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PubMed2025

Nuclear and cytosolic J-domain proteins provide synergistic control of Hsf1 at distinct phases of the heat shock response.

The heat shock response (HSR) is the major defense mechanism against proteotoxic stress in the cytosol and nucleus of eukaryotic cells. Initiation and attenuation of the response are mediated by stress-dependent regulation of heat shock transcription factors (HSFs). Saccharomyces cerevisiae encodes a single HSF (Hsf1), facilitating the analysis of HSR regulation. Hsf1 is repressed by Hsp70 chaperones under non-stress conditions and becomes activated under proteotoxic stress, directly linking protein damage and its repair to the HSR. J-domain proteins (JDPs) are essential for targeting of Hsp70s to their substrates, yet the specific JDP(s) regulating Hsf1 and connecting protein damage to HSR activation remain unclear. Here, we show that the yeast nuclear JDP Apj1 primarily controls the attenuation phase of the HSR by promoting Hsf1's displacement from heat shock elements in target DNA. In apj1Δ cells, HSR attenuation is significantly impaired. Additionally, yeast cells lacking both Apj1 and the major JDP Ydj1 exhibit increased HSR activation even in non-stress conditions, indicating their distinct regulatory roles. Apj1's role in both nuclear protein quality control and Hsf1 regulation underscores its role in directly linking nuclear proteostasis to HSR regulation. Together, these findings establish the nucleus as key stress-sensing signaling hub.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins↗

PubMed2026

Heat-responsive ONSEN long terminal repeats integrate heat shock factor motifs, DNA methylation and natural sequence variation in Arabidopsis.

ONSEN is a heat-activated Ty1/copia retrotransposon in Arabidopsis thaliana controlled by heat shock factors (HSFs) and epigenetic silencing. Heat shock element (HSE)-like sequences in ONSEN long terminal repeats (LTRs) contribute to heat responsiveness, but relationships among sequence architecture, basal DNA methylation and natural variation remain unclear. We combined transcription-factor motif prediction, transposable-element comparisons, methylome and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data, and Arabidopsis genome assemblies. In silico disruption of five HSE cores eliminated HSF-family motif compatibility in the selected design and all 5119 exact-guanine-cytosine (GC) alternatives. Across 16 curated Columbia-0 terminal windows, ONSEN contained 33-49 non-redundant HSF motif-coordinate placements per 800 bp window and was strongly enriched relative to 1930 non-ONSEN transposable elements across score thresholds and continuous metrics. Direct comparison with 779 non-ONSEN LTR retrotransposons showed selectively elevated basal CHH methylation (where H = A, C or T) at ONSEN termini. Genome-wide RNA-seq analysis revealed broad heat-responsive gene and transposable-element changes, including strong ONSEN induction, whereas candidate-window analysis distinguished ONSEN from most HSF-rich non-ONSEN outliers. ONSEN-like variants across eight accessions generally retained HSF-compatible motifs while altering predicted DNA binding with one finger-family motif composition. Together, these findings define ONSEN terminal regions as HSF-rich regulatory sequences that retain heat-responsive potential within a methylated chromatin context and identify candidates for functional analysis.

DNA Methylation↗

PubMed2026

Emergent 3D genome reorganization and graded gene control from the stepwise assembly of transcriptional condensates.

Transcriptional condensates are clusters of transcription factors, coactivators, and RNA Pol II associated with gene activation, yet how they assemble and function within the cell remains unclear. Here, we show that transcriptional condensates form in a stepwise manner to enable both graded and three-dimensional (3D) gene control in the yeast heat shock response (HSR). First, the transcription factor Hsf1 (heat shock factor 1) clusters upon partial dissociation from the chaperone Hsp70. Next, the coactivator Mediator partitions following further Hsp70 dissociation and Hsf1 phosphorylation. Finally, Pol II condenses, driving emergent coalescence of HSR genes. Separation-of-function Hsf1 mutants revealed graded (non-switch-like) control of transcription and a decoupling of condensate formation and gene activation. Fully assembled HSR condensates promoted adaptive 3D genome reconfiguration, suggesting a role beyond transcription. In the HSR, differential condensation of the transcriptional machinery quantitatively tunes gene expression and qualitatively remodels the 3D genome.

