixed material. qPCR analyses showed strongly enhanced transcripts of stress-related genes, especially in RNAlater®-fixed material. The data suggest that fixation artefacts may be partially responsible for effects commonly attributed to space syndromes.
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Karahara I, Suto T, Yamaguchi T, Yashiro U, Tamaoki D, Okamoto E, Yano S, Tanigaki F, Shimazu T, Kasahara H, Kasahara H, Yamada M, Hoson T, Soga K, Kamisaka S. Vegetative and reproductive growth of Arabidopsis under microgravity conditions in space. JOURNAL OF PLANT RESEARCH 2020; 133:571-585. [PMID: 32424466 DOI: 10.1007/s10265-020-01200-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We have performed a seed-to-seed experiment in the cell biology experiment facility (CBEF) installed in the Kibo (Japanese Experiment Module) in the International Space Station. The CBEF has a 1 × g compartment on a centrifuge and a microgravity compartment, to investigate the effects of microgravity on the vegetative and reproductive growth of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. Seeds germinated irrespective of gravitational conditions after water supply on board. Thereafter, seedlings developed rosette leaves. The time of bolting was slightly earlier under microgravity than under space 1 × g. Microgravity enhanced the growth rate of peduncles as compared with space 1 × g or ground control. Plants developed flowers, siliques and seeds, completing their entire life cycle during 62-days cultivation. Although the flowering time was not significantly affected under microgravity, the number of flowers in a bolted plant significantly increased under microgravity as compared with space 1 × g or ground control. Microscopic analysis of reproductive organs revealed that the longitudinal length of anthers was significantly shorter under microgravity when compared with space 1 × g, while the length of pistils and filaments was not influenced by the gravitational conditions. Seed mass significantly increased under microgravity when compared with space 1 × g. In addition, seeds produced in space were found not to germinate on the ground. These results indicate that microgravity significantly influenced the reproductive development of Arabidopsis plants even though Earth's gravitational environment is not absolutely necessary for them to complete their life cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ichirou Karahara
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Toyama, Gofuku, Toyama, 930-8555, Japan.
| | - Takamichi Suto
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Toyama, Gofuku, Toyama, 930-8555, Japan
| | - Takashi Yamaguchi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Toyama, Gofuku, Toyama, 930-8555, Japan
| | - Umi Yashiro
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Toyama, Gofuku, Toyama, 930-8555, Japan
| | - Daisuke Tamaoki
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Toyama, Gofuku, Toyama, 930-8555, Japan
| | - Emi Okamoto
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Toyama, Gofuku, Toyama, 930-8555, Japan
| | - Sachiko Yano
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | - Haruo Kasahara
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, Tokyo, Japan
- Japan Manned Space System Ltd, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Mitsuhiro Yamada
- School of Biological Sciences, Tokai University, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Takayuki Hoson
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kouichi Soga
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Seiichiro Kamisaka
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Toyama, Gofuku, Toyama, 930-8555, Japan
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Luna A, Meisel J, Hsu K, Russi S, Fernandez D. Protein structural changes on a CubeSat under rocket acceleration profile. NPJ Microgravity 2020; 6:12. [PMID: 32352028 PMCID: PMC7181844 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-020-0102-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Catalyzing life-sustaining reactions, proteins are composed by 20 different amino acids that fold into a compact yet flexible three-dimensional architecture, which dictates what their function(s) might be. Determining the spatial arrangement of the atoms, the protein's 3D structure, enables key advances in fundamental and applied research. Protein crystallization is a powerful technique to achieve this. Unlike Earth's crystallization experiments, biomolecular crystallization in space in the absence of gravitational force is actively sought to improve crystal growth techniques. However, the effects of changing gravitational vectors on a protein solution reaching supersaturation remain largely unknown. Here, we have developed a low-cost crystallization cell within a CubeSat payload module to exploit the unique experimental conditions set aboard a sounding rocket. We designed a biaxial gimbal to house the crystallization experiments and take measurements on the protein solution in-flight with a spectrophotometry system. After flight, we used X-ray diffraction analysis to determine that flown protein has a structural rearrangement marked by loss of the protein's water and sodium in a manner that differs from crystals grown on the ground. We finally show that our gimbal payload module design is a portable experimental setup to take laboratory research investigations into exploratory space flights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Autumn Luna
- Mechanical Engineering Department, School of Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
| | - Jacob Meisel
- Electrical Engineering Department, School of Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
| | - Kaitlin Hsu
- Biology Department, School of Humanities and Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
| | - Silvia Russi
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL), SLAC National Accelerator Laboratories, Menlo Park, CA 94025 USA
| | - Daniel Fernandez
- Stanford ChEM-H Macromolecular Structure Knowledge Center (MSKC), Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
- Stanford ChEM-H Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 USA
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18
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Barker R, Lombardino J, Rasmussen K, Gilroy S. Test of Arabidopsis Space Transcriptome: A Discovery Environment to Explore Multiple Plant Biology Spaceflight Experiments. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:147. [PMID: 32265943 PMCID: PMC7076552 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in the routine access to space along with increasing opportunities to perform plant growth experiments on board the International Space Station have led to an ever-increasing body of transcriptomic, proteomic, and epigenomic data from plants experiencing spaceflight. These datasets hold great promise to help understand how plant biology reacts to this unique environment. However, analyses that mine across such expanses of data are often complex to implement, being impeded by the sheer number of potential comparisons that are possible. Complexities in how the output of these multiple parallel analyses can be presented to the researcher in an accessible and intuitive form provides further barriers to such research. Recent developments in computational systems biology have led to rapid advances in interactive data visualization environments designed to perform just such tasks. However, to date none of these tools have been tailored to the analysis of the broad-ranging plant biology spaceflight data. We have therefore developed the Test Of Arabidopsis Space Transcriptome (TOAST) database (https://astrobiology.botany.wisc.edu/astrobotany-toast) to address this gap in our capabilities. TOAST is a relational database that uses the Qlik database management software to link plant biology, spaceflight-related omics datasets, and their associated metadata. This environment helps visualize relationships across multiple levels of experiments in an easy to use gene-centric platform. TOAST draws on data from The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) GeneLab and other data repositories and also connects results to a suite of web-based analytical tools to facilitate further investigation of responses to spaceflight and related stresses. The TOAST graphical user interface allows for quick comparisons between plant spaceflight experiments using real-time, gene-specific queries, or by using functional gene ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway, or other filtering systems to explore genetic networks of interest. Testing of the database shows that TOAST confirms patterns of gene expression already highlighted in the literature, such as revealing the modulation of oxidative stress-related responses across multiple plant spaceflight experiments. However, this data exploration environment can also drive new insights into patterns of spaceflight responsive gene expression. For example, TOAST analyses highlight changes to mitochondrial function as likely shared responses in many plant spaceflight experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Barker
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Jonathan Lombardino
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Kai Rasmussen
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Simon Gilroy
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
- *Correspondence: Simon Gilroy,
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Califar B, Sng NJ, Zupanska A, Paul AL, Ferl RJ. Root Skewing-Associated Genes Impact the Spaceflight Response of Arabidopsis thaliana. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:239. [PMID: 32194611 PMCID: PMC7064724 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The observation that plant roots skew in microgravity recently refuted the long-held conviction that skewing was a gravity-dependent phenomenon. Further, spaceflight root skewing suggests that specific root morphologies and cell wall remodeling systems may be important aspects of spaceflight physiological adaptation. However, connections between skewing, cell wall modification and spaceflight physiology are currently based on inferences rather than direct tests. Therefore, the Advanced Plant Experiments-03-2 (APEX-03-2) spaceflight study was designed to elucidate the contribution of two skewing- and cell wall-associated genes in Arabidopsis to root behavior and gene expression patterns in spaceflight, to assess whether interruptions of different skewing pathways affect the overall spaceflight-associated process. SPIRAL1 is a skewing-related protein implicated in directional cell expansion, and functions by regulating cortical microtubule dynamics. SKU5 is skewing-related glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein of the plasma membrane and cell wall implicated in stress response signaling. These two genes function in different cellular pathways that affect skewing on the Earth, and enable a test of the relevance of skewing pathways to spaceflight physiological adaptation. In this study, both sku5 and spr1 mutants showed different skewing behavior and markedly different patterns of gene expression in the spaceflight environment. The spr1 mutant showed fewer differentially expressed genes than its Col-0 wild-type, whereas sku5 showed considerably more than its WS wild-type. Developmental age played a substantial role in spaceflight acclimation in all genotypes, but particularly in sku5 plants, where spaceflight 4d seedlings had almost 10-times as many highly differentially expressed genes as the 8d seedlings. These differences demonstrated that the two skewing pathways represented by SKU5 and SPR1 have unique and opposite contributions to physiological adaptation to spaceflight. The spr1 response is less intense than wild type, suggesting that the loss of SPR1 positively impacts spaceflight adaptation. Conversely, the intensity of the sku5 responses suggests that the loss of SKU5 initiates a much more complex, deeper and more stress related response to spaceflight. This suggests that proper SKU5 function is important to spaceflight adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon Califar
- Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- The Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Program in Genetics and Genomics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Natasha J. Sng
- Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Agata Zupanska
- Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Anna-Lisa Paul
- Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- The Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Program in Genetics and Genomics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Program in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology and Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- *Correspondence: Anna-Lisa Paul,
| | - Robert J. Ferl
- Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- The Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Program in Genetics and Genomics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Program in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
- Robert J. Ferl,
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20
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Kamal KY, van Loon JJ, Medina FJ, Herranz R. Differential transcriptional profile through cell cycle progression in Arabidopsis cultures under simulated microgravity. Genomics 2019; 111:1956-1965. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2019.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Revised: 11/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Zhou M, Sng NJ, LeFrois CE, Paul AL, Ferl RJ. Epigenomics in an extraterrestrial environment: organ-specific alteration of DNA methylation and gene expression elicited by spaceflight in Arabidopsis thaliana. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:205. [PMID: 30866818 PMCID: PMC6416986 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-5554-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plants adapted to diverse environments on Earth throughout their evolutionary history, and developed mechanisms to thrive in a variety of terrestrial habitats. When plants are grown in the novel environment of spaceflight aboard the International Space Station (ISS), an environment completely outside their evolutionary history, they respond with unique alterations to their gene expression profile. Identifying the genes important for physiological adaptation to spaceflight and dissecting the biological processes and pathways engaged by plants during spaceflight has helped reveal spaceflight adaptation, and has furthered understanding of terrestrial growth processes. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms responsible for these changes in gene expression patterns are just beginning to be explored. Epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation at position five in cytosine, has been shown to play a role in the physiological adaptation to adverse terrestrial environments, and may play a role in spaceflight as well. RESULTS Whole Genome Bisulfite Sequencing of DNA of Arabidopsis grown on the ISS from seed revealed organ-specific patterns of differential methylation compared to ground controls. The overall levels of methylation in CG, CHG, and CHH contexts were similar between flight and ground DNA, however, thousands of specifically differentially methylated cytosines were discovered, and there were clear organ-specific differences in methylation patterns. Spaceflight leaves had higher methylation levels in CHG and CHH contexts within protein-coding genes in spaceflight; about a fifth of the leaf genes were also differentially regulated in spaceflight, almost half of which were associated with reactive oxygen signaling. CONCLUSIONS The physiological adaptation of plants to spaceflight is likely nuanced by epigenomic modification. This is the first examination of differential genomic methylation from plants grown completely in the spaceflight environment of the ISS in plant growth hardware developed for informing exploration life support strategies. Yet even in this optimized plant habitat, plants respond as if stressed. These data suggest that gene expression associated with physiological adaptation to spaceflight is regulated in part by methylation strategies similar to those engaged with familiar terrestrial stress responses. The differential methylation maps generated here provide a useful reference for elucidating the layers of regulation of spaceflight responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingqi Zhou
- 0000 0004 1936 8091grid.15276.37Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA ,0000 0004 1936 8091grid.15276.37Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Natasha J. Sng
- 0000 0004 1936 8091grid.15276.37Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA ,0000 0004 1936 8091grid.15276.37Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Collin E. LeFrois
- 0000 0004 1936 8091grid.15276.37Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Anna-Lisa Paul
- 0000 0004 1936 8091grid.15276.37Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA ,0000 0004 1936 8091grid.15276.37Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Robert J. Ferl
- 0000 0004 1936 8091grid.15276.37Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA ,0000 0004 1936 8091grid.15276.37Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA ,0000 0004 1936 8091grid.15276.37Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
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22
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Sng NJ, Kolaczkowski B, Ferl RJ, Paul AL. A member of the CONSTANS-Like protein family is a putative regulator of reactive oxygen species homeostasis and spaceflight physiological adaptation. AOB PLANTS 2019; 11:ply075. [PMID: 30705745 PMCID: PMC6348315 DOI: 10.1093/aobpla/ply075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
A feature of the physiological adaptation to spaceflight in Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) is the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-associated gene expression. The patterns of ROS-associated gene expression vary among Arabidopsis ecotypes, and the role of ROS signalling in spaceflight acclimation is unknown. What could differences in ROS gene regulation between ecotypes on orbit reveal about physiological adaptation to novel environments? Analyses of ecotype-dependent responses to spaceflight resulted in the elucidation of a previously uncharacterized gene (OMG1) as being ROS-associated. The OMG1 5' flanking region is an active promoter in cells where ROS activity is commonly observed, such as in pollen tubes, root hairs, and in other tissues upon wounding. qRT-PCR analyses revealed that upon wounding on Earth, OMG1 is an apparent transcriptional regulator of MYB77 and GRX480, which are associated with the ROS pathway. Fluorescence-based ROS assays show that OMG1 affects ROS production. Phylogenetic analysis of OMG1 and closely related homologs suggests that OMG1 is a distant, unrecognized member of the CONSTANS-Like protein family, a member that arose via gene duplication early in the angiosperm lineage and subsequently lost its first DNA-binding B-box1 domain. These data illustrate that members of the rapidly evolving COL protein family play a role in regulating ROS pathway functions, and their differential regulation on orbit suggests a role for ROS signalling in spaceflight physiological adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha J Sng
- Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Bryan Kolaczkowski
- Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Robert J Ferl
- Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Horticultural Science Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research (ICBR), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Anna-Lisa Paul
- Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Horticultural Science Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Corresponding author’s e-mail address:
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HSFA2 Functions in the Physiological Adaptation of Undifferentiated Plant Cells to Spaceflight. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20020390. [PMID: 30658467 PMCID: PMC6359015 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20020390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 12/29/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Heat Shock Factor A2 (HsfA2) is part of the Heat Shock Factor (HSF) network, and plays an essential role beyond heat shock in environmental stress responses and cellular homeostatic control. Arabidopsis thaliana cell cultures derived from wild type (WT) ecotype Col-0 and a knockout line deficient in the gene encoding HSFA2 (HSFA2 KO) were grown aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to ascertain whether the HSF network functions in the adaptation to the novel environment of spaceflight. Microarray gene expression data were analyzed using a two-part comparative approach. First, genes differentially expressed between the two environments (spaceflight to ground) were identified within the same genotype, which represented physiological adaptation to spaceflight. Second, gene expression profiles were compared between the two genotypes (HSFA2 KO to WT) within the same environment, which defined genes uniquely required by each genotype on the ground and in spaceflight-adapted states. Results showed that the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and unfolded protein response (UPR) define the HSFA2 KO cells' physiological state irrespective of the environment, and likely resulted from a deficiency in the chaperone-mediated protein folding machinery in the mutant. Results further suggested that additional to its universal stress response role, HsfA2 also has specific roles in the physiological adaptation to spaceflight through cell wall remodeling, signal perception and transduction, and starch biosynthesis. Disabling HsfA2 altered the physiological state of the cells, and impacted the mechanisms induced to adapt to spaceflight, and identified HsfA2-dependent genes that are important to the adaption of wild type cells to spaceflight. Collectively these data indicate a non-thermal role for the HSF network in spaceflight adaptation.
