De novo transcriptome characterization and gene expression profiling of the desiccation tolerant moss Bryum argenteum following rehydration

Abstract

BackgroundThe desiccation-tolerant moss Bryum argenteum is an important component of the Biological Soil Crusts (BSCs) found in the Gurbantunggut desert. Desiccation tolerance is defined as the ability to revive from the air dried state. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms related to desiccation tolerance, we employed RNA-Seq and digital gene expression (DGE) technologies to study the genome-wide expression profiles of the dehydration and rehydration processes in this important desert plant.ResultsWe applied a two-step approach to investigate the gene expression profile upon rehydration in the moss Bryum argenteum using Illumina HiSeq2000 sequencing platform. First, a total of 57,247 transcript assembly contigs (TACs) were obtained from 54.79 million reads by de novo assembly, with an average length of 863 bp and N50 of 1,372 bp. Among the reconstructed TACs, 36,916 (64.5 %) revealed similarity with existing protein sequences in the public databases. 23,509 and 21,607 TACs were assigned GO and KEGG annotation information, respectively. Second, samples were taken from 3 hydration stages: desiccated (Dry), rehydrated 2 h (R2) and rehydrated 24 h (R24), and DEG libraries were constructed for Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) discovery. 4,081 and 6,709 DEGs were identified in R2 and R24, compared with Dry, respectively. Compared to the desiccated sample, up-regulated genes after two hours of hydration are primarily related to stress responses. GO function enrichment network, EKGG metabolic pathway and MapMan analysis supports the idea of the rapid recovery of photosynthesis after 24 h of rehydration. We identified 770 transcription factors (TFs) which were classified into 50 TF families. 142 TF transcripts were up-regulated upon rehydration including 23 members of the ERF family.ConclusionsIn this study, we constructed a pioneering, high-quality reference transcriptome in B. argenteum and generated three DGE libraries to elucidate the changes of gene expression upon rehydration. Expression profiles consistent with the rapid recovery of photosynthesis (at R2) and the re-establishment of a positive carbon balance following rehydration (at R24) were observed. Our study will extend our knowledge of bryophyte transcriptomes and provide further insight into the molecular mechanisms related to rehydration and desiccation-tolerance.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1633-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Seed desiccation mechanisms co‐opted for vegetative desiccation in the resurrection grass Oropetium thomaeum

“…Transcriptional and metabolic changes during desiccation in Oropetium mirror patterns observed in other angiosperm resurrection plants including the eudicots Boea hygrometrica (Xiao et al 2015), C. plantagineu (Rodriguez et al 2010) and monocots Sporobolus (Yobi et al 2017), Xerophyta (Costa et al 2017) and Tripogon (Williams et al 2015) among others. Similar patterns are also observed in the mosses Tortula ruralis (Oliver et al 2009) and Bryum argenteum (Gao et al 2015) and the streptophyte green alga Klebsormidium (Holzinger et al 2014) and terrestrial algae Trebouxia gelatinosa (Carniel et al 2016). This suggests a similar transcriptional machinery is activated across land plants and algae, supporting a shared origin of this trait.…”

“…) and Bryum argenteum (Gao et al . ) and the streptophyte green alga Klebsormidium (Holzinger et al . ) and terrestrial algae Trebouxia gelatinosa (Carniel et al .…”

Transcriptome Analysis of Taxillusi chinensis (DC.) Danser Seeds in Response to Water Loss

“…ssp . Pekinensis [21], Bryum argenteum [27], Brassica napus [28], and Gossypium arboretum [29]. In Jindou21 (drought-tolerant soybean genotype), 518 and 614 genes including genes ethylene-responsive factors, MYB TFs, and zinc finger proteins are differentially expressed under water deficit condition in leaves and roots, respectively [20].…”

Dehydration-responsive features of Atrichum undulatum

“…This moss has evolved a constitutive protection system to alleviate the damage caused by dehydration (Oliver et al 2000, 2009). Syntrichia caninervis and Bryum argenteum are both classified as DT mosses, and their responses to desiccation have been widely studied (Gao et al 2014, 2015; Li et al 2014; Wu et al 2012; Zheng et al 2011). …”