Search Results (53)

Trehalose is a nonreducing disaccharide critical for cellular integrity and stress adaptation in plants, and its synthesis relies on trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) and trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (TPP). Despite their established roles in abiotic stress responses across model plants, these gene families remain underexplored in ornamental species like Petunia hybrida. Here, TPS and TPP genes in two wild petunia progenitors, P. axillaris and P. inflata, underwent a genome-wide analysis, with 10 TPS and 8–9 TPP genes being identified in each species. According to phylogenetic analysis, petunia TPS proteins cluster into two clades, while TPP proteins were classified into three clades, showing closer evolutionary ties to tomato homologs. Cis-acting elements profiling identified hormone- and stress-responsive regulatory elements (e.g., ABRE, TC-rich repeats). Expression analysis under drought, heat, and salt stress revealed dynamic temporal regulation. For instance, PaTPS4/PaTPS9 were early responders (peak at 6 h) under drought and salt stress, while PaTPS8 exhibited sustained upregulation during salt treatment. Heat stress uniquely suppressed PaTPS1,2 and PaTPP1, contrasting with broad upregulation of other members. Notably, PaTPP3 displayed delayed induction under heat. These findings underscore the functional diversity within TPS/TPP families, with specific members governing stress-specific responses. This study provides a foundational resource for leveraging these genes to enhance stress resilience and ornamental value in petunia. Full article

The invasive pest Frankliniella occidentalis (western flower thrip, WFT) severely impacts agricultural production. RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as a viable alternative to chemical control methods. Trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) is an important enzyme for the synthesis of trehalose in insects. The TPS gene is a potential target for RNAi-based pest control; however, its efficacy against WFTs remains unclear. Feeding with the synthesized dsFoTPS to WFT significantly increased the mortalities of first- and second-instar nymphs and adults and significantly decreased the number of eggs laid by adults within 72 h; the expression of FoTPS was significantly down-regulated in 24, 48, and 72 h. Ingestion of WFTs on Escherichia coli expressing dsFoTPS led to a marked increase in the total pre-reproductive period; reductions in survival rate, adult longevity, oviposition days, fecundity, peak reproduction value, the intrinsic rate of increase, the finite rate of increase, and the net reproductive rate; and an extension of the mean generation time. TPS gene expression was significantly down-regulated on days 7 and 28. A population simulation of WFTs fed with E. coli expressing dsFoTPS indicated that the population suppression was reduced to 1/34 of the control in 100 d. Oral delivery of E. coli expressing dsFoTPS effectively inhibited the survival, fecundity, and population growth of WFTs, offering a novel approach and rationale for the prevention and control of WFTs. Full article

Due to the intensification of human activities, the ecosystems are being polluted by heavy metals. The pollution of heavy metals in agricultural systems has become a serious issue of global concern. This study detected the bioaccumulation of cadmium (Cd) in broad beans and aphids through continuous exposure to varying concentrations of Cd pollution (0, 3.125, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50 mg/L) and subsequently examined its effects on aphid energy metabolism and reproductive ability. The results showed that Cd can be transmitted and accumulated between Vicia faba L. and aphids along the food chain, and the amount of accumulation was related to the Cd treatment concentration. Quantitative real-time PCR results showed that the expression levels of trehalase (TRE) and trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) in F1 were significantly upregulated, and those of vitellogenin (Vg) were varied across the five generations of aphids after Cd treatment, which were up-regulated, and others down-regulated. Compared with the control group, the glycogen content and two types of trehalase activities of the first-generation Cd-treatment aphids were decreased, while trehalose content increased; there was no significant change in the carbohydrate content and trehalase activity of the fourth and fifth generations of aphids. In addition, the reproduction of female aphids was inhibited. This research is helpful for studying the toxic effects of heavy metals on insects and the adaptation mechanisms of insects to extreme environments. It also provides a theoretical basis for further exploring the molecular mechanisms of Cd homeostasis in plants and insects under Cd stress. Full article

