Understanding How Sweet Cherry Proteins Help Cope with Cold and Salt Stress

Jenn Hoskins
13th July, 2024

Understanding How Sweet Cherry Proteins Help Cope with Cold and Salt Stress

Image Source: Natural Science News, 2024

Key Findings

  • Researchers at Ludong University identified three CSP genes (PavCSPs) in the sweet cherry genome
  • PavCSP1 and PavCSP3 genes help sweet cherry plants grow better under low-temperature and high-salt conditions
  • Transgenic yeasts with PavCSP1 or PavCSP3 showed improved growth under stress, suggesting these genes enhance stress tolerance
Cold shock proteins (CSPs) are crucial nucleic acid-binding proteins present in many organisms, playing significant roles in growth, development, and stress response. While their functions have been extensively studied in species like rice, wheat, and Arabidopsis, their regulatory roles in sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) have remained largely unexplored. A recent study conducted by researchers at Ludong University[1] sought to bridge this knowledge gap by identifying and analyzing CSP genes in the sweet cherry genome, specifically focusing on the differential responses of PavCSP1 and PavCSP3 to low temperature and salt stress. The study identified three CSP genes (PavCSPs) in the sweet cherry genome. Researchers utilized sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree construction, incorporating genes from five different species, to explore the potential functions and evolutionary relationships of these CSP proteins. Additionally, they conducted cis-acting elements analysis and examined gene expression patterns under low-temperature and salt stress conditions. To further investigate the functional roles of PavCSP1 and PavCSP3, transgenic yeasts overexpressing these genes were generated, and their growth under stress conditions was observed. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed diverse expression patterns of PavCSP1-3, with a notable activity in the upper stem. All three genes responded to low-temperature and salt stress. The transgenic yeasts overexpressing PavCSP1 or PavCSP3 showed improved growth under high-salt and low-temperature stress, suggesting that these genes play a significant role in stress tolerance. This study builds upon previous findings in other plant species. For instance, earlier research on rice cold shock domain (CSD) proteins, OsCSP1 and OsCSP2, demonstrated that these proteins could complement a cold-sensitive bacterial strain and bind nucleic acids, indicating their role in stress response[2]. Similarly, in cabbage, the BrCSDP3 protein was shown to enhance seed germination and seedling growth under stress conditions, further supporting the idea that CSPs can improve stress tolerance in plants[3]. In winter wheat, WCSP1 was found to increase freeze tolerance during cold acclimation, highlighting the importance of CSPs in cold-specific stress responses[4]. The findings from the Ludong University study align with these earlier studies, reinforcing the idea that CSPs play a crucial role in abiotic stress tolerance across different plant species. By demonstrating that PavCSP1 and PavCSP3 can enhance growth under low-temperature and high-salt conditions, this research lays the groundwork for further functional studies of CSPs in sweet cherry and potentially other fruit crops. The ability to improve stress tolerance in plants through genetic manipulation of CSPs could have significant implications for agriculture, particularly in regions prone to harsh environmental conditions.

GeneticsBiochemPlant Science

References

Main Study

1) Genome-wide identification of cold shock proteins (CSPs) in sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) and exploring the differential responses of PavCSP1 and PavCSP3 to low temperature and salt stress.

Published 12th July, 2024

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13258-024-01542-6

Related Studies

2) Functional characterization of two cold shock domain proteins from Oryza sativa.

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3040.2008.01811.x

3) Stress-responsive expression patterns and functional characterization of cold shock domain proteins in cabbage (Brassica rapa) under abiotic stress conditions.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2015.07.027

4) A cold-regulated nucleic acid-binding protein of winter wheat shares a domain with bacterial cold shock proteins.

Journal: The Journal of biological chemistry, Issue: Vol 277, Issue 38, Sep 2002


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