3D genome↗

PubMed2026

Molecular mechanisms of plant thermal response: from signal transduction and epigenetic regulation to signaling integration.

Global warming intensification elevates heat stress to one of the major threats to crop productivity. This review synthesizes recent advances in understanding the mechanisms governing plant responses to both moderate and acute heat stress, with a focus on the integration of epigenetic regulation and signaling networks that underpin thermal adaptation. This review highlights how transcription factors PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR 4 (PIF4, during thermomorphogenesis) and HEAT SHOCK FACTOR A1s (HSFA1s, in heat shock responses) orchestrate plant adaptive growth through crosstalk among light, circadian, and hormone signaling pathways. Importantly, epigenetic mechanisms, including histone variant H2A.Z dynamics and histone modification reprogramming, function as central regulators of thermal plasticity. Key among these processes are HSFA2-mediated chromatin remodeling and small interfering RNA (siRNA)-dependent control of transgenerational thermomemory. Despite this progress, fundamental questions persist regarding temperature sensing, HSFA1s activation dynamics, and stress signal integration. Multi-omics and synthetic biology approaches are proposed to be pivotal in deciphering conserved principles of plant thermal resilience, ultimately providing a theoretical foundation and molecular breeding strategies for climate-smart crops.

Epigenesis, Genetic↗

PubMed2026

Comparative Characterization of σ32-Dependent Promoters for the Heat-Inducible Expression of FAST-PETase in Escherichia coli.

Efficient regulation of recombinant enzyme expression is an important consideration for the development of microbial biocatalysts. Heat-inducible promoters regulated by the alternative sigma factor σ32 provide an inducer-free strategy for controlling gene expression in Escherichia coli. In this study, four σ32-dependent promoters (PdnaK, PgrpE, PibpA, and PclpB) were comparatively characterized using the PET-degrading enzyme FAST-PETase fused to superfolder green fluorescent protein as a model recombinant protein. Promoter performance was evaluated based on basal leakage, induction kinetics, and expression strength following heat induction. Among the promoters examined, PdnaK exhibited the strongest heat-inducible expression and was dissected to examine the autonomous and combinatorial behavior of its promoter-derived elements. Molecular docking analysis further supported the experimental observations by showing qualitative agreement between predicted σ32-DNA interactions and promoter performance. Together, these findings provide a comparative characterization of σ32-dependent promoters and identify promoter architectures that may facilitate the development of heat-inducible recombinant enzyme expression systems in E. coli.

Escherichia coli↗

PubMed2025

Nuclear basket proteins Nup2 and Mlp1 drive heat shock-induced 3D genome restructuring downstream of transcriptional activation.

The nuclear pore complex (NPC), a multisubunit complex located within the nuclear envelope, regulates RNA export and the import and export of proteins. Here we address the role of the NPC in driving thermal stress-induced 3D genome repositioning of Heat Shock Responsive (HSR) genes in budding yeast. We found that two nuclear basket proteins, Nup2 and Mlp1, although dispensable for NPC integrity, are required for driving HSR genes into coalesced chromatin clusters, consistent with their strong, heat shock-dependent recruitment to HSR gene regulatory and coding regions. HSR gene clustering occurs predominantly within the nucleoplasm and is independent of the essential scaffold-associated proteins Nup1 and Nup145. Notably, acute double depletion of Nup2 and Mlp1 has little effect on the formation of Heat Shock Factor 1 (Hsf1)-containing transcriptional condensates, Hsf1 and Pol II recruitment to HSR genes, or HSR mRNA abundance. Our results define a 3D genome restructuring role for nuclear basket proteins extrinsic to the NPC and downstream of HSR gene activation.

3D genome architecture↗

PubMed2026

Maternal and developmental temperature modulate adult response to temperature in Drosophila melanogaster.

