Transcriptomic analysis of endoplasmic reticulum stress in roots of grapevine rootstock

Grapevine roots are largely subjected to adverse environmental stresses. To maintain cellular hemostasis during different environmental conditions, cells develop reponse known as endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response. However, the cellular mechanism of grapevine rootstocks roots has not been studied in detail under conditions of ER stress. In this study, transcriptome analysis has been performed to determine ER-related transcripts in grapevine rootstock induced with tunicamycin (TM) or dithiothreitol (DTT), causing proteins misfolding in ER, and consequently triggers ER stress. According to the results, 640 genes were expressed differently in the two treatment groups. Out of these, 397 transcripts were found to be associated with tunicamycin treatment. Among tunicamycin-responsive genes increased expression profiles were recorded for 287 genes while the remaining and 110 genes showed decreased expression profile. In contrast, in DTT-treated plants, a total of 557 genes were differentially expressed, 345 of which were upregulated, and 212 were downregulated. In addition, we identified 50 transcripts common to both TM and DTT treatments. TM and DTT treatments increased the expression of transcription factors, the hormone biosynthesis pathway genes. Gene ontology classified genes in groups involving protein folding, oxidative stress, protein phosphorylation, transmembrane transport, transcription and proteolysis regulation. Gene transcripts results revealed genes that may play a significant effect in the response to ER stress of rootstocks root. Considering the results reported here explaining the possible mechanisms of how plants adapt to environmental stresses, an important information gap has been bridged by providing new insights into the ER stress mechanisms in plant roots.