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At least 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2019

Comparative genomics and transcriptomics analysis reveals evolution patterns of selection in the Salix phylogeny

Background: Willows are widely distributed in the northern hemisphere and have good adaptability to different living environment. The increasing of genome and transcriptome data provides a chance for comparative analysis to study the evolution patterns with the different origin and geographical distributions in the Salix phylogeny. Results: Transcript sequences of 10 Salicaceae species were downloaded from public databases. All pairwise of orthologues were identified by comparative analysis in these species, from which we constructed a phylogenetic tree and estimated the rate of diverse. Divergence times were estimated in the 10 Salicaceae using comparative transcriptomic analysis. All of the fast-evolving positive selection sequences were identified, and some cold-, drought-, light-, universal-, and heat- resistance genes were discovered. Conclusions: The divergence time of subgenus Vetrix and Salix was about 17.6–16.0 Mya during the period of Middle Miocene Climate Transition (21–14 Mya). Subgenus Vetrix diverged to migratory and resident groups when the climate changed to the cool and dry trend by 14 Mya. Cold- and light- stress genes were involved in positive selection among the resident Vetrix, and which would help them to adapt the cooling stage. Universal- stress genes exhibited positive selection among the migratory group and subgenus Salix. These data are useful for comprehending the adaptive evolution and speciation in the Salix lineage.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

Unique aspects of fiber degradation by the ruminal ethanologen Ruminococcus albus 7 revealed by physiological and transcriptomic analysis

Bacteria in the genus Ruminococcus are ubiquitous members of the mammalian gastrointestinal tract. In particular, they are important in ruminants where they digest a wide range of plant cell wall polysaccharides. For example, Ruminococcus albus 7 is a primary cellulose degrader that produces acetate usable by its bovine host. Moreover, it is one of the few organisms that ferments cellulose to form ethanol at mesophilic temperatures in vitro . The mechanism of cellulose degradation by R. albus 7 is not well-defined and is thought to involve pilin-like proteins, unique carbohydrate-binding domains, a glycocalyx, and cellulosomes. We used a combination of comparative genomics, fermentation analyses, and transcriptomics to further clarify the cellulolytic and fermentative potential of R. albus 7 . A comparison of the R. albus 7 genome sequence against the genome sequences of related bacteria that either encode or do not encode cellulosomes revealed that R. albus 7 does not encode for most canonical cellulosomal components. Fermentation analysis of R. albus 7 revealed the ability to produce ethanol and acetate on a wide range of fibrous substrates in vitro . Global transcriptomic analysis of R. albus 7 grown at identical dilution rates on cellulose and cellobiose in a chemostat showed that this bacterium, when growing on cellulose, utilizes a carbohydrate-degrading strategy that involves increased transcription of the rare carbohydrate-binding module (CBM) family 37 domain and the tryptophan biosynthetic operon. Our data suggest that R. albus 7 does not use canonical cellulosomal components to degrade cellulose, but rather up-regulates the expression of CBM37-containing enzymes and tryptophan biosynthesis. This study contributes to a revised model of carbohydrate degradation by this key member of the rumen ecosystem.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Transcriptomic Analysis of Arachidonic Acid Pathway Genes Provides Mechanistic Insight into Multi-Organ Inflammatory and Vascular Diseases

Arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites have been associated with several diseases across various organ systems, including the cardiovascular, pulmonary, and renal systems. Lipid mediators generated from AA oxidation have been studied to control macrophages, T-cells, cytokines, and fibroblasts, and regulate inflammatory mediators that induce vascular remodeling and dysfunction. AA is metabolized by cyclooxygenase (COX), lipoxygenase (LOX), and cytochrome P450 (CYP) to generate anti-inflammatory, pro-inflammatory, and pro-resolutory oxidized lipids. As comorbid states such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity become more prevalent in cardiovascular disease, studying the expression of AA pathway genes and their association with these diseases can provide unique pathophysiological insights. In addition, the AA pathway of oxidized lipids exhibits diverse functions across different organ systems, where a lipid can be both anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory depending on the location of metabolic activity. Therefore, we aimed to characterize the gene expression of these lipid enzymes and receptors throughout multi-organ diseases via a transcriptomic meta-analysis using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) Database. In our study, we found that distinct AA pathways were expressed in various comorbid conditions, especially those with prominent inflammatory risk factors. Comorbidities, such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity appeared to contribute to elevated expression of pro-inflammatory lipid mediator genes. Our results demonstrate that expression of inflammatory AA pathway genes may potentiate and attenuate disease; therefore, we suggest further exploration of these pathways as therapeutic targets to improve outcomes.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2013

