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UV-B Signaling and Its Molecular Control in Plant

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 December 2023) | Viewed by 9291

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China
Interests: UV-B signaling and its’molecular control in plant; plant response to heavy metal pollution and its mechanism of action

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ultraviolet (UV) is a constitutive component of the solar spectrum. Solar UV-B (280-315 nm) radiation on the Earth’s surface is increasing with the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer. Since plants need sunlight for photosynthesis, they inevitably receive a small amount of UV-B radiation included in the solar spectrum. UV-B radiation can act both as an environmental stress factor and as an informational signal, and has been shown to regulate plant development and photomorphogenesis. The type of response to UV-B is determined substantially by the fluence rate of exposure. High fluence rates of UV-B produce reactive oxygen species and may cause damage to DNA, proteins, membranes, and lipids. At low fluence rates, UV-B is capable of promoting metabolic and developmental changes, such as biosynthesis of phenolic secondary metabolites and inhibition of hypocotyl elongation. It has been demonstrated that low fluence rates of UV-B stimulate expression of a range of genes that help protect plants against UV damage.

Since identification of UVR8 (UV Resistance Locus 8) as the UV-B receptor in 2011, plant UV-B perception and signaling transduction had been developed as a hot topic and main focus in the field of plant photobiology. UVR8 is involved in regulating many aspects of plant growth and development. UV-B induced physiological and biochemical changes include increased leaf thickness and sturdiness, decreased leaf size, and accumulation of phytochemicals. UVR8-mediated signaling pathway involves not only positive players COP1, HY5 etc., but also negative feedback regulators RUP1/RUP2 and BBX24.

This Special Issue is aimed at providing selected contributions on advances in UV-B signaling and its molecular control in plants. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

  • UV-B perception and signaling by the UVR8 photoreceptor.
  • Molecular understanding of UV-B signaling pathways.
  • Signaling crosstalk between UV-B and abiotic stress.
  • Potential application of UV-B in agriculture and horticulture.

Prof. Dr. Shaoshan Li
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • UV-B
  • UVR8 (UV-B photoreceptor)
  • UV-B signaling
  • photomorphogenesis
  • COP1
  • HY5
  • RUP1/RUP2