Beyond inherited genes and environmentally induced changes in gene expression, phenotypes can also be shaped by parental effects-an effect from a parental phenotype that causes modifications in offspring traits, which cannot be solely explained by the parental or offspring genomes. Such effects may prepare offspring for future environmental conditions and contribute to phenotypic plasticity, including responses to temperature. While temperature-induced plasticity has been extensively studied, the relative contributions of parental versus direct environmental cues remain poorly understood. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is a powerful model for studying physiological and behavioral adaptation to temperature. Flies inhabit environments spanning broad thermal ranges and show evidence of parental effects, such as increased heat tolerance in offspring from warm-reared parents. Here, we exposed mothers to two experimental temperatures and split their broods between the same two temperatures to estimate the relative importance of maternal and developmental effects on adult physiological and developmental responses to temperature. We find that the reaction norms of locomotor activity under gradually increasing temperatures, responses to heat-shock and cold-shock, and fecundity are mostly governed by direct plastic responses to developmental environment. We detected comparatively weak maternal effects in the response to heat-shock, fecundity, and grand-offspring survival where matched environments counteracted the effects of direct offspring experience. We conclude that thermal experience during development is the primary determinant of phenotypic plasticity in D. melanogaster, while maternal experience contributes a small but non-negligible component.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

Transposable Elements Drive Regulatory and Functional Innovation of F-box Genes.

Protein domains of transposable elements (TEs) and viruses increase the protein diversity of host genomes by recombining with other protein domains. By screening 10 million eukaryotic proteins, we identified several domains that define multicopy gene families and frequently co-occur with TE/viral domains. Among these, a Tc1/Mariner transposase helix-turn-helix (HTH) domain was captured by F-box genes in the Caenorhabditis genus, creating a new class of F-box genes. For specific members of this class, like fbxa-215, we found that the HTH domain is required for diverse processes including germ granule localization, fertility, and thermotolerance. Furthermore, we provide evidence that Heat Shock Factor 1 (HSF-1) mediates the transcriptional integration of fbxa-215 into the heat shock response by binding to Helitron TEs directly upstream of the fbxa-215 locus. The interactome of HTH-bearing F-box factors suggests roles in post-translational regulation and proteostasis, consistent with established functions of F-box proteins. Based on AlphaFold2 multimer proteome-wide screens, we propose that the HTH domain may diversify the repertoire of protein substrates that F-box factors regulate post-translationally. We also describe an independent capture of a TE domain by F-box genes in zebrafish. In conclusion, we identify two independent TE domain captures by F-box genes in eukaryotes and provide insights into how these novel proteins are integrated within host gene regulatory networks.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

Cross-species phenotypic profiling uncovers functional determinants of bacterial cold shock adaptation.

Temperature shifts impose broad physiological stress, requiring precise and dynamic regulatory programs to restore cellular homeostasis. While the heat shock response is well characterized, the mechanisms underlying cold shock response (CSR) remain less understood. To identify genes critical for cold adaptation, we applied transposon sequencing (Tn-seq) to monitor mutant fitness across the full course of CSR and sustained low-temperature growth in two mesophilic bacteria, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. In B. subtilis, phenotypic profiling revealed a temporally structured program: membrane fluidity and cell wall remodeling were most critical in the early stage of CSR, whereas post-transcriptional regulation became essential during late-stage recovery to reprogram gene expression and restore growth. Cross-species comparison uncovered both conserved and species-specific mechanisms, with RNA metabolism and ribosome/translation regulators playing broad roles. Specifically, we identified a conserved synergy between two ribosomal RNA methyltransferases, RsmA and RsmH, in promoting cold adaptation. In B. subtilis, mutants lacking these enzymes exhibited significant delay in translation recovery following cold-induced global inhibition. Together, these findings provide a comparative, systems-level view of bacterial cold adaptation and establish a framework for exploring stress responses in pathogens and extremophiles.

Cell envelope↗

PubMed2026

Genome-wide characterization of heat shock protein genes reveals thermal stress-responsive candidates in Litopenaeus vannamei.