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Choi WG, Barker RJ, Kim SH, Swanson SJ, Gilroy S. Variation in the transcriptome of different ecotypes of Arabidopsis thaliana reveals signatures of oxidative stress in plant responses to spaceflight. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2019; 106:123-136. [PMID: 30644539 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE OF THE STUDY Spaceflight provides a unique environment in which to dissect plant stress response behaviors and to reveal potentially novel pathways triggered in space. We therefore analyzed the transcriptomes of Arabidopsis thaliana plants grown on board the International Space Station to find the molecular fingerprints of these space-related response networks. METHODS Four ecotypes (Col-0, Ws-2, Ler-0 and Cvi-0) were grown on orbit and then their patterns of transcript abundance compared to ground-based controls using RNA sequencing. KEY RESULTS Transcripts from heat-shock proteins were upregulated in all ecotypes in spaceflight, whereas peroxidase transcripts were downregulated. Among the shared and ecotype-specific changes, gene classes related to oxidative stress and hypoxia were detected. These spaceflight transcriptional response signatures could be partly mimicked on Earth by a low oxygen environment and more fully by oxidative stress (H2 O2 ) treatments. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the spaceflight environment is associated with oxidative stress potentially triggered, in part, by hypoxic response. Further, a shared spaceflight response may be through the induction of molecular chaperones (such as heat shock proteins) that help protect cellular machinery from the effects of oxidative damage. In addition, this research emphasizes the importance of considering the effects of natural variation when designing and interpreting changes associated with spaceflight experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won-Gyu Choi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada-Reno, 1664 N. Virginia Street, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Birge Hall, 430 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Richard J Barker
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Birge Hall, 430 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Su-Hwa Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nevada-Reno, 1664 N. Virginia Street, Reno, NV, 89557, USA
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Birge Hall, 430 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Sarah J Swanson
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Birge Hall, 430 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Simon Gilroy
- Department of Botany, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Birge Hall, 430 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
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Yurkevich OY, Samatadze TE, Levinskikh MA, Zoshchuk SA, Signalova OB, Surzhikov SA, Sychev VN, Amosova AV, Muravenko OV. Molecular Cytogenetics of Pisum sativum L. Grown under Spaceflight-Related Stress. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 2018:4549294. [PMID: 30627557 PMCID: PMC6304655 DOI: 10.1155/2018/4549294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Revised: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The ontogenesis and reproduction of plants cultivated aboard a spacecraft occur inside the unique closed ecological system wherein plants are subjected to serious abiotic stresses. For the first time, a comparative molecular cytogenetic analysis of Pisum sativum L. (Fabaceae) grown on board the RS ISS during the Expedition-14 and Expedition-16 and also plants of their succeeding (F1 and F2) generations cultivated on Earth was performed in order to reveal possible structural chromosome changes in the pea genome. The karyotypes of these plants were studied by multicolour fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with five different repeated DNA sequences (45S rDNA, 5S rDNA, PisTR-B/1, microsatellite motifs (AG)12, and (GAA)9) as probes. A chromosome aberration was revealed in one F1 plant. Significant changes in distribution of the examined repeated DNAs in karyotypes of the "space grown" pea plants as well as in F1 and F2 plants cultivated on Earth were not observed if compared with control plants. Additional oligo-(GAA)9 sites were detected on chromosomes 6 and 7 in karyotypes of F1 and F2 plants. The detected changes might be related to intraspecific genomic polymorphism or plant cell adaptive responses to spaceflight-related stress factors. Our findings suggest that, despite gradual total trace contamination of the atmosphere on board the ISS associated with the extension of the space station operating life, exposure to the space environment did not induce serious chromosome reorganizations in genomes of the "space grown" pea plants and generations of these plants cultivated on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Yu. Yurkevich
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Tatiana E. Samatadze
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Svyatoslav A. Zoshchuk
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga B. Signalova
- Institute of Biomedical Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, 123007 Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergei A. Surzhikov
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir N. Sychev
- Institute of Biomedical Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, 123007 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexandra V. Amosova
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga V. Muravenko
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
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26
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Montague TG, Almansoori A, Gleason EJ, Copeland DS, Foley K, Kraves S, Alvarez Saavedra E. Gene expression studies using a miniaturized thermal cycler system on board the International Space Station. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0205852. [PMID: 30379894 PMCID: PMC6209215 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The distance and duration of human spaceflight missions is set to markedly increase over the coming decade as we prepare to send astronauts to Mars. However, the health impact of long-term exposure to cosmic radiation and microgravity is not fully understood. In order to identify the molecular mechanisms underpinning the effects of space travel on human health, we must develop the capacity to monitor changes in gene expression and DNA integrity in space. Here, we report successful implementation of three molecular biology procedures on board the International Space Station (ISS) using a miniaturized thermal cycler system and C. elegans as a model organism: first, DNA extraction–the initial step for any type of DNA analysis; second, reverse transcription of RNA to generate complementary DNA (cDNA); and third, the subsequent semi-quantitative PCR amplification of cDNA to analyze gene expression changes in space. These molecular procedures represent a significant expansion of the budding molecular biology capabilities of the ISS and will permit more complex analyses of space-induced genetic changes during spaceflight missions aboard the ISS and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa G. Montague
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | | | | | | | - Kevin Foley
- Boeing, Houston, TX, United States of America
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Baio J, Martinez AF, Silva I, Hoehn CV, Countryman S, Bailey L, Hasaniya N, Pecaut MJ, Kearns-Jonker M. Cardiovascular progenitor cells cultured aboard the International Space Station exhibit altered developmental and functional properties. NPJ Microgravity 2018; 4:13. [PMID: 30062101 PMCID: PMC6062551 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-018-0048-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Revised: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The heart and its cellular components are profoundly altered by missions to space and injury on Earth. Further research, however, is needed to characterize and address the molecular substrates of such changes. For this reason, neonatal and adult human cardiovascular progenitor cells (CPCs) were cultured aboard the International Space Station. Upon return to Earth, we measured changes in the expression of microRNAs and of genes related to mechanotransduction, cardiogenesis, cell cycling, DNA repair, and paracrine signaling. We additionally assessed endothelial-like tube formation, cell cycling, and migratory capacity of CPCs. Changes in microRNA expression were predicted to target extracellular matrix interactions and Hippo signaling in both neonatal and adult CPCs. Genes related to mechanotransduction (YAP1, RHOA) were downregulated, while the expression of cytoskeletal genes (VIM, NES, DES, LMNB2, LMNA), non-canonical Wnt ligands (WNT5A, WNT9A), and Wnt/calcium signaling molecules (PLCG1, PRKCA) was significantly elevated in neonatal CPCs. Increased mesendodermal gene expression along with decreased expression of mesodermal derivative markers (TNNT2, VWF, and RUNX2), reduced readiness to form endothelial-like tubes, and elevated expression of Bmp and Tbx genes, were observed in neonatal CPCs. Both neonatal and adult CPCs exhibited increased expression of DNA repair genes and paracrine factors, which was supported by enhanced migration. While spaceflight affects cytoskeletal organization and migration in neonatal and adult CPCs, only neonatal CPCs experienced increased expression of early developmental markers and an enhanced proliferative potential. Efforts to recapitulate the effects of spaceflight on Earth by regulating processes described herein may be a promising avenue for cardiac repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Baio
- 1Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA USA
| | - Aida F Martinez
- 1Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA USA
| | - Ivan Silva
- 1Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA USA
| | - Carla V Hoehn
- 2BioServe Space Technologies, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO USA
| | | | - Leonard Bailey
- 3Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA USA
| | - Nahidh Hasaniya
- 3Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA USA
| | - Michael J Pecaut
- 4Division of Biomedical Engineering Sciences, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA USA
| | - Mary Kearns-Jonker
- 1Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA USA
