scholarly journals Effects of genetic and environmental factors on variations of seed heteromorphism in Suaeda aralocaspica

AoB Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Cao ◽  
Ling Chen ◽  
Juan Wang ◽  
Jiajia Xing ◽  
Xiuyun Lv ◽  
...  

Abstract Seed heteromorphism is an adaptive strategy towards adversity in many halophytes. However, the underlying mechanisms and ecological significance of seed heteromorphism have not been deeply explored. Using Suaeda aralocaspica, a typical C4 annual halophyte without Kranz anatomy, we studied seed morphology, differentiation of morphs and fruit-setting patterns, and correlated these traits with germination responses, seed characteristics and heteromorphic seed ratio. To elucidate the genetic basis of seed heteromorphism, we analysed correlated patterns of gene expression for seed development-related genes as well. We observed that S. aralocaspica produced three types of seed morph: brown, large black and small black with differences in colour, size, mass and germination behaviour; the latter two were further distinguished by their origin in female or bisexual flowers, respectively. Further analysis revealed that seed heteromorphism was associated with genetic aspects including seed positioning, seed coat differentiation and seed developmental gene expression, while variations in seed heteromorphism may be associated with environmental conditions, e.g. annual precipitation, temperature, daylight and their monthly distribution in different calendar years. Seed heteromorphism and its variations in S. aralocaspica show multilevel regulation of the bet-hedging strategy that influences phenotypic plasticity, which is a consequence of internal genetic and external environmental factor interaction. Our findings contribute to the understanding of seed heteromorphism as a potential adaptive trait of desert plant species.

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. eaax4001 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Loubiere ◽  
G. L. Papadopoulos ◽  
Q. Szabo ◽  
A-M. Martinez ◽  
G. Cavalli

Polycomb repressive complexes 1 and 2 have been historically described as transcriptional repressors, but recent reports suggest that PRC1 might also support activation, although the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we show that stage-specific PRC1 binding at a subset of active promoters and enhancers during Drosophila development coincides with the formation of three-dimensional (3D) loops, an increase in expression during development and repression in PRC1 mutants. Dissection of the dachshund locus indicates that PRC1-anchored loops are versatile architectural platforms that persist when surrounding genes are transcriptionally active and fine-tune their expression. The analysis of RING1B binding profiles and 3D contacts during neural differentiation in mice suggests that this role is conserved in mammals.


2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 203-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua L. Cohen ◽  
Matthew E. Glover ◽  
Phyllis C. Pugh ◽  
Andrew D. Fant ◽  
Rebecca K. Simmons ◽  
...  

The early-life environment critically influences neurodevelopment and later psychological health. To elucidate neural and environmental elements that shape emotional behavior, we developed a rat model of individual differences in temperament and environmental reactivity. We selectively bred rats for high versus low behavioral response to novelty and found that high-reactive (bred high-responder, bHR) rats displayed greater risk-taking, impulsivity and aggression relative to low-reactive (bred low-responder, bLR) rats, which showed high levels of anxiety/depression-like behavior and certain stress vulnerability. The bHR/bLR traits are heritable, but prior work revealed bHR/bLR maternal style differences, with bLR dams showing more maternal attention than bHRs. The present study implemented a cross-fostering paradigm to examine the contribution of maternal behavior to the brain development and emotional behavior of bLR offspring. bLR offspring were reared by biological bLR mothers or fostered to a bLR or bHR mother and then evaluated to determine the effects on the following: (1) developmental gene expression in the hippocampus and amygdala and (2) adult anxiety/depression-like behavior. Genome-wide expression profiling showed that cross-fostering bLR rats to bHR mothers shifted developmental gene expression in the amygdala (but not hippocampus), reduced adult anxiety and enhanced social interaction. Our findings illustrate how an early-life manipulation such as cross-fostering changes the brain's developmental trajectory and ultimately impacts adult behavior. Moreover, while earlier studies highlighted hippocampal differences contributing to the bHR/bLR phenotypes, our results point to a role of the amygdala as well. Future work will pursue genetic and cellular mechanisms within the amygdala that contribute to bHR/bLR behavior either at baseline or following environmental manipulations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Xie ◽  
Xiaofeng Hang ◽  
Wensheng Xu ◽  
Jing Gu ◽  
Yuanjing Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Most of the biological functions of circular RNAs (circRNAs) and the potential underlying mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not yet been discovered. Methods In this study, using circRNA expression data from HCC tumor tissues and adjacent tissues from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, we identified out differentially expressed circRNAs and verified them by qRT-PCT. Functional experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of circFAM13B in HCC in vitro and in vivo. Results We found that circFAM13B was the most significantly differentially expressed circRNA in HCC tissue. Subsequently, in vitro and in vivo studies also demonstrated that circFAM13B promoted the proliferation of HCC. Further studies revealed that circFAM13B, a sponge of miR-212, is involved in the regulation of E2F5 gene expression by competitively binding to miR-212, inhibits the activation of the P53 signalling pathway, and promotes the proliferation of HCC cells. Conclusions Our findings revealed the mechanism underlying the regulatory role played by circFAM13B, miR-212 and E2F5 in HCC. This study provides a new theoretical basis and novel target for the clinical prevention and treatment of HCC.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianfeng Xu ◽  
Jiejun Shi ◽  
Xiaodong Cui ◽  
Ya Cui ◽  
Jingyi Jessica Li ◽  
...  

