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Suprun AR, Manyakhin AY, Trubetskaya EV, Kiselev KV, Dubrovina AS. Regulation of Anthocyanin Accumulation in Tomato Solanum lycopersicum L. by Exogenous Synthetic dsRNA Targeting Different Regions of SlTRY Gene. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:2489. [PMID: 39273974 PMCID: PMC11396968 DOI: 10.3390/plants13172489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2024] [Revised: 08/31/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is a regulatory and protective mechanism that plays a crucial role in the growth, development, and control of plant responses to pathogens and abiotic stresses. In spray-induced gene silencing (SIGS), exogenous double-stranded RNAs (dsRNA) are used to efficiently regulate target genes via plant surface treatment. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of specific exogenous dsRNAs on silencing different regions (promoter, protein-coding and intron) of the target SlTRY tomato gene, encoding an R3-type MYB repressor of anthocyanin biosynthesis. We also assessed the impact of targeting different SlTRY regions on the expression of genes involved in anthocyanin and flavonoid biosynthesis. This study demonstrated the critical importance of selecting the appropriate gene target region for dsRNA action. The highest inhibition of the SlTRY gene expression and activation of anthocyanin biosynthesis was achieved by dsRNA complementary to the protein-coding region of SlTRY gene, compared with dsRNAs targeting the SlTRY promoter or intron regions. Silencing the SlTRY gene increased the content of anthocyanins and boosted levels of other substances in the phenylpropanoid pathway, such as caffeoyl putrescine, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid glucoside, feruloyl quinic acid, and rutin. This study is the first to examine the effects of four different dsRNAs targeting various regions of the SlTRY gene, an important negative regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrey R Suprun
- Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Artem Yu Manyakhin
- Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Evgeniya V Trubetskaya
- Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Konstantin V Kiselev
- Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Alexandra S Dubrovina
- Federal Scientific Center of the East Asia Terrestrial Biodiversity, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 690022 Vladivostok, Russia
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Chu YH, Lee YS, Gomez-Cano F, Gomez-Cano L, Zhou P, Doseff AI, Springer N, Grotewold E. Molecular mechanisms underlying gene regulatory variation of maize metabolic traits. THE PLANT CELL 2024; 36:3709-3728. [PMID: 38922302 PMCID: PMC11371180 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koae180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
Variation in gene expression levels is pervasive among individuals and races or varieties, and has substantial agronomic consequences, for example, by contributing to hybrid vigor. Gene expression level variation results from mutations in regulatory sequences (cis) and/or transcription factor (TF) activity (trans), but the mechanisms underlying cis- and/or trans-regulatory variation of complex phenotypes remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated gene expression variation mechanisms underlying the differential accumulation of the insecticidal compounds maysin and chlorogenic acid in silks of widely used maize (Zea mays) inbreds, B73 and A632. By combining transcriptomics and cistromics, we identified 1,338 silk direct targets of the maize R2R3-MYB TF Pericarp color1 (P1), consistent with it being a regulator of maysin and chlorogenic acid biosynthesis. Among these P1 targets, 464 showed allele-specific expression (ASE) between B73 and A632 silks. Allelic DNA-affinity purification sequencing identified 34 examples in which P1 allelic specific binding (ASB) correlated with cis-expression variation. From previous yeast one-hybrid studies, we identified 9 TFs potentially implicated in the control of P1 targets, with ASB to 83 out of 464 ASE genes (cis) and differential expression of 4 out of 9 TFs between B73 and A632 silks (trans). These results provide a molecular framework for understanding universal mechanisms underlying natural variation of gene expression levels, and how the regulation of metabolic diversity is established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Hsuan Chu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Yun Sun Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Fabio Gomez-Cano
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Lina Gomez-Cano
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Peng Zhou
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Andrea I Doseff
- Department of Physiology and Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Nathan Springer
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Erich Grotewold
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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Xu Z, Xiao Y, Guo J, Lv Z, Chen W. Relevance and regulation of alternative splicing in plant secondary metabolism: current understanding and future directions. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2024; 11:uhae173. [PMID: 39135731 PMCID: PMC11317897 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhae173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
The secondary metabolism of plants is an essential life process enabling organisms to navigate various stages of plant development and cope with ever-changing environmental stresses. Secondary metabolites, abundantly found in nature, possess significant medicinal value. Among the regulatory mechanisms governing these metabolic processes, alternative splicing stands out as a widely observed post-transcriptional mechanism present in multicellular organisms. It facilitates the generation of multiple mRNA transcripts from a single gene by selecting different splicing sites. Selective splicing events in plants are widely induced by various signals, including external environmental stress and hormone signals. These events ultimately regulate the secondary metabolic processes and the accumulation of essential secondary metabolites in plants by influencing the synthesis of primary metabolites, hormone metabolism, biomass accumulation, and capillary density. Simultaneously, alternative splicing plays a crucial role in enhancing protein diversity and the abundance of the transcriptome. This paper provides a summary of the factors inducing alternative splicing events in plants and systematically describes the progress in regulating alternative splicing with respect to different secondary metabolites, including terpenoid, phenolic compounds, and nitrogen-containing compounds. Such elucidation offers critical foundational insights for understanding the role of alternative splicing in regulating plant metabolism and presents novel avenues and perspectives for bioengineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihan Xu
- Research and Development Center of Chinese Medicine Resources and Biotechnology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Ying Xiao