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Chen B, Feder ME, Kang L. Evolution of heat-shock protein expression underlying adaptive responses to environmental stress. Mol Ecol 2018; 27:3040-3054. [PMID: 29920826 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Revised: 06/03/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Heat-shock proteins (Hsps) and their cognates are primary mitigators of cell stress. With increasingly severe impacts of climate change and other human modifications of the biosphere, the ability of the heat-shock system to affect evolutionary fitness in environments outside the laboratory and to evolve in response is topic of growing importance. Since the last major reviews, several advances have occurred. First, demonstrations of the heat-shock response outside the laboratory now include many additional taxa and environments. Many of these demonstrations are only correlative, however. More importantly, technical advances in "omic" quantification of nucleic acids and proteins, genomewide association analysis, and manipulation of genes and their expression have enabled the field to move beyond correlation. Several consequent advances are already evident: The pathway from heat-shock gene expression to stress tolerance in nature can be extremely complex, mediated through multiple biological processes and systems, and even multiple species. The underlying genes are more numerous, diverse and variable than previously appreciated, especially with respect to their regulatory variation and epigenetic changes. The impacts and limitations (e.g., due to trade-offs) of natural selection on these genes have become more obvious and better established. At last, as evolutionary capacitors, Hsps may have distinctive impacts on the evolution of other genes and ecological consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Martin E Feder
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Le Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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29
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Frolov A, Didio A, Ihling C, Chantzeva V, Grishina T, Hoehenwarter W, Sinz A, Smolikova G, Bilova T, Medvedev S. The effect of simulated microgravity on the Brassica napus seedling proteome. FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY : FPB 2018; 45:440-452. [PMID: 32290983 DOI: 10.1071/fp16378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2016] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The magnitude and the direction of the gravitational field represent an important environmental factor affecting plant development. In this context, the absence or frequent alterations of the gravity field (i.e. microgravity conditions) might compromise extraterrestrial agriculture and hence space inhabitation by humans. To overcome the deleterious effects of microgravity, a complete understanding of the underlying changes on the macromolecular level is necessary. However, although microgravity-related changes in gene expression are well characterised on the transcriptome level, proteomic data are limited. Moreover, information about the microgravity-induced changes in the seedling proteome during seed germination and the first steps of seedling development is completely missing. One of the valuable tools to assess gravity-related issues is 3D clinorotation (i.e. rotation in two axes). Therefore, here we address the effects of microgravity, simulated by a two-axial clinostat, on the proteome of 24- and 48-h-old seedlings of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). The liquid chromatography-MS-based proteomic analysis and database search revealed 95 up- and 38 downregulated proteins in the tryptic digests obtained from the seedlings subjected to simulated microgravity, with 42 and 52 annotations detected as being unique for 24- and 48-h treatment times, respectively. The polypeptides involved in protein metabolism, transport and signalling were annotated as the functional groups most strongly affected by 3-D clinorotation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrej Frolov
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, DE 06120, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Anna Didio
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, DE 06120, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Christian Ihling
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther Universität Halle-Wittenberg, DE 06120, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Veronika Chantzeva
- Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, St. Petersburg State University, RU 199034, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - Tatyana Grishina
- Department of Biochemistry, St. Petersburg State University, RU 199034, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - Wolfgang Hoehenwarter
- Proteome Analytics Research Group, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, DE 06120, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Andrea Sinz
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin-Luther Universität Halle-Wittenberg, DE 06120, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Galina Smolikova
- Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, St. Petersburg State University, RU 199034, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - Tatiana Bilova
- Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, DE 06120, Halle/Saale, Germany
| | - Sergei Medvedev
- Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, St. Petersburg State University, RU 199034, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation
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30
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Radugina E, Grigoryan E. Heat shock response and shape regulation during newt tail regeneration. J Therm Biol 2017; 71:171-179. [PMID: 29301687 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2017.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Regenerating newt tail has recently been found to react to hypergravity in a stable and reproducible way - by curving downwards. Such morphogenetic effect of non-specific physical factor applied to a complex structure of an adult animal is a rare phenomenon with unknown molecular basis. For the first steps of unraveling this basis we've chosen heat shock proteins (HSPs) as promising candidates. Morphometrical analysis of tail regeneration was performed in aquarium (control), on substrate (relative hypergravity) and in aquarium under weekly application of heat shock. HSPs were inhibited pharmacologically during regeneration in aquarium and on substrate. Hsp70, 90 gene expression and protein localization were analyzed in the studied conditions. Weekly application of heat shock to newts regenerating tails in otherwise normal conditions led to development of curved tails (both upwards and downwards), suggesting that similar mechanisms are at play in both hypergravity-altered and heat shock-altered morphogenesis. Heat shock protein inhibitor KNK437 didn't affect tail shape during normal regeneration, but prevented the formation of tail curve in appropriate conditions. It was shown that HSP70 and HSP90 proteins are present in muscle and connective tissue of intact tails as well as regenerates, but only appear in epidermis in hypergravity-altered regenerates and heated tails. Based on our data, we hypothesize, that different external factors (e.g. hypergravity and heat shock) are received, analyzed and transmitted further to affect morphogenesis by similar mechanisms that utilize a set of HSP in epidermal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Radugina
- Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology RAS (IDB RAS), 26 Vavilova street, Moscow 119334, Russia.
| | - Eleonora Grigoryan
- Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology RAS (IDB RAS), 26 Vavilova street, Moscow 119334, Russia.
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Zupanska AK, Schultz ER, Yao J, Sng NJ, Zhou M, Callaham JB, Ferl RJ, Paul AL. ARG1 Functions in the Physiological Adaptation of Undifferentiated Plant Cells to Spaceflight. ASTROBIOLOGY 2017; 17:1077-1111. [PMID: 29088549 PMCID: PMC8024390 DOI: 10.1089/ast.2016.1538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Scientific access to spaceflight and especially the International Space Station has revealed that physiological adaptation to spaceflight is accompanied or enabled by changes in gene expression that significantly alter the transcriptome of cells in spaceflight. A wide range of experiments have shown that plant physiological adaptation to spaceflight involves gene expression changes that alter cell wall and other metabolisms. However, while transcriptome profiling aptly illuminates changes in gene expression that accompany spaceflight adaptation, mutation analysis is required to illuminate key elements required for that adaptation. Here we report how transcriptome profiling was used to gain insight into the spaceflight adaptation role of Altered response to gravity 1 (Arg1), a gene known to affect gravity responses in plants on Earth. The study compared expression profiles of cultured lines of Arabidopsis thaliana derived from wild-type (WT) cultivar Col-0 to profiles from a knock-out line deficient in the gene encoding ARG1 (ARG1 KO), both on the ground and in space. The cell lines were launched on SpaceX CRS-2 as part of the Cellular Expression Logic (CEL) experiment of the BRIC-17 spaceflight mission. The cultured cell lines were grown within 60 mm Petri plates in Petri Dish Fixation Units (PDFUs) that were housed within the Biological Research In Canisters (BRIC) hardware. Spaceflight samples were fixed on orbit. Differentially expressed genes were identified between the two environments (spaceflight and comparable ground controls) and the two genotypes (WT and ARG1 KO). Each genotype engaged unique genes during physiological adaptation to the spaceflight environment, with little overlap. Most of the genes altered in expression in spaceflight in WT cells were found to be Arg1-dependent, suggesting a major role for that gene in the physiological adaptation of undifferentiated cells to spaceflight. Key Words: ARG1-Spaceflight-Gene expression-Physiological adaptation-BRIC. Astrobiology 17, 1077-1111.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agata K. Zupanska
- Horticultural Science Department, Program in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Eric R. Schultz
- Horticultural Science Department, Program in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - JiQiang Yao
- Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
- Present address: Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | - Natasha J. Sng
- Horticultural Science Department, Program in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Mingqi Zhou
- Horticultural Science Department, Program in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Jordan B. Callaham
- Horticultural Science Department, Program in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Robert J. Ferl
- Horticultural Science Department, Program in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
- Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Anna-Lisa Paul
- Horticultural Science Department, Program in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
