Cao Wei, Zhang Mingyi, Wu Nan, Zheng Yanxin, Li Xiaodong, Han Haiying, Yu Tao, Wu Zhongxun, Qu Pei, Li Bo
Island and Reef Fishery Research Center, Changdao Enhancement and Experiment Station, Chinese Academy of Fishery Science, Yantai 264000, China.
Observation and Research Station of Bohai Strait Eco-Corridor, MNR, Qingdao 266000, China.
Genes (Basel). 2025 May 16;16(5):587. doi: 10.3390/genes16050587.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Desiccation profoundly influences the distribution and abundance of intertidal seaweeds, necessitating robust molecular adaptations. is a brown seaweed inhabiting intertidal rocky substrates. During low tides, this species undergoes periodic aerial exposure. Such environmental conditions necessitate robust physiological mechanisms to mitigate desiccation stress. Yet, the molecular basis of this adaptation remains poorly understood.
To investigate desiccation-responsive genes and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of adaptation, we exposed to 6 h of controlled desiccation stress in sterilized ceramic trays, simulating natural tidal conditions, and performed comparative transcriptome analysis using RNA-seq on the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform.
High-quality sequencing identified 66,192 unigenes, with 1990 differentially expressed genes (1399 upregulated and 591 downregulated). These differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were categorized into regulatory genes-including mitogen-activated protein kinase (), calmodulin, elongation factor, and serine/threonine-protein kinase-and functional genes, such as heat shock protein family members (, , and ), tubulin ( and ), and endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis-related genes (protein disulfide-isomerase A6, calreticulin, and calnexin). Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment highlighted upregulated DEGs in metabolic processes like glutathione metabolism, critical for oxidative stress mitigation, while downregulated genes were linked to transport functions, such as ammonium transport, suggesting reduced nutrient uptake during dehydration. KEGG pathway analysis revealed significant enrichment in "protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum" and "MAPK signaling pathway-plant", implicating endoplasmic reticulum stress response and conserved signaling cascades in desiccation adaptation. Validation via qRT-PCR confirmed consistent expression trends for key genes, reinforcing the reliability of transcriptomic data.
These findings suggest that undergoes extensive biological adjustments to mitigate desiccation stress, highlighting candidate pathways for future investigations into recovery and tolerance mechanisms.
背景/目的：干燥对潮间带海藻的分布和丰度有深远影响，这需要强大的分子适应性。[物种名称]是一种栖息在潮间带岩石基质上的褐藻。在退潮期间，该物种会经历周期性的空气暴露。这种环境条件需要强大的生理机制来减轻干燥胁迫。然而，这种适应性的分子基础仍知之甚少。
为了研究干燥响应基因并阐明潜在的适应机制，我们将[物种名称]置于经过消毒的陶瓷托盘中，模拟自然潮汐条件，使其经受6小时的可控干燥胁迫，并在Illumina NovaSeq 6000平台上使用RNA测序进行比较转录组分析。
高质量测序鉴定出66,192个单基因，其中有1990个差异表达基因（1399个上调，591个下调）。这些差异表达基因（DEGs）被分类为调控基因，包括丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（[具体名称]）、钙调蛋白、延伸因子和丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶，以及功能基因，如热休克蛋白家族成员（[具体名称]、[具体名称]和[具体名称]）、微管蛋白（[具体名称]和[具体名称]）和内质网稳态相关基因（蛋白质二硫键异构酶A6、钙网蛋白和钙联蛋白）。基因本体论（GO）富集突出了在谷胱甘肽代谢等代谢过程中上调的DEGs，这对减轻氧化应激至关重要，而下调基因与运输功能相关，如铵运输，表明脱水期间营养物质吸收减少。KEGG通路分析显示在“内质网中的蛋白质加工”和“MAPK信号通路 - 植物”中显著富集，这意味着内质网应激反应和保守的信号级联在干燥适应中起作用。通过qRT-PCR验证确认了关键基因的一致表达趋势，加强了转录组数据的可靠性。
这些发现表明[物种名称]会进行广泛的生物学调整以减轻干燥胁迫，突出了未来研究恢复和耐受机制的候选途径。