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are conserved molecular chaperones involved in protein folding, refolding, aggregation prevention, and degradation of damaged proteins. However, the genomic organization and thermal responsiveness of HSP genes in the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) remain incompletely understood. Here, we performed a genome-wide analysis of the HSP gene family and examined its phylogenetic relationships, structural features, duplication patterns, sequence variation, interaction networks, and transcriptional responses to acute heat stress. A total of 34 HSP genes were identified and classified into the HSP90, HSP70, HSP40/DNAJ, HSP60, and small HSP families. Phylogenetic, motif, gene structure, synteny, and subcellular localization analyses revealed evolutionary conservation and structural diversification among family members. Three duplicated gene pairs were identified, comprising two segmental duplications and one tandem duplication. All pairs exhibited Ka/Ks ratios below 1, consistent with purifying selection of varying strength. Sequence analysis identified 295 nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms, of which 12 were consistently predicted to be deleterious by multiple algorithms. Protein-protein interaction analysis indicated enrichment of protein-folding and cellular stress-response functions. RT-qPCR analysis showed significant induction of HSPA4, HSP90AA1, TRAP1, BiP, and DNAJA1 after 6, 12, and 24 h of exposure to 34 °C, whereas DNAJC3 was significantly induced only at 12 h. All six genes reached their highest transcript abundance at 12 h. These findings may provide a genomic framework for HSP genes in L. vannamei and identify candidate genes and variants associated with thermal stress responses.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Transcriptomic insights into thermal stress reveal physiological trade-off between thermal stress adaptation and reproductive investment in Spodoptera litura.

Spodoptera litura, a highly polyphagous lepidopteran pest, poses a major threat to agricultural productivity due to its remarkable adaptability to diverse environmental conditions. Although heat stress is known to trigger transcriptional reprogramming in insects, the molecular mechanisms underlying thermal stress responses in S. litura remain poorly understood. In the present study, fourth-instar larvae were exposed to acute heat stress (44 °C) and compared with control conditions (27 ± 1 °C) to investigate heat-induced transcriptional alterations affecting physiology and reproduction. High-quality RNA-Seq data achieved more than 80% mapping efficiency, with a total of 15,782 transcripts were identified. Transcriptome analysis of S. litura larvae showed 323 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 262 genes were significantly upregulated and 61 were downregulated in heat-stressed larvae compared to the control group. The DEGs were associated with stress response, reproduction, signalling, proteostasis, detoxification, oxidative stress, metabolism, development, and chromatin regulation. Heat shock proteins genes, including HSP70, HSP90, and HSP27, together with co-chaperones such as TRET-1, STIP1, and Starvin, were strongly upregulated, indicating enhanced cellular protection against protein damage and oxidative stress under heat stress. Conversely, key reproductive and cell cycle-related genes, including BARR, CAPD2, FEO, CDK2 and MORULA, were significantly downregulated, suggesting reproductive impairment and developmental arrest. RT-qPCR validation corroborated the RNA-Seq findings, demonstrating a heat-induced physiological trade-off that prioritizes survival over reproduction. Consistent with these molecular responses, heat-stressed insects exhibited marked reproductive impairment, including significant reductions in gonadosomatic index, eupyrene sperm bundle count, mating frequency, mating success, female calling behaviour, copulation duration, fecundity, and egg fertility. Collectively, these findings provide comprehensive insights into the molecular basis of thermal adaptation in S. litura and demonstrate that acute heat stress compromises reproductive fitness while activating conserved stress-response pathways that promote short-term survival.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

A Review on Heat Stress in Broiler Chickens: Mechanisms, Effects and Mitigation Strategies.

