ABSTRACT

Phenotypic plasticity has been increasingly recognized for its importance in adaptation to novel environments, and initial rapid plastic response to acute stresses usually serves as the stepping stone for future adaptation. Differential gene expression and alternative splicing have been proposed as two underlying mechanisms for rapid plastic response to environmental stresses. Here, we used an invasive model species, Ciona savignyi, to investigate the temporary plastic changes under temperature stresses on gene expression and alternative splicing. Our results revealed rapid and highly dynamic gene expression reprogramming and alternative splicing switch under acute stresses. Distinct transcriptional response profiles were triggered by two types of temperature stresses, showing resilience recovery and increasing divergence under heat and cold challenges, respectively. Interestingly, alternative exons were more inclined to be skipped under both heat and cold stresses, leading to shorter isoforms but with maintained Open Reading Frames (ORFs). Although similar response patterns were observed between differential gene expression and alternative splicing, low overlap between Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) and Differentially Alternative Spliced Genes (DASGs) suggests that distinct gene sets and associated functions should be involved in temperature challenges. Thus, alternative splicing should offer an additional layer of plastic response to environmental challenges. Finally, we identified key plastic genes involved in both gene expression regulation and alternative splicing. The results obtained here shed light on adaptation and accommodation mechanisms during biological invasions, particularly for acute environmental changes at early stages of biological invasions such as transport and introduction.

摘要

表型可塑性因其在适应新环境中的重要性而日益得到认可，对急性压力的初始快速塑性反应通常是未来适应的垫脚石。差异基因表达和选择性剪接被认为是塑料对环境压力的快速反应的两种潜在机制。在这里，我们使用了入侵模式物种Ciona Savignyi，研究温度胁迫下基因表达和选择性剪接的临时塑性变化。我们的结果揭示了急性应激下快速且高度动态的基因表达重编程和可变剪接转换。两种类型的温度应激触发了不同的转录反应谱，分别显示出在热和冷挑战下的弹性恢复和差异增加。有趣的是，替代外显子更倾向于在热和冷应激下被跳过，导致更短的同种型但保持开放阅读框 (ORF)。尽管在差异基因表达和可变剪接之间观察到了相似的反应模式，差异表达基因 (DEG) 和差异选择性剪接基因 (DASG) 之间的低重叠表明不同的基因组和相关功能应参与温度挑战。因此，替代拼接应该为应对环境挑战提供额外的塑料层。最后，我们确定了参与基因表达调控和选择性剪接的关键塑料基因。这里获得的结果阐明了生物入侵期间的适应和适应机制，特别是生物入侵早期阶段的急性环境变化，如运输和引入。替代拼接应该为应对环境挑战提供额外的塑料层。最后，我们确定了参与基因表达调控和选择性剪接的关键塑料基因。这里获得的结果阐明了生物入侵期间的适应和适应机制，特别是生物入侵早期阶段的急性环境变化，如运输和引入。替代拼接应该为应对环境挑战提供额外的塑料层。最后，我们确定了参与基因表达调控和选择性剪接的关键塑料基因。这里获得的结果阐明了生物入侵期间的适应和适应机制，特别是生物入侵早期阶段的急性环境变化，如运输和引入。