Transcriptome sequencing and gene expression profiling of <i>Pinus sibirica</i> under different cold stresses

Abstract

Cold stress is a major abiotic factor that affects plant growth and geographical distribution. Pinus sibirica is extremely frigostable tree species. To understand the molecular mechanisms of cold tolerance by P. sibirica, physiological responses were analyzed and transcriptome profiling was conducted to the plants treated by cold stress. The physiological data showed that membrane permeability relative conductivity (REC), reactive oxygen species (ROS), malonaldehyde (MDA) content, peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activity, soluble sugar, soluble protein and proline contents were increased significantly (p < 0.05) in response to cold stress. Transcriptome analysis identified a total of 871, 1397 and 872 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) after cold treatment for 6 h, 24 h and 48 h at -20°C, respectively. The signaling pathway mediated by Ca 2+ as a signaling molecule and abscisic acid pathways were the main cold signal transduction pathways in P. sibirica. The APETALA2/Ethylene-Responsive Factor (AP2/ERF) and MYB transcription factor families also play an important role in the transcriptional regulation of P. sibirica. In addition, many genes related to photosynthesis were differentially expressed under cold stress. We also validated the reliability of transcriptome data with quantitative real-time PCR. This study lays the foundation for understanding the molecular mechanisms related to cold responses in P. sibirica.

Cold Stress, Freezing Adaptation, Varietal Susceptibility of Olea europaea L.: A Review

“…In summary, both the RNA-sequencing transcriptome experiments showed an induction of genes encoding enzymes associated to changes in membrane lipid composition, as well as stress-related genes like cold-regulated genes and dehydrins, the downregulation of photosynthesis-related genes, and the activation of the carbohydrate catabolism. The expression pattern of DEGs rather well aligned with previous gene expression studies and biochemical and physiological changes described here and in other species [ 152 , 153 ], suggesting that olive activates known and conserved molecular responses to cold stress. However, Guerra et al, [ 95 ] highlighted specific peculiarities of olive tree, such as preferential osmolytes compounds and induced scavenging systems for ROS.…”