Project description:Plant cells contain different O-acetylserine(thiol)lyase (OASTL) enzymes involved in Cys biosynthesis and located in different subcellular compartments. These enzymes are made up of a complex variety of isoforms resulting in different subcellular Cys pools. To unravel the contribution of cytosolic Cys to plant metabolism, we characterized the knockout oas-a1.1 and osa-a1.2 mutants, deficient in the most abundant cytosolic OASTL isoform in Arabidposis thaliana. Total intracellular Cys and glutathione concentrations were reduced, and the glutathione redox state was shifted in favour of its oxidized form. Interestingly, the capability of the mutants to chelate heavy metals did not differ from that of the wild type, but the mutants have an enhanced sensitivity to Cd. With the aim of establishing the metabolic network most influenced by the cytosolic Cys pool, we used the ATH1 GeneChip for evaluation of differentially expressed genes in the oas-a1.1 mutant grown under non-stress conditions. The transcriptomic footprints of mutant plants had predicted functions associated with various physiological responses that are dependent on reactive oxygen species and suggested that the mutant was oxidatively stressed. To further elucidate the specific function(s) of the OAS-A1 isoform in the adaptation response to cadmium we extended the trasncriptome experiment to the wild type and oas-a1.1 mutant plants exposed to Cd. The comparison of transcriptomic profiles showed a higher proportion of genes with altered expression in the mutant than in the wild type, highlighting up-regulated genes identified as of the general oxidative stress response rather than metal-responsive genes. Wild type and oas-a1.1 mutant plants were grown hydroponically and, after a two-week acclimation period, the roots and shoots were harvested separately. Total RNA was then prepared and analyzed using the Affymetrix-Arabidopsis ATH1GeneChip array. Three biological replicates were performed for each sample. We made two different comparisons to classify the differently expressed genes in the mutant plant: oas-a1.1 roots versus wild-type roots and oas-a1.1 shoots versus wild-type shoots. Hydroponically-grown wild type and oas-a1.1 mutant plants were further treated with 50µM CdCl2 and 18h-treated-roots and 24h-treated-shoots were harvested. Total RNA was then prepared and analyzed using the Affymetrix-Arabidopsis ATH1GeneChip array. Three biological replicates were performed for each sample. Different comparisons were performed as follows: 18h Cd-treated wild type roots versus untreated wild type roots; 24h Cd-treated wild type shoots versus untreated wild type shoots; 18h Cd-treated oas-a1.1 roots versus untreated oas-a1.1 roots; 24h Cd-treated oas-a1.1 shoots versus untreated oas-a1.1 shoots; 18h Cd-treated oas-a1.1 roots versus 18h Cd-treated wild type roots; 24h Cd-treated oas-a1.1 shoots versus 24h Cd-treated wild type shoots
Project description:The goal of this project is to compare the primary metabolite profile in different tissue types of the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Specifically, plants were grown hydroponically under the long-day (16hr light/day) condition at 21C. Tissue samples, including leaves, inflorescences, and roots were harvest 4 1/2 weeks post sowing. Untargeted primary metabolites profiling was carried out using GCTOF.
Project description:Piriformospora indica, an endophytic fungus of Sebacinales, colonizes the roots of many plant species including Arabidopsis thaliana. The symbiotic interaction promotes plant per-formance, growth and resistance/tolerance against abiotic and biotic stress. We demonstrate that exudated compounds from the fungus activate stress and defense responses in the Arabidopsis roots and shoots before the two partners are in physical contact. They induce stomata closure, stimulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, stress-related phytohormone accumulation and activate defense and stress genes in the roots and/or shoots. Once a physical contact is established, the stomata re-open, ROS and phytohormone levels decline, and the gene expression pattern indicates a shift from defense to mutualistic interaction. We propose that exudated compounds from P. indica induce stress and defense responses in the host. Root colonization results in the downregulation of defense responses and the activation of genes involved in promoting plant growth, metabolism and performance.
Project description:Experiments were achieved on Arabidopsis thaliana. Transcriptional profiling of roots and shoots from plants treated with lead were compared to plants treated in similar conditions without lead. Four weeks old A. thaliana seedlings were treated in hydroponic cultures with Pb during 3 days, by adding or not 40 µM Pb(NO3)2.
Project description:The goal of this study is to compare the transcriptome (RNA-seq) modulations in the roots and shoots of Arabidopsis thaliana, as a plant model, exposed to two toxic concentrations of rare earth elements. Lanthanum and ytterbium were used as representative of light and heavy rare earth elements, respectively.
Project description:The ALADIN protein is a component of the nuclear pore complex in higher eukaryotes. Alteration in ALADIN is the basis for the human disease called triple A syndrome (Achalasia-Addisonianism-Alacrima Syndrome). A recent report showed that ALADIN deficiency decreases the tolerance to oxidative stress in human cells and impairs their ability to proliferate. An ALADIN homologue exists in plants, but its functions are still unknown. Therefore, the role of ALADIN was investigated in Arabidopsis thaliana in link with the regulation of the cell cycle. Transcriptome profiling of the roots and shoots of the aladin mutant showed the induction of numerous transcripts linked to stress response and hormone signalling.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of Arabidopsis thaliana cotyledons comparing ecotype Col-0 (Control) with lea13 T-DNA line to elucidate the response mechanism to drought stress conditions that rely on LEA protein function.