Phosphoproteomics analysis provides novel insight into the mechanisms of extreme desiccation tolerance of the desert moss Syntrichia caninervis

Syntrichia caninervis is a model species for research on desiccation tolerance (DT) because it is capable of rapidly responding to drastic changes in water conditions. Phosphorylation, a key post-translational modification process that is rapid and reversible, enables the rapid regulation of protein functions, aiding plants to quickly adapt to changing environments. Modifications to phosphorylation may play a crucial role in the DT of S. caninervis, although no studies have been published. Here, we report a 4D label-free high-resolution dynamic proteomic and phosphoproteomic analysis of S. caninervis during dehydration and rehydration, allowing for the quantification of 2854 proteins and 1177 phosphoproteins, including 1447 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and 699 differentially phosphorylated proteins (DPPs). Among the phosphoproteins, 36.5% displayed changes in protein abundance. The proteomic and phosphoproteomic changes involved proteins (DEPs and DPPs) that were mainly involved in photosynthesis, glutathione metabolism, the citrate cycle, and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolism pathways during dehydration. During rehydration, DEPs and DPPs were mainly associated with processes related to ribosome and energy metabolism. In summary, during dehydration, phosphorylation mainly regulates signal transduction and metabolic processes, allowing plants to adapt to a loss of water. During rehydration, phosphorylation controls repair and recovery mechanisms, restoring metabolic activity and reestablishing cellular functions. ScDHAR1, a protein involved in glutathione metabolism, was differentially phosphorylated at two serine sites (S29 and S218) in response to desiccation. Further analysis revealed that phosphorylation of S29/S218 in ScDHAR1 significantly increased its enzymatic activity, thereby enhancing the DT of S. caninervis in situ. This work establishes a phosphoprotein database for a DT moss. These findings not only broaden our understanding of S. caninervis DT but also fill knowledge gaps in the field of phosphoproteomics in DT mosses, while providing valuable data resources for future related research.