Living with genome instability: plant responses to telomere dysfunction
K Riha1, T D McKnight, L R Griffing
1Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 2128 TAMU, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2128, USA.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|March 7, 2001
Summary
Arabidopsis thaliana survives ten generations without telomerase, showing genomic damage and developmental issues. Late-generation mutants had extended lifespans, unlike animals, due to plant developmental plasticity.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Genetics
- Cellular biology
Background:
- Telomere shortening in animals triggers genomic instability, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis.
- Telomerase is crucial for maintaining telomere length and genome integrity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of telomerase deficiency on plant development and genome stability.
- To compare plant and animal responses to telomere dysfunction.
Main Methods:
- Generating telomerase-deficient Arabidopsis thaliana mutants.
- Observing plant development and cytogenetic damage over multiple generations.
- Analyzing shoot meristem morphology and metabolic activity.
Main Results:
- Arabidopsis thaliana survived up to 10 generations without telomerase.
- Progressive cytogenetic damage and developmental anomalies (vegetative and reproductive) were observed in later generations.
- Mutants exhibited terminal vegetative arrest with disorganized, enlarged, and sometimes dedifferentiated shoot meristems.
- Late-generation mutants showed extended lifespan and remained metabolically active.
Conclusions:
- Arabidopsis thaliana exhibits remarkable resilience to telomere dysfunction compared to metazoans.
- Plant developmental plasticity and genome organization contribute to unique responses to telomere loss.
- Findings suggest fundamental differences in aging and genome maintenance between plants and animals.
Related Concept Videos
01:58Fruit Development, Structure, and Function
Fruits form from a mature flower ovary. As seeds develop from the ovules contained within, the ovary wall undergoes a series of complex changes to form fruit. In some fruits, such as soybeans, the ovary wall dries; in other fruits, such as grapes, it remains fleshy. In some cases, organs other than the ovary contribute to fruit formation; such fruits are called accessory fruits.
01:59Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
Crop cultivation has a long history in human civilization, with records showing the cultivation of cereal plants beginning at around 8000 BC. This early plant breeding was developed primarily to provide a steady supply of food.
02:50Transgenic Plants
Recombinant DNA technology called transgenesis is often used to add a foreign gene or remove a detrimental gene from an organism. Such genetically modified organisms are called transgenic organisms.
The first-ever transgenic plant was a tobacco plant developed in 1983 that showed resistance against the tobacco mosaic virus. Since then, many transgenic plants have been developed and commercialized for improving the agricultural, ornamental, and horticultural value of a crop plant. Transgenic...
The first-ever transgenic plant was a tobacco plant developed in 1983 that showed resistance against the tobacco mosaic virus. Since then, many transgenic plants have been developed and commercialized for improving the agricultural, ornamental, and horticultural value of a crop plant. Transgenic...
01:40Overview of Metabolism
Living cells constantly carry out various chemical reactions which are necessary for their proper functioning. These reactions are interlinked to one another via multiple pathways. The collection of these chemical reactions is known as metabolism.
Plant Metabolism
Sunlight, the primary source of energy in plants, is first absorbed by the chlorophyll pigments present in their leaves. Plants then use this energy to carry out photosynthesis, where water is oxidized into oxygen and carbon dioxide...
Plant Metabolism
Sunlight, the primary source of energy in plants, is first absorbed by the chlorophyll pigments present in their leaves. Plants then use this energy to carry out photosynthesis, where water is oxidized into oxygen and carbon dioxide...
01:25Cell Signaling in Plants
Plant cells communicate to coordinate their cycle of growth, flowering and fruiting, and activities in roots, shoots, and leaves in response to the changing environmental conditions. Plant signaling is distinct from animal signaling. Plants primarily utilize enzyme-linked receptors, whereas the largest class of cell-surface receptors in animals are G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Unlike animals, receptor tyrosine kinases are rare in plants. Instead, plants have a diverse class of...
01:09Microbe-Plant Interactions
Microbe-plant interactions represent a dynamic spectrum of associations shaped by intricate chemical signaling. These interactions can be neutral, beneficial, or detrimental, and profoundly influence plant physiology, growth, and ecosystem function. The plant microbiome, comprising bacteria, fungi, archaea, protists, and viruses, plays a pivotal role in mediating these effects through surface colonization, internal colonization, or systemic symbiosis.Mutualistic associations, particularly with...