Membrane lipid remodelling of Meconopsis racemosa after its introduction into lowlands from an alpine environment

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 9; no. 9; p. e106614
• Main Authors: Zheng, Guowei, Tian, Bo, Li, Weiqi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 03.09.2014; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adaptation; Adaptation, Physiological; Alpine ecosystems; Alpine environments; Alpine regions; Arabidopsis; Biogeography; Biology and Life Sciences; Botany; China; Ecosystem; Environment; Environmental changes; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids - metabolism; Fluidity; Galactolipids; Genomics; Germplasm; High temperature; High temperatures; Laboratories; Lecithin; Lipid metabolism; Lipids; Lowlands; Membrane lipids; Membrane Lipids - metabolism; Membranes; Metabolism; Papaveraceae - metabolism; Phosphatidylcholine; Phosphatidylethanolamine; Phosphorus; Physiological aspects; Physiology; Plant introductions; Plant Leaves - metabolism; Plant sciences; Stress, Physiological; Temperature; China; United States > US; East Asia
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0106614

Membrane lipids, which determine the integrity and fluidity of membranes, are sensitive to environmental changes. The influence of stresses, such as cold and phosphorus deficiency, on lipid metabolism is well established. However, little is known about how plant lipid profiles change in response to environmental changes during introduction, especially when plants are transferred from extreme conditions to moderate ones. Using a lipidomics approach, we profiled the changes in glycerolipid molecules upon the introduction of the alpine ornamental species Meconopsis racemosa from the alpine region of Northwest Yunnan to the lowlands of Kunming, China. We found that the ratios of digalactosyldiacylglycerol/monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG/MGDG) and phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine (PC/PE) remained unchanged. Introduction of M. racemosa from an alpine environment to a lowland environment results in two major effects. The first is a decline in the level of plastidic lipids, especially galactolipids. The second, which concerns a decrease of the double-bond index (DBI) and could make the membrane more gel-like, is a response to high temperatures. Changes in the lipidome after M. racemosa was introduced to a lowland environment were the reverse of those that occur when plants are exposed to phosphorus deficiency or cold stress.