scholarly journals Expression atlas of Selaginella moellendorffii provides insights into the evolution of vasculature, secondary metabolism and roots

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilla Ferrari ◽  
Devendra Shivhare ◽  
Bjoern Oest Hansen ◽  
Nikola Winter ◽  
Asher Pasha ◽  
...  

SummaryThe lycophyte Selaginella moellendorffii represents early vascular plants and is studied to understand the evolution of higher plant traits such as the vasculature, leaves, stems, roots, and secondary metabolism. However, little is known about the gene expression and transcriptional coordination of Selaginella genes, which precludes us from understanding the evolution of transcriptional programs behind these traits.We here present a gene expression atlas comprising all major organs, tissue types, and the diurnal gene expression profiles for S. moellendorffii. The atlas is part of the CoNekT-Plants database (conekt.plant.tools), which enables comparative transcriptomic analyses across two algae and seven land plants.We show that the transcriptional gene module responsible for the biosynthesis of lignocellulose evolved in the ancestor of vascular plants, and pinpoint the duplication and subfunctionalization events that generated multiple gene modules involved in the biosynthesis of various cell wall types. We further demonstrate how secondary metabolism is transcriptionally coordinated and integrated with other cellular pathways. Finally, we identify root-specific genes in vascular plants and show that the evolution of roots did not coincide with an increased appearance of gene families, suggesting that the existing genetic material was sufficient to generate new organs.Our updated database at conekt.plant.tools provides a unique resource to study the evolution of genes, gene families, transcriptomes, and functional gene modules in the Archaeplastida kingdom.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilla Ferrari ◽  
Marek Mutwil

SummaryThe glaucophyte Cyanophora paradoxa represents the most basal member of the Archaeplastida kingdom, however the function and expression of most of its genes are unknown. This information is needed to uncover how functional gene modules, i.e. groups of genes performing a given function, evolved in the plant kingdom.We have generated a gene expression atlas capturing responses of Cyanophora to various abiotic stresses. This data was included in the CoNekT-Plants database, enabling comparative transcriptomic analyses across two algae and six land plants.We demonstrate how the database can be used to study gene expression, co-expression networks and gene function in Cyanophora, and how conserved transcriptional programs can be identified. We identified gene modules involved in phycobilisome biosynthesis, response to high light and cell division. While we observed no correlation between the number of differentially expressed genes and the impact on growth of Cyanophora, we found that the response to stress involves a conserved, kingdom-wide transcriptional reprogramming, which is activated upon most stresses in algae and land plants.The Cyanophora stress gene expression atlas and the tools found in https://conekt.plant.tools/ database provide a useful resource to reveal functionally related genes and stress responses in the plant kingdom.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Feng Tian ◽  
Fan Zhou ◽  
Xiang Li ◽  
Wenping Ma ◽  
Honggui Wu ◽  
...  

SummaryBy circumventing cellular heterogeneity, single cell omics have now been widely utilized for cell typing in human tissues, culminating with the undertaking of human cell atlas aimed at characterizing all human cell types. However, more important are the probing of gene regulatory networks, underlying chromatin architecture and critical transcription factors for each cell type. Here we report the Genomic Architecture of Cells in Tissues (GeACT), a comprehensive genomic data base that collectively address the above needs with the goal of understanding the functional genome in action. GeACT was made possible by our novel single-cell RNA-seq (MALBAC-DT) and ATAC-seq (METATAC) methods of high detectability and precision. We exemplified GeACT by first studying representative organs in human mid-gestation fetus. In particular, correlated gene modules (CGMs) are observed and found to be cell-type-dependent. We linked gene expression profiles to the underlying chromatin states, and found the key transcription factors for representative CGMs.HighlightsGenomic Architecture of Cells in Tissues (GeACT) data for human mid-gestation fetusDetermining correlated gene modules (CGMs) in different cell types by MALBAC-DTMeasuring chromatin open regions in single cells with high detectability by METATACIntegrating transcriptomics and chromatin accessibility to reveal key TFs for a CGM