Global transcriptome analysis of Clostridium thermocellum ATCC 27405 during growth on dilute acid pretreated Populus and switchgrass

Background The thermophilic anaerobe Clostridium thermocellum is a candidate consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) biocatalyst for cellulosic ethanol production. The aim of this study was to investigate C. thermocellum genes required to ferment biomass substrates and to conduct a robust comparison of DNA microarray and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analytical platforms. Results C. thermocellum ATCC 27405 fermentations were conducted with a 5 g/L solid substrate loading of either pretreated switchgrass or Populus. Quantitative saccharification and inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy (ICP-ES) for elemental analysis revealed composition differences between biomass substrates, which may have influenced growth and transcriptomic profiles. High quality RNA was prepared for C. thermocellum grown on solid substrates and transcriptome profiles were obtained for two time points during active growth (12 hours and 37 hours postinoculation). A comparison of two transcriptomic analytical techniques, microarray and RNA-seq, was performed and the data analyzed for statistical significance. Large expression differences for cellulosomal genes were not observed. We updated gene predictions for the strain and a small novel gene, Cthe_3383, with a putative AgrD peptide quorum sensing function was among the most highly expressed genes. RNAseq data also supported different small regulatory RNA predictions over others. The DNA microarray gave a greater number (2,351) of significant genes relative to RNA-seq (280 genes when normalized by the kernel density mean of M component (KDMM) method) in an analysis of variance (ANOVA) testing method with a 5 % false discovery rate (FDR). When a 2-fold difference in expression threshold was applied, 73 genes were significantly differentially expressed in common between the two techniques. Sulfate and phosphate uptake/utilization genes, along with genes for a putative efflux pump system were some of the most differentially regulated transcripts when profiles for C. thermocellum grown on either pretreated switchgrass or Populus were compared. Conclusions Our results suggest that a high degree of agreement in differential gene expression measurements between transcriptomic platforms is possible, but choosing an appropriate normalization regime is essential.

BESC↗
DOE OSTI2017

Genome sequencing and transcriptome analysis of Trichoderma reesei QM9978 strain reveals a distal chromosome translocation to be responsible for loss of vib1 expression and loss of cellulase induction

Background: The hydrolysis of biomass to simple sugars used for the production of biofuels in biorefneries requires the action of cellulolytic enzyme mixtures. During the last 50 years, the ascomycete Trichoderma reesei, the main source of industrial cellulase and hemicellulase cocktails, has been subjected to several rounds of classical mutagenesis with the aim to obtain higher production levels. During these random genetic events, strains unable to produce cellulases were generated. Here, whole genome sequencing and transcriptomic analyses of the cellulase-negative strain QM9978 were used for the identifcation of mutations underlying this cellulase-negative phenotype. Results: Sequence comparison of the cellulase-negative strain QM9978 to the reference strain QM6a identifed a total of 43 mutations, of which 33 were located either close to or in coding regions. From those, we identifed 23 single-nucleotide variants, nine InDels, and one translocation. The translocation occurred between chromosomes V and VII, is located upstream of the putative transcription factor vib1, and abolishes its expression in QM9978 as detected during the transcriptomic analyses. Ectopic expression of vib1 under the control of its native promoter as well as overexpression of vib1 under the control of a strong constitutive promoter restored cellulase expression in QM9978, thus confrming that the translocation event is the reason for the cellulase-negative phenotype. Gene deletion of vib1 in the moderate producer strain QM9414 and in the high producer strain Rut-C30 reduced cellulase expression in both cases. Overexpression of vib1 in QM9414 and Rut-C30 had no efect on cellulase production, most likely because vib1 is already expressed at an optimal level under normal conditions. Conclusion: We were able to establish a link between a chromosomal translocation in QM9978 and the cellulasenegative phenotype of the strain. We identifed the transcription factor vib1 as a key regulator of cellulases in T. reesei whose expression is absent in QM9978. We propose that in T. reesei, as in Neurospora crassa, vib1 is involved in cellulase induction, although the exact mechanism remains to be elucidated. The data presented here show an example of a combined genome sequencing and transcriptomic approach to explain a specifc trait, in this case the QM9978 cellulase-negative phenotype, and how it helps to better understand the mechanisms during cellulase gene regulation. When focusing on mutations on the single base-pair level, changes on the chromosome level can be easily overlooked and through this work we provide an example that stresses the importance of the big picture of the genomic landscape during analysis of sequencing data.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Genome assembly of the fungus Cochliobolus miyabeanus , and transcriptome analysis during early stages of infection on American wildrice ( Zizania palustris L.)