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 2995 KiB  
Article
Enhanced UV-B Radiation Induced the Proanthocyanidins Accumulation in Red Rice Grain of Traditional Rice Cultivars and Increased Antioxidant Capacity in Aging Mice
by Xiang Li, Jianjun Sheng, Zuran Li, Yongmei He, Yanqun Zu and Yuan Li
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(4), 3397; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043397 - 08 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1367
Abstract
Proanthocyanidins are major UV-absorbing compounds. To clarify the effect of enhanced UV-B radiation on the proanthocyanidin synthesis and antioxidant capacity of traditional rice varieties in Yuanyang terraced fields, we studied the effects of enhanced UV-B radiation (0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 kJ·m−2·d [...] Read more.
Proanthocyanidins are major UV-absorbing compounds. To clarify the effect of enhanced UV-B radiation on the proanthocyanidin synthesis and antioxidant capacity of traditional rice varieties in Yuanyang terraced fields, we studied the effects of enhanced UV-B radiation (0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 kJ·m−2·d−1) on the rice grain morphology, proanthocyanidins content, and synthesis. The effects of UV-B radiation on the antioxidant capacity of rice were evaluated by feeding aging model mice. The results showed that UV-B radiation significantly affected the grain morphology of red rice and increased the compactness of starch grains in the starch storage cells of central endosperm. The content of proanthocyanidin B2 and C1 in the grains was significantly increased by 2.5 and 5.0 kJ·m−2·d−1 UV-B radiation. The activity of leucoanthocyanidin reductase was higher in rice treated by 5.0 kJ·m−2·d−1 than other treatments. The number of neurons in the hippocampus CA1 of mice brain fed red rice increased. After 5.0 kJ·m−2·d−1 treatment, red rice has the best antioxidant effect on aging model mice. UV-B radiation induces the synthesis of rice proanthocyanidins B2 and C1, and the antioxidant capacity of rice is related to the content of proanthocyanidins. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue UV-B Signaling and Its Molecular Control in Plant)
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18 pages, 8408 KiB  
Article
Effects and Mechanism of Enhanced UV-B Radiation on the Flag Leaf Angle of Rice
by Chengting Ling, Xiupin Wang, Zuran Li, Yongmei He and Yuan Li
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(21), 12776; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232112776 - 24 Oct 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1718
Abstract
Leaf angle is an influential agricultural trait that influences rice (Oryza sativa L.) plant type and yield, which results from the leaf bending from the vertical axis to the abaxial axis. UV-B radiation affects plant morphology, but the effects of varying UV-B [...] Read more.
Leaf angle is an influential agricultural trait that influences rice (Oryza sativa L.) plant type and yield, which results from the leaf bending from the vertical axis to the abaxial axis. UV-B radiation affects plant morphology, but the effects of varying UV-B intensities on rice flag leaves and the underlying molecular, cellular, and physiological mechanisms remain unknown. This experiment aims to examine the effect of natural light and field-enhanced UV-B radiation (2.5, 5.0, 7.5 kJ·m−2) on the leaf angle of the traditional rice variety Baijiaolaojing on Yuanyang terraces. In comparison with natural light, the content of brassinolide and gibberellin in rice flag leaves increased by 29.94% and 60.1%, respectively. The auxin content decreased by 17.3%. Compared with the natural light treatment, the cellulose content in the pulvini was reduced by 13.8% and hemicellulose content by 25.7% under 7.5 kJ·m−2 radiation intensity. The thick-walled cell area and vascular bundle area of the leaf pulvini decreased with increasing radiation intensity, and the growth of mechanical tissue in the rice leaf pulvini was inhibited. The flag leaf angle of rice was greatest at 7.5 kJ·m−2 radiation intensity, with an increase of 50.2%. There are two pathways by which the angle of rice flag leaves is controlled under high-intensity UV-B radiation. The leaf angle regulation genes OsBUL1, OsGSR1, and OsARF19 control hormone levels, whereas the ILA1 gene controls fiber levels. Therefore, as cellulose, hemicellulose, sclerenchyma, and vascular bundles weaken the mechanical support of the pulvini, the angle of the flag leaf increases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue UV-B Signaling and Its Molecular Control in Plant)
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13 pages, 2733 KiB  
Article
Ethylene Acts as a Local and Systemic Signal to Mediate UV-B-Induced Nitrate Reallocation to Arabidopsis Leaves and Roots via Regulating the ERFs-NRT1.8 Signaling Module
by Xiao-Ting Wang, Jun-Hua Xiao, Li Li, Jiang-Fan Guo, Mei-Xiang Zhang, Yu-Yan An and Jun-Min He
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(16), 9068; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23169068 - 13 Aug 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1511
Abstract
Nitrate is the preferred nitrogen source for plants and plays an important role in plant growth and development. Under various soil stresses, plants reallocate nitrate to roots to promote stress tolerance through the ethylene-ethylene response factors (ERFs)-nitrate transporter (NRT) signaling module. As a [...] Read more.