In the present study, we investigated the possible correlation between insulin/ecdysone signaling and chilling-induced egg diapause termination in Bombyx mori. Changes in insulin (bombyxin-Z1) and ecdysteroid-phosphate phosphatase (EPPase) gene expression levels in chilled eggs (whose diapause had been terminated by chilling to 5 °C for 90 days) exhibited no significant increase after being transferred to 25 °C, which differed from both non-diapause eggs and HCl-treated eggs. We further compared the differential temporal expressions of insulin (bombyxin-A6, -Y1, and -Z1), ecdysone signaling (EPPase and E75A), and metabolic-related (trehalose transporter 1 (Tret1) and trehalase 1 (Treh1)) as well as sorbitol dehydrogenase 2 (SDH2) genes between chilled eggs and eggs kept at 25 °C. Our results showed that all gene expressions remained at very low levels in eggs kept at 25 °C. However, in chilled eggs, differential temporal changes were detected according to different genes, with bombyxin-A6 and EPPase gene expression levels being maintained at relatively constant, high levels. Higher expression levels of the E75A, Tret1, and Treh1 genes were also detected in chilled eggs. Expressions of the SDH2 and bombyxin-Z1 genes decreased during the first 15 days and then increased between days 30 and 90 of chilling. Ecdysteroid levels and phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β, a downstream target of insulin signaling, were maintained at relatively higher levels in chilled eggs. These results suggested that due to relatively higher insulin and ecdysone signaling levels in chilled eggs, relatively higher glucose metabolism was sustained, leading to the continued depletion of metabolic reserves. On day 30 of chilling, as a means to adjust nutrient requirements and maintain embryonic nutrient homeostasis, SDH2 gene expression began to increase, followed by increased expression of the bombyxin-Z1 gene. Along with high expressions of the bombyxin-Z1 and SDH2 genes, a decreased sorbitol level was suggested to eventually terminate diapause in B. mori eggs. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate the correlation between insulin/ecdysone signaling and chilling-induced embryonic diapause termination. Full article

In the context of climate change, characterized by an increase in average precipitation, agricultural pests have demonstrated enhanced adaptability to high humidity and other challenging environmental conditions, thereby intensifying the need for effective prevention and control measures. Among these pests, Megoura crassicauda (Hemiptera: Aphididae) represents a significant threat to both crop yield and quality. The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological behavioral changes and the regulatory mechanisms of trehalose metabolism in M. crassicauda under conditions of high-humidity stress. Additionally, we sought to explore the survival strategies and water regulation mechanisms employed by this insect, with the goal of identifying new biological targets for its management. The findings indicated that, despite an increase in environmental humidity, there was no significant difference in the survival rate of M. crassicauda. However, a reduction in developmental duration and reproductive capacity was observed. Increased humidity correlated with elevated trehalose levels and decreased glycogen content. Notably, although the relative expression levels of trehalase (TRE) and Trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) were downregulated, Trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (TPP) expression was upregulated. These results suggest that high humidity environments significantly influence the growth, development, and trehalose metabolism of M. crassicauda. It appears that adaptations to high-humidity conditions in M. crassicauda are facilitated by modulations in the types and distribution of sugars within their bodies, achieved through alterations in the expression of genes associated with trehalose metabolism. In summary, the results of this study indicate that high humidity significantly affects the development and sugar metabolism of M. crassicauda. These changes may represent one of the potential mechanisms underlying its environmental adaptation and migration. This insight provides valuable assistance for predicting the occurrence and migration of the pest M. crassicauda. Full article

Auricularia heimuer is drought tolerant, but the mechanism underlying its physiological response to drought has not been systematically studied. We selected 13 strains of A. heimuer and simulated drought stress using a complete yeast medium (CYM) containing 20% polyethylene glycol (PEG), while the medium used for the control treatments did not contain PEG. Strains were cultured on a shaker incubator at 25 °C at 120 rpm for 15 days under dark conditions. The contents of soluble sugars (SS) and soluble proteins (SP), the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), and the biomass were measured. Between the 20% PEG treatment and the control, as well as among different strains, there were significant differences in all of the physiological indices. The tested strains were classified into the following four categories according to their membership function values: the first category consisted of the highly drought-tolerant strain A; the second consisted of the drought-tolerant strains A127 and C; the third consisted of the moderately drought-tolerant strains A124, A14, A386, A462, A184, A496, A125, and B; and the fourth consisted of the drought-sensitive strains A356 and A508. Transcriptome analysis was performed on C before and after drought stress treatment, and 1762 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained, including 798 up- and 964 down-regulated genes. Through KEGG enrichment analysis, it was found for the first time that the synthesis pathway for trehalose in A. heimuer is trehalose phosphate synthase–trehalose phosphate phosphatase (TPS-TPP), which is involved in the response of A. heimuer to drought stress. In addition, two key enzyme genes involved in trehalose synthesis, namely trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (AhTPS) and trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (AhTPP), were significantly up-regulated after drought stress. The trehalose content significantly increased in 11 strains after drought stress treatment. This study discovered, for the first time, that the synthesis pathway of trehalose is involved in the response of edible fungi to drought stress, thus providing a reference for the genetic improvement of A. heimuer and the selection of drought-tolerant strains, laying a theoretical foundation for the resistance breeding of other edible fungi. Full article