BMC Genomics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan W. Penning ◽  
Tânia M. Shiga ◽  
John F. Klimek ◽  
Philip J. SanMiguel ◽  
Jacob Shreve ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The cellular machinery for cell wall synthesis and metabolism is encoded by members of large multi-gene families. Maize is both a genetic model for grass species and a potential source of lignocellulosic biomass from crop residues. Genetic improvement of maize for its utility as a bioenergy feedstock depends on identification of the specific gene family members expressed during secondary wall development in stems. Results High-throughput sequencing of transcripts expressed in developing rind tissues of stem internodes provided a comprehensive inventory of cell wall-related genes in maize (Zea mays, cultivar B73). Of 1239 of these genes, 854 were expressed among the internodes at ≥95 reads per 20 M, and 693 of them at ≥500 reads per 20 M. Grasses have cell wall compositions distinct from non-commelinid species; only one-quarter of maize cell wall-related genes expressed in stems were putatively orthologous with those of the eudicot Arabidopsis. Using a slope-metric algorithm, five distinct patterns for sub-sets of co-expressed genes were defined across a time course of stem development. For the subset of genes associated with secondary wall formation, fifteen sequence motifs were found in promoter regions. The same members of gene families were often expressed in two maize inbreds, B73 and Mo17, but levels of gene expression between them varied, with 30% of all genes exhibiting at least a 5-fold difference at any stage. Although presence-absence and copy-number variation might account for much of these differences, fold-changes of expression of a CADa and a FLA11 gene were attributed to polymorphisms in promoter response elements. Conclusions Large genetic variation in maize as a species precludes the extrapolation of cell wall-related gene expression networks even from one common inbred line to another. Elucidation of genotype-specific expression patterns and their regulatory controls will be needed for association panels of inbreds and landraces to fully exploit genetic variation in maize and other bioenergy grass species.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 861 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yingdan Yuan ◽  
Bo Zhang ◽  
Xinggang Tang ◽  
Jinchi Zhang ◽  
Jie Lin

Dendrobium is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, which contains many kinds of active ingredients. In recent years, many Dendrobium transcriptomes have been sequenced. Hence, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used with the gene expression profiles of active ingredients to identify the modules and genes that may associate with particular species and tissues. Three kinds of Dendrobium species and three tissues were sampled for RNA-seq to generate a high-quality, full-length transcriptome database. Based on significant changes in gene expression, we constructed co-expression networks and revealed 19 gene modules. Among them, four modules with properties correlating to active ingredients regulation and biosynthesis, and several hub genes were selected for further functional investigation. This is the first time the WGCNA method has been used to analyze Dendrobium transcriptome data. Further excavation of the gene module information will help us to further study the role and significance of key genes, key signaling pathways, and regulatory mechanisms between genes on the occurrence and development of medicinal components of Dendrobium.


2009 ◽  
Vol 2009 ◽  
pp. 1-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boryana S. Stamova ◽  
Debbie Laudencia-Chingcuanco ◽  
Diane M. Beckles

The expression of genes involved in starch synthesis in wheat was analyzed together with the accumulation profiles of soluble sugars, starch, protein, and starch granule distribution in developing caryopses obtained from the same biological materials used for profiling of gene expression using DNA microarrays. Multiple expression patterns were detected for the different starch biosynthetic gene isoforms, suggesting their relative importance through caryopsis development. Members of the ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase, starch synthase, starch branching enzyme, and sucrose synthase gene families showed different expression profiles; expression of some members of these gene families coincided with a period of high accumulation of starch while others did not. A biphasic pattern was observed in the rates of starch and protein accumulation which paralleled changes in global gene expression. Metabolic and regulatory genes that show a pattern of expression similar to starch accumulation and granule size distribution were identified, suggesting their coinvolvement in these biological processes.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo Saldaña-Meyer ◽  
Javier Rodriguez-Hernaez ◽  
Mayilaadumveettil Nishana ◽  
Karina Jácome-López ◽  
Elphege P. Nora ◽  
...  

SummaryThe function of the CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) in the organization of the genome has become an important area of investigation, but the mechanisms of how CTCF dynamically contributes to genome organization is not clear. We previously discovered that CTCF binds to large numbers of endogenous RNAs; promoting its oligomerization. Here we found that inhibition of transcription or interfering with CTCF ability to bind RNA through mutations of two of its 11 zinc fingers that are not involved with CTCF binding to its cognate site in vitro, zinc finger-1 (ZF1) or −10 (ZF10), disrupt CTCF association to chromatin. These mutations alter gene expression profiles as CTCF mutants lose their ability to promote local insulation. Our results highlight the importance of RNA as a structural component of the genome, in part by affecting the association of CTCF with chromatin and likely its interaction with other factors.Transcriptional inhibition disrupts CTCF binding to chromatinRNA-binding regions (RBR) in CTCF are found within ZF1 and ZF10Local insulation is markedly decreased in ZF1∆ and ZF10∆ mutant rescuesGene expression and chromatin organization are disrupted by RBR mutants


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Wei Xiong Ng ◽  
Qiao Wen Tan ◽  
Camilla Ferrari ◽  
Marek Mutwil