Here, the fungus Cochliobolus miyabeanus causes severe leaf spot disease on rice ( Oryza sativa ) and two North American specialty crops, American wildrice ( Zizania palustris ) and switchgrass ( Panicum virgatu ). Despite the importance of C. miyabeanus as a disease-causing agent in wildrice, little is known about either the mechanisms of pathogenicity or host defense responses. To start bridging these gaps, the genome of C. miyabeanus strain TG12bL2 was shotgun sequenced using Illumina technology. The genome assembly consists of 31.79 Mbp in 2,378 scaffolds with an N 50 = 74,921. It contains 11,000 predicted genes of which 94.5% were annotated. Approximately 10% of total gene number is expected to be secreted. The C. miyabeanus genome is rich in carbohydrate active enzymes, and harbors 187 small secreted peptides (SSPs) and some fungal effector homologs. Detoxification systems were represented by a variety of enzymes that could offer protection against plant defense compounds. The non-ribosomal peptide synthetases and polyketide synthases (PKS) present were common to other Cochliobolus species. Additionally, the fungal transcriptome was analyzed at 48 hours after inoculation in planta . A total of 10,674 genes were found to be expressed, some of which are known to be involved in pathogenicity or response to host defenses including hydrophobins, cutinase, cell wall degrading enzymes, enzymes related to reactive oxygen species scavenging, PKS, detoxification systems, SSPs, and a known fungal effector. This work will facilitate future research on C. miyabeanus pathogen-associated molecular patterns and effectors, and in the identification of their corresponding wildrice defense mechanisms.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

A transcriptomic analysis of Yersinia enterocolitica biovar 1B infecting murine macrophages reveals new mechanisms of intracellular survival

Yersinia enterocolitica is typically considered an extracellular pathogen; however, during the course of an infection, a significant number of bacteria are stably maintained within host cell vacuoles. Little is known about this population and the role it plays during an infection. To address this question and to elucidate the spatially and temporally dynamic gene expression patterns of Y. enterocoliticabiovar 1B through the course of an in vitro infection, transcriptome sequencing and differential gene expression analysis of bacteria infecting murine macrophage cells were performed under four distinct conditions. Bacteria were first grown in a nutrient-rich medium at 26°C to establish a baseline of gene expression that is unrelated to infection. The transcriptomes of these bacteria were then compared to bacteria grown in a conditioned cell culture medium at 37°C to identify genes that were differentially expressed in response to the increased temperature and medium but not in response to host cells. Infections were then performed, and the transcriptomes of bacteria found on the extracellular surface and intracellular compartments were analyzed individually. The upregulated genes revealed potential roles for a variety of systems in promoting intracellular virulence, including the Ysa type III secretion system, the Yts2 type II secretion system, and the Tad pilus. It was further determined that mutants of each of these systems had decreased virulence while infecting macrophages. Overall, these results reveal the complete set of genes expressed by Y. enterocolitica in response to infection and provide the groundwork for future virulence studies.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2013

Transcriptome Analysis in Sheepgrass (Leymus chinensis). A Dominant Perennial Grass of the Eurasian Steppe