- Research and Development Center of Chinese Medicine Resources and Biotechnology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jinlin Guo
- College of Medical Technology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611103, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Sichuan-Chongqing Co-construction for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611130, China
- Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, College of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611103, China
| | - Zongyou Lv
- Research and Development Center of Chinese Medicine Resources and Biotechnology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Wansheng Chen
- Research and Development Center of Chinese Medicine Resources and Biotechnology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Department of Pharmacy, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China
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Yin M, Li Y, Liu H. The first intron of EIJ1 confers a specific response to wounding and herbivore stresses. PLANT BIOLOGY (STUTTGART, GERMANY) 2024; 26:197-203. [PMID: 38198233 DOI: 10.1111/plb.13617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Plants are constantly exposed to different kinds of biotic stress, such as herbivore attack and wounding. To deal with these stresses, plants have evolved sophisticated defence mechanisms to protect themselves. Previously, we found that EIJ1 (EDS1-interacting J protein 1) plays a negative regulatory role in plant disease resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana. Follow-up studies revealed that EIJ1 specifically responds to wounding and herbivore stresses. The expression of EIJ1 was specifically induced by wounding or herbivore stress, as demonstrated by similar results in EIJ1 protein assay. Interestingly, GUS staining found that the promoter of EIJ1 is not involved in the induction of expression under wounding stress. Instead, we identified the first intron of EIJ1 as a key factor in response to wounding stress. Deleting the first intron of EIJ1 resulted in a loss of response to wounding stress in plants. Our results broaden the role of EIJ1 in plant resistance to biotic stress and provide new insights into plant responses to biotic stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Yin
- Institute of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Tree Research, Guangzhou, China
| | - Y Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany and State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Prominent Crops, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - H Liu
- Institute of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Tree Research, Guangzhou, China
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Chung Y, Jang SS, Kang DH, Kim YK, Kim HJ, Chung KY, Choi I, Lee SH. Identification of potential biomarkers associated with meat tenderness in Hanwoo (Korean cattle): An expression quantitative trait loci analysis. Anim Genet 2023; 54:786-791. [PMID: 37828654 DOI: 10.1111/age.13360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Meat tenderness is considered the most important trait contributing to beef quality, level of consumer satisfaction, willingness to pay premium prices and industry profit. Genomic selection method would be helpful for genetic improvement of traits with low heritability and that are difficult to measure. The identification of core genes can aid genomic selection for complex traits with low heritability that are difficult to measure. We performed statistical analysis of associations between longissimus dorsi muscle tenderness and gene expression in 20 Hanwoo cattle, using Warner-Bratzler shear force and RNAseq data, respectively. We found a total of 166 core genes, from which six (ASAP1, CAPN5, ELN, SUMF2, TTC8 and MGAT4A) were regulated by 16 cis-expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) SNPs. Notably, we found that a cis-eQTL SNP of the ELN gene contained an MFZ-1 binding site in its putative promoter region. These findings provide useful information for genomic prediction of beef tenderness in Hanwoo cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoonji Chung
- Division of Animal and Dairy Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Sun Sik Jang
- Hanwoo Research Institute, National Institute of Animal Science, Pyeongchang, South Korea
| | - Dong Hun Kang
- Department of Beef Science, Korea National University of Agriculture and Fisheries, Wanju, South Korea
| | - Yeong Kuk Kim
- Quantomic Research and Solution, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Hyun Joo Kim
- Hanwoo Research Institute, National Institute of Animal Science, Pyeongchang, South Korea
- School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ki Yong Chung
- Department of Beef Science, Korea National University of Agriculture and Fisheries, Wanju, South Korea
| | - Inchul Choi
- Division of Animal and Dairy Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Seung Hwan Lee
- Division of Animal and Dairy Science, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea
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Khalid K, Poh CL. The development of DNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. Adv Med Sci 2023; 68:213-226. [PMID: 37364379 PMCID: PMC10290423 DOI: 10.1016/j.advms.2023.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic exerted significant impacts on public health and global economy. Research efforts to develop vaccines at warp speed against SARS-CoV-2 led to novel mRNA, viral vectored, and inactivated vaccines being administered. The current COVID-19 vaccines incorporate the full S protein of the SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan strain but rapidly emerging variants of concern (VOCs) have led to significant reductions in protective efficacies. There is an urgent need to develop next-generation vaccines which could effectively prevent COVID-19. METHODS PubMed and Google Scholar were systematically reviewed for peer-reviewed papers up to January 2023. RESULTS A promising solution to the problem of emerging variants is a DNA vaccine platform since it can be easily modified. Besides expressing whole protein antigens, DNA vaccines can also be constructed to include specific nucleotide genes encoding highly conserved and immunogenic epitopes from the S protein as well as from other structural/non-structural proteins to develop effective vaccines against VOCs. DNA vaccines are associated with low transfection efficiencies which could be enhanced by chemical, genetic, and molecular adjuvants as well as delivery systems. CONCLUSIONS The DNA vaccine platform offers a promising solution to the design of effective vaccines. The challenge of limited immunogenicity in humans might be solved through the use of genetic modifications such as the addition of nuclear localization signal (NLS) peptide gene, strong promoters, MARs, introns, TLR agonists, CD40L, and the development of appropriate delivery systems utilizing nanoparticles to increase uptake by APCs in enhancing the induction of potent immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanwal Khalid
- Centre for Virus and Vaccine Research, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
| | - Chit Laa Poh
- Centre for Virus and Vaccine Research, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia.
