Gene co-expression networks unravel the molecular responses of freshwater hydrophytes to combined stress of salinity and cadmium

TY - JOUR

T1 - Gene co-expression networks unravel the molecular responses of freshwater hydrophytes to combined stress of salinity and cadmium

AU - Wang, Si Qi

AU - Zhou, Xiong Li

AU - Jin, Yan Shan

AU - Jeppesen, Erik

AU - Yang, Liu

AU - Shen, Shi Kang

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 Elsevier Ltd

PY - 2023/11

Y1 - 2023/11

N2 - Salinization in freshwater lakes is becoming a serious global environmental problem, especially in lakes of plateaus such as south-western plateau of China. However, limited information is available about the molecular response of freshwater hydrophytes to salinity under multiple stress. In the present study, a weighted gene co-expression network (WGCNA) was used to identify the modules of co-expressed genes in the physiological and biochemical indicators of Pistia stratiotes to determine its molecular response to salinity (NaCl) alone and when combined with cadmium (Cd). The physiological and biochemical indicators showed that P. stratiotes improved its salt tolerance by enhancing photosynthetic abilities, reducing oxidative stress, and inducing osmoprotectant generation. Morever, addition of NaCl reduced the Cd accumulation in P. stratiotes. Transcriptome and WGCNA analysis revealed that the pathways of alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, ribosomal, flavonoid biosynthesis, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis were significantly enriched in both treatments. Genes associated with photosynthesis-antenna proteins, nitrogen metabolism, and the acid cycle pathways were only expressed under salinity stress alone, while the proteasome pathway was only significantly enriched in the combined salinity and Cd treatment. Our findings provide novel insights into the effects of salinization on aquatic plants in freshwater ecosystems and the management of aquatic ecosystems under global change.

AB - Salinization in freshwater lakes is becoming a serious global environmental problem, especially in lakes of plateaus such as south-western plateau of China. However, limited information is available about the molecular response of freshwater hydrophytes to salinity under multiple stress. In the present study, a weighted gene co-expression network (WGCNA) was used to identify the modules of co-expressed genes in the physiological and biochemical indicators of Pistia stratiotes to determine its molecular response to salinity (NaCl) alone and when combined with cadmium (Cd). The physiological and biochemical indicators showed that P. stratiotes improved its salt tolerance by enhancing photosynthetic abilities, reducing oxidative stress, and inducing osmoprotectant generation. Morever, addition of NaCl reduced the Cd accumulation in P. stratiotes. Transcriptome and WGCNA analysis revealed that the pathways of alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, ribosomal, flavonoid biosynthesis, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis were significantly enriched in both treatments. Genes associated with photosynthesis-antenna proteins, nitrogen metabolism, and the acid cycle pathways were only expressed under salinity stress alone, while the proteasome pathway was only significantly enriched in the combined salinity and Cd treatment. Our findings provide novel insights into the effects of salinization on aquatic plants in freshwater ecosystems and the management of aquatic ecosystems under global change.

KW - Aquatic plant

KW - Global change

KW - Pistia stratiotes

KW - Salinization

KW - Toxicity

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85168832063&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139933

DO - 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139933

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 37625492

AN - SCOPUS:85168832063

SN - 0045-6535

VL - 340

JO - Chemosphere

JF - Chemosphere

M1 - 139933

ER -