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Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering... Oct 2019Abiotic stresses adversely affect the plant's growth and development leading to loss of crop plants and plant products in terms of both the quality and quantity. Two... (Review)
Review
Abiotic stresses adversely affect the plant's growth and development leading to loss of crop plants and plant products in terms of both the quality and quantity. Two main strategies are adopted by plants to acclimatize to stresses; avoidance and tolerance. These adaptive strategies of plants at the cellular and metabolic level enable them to withstand such detrimental conditions. Acclimatization is associated with intensive changes in the proteome of plants and these changes are directly involved in plants response to stress. Proteome studies can be used to screen for these proteins and their involvement in plants response to various abiotic stresses evaluated. In this review, proteomic studies of different plants species under different abiotic stresses, particularly drought, salinity, heat, cold, and waterlogging, are discussed. From different proteomic studies, the stress response can be determined by an interaction between proteomic and physiological changes which occur in plants during such stress conditions. These identified proteins from different processes under different abiotic stress conditions definitely add to our understanding for exploiting them in various biotechnological applications in crop improvement.
Topics: Acclimatization; Crops, Agricultural; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Plant Proteins; Proteomics; Stress, Physiological
PubMed: 31478455
DOI: 10.1080/02648725.2019.1657682 -
Current Opinion in Insect Science Oct 2020Overwintering is a serious challenge for insects, and winters are rapidly changing as climate shifts. The capacity for phenotypic plasticity and evolutionary adaptation... (Review)
Review
Overwintering is a serious challenge for insects, and winters are rapidly changing as climate shifts. The capacity for phenotypic plasticity and evolutionary adaptation will determine which species profit or suffer from these changes. Here we discuss current knowledge on the potential and evidence for evolution in winter-relevant traits among insect species and populations. We conclude that the best evidence for evolutionary shifts in response to changing winters remain those related to changes in phenology, but all evidence points to cold hardiness as also having the potential to evolve in response to climate change. Predicting future population sizes and ranges relies on understanding to what extent evolution in winter-related traits is possible, and remains a serious challenge.
Topics: Acclimatization; Adaptation, Physiological; Animals; Biological Evolution; Climate Change; Cold Temperature; Insecta; Seasons
PubMed: 32711362
DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2020.06.003 -
The Journal of Animal Ecology Jun 2022Understanding the genomic basis of adaptation to different abiotic environments is important in the context of climate change and resulting short-term environmental... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Understanding the genomic basis of adaptation to different abiotic environments is important in the context of climate change and resulting short-term environmental fluctuations. Using functional and comparative genomics approaches, we here investigated whether signatures of genomic adaptation to a set of environmental parameters are concentrated in specific subsets of genes and functions in lacertid lizards and other vertebrates. We first identify 200 genes with signatures of positive diversifying selection from transcriptomes of 24 species of lacertid lizards and demonstrate their involvement in physiological and morphological adaptations to climate. To understand how functionally similar these genes are to previously predicted candidate functions for climate adaptation and to compare them with other vertebrate species, we then performed a meta-analysis of 1,100 genes under selection obtained from -omics studies in vertebrate species adapted to different abiotic factors. We found that the vertebrate gene set formed a tightly connected interactome, which was to 23% enriched in previously predicted functions of adaptation to climate, and to a large part (18%) involved in organismal stress response. We found a much higher degree of identical genes being repeatedly selected among different animal groups (43.6%), and of functional similarity and post-translational modifications than expected by chance, and no clear functional division between genes used for ectotherm and endotherm physiological strategies. In total, 171 out of 200 genes of Lacertidae were part of this network. These results highlight an important role of a comparatively small set of genes and their functions in environmental adaptation and narrow the set of candidate pathways and markers to be used in future research on adaptation and stress response related to climate change.
Topics: Acclimatization; Adaptation, Physiological; Animals; Climate Change; Genomics; Lizards; Selection, Genetic
PubMed: 34695234
DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13617 -
Metabolic remodeling caused by heat hardening in the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis.The Journal of Experimental Biology Dec 2022Organisms can modify and increase their thermal tolerance faster and more efficiently after a brief exposure to sublethal thermal stress. This response is called 'heat...
Organisms can modify and increase their thermal tolerance faster and more efficiently after a brief exposure to sublethal thermal stress. This response is called 'heat hardening' as it leads to the generation of phenotypes with increased heat tolerance. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of heat hardening on the metabolomic profile of Mytilus galloprovincialis in order to identify the associated adjustments of biochemical pathways that might benefit the mussels' thermal tolerance. Thus, mussels were exposed sequentially to two different phases (heat hardening and acclimation phases). To gain further insight into the possible mechanisms underlying the metabolic response of the heat-hardened M. galloprovincialis, metabolomics analysis was complemented by the estimation of mRNA expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), pyruvate kinase (PK) and alternative oxidase (AOX) implicated in the metabolic pathways of gluconeogenesis, glycolysis and redox homeostasis, respectively. Heat-hardened mussels showed evidence of higher activity of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and diversification of upregulated metabolic pathways, possibly as a mechanism to increase ATP production and extend survival under heat stress. Moreover, formate and taurine accumulation provide an antioxidant and cytoprotective role in mussels during hypoxia and thermal stress. Overall, the metabolic responses in non-heat-hardened and heat-hardened mussels underline the upper thermal limits of M. galloprovincialis, set at 26°C, and are in accordance with the OCLTT concept. The ability of heat-hardened mussels to undergo a rapid gain and slow loss of heat tolerance may be an advantageous strategy for coping with intermittent and often extreme temperatures.