BACKGROUND: Heat stress (HS) is a major environmental challenge for broilers, particularly under rising global temperatures and high humidity. Broiler chickens are highly susceptible because of their rapid growth rate, high metabolic heat production, limited thermoregulatory capacity and genetic selection for fast growth. OBJECTIVE: This review aims to synthesise current evidence, evaluate the effectiveness of existing mitigation strategies, identify key knowledge gaps and provide future research directions to improve broiler resilience, welfare and productivity under increasingly HS conditions. METHODS: This review synthesised evidence published between 2010 and 2025 on the physiological, metabolic, intestinal, immunological and productive consequences of HS and evaluated mitigation strategies. RESULTS: The reviewed studies demonstrate that HS reduces feed intake by approximately 10%-30%, suppresses body weight gain and feed efficiency and increases mortality, with severity depending on temperature, humidity and broiler genotype. HS disrupts carbohydrate, protein and lipid metabolism; induces acid-base imbalance and oxidative stress; compromises intestinal barrier integrity; alters gut microbiota; suppresses immune function; and reduces meat quality. Nutritional interventions, including dietary electrolyte balance, antioxidants, vitamins, selenium, zinc, phytogenic compounds, probiotics, betaine and optimised feeding strategies, environmental management and genetic approaches, including naked-neck and frizzle genes, can partially alleviate these adverse effects. However, inconsistencies among studies persist because of differences in broiler strains, environmental conditions, dietary formulations and experimental protocols. CONCLUSION: HS substantially compromises broiler health, welfare, productivity and meat quality. Nutritional, environmental and genetic approaches can partially mitigate its adverse effects; however, further research is needed to improve broiler resilience under increasingly HS conditions.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

De novo transcriptome assembly and gene expression analysis of Cnidium officinale under high-temperature conditions.

BACKGROUND: The medicinal plant Cnidium officinale (CO) is widespread in Northeast Asia and vulnerable to heat stress. The naturally occurring composition of pharmacological ingredients of CO results in overall physiological consequences; therefore, it is crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of metabolic response to ambient heat in terms of acclimation to estimate how much CO is exposed to threatening environmental conditions. RESULTS: Transcriptome analysis is critical for understanding the consequences of long-term physiological adaptation of CO to abiotic stress. However, transcriptome analysis on this species, particularly under prolonged stress conditions, has remained limited. We employed a temperature gradient tunnel (TGT) to subject CO to high-temperature exposure for four months, enabling us to observe the cumulative effects of heat and assess its acclimation mechanisms. In the absence of genome sequencing data, we performed de novo transcriptome assembly and compared DEGs from temperature treatment plots of a TGT and a growth chamber (GC). Since interpreting transcriptomic data can be complex, we employed a sequential analytical approach, including DEG clustering, GO enrichment, KEGG pathway mapping, miRNA-target gene analysis, and multiple rounds of RNA sequencing validation. DEGs were classified into two categories: genes exhibiting significant fold changes and genes showing significant count changes rather than fold changes. Then, we analyzed the functional roles of DEGs to determine which pathways respond to ambient and stressful high temperatures and validated the findings through cross-comparison with GC. Additionally, we conducted miRNA analysis to investigate post-transcriptional regulation under high temperatures. CO grown under higher ambient temperatures exhibited slight upregulation of pathways related to protein stability and turnover, ABA biosynthesis, and energy production, such as photosynthesis and oxidative phosphorylation. However, under extreme heat stress, most metabolic pathways were downregulated except for those involved in transcription, translation, oxidative phosphorylation and the biosynthesis of cutin, suberin, and wax. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that proper clustering of genes based on expression levels and fold changes in two different experimental conditions, along with pathway mapping, may provide a comprehensive understanding of CO's response to heat stress. These insights could contribute to future research on heat tolerance and crop improvement.