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Liu D, Garrigues S, de Vries RP. Heterologous protein production in filamentous fungi. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:5019-5033. [PMID: 37405433 PMCID: PMC10386965 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12660-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
Filamentous fungi are able to produce a wide range of valuable proteins and enzymes for many industrial applications. Recent advances in fungal genomics and experimental technologies are rapidly changing the approaches for the development and use of filamentous fungi as hosts for the production of both homologous and heterologous proteins. In this review, we highlight the benefits and challenges of using filamentous fungi for the production of heterologous proteins. We review various techniques commonly employed to improve the heterologous protein production in filamentous fungi, such as strong and inducible promoters, codon optimization, more efficient signal peptides for secretion, carrier proteins, engineering of glycosylation sites, regulation of the unfolded protein response and endoplasmic reticulum associated protein degradation, optimization of the intracellular transport process, regulation of unconventional protein secretion, and construction of protease-deficient strains. KEY POINTS: • This review updates the knowledge on heterologous protein production in filamentous fungi. • Several fungal cell factories and potential candidates are discussed. • Insights into improving heterologous gene expression are given.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dujuan Liu
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sandra Garrigues
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Food Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica Y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ronald P de Vries
- Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Myburgh MW, Schwerdtfeger KS, Cripwell RA, van Zyl WH, Viljoen-Bloom M. Promoters and introns as key drivers for enhanced gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. ADVANCES IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2023; 124:1-29. [PMID: 37597945 DOI: 10.1016/bs.aambs.2023.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
The transcription of genes in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is governed by multiple layers of regulatory elements and proteins, cooperating to ensure optimum expression of the final protein product based on the cellular requirements. Promoters have always been regarded as the most important determinant of gene transcription, but introns also play a key role in the expression of intron-encoding genes. Some introns can enhance transcription when introduced either promoter-proximal or embedded in the open reading frame of genes. However, the outcome is seldom predictable, with some introns increasing or decreasing transcription depending on the promoter and reporter gene employed. This chapter provides an overview of the general structure and function of promoters and introns and how they may cooperate during transcription to allow intron-mediated enhancement of gene expression. Since S. cerevisiae is a suitable host for recombinant protein production on a commercial level, stronger and more controllable promoters are in high demand. Enhanced gene expression can be achieved via promoter engineering, which may include introns that increase the efficacy of recombinant expression cassettes. Different models for the role of introns in transcription are briefly discussed to show how these intervening sequences can actively interact with the transcription machinery. Furthermore, recent examples of improved protein production via the introduction of promoter-proximal introns are highlighted to showcase the potential value of intron-mediated enhancement of gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rosemary Anne Cripwell
- Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa
| | - Willem Heber van Zyl
- Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa
| | - Marinda Viljoen-Bloom
- Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, South Africa.
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Zhou LY, Zhang S, Li LY, Yang GY, Zeng L. Optimization of mammalian expression vector by cis-regulatory element combinations. Mol Genet Genomics 2023:10.1007/s00438-023-02042-0. [PMID: 37318628 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-023-02042-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The regulation of gene expression in mammalian cells by combining various cis-regulatory features has rarely been discussed. In this study, we constructed expression vectors containing various combinations of regulatory elements to examine the regulation of gene expression by different combinations of cis-regulatory elements. The effects of four promoters (CMV promoter, PGK promoter, Polr2a promoter, and EF-1α core promoter), two enhancers (CMV enhancer and SV40 enhancer), two introns (EF-1α intron A and hybrid intron), two terminators (CYC1 terminator and TEF terminator), and their different combinations on downstream gene expression were compared in various mammalian cells using fluorescence microscopy to observe fluorescence, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and western blot. The receptor binding domain (RBD) sequence from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein was used to replace the eGFP sequence in the expression vector and the RBD expression was detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. The results showed that protein expression can be regulated by optimizing the combination of cis-acting elements. The vector with the CMV enhancer, EF-1α core promoter, and TEF terminator was found to express approximately threefold higher eGFP than the unmodified vector in different animal cells, as well as 2.63-fold higher recombinant RBD protein than the original vector in HEK-293T cells. Moreover, we suggest that combinations of multiple regulatory elements capable of regulating gene expression do not necessarily exhibit synergistic effects to enhance expression further. Overall, our findings provide insights into biological applications that require the regulation of gene expression and will help to optimize expression vectors for biosynthesis and other fields. Additionally, we provide valuable insights into the production of RBD proteins, which may aid in developing reagents for diagnosis and treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu-Yu Zhou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biochemistry and Nutrition, Henan Agricultural University, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Growth and Development, The Education Department of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuang Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biochemistry and Nutrition, Henan Agricultural University, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Growth and Development, The Education Department of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Yun Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biochemistry and Nutrition, Henan Agricultural University, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Growth and Development, The Education Department of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Guo-Yu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biochemistry and Nutrition, Henan Agricultural University, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Growth and Development, The Education Department of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Lei Zeng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biochemistry and Nutrition, Henan Agricultural University, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Animal Growth and Development, The Education Department of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan, People's Republic of China.