Topics: Animals; Mytilus; Thermotolerance; Heat-Shock Response; Hot Temperature; Acclimatization
PubMed: 36426666
DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244795 -
Bulletin of Entomological Research Aug 2022Insects are mass-reared for release for biocontrol including the sterile insect technique. Insects are usually reared at temperatures that maximize the number of animals... (Review)
Review
Insects are mass-reared for release for biocontrol including the sterile insect technique. Insects are usually reared at temperatures that maximize the number of animals produced, are chilled for handling and transport, and released into the field, where temperatures may be considerably different to those experienced previously. Insect thermal biology is phenotypically plastic (i.e. flexible), which means that there may exist opportunities to increase the performance of these programmes by modifying the temperature regimes during rearing, handling, and release. Here we synthesize the literature on thermal plasticity in relation to the opportunities to reduce temperature-related damage and increase the performance of released insects. We summarize how and why temperature affects insect biology, and the types of plasticity shown by insects. We specifically identify aspects of the production chain that might lead to mismatches between the thermal acclimation of the insect and the temperatures it is exposed to, and identify ways to harness physiological plasticity to reduce that potential mismatch. We address some of the practical (especially engineering) challenges to implementing some of the best-supported thermal regimes to maximize performance (e.g. fluctuating thermal regimes), and acknowledge that a focus only on thermal performance may lead to unwanted trade-offs with other traits that contribute to the success of the programme. Together, it appears that thermal physiological plasticity is well-enough understood to allow its implementation in release programmes.
Topics: Acclimatization; Animals; Insecta; Temperature
PubMed: 35346401
DOI: 10.1017/S0007485321000791 -
Medicine and Science in Sports and... Jun 2023Heat acclimation (HA) is recommended before competing in hot and humid conditions. HA has also been recently suggested to increase muscle strength, but its effects on...
PURPOSE
Heat acclimation (HA) is recommended before competing in hot and humid conditions. HA has also been recently suggested to increase muscle strength, but its effects on human's muscle and tendon mechanical properties are not yet fully understood. This study investigated the effect of active HA on gastrocnemius medialis (GM) muscle-tendon properties.
METHODS
Thirty recreationally active participants performed 13 low-intensity cycling sessions, distributed over a 17-d period in hot (HA = ~38°C, ~58% relative humidity; n = 15) or in temperate environment (CON = ~23°C, ~35% relative humidity; n = 15). Mechanical data and high-frame rate ultrasound images were collected during electrically evoked and voluntary contractions pre- and postintervention. Shear modulus was measured at rest in GM, and vertical jump performance was assessed.
RESULTS
Core temperature decreased from the first to the last session in HA (-0.4°C ± 0.3°C; P = 0.015), while sweat rate increased (+0.4 ± 0.3 L·h -1 ; P = 0.010), suggesting effective HA, whereas no changes were observed in CON (both P ≥ 0.877). Heart rate was higher in HA versus CON and decreased throughout intervention in groups (both P ≤ 0.008), without an interaction effect ( P = 0.733). Muscle-tendon unit properties (i.e., maximal and explosive isometric torque production, contractile properties, voluntary activation, joint and fascicular force-velocity relationship, passive muscle, and active tendon stiffness) and vertical jump performance did not show training ( P ≥ 0.067) or group-training interaction ( P ≥ 0.232) effects.
CONCLUSIONS
Effective active HA does not alter muscle-tendon properties. Preparing hot and humid conditions with active HA can be envisaged in all sporting disciplines without the risk of impairing muscle performance.
Topics: Humans; Hot Temperature; Tendons; Muscle, Skeletal; Muscle Contraction; Acclimatization
PubMed: 36719653
DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003129 -
Cells Oct 2019The unicellular green alga is a valuable model system to study a wide spectrum of scientific fields, including responses to environmental conditions. Most studies are... (Review)
Review
The unicellular green alga is a valuable model system to study a wide spectrum of scientific fields, including responses to environmental conditions. Most studies are performed under optimal growth conditions or under mild stress. However, when environmental conditions become harsher, the behavior of this unicellular alga is less well known. In this review we will show that despite being a unicellular organism, can survive very severe environmental conditions. To do so, and depending on the intensity of the stress, the strategies used by can range from acclimation to the formation of multicellular structures, or involve programmed cell death.