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor (TRAF) proteins, originally identified in mammals, have since been found in most plants. TRAF proteins in plants have been shown to be involved in cellular autophagy, immunity, drought resistance, and ABA induction. However, the role in regulating sucrose and starch metabolism has not been reported. In this study, we confirmed that TC1a can regulate sucrose and starch metabolism through gene editing, phenotypic observation, transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses. Initially, 200 and 81 TRAF proteins were identified in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) and Arabidopsis thaliana, respectively, and divided into five classes. We found that overexpression of TC1a inhibited root length, plant height, flowering, and leaf development in A. thaliana. Additionally, 12 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to sucrose and starch metabolism pathways were identified in overexpressing and knockout plants, respectively. Six differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs)—fructose, sucrose, glucose, trehalose, maltose, and 6-phosphate fructose—were identified using widely targeted metabolomics analysis. The results show that TC1a affects the growth and development of Arabidopsis, and induces the expression of sucrose and starch synthase and hydrolases, providing a foundation for further research into its molecular mechanisms. Full article

This study aimed to explore the role of the trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) gene family in the adaptation of peas to environmental stress. A comprehensive analysis of the PsTPS gene family identified 20 genes with conserved domains and specific chromosomal locations. Phylogenetic analysis delineated evolutionary relationships, while gene structure analysis revealed compositional insights, and motif analysis provided functional insights. Cis-regulatory element identification predicted gene regulation patterns. Tissue-specific and stress-induced expression profiling highlighted eight genes with ubiquitous expression, with PsTPS15 and PsTPS18 displaying elevated expression levels in roots, nodules, and young stems, and PsTPS13 and PsTPS19 expression downregulated in seeds. Transcriptome analysis identified a differential expression of 20 PsTPS genes, highlighting the significance of 14 genes in response to drought and salinity stress. Notably, under drought conditions, the expression of PsTPS4 and PsTPS6 was initially upregulated and then downregulated, whereas that of PsTPS15 and PsTPS19 was downregulated. Salinity stress notably altered the expression of PsTPS4, PsTPS6, and PsTPS19. Taken together, these findings elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of the PsTPS gene family and their potential as genetic targets for enhancing crop stress tolerance. Full article

Heavy metal pollution is a serious global environmental issue. It threatens human and ecological health. Heavy metals can accumulate in the soil over extended periods and inevitably transfer through the food chain to herbivorous insects and their natural enemies, leading to various adverse effects. This study aimed to investigate the stress responses and biochemical metabolic changes of aphids and one of aphids’ predators, ladybugs, under cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) stress by constructing a food chain of Vicia faba L., Megoura crassicauda, and Harmonia axyridis. The results showed that aphids and ladybugs had a notable accumulation of Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺. Insects can adapt to heavy metal stress by regulating their energy metabolism pathways. Glycogen content in the first filial generation (F1) aphids decreased significantly, glucose content in the second filial generation (F2) to the fourth filial generation (F4) adult aphids significantly increased, and trehalose content in the F1 adult aphids increased significantly. Moreover, the relative expression levels of trehalase (TRE) and trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) in the F1 adult aphids were significantly higher than those in the control group, and the expression levels of TPS genes in the second filial generation to the fifth filial generation (F2 to F5) aphids decreased, suggesting that insects can resist heavy metal stress by regulating trehalose metabolism. The fertility of female aphids in all treatment groups was reduced compared to the control group. Additionally, the relative expression level of vitellogenin (Vg) was down-regulated in all aphid generations except the F1 aphids. There was interaction between heavy metal concentration and aphid generation, and it significantly affected the number of aphids’ offspring and the expression of the aphid Vg gene. The developmental duration of the ladybugs from the second to fourth instars was prolonged, and the weight decreased significantly from the prepupa to the adult stages. These results contribute to understanding the effects of Cd²⁺–Pb²⁺ accumulation on phytophagous insects and higher trophic levels’ natural enemies, laying the foundation for protecting natural enemies and maintaining ecosystem stability. Full article