Nitrate is the preferred nitrogen source for plants and plays an important role in plant growth and development. Under various soil stresses, plants reallocate nitrate to roots to promote stress tolerance through the ethylene-ethylene response factors (ERFs)-nitrate transporter (NRT) signaling module. As a light signal, ultraviolet B (UV-B) also stimulates the production of ethylene. However, whether UV-B regulates nitrate reallocation in plants via ethylene remains unknown. Here, we found that UV-B-induced expression of ERF1B, ORA59, ERF104, and NRT1.8 in both Arabidopsis shoots and roots as well as nitrate reallocation from hypocotyls to leaves and roots were impaired in ethylene signaling mutants for Ethylene Insensitive2 (EIN2) and EIN3. UV-B-induced NRT1.8 expression and nitrate reallocation to leaves and roots were also inhibited in the triple mutants for ERF1B, ORA59, and ERF104. Deletion of NRT1.8 impaired UV-B-induced nitrate reallocation to both leaves and roots. Furthermore, UV-B promoted ethylene release in both shoots and roots by enhancing the gene expression and enzymatic activities of ethylene biosynthetic enzymes only in shoots. These results show that ethylene acts as a local and systemic signal to mediate UV-B-induced nitrate reallocation from Arabidopsis hypocotyls to both leaves and roots via regulating the gene expression of the ERFs-NRT1.8 signaling module. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue UV-B Signaling and Its Molecular Control in Plant)
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15 pages, 2631 KiB  
Article
BBX24 Interacts with DELLA to Regulate UV-B-Induced Photomorphogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana
by Yuewei Huang, Hui Xiong, Yuxin Xie, Suihua Lyu, Tingting Miao, Tingting Li, Guizhen Lyu and Shaoshan Li
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(13), 7386; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23137386 - 02 Jul 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2086
Abstract
UV-B radiation, sensed by the photoreceptor UVR8, induces signal transduction for plant photomorphogenesis. UV-B radiation affects the concentration of the endogenous plant hormone gibberellin (GA), which in turn triggers DELLA protein degradation through the 26S proteasome pathway. DELLA is a negative regulator in [...] Read more.
UV-B radiation, sensed by the photoreceptor UVR8, induces signal transduction for plant photomorphogenesis. UV-B radiation affects the concentration of the endogenous plant hormone gibberellin (GA), which in turn triggers DELLA protein degradation through the 26S proteasome pathway. DELLA is a negative regulator in GA signaling, partially relieving the inhibition of hypocotyl growth induced by UV-B in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, GAs do usually not work independently but integrate in complex networks linking to other plant hormones and responses to external environmental signals. Until now, our understanding of the regulatory network underlying GA-involved UV-B photomorphogenesis had remained elusive. In the present research, we investigate the crosstalk between the GA and UV-B signaling pathways in UV-B-induced photomorphogenesis of Arabidopsis thaliana. Compared with wild type Landsberg erecta (Ler), the abundance of HY5, CHS, FLS, and UF3GT were found to be down-regulated in rga-24 and gai-t6 mutants under UV-B radiation, indicating that DELLA is a positive regulator in UV-B-induced photomorphogenesis. Our results indicate that BBX24 interacts with RGA (one of the functional DELLA family members). Furthermore, we also found that RGA interacts with HY5 (the master regulator in plant photomorphogenesis). Collectively, our findings suggest that the HY5–BBX24–DELLA module serves as an important signal regulating network, in which GA is involved in UV-B signaling to regulate hypocotyl inhibition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue UV-B Signaling and Its Molecular Control in Plant)
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15 pages, 3506 KiB  
Article
GCR1 Positively Regulates UV-B- and Ethylene-Induced Stomatal Closure via Activating GPA1-Dependent ROS and NO Production
by Xue Li, Qi Fu, Fu-Xing Zhao, Yi-Qing Wu, Teng-Yue Zhang, Zhong-Qi Li and Jun-Min He
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(10), 5512; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23105512 - 15 May 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1861
Abstract
Heterotrimeric G proteins function as key players in guard cell signaling to many stimuli, including ultraviolet B (UV-B) and ethylene, but whether guard cell G protein signaling is activated by the only one potential G protein-coupled receptor, GCR1, is still unclear. Here, we [...] Read more.
Heterotrimeric G proteins function as key players in guard cell signaling to many stimuli, including ultraviolet B (UV-B) and ethylene, but whether guard cell G protein signaling is activated by the only one potential G protein-coupled receptor, GCR1, is still unclear. Here, we found that gcr1 null mutants showed defects in UV-B- and ethylene-induced stomatal closure and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) in guard cells, but these defects could be rescued by the application of a Gα activator or overexpression of a constitutively active form of Gα subunit GPA1 (cGPA1). Moreover, the exogenous application of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or NO triggered stomatal closure in gcr1 mutants and cGPA1 transgenic plants in the absence or presence of UV-B or ethylene, but exogenous ethylene could not rescue the defect of gcr1 mutants in UV-B-induced stomatal closure, and gcr1 mutants did not affect UV-B-induced ethylene production in Arabidopsis leaves. These results indicate that GCR1 positively controls UV-B- and ethylene-induced stomatal closure by activating GPA1-dependent ROS and NO production in guard cells and that ethylene acts upstream of GCR1 to transduce UV-B guard cell signaling, which establishes the existence of a classic paradigm of G protein signaling in guard cell signaling to UV-B and ethylene. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue UV-B Signaling and Its Molecular Control in Plant)
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