AbstractPromoter DNA methylation is a well-established mechanism of transcription repression, though its global correlation with gene expression is weak. This weak correlation can be attributed to the failure of current methylation quantification methods to consider the heterogeneity among sequenced bulk cells. Here, we introduce Cell Heterogeneity–Adjusted cLonal Methylation (CHALM) as a methylation quantification method. CHALM improves understanding of the functional consequences of DNA methylation, including its correlations with gene expression and H3K4me3. When applied to different methylation datasets, the CHALM method enables detection of differentially methylated genes that exhibit distinct biological functions supporting underlying mechanisms.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Shlemov ◽  
Nina Golyandina ◽  
David Holloway ◽  
Alexander Spirov

Recent progress in microscopy technologies, biological markers, and automated processing methods is making possible the development of gene expression atlases at cellular-level resolution over whole embryos. Raw data on gene expression is usually very noisy. This noise comes from both experimental (technical/methodological) and true biological sources (from stochastic biochemical processes). In addition, the cells or nuclei being imaged are irregularly arranged in 3D space. This makes the processing, extraction, and study of expression signals and intrinsic biological noise a serious challenge for 3D data, requiring new computational approaches. Here, we present a new approach for studying gene expression in nuclei located in a thick layer around a spherical surface. The method includes depth equalization on the sphere, flattening, interpolation to a regular grid, pattern extraction by Shaped 3D singular spectrum analysis (SSA), and interpolation back to original nuclear positions. The approach is demonstrated on several examples of gene expression in the zebrafish egg (a model system in vertebrate development). The method is tested on several different data geometries (e.g., nuclear positions) and different forms of gene expression patterns. Fully 3D datasets for developmental gene expression are becoming increasingly available; we discuss the prospects of applying 3D-SSA to data processing and analysis in this growing field.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cyprian Popescu

Abstract Objectives Although the underlying mechanisms and mediators of arthritis in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) are not well understood, accumulated evidence supports the mixt role of genetic and environmental factors. Few reports of multiplex families with JIA were published until now. The aim of this study was to identify new genetic or environmental associations concerning the patients of a kindred with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and psoriatic features (JIAPs). Methods Here, we characterized an extended multiplex family of 5 patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and psoriatic features (PsA) at the clinical and genetic level, using whole exome sequencing. Results We did not confirm in our family the linkage with the genetic factors already described that might be associated with increase susceptibility to JIA. We found a carrier status of siblings who inherited a pathogenic allele of the SERPINA1 gene from their mother who herself has two heterozygous pathogenic variants in the SERPINA1 gene. Conclusions Our data showed that JIA results from pleiotropic effects of environmental background with an only minor monogenic contribution. Even that a monogenetic factor could not be proved, some genetic factor as SERPINA1 mutations which can sensitize for psoriatic arthritis development seems to be involved. Further investigation must be done to prove whether SERPINA1 mutations may have a potential JIA causality.


2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qianyun Feng ◽  
Sheng Zheng ◽  
Jia Zheng

Osteoporosis, a common and multifactorial disease, is influenced by genetic factors and environments. However, the pathogenesis of osteoporosis has not been fully elucidated yet. Recently, emerging evidence suggests that epigenetic modifications may be the underlying mechanisms that link genetic and environmental factors with increased risks of osteoporosis and bone fracture. MicroRNA (miRNA), a major category of small noncoding RNA with 20–22 bases in length, is recognized as one important epigenetic modification. It can mediate post-transcriptional regulation of target genes with cell differentiation and apoptosis. In this review, we aimed to profile the role of miRNA in bone remodeling and its therapeutic implications for osteoporosis. A deeper insight into the role of miRNA in bone remodeling and osteoporosis can provide unique opportunities to develop a novel diagnostic and therapeutic approach of osteoporosis.


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