Topics: Acclimatization; Adaptation, Physiological; Cell Aggregation; Chlamydomonas; Necrosis; Stress, Physiological
PubMed: 31652831
DOI: 10.3390/cells8111307 -
Physiologia Plantarum 2023Acclimation is a multigenic trait by which plants adjust photosynthesis and metabolism to cope with a changing environment. Here, natural variations of photosynthetic...
Acclimation is a multigenic trait by which plants adjust photosynthesis and metabolism to cope with a changing environment. Here, natural variations of photosynthetic efficiency and acclimation of the central carbohydrate metabolism were analyzed in response to low and elevated temperatures. For this, 18 natural accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana, originating from Cape Verde Islands and Europe, were grown at 22°C before being exposed to 4°C and 34°C for cold and heat acclimation, respectively. Absolute amounts of carbohydrates were quantified together with their subcellular distribution across plastids, cytosol and vacuole. Linear electron transport rates (ETRs) were determined together with the maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) for all growth conditions and under temperature fluctuation. Under elevated temperature, ETR residuals under increasing photosynthetic photon flux densities significantly correlated with the degree of temperature fluctuation at the original habitat of accessions, indicating a geographical east/west gradient of photosynthetic acclimation capacities. Plastidial sucrose concentrations positively correlated with maximal ETRs under fluctuating temperature, indicating a stabilizing role within the chloroplast. Our findings revealed specific subcellular carbohydrate distributions that contribute differentially to the photosynthetic efficiency of natural Arabidopsis thaliana accessions across a longitudinal gradient. This sheds light on the relevance of subcellular metabolic regulation for photosynthetic performance in a fluctuating environment and supports the physiological interpretation of naturally occurring genetic variation of temperature tolerance and acclimation.
Topics: Temperature; Arabidopsis; Cold Temperature; Photosynthesis; Acclimatization
PubMed: 38148233
DOI: 10.1111/ppl.14106 -
Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance Dec 2023High-altitude [>2400 m (7874 ft)] acclimatization has been well studied with physiological adaptations like reductions in body weight and exercise capacity....
High-altitude [>2400 m (7874 ft)] acclimatization has been well studied with physiological adaptations like reductions in body weight and exercise capacity. However, despite the significance of moderate altitude [MA, 1524-2438 m (5000-8000 ft)], acclimatization at this elevation is not well described. We aimed to investigate differences in mice reared at MA compared to sea level (SL). We hypothesized that MA mice would be smaller and leaner and voluntarily run less than SL mice. C57BL/6 mice reared for at least three generations in Laramie, WY [2194 m (7198 ft), MA], were compared to C57BL/6J mice from Bar Harbor, ME [20 m (66 ft), SL]. We quantified body composition and exercise outputs as well as cardiopulmonary morphometrics. Subsets of MA and SL mice were analyzed to determine differences in neuronal activation after exercise. When body weight was normalized to tibia length, SL animals weighed 1.30 g ⋅ mm while MA mice weighed 1.13 g · mm. Total fat % and trunk fat % were higher in MA mice with values of 41% and 39%, respectively, compared to SL mice with values of 28% and 26%, respectively. However, no differences were noted in leg fat %. MA animals had higher heart mass (119 mg) and lower lung mass (160 mg) compared to SL mice heart mass (100 mg) and lung mass (177 mg). MA mice engaged in about 40% less voluntary wheel-running activity than SL animals. Physiological differences are apparent between MA and SL mice, prompting a need to further understand larger scale implications of residence at moderate altitude.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Altitude; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Altitude Sickness; Acclimatization; Body Weight
PubMed: 38176033
DOI: 10.3357/AMHP.6234.2023 -
Extremophiles : Life Under Extreme... Nov 2019The true-branching cyanobacterium Fischerella thermalis (also known as Mastigocladus laminosus) is widely distributed in hot springs around the world. Morphologically,... (Review)
Review
The true-branching cyanobacterium Fischerella thermalis (also known as Mastigocladus laminosus) is widely distributed in hot springs around the world. Morphologically, it has been described as early as 1837. However, its taxonomic placement remains controversial. F. thermalis belongs to the same genus as mesophilic Fischerella species but forms a monophyletic clade of thermophilic Fischerella strains and sequences from hot springs. Their recent divergence from freshwater or soil true-branching species and the ongoing process of specialization inside the thermal gradient make them an interesting evolutionary model to study. F. thermalis is one of the most complex prokaryotes. It forms a cellular network in which the main trichome and branches exchange metabolites and regulators via septal junctions. This species can adapt to a variety of environmental conditions, with its photosynthetic apparatus remaining active in a temperature range from 15 to 58 °C. Together with its nitrogen-fixing ability, this allows it to dominate in hot spring microbial mats and contribute significantly to the de novo carbon and nitrogen input. Here, we review the current knowledge on the taxonomy and distribution of F. thermalis, its morphological complexity, and its physiological adaptations to an extreme environment.
Topics: Acclimatization; Biological Evolution; Cyanobacteria; Hot Springs; Hot Temperature; Models, Biological; Trichomes
PubMed: 31512055
DOI: 10.1007/s00792-019-01125-4