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Onoiko EB, Podorvanov VV, Sytnik SK, Sivash AA. The effect of simulated microgravity on formation of the pigment apparatus in etiolated barley seedlings. Biophysics (Nagoya-shi) 2017. [DOI: 10.1134/s0006350917050177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Johnson CM, Subramanian A, Pattathil S, Correll MJ, Kiss JZ. Comparative transcriptomics indicate changes in cell wall organization and stress response in seedlings during spaceflight. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2017; 104:1219-1231. [PMID: 28827451 PMCID: PMC5821596 DOI: 10.3732/ajb.1700079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 06/16/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE OF THE STUDY Plants will play an important role in the future of space exploration as part of bioregenerative life support. Thus, it is important to understand the effects of microgravity and spaceflight on gene expression in plant development. METHODS We analyzed the transcriptome of Arabidopsis thaliana using the Biological Research in Canisters (BRIC) hardware during Space Shuttle mission STS-131. The bioinformatics methods used included RMA (robust multi-array average), MAS5 (Microarray Suite 5.0), and PLIER (probe logarithmic intensity error estimation). Glycome profiling was used to analyze cell wall composition in the samples. In addition, our results were compared to those of two other groups using the same hardware on the same mission (BRIC-16). KEY RESULTS In our BRIC-16 experiments, we noted expression changes in genes involved in hypoxia and heat shock responses, DNA repair, and cell wall structure between spaceflight samples compared to the ground controls. In addition, glycome profiling supported our expression analyses in that there was a difference in cell wall components between ground control and spaceflight-grown plants. Comparing our studies to those of the other BRIC-16 experiments demonstrated that, even with the same hardware and similar biological materials, differences in results in gene expression were found among these spaceflight experiments. CONCLUSIONS A common theme from our BRIC-16 space experiments and those of the other two groups was the downregulation of water stress response genes in spaceflight. In addition, all three studies found differential regulation of genes associated with cell wall remodeling and stress responses between spaceflight-grown and ground control plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina M. Johnson
- Miami University, Department of Biology 212 Pearson Hall, Oxford, Ohio 45056 USA
| | - Aswati Subramanian
- Miami University, Department of Biology 212 Pearson Hall, Oxford, Ohio 45056 USA
| | - Sivakumar Pattathil
- University of Georgia Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, 315 Riverbend Road, Athens, Georgia 30602 USA
- Mascoma, LLC (Lallemand Inc.) 67 Etna Road Lebanon, New Hampshire 03766 USA
| | - Melanie J. Correll
- University of Florida, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering 209 Frazier Rogers Hall, Gainesville, Florida 32611 USA
| | - John Z. Kiss
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Department of Biology, Greensboro, North Carolina 27412 USA
- Author for correspondence ()
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Paul AL, Sng NJ, Zupanska AK, Krishnamurthy A, Schultz ER, Ferl RJ. Genetic dissection of the Arabidopsis spaceflight transcriptome: Are some responses dispensable for the physiological adaptation of plants to spaceflight? PLoS One 2017; 12:e0180186. [PMID: 28662188 PMCID: PMC5491145 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Experimentation on the International Space Station has reached the stage where repeated and nuanced transcriptome studies are beginning to illuminate the structural and metabolic differences between plants grown in space compared to plants on the Earth. Genes that are important in establishing the spaceflight responses are being identified, their roles in spaceflight physiological adaptation are increasingly understood, and the fact that different genotypes adapt differently is recognized. However, the basic question of whether these spaceflight responses are actually required for survival has yet to be posed, and the fundamental notion that spaceflight responses may be non-adaptive has yet to be explored. Therefore the experiments presented here were designed to ask if portions of the plant spaceflight response can be genetically removed without causing loss of spaceflight survival and without causing increased stress responses. The CARA experiment compared the spaceflight transcriptome responses in the root tips of two Arabidopsis ecotypes, Col-0 and WS, as well as that of a PhyD mutant of Col-0. When grown with the ambient light of the ISS, phyD plants displayed a significantly reduced spaceflight transcriptome response compared to Col-0, suggesting that altering the activity of a single gene can actually improve spaceflight adaptation by reducing the transcriptome cost of physiological adaptation. The WS genotype showed an even simpler spaceflight transcriptome response in the ambient light of the ISS, more broadly indicating that the plant genotype can be manipulated to reduce the cost of spaceflight adaptation, as measured by transcriptional response. These differential genotypic responses suggest that genetic manipulation could further reduce, or perhaps eliminate the metabolic cost of spaceflight adaptation. When plants were germinated and then left in the dark on the ISS, the WS genotype actually mounted a larger transcriptome response than Col-0, suggesting that the in-space light environment affects physiological adaptation, which implies that manipulating the local habitat can also substantially impact the metabolic cost of spaceflight adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Lisa Paul
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Natasha J. Sng
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Agata K. Zupanska
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Aparna Krishnamurthy
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Eric R. Schultz
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Robert J. Ferl
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology and Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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35
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Kordyum EL, Chapman DK. Plants and microgravity: Patterns of microgravity effects at the cellular and molecular levels. CYTOL GENET+ 2017. [DOI: 10.3103/s0095452717020049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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36
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Wu JR, Wang LC, Lin YR, Weng CP, Yeh CH, Wu SJ. The Arabidopsis heat-intolerant 5 (hit5)/enhanced response to aba 1 (era1) mutant reveals the crucial role of protein farnesylation in plant responses to heat stress. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2017; 213:1181-1193. [PMID: 27673599 DOI: 10.1111/nph.14212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2016] [Accepted: 08/21/2016] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Protein farnesylation is a post-translational modification known to regulate abscisic acid (ABA)-mediated drought tolerance in plants. However, it is unclear whether and to what extent protein farnesylation affects plant tolerance to high-temperature conditions. The Arabidopsis heat-intolerant 5 (hit5) mutant was isolated because it was thermosensitive to prolonged heat incubation at 37°C for 4 d but thermotolerant to sudden heat shock at 44°C for 40 min. Map-based cloning revealed that HIT5 encodes the β-subunit of the protein farnesyltransferase. hit5 was crossed with the aba-insensitive 3 (abi3) mutant, the aba-deficient 3 (aba3) mutant, and the heat shock protein 101 (hsp101) mutant, to characterize the HIT5-mediated heat stress response. hit5/abi3 and hit5/aba3 double mutants had the same temperature-dependent phenotypes as hit5. Additionally, exogenous supplementation of neither ABA nor the ABA synthesis inhibitor fluridone altered the temperature-dependent phenotypes of hit5. The hit5/hsp101 double mutant was still sensitive to prolonged heat incubation, yet its ability to tolerate sudden heat shock was lost. The results suggest that protein farnesylation either positively or negatively affects the ability of plants to survive heat stress, depending on the intensity and duration of high-temperature exposure, in an ABA-independent manner. HSP101 is involved in the hit5-derived heat shock tolerance phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Rong Wu
- Department of Life Sciences, National Central University, Jhong-Li District, Taoyuan City, 32001, Taiwan
| | - Lian-Chin Wang
- Department of Life Sciences, National Central University, Jhong-Li District, Taoyuan City, 32001, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ru Lin
- Department of Life Sciences, National Central University, Jhong-Li District, Taoyuan City, 32001, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Pei Weng
- Department of Life Sciences, National Central University, Jhong-Li District, Taoyuan City, 32001, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Hui Yeh
- Department of Life Sciences, National Central University, Jhong-Li District, Taoyuan City, 32001, Taiwan
| | - Shaw-Jye Wu
- Department of Life Sciences, National Central University, Jhong-Li District, Taoyuan City, 32001, Taiwan
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Cazzaniga A, Maier JAM, Castiglioni S. Impact of simulated microgravity on human bone stem cells: New hints for space medicine. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2016; 473:181-186. [PMID: 27005819 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.03.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Revised: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Bone loss is a well known early event in astronauts and represents one of the major obstacle to space exploration. While an imbalance between osteoblast and osteoclast activity has been described, less is known about the behavior of bone mesenchymal stem cells in microgravity. We simulated microgravity using the Random Positioning Machine and found that mesenchymal stem cells respond to gravitational unloading by upregulating HSP60, HSP70, cyclooxygenase 2 and superoxyde dismutase 2. Such an adaptive response might be involved in inducing the overexpression of some osteogenic transcripts, even though the threshold to induce the formation of bone crystal is not achieved. Indeed, only the addition of an osteogenic cocktail activates the full differentiation process both in simulated microgravity and under static 1G-conditions. We conclude that simulated microgravity alone reprograms bone mesenchymal stem cells towards an osteogenic phenotype which results in complete differentiation only after exposure to a specific stimulus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Cazzaniga
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche L. Sacco, Università di Milano, Milano I-20157, Italy
| | - Jeanette A M Maier
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche L. Sacco, Università di Milano, Milano I-20157, Italy
| | - Sara Castiglioni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e Cliniche L. Sacco, Università di Milano, Milano I-20157, Italy.
