2. 植物在不同气候条件下对高温的适应
地球上生活着许多植物。由于气候条件和生长环境的不同,植物形成了不同的生活习性,可以说植物的多样性是气候造成的。
2.1. 沙漠植物
干旱地区的生态系统遭受强烈蒸发、强风和沙子、强烈的阳光和高温以及贫瘠和盐碱化的土壤,创造了极其恶劣的环境。在这个地区很难种植植物,或者生长条件极其恶劣。在植物进化过程中,植物叶片对环境变化更敏感,可塑性更强。它们的结构和功能特征显示了植物对环境的相应对策和植物利用资源的能力[
5]。为了适应极端干旱和高盐度的环境,荒漠植物的一些叶子会萎缩,甚至进化成薄鳞片或硬刺。有些叶子是肉质的,形状大多是不规则的圆柱体或圆锥体。有些叶子有强烈的分裂,白色绒毛,深气孔等,以减少水分的损失[
6]。一些叶子已经退化,使用前一年的芽进行光合作用。
作为植物根叶之间的养分运输桥梁,茎已经发展出独特的结构特征,以适应极端环境。它们被果皮包裹以抑制植物的蒸腾作用,并发展出运输组织来运输水分。它由大量的实质细胞组成,提高了细胞的保水性[
7]。在干旱地区,大多数植物已经长出了根系,以便从更深的土壤中吸收水分。但是,在一些降水较多的沙漠地区,根系会发生很大的变化:主根会受到抑制,侧根会发育。这是因为浅层土壤可以携带更多的水分[
8]。干旱地区的水少,温度高,盐碱土壤也比较多。生活在该地区的植物将具有退化的锥形叶子,减少蒸腾作用造成的水分损失,并具有更发达的根部来吸收水分[
9]。其分子调控也更倾向于耐盐和耐热的机制;例如,细胞含有更多的钠离子和钾离子。
除了特殊形态的演化外,植物中非生物胁迫在分子水平上也存在非常复杂的调控机制。这些反应仅由少数基因的表达控制,一些基因的产物不仅是应激耐受效应蛋白,而且是应激反应中的信号转导因子和转录因子:AREB,HSP,NAC,WRKY,MYB,ERF
[10]。这些基因家族已被证明以不同的方式调节干旱、高温和盐胁迫。它们形成了庞大而复杂的网络,精心计算着生存的最佳方式[
11]。
2.2. 热带植物
适当间隔的温度会影响植物的生长发育,但极端温度可能会危及植物的生命。然而,一些植物可以提高温度的耐受范围。在热带地区,即使在雨季,温度也超过40°C。 热带植物也进化得更全面,以抵御热量。
为了适应高温,植物进化出了许多不同的方式和渠道。植物组织形态的变化用于更好地适应高温。叶子的扁平形状旨在有效地吸收光能,但足够的光线往往伴随着致命的热量,因此叶子进化出了皮毛和鳞片来过滤阳光。其他植物也通过其革质叶子反射阳光,这可以减少随之而来的多余能量并保护植物身体免受热损伤。一些植物叶子垂直排列,使叶子边缘朝光或在高温条件下折叠叶子,减少光吸收面积[
2]。植物对高温的生理适应主要是降低细胞的含水量,增加可溶性糖或盐的浓度,有利于减慢代谢率,增加原生质的抗凝能力。二是依靠剧烈的蒸腾作用,避免因过热而对植物体造成损害[
3]。
不同的植物对高温胁迫有不同的防御机制,这些机制随胁迫时间和强度而变化[
4]。一些特定的途径广泛存在于植物中,例如ROS调节系统。微量ROS作为信号分子促进下游防御反应,过量ROS会加重膜脂质氧化,引起脂肪酸分解,增加细胞内丙二醛(MDA)水平,破坏细胞正常生理功能[
12,13]。激素还广泛调控植物胁迫防御反应,乙烯信号转导途径通过APETAL2/乙烯响应元件结合因子(AP2/ERF)转录因子与热应激反应交叉,产生热休克蛋白(HSP)。褪黑激素作为一种信号分子,可以清除植物中改变的细胞内自由基(ROS/活性氮物种(RNS))[
14]和热休克蛋白依赖性途径的改变,从而增强植物非生物胁迫抵抗力[
15]。此外,在高温环境下,植物中脯氨酸和油菜素内酯等各种化合物的含量增加,调节渗透胁迫,提高植物耐热性[
16]。例如,油菜素内酯调节转录因子BES1的活性,促进热休克蛋白的产生,帮助植物重建体内平衡[
17,18]。
3. 细胞膜通透性的变化
植物热胁迫信号通路是细胞信号通路和分子机制的复杂集合,这些信号通路的相互调控可以帮助植物适应和抵抗高温环境,保证其正常的生理功能。高温环境不同程度地影响植物细胞中蛋白质、膜和细胞骨架的稳定性。它们还影响酶的活性,改变酶催化的效率,进一步引起植物代谢紊乱。
生物膜的完整性和功能对高温非常敏感,可以感觉到温度的轻微变化。长时间暴露在高温下会改变蛋白质的三级和四级结构,加速细胞膜上磷脂分子的运动,增加不饱和脂肪酸的浓度,增强流动性。
4. 钙信号的传导
当植物受到高温时,细胞膜上的敏感钙通道被激活,并且存在细胞外钙
2+流入。钙离子内流可以激活各种下游信号通路,完成植物初级耐热响应的第一步。然而,在现实中,钙离子通道不能直接感知温度变化,而是高温引起的质膜流动性和渗透性的变化诱导通道打开。在高等植物中,使用Ca的实验
2+-螯合剂-无水氯化镧(LaCl
3)表明钙通道也被验证为主要的热传感器之一[
1,2,4]。
游离钙
2+是常存在于动植物中的第二信使,参与各种生理反应。当细胞传感器捕获外部环境的变化,打开钙通道蛋白,细胞内Ca浓度增加时,钙传感器传感器信号通过钙传感器传输到不同的底物到不同的接收器,从而激活不同的调节途径(
图1)[
19]。
图1.高温引发植物钙离子电导信号通路示意图。在热应激下,钙离子与多种信号分子相互作用。(a)高温会改变细胞膜的流动性,打开膜中的钙通道蛋白并激活钙通道。钙离子从膜损伤或通道蛋白进入细胞,并直接与HSF上的CaM3和钙调蛋白结合激酶(CBK3)作用,进而调节HSP的表达。(b)钙离子还通过与RBOHD或钙依赖性蛋白激酶(CDPK)的直接相互作用来控制ROS积累。(c)钙还通过SYTA启动膜修复,并调节CaM3,热休克因子和热休克蛋白的表达。(d)钙通过调节主要HSF和ROS积累的活性,启动其他HSF和HSP的表达并调节酶活性,使植物能够应对高温。