Gene Expression Profiling↗

PubMed2026

Circular RNAs orchestrate integrated post-transcriptional responses to combined heat and drought stress in rice.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are emerging post-transcriptional regulators, yet their landscape and functional roles in rice under combined abiotic stress remain largely unexplored. Here, we systematically reanalyzed strand-specific RNA-seq data to characterize circRNAs responsive to simultaneous heat and drought stress. Following quality control, read mapping, and dual-algorithm prediction using CIRI2 and CIRCexplorer2, we identified 208 high-confidence circRNAs distributed across all 12 chromosomes. Comparative profiling revealed 83 circRNAs uniquely expressed in control samples, 51 in stressed samples, and 74 shared between conditions, indicating stress-dependent circularization. Junction-read analysis highlighted a spectrum of circularization strength, ranging from highly abundant circRNAs with dominant junction reads to low-confidence candidates masked by linear transcript background. Genomic annotation showed that circRNAs primarily originated from exonic and intergenic regions, with a pronounced negative-strand bias; several genes generated multiple circRNA isoforms via alternative back-splicing. Functional enrichment of host genes suggested involvement in protein folding, nutrient reservoir activity, RNA degradation, and branched-chain amino acid catabolism, implicating roles in stress adaptation and metabolic regulation. Differential expression analysis identified seven circRNAs specifically induced under combined stress conditions. Network topology analysis pinpointed key miRNAs-including osa-miR414, osa-miR1439, and osa-miR2919-as candidate topological hubs within the predicted network. Their predicted target genes, such as those encoding stress-responsive transcription factors and signaling proteins, suggest potential roles in coordinating post-transcriptional responses to combined stress. Network topology analysis pinpointed key miRNAs-including osa-miR414, osa-miR1439, and osa-miR2919-as candidate topological hubs within the predicted network. Their predicted target genes, such as those encoding stress-responsive transcription factors and signaling proteins, suggest potential roles in coordinating post-transcriptional responses to combined stress. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive map of circRNAs in rice under combined heat and drought stress, suggests their potential as ceRNAs based on predictive analysis, and lays a foundation for future experimental validation of circRNA-mediated regulation.

Oryza↗

PubMed2026

Integrated physiological and transcriptomic analyses reveal coordinated gill responses to heat stress in pikeperch (Sander lucioperca).

Climate change-driven warming of aquatic environments has made thermal stress an increasingly important factor influencing fish physiological homeostasis. Given their central roles in respiration and osmoregulation, gills are particularly responsive to variations in ambient temperature. Histological examination, physiological measurements, and transcriptome profiling were integrated to investigate the mechanisms associated with heat stress-induced gill injury in pikeperch (Sander lucioperca). Histological analysis revealed that exposure to 29 °C directly caused structural damage to the gills of pikeperch. Oxidative status was evaluated by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT). MDA accumulation was significantly enhanced under heat stress, while antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, and CAT) displayed a transient increase followed by a subsequent decline. Transcriptome profiling showed marked enrichment of the protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum pathway after heat stress, suggesting activation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in pikeperch gills. With increasing stress duration, the unfolded protein response (UPR) appeared unable to re-establish ER homeostasis, shifting ire1 and atf6 toward a pro-apoptotic state. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis further highlighted hub genes potentially involved in heat stress-induced ER stress and apoptosis. TUNEL staining and western blotting collectively confirmed that heat stress triggered apoptosis in pikeperch gill tissue. Overall, this study provides new insights into the physiological and molecular responses of pikeperch gills to heat stress and enhances our understanding of thermal stress adaptation in cold-water aquaculture species under climate change.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Mining the sHSP20 (small heat-shock protein) gene family in finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.): structural, evolutionary and predicted abiotic-stress-responsive insights.