ABSTRACTAlmost all organisms coordinate some aspects of their biology through the diurnal cycle. Photosynthetic organisms, and plants especially, have established complex programs that coordinate physiological, metabolic and developmental processes with the changing light. The diurnal regulation of the underlying transcriptional processes is observed when groups of functionally related genes (gene modules) are expressed at a specific time of the day. However, studying the diurnal regulation of these gene modules in the plant kingdom was hampered by the large amount of data required for the analyses. To meet this need, we used gene expression data from 17 diurnal studies spanning the whole Archaeplastida kingdom (Plantae kingdom in the broad sense) to make an online diurnal database. We have equipped the database with tools that allow user-friendly cross-species comparisons of gene expression profiles, entire co-expression networks, co-expressed clusters (involved in specific biological processes), time-specific gene expression, and others. We exemplify how these tools can be used by studying three important biological questions: (i) the evolution of cell division, (ii) the diurnal control of gene modules in algae and (iii) the conservation of diurnally-controlled modules across species. The database is freely available at http://diurnal.plant.tools/.


mSphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph M. Bliss ◽  
George A. Tollefson ◽  
Abigail Cuevas ◽  
Sarah J. Longley ◽  
Matthew N. Neale ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Candida parapsilosis has emerged as a frequent cause of invasive candidiasis with increasing evidence of unique biological features relative to C. albicans. As it adapts to conditions within a mammalian host, rapid changes in gene expression are necessary to facilitate colonization and persistence in this environment. Adhesion of the organism to biological surfaces is a key first step in this process and is the focus of this study. Building on previous observations showing the importance of a member of the ALS gene family in C. parapsilosis adhesion, three clinical isolates were cultured under two conditions that mimic the mammalian host and promote adhesion, incubation at 37°C in tissue culture medium 199 or in human plasma. Transcriptional profiles using RNA-seq were obtained in these adhesion-inducing conditions and compared to profiles following growth in yeast media that suppress adhesion to identify gene expression profiles associated with adhesion. Overall gene expression profiles among the three strains were similar in both adhesion-inducing conditions and distinct from adhesion-suppressing conditions. Pairwise analysis among the three growth conditions identified 133 genes that were differentially expressed at a cutoff of ±4-fold, with the most upregulated genes significantly enriched in iron acquisition and transmembrane transport, while the most downregulated genes were enriched in oxidation-reduction processes. Gene family enrichment analysis identified gene families with diverse functions that may have an important role in this important step for colonization and disease. IMPORTANCE Invasive Candida infections are frequent complications of the immunocompromised and are associated with substantive morbidity and mortality. Although C. albicans is the best-studied species, emerging infections by non-albicans Candida species have led to increased efforts to understand aspects of their pathogenesis that are unique from C. albicans. C. parapsilosis is a frequent cause of invasive infections, particularly among premature infants. Recent efforts have identified important virulence mechanisms that have features distinct from C. albicans. C. parapsilosis can exist outside a host environment and therefore requires rapid modifications when it encounters a mammalian host to prevent its clearance. An important first step in the process is adhesion to host surfaces. This work takes a global, nonbiased approach to investigate broad changes in gene expression that accompany efficient adhesion. As such, biological pathways and individual protein targets are identified that may be amenable to manipulation to reduce colonization and disease from this organism.


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 853-870 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilla Ferrari ◽  
Devendra Shivhare ◽  
Bjoern Oest Hansen ◽  
Asher Pasha ◽  
Eddi Esteban ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Palma-Guerrero ◽  
Xin Ma ◽  
Stefano F. F. Torriani ◽  
Marcello Zala ◽  
Carolina S. Francisco ◽  
...  

Zymoseptoria tritici is an ascomycete fungus that causes Septoria tritici blotch, a globally distributed foliar disease on wheat. Z. tritici populations are highly polymorphic and exhibit significant quantitative variation for virulence. Despite its importance, the genes responsible for quantitative virulence in this pathogen remain largely unknown. We investigated the expression profiles of four Z. tritici strains differing in virulence in an experiment conducted under uniform environmental conditions. Transcriptomes were compared at four different infection stages to characterize the regulation of gene families thought to be involved in virulence and to identify new virulence factors. The major components of the fungal infection transcriptome showed consistent expression profiles across strains. However, strain-specific regulation was observed for many genes, including some encoding putative virulence factors. We postulate that strain-specific regulation of virulence factors can determine the outcome of Z. tritici infections. We show that differences in gene expression may be major determinants of virulence variation among Z. tritici strains, adding to the already known contributions to virulence variation based on differences in gene sequence and gene presence/absence polymorphisms.


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