首先,细胞内钙激活钙调蛋白3(CaM3)和钙依赖性蛋白激酶(CDPK)。钙离子和钙调蛋白结合后,释放的信号分子开始钙调蛋白结合激酶(CBK3)。钙
2+与CaM3结合并激活和磷酸化热冲击因子(HSF)。结合HSP基因启动子区的热休克元件,激活HSP产生的转录调控,参与
HSP产生的调控。多蛋白桥接因子1c(MBF1c)作为CDPK的共激活剂,刺激呼吸爆发氧化酶同源蛋白D(RBOHD)产生(ROS)并调节下游抗氧化酶的表达[
20]。接下来,激活的CDPK激活丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPKs)和RBOHD [
21],磷酸化HSFA2和其他转录因子,调节HSP的表达,然后拮抗HS[
22]。
钙离子还激活许多其他途径以增强耐高温性。突触拮抗素A(SYTA)是一种由Ca驱动的跨膜蛋白
2+修复受损细胞膜并调节CaM3表达。细胞内钙浓度也会影响比热休克分子(HSFA2C)的产生(
图1)[
23]。在高温下,磷脂被水解成磷脂酸,磷脂酸在信号转导中起重要的第二信使作用,增强HSFA2C的表达,进而调节HSP基因的表达。在小麦中,钙调蛋白被钙离子激活,钙离子参与调节热休克蛋白的表达并建立应激防御[
23]。同时,磷脂信号分子还可以进一步调节钙离子的流动。
5. 热应激下活性氧(ROS)的产生
在HS早期,细胞中活性氧的含量逐渐增加,HSFs的表达和HSPs在这一阶段的积累起到了决定性的作用。低水平的ROS充当信号分子,促进下游HS反应,但过量的ROS积累会产生毒性,ROS的解毒机制保护植物免受HT胁迫[
24]。
温度的微小变化会显著影响植物的光合作用[
1,25]。环境的高温会抑制光系统II、光系统I和植物类囊体膜上的rubisco酶的活性,从而影响其介导的光和电子传递链,导致氧化还原和代谢紊乱,留下大量光能产生更多的活性氧(ROS)[
26].在胁迫环境下,ROS常在植物防御的建立中发挥作用。低水平的ROS参与信号转导以促进下游反应,高水平的ROS引起膜过氧化[
23],引起细胞氧化损伤,导致代谢失衡、蛋白质变性和变形,从而导致蛋白质毒性应激,破坏膜稳定性和细胞骨架完整性,并导致细胞结构崩溃甚至程序性死亡[
27]。
因此,ROS的信号网络需要在植物中高度保守,以控制一系列生理代谢反应。在以前的研究中,重点是ROS对细胞的毒性。然而,最近的研究集中在它作为信号分子的方向上。这就要求植物保持ROS的动态平衡,使其在不毒害植物的情况下发挥信号分子的作用。
在非生物胁迫下,植物产生ROS信号并诱导下游反应。其中之一是防御基因的激活,导致特定的应激反应。例如,拟南芥上调抗氧化基因的表达,提高植物响应ROS信号转导的抗氧化能力。然而,ROS诱导所涉及的机制尚不清楚。
6. 热应激蛋白的产生及功能
热休克蛋白是植物热胁迫的主要参与者。通常,热应激基因(HSG)通过环境高温诱导上调。进一步编码HSP,保护细胞内蛋白质免于变性,并通过蛋白质折叠保持其稳定性和功能,从而帮助植物重建稳态并抵抗高温[
28](
图2)。
图2.热休克蛋白的工作途径。(a)在正常情况下,HSFA1作为主要调节剂,被HSP70/90螯合,抑制其功能。(b)高温应激后,细胞内蛋白质展开,导致HSP70/90聚集到其中,释放HSFA1。(c)在细胞内高ROS条件下,HSFA1形成三聚体并与细胞核中的HSE结合,激活下游HSP的表达。 蛋白质的诱导表达可以重建细胞稳态。HSE是位于HSP基因启动子上游的基序。
在植物中,热应激蛋白通常根据其分子量分为五个家族:HSP100,HSP90,HSP70,HSP60和小分子量HSP20(sHSPs)[
29]。HSP不仅可以在一定程度上解决细胞中蛋白质错误折叠的问题,还可以保护其他蛋白质作为分子伴侣的稳定性。
蛋白质的功能与其受孕有关,具有相同三维结构的蛋白质的功能也是一致的[
24]。当三维结构被破坏时,蛋白质将失去其原有功能。Timperio指出,HSP作为一种分子结合蛋白,可以与底物蛋白结合,以维持其稳定性和分子功能;另一方面,它可以在一定程度上降低其他蛋白质的表达[
30]。QU(2013)还展示了如何执行热休克蛋白的功能。HSFA1作为主导因素,通过产生共活化剂HSFA1b和HSFA2来触发热应激效应,形成与热休克促进子元件结合并诱导各种HSP,HSF70,HSF101和sHSP表达的同源三聚体[
25]。
The regulatory expression of HSP is largely controlled by HSFs [
31]. An HSF does not normally participate in heat tolerance (
Figure 2). After changes in environmental temperature, HSFs are activated by various signaling molecules through various pathways. In the whole HSF gene family,