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He B, Qian K, Han X, Li J, Zhou Q, Xu LA, Liu H, Cui P. Novel mechanisms for the synthesis of important secondary metabolites in Ginkgo biloba seed revealed by multi-omics data. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1196609. [PMID: 37351203 PMCID: PMC10282660 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1196609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Although the detailed biosynthetic mechanism is still unclear, the unique secondary metabolites of Ginkgo biloba, including ginkgolic acids (GAs) and terpene trilactones, have attracted increasing attention for their potent medicinal, physiological and biochemical properties. In particular, GAs have shown great potential in the fields of antibacterial and insecticidal activities, making it urgent to elucidate their biosynthetic mechanism. In this study, we systematically revealed the landscape of metabolic-transcriptional regulation across continuous growth stages of G. biloba seeds (GBS) based on multi-omics mining and experimental verification, and successfully identified all major types of GAs and terpene trilactones along with more than a thousand kinds of other metabolites. The phenological changes and the essential gene families associated with these unique metabolites were analyzed in detail, and several potential regulatory factors were successfully identified based on co-expression association analysis. In addition, we unexpectedly found the close relationship between large introns and the biosynthesis of these secondary metabolites. These genes with large introns related to the synthesis of secondary metabolites showed higher gene expression and expression stability in different tissues or growth stages. Our results may provide a new perspective for the study of the regulatory mechanism of these unique secondary metabolites in GBS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing He
- Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Kun Qian
- Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xin Han
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jianyang Li
- Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qi Zhou
- Institute of Forestry Breeding, Zhejiang Academy of Forestry, Hangzhou, China
| | - Li-an Xu
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hailin Liu
- Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Peng Cui
- Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
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Wang J, Xi X, Zhao S, Wang X, Yao L, Feng J, Han R. Introns in the Naa50 gene act as strong enhancers of tissue-specific expression in Arabidopsis. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 324:111422. [PMID: 35988583 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2022.111422] [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: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Naa50 is the catalytic subunit of N-terminal acetyltransferase complex E, which plays an important role in regulating plant development, endoplasmic reticulum stress and immune responses in Arabidopsis. In this study, the complete genomic sequence (but not the coding sequence) of Naa50 rescued the phenotype of Naa50 deletion mutants. Naa50 expression was noted in whole roots except for central root cap cells. The deletion of intron 1 resulted in a loss of Naa50 expression in the root meristem zone and in the epidermis, cortex and endodermis of the elongation zone and mature zone, while the deletion of intron 2 decreased Naa50 expression in the epidermis, cortex and endodermis of the root elongation zone and mature zone. The native Naa50 promoter together with introns 1 and 2 promotes the expression of Naa50 in sepal vascular bundles, filaments, pollen and stigmas; however, neither intron has positive effect on Naa50 expression in mature rosette leaves. The results of this study show that introns 1 and 2 in the Naa50 gene function as enhancers to promote the tissue-specific expression of Naa50.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Wang
- Higher Education Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular and Environment Stress Response (Shanxi Normal University) in Shanxi Province, Taiyuan 030000, Shanxi, China
| | - Xiaoyu Xi
- Higher Education Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular and Environment Stress Response (Shanxi Normal University) in Shanxi Province, Taiyuan 030000, Shanxi, China; College of Life Sciences, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030000, Shanxi, China
| | - Shifeng Zhao
- Higher Education Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular and Environment Stress Response (Shanxi Normal University) in Shanxi Province, Taiyuan 030000, Shanxi, China; College of Life Sciences, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030000, Shanxi, China
| | - Xiaolei Wang
- Higher Education Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular and Environment Stress Response (Shanxi Normal University) in Shanxi Province, Taiyuan 030000, Shanxi, China; College of Life Sciences, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030000, Shanxi, China
| | - Lixia Yao
- Higher Education Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular and Environment Stress Response (Shanxi Normal University) in Shanxi Province, Taiyuan 030000, Shanxi, China; College of Life Sciences, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030000, Shanxi, China
| | - Jinlin Feng
- Higher Education Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular and Environment Stress Response (Shanxi Normal University) in Shanxi Province, Taiyuan 030000, Shanxi, China; College of Life Sciences, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030000, Shanxi, China.
| | - Rong Han
- Higher Education Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular and Environment Stress Response (Shanxi Normal University) in Shanxi Province, Taiyuan 030000, Shanxi, China; College of Life Sciences, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030000, Shanxi, China.
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12
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OsTBP2.1, a TATA-Binding Protein, Alters the Ratio of OsNRT2.3b to OsNRT2.3a and Improves Rice Grain Yield. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810795. [PMID: 36142708 PMCID: PMC9503026 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The OsNRT2.3a and OsNRT2.3b isoforms play important roles in the uptake and transport of nitrate during rice growth. However, it is unclear which cis-acting element controls the transcription of OsNRT2.3 into these specific isoforms. In this study, we used a yeast one-hybrid assay to obtain the TATA-box binding protein OsTBP2.1, which binds to the TATA-box of OsNRT2.3, and verified its important role through transient expression and RNA-seq. We found that the TATA-box of OsNRT2.3 mutants and binding protein OsTBP2.1 together increased the transcription ratio of OsNRT2.3b to OsNRT2.3a. The overexpression of OsTBP2.1 promoted nitrogen uptake and increased rice yield compared with the wild-type; however, the OsTBP2.1 T-DNA mutant lines exhibited the opposite trend. Detailed analyses demonstrated that the TATA-box was the key cis-regulatory element for OsNRT2.3 to be transcribed into OsNRT2.3a and OsNRT2.3b. Additionally, this key cis-regulatory element, together with the binding protein OsTBP2.1, promoted the development of rice and increased grain yield.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND The evolution of spliceosomal introns has been widely studied among various eukaryotic groups. Researchers nearly reached the consensuses on the pattern and the mechanisms of intron losses and gains across eukaryotes. However, according to previous studies that analyzed a few genes or genomes, Nematoda seems to be an eccentric group. RESULTS Taking advantage of the recent accumulation of sequenced genomes, we extensively analyzed the intron losses and gains using 104 nematode genomes across all the five Clades of the phylum. Nematodes have a wide range of intron density, from less than one to more than nine per kbp coding sequence. The rates of intron losses and gains exhibit significant heterogeneity both across different nematode lineages and across different evolutionary stages of the same lineage. The frequency of intron losses far exceeds that of intron gains. Five pieces of evidence supporting the model of cDNA-mediated intron loss have been observed in ten Caenorhabditis species, the dominance of the precise intron losses, frequent loss of adjacent introns, high-level expression of the intron-lost genes, preferential losses of short introns, and the preferential losses of introns close to 3'-ends of genes. Like studies in most eukaryotic groups, we cannot find the source sequences for the limited number of intron gains detected in the Caenorhabditis genomes. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that nematodes are a typical eukaryotic group rather than an outlier in intron evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Yue Ma
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Big Data for Bio Intelligence, School of Bioinformatics, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing, 400065, China
| | - Ji Xia
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Big Data for Bio Intelligence, School of Bioinformatics, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing, 400065, China
| | - Kun-Xian Shu
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Big Data for Bio Intelligence, School of Bioinformatics, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing, 400065, China.
