Variation in gene expression along an elevation gradient of Rhododendron sanguineum var. haemaleum assessed in a comparative transcriptomic analysis
Selection along environmental gradients may play a vital role in driving adaptive evolution. Nevertheless, genomic variation and genetic adaptation along environmental clines remains largely unknown in plants in alpine ecosystems. To close this knowledge gap, we assayed transcriptomic profiles of la...
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1133065/full |
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| author | Lin-Jiang Ye Lin-Jiang Ye Lin-Jiang Ye Michael Möller Ya-Huang Luo Ya-Huang Luo Jia-Yun Zou Wei Zheng Wei Zheng Jie Liu De-Zhu Li De-Zhu Li De-Zhu Li Lian-Ming Gao Lian-Ming Gao |
| author_facet | Lin-Jiang Ye Lin-Jiang Ye Lin-Jiang Ye Michael Möller Ya-Huang Luo Ya-Huang Luo Jia-Yun Zou Wei Zheng Wei Zheng Jie Liu De-Zhu Li De-Zhu Li De-Zhu Li Lian-Ming Gao Lian-Ming Gao |
| author_sort | Lin-Jiang Ye |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Selection along environmental gradients may play a vital role in driving adaptive evolution. Nevertheless, genomic variation and genetic adaptation along environmental clines remains largely unknown in plants in alpine ecosystems. To close this knowledge gap, we assayed transcriptomic profiles of late flower bud and early leaf bud of Rhododendron sanguineum var. haemaleum from four different elevational belts between 3,000 m and 3,800 m in the Gaoligong Mountains. By comparing differences in gene expression of these samples, a gene co-expression network (WGCNA) was constructed to identify candidate genes related to elevation. We found that the overall gene expression patterns are organ-specific for the flower and leaf. Differentially expressed unigenes were identified in these organs. In flowers, these were mainly related to terpenoid metabolism (RsHMGR, RsTPS), while in leaves mainly related to anthocyanin biosynthesis (RsCHS, RsF3’5’H). Terpenoids are the main components of flower scent (fragrance) likely attracting insects for pollination. In response to fewer pollinators at higher elevation zone, it seems relatively less scent is produced in flower organs to reduce energy consumption. Secondary metabolites in leaves such as anthocyanins determine the plants’ alternative adaptive strategy to extreme environments, such as selective pressures of insect herbivory from environmental changes and substrate competition in biosynthesis pathways at high elevations. Our findings indicated that the gene expression profiles generated from flower and leaf organs showed parallel expression shifts but with different functionality, suggesting the existence of flexibility in response strategies of plants exposed to heterogeneous environments across elevational gradients. The genes identified here are likely to be involved in the adaptation of the plants to these varying mountainous environments. This study thus contributes to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of adaptation in response to environmental change. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:29:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-446b89fb6a0c4535b1e175fa72e1fbc0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:29:32Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-446b89fb6a0c4535b1e175fa72e1fbc02023-03-21T06:01:05ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2023-03-011410.3389/fpls.2023.11330651133065Variation in gene expression along an elevation gradient of Rhododendron sanguineum var. haemaleum assessed in a comparative transcriptomic analysisLin-Jiang Ye0Lin-Jiang Ye1Lin-Jiang Ye2Michael Möller3Ya-Huang Luo4Ya-Huang Luo5Jia-Yun Zou6Wei Zheng7Wei Zheng8Jie Liu9De-Zhu Li10De-Zhu Li11De-Zhu Li12Lian-Ming Gao13Lian-Ming Gao14CAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, ChinaKey Laboratory of Plant Resources and Biodiversity of Jiangxi Province, Jingdezhen University, Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, ChinaGermplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, ChinaRoyal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, United KingdomCAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, ChinaLijiang Forest Biodiversity National Observation and Research Station, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lijiang, Yunnan, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, ChinaGermplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, ChinaLijiang Forest Biodiversity National Observation and Research Station, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lijiang, Yunnan, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaCAS Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, ChinaLijiang Forest Biodiversity National Observation and Research Station, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lijiang, Yunnan, ChinaSelection along environmental gradients may play a vital role in driving adaptive evolution. Nevertheless, genomic variation and genetic adaptation along environmental clines remains largely unknown in plants in alpine ecosystems. To close this knowledge gap, we assayed transcriptomic profiles of late flower bud and early leaf bud of Rhododendron sanguineum var. haemaleum from four different elevational belts between 3,000 m and 3,800 m in the Gaoligong Mountains. By comparing differences in gene expression of these samples, a gene co-expression network (WGCNA) was constructed to identify candidate genes related to elevation. We found that the overall gene expression patterns are organ-specific for the flower and leaf. Differentially expressed unigenes were identified in these organs. In flowers, these were mainly related to terpenoid metabolism (RsHMGR, RsTPS), while in leaves mainly related to anthocyanin biosynthesis (RsCHS, RsF3’5’H). Terpenoids are the main components of flower scent (fragrance) likely attracting insects for pollination. In response to fewer pollinators at higher elevation zone, it seems relatively less scent is produced in flower organs to reduce energy consumption. Secondary metabolites in leaves such as anthocyanins determine the plants’ alternative adaptive strategy to extreme environments, such as selective pressures of insect herbivory from environmental changes and substrate competition in biosynthesis pathways at high elevations. Our findings indicated that the gene expression profiles generated from flower and leaf organs showed parallel expression shifts but with different functionality, suggesting the existence of flexibility in response strategies of plants exposed to heterogeneous environments across elevational gradients. The genes identified here are likely to be involved in the adaptation of the plants to these varying mountainous environments. This study thus contributes to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of adaptation in response to environmental change.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1133065/fullRhododendronelevational gradientsevolutionary adaptationRNA-seqorgan-specific profilealpine ecosystem |
| spellingShingle | Lin-Jiang Ye Lin-Jiang Ye Lin-Jiang Ye Michael Möller Ya-Huang Luo Ya-Huang Luo Jia-Yun Zou Wei Zheng Wei Zheng Jie Liu De-Zhu Li De-Zhu Li De-Zhu Li Lian-Ming Gao Lian-Ming Gao Variation in gene expression along an elevation gradient of Rhododendron sanguineum var. haemaleum assessed in a comparative transcriptomic analysis Frontiers in Plant Science Rhododendron elevational gradients evolutionary adaptation RNA-seq organ-specific profile alpine ecosystem |
| title | Variation in gene expression along an elevation gradient of Rhododendron sanguineum var. haemaleum assessed in a comparative transcriptomic analysis |
| title_full | Variation in gene expression along an elevation gradient of Rhododendron sanguineum var. haemaleum assessed in a comparative transcriptomic analysis |
| title_fullStr | Variation in gene expression along an elevation gradient of Rhododendron sanguineum var. haemaleum assessed in a comparative transcriptomic analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Variation in gene expression along an elevation gradient of Rhododendron sanguineum var. haemaleum assessed in a comparative transcriptomic analysis |
| title_short | Variation in gene expression along an elevation gradient of Rhododendron sanguineum var. haemaleum assessed in a comparative transcriptomic analysis |
| title_sort | variation in gene expression along an elevation gradient of rhododendron sanguineum var haemaleum assessed in a comparative transcriptomic analysis |
| topic | Rhododendron elevational gradients evolutionary adaptation RNA-seq organ-specific profile alpine ecosystem |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2023.1133065/full |
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