HSFA1 is responsible for the main regulatory function. Studies have shown that if this gene is inhibited in tomatoes, the plants will not express HSPs or the expression level will be very small, affecting the normal growth and development of the plants and showing more serious symptoms of heat damage [
32]. The HSF family, with HSFA1 as the main regulator, presents a complex network structure and co-regulates the expression of HSP [
33,
34]. Despite extensive research on HSFs, no direct upstream transcription factors with a role in thermal signal transduction have been found. Further research is needed on both HSFs and other novel transcription factors.
7. Heat-Resistant Mechanism of Unfolded Protein
Unfolded protein response (UPR) is a signal pathway activated in cells, which responds to the stress of damaged protein stability in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) [
33,
35]. Secreted proteins and membrane proteins are folded and modified in the endoplasmic reticulum. Under high-temperature conditions, a large number of secreted proteins gather in the endoplasmic reticulum waiting for modification. When the folding capacity of the system is exceeded, a large number of unfolded proteins will accumulate, and the normal biological function of the endoplasmic reticulum will be blocked [
36]. In plants, two UPR pathways have been reported, one in the ER and the other in the cytoplasm [
37,
38]. When the organism is subjected to stress disasters such as high temperature, high salt, and drought, the protein that needs to be folded exceeds the capacity of the system to fold, and the UPR response is activated [
39]. In the process of endoplasmic reticulum folding, the regulation of cofactors is required, and the basic leucine zipper (bZIP) and transcription factors can help other proteins prevent misfolding. Under external stress, bZIP and transcription factors in the endoplasmic reticulum are released [
40]. The released transcription factors enter the nucleus, activating the transcription of specific genes within the nucleus, leading to the accumulation of ER partner transcripts and the activation of brassinosteroid signaling [
40]. In
Arabidopsis thaliana, bZIP28 and bZIP60 are upregulated by high-temperature stress and play a role in the regulatory pathway of UPR, whereas the decrease in their expression levels will show serious high-temperature damage and reduce plant resistance [
40].
