Effect of DNA methylation on gravisensitivity of mosses

Heading: 
Space Life Sciences
1Khorkavtsiv, Ya.D, 1Lobachevska, OV, 1Kyyak, NYa., 2Kordyum, EL
1Institute of Ecology of the Carpathians of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, L’viv, Ukraine
2M.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
Space Sci. & Technol. 2023, 29 ;(4):106-118
https://doi.org/10.15407/knit2023.04.106
Publication Language: Ukrainian
Abstract: 
Gravity is a fundamental environmental factor in plant growth and development in environmental conditions. The effect of real or simulated microgravity causes a stress response in plants, which occurs as a result of cell differentiation and activation of DNA methylation.
             We investigated the effect of the DNA methylation inhibitor 5−azacytidine (5−aza) on the stage of perception and transduction of the gravity signal into gravitropism, the modification of the peroxidase isoenzyme spectra in Physcomitrium patens (Hedw.) Mitt. protonemata under conditions of altered gravity, as well as branching phenotype and variability of gravitropic angles of Polytrichum arcticum Sw. ex. Brid. lateral branches.
             The relationship between DNA methylation and gravity induction was established. The influence of methylation on the stage of the perception and realization of the gravity signal was determined. DNA demethylation, caused by the influence of the 5−aza, reduces the gravisensitivity of stolons − less at the stage of perception and more during gravity signal transduction. The analysis of the gravitropism development under the influence of DNA methylation inhibitor indicates the preservation of cell memory about the signal regardless of the stage of gravistimulation. However, the retention time for cell memory was shorter at the perception stage and longer at the transduction stage, which affects the rate of recovery of the gravitropic growth. The differential effect of changes in DNA methylation on gravi-induction is investigated as an epigenetically regulated process that modifies morphological differences in mosses’ tropism under the microgravity conditions in Space and altered gravity on Earth.
             Resistance to gravity depends on changes in the cell walls’ metabolism. The peroxidase activity plays an important role in the biogenesis and mechanical stability of the wall. It was shown that the expression of peroxidase genes and the change of the enzyme isoforms in the protonemata of P. patens occurred as a result of DNA demethylation. Epigenetic polymorphism of peroxidase under conditions of altered gravity is considered as a probable factor of individual resistance of the plant organism.
            Local branching of the protonemata and spatial orientation of P. arcticum lateral branches are the determining factors of phenotypic variability and are controlled by the vector effect of gravity, as well as the epigenetic system of DNA methylation/demethylation.
Keywords: 5−azacytidine (5−aza), adaptation, DNA methylation, gravitropism, lateral branches, peroxidase, protonemata, stolons
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