| | - Deng-Ke Niu
- MOE Key Laboratory for Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering and Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
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14
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Li T, Qin P, Chen B, Niu X, Wang Y, Niu Y, Wei C, Hou D, Ma H, Han R, Li H, Liu X, Kang X, Li Z. A novel 27-bp indel in the intron region of the YBX3 gene is associated with growth traits in chickens. Br Poult Sci 2022; 63:590-596. [PMID: 35382648 DOI: 10.1080/00071668.2022.2059340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
1. The DNA/RNA binding protein YBX3 is associated with gene transcription, DNA repair, and the progression of various diseases and is highly conserved from bacteria to humans.2. The following experiment found a 27-bp insertion/deletion polymorphism in the intron region of the YBX3 gene through resequencing. In cross-designed, F2 resource groups, the indel was significantly associated with broiler weight and body size at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks of age and several other traits (semi evisceration weight (SEW), evisceration weight (EW), semi evisceration rate (SER), evisceration rate (ER), head weight (HW), claw weight (CLW), wing weight (DWW), gizzard weight (GW), pancreas weight (PW), chest muscle weight (CMW), leg weight (LW), leg muscle weight (LMW), shedding weight (SW), carcass weight (CW) and pectoral area (PA)) (P<0.05).3. The insertion-insertion (II) genotype was significantly associated with the greatest growth traits and carcass traits, whereas the values associated with the insertion-deletion (ID) genotype were the lowest in the F2 reciprocal cross chickens.4. The mutation sites were genotyped in 3611 individuals from 13 different chicken breeds and cross-designed F2 resource groups. The II genotype is the most important in commercial broilers, and the I allele frequency observed in these breeds was relatively high. However, there is still considerable potential in breeding dual-purpose chickens and commercial laying hens.5. The mRNA expression of the YBX3 gene in tissues from different breeds and developmental stages demonstrated that the 27-bp indel may affect the entire development process of poultry by affecting muscle development. These findings are beneficial for elucidating the function of the YBX3 gene and facilitating enhanced reproduction in the chicken industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Panpan Qin
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Bingjie Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Xinran Niu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Yanxing Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Yufang Niu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Chengjie Wei
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Dan Hou
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Haoxiang Ma
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Ruili Han
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Hong Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Xiaojun Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.,Henan Innovative Engineering Research Centre of Poultry Germplasm Resource, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Xiangtao Kang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.,Henan Innovative Engineering Research Centre of Poultry Germplasm Resource, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Zhuanjian Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.,Henan Innovative Engineering Research Centre of Poultry Germplasm Resource, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
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15
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Sun ML, Shi TQ, Lin L, Ledesma-Amaro R, Ji XJ. Advancing Yarrowia lipolytica as a superior biomanufacturing platform by tuning gene expression using promoter engineering. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 347:126717. [PMID: 35031438 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.126717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Yarrowia lipolytica is recognized as an excellent non-conventional yeast in the field of biomanufacturing, where it is used as a host to produce oleochemicals, terpenes, organic acids, polyols and recombinant proteins. Consequently, metabolic engineering of this yeast is becoming increasingly popular to advance it as a superior biomanufacturing platform, of which promoters are the most basic elements for tuning gene expression. Endogenous promoters of Yarrowia lipolytica were reviewed, which are the basis for promoter engineering. The engineering strategies, such as hybrid promoter engineering, intron enhancement promoter engineering, and transcription factor-based inducible promoter engineering are described. Additionally, the applications of Yarrowia lipolytica promoter engineering to rationally reconstruct biosynthetic gene clusters and improve the genome-editing efficiency of the CRISPR-Cas systems were reviewed. Finally, research needs and future directions for promoter engineering are also discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Li Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, No. 30 South Puzhu Road, Nanjing 211816, People's Republic of China
| | - Tian-Qiong Shi
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, No. 1 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing 210046, People's Republic of China
| | - Lu Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, No. 30 South Puzhu Road, Nanjing 211816, People's Republic of China
| | - Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro
- Department of Bioengineering and Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Xiao-Jun Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, No. 30 South Puzhu Road, Nanjing 211816, People's Republic of China.
