Abstract
The moss Physcomitrella patens has been shown to tolerate abiotic stresses, including salinity, cold, and desiccation. To better understand this plant's mechanism of desiccation tolerance, we have applied cellular and proteomic analyses. Gametophores were desiccated over 1 month to 10% of their original fresh weight. We report that during the course of dehydration, several related processes are set in motion: plasmolysis, chloroplast remodeling, and microtubule depolymerization. Despite the severe desiccation, the membrane system maintains integrity. Through two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and image analysis, we identified 71 proteins as desiccation responsive. Following identification and functional categorization, we found that a majority of the desiccation-responsive proteins were involved in metabolism, cytoskeleton, defense, and signaling. Degradation of cytoskeletal proteins might result in cytoskeletal disassembly and consequent changes in the cell structure. Late embryogenesis abundant proteins and reactive oxygen species-scavenging enzymes are both prominently induced, and they might help to diminish the damage brought by desiccation.
Highlights
The moss Physcomitrella patens has been shown to tolerate abiotic stresses, including salinity, cold, and desiccation
We report that P. patens is desiccation tolerant, with changes in cell structure correlated with changes in the proteome
Proteomic analysis reveals that some mechanisms of vegetative desiccation tolerance in P. patens are related to those that occur during seed maturation in angiosperms
Summary
The moss Physcomitrella patens has been shown to tolerate abiotic stresses, including salinity, cold, and desiccation. To better understand this plant’s mechanism of desiccation tolerance, we have applied cellular and proteomic analyses. With increasing urbanization and human progress, water deficiency looms as a widespread and worsening agricultural problem In such a scenario, the ability of plants to tolerate water deficit has important economic ramifications. We report that P. patens is desiccation tolerant, with changes in cell structure correlated with changes in the proteome. Proteomic analysis reveals that some mechanisms of vegetative desiccation tolerance in P. patens are related to those that occur during seed maturation in angiosperms
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