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Chen Y, Wang W, Yang Z, Peng H, Ni Z, Sun Q, Guo W. Innovative computational tools provide new insights into the polyploid wheat genome. ABIOTECH 2024; 5:52-70. [PMID: 38576428 PMCID: PMC10987449 DOI: 10.1007/s42994-023-00131-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) is an important crop and serves as a significant source of protein and calories for humans, worldwide. Nevertheless, its large and allopolyploid genome poses constraints on genetic improvement. The complex reticulate evolutionary history and the intricacy of genomic resources make the deciphering of the functional genome considerably more challenging. Recently, we have developed a comprehensive list of versatile computational tools with the integration of statistical models for dissecting the polyploid wheat genome. Here, we summarize the methodological innovations and applications of these tools and databases. A series of step-by-step examples illustrates how these tools can be utilized for dissecting wheat germplasm resources and unveiling functional genes associated with important agronomic traits. Furthermore, we outline future perspectives on new advanced tools and databases, taking into consideration the unique features of bread wheat, to accelerate genomic-assisted wheat breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongming Chen
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Wenxi Wang
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Zhengzhao Yang
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Huiru Peng
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Zhongfu Ni
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Qixin Sun
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Weilong Guo
- Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization, Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
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Huynh SD, Melonek J, Colas des Francs-Small C, Bond CS, Small I. A unique C-terminal domain contributes to the molecular function of Restorer-of-fertility proteins in plant mitochondria. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 240:830-845. [PMID: 37551058 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Restorer-of-fertility (Rf) genes encode pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins that are targeted to mitochondria where they specifically bind to transcripts that induce cytoplasmic male sterility and repress their expression. In searching for a molecular signature unique to this class of proteins, we found that a majority of known Rf proteins have a distinct domain, which we called RfCTD (Restorer-of-fertility C-terminal domain), and its presence correlates with the ability to induce cleavage of the mitochondrial RNA target. A screen of 219 angiosperm genomes from 123 genera using a sequence profile that can quickly and accurately identify RfCTD sequences revealed considerable variation in RFL/RfCTD gene numbers across flowering plants. We observed that plant genera with bisexual flowers have significantly higher numbers of RFL genes compared to those with unisexual flowers, consistent with a role of these proteins in restoration of male fertility. We show that removing the RfCTD from the RFL protein RNA PROCESSING FACTOR 2-nad6 prevented cleavage of its RNA target, the nad6 transcript, in Arabidopsis thaliana mitochondria. We provide a simple way of identifying putative Rf candidates in genome sequences, new insights into the molecular mode of action of Rf proteins and the evolution of fertility restoration in flowering plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Dang Huynh
- School of Molecular Sciences, ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Joanna Melonek
- School of Molecular Sciences, ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Catherine Colas des Francs-Small
- School of Molecular Sciences, ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Charles S Bond
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Ian Small
- School of Molecular Sciences, ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
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Kitazaki K, Oda K, Akazawa A, Iwahori R. Molecular genetics of cytoplasmic male sterility and restorer-of-fertility for the fine tuning of pollen production in crops. TAG. THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS. THEORETISCHE UND ANGEWANDTE GENETIK 2023; 136:156. [PMID: 37330934 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-023-04398-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) is an increasingly important issue within the context of hybrid seed production. Its genetic framework is simple: S-cytoplasm for male sterility induction and dominant allele of the restorer-of-fertility gene (Rf) for suppression of S. However, breeders sometimes encounter a phenotype of CMS plants too complex to be explained via this simple model. The molecular basis of CMS provides clue to the mechanisms that underlie the expression of CMS. Mitochondria have been associated with S, and several unique ORFs to S-mitochondria are thought to be responsible for the induction of male sterility in various crops. Their functions are still the subject of debate, but they have been hypothesized to emit elements that trigger sterility. Rf suppresses the action of S by various mechanisms. Some Rfs, including those that encode the pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein and other proteins, are now considered members of unique gene families that are specific to certain lineages. Additionally, they are thought to be complex loci in which several genes in a haplotype simultaneously counteract an S-cytoplasm and differences in the suite of genes in a haplotype can lead to multiple allelism including strong and weak Rf at phenotypic level. The stability of CMS is influenced by factors such as the environment, cytoplasm, and genetic background; the interaction of these factors is also important. In contrast, unstable CMS becomes inducible CMS if its expression can be controlled. CMS becomes environmentally sensitive in a genotype-dependent manner, suggesting the feasibility of controlling the expression of CMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuyoshi Kitazaki
- Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
| | - Kotoko Oda
- Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Akiho Akazawa
- Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Ryoma Iwahori
- Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
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Small I, Melonek J, Bohne AV, Nickelsen J, Schmitz-Linneweber C. Plant organellar RNA maturation. THE PLANT CELL 2023; 35:1727-1751. [PMID: 36807982 PMCID: PMC10226603 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Plant organellar RNA metabolism is run by a multitude of nucleus-encoded RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that control RNA stability, processing, and degradation. In chloroplasts and mitochondria, these post-transcriptional processes are vital for the production of a small number of essential components of the photosynthetic and respiratory machinery-and consequently for organellar biogenesis and plant survival. Many organellar RBPs have been functionally assigned to individual steps in RNA maturation, often specific to selected transcripts. While the catalog of factors identified is ever-growing, our knowledge of how they achieve their functions mechanistically is far from complete. This review summarizes the current knowledge of plant organellar RNA metabolism taking an RBP-centric approach and focusing on mechanistic aspects of RBP functions and the kinetics of the processes they are involved in.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Small
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia
| | - Joanna Melonek
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia
| | | | - Jörg Nickelsen
- Department of Molecular Plant Sciences, LMU Munich, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
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You C, Cui T, Zhang C, Zang S, Su Y, Que Y. Assembly of the Complete Mitochondrial Genome of Gelsemium elegans Revealed the Existence of Homologous Conformations Generated by a Repeat Mediated Recombination. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010527. [PMID: 36613970 PMCID: PMC9820418 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Gelsemium elegans (G. elegans) is a Chinese medicinal plant with substantial economic and feeding values. There is a lack of detailed studies on the mitochondrial genome of G. elegans. In this study, the mitochondrial genome of G. elegans was sequenced and assembled, and its substructure was investigated. The mitochondrial genome of G. elegans is represented by two circular chromosomes of 406,009 bp in length with 33 annotated protein-coding genes, 15 tRNA genes, and three rRNA genes. We detected 145 pairs of repeats and found that four pairs of repeats could mediate the homologous recombination into one major conformation and five minor conformations, and the presence of conformations was verified by PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing. A total of 124 SSRs were identified in the G. elegans mitochondrial genome. The homologous segments between the chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes accounted for 5.85% of the mitochondrial genome. We also predicted 477 RNA potential editing sites and found that the nad4 gene was edited 38 times, which was the most frequent occurrence. Taken together, the mitochondrial genome of G. elegans was assembled and annotated. We gained a more comprehensive understanding on the genome of this medicinal plant, which is vital for its effective utilization and genetic improvement, especially for cytoplasmic male sterility breeding and evolution analysis in G. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuihuai You
- College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Tianzhen Cui
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Chang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Shoujian Zang
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yachun Su
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Correspondence: (Y.S.); (Y.Q.); Tel.: +86-591-8385-2547 (Y.S. & Y.Q.)
| | - Youxiong Que
- Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology and Genetic Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Correspondence: (Y.S.); (Y.Q.); Tel.: +86-591-8385-2547 (Y.S. & Y.Q.)
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