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16
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Analyses of polymorphisms of intron 2 of OPRK1 (kappa-opioid receptor gene) in association with opioid and cocaine dependence diagnoses in an African-American population. Neurosci Lett 2022; 768:136364. [PMID: 34843875 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The dynorphin/kappa-opioid receptor (KOR) system (encoded by PDYN and OPRK1 genes respectively) is highly regulated by repeated exposure to drugs of abuse, including mu-opioid agonists and cocaine. These changes in the dynorphin/KOR system can then influence the rewarding effects of these drugs of abuse. Activation of the dynorphin/KOR system is also thought to have a role in the pro-addictive effects of stress. Recent in vitro assays showed that the OPRK1 intron 2 may function as a genomic enhancer in the regulation KOR expression, and contains a glucocorticiod-responsive sequence site. We hypothesize that SNPs in intron 2 of OPRK1 are associated with categorical opioid or cocaine dependence diagnoses, as well as with dimensional aspects of drug use (i.e., magnitude of drug exposure). METHODS This study includes 577 subjects ≥ 18 years old, with African ancestry (AA) from the USA. They were divided into three groups: 152 control subjects, 142 persons with lifetime opioid dependence diagnosis (OD), and 283 subjects with lifetime cocaine dependence diagnosis (CD). Five SNPs (rs16918909, rs7016778, rs997917, rs6473797, rs10111937) that span 10 Kb nucleotides in intron 2 of OPRK1 were used for the association analyses. Genotyping was performed with the Smokescreen® array or sequencing of PCR-amplified DNA fragments. Association analyses for OD and CD diagnoses and the OPRK1 intron 2 alleles were carried out with Fisher's exact test. The Kreek-McHugh-Schluger-Kellogg (KMSK) scales were used for dimensional measure of maximum exposure to specific drugs, using Mann-Whitney tests. RESULTS Two SNPs, rs997917 and rs10111937 showed point-wise significant allelic association (p < 0.05) with CD diagnosis, and rs10111937 showed a point-wise significance in association with OD. None of these single SNP associations with categorical diagnoses were significant after correction for multiple testing (pcorr > 0.05). However, significant associations of several genotype patterns (diplotypes) were found with cocaine dependence, but none for opioid dependence. The most significant genotype pattern with cocaine dependence diagnosis occurred for rs6473797 and rs10111937 (pcorr = 0.036, odds ratio = 1.92, FDR < 0.05), and survived correction for multiple testing. Dimensional analyses with KMSK scores show that persons with either rs997917 or rs10111937 variants had greater exposure to cocaine, compared to those with prototype allele (Mann-Whitney tests, point-wise). CONCLUSIONS This study provides additional support of potential importance of regulatory regions of intron 2 of the OPRK1 gene in development of cocaine and opioid dependence diagnoses, in a population with African-American ancestry.
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Kumar M, Ayzenshtat D, Marko A, Bocobza S. Optimization of T-DNA configuration with UBIQUITIN10 promoters and tRNA-sgRNA complexes promotes highly efficient genome editing in allotetraploid tobacco. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2022; 41:175-194. [PMID: 34623476 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-021-02796-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE Combination of UBIQUITIN10 promoter-directed CAS9 and tRNA-gRNA complexes in gene-editing assay induces 80% mutant phenotype with a knockout of the four allelic copies in the T0 generation of allotetraploid tobaccos. While gene-editing methodologies, such as CRISPR-Cas9, have been developed and successfully used in many plant species, their use remains challenging, because they most often rely on stable or transient transgene expression. Regrettably, in all plant species, transformation causes epigenetic effects such as gene silencing and variable transgene expression. Here, UBIQUITIN10 promoters from several plant species were characterized and showed their capacity to direct high levels of transgene expression in transient and stable transformation assays, which in turn was used to improve the selection process of regenerated transformants. Furthermore, we compared various sgRNAs delivery systems and showed that the combination of UBIQUITIN10 promoters and tRNA-sgRNA complexes produced 80% mutant phenotype with a complete knockout of the four allelic copies, while the remaining 20% exhibited weaker phenotype, which suggested partial allelic knockout, in the T0 generation of the allotetraploid Nicotiana tabacum. These data provide valuable information to optimize future designs of gene editing constructs for plant research and crop improvement and open the way for valuable gene editing projects in non-model Solanaceae species.
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MESH Headings
- DNA, Bacterial/genetics
- DNA, Bacterial/metabolism
- DNA, Plant/genetics
- DNA, Plant/metabolism
- Gene Editing/methods
- Genome, Plant
- Plant Proteins/genetics
- Plant Proteins/metabolism
- Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics
- RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics
- RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems/metabolism
- RNA, Plant/genetics
- RNA, Plant/metabolism
- RNA, Transfer/genetics
- RNA, Transfer/metabolism
- Tetraploidy
- Nicotiana/genetics
- Ubiquitins/genetics
- Ubiquitins/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Manoj Kumar
- Department of Ornamental Plants and Agricultural Biotechnology, The Institute of Plant Sciences, The Volcani Center, ARO, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Dana Ayzenshtat
- Department of Ornamental Plants and Agricultural Biotechnology, The Institute of Plant Sciences, The Volcani Center, ARO, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Adar Marko
- Department of Ornamental Plants and Agricultural Biotechnology, The Institute of Plant Sciences, The Volcani Center, ARO, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Samuel Bocobza
- Department of Ornamental Plants and Agricultural Biotechnology, The Institute of Plant Sciences, The Volcani Center, ARO, Rishon LeZion, Israel.
