Multi-Omics Analysis of Heat Stress-Induced Memory in Arabidopsis

Abstract

In their natural environment, plants experience temperature fluctuations, including intensified heat waves driven by climate change, which pose significant threats to their productivity. To adapt, plants have evolved diverse mechanisms to withstand heat stress (HS), minimizing potential damage and ensuring survival. One such adaptation is acquired thermotolerance (AT), where prior exposure to HS primes plants to withstand subsequent severe HS. AT can persist for several days and involves a recovery period during which plants establish heat stress memory (HSM), reorganize cellular processes, and strengthen stress resilience. The molecular mechanisms underlying HSM remain the subject of active investigation. In this study, we employ a high-throughput comparative multi-omics approach to unravel the transcriptome, metabolome, and proteome of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings during distinct intervals of the HSM phase. Our findings provide insights into the intricacies of HS recovery and the memory process. Notably, distinct temporal responses emerge at both the transcriptional and protein levels during the early and late recovery phases. Transcripts associated with HSM are upregulated during the early HS recovery phase, indicating a rapid response crucial for initial memory formation, while corresponding protein levels remain elevated throughout the recovery period, supporting memory consolidation. Additionally, metabolite profiles reveal distinctive patterns across the HS memory phase. This marks the first detailed multi-omic analysis of the HSM phase in Arabidopsis seedlings, providing insights into the multifaceted nature of this complex process. These comprehensive datasets hold promise in elucidating regulators of HS resilience, thereby enhancing efforts in breeding HS-tolerant crops