Desiccation is a kind of extreme form of drought stress and desiccation tolerance (DT) is an ancient trait of plants that allows them to survive tissue water potentials reaching −100 MPa or lower. ScDREB10 is a DREB A-5 transcription factor gene from a DT moss named Syntrichia caninervis, which has strong comprehensive tolerance to osmotic and salt stresses. This study delves further into the molecular mechanism of ScDREB10 stress tolerance based on the transcriptome data of the overexpression of ScDREB10 in Arabidopsis under control, osmotic and salt treatments. The transcriptional analysis of weight gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) showed that “phenylpropanoid biosynthesis” and “starch and sucrose metabolism” were key pathways in the network of cyan and yellow modules. Meanwhile, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) also showed that “phenylpropanoid biosynthesis” and “starch and sucrose metabolism” pathways demonstrate the highest enrichment in response to osmotic and salt stress, respectively. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) results confirmed that most genes related to phenylpropanoid biosynthesis” and “starch and sucrose metabolism” pathways in overexpressing ScDREB10 Arabidopsis were up-regulated in response to osmotic and salt stresses, respectively. In line with the results, the corresponding lignin, sucrose, and trehalose contents and sucrose phosphate synthase activities were also increased in overexpressing ScDREB10 Arabidopsis under osmotic and salt stress treatments. Additionally, cis-acting promoter element analyses and yeast one-hybrid experiments showed that ScDREB10 was not only able to bind with classical cis-elements, such as DRE and TATCCC (MYBST1), but also bind with unknown element CGTCCA. All of these findings suggest that ScDREB10 may regulate plant stress tolerance by effecting phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and starch and sucrose metabolism pathways. This research provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underpinning ScDREB10-mediated stress tolerance and contributes to deeply understanding the A-5 DREB regulatory mechanism. Full article

Trehalose, trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS),and trehalose-6-phosphatase (TPP) have been reported to play important roles in plant abiotic stress and growth development. However, their functions in the flowering process of Rosa hybrida have not been characterized. In this study we found that, under a short photoperiod or weak light intensity, the content of trehalose in the shoot apical meristem of Rosa hybrida cv ‘Carola’ significantly decreased, leading to delayed flowering time. A total of nine RhTPSs and seven RhTPPs genes were identified in the genome. Cis-element analysis suggested that RhTPS and RhTPP genes were involved in plant hormones and environmental stress responses. Transcriptome data analysis reveals significant differences in the expression levels of RhTPSs and RhTPPs family genes in different tissues and indicates that RhTPPF and RhTPPJ are potential key genes involved in rose flower bud development under different light environments. The results of quantitative real-time reverse transcription (qRT-PCR) further indicate that under short photoperiod and weak light intensity all RhTPP members were significantly down-regulated. Additionally, RhTPS1a, RhTPS10, and RhTPS11 were up-regulated under a short photoperiod and showed a negative correlation with flowering time and trehalose content decrease. Under weak light intensity, RhTPS11 was up-regulated and negatively regulated flowering, while RhTPS5, RhTPS6, RhTPS7b, RhTPS9, and RhTPS10 were down-regulated and positively regulated flowering. This work lays the foundation for revealing the functions of RhTPS and RhTPP gene families in the regulation of rose trehalose. Full article

Trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) is essential for plant growth and development, linking trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P) to carbon metabolism. However, little is known about the TPS gene family in peaches and their potential roles in regulating carbohydrates in peach fruit. In this study, nine TPS genes were identified in the peach genome and named according to the homologous genes in Arabidopsis. Phylogenetic analysis showed that three subfamilies were identified, including TPSI, TPSII-1, and TPSII-2, which were also consistent with gene structure analysis. Considerable cis-elements were enriched in the promoters, including plant hormone-related elements. Tissue-specific analysis showed that these TPS genes were mainly expressed in leaves, stems, and fruit, showing different expression patterns for each gene. In addition, during fruit development, the content of trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P) was positively correlated with the expression of PpTPS7a and negatively with sucrose non-fermenting-1-related kinase 1 (SnRK1) activity. Transient overexpression and silencing of PpTPS7a in peach fruit validated its function in regulating T6P content and SnRK1 activity. Full article