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18
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Calvo O, Ansari A, Navarro F. Editorial: The Lesser Known World of RNA Polymerases. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:811413. [PMID: 34926588 PMCID: PMC8678064 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.811413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Olga Calvo
- Instituto de Biología Funcional y Genómica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Athar Ansari
- Department of Biological Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Francisco Navarro
- Departamento de Biología Experimental-Genética, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain.,Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Aceite de Oliva y Olivar, Universidad de Jaén, Jaén, Spain
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19
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Obi P, Chen YG. The design and synthesis of circular RNAs. Methods 2021; 196:85-103. [PMID: 33662562 PMCID: PMC8670866 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2021.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a novel class of RNAs distinguished by their single-stranded, covalently-closed topology. Although initially perceived as rare byproducts of aberrant splicing, circRNAs are now recognized as ubiquitously expressed and functionally significant. These discoveries have led to a growing need for ways to model circRNAs in living cells to advance our understanding of their biogenesis, regulation, and function, and to adopt them as new technologies for application within research and medicine. In this review, we provide an updated summary of approaches used to produce circRNAs in vitro and in vivo, the latter of which has grown considerably in recent years. Given increased interest in the unique functions carried out by individual circRNAs, we further dedicate a section on how to customize synthesized circRNAs for specific biological roles. We focus on the most common applications, including designing circRNAs for protein delivery, to target miRNAs and proteins, to act as fluorescent reporters, and to modulate cellular immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prisca Obi
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Y Grace Chen
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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20
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Sands B, Yun S, Mendenhall AR. Introns control stochastic allele expression bias. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6527. [PMID: 34764277 PMCID: PMC8585970 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26798-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Monoallelic expression (MAE) or extreme allele bias can account for incomplete penetrance, missing heritability and non-Mendelian diseases. In cancer, MAE is associated with shorter patient survival times and higher tumor grade. Prior studies showed that stochastic MAE is caused by stochastic epigenetic silencing, in a gene and tissue-specific manner. Here, we used C. elegans to study stochastic MAE in vivo. We found allele bias/MAE to be widespread within C. elegans tissues, presenting as a continuum from fully biallelic to MAE. We discovered that the presence of introns within alleles robustly decreases MAE. We determined that introns control MAE at distinct loci, in distinct cell types, with distinct promoters, and within distinct coding sequences, using a 5'-intron position-dependent mechanism. Bioinformatic analysis showed human intronless genes are significantly enriched for MAE. Our experimental evidence demonstrates a role for introns in regulating MAE, possibly explaining why some mutations within introns result in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Sands
- grid.34477.330000000122986657Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Soo Yun
- grid.34477.330000000122986657Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Alexander R. Mendenhall
- grid.34477.330000000122986657Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
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21
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Muzafar S, Sharma RD, Chauhan N, Prasad R. Intron distribution and emerging role of alternative splicing in fungi. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2021; 368:6414529. [PMID: 34718529 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnab135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Spliceosomal introns are noncoding sequences that are spliced from pre-mRNA. They are ubiquitous in eukaryotic genomes, although the average number of introns per gene varies considerably between different eukaryotic species. Fungi are diverse in terms of intron numbers ranging from 4% to 99% genes with introns. Alternative splicing is one of the most common modes of posttranscriptional regulation in eukaryotes, giving rise to multiple transcripts from a single pre-mRNA and is widespread in metazoans and drives extensive proteome diversity. Earlier, alternative splicing was considered to be rare in fungi, but recently, increasing numbers of studies have revealed that alternative splicing is also widespread in fungi and has been implicated in the regulation of fungal growth and development, protein localization and the improvement of survivability, likely underlying their unique capacity to adapt to changing environmental conditions. However, the role of alternative splicing in pathogenicity and development of drug resistance is only recently gaining attention. In this review, we describe the intronic landscape in fungi. We also present in detail the newly discovered functions of alternative splicing in various cellular processes and outline areas particularly in pathogenesis and clinical drug resistance for future studies that could lead to the development of much needed new therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suraya Muzafar
- Amity Institute of Integrative Sciences and Health, Amity University Gurgaon, Gurgaon 122413, Haryana, India
| | - Ravi Datta Sharma
- Amity Institute of Integrative Sciences and Health, Amity University Gurgaon, Gurgaon 122413, Haryana, India
| | - Neeraj Chauhan
- Public Health Research Institute, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Rajendra Prasad
- Amity Institute of Integrative Sciences and Health, Amity University Gurgaon, Gurgaon 122413, Haryana, India
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22
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Myburgh MW, Rose SH, Viljoen-Bloom M. Evaluating and engineering Saccharomyces cerevisiae promoters for increased amylase expression and bioethanol production from raw starch. FEMS Yeast Res 2021; 20:5891427. [PMID: 32785598 DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/foaa047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Bioethanol production from starchy biomass via consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) will benefit from amylolytic Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains that produce high levels of recombinant amylases. This could be achieved by using strong promoters and modification thereof to improve gene expression under industrial conditions. This study evaluated eight endogenous S. cerevisiae promoters for the expression of a starch-hydrolysing α-amylase gene. A total of six of the native promoters were modified to contain a promoter-proximal intron directly downstream of the full-length promoter. Varying results were obtained; four native promoters outperformed the ENO1P benchmark under aerobic conditions and two promoters showed better expression under simulated CBP conditions. The addition of the RPS25A intron significantly improved the expression from most promoters, displaying increased transcript levels, protein concentrations and amylase activities. Raw starch-utilising strains were constructed through co-expression of selected α-amylase cassettes and a glucoamylase gene. The amylolytic strains displayed improved fermentation vigour on raw corn starch and broken rice, reaching 97% of the theoretical ethanol yield and converting 100% of the available carbon to products within 120 h in small-scale CBP fermentations on broken rice. This study showed that enhanced amylolytic strains for the conversion of raw starch to ethanol can be achieved through turnkey promoter selection and/or engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marthinus W Myburgh
- Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
| | - Shaunita H Rose
- Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
| | - Marinda Viljoen-Bloom
- Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
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23
