bioRxiv Science⌕ Search

Biology subjects

Ojosnegros, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Ojosnegros, S..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

Comprehensive analysis of proteins associated with light responses and stress tolerance in the gametophyte of the fern Dryopteris affinis ssp. affinis

The fern gametophyte, despite its crucial role as the pioneer stage ensuring the successful establishment of the fern, has remained largely neglected as a subject of research, being particularly evident at the molecular level. In this study, based on an RNA-sequenced gametophyte transcriptome from the apogamous fern Dryopteris affinis ssp. affinis, 1,160 proteins functionally associated with light responses, transport processes, and stress mechanisms were identified. Light-responsive proteins are linked to photosynthesis, photorespiration, xanthophyll metabolism, and photomorphogenesis. Among them are several HIGH CHLOROPHYLL FLUORESCENCE (HCF 136, 173 and 244), which participate in the formation of photosystem II, and ENHANCER OF VARIEGATION 3 (EVR3), which is involved in chloroplast biogenesis. Regarding photomorphogenesis, the protein list includes the photoreceptors PHYTOCHROME B (PHYB), CRYPTOCHROMES 1 and 2 (CRY1 and 2), PHOTOTROPIN 2 (PHOT2), and UV RESISTANCE LOCUS 2, 3 and 8 (UVR2, 3 and 8). Likewise, related to transport, 659 proteins were found either in membranes and cytoplasm, moving a wide range of molecules, such as PERMEASE 2 and 3 (AAP2 and 3), SUCROSE TRANSPORTER 4 (SUC4), AMMONIUM TRANSPORTER 1 (AMT1), MECHANOSENSITIVE ION CHANNEL PROTEIN 1 (MSL1), among others. Furthermore, our results comprised an extensive arsenal of proteins to battle against both biotic and abiotic stress, or involved in plant immunity, such as BRASSINOSTEROID-SIGNALLING KINASE 1 (BSK1), NON-RESPONDING TO OXYLIPINS 7 (NOXY7), and CALLOSE SYNTHASE 12 (CALS12); whereas -MANNOSIDASE 2 (GMII), PALMITOYL-MONOGALACTOSYLDIACYLGLYCEROL {Delta}-7 DESATURASE (ADS3), and FORGETTER 1 (FGT1) are linked to salt, cold or heat stresses, respectively. Analysis of protein-protein interactions revealed MODIFIED TRANSPORT TO THE VACUOLE 17 (MTV17) as the most connected protein, with 19 interactions, mainly supported by text-mining and database evidence. These findings contribute to expanding the limited knowledge at the molecular level of ferns overall, paving the way for future experimental investigations.

plant biology↗

Transcriptomic analyses in the gametophyte ofDryopteris affinis: apomixis and more

The gametophyte of the fern Dryopteris affinis ssp. affinis represents a good model to explore the molecular basis of vegetative and reproductive development, as well as stress responses. Specifically, this fern reproduces asexually by apogamy, a peculiar case of apomixis whereby a sporophyte forms directly from a gametophytic cell without fertilization. Using an RNA-sequencing approach, we have previously annotated more than six thousand transcripts. Here, we selected one hundred of the inferred proteins that seemed particularly interesting for a detailed study of their potential functions, protein-protein interactions, and molecular phylogenies. As expected, a plethora of proteins associated with gametogenesis and embryogenesis in angiosperms, such as FERONIA (FER) and CHROMATING REMODELING 11 (CHR11) were identified, and more than a dozen candidates potentially involved in apomixis, such as ARGONAUTE4 (AGO4), AGO9, and AGO10, BABY BOOM (BBM), FASCIATED STEM4 (FAS4), FERTILIZATION-INDEPENDENT ENDOSPERM (FIE), and MATERNAL EFFECT EMBRYO ARREST29 (MEE29). In addition, proteins involved in the response to biotic and abiotic stresses were widely represented, as shown by the enrichment of heat-shock proteins. Using the String platform, studying interactomes revealed that most of the protein-protein interactions were predicted based on experimental, database, and text mining datasets, with MULTICOPY SUPPRESSOR OF IRA4 (MSI4) showing the highest number of 16 interactions. Lastly, some proteins were studied from a phylogenetic point of view, comparing the alignments with respect to more distantly or closely related plant groups, identifying AGO1 as the evolutionarily most similar to that other ferns and the most distant to the predicted common ancestor. This work sets the stage for future functional characterizations in relation to gametophyte development including apomictic reproduction.

plant biology↗