BACKGROUND: Sheepgrass [Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel.] is an important perennial forage grass across the Eurasian Steppe and is known for its adaptability to various environmental conditions. However, insufficient data resources in public databases for sheepgrass limited our understanding of the mechanism of environmental adaptations, gene discovery and molecular marker development. RESULTS: The transcriptome of sheepgrass was sequenced using Roche 454 pyrosequencing technology. We assembled 952,328 high-quality reads into 87,214 unigenes, including 32,416 contigs and 54,798 singletons. There were 15,450 contigs over 500 bp in length. BLAST searches of our database against Swiss-Prot and NCBI non-redundant protein sequences (nr) databases resulted in the annotation of 54,584 (62.6%) of the unigenes. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis assigned 89,129 GO term annotations for 17,463 unigenes. We identified 11,675 core Poaceae-specific and 12,811 putative sheepgrass-specific unigenes by BLAST searches against all plant genome and transcriptome databases. A total of 2,979 specific freezing-responsive unigenes were found from this RNAseq dataset. We identified 3,818 EST-SSRs in 3,597 unigenes, and some SSRs contained unigenes that were also candidates for freezing-response genes. Characterizations of nucleotide repeats and dominant motifs of SSRs in sheepgrass were also performed. Similarity and phylogenetic analysis indicated that sheepgrass is closely related to barley and wheat. CONCLUSIONS: This research has greatly enriched sheepgrass transcriptome resources. The identified stress-related genes will help us to decipher the genetic basis of the environmental and ecological adaptations of this species and will be used to improve wheat and barley crops through hybridization or genetic transformation. The EST-SSRs reported here will be a valuable resource for future gene-phenotype studies and for the molecular breeding of sheepgrass and other Poaceae species.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Transcriptomic Analysis of Irradiated Mouse Retina Following Readaptation

Rodent models are used as analogs for studying the effects of spaceflight. NASA GeneLab provides access to relevant omics datasets generated from spaceflight and ground-based experiments allowing for additional retrospective analysis. In this study, we used GeneLab’s GLDS-203, a dataset generated by researchers at Loma Linda University to study the impact of prolonged unloading and/or low-dose radiation on mouse retina. We analyzed transcriptomics data from retina of mice irradiated with gamma-rays for 21 days followed by 7 days, 1 month, or 4 months of readaptation. We obtained raw gene counts from GeneLab and performed differential gene expression analysis after data normalization. For each of the three timepoints, we performed differential expression analysis to compare transcriptional profiles for retina from irradiated vs. non-irradiated (controls) mice, all exposed to gravity. We observed the highest number of differentially expressed genes at 7 days, followed by 1 month and 4 months. Enrichment analysis showed top pathways (adjusted p-value < 0.05) were related to transport along microtubule and photoreceptor cell development in the 7-day readaptation group. Fewer significantly enriched pathways were observed for the 1-month group and included mRNA metabolic processes and neuron differentiation. No significantly enriched pathways were found in the 4-month group. The Gene Ontology biological processes common between the 7 days and 1-month groups include visual perception, synapse organization, and perception of light stimulus. This analysis is part of a larger effort to characterize the molecular mechanisms involved in retinal readaptation following radiation exposure. Future analyses will include other related retina datasets in GeneLab repository to assess whether gene expression patterns are consistent across different study cohorts.

Prachi Kothiyal↗
DOE OSTI2025

Single-nuclei transcriptome analysis of IgM+ cells isolated from channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) spleen

Catfish production is the primary aquaculture sector in the United States, and the key cultured species is channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). The major causes of production losses are pathogenic diseases, and the spleen, an important site of adaptive immunity, is implicated in these diseases. To examine the channel catfish immune system, single-nuclei transcriptomes of sorted and captured IgM + cells were produced from adult channel catfish. Three channel catfish (~1 kg) were euthanized, the spleen dissected, and the tissue dissociated. The lymphocytes were isolated using a Ficoll gradient and IgM + cells were then sorted with flow cytometry. The IgM + cells were lysed and single-nuclei libraries generated using a Chromium Next GEM Single Cell 3’ GEM Kit and the Chromium X Instrument (10x Genomics) and sequenced with the Illumina NovaSeq X Plus sequencer. The reads were aligned to theI. punctatusreference assembly (Coco_2.0) using Cell Ranger, and normalization, cluster analysis, and differential gene expression analysis were carried out with Seurat. Across the three samples, approximately 753.5 million reads were generated for 18,686 cells. After filtering, 10,637 cells remained for the cluster analysis. The cluster analysis identified 16 clusters which were classified as B cells (10,276), natural killer-like (NK-like) cells (178), T cells or natural killer cells (45), hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC)/megakaryocytes (MK) (66), myeloid/epithelial cells (40), and plasma cells (32). The B cell clusters were further defined as different populations of mature B cells, cycling B cells, and plasma cells. The plasma cells highly expressedighmand we demonstrated that the secreted form of the transcript was largely being expressed by these cells. This atlas provides insight into the gene expression of IgM + immune cells in channel catfish. The atlas is publicly available and could be used garner more important information regarding the gene expression of splenic immune cells.