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrid) is the chief source of sugar and biofuel globally and is prominent among cash crops. Sucrose is the main required product in sugarcane, and many studies have been performed to understand the phenomena of sucrose synthesis, metabolism, and accumulation in sugarcane. However, none of the studies concluded that a single gene is responsible for the sucrose content. Instead, a complex mechanism consisting of several genes, such as sucrose phosphate synthase genes (SPS1, SPS2, SPS4, SPS5), sucrose synthase genes (SuSy1, SuSy2, SuSy4), invertase genes (INV, CWIN, NIN1, CINV2), and phytohormone, trehalose, transcription factor (TF), protein kinase, and sugar transporter genes are working spatiotemporally in sugarcane. Currently, omics approaches like transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics are also being used to explore the sugar metabolism in sugarcane, but integrated transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic studies have been less reported. The results obtained from the integrated analysis of transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics are more reliable because the strong gene expression, received in the form of abundant mRNA, does not guarantee the plentiful existence of associated proteins or their particular activity in the target cells or tissues, which discloses the restraint of single interpretation and stresses the significance of the integrated analysis of transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. This review highlights different genes and molecules contributing to sugar metabolism at different stages and the significance of omics approaches in explaining sucrose metabolism, especially sucrose accumulation in sugarcane. It is also a vital source of knowledge for sugarcane breeders, particularly associated with sucrose content improvement and bioethanol energy production. Full article

Rapid cold hardening (RCH) is known to rapidly enhance the cold tolerance of insects. Trehalose has been demonstrated to be a cryoprotectant in Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus, an important invasive pest of rice in China. Trehalose synthesis mainly occurs through the Trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS)/trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (TPP) pathway in insects. In this study, the TPS gene from L. oryzophilus (LoTPS) was cloned and characterized for the first time. Its expression and trehalose content changes elicited by RCH were investigated. Our results revealed that RCH not only increased the survival rate of adults but also upregulated the expression level of LoTPS and increased the trehalose content under low temperature. We hypothesized that upregulated LoTPS promoted trehalose synthesis and accumulation to protect adults from low-temperature damage. To further verify the function of the LoTPS gene, we employed RNA interference (RNAi) technology. Our findings showed that RCH efficiency disappeared and the survival rate did not increase when the adults were fed dsRNA of LoTPS. Additionally, inhibiting LoTPS expression resulted in no significant difference in trehalose content between the RCH and non-RCH treatments. Furthermore, the expression patterns of trehalose transporter (TRET) and trehalase (TRE) were also affected. Collectively, these results indicate the critical role of LoTPS in L. oryzophilus cold resistance after RCH induction. LoTPS can enhance survival ability by regulating trehalose metabolism. These findings contribute to further understanding the role of TPS in insect cold resistance and the invasiveness of L. oryzophilus. Moreover, RNAi of LoTPS opens up possibilities for novel control strategies against L. oryzophilus in the future. Full article

Climate-smart and sustainable crops are needed for the future. Engineering crops for tolerance of both abiotic and biotic stress is one approach. The accumulation of trehalose, controlled through trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) or OtsA and trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (TPP) or OtsB genes in microbes, is known to provide protection for many microbial and fungal species against abiotic stress. The effect of trehalose accumulation in plant species is less understood. Here, we studied the heterologous expression of Escherichia coli OtsB in potato (Solanum tuberosum var. ‘Desiree’) with regards to stress tolerance. The performance of transgenic lines was assessed in both growth chambers and greenhouse mesocosms. Overexpressing potato OtsB lines significantly increased resilience to heat, photoperiod, herbivory, and competition when compared with wildtype plants. Most strikingly, when subjected to high temperatures, transgenic lines exhibited a significantly lower reduction in tuber yield ranging from 40% to 77%, while wildtype plants experienced a 95% decrease in tuber yield. When exposed to competitors in a selected StSP3D::OtsB line, tuber yield was 1.6 times higher than wildtype. Furthermore, transgenic lines performed significantly better under low-nutrient regimes: under competition, yield increased by 1.5-fold. Together, these results demonstrate that increased trehalose has the potential to create more resistant and stable crop plants. Full article