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Schüler O, Hemmersbach R, Böhmer M. A Bird's-Eye View of Molecular Changes in Plant Gravitropism Using Omics Techniques. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2015; 6:1176. [PMID: 26734055 PMCID: PMC4689802 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2015.01176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2015] [Accepted: 12/08/2015] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
During evolution, plants have developed mechanisms to adapt to a variety of environmental stresses, including drought, high salinity, changes in carbon dioxide levels and pathogens. Central signaling hubs and pathways that are regulated in response to these stimuli have been identified. In contrast to these well studied environmental stimuli, changes in transcript, protein and metabolite levels in response to a gravitational stimulus are less well understood. Amyloplasts, localized in statocytes of the root tip, in mesophyll cells of coleoptiles and in the elongation zone of the growing internodes comprise statoliths in higher plants. Deviations of the statocytes with respect to the earthly gravity vector lead to a displacement of statoliths relative to the cell due to their inertia and thus to gravity perception. Downstream signaling events, including the conversion from the biophysical signal of sedimentation of distinct heavy mass to a biochemical signal, however, remain elusive. More recently, technical advances, including clinostats, drop towers, parabolic flights, satellites, and the International Space Station, allowed researchers to study the effect of altered gravity conditions - real and simulated micro- as well as hypergravity on plants. This allows for a unique opportunity to study plant responses to a purely anthropogenic stress for which no evolutionary program exists. Furthermore, the requirement for plants as food and oxygen sources during prolonged manned space explorations led to an increased interest in the identi-fication of genes involved in the adaptation of plants to microgravity. Transcriptomic, proteomic, phosphoproteomic, and metabolomic profiling strategies provide a sensitive high-throughput approach to identify biochemical alterations in response to changes with respect to the influence of the gravitational vector and thus the acting gravitational force on the transcript, protein and metabolite level. This review aims at summarizing recent experimental approaches and discusses major observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Schüler
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Gravitational Biology, German Aerospace CenterCologne, Germany
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms UniversitätMünster, Germany
| | - Ruth Hemmersbach
- Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Gravitational Biology, German Aerospace CenterCologne, Germany
| | - Maik Böhmer
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, Westfälische Wilhelms UniversitätMünster, Germany
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Trotter B, Otte KA, Schoppmann K, Hemmersbach R, Fröhlich T, Arnold GJ, Laforsch C. The influence of simulated microgravity on the proteome of Daphnia magna. NPJ Microgravity 2015; 1:15016. [PMID: 28725717 PMCID: PMC5515502 DOI: 10.1038/npjmgrav.2015.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Revised: 08/02/2015] [Accepted: 08/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The waterflea Daphnia is an interesting candidate for bioregenerative life support systems (BLSS). These animals are particularly promising because of their central role in the limnic food web and its mode of reproduction. However, the response of Daphnia to altered gravity conditions has to be investigated, especially on the molecular level, to evaluate the suitability of Daphnia for BLSS in space. Methods: In this study, we applied a proteomic approach to identify key proteins and pathways involved in the response of Daphnia to simulated microgravity generated by a two-dimensional (2D) clinostat. We analyzed five biological replicates using 2D-difference gel electrophoresis proteomic analysis. Results: We identified 109 protein spots differing in intensity (P<0.05). Substantial fractions of these proteins are involved in actin microfilament organization, indicating the disruption of cytoskeletal structures during clinorotation. Furthermore, proteins involved in protein folding were identified, suggesting altered gravity induced breakdown of protein structures in general. In addition, simulated microgravity increased the abundance of energy metabolism-related proteins, indicating an enhanced energy demand of Daphnia. Conclusions: The affected biological processes were also described in other studies using different organisms and systems either aiming to simulate microgravity conditions or providing real microgravity conditions. Moreover, most of the Daphnia protein sequences are well-conserved throughout taxa, indicating that the response to altered gravity conditions in Daphnia follows a general concept. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD002096.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Trotter
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany.,Animal Ecology I and BayCEER, Bayreuth University, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Kathrin A Otte
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany.,Animal Ecology I and BayCEER, Bayreuth University, Bayreuth, Germany
| | | | - Ruth Hemmersbach
- Biomedical Research, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany
| | - Thomas Fröhlich
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Georg J Arnold
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
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Zhao C, Zhao S, Hou L, Xia H, Wang J, Li C, Li A, Li T, Zhang X, Wang X. Proteomics analysis reveals differentially activated pathways that operate in peanut gynophores at different developmental stages. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2015; 15:188. [PMID: 26239120 PMCID: PMC4523997 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-015-0582-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2015] [Accepted: 07/24/2015] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea. L) is one of the most important oil crops in the world. After flowering, the peanut plant forms aboveground pegs (gynophores) that penetrate the soil, giving rise to underground pods. This means of reproduction, referred to as geocarpy, distinguishes peanuts from most other plants. The molecular mechanism underlying geocarpic pod development in peanut is poorly understood. RESULTS To gain insight into the mechanism of geocarpy, we extracted proteins from aerial gynophores, subterranean unswollen gynophores, and gynophores that had just started to swell into pods. We analyzed the protein profiles in each of these samples by combining 1 DE with nanoLC-MS/MS approaches. In total, 2766, 2518, and 2280 proteins were identified from the three samples, respectively. An integrated analysis of proteome and transcriptome data revealed specifically or differentially expressed genes in the different developmental stages at both the mRNA and protein levels. A total of 69 proteins involved in the gravity response, light and mechanical stimulus, hormone biosynthesis, and transport were identified as being involved in geocarpy. Furthermore, we identified 91 genes that were specifically or abundantly expressed in aerial gynophores, including pectin methylesterase and expansin, which were presumed to promote the elongation of aerial gynophores. In addition, we identified 35 proteins involved in metabolism, defense, hormone biosynthesis and signal transduction, nitrogen fixation, and transport that accumulated in subterranean unswellen gynophores. Furthermore, 26 specific or highly abundant proteins related to fatty acid metabolism, starch synthesis, and lignin synthesis were identified in the early swelling pods. CONCLUSIONS We identified thousands of proteins in the aerial gynophores, subterranean gynophores, and early swelling pods of peanut. This study provides the basis for examining the molecular mechanisms underlying peanut geocarpy pod development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanzhi Zhao
- Bio-Tech Research Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Ecology and Physiology, Jinan, 250100, P.R. China.
| | - Shuzhen Zhao
- Bio-Tech Research Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Ecology and Physiology, Jinan, 250100, P.R. China.
| | - Lei Hou
- Bio-Tech Research Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Ecology and Physiology, Jinan, 250100, P.R. China.
| | - Han Xia
- Bio-Tech Research Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Ecology and Physiology, Jinan, 250100, P.R. China.
| | - Jiangshan Wang
- Bio-Tech Research Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Ecology and Physiology, Jinan, 250100, P.R. China.
| | - Changsheng Li
- Bio-Tech Research Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Ecology and Physiology, Jinan, 250100, P.R. China.
| | - Aiqin Li
- Bio-Tech Research Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Ecology and Physiology, Jinan, 250100, P.R. China.
| | - Tingting Li
- Bio-Tech Research Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Ecology and Physiology, Jinan, 250100, P.R. China.
| | - Xinyou Zhang
- Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, 450002, P.R. China.
| | - Xingjun Wang
- Bio-Tech Research Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Ecology and Physiology, Jinan, 250100, P.R. China.