Immunology↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Histological and Transcriptomic Analysis of Spaceflight-Induced Ocular Changes in the Mouse Retina

Anatomical changes have been observed in astronauts’ eyes after long duration spaceflight missions. These alterations can lead to visual impairment which in part constitutes the spaceflight-associated neuroocular syndrome (SANS), one of the top risk priorities for deep space missions. The HRP Systems Biology (SysBio) Translation Project will apply systems biology approaches utilizing current human physiological spaceflight data, molecular results from rodents, and future research with a multi-level, multi-system, and multi-species perspective to augment the existing research plan to resolve the SANS risk. Not much is known about SANS at the cellular and molecular level, but studies in mice and rats have recently begun to determine how spaceflight might affect the biology of the eye. Preliminary studies of mice that flew on the Space Shuttle, and more recently the International Space Station (ISS), have shown changes in retinal physiology as assessed by histology and gene expression analysis. The study presented here obtained samples from the CASIS sponsored Rodent Research 8 Experiment delivered to the ISS by SpaceX CRS-16 on 12/08/2018. Female BALB/cAnNTac mice flew on the ISS for 45 days, while ground controls were housed in a standard vivarium or animal enclosure module. Sacrifice and sample acquisition occurred once mice returned to Earth, possibly allowing for readaptation affecting retinal homeostasis. We applied standard transcriptomic (RNAseq) and histological approaches to characterize genes and pathways in the mouse retina affected by spaceflight or age. The differentially expressed gene (DEG) data was analyzed using Galaxy (GeneLab) and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. Significant DEGs between flight and ground samples were relatively few but biologically meaningful. Pathways identified related to neuronal differentiation, cellular transport/movement, and wound healing. Age effects were detected between the young (10–12 weeks) and old (32 weeks) groups and between the baseline and end of experiment (~46 days). The biological relevance of specific DEGs were confirmed through immunohistochemical evaluation using fixed histological sections of the eye from four flight group mice and four habitat control mice. Staining was performed specific for synaptophysin, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and neurofilament in the retinal periphery, equator, and peripapillary regions. For synaptophysin staining, the innerplexiform and outerplexiform layers were scored; for GFAP staining, Mueller cells and perivascular astrocytes were scored. Results show flight samples typically had more staining of GFAP and neurofilament while, conversely, the habitat control group had more staining of synaptophysin.

C. Perez↗
DOE OSTI2022

Single-nuclei transcriptome analysis of the shoot apex vascular system differentiation in Populus

ABSTRACT Differentiation of stem cells in the plant apex gives rise to aerial tissues and organs. Presently, we lack a lineage map of the shoot apex cells in woody perennials – a crucial gap considering their role in determining primary and secondary growth. Here, we used single-nuclei RNA-sequencing to determine cell type-specific transcriptomes of the Populus vegetative shoot apex. We identified highly heterogeneous cell populations clustered into seven broad groups represented by 18 transcriptionally distinct cell clusters. Next, we established the developmental trajectories of the epidermis, leaf mesophyll and vascular tissue. Motivated by the high similarities between Populus and Arabidopsis cell population in the vegetative apex, we applied a pipeline for interspecific single-cell gene expression data integration. We contrasted the developmental trajectories of primary phloem and xylem formation in both species, establishing the first comparison of vascular development between a model annual herbaceous and a woody perennial plant species. Our results offer a valuable resource for investigating the principles underlying cell division and differentiation conserved between herbaceous and perennial species while also allowing us to examine species-specific differences at single-cell resolution.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

De novo transcriptome analysis of white teak (Gmelina arborea Roxb) wood reveals critical genes involved in xylem development and secondary metabolism

