Biology subjects

Rathore, N.

Publications and source records attributed to Rathore, N..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Drought and methyl jasmonate memory interact to determine plant functioning under current drought stress in a perennial grass

As droughts become more common due to climate change, survival may rely not only on a plants immediate response but also on what it has learned from past challenges. However, we still know little about how plants integrate different types of experiences, such as recurrent drought and hormonal cues, from previous generations. In this study, we examined whether clonal offspring of Festuca rubra plants previously exposed to drought or the stress hormone methyl jasmonate (MeJA) inherited biological memories that help them tolerate new drought stress. Using a factorial design, we combined untargeted LC- MS metabolomics with morpho-physiological measurements to evaluate these memory effects. We found that each type of memory changed plant metabolism and physiology, but the most notable changes occurred when both memories were present, and plants faced recurrent drought conditions again. This interaction between drought memory, MeJA memory, and current stress did not just add effects, it created entirely new metabolic responses, not seen in any single treatment. These combined memories fine-tuned water conservation, photosynthesis, and extensive metabolomic reshuffling, revealing a deeper level of drought resilience. Our results uncover a layered memory system in plants where past stresses do not act in isolation but interact to reshape future responses. This offers new insight into how plants prepare for stress and suggests practical strategies for priming drought tolerance across plant generations.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2025

Shift from acquisitive to conservative plant strategies with increasing drought and temperature extremes in an alpine shrub

Background and AimsTrait-based approaches have advanced our understanding of plant strategies, yet they often focus on leaf-level traits, overlooking the functional roles of stem anatomy and twig characteristics. We investigated intraspecific trait variation in Salix flabellaris, an alpine dwarf shrub, along climatic gradients in the Himalayas. Our goal was to identify distinct axes of trait variation related to stem, twig, and leaf traits, assess their environmental drivers, and evaluate population-specific growth responses to recent climate change. MethodsWe measured anatomical and morphological traits in stem, twig, and leaves across central and marginal populations along three Himalayan transects. Environmental gradients included variation in growing season temperature and soil moisture. Basal area increment from 2000 to 2021 was analyzed to assess long-term growth trends in different areas. ResultsTrait dimensions were largely independent, reflecting distinct ecological strategies: (1) stem anatomical trade-off between hydraulic safety and conductivity; (2) twig dimension balancing construction costs and mechanical strength; and (3) leaf dimension along the exploitative-conservative axis. Higher temperatures enhanced performance manifested as larger twigs and reduced tissue construction costs but only under sufficient soil moisture conditions. Central populations at mid-elevations displayed the favorable trait combinations and highest growth rates. In contrast, marginal populations (higher and lower elevations) showed traits indicating structural reinforcement and conservative resource use. Climate warming over recent decades enhanced stem growth primarily in high-elevation populations, where low-temperature constraints were relaxed. ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that stem, twig, and leaf traits represent distinct yet complementary strategies, with environmental filtering shaping their expression along climate gradients. Central populations exhibit highest growth under current conditions, while climate change is shifting growth advantages toward higher elevations. These findings highlight the need for integrated, multi-organ trait assessments to predict species performance, persistence, and potential range shifts under future climatic scenarios.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2018

Paired Immunoglobulin-like Type 2 Receptor Alpha G78R variant alters ligand binding and confers protection to Alzheimer’s disease

Paired Immunoglobulin-like Type 2 Receptor Alpha (PILRA) is a cell surface inhibitory receptor that recognizes specific O-glycosylated proteins and is expressed on various innate immune cell types including microglia. We show here that a common missense variant (G78R, rs1859788) of PILRA is the likely causal allele for the confirmed Alzheimers disease risk locus at 7q21 (rs1476679). The G78R variant alters the interaction of residues essential for sialic acid engagement, resulting in >50% reduced binding for several PILRA ligands including a novel ligand, complement component 4A, and herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) glycoprotein B. PILRA is an entry receptor for HSV-1 via glycoprotein B, and macrophages derived from R78 homozygous donors showed significantly decreased levels of HSV-1 infection at several multiplicities of infection compared to homozygous G78 macrophages. We propose that PILRA G78R protects individuals from Alzheimers disease risk via reduced inhibitory signaling in microglia and reduced microglial infection during HSV-1 recurrence.

genetics↗