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Zhang Y, Wang L, Xie J, Zheng H. Differential protein expression profiling of Arabidopsis thaliana callus under microgravity on board the Chinese SZ-8 spacecraft. PLANTA 2015; 241:475-88. [PMID: 25374148 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-014-2196-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2014] [Accepted: 10/19/2014] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Exposure of Arabidopsis callus to microgravity has a significant impact on the expression of proteins involved in stress responses, carbohydrate metabolism, protein synthesis, intracellular trafficking, signaling, and cell wall biosynthesis. Microgravity is among the main environmental stress factors that affect plant growth and development in space. Understanding how plants acclimate to space microgravity is important to develop bioregenerative life-support systems for long-term space missions. To evaluate the spaceflight-associated stress and identify molecular events important for acquired microgravity tolerance, we compared proteomic profiles of Arabidopsis thaliana callus grown under microgravity on board the Chinese spacecraft SZ-8 with callus grown under 1g centrifugation (1g control) in space. Alterations in the proteome induced by microgravity were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry with isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation labeling. Forty-five proteins showed significant (p < 0.05) and reproducible quantitative differences in expression between the microgravity and 1g control conditions. Of these proteins, the expression level of 24 proteins was significantly up-regulated and that of 21 proteins was significantly down-regulated. The functions of these proteins were involved in a wide range of cellular processes, including general stress responses, carbohydrate metabolism, protein synthesis/degradation, intracellular trafficking/transportation, signaling, and cell wall biosynthesis. Several proteins not previously known to be involved in the response to microgravity or gravitational stimuli, such as pathogenesis-related thaumatin-like protein, leucine-rich repeat extension-like protein, and temperature-induce lipocalin, were significantly up- or down-regulated by microgravity. The results imply that either the normal gravity-response signaling is affected by microgravity exposure or that microgravity might inappropriately induce altered responses to other environmental stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhang
- Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 300 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
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A whole-genome microarray study of Arabidopsis thaliana semisolid callus cultures exposed to microgravity and nonmicrogravity related spaceflight conditions for 5 days on board of Shenzhou 8. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:547495. [PMID: 25654111 PMCID: PMC4309294 DOI: 10.1155/2015/547495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2014] [Revised: 08/26/2014] [Accepted: 09/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The Simbox mission was the first joint space project between Germany and China in November 2011. Eleven-day-old Arabidopsis thaliana wild type semisolid callus cultures were integrated into fully automated plant cultivation containers and exposed to spaceflight conditions within the Simbox hardware on board of the spacecraft Shenzhou 8. The related ground experiment was conducted under similar conditions. The use of an in-flight centrifuge provided a 1 g gravitational field in space. The cells were metabolically quenched after 5 days via RNAlater injection. The impact on the Arabidopsis transcriptome was investigated by means of whole-genome gene expression analysis. The results show a major impact of nonmicrogravity related spaceflight conditions. Genes that were significantly altered in transcript abundance are mainly involved in protein phosphorylation and MAPK cascade-related signaling processes, as well as in the cellular defense and stress responses. In contrast to short-term effects of microgravity (seconds, minutes), this mission identified only minor changes after 5 days of microgravity. These concerned genes coding for proteins involved in the plastid-associated translation machinery, mitochondrial electron transport, and energy production.
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Kwon T, Sparks JA, Nakashima J, Allen SN, Tang Y, Blancaflor EB. Transcriptional response of Arabidopsis seedlings during spaceflight reveals peroxidase and cell wall remodeling genes associated with root hair development. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2015; 102:21-35. [PMID: 25587145 DOI: 10.3732/ajb.1400458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED • PREMISE OF THE STUDY Plants will be an important component of advanced life support systems during space exploration missions. Therefore, understanding their biology in the spacecraft environment will be essential before they can be used for such systems.• METHODS Seedlings of Arabidopsis thaliana were grown for 2 wk in the Biological Research in Canisters (BRIC) hardware on board the second to the last mission of the space shuttle Discovery (STS-131). Transcript profiles between ground controls and space-grown seedlings were compared using stringent selection criteria.• KEY RESULTS Expression of transcripts associated with oxidative stress and cell wall remodeling was repressed in microgravity. These downregulated genes were previously shown to be enriched in root hairs consistent with seedling phenotypes observed in space. Mutations in genes that were downregulated in microgravity, including two uncharacterized root hair-expressed class III peroxidase genes (PRX44 and PRX57), led to defective polar root hair growth on Earth. PRX44 and PRX57 mutants had ruptured root hairs, which is a typical phenotype of tip-growing cells with defective cell walls and those subjected to stress.• CONCLUSIONS Long-term exposure to microgravity negatively impacts tip growth by repressing expression of genes essential for normal root hair development. Whereas changes in peroxidase gene expression leading to reduced root hair growth in space are actin-independent, root hair development modulated by phosphoinositides could be dependent on the actin cytoskeleton. These results have profound implications for plant adaptation to microgravity given the importance of tip growing cells such as root hairs for efficient nutrient capture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taegun Kwon
- Plant Biology Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73401 USA
| | - J Alan Sparks
- Plant Biology Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73401 USA
| | - Jin Nakashima
- Plant Biology Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73401 USA
| | - Stacy N Allen
- Plant Biology Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73401 USA
| | - Yuhong Tang
- Plant Biology Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73401 USA
| | - Elison B Blancaflor
- Plant Biology Division, The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation, 2510 Sam Noble Parkway, Ardmore, Oklahoma 73401 USA
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Grimm D, Pietsch J, Wehland M, Richter P, Strauch SM, Lebert M, Magnusson NE, Wise P, Bauer J. The impact of microgravity-based proteomics research. Expert Rev Proteomics 2014; 11:465-76. [DOI: 10.1586/14789450.2014.926221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Grimm
- Institute of Biomedicine, Pharmacology, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Jessica Pietsch
- Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Markus Wehland
- Clinic for Plastic, Aesthetic and Hand Surgery, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Peter Richter
- Department of Biology, Cell Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sebastian M Strauch
- Department of Biology, Cell Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Michael Lebert
- Department of Biology, Cell Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Nils Erik Magnusson
- Medical Research Laboratories, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Petra Wise
- Hematology/Oncology, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
| | - Johann Bauer
- Max-Planck Institute for Biochemistry, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
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Talalaiev O, Korduym E. Expression of small heat shock protein (sHSP) genes in the garden pea (Pisum sativum) under slow horizontal clinorotation. PLANT SIGNALING & BEHAVIOR 2014. [PMID: 24786104 PMCID: PMC4091545 DOI: 10.4161/psb.29035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Plant cells respond to stress conditions, such as high temperatures, by synthesizing small heat shock proteins (sHSPs). sHSPs are molecular chaperones that assist in protein folding and prevent irreversible protein aggregation. Although many sHSP genes are temperature-inducible, other variables, such as altered gravity, can induce significant changes in plant cell gene expression. Furthermore, not all subfamilies of sHSP genes share the same expression pattern. The objective of our research was to determine the effect of simulated microgravity (clinorotation) on the expression of sHSP gene subfamilies with different subcellular locations in etiolated pea (Pisum sativum) seedlings. sHSP gene expression levels were examined using quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qPCR). qPCR results demonstrated that sHSP genes were constitutively expressed in seedlings. High temperatures increased the expression of sHSP genes by several thousand-fold. However, simulated microgravity did not have any significant effects on sHSP gene expression.
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Toll mediated infection response is altered by gravity and spaceflight in Drosophila. PLoS One 2014; 9:e86485. [PMID: 24475130 PMCID: PMC3901686 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0086485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2013] [Accepted: 12/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Space travel presents unlimited opportunities for exploration and discovery, but requires better understanding of the biological consequences of long-term exposure to spaceflight. Immune function in particular is relevant for space travel. Human immune responses are weakened in space, with increased vulnerability to opportunistic infections and immune-related conditions. In addition, microorganisms can become more virulent in space, causing further challenges to health. To understand these issues better and to contribute to design of effective countermeasures, we used the Drosophila model of innate immunity to study immune responses in both hypergravity and spaceflight. Focusing on infections mediated through the conserved Toll and Imd signaling pathways, we found that hypergravity improves resistance to Toll-mediated fungal infections except in a known gravitaxis mutant of the yuri gagarin gene. These results led to the first spaceflight project on Drosophila immunity, in which flies that developed to adulthood in microgravity were assessed for immune responses by transcription profiling on return to Earth. Spaceflight alone altered transcription, producing activation of the heat shock stress system. Space flies subsequently infected by fungus failed to activate the Toll pathway. In contrast, bacterial infection produced normal activation of the Imd pathway. We speculate on possible linkage between functional Toll signaling and the heat shock chaperone system. Our major findings are that hypergravity and spaceflight have opposing effects, and that spaceflight produces stress-related transcriptional responses and results in a specific inability to mount a Toll-mediated infection response.