Gmelina arborea Roxb is a fast-growing tree species of commercial importance for tropical countries due to multiple industrial uses of its wood. Wood is primarily composed of thick secondary cell walls of xylem cells which imparts the strength to the wood. Identification of the genes involved in the secondary cell wall biosynthesis as well as their cognate regulators is crucial to understand how the production of wood occurs and serves as a starting point for developing breeding strategies to produce varieties with improved wood quality, better paper pulping or new potential uses such as biofuel production. In order to gain knowledge on the molecular mechanisms and gene regulation related with wood development in white teak, a de novo sequencing and transcriptome assembly approach was used employing secondary cell wall synthesizing cells from young white teak trees. For generation of transcriptome, RNA-seq reads were assembled into 110,992 transcripts and 49,364 genes were functionally annotated using plant databases; 5071 GO terms and 25,460 SSR markers were identified within xylem transcripts and 10,256 unigenes were assigned to KEGG database in 130 pathways. Among transcription factor families, C2H2, C3H, bLHLH and MYB were the most represented in xylem. Differential gene expression analysis using leaves as a reference was carried out and a total of 20,954 differentially expressed genes were identified including monolignol biosynthetic pathway genes. The differential expression of selected genes (4CL, COMT, CCoAOMT, CCR and NST1) was validated using qPCR. We report the very first de novo transcriptome of xylem-related genes in this tropical timber species of commercial importance and constitutes a valuable extension of the publicly available transcriptomic resource aimed at fostering both basic and breeding studies.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Transcriptomic Analysis of the CAM Species Kalanchoë fedtschenkoi Under Low- and High-Temperature Regimes

Temperature stress is one of the major limiting environmental factors that negatively impact global crop yields. Kalanchoë fedtschenkoi is an obligate crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plant species, exhibiting much higher water-use efficiency and tolerance to drought and heat stresses than C 3 or C 4 plant species. Previous studies on gene expression responses to low- or high-temperature stress have been focused on C 3 and C 4 plants. There is a lack of information about the regulation of gene expression by low and high temperatures in CAM plants. To address this knowledge gap, we performed transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) of leaf and root tissues of K. fedtschenkoi under cold (8 °C), normal (25 °C), and heat (37 °C) conditions at dawn (i.e., 2 h before the light period) and dusk (i.e., 2 h before the dark period). Our analysis revealed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) under cold or heat treatment in comparison to normal conditions in leaf or root tissue at each of the two time points. In particular, DEGs exhibiting either the same or opposite direction of expression change (either up-regulated or down-regulated) under cold and heat treatments were identified. In addition, we analyzed gene co-expression modules regulated by cold or heat treatment, and we performed in-depth analyses of expression regulation by temperature stresses for selected gene categories, including CAM-related genes, genes encoding heat shock factors and heat shock proteins, circadian rhythm genes, and stomatal movement genes. Our study highlights both the common and distinct molecular strategies employed by CAM and C 3 /C 4 plants in adapting to extreme temperatures, providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying temperature stress responses in CAM species.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Transcriptome Analysis of Four Arabidopsis thaliana Mediator Tail Mutants Reveals Overlapping and Unique Functions in Gene Regulation

The Mediator complex is a central component of transcriptional regulation in Eukaryotes. The complex is structurally divided into four modules known as the head, middle, tail and kinase modules, and in Arabidopsis thaliana , comprises 28-34 subunits. Here, we explore the functions of four Arabidopsis Medi-ator tail subunits, MED2, MED5a/b, MED16, and MED23, by comparing the impact of mutations in each on the Arabidopsis transcriptome. We find that these subunits affect both unique and overlapping sets of genes, providing insight into the functional and structural relationships between them. The mutants pri-marily exhibit changes in the expression of genes related to biotic and abiotic stress. We find evidence for a tissue specific role for MED23, as well as in the production of alternative transcripts. Together, our data help disentangle the individual contributions of these MED subunits to global gene expression and suggest new avenues for future research into their functions.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

A Transcriptomic Analysis of Xylan Mutants Does Not Support the Existence of a Secondary Cell Wall Integrity System in Arabidopsis

Yeast have long been known to possess a cell wall integrity (CWI) system, and recently an analogous systemhas been described for the primary walls of plants (PCWI) that leads to changes in plant growth and cell wall composition. A similar system has been proposed to exist for secondary cell walls (SCWI). However, there is little data to support this. Here, we analyzed the stem transcriptome of a set of cell wall biosynthetic mutants in order to investigate whether cell wall damage, in this case caused by aberrant xylan synthesis, activates a signaling cascade or changes in cell wall synthesis gene expression. Our data revealed remarkably few changes to the transcriptome. We hypothesize that this is because cells undergoing secondary cell wall thickening have entered a committed programme leading to cell death, and therefore a SCWI system would have limited impact. The absence of transcriptomic responses to secondary cell wall alterations may facilitate engineering of the secondary cell wall of plants.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