Understanding the genetic factors involved in seed longevity is of paramount importance in agricultural and ecological contexts. The polygenic nature of this trait suggests that many of them remain undiscovered. Here, we exploited the contrasting seed longevity found amongst wild type Arabidopsis thaliana accessions to further understand this phenomenon. Concentrations of the antioxidant glutathione were consistently higher in longer-lived than shorter-lived accessions, supporting that redox poise plays a prominent role in seed longevity. However, high seed permeability, normally associated with shorter longevity, is also present in accessions with longer seed longevity. Transcriptome analysis indicated that the detrimental effect on longevity caused by seed coat permeability may be counterbalanced by higher levels of specific mRNAs stored in dry seed, particularly those of heat-shock proteins. Indeed, reverse genetics demonstrated that heat-shock factors HSF1A and 1B contributed to longevity. Furthermore, loss-of-function mutants of RNA-binding proteins, such as the stress-granule zinc-finger protein TZF9, or the spliceosome subunits MOS4 or MAC3A/MAC3B, extended seed longevity, positioning RNA as a novel player in the regulation of seed viability. mRNAs of proteins with putative relevance to longevity were also abundant in shorter-lived accessions, reinforcing the idea that resistance to ageing is determined by multiple factors.

中文翻译：

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野生型种质的比较分析揭示了拟南芥种子寿命的新决定因素

了解与种子寿命相关的遗传因素在农业和生态环境中至关重要。这种性状的多基因性质表明其中许多仍未被发现。在这里，我们利用野生型拟南芥种质中发现的对比种子寿命来进一步了解这种现象。寿命较长的种质中抗氧化剂谷胱甘肽的浓度始终高于寿命较短的种质，这支持氧化还原平衡在种子寿命中起着重要作用。然而，通常与较短寿命相关的高种子渗透性也存在于具有较长种子寿命的种质中。转录组分析表明，种皮渗透性对寿命的不利影响可能会被储存在干燥种子中的更高水平的特定 mRNA，特别是那些热休克蛋白的 mRNA 所抵消。事实上，反向遗传学表明热休克因子 HSF1A 和 1B 有助于长寿。此外，RNA 结合蛋白的功能丧失突变体，如应激颗粒锌指蛋白 TZF9，或剪接体亚基 MOS4 或 MAC3A/MAC3B，延长了种子寿命，将 RNA 定位为调节种子活力。推测与长寿相关的蛋白质 mRNA 在寿命较短的种质中也很丰富，这强化了抗衰老由多种因素决定的观点。反向遗传学表明热休克因子 HSF1A 和 1B 有助于长寿。此外，RNA 结合蛋白的功能丧失突变体，如应激颗粒锌指蛋白 TZF9，或剪接体亚基 MOS4 或 MAC3A/MAC3B，延长了种子寿命，将 RNA 定位为调节种子活力。推测与长寿相关的蛋白质 mRNA 在寿命较短的种质中也很丰富，这强化了抗衰老由多种因素决定的观点。反向遗传学表明热休克因子 HSF1A 和 1B 有助于长寿。此外，RNA 结合蛋白的功能丧失突变体，如应激颗粒锌指蛋白 TZF9，或剪接体亚基 MOS4 或 MAC3A/MAC3B，延长了种子寿命，将 RNA 定位为调节种子活力。推测与长寿相关的蛋白质 mRNA 在寿命较短的种质中也很丰富，这强化了抗衰老由多种因素决定的观点。将 RNA 定位为调节种子活力的新参与者。推测与长寿相关的蛋白质 mRNA 在寿命较短的种质中也很丰富，这强化了抗衰老由多种因素决定的观点。将 RNA 定位为调节种子活力的新参与者。推测与长寿相关的蛋白质 mRNA 在寿命较短的种质中也很丰富，这强化了抗衰老由多种因素决定的观点。