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Kiss JZ. Plant biology in reduced gravity on the Moon and Mars. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2014; 16 Suppl 1:12-7. [PMID: 23889757 DOI: 10.1111/plb.12031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2013] [Accepted: 02/28/2013] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
While there have been numerous studies on the effects of microgravity on plant biology since the beginning of the Space Age, our knowledge of the effects of reduced gravity (less than the Earth nominal 1 g) on plant physiology and development is very limited. Since international space agencies have cited manned exploration of Moon/Mars as long-term goals, it is important to understand plant biology at the lunar (0.17 g) and Martian levels of gravity (0.38 g), as plants are likely to be part of bioregenerative life-support systems on these missions. First, the methods to obtain microgravity and reduced gravity such as drop towers, parabolic flights, sounding rockets and orbiting spacecraft are reviewed. Studies on gravitaxis and gravitropism in algae have suggested that the threshold level of gravity sensing is around 0.3 g or less. Recent experiments on the International Space Station (ISS) showed attenuation of phototropism in higher plants occurs at levels ranging from 0.l g to 0.3 g. Taken together, these studies suggest that the reduced gravity level on Mars of 0.38 g may be enough so that the gravity level per se would not be a major problem for plant development. Studies that have directly considered the impact of reduced gravity and microgravity on bioregenerative life-support systems have identified important biophysical changes in the reduced gravity environments that impact the design of these systems. The author suggests that the current ISS laboratory facilities with on-board centrifuges should be used as a test bed in which to explore the effects of reduced gravity on plant biology, including those factors that are directly related to developing life-support systems necessary for Moon and Mars exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Z Kiss
- Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
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48
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Ruyters G, Braun M. Plant biology in space: recent accomplishments and recommendations for future research. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2014; 16 Suppl 1:4-11. [PMID: 24373009 DOI: 10.1111/plb.12127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2013] [Accepted: 10/02/2013] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Gravity has shaped the evolution of life since its origin. However, experiments in the absence of this overriding force, necessary to precisely analyse its role, e.g. for growth, development, and orientation of plants and single cells, only became possible with the advent of spaceflight. Consequently, this research has been supported especially by space agencies around the world for decades, mainly for two reasons: first, to enable fundamental research on gravity perception and transduction during growth and development of plants; and second, to successfully grow plants under microgravity conditions with the goal of establishing a bioregenerative life support system providing oxygen and food for astronauts in long-term exploratory missions. For the second time, the International Space Life Sciences Working Group (ISLSWG), comprised of space agencies with substantial life sciences programmes in the world, organised a workshop on plant biology research in space. The present contribution summarises the outcome of this workshop. In the first part, an analysis is undertaken, if and how the recommendations of the first workshop held in Bad Honnef, Germany, in 1996 have been implemented. A chapter summarising major scientific breakthroughs obtained in the last 15 years from plant research in space concludes this first part. In the second part, recommendations for future research in plant biology in space are put together that have been elaborated in the various discussion sessions during the workshop, as well as provided in written statements from the session chairs. The present paper clearly shows that plant biology in space has contributed significantly to progress in plant gravity perception, transduction and responses - processes also relevant for general plant biology, including agricultural aspects. In addition, the interplay between light and gravity effects has increasingly received attention. It also became evident that plants will play a major role as components of bioregenerative life support and energy systems that are necessary to complement physico-chemical systems in upcoming long-term exploratory missions. In order to achieve major progress in the future, however, standardised experimental conditions and more advanced analytical tools, such as state-of-the-art onboard analysis, are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Ruyters
- German Space Administration (DLR), Bonn, Germany
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Paul AL, Zupanska AK, Schultz ER, Ferl RJ. Organ-specific remodeling of the Arabidopsis transcriptome in response to spaceflight. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2013; 13:112. [PMID: 23919896 PMCID: PMC3750915 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2229-13-112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2013] [Accepted: 08/01/2013] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spaceflight presents a novel environment that is outside the evolutionary experience of terrestrial organisms. Full activation of the International Space Station as a science platform complete with sophisticated plant growth chambers, laboratory benches, and procedures for effective sample return, has enabled a new level of research capability and hypothesis testing in this unique environment. The opportunity to examine the strategies of environmental sensing in spaceflight, which includes the absence of unit gravity, provides a unique insight into the balance of influence among abiotic cues directing plant growth and development: including gravity, light, and touch. The data presented here correlate morphological and transcriptome data from replicated spaceflight experiments. RESULTS The transcriptome of Arabidopsis thaliana demonstrated organ-specific changes in response to spaceflight, with 480 genes showing significant changes in expression in spaceflight plants compared with ground controls by at least 1.9-fold, and 58 by more than 7-fold. Leaves, hypocotyls, and roots each displayed unique patterns of response, yet many gene functions within the responses are related. Particularly represented across the dataset were genes associated with cell architecture and growth hormone signaling; processes that would not be anticipated to be altered in microgravity yet may correlate with morphological changes observed in spaceflight plants. As examples, differential expression of genes involved with touch, cell wall remodeling, root hairs, and cell expansion may correlate with spaceflight-associated root skewing, while differential expression of auxin-related and other gravity-signaling genes seemingly correlates with the microgravity of spaceflight. Although functionally related genes were differentially represented in leaves, hypocotyls, and roots, the expression of individual genes varied substantially across organ types, indicating that there is no single response to spaceflight. Rather, each organ employed its own response tactics within a shared strategy, largely involving cell wall architecture. CONCLUSIONS Spaceflight appears to initiate cellular remodeling throughout the plant, yet specific strategies of the response are distinct among specific organs of the plant. Further, these data illustrate that in the absence of gravity plants rely on other environmental cues to initiate the morphological responses essential to successful growth and development, and that the basis for that engagement lies in the differential expression of genes in an organ-specific manner that maximizes the utilization of these signals--such as the up-regulation of genes associated with light-sensing in roots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Lisa Paul
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, Program in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Agata K Zupanska
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, Program in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Eric R Schultz
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, Program in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Robert J Ferl
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, Program in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
- Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
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Paul AL, Wheeler RM, Levine HG, Ferl RJ. Fundamental plant biology enabled by the space shuttle. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2013; 100:226-34. [PMID: 23281389 DOI: 10.3732/ajb.1200338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The relationship between fundamental plant biology and space biology was especially synergistic in the era of the Space Shuttle. While all terrestrial organisms are influenced by gravity, the impact of gravity as a tropic stimulus in plants has been a topic of formal study for more than a century. And while plants were parts of early space biology payloads, it was not until the advent of the Space Shuttle that the science of plant space biology enjoyed expansion that truly enabled controlled, fundamental experiments that removed gravity from the equation. The Space Shuttle presented a science platform that provided regular science flights with dedicated plant growth hardware and crew trained in inflight plant manipulations. Part of the impetus for plant biology experiments in space was the realization that plants could be important parts of bioregenerative life support on long missions, recycling water, air, and nutrients for the human crew. However, a large part of the impetus was that the Space Shuttle enabled fundamental plant science essentially in a microgravity environment. Experiments during the Space Shuttle era produced key science insights on biological adaptation to spaceflight and especially plant growth and tropisms. In this review, we present an overview of plant science in the Space Shuttle era with an emphasis on experiments dealing with fundamental plant growth in microgravity. This review discusses general conclusions from the study of plant spaceflight biology enabled by the Space Shuttle by providing historical context and reviews of select experiments that exemplify plant space biology science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Lisa Paul
- Horticultural Science Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA
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