Small heat-shock proteins (sHSPs, the HSP20 family) are ATP-independent molecular chaperones that hold partially unfolded substrates and protect the proteome during heat and other abiotic stresses; every member is defined by a conserved α-crystallin domain (ACD). Finger millet (Eleusine coracana) is a climate-resilient, calcium-rich allotetraploid cereal of the semi-arid tropics whose HSP20 repertoire had not been catalogued. The present study is an entirely computational (in silico) analysis of the chromosome-scale reference genome of finger millet (NCBI GenBank assembly GCA_032690845.1, cultivar KNE 796-S). Mining the predicted proteome with the ACD profile (Pfam PF00011) and confirming every candidate by NCBI CD-search recovered 76 non-redundant ACD-bearing HSP20 genes (EcHSP20-1-EcHSP20-76). Based on phylogeny and TargetP-predicted localization, the members were classified into ten subfamilies: seven cytosolic/nuclear classes (C-I to C-VII, 60 members) together with chloroplastic (11), mitochondrial (3) and endoplasmic-reticulum (2) groups. The proteins ranged from 110 to 355 amino acids (12.1-39.2 kDa) with theoretical pI of 4.85-9.69. The 76 loci were distributed over 14 of the 18 chromosomes and were conspicuously absent from chromosomes 8 A, 8B, 9 A and 9B, with pronounced clustering on chromosomes 1, 2, 3 and 6. Duplication analysis detected 149 paralogous pairs (49 homoeologous, 80 segmental/dispersed and 18 tandem); 147 of 148 pairs for which substitution rates could be calculated returned Ka/Ks < 1 (mean 0.20), indicating strong purifying selection consistent with retention after whole-genome/allopolyploid duplication. Promoter analysis (PlantCARE) revealed enrichment of abscisic-acid-responsive (ABRE), MYB/MYC drought-related, STRE, DRE, low-temperature (LTR) and methyl-jasmonate/salicylic-acid elements, whereas canonical heat-shock elements (HSE) were not recovered. Expression profiling against a public drought transcriptome (SRP081350) showed that about half of the genes (39 of 76) are transcribed in leaf tissue, the expressed fraction being dominated by the cytosolic class C-I. This first finger-millet HSP20 catalogue provides a verified, reproducible framework and nominates computationally predicted candidate genes for future functional work on thermotolerance in cereals.

Allotetraploid↗

PubMed2026

Genotype-dependent DNA methylation patterns are negatively associated with allelic variation rather than heat-induced gene expression in two contrasting potato genotypes.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important food crop that is sensitive to high temperatures, which cause major changes in the transcriptome and a reduction in yield. In several plant species, DNA methylation has been reported to influence gene expression, particularly under abiotic stress conditions. However, the role of DNA methylation in regulating gene expression in heat-tolerant and heat-sensitive potato genotypes is still poorly understood. In this study, we conducted genome-wide DNA methylome and transcriptome analyses of leaves from two contrasting potato cultivars, Annabelle (moderately heat-tolerant) and Camel (heat-sensitive), before and after heat stress (HS). Genome-wide differential methylation analysis revealed that most identified differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were constitutive, reflecting variation between cultivars rather than being induced by HS. While thousands of heat-responsive differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, only a small fraction coincided with heat-induced DMRs. Despite substantial constitutive DNA methylation and transcriptome differences between the cultivars, we found no consistent association between DMRs and DEGs, indicating that DNA methylation does not play a widespread direct regulatory role in gene expression. Surprisingly, hypermethylated genomic regions were associated with lower alternative allele frequencies, whereas hypomethylated regions showed the opposite trend. These findings indicate that the potato DNA methylome is largely stable under HS and that constitutive DNA methylation variation contributes rather to genetic diversity than to the direct regulation of gene expression.

DNA Methylation↗

PubMed2025

Enriched grain minerals in Aegilops tauschii-derived common wheat population under heat-stress environments.

In wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), an important source of dietary minerals, heat stress during the grain filling stage negatively affects grain yield and quality. Wheat grain mineral content has been primarily evaluated under optimum conditions; little information is available on the genetic variations and loci involved in mineral accumulation under heat stress. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the variation in 13-grain mineral concentrations and thousand kernel weight of 145 wheat multiple synthetic derivatives (MSD) genotypes harboring genes from the wild relative Aegilops tauschii Coss., evaluated under heat-stress field conditions in Sudan for two seasons, and to dissect the genomic regions associated with these mineral contents using GWAS. Our results showed sufficient variations in mineral concentrations among the MSD lines. Some MSD lines had 30-50% more minerals than the recurrent parent Norin 61. We detected 188 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs), 44 MTAs in season 2018/19, one in season 2019/20, and 143 based on BLUE. The highly significant, stable, and promising MTAs were related to Mg, Mn, P, and Ba. We identified putative candidate genes potentially involved in mineral movement (TraesCS5D03G0728800) and response to heat stress (TraesCS5D03G0723300). The findings in this study help to enhance mineral concentration and resilience in wheat under heat.

Triticum↗