Different from the UPR in the ER, the UPR in the cytoplasm is triggered by the unfolded protein in the cytoplasm, which is mainly regulated by HSF and HSFA2. HSFA2 binds to the HSF binding element in the heat shock response (HSR) gene promoter [
40]. However, in the early stage of heat stress temperature rise, secreted proteins do not accumulate, and UPR response is slow, unlike calcium ion channels. However, heat stress proteins can accumulate in plant cells at warmer temperatures [
41], and the activation of UPR seems to require plasmalemma to emit specific calcium signals [
42], indicating that UPR acts as a downstream heat stress signal transduction rather than a heat receptor.
8. Carbohydrates Can Be Used as Heat Conduction Resistance Signals
In plants, as an organism’s source of carbon and energy, carbohydrates carry out important biological functions. According to research, glucose metabolism can also act as signaling molecules to regulate other physiological processes [
42]. Intracellular accumulation of soluble sugars can regulate osmotic pressure, reduce abnormal ion loss, and maintain membrane stability to ensure physiological function [
43,
44]. Therefore, changes in glucose metabolism caused by HS can have adverse effects on sugar-sensitive systems.
In the whole development process of plants, the reproductive stage is extremely sensitive to high temperature, and even a small temperature rise will affect the development of pollen tubes [
45].
At high temperatures, the resistance mechanism of plants is activated, the rate of sugar metabolism is accelerated to provide energy for the body, and the expression of glycolysis- and citric acid cycle-related proteins are increased [
46]. Glucose is the most common sugar with a stable molecular structure. When the ambient temperature rises, glucose will reduce the peroxidation concentration of membrane lipids and then protect the process of photosynthesis to cope with heat stress [
47]. At the same time, it was found that MAPKs in the heat-resistant signal transduction pathway were activated after being treated with Aspergillus pinosus, whereas those treated with sucrose did not respond, indicating that plants may have different signal transduction pathways under heat stress [
48].
9. Relationship between Proline and Heat Stress
Proline is involved in the regulation of heat stress under heat stress. Many studies have shown that proline performs a variety of functions, helping to regulate osmotic pressure, remove reactive oxygen species, and stabilize cell structure [
49]. Early studies have shown that the accumulation ability of proline is related to stress tolerance [
50,
51]. Proline is a kind of amino acid that plays an important role under stress conditions, serving as an osmotic pressure solute and signal molecule in plants [
52]. In broad beans, the biosynthesis of proline and the involvement of nitric oxide and proline in the heat tolerance mechanism have been reported [
52]. Proline can also effectively remove hydroxyl free radicals in cells and reduce or eliminate oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species under heat stress [
53]. Many studies have shown that proline accumulation is positively related to the stress degree of plants, and the higher the plant stress resistance, the more proline accumulation in cells; however, some people believe that the increase in proline concentration under stress is a result of coercion and is not a response to stress [
51,
52,
54,
55]. Proline, as a molecular chaperone, regulates the integrity of proteins and enhances the activities of different enzymes. Its functions include preventing protein aggregation, clearing hydroxyl-reactive oxygen species, and regulating intracellular osmotic potential [
56]. Many studies attribute antioxidant properties to proline, certificating its ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species and its role as a singlet oxygen quencher [
57].
10. miRNAs Involved in the Construction of Plant Heat Tolerance Networks
miRNA is a small endogenous non-coding single-stranded RNA molecule that is involved in the heat-resistant defense construction of plants [
1]. miRNA can be used as a signal molecule to regulate the corresponding genes of plant heat tolerance and affect plant heat tolerance. In response to heat stress, upregulated miRNAs may downregulate their specific genes, where miRNAs act as negative regulators of heat tolerance. Conversely, downregulated miRNAs may upregulate their target genes and affect heat tolerance [
58].
In addition, miRNAs also play a major role in plant growth and development [
59], hormone response [
13], and stress defense [
60]. A series of miRNAs that regulate heat stress responses have been discovered in different plants such as Arabidopsis [
61]. In poplar, 12 miRNA families were identified in response to high-temperature stress. Most of their target genes were drought stress response factors or signal transduction proteins and different families had different induction patterns [
62]. Under heat stress conditions, miRNA regulates a large number of stress-responsive genes, which are involved in various biological pathways for plants to acquire heat tolerance defense mechanisms [
63].