The signature of seeds in resurrection plants: a molecular and physiological comparison of desiccation tolerance in seeds and vegetative tissues

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dc.contributor.authorIlling, Nicola
dc.contributor.authorDenby, Katherine J
dc.contributor.authorCollett, Helen
dc.contributor.authorShen, Helen
dc.contributor.authorFarrant, Jill M
dc.date.accessioned2016-08-05T09:41:16Z
dc.date.available2016-08-05T09:41:16Z
dc.date.issued2005
dc.date.updated2016-08-02T12:59:46Z
dc.description.abstractDesiccation-tolerance in vegetative tissues of angiosperms has a polyphyletic origin and could be due to 1) appropriation of the seed-specific program of gene expression that protects orthodox seeds against desiccation, and/or 2) a sustainable version of the abiotic stress response. We tested these hypotheses by comparing molecular and physiological data from the development of orthodox seeds, the response of desiccation-sensitive plants to abiotic stress, and the response of desiccation-tolerant plants to extreme water loss. Analysis of publicly-available gene expression data of 35 LEA proteins and 68 anti-oxidant enzymes in the desiccation-sensitive Arabidopsis thaliana identified 13 LEAs and 4 anti-oxidants exclusively expressed in seeds. Two (a LEA6 and 1-cys-peroxiredoxin) are not expressed in vegetative tissues in A. thaliana, but have orthologues that are specifically activated in desiccating leaves of Xerophyta humilis. A comparison of antioxidant enzyme activity in two desiccation-sensitive species of Eragrostis with the desiccation-tolerant E. nindensis showed equivalent responses upon initial dehydration, but activity was retained at low water content in E. nindensis only. We propose that these antioxidants are housekeeping enzymes and that they are protected from damage in the desiccation-tolerant species. Sucrose is considered an important protectant against desiccation in orthodox seeds, and we show that sucrose accumulates in drying leaves of E. nindensis, but not in the desiccation-sensitive Eragrostis species. The activation of ‘‘seed-specific’’ desiccation protection mechanisms (sucrose accumulation and expression of LEA6 and 1-cys-peroxiredoxin genes) in the vegetative tissues of desiccation-tolerant plants points towards acquisition of desiccation tolerance from seedsen_ZA
dc.identifierhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icb/45.5.771
dc.identifier.apacitationIlling, N., Denby, K. J., Collett, H., Shen, H., & Farrant, J. M. (2005). The signature of seeds in resurrection plants: a molecular and physiological comparison of desiccation tolerance in seeds and vegetative tissues. <i>Integrative and Comparative Biology</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21130en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationIlling, Nicola, Katherine J Denby, Helen Collett, Helen Shen, and Jill M Farrant "The signature of seeds in resurrection plants: a molecular and physiological comparison of desiccation tolerance in seeds and vegetative tissues." <i>Integrative and Comparative Biology</i> (2005) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21130en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationIlling, N., Denby, K. J., Collett, H., Shen, A., & Farrant, J. M. (2005). The signature of seeds in resurrection plants: a molecular and physiological comparison of desiccation tolerance in seeds and vegetative tissues. Integrative and Comparative Biology, 45(5), 771-787.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1540-7063en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Illing, Nicola AU - Denby, Katherine J AU - Collett, Helen AU - Shen, Helen AU - Farrant, Jill M AB - Desiccation-tolerance in vegetative tissues of angiosperms has a polyphyletic origin and could be due to 1) appropriation of the seed-specific program of gene expression that protects orthodox seeds against desiccation, and/or 2) a sustainable version of the abiotic stress response. We tested these hypotheses by comparing molecular and physiological data from the development of orthodox seeds, the response of desiccation-sensitive plants to abiotic stress, and the response of desiccation-tolerant plants to extreme water loss. Analysis of publicly-available gene expression data of 35 LEA proteins and 68 anti-oxidant enzymes in the desiccation-sensitive Arabidopsis thaliana identified 13 LEAs and 4 anti-oxidants exclusively expressed in seeds. Two (a LEA6 and 1-cys-peroxiredoxin) are not expressed in vegetative tissues in A. thaliana, but have orthologues that are specifically activated in desiccating leaves of Xerophyta humilis. A comparison of antioxidant enzyme activity in two desiccation-sensitive species of Eragrostis with the desiccation-tolerant E. nindensis showed equivalent responses upon initial dehydration, but activity was retained at low water content in E. nindensis only. We propose that these antioxidants are housekeeping enzymes and that they are protected from damage in the desiccation-tolerant species. Sucrose is considered an important protectant against desiccation in orthodox seeds, and we show that sucrose accumulates in drying leaves of E. nindensis, but not in the desiccation-sensitive Eragrostis species. The activation of ‘‘seed-specific’’ desiccation protection mechanisms (sucrose accumulation and expression of LEA6 and 1-cys-peroxiredoxin genes) in the vegetative tissues of desiccation-tolerant plants points towards acquisition of desiccation tolerance from seeds DA - 2005 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town J1 - Integrative and Comparative Biology LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2005 SM - 1540-7063 T1 - The signature of seeds in resurrection plants: a molecular and physiological comparison of desiccation tolerance in seeds and vegetative tissues TI - The signature of seeds in resurrection plants: a molecular and physiological comparison of desiccation tolerance in seeds and vegetative tissues UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21130 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/21130
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationIlling N, Denby KJ, Collett H, Shen H, Farrant JM. The signature of seeds in resurrection plants: a molecular and physiological comparison of desiccation tolerance in seeds and vegetative tissues. Integrative and Comparative Biology. 2005; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/21130.en_ZA
dc.languageengen_ZA
dc.publisherOxford University Pressen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.sourceIntegrative and Comparative Biologyen_ZA
dc.source.urihttp://icb.oxfordjournals.org/
dc.titleThe signature of seeds in resurrection plants: a molecular and physiological comparison of desiccation tolerance in seeds and vegetative tissuesen_ZA
dc.typeJournal Articleen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceArticleen_ZA
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