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Liu J, Chen Z, Wang Z, Zhang Z, Xie X, Wang Z, Chai L, Song L, Cheng X, Feng M, Wang X, Liu Y, Hu Z, Xing J, Su Z, Peng H, Xin M, Yao Y, Guo W, Sun Q, Liu J, Ni Z. Ectopic expression of VRT-A2 underlies the origin of Triticum polonicum and Triticum petropavlovskyi with long outer glumes and grains. MOLECULAR PLANT 2021; 14:1472-1488. [PMID: 34048948 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2021.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Polish wheat (Triticum polonicum) is a unique tetraploid wheat species characterized by an elongated outer glume. The genetic control of the long-glume trait by a single semi-dominant locus, P1 (from Polish wheat), was established more than 100 years ago, but the underlying causal gene and molecular nature remain elusive. Here, we report the isolation of VRT-A2, encoding an SVP-clade MADS-box transcription factor, as the P1 candidate gene. Genetic evidence suggests that in T. polonicum, a naturally occurring sequence rearrangement in the intron-1 region of VRT-A2 leads to ectopic expression of VRT-A2 in floral organs where the long-glume phenotype appears. Interestingly, we found that the intron-1 region is a key ON/OFF molecular switch for VRT-A2 expression, not only because it recruits transcriptional repressors, but also because it confers intron-mediated transcriptional enhancement. Genotypic analyses using wheat accessions indicated that the P1 locus is likely derived from a single natural mutation in tetraploid wheat, which was subsequently inherited by hexaploid T. petropavlovskyi. Taken together, our findings highlight the promoter-proximal intron variation as a molecular basis for phenotypic differentiation, and thus species formation in Triticum plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology and Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Zhaoyan Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology and Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Zhihui Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology and Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Zhaoheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology and Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoming Xie
- State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology and Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Zihao Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology and Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Lingling Chai
- State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology and Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Long Song
- State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology and Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Xuejiao Cheng
- State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology and Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Man Feng
- State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology and Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Xiaobo Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology and Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Yanhong Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology and Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Zhaorong Hu
- State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology and Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Jiewen Xing
- State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology and Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Zhenqi Su
- State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology and Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Huiru Peng
- State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology and Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Mingming Xin
- State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology and Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Yingyin Yao
- State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology and Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Weilong Guo
- State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology and Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Qixin Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology and Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China
| | - Jie Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology and Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China.
| | - Zhongfu Ni
- State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology and Key Laboratory of Crop Heterosis and Utilization (MOE) and Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P. R. China.
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Kim S, Song H, Hur Y. Intron-retained radish (Raphanus sativus L.) RsMYB1 transcripts found in colored-taproot lines enhance anthocyanin accumulation in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2021; 40:1735-1749. [PMID: 34308490 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-021-02735-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE Overexpression of the naturally occurring intron-retained (IR) forms of radish RsMYB1 and RsTT8 transcripts in Arabidopsis causes a substantial increase in anthocyanin accumulation. The production of anthocyanins in plants is tightly controlled by the MYB-bHLH-WD40 (MBW) complex. In this study, analysis of four radish (Raphanus sativus L.) inbred lines with different colored taproots revealed that regulatory genes of anthocyanin biosynthesis, RsMYB1 and RsTT8, produce three transcripts, one completely spliced and two intron retention (IR1 and IR2) forms. Transcripts RsMYB1-IR1 and RsMYB1-IR2 retained the 1st (380 nt) and 2nd (149 nt) introns, respectively; RsTT8-IR1 retained the 4th intron (113 nt); RsTT8-IR2 retained both the 3rd (128 nt) and 4th introns. Levels of most IR forms were substantially low in radish samples, but the RsTT8-IR2 level was higher than RsTT8 in red skin/red flesh (RsRf) root. Since all IR forms contained a stop codon within the intron, they were predicted to encode truncated proteins with defective interaction domains, resulting in the inability to form the MBW complex in vivo. However, tobacco leaves transiently co-expressing RsMYB1-IRs and RsTT8-IRs showed substantially higher anthocyanin accumulation than those co-expressing their spliced forms. Consistently, co-expression of constructs encoding truncated proteins with spliced or IR forms of their interaction partner in tobacco leaves did not result in anthocyanin accumulation. Compared with RsMYB1, the overexpression of RsMYB1-IRs in Arabidopsis pap1 mutant increased anthocyanin accumulation by > sevenfold and upregulated the expression of Arabidopsis flavonoid biosynthesis genes including AtTT8. Our results suggest that the stable co-expression of RsMYB1-IRs in fruit trees and vegetable crops could be used to increase their anthocyanin contents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soyun Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Biological Science and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Hayoung Song
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Biological Science and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoonkang Hur
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Biological Science and Biotechnology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 34134, Republic of Korea.
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25
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Dwyer K, Agarwal N, Gega A, Ansari A. Proximity to the Promoter and Terminator Regions Regulates the Transcription Enhancement Potential of an Intron. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:712639. [PMID: 34291091 PMCID: PMC8287100 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.712639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
An evolutionarily conserved feature of introns is their ability to enhance expression of genes that harbor them. Introns have been shown to regulate gene expression at the transcription and post-transcription level. The general perception is that a promoter-proximal intron is most efficient in enhancing gene expression and the effect diminishes with the increase in distance from the promoter. Here we show that the intron regains its positive influence on gene expression when in proximity to the terminator. We inserted ACT1 intron into different positions within IMD4 and INO1 genes. Transcription Run-On (TRO) analysis revealed that the transcription of both IMD4 and INO1 was maximal in constructs with a promoter-proximal intron and decreased with the increase in distance of the intron from the promoter. However, activation was partially restored when the intron was placed close to the terminator. We previously demonstrated that the promoter-proximal intron stimulates transcription by affecting promoter directionality through gene looping-mediated recruitment of termination factors in the vicinity of the promoter region. Here we show that the terminator-proximal intron also enhances promoter directionality and results in compact gene architecture with the promoter and terminator regions in close physical proximity. Furthermore, we show that both the promoter and terminator-proximal introns facilitate assembly or stabilization of the preinitiation complex (PIC) on the promoter. On the basis of these findings, we propose that proximity to both the promoter and the terminator regions affects the transcription regulatory potential of an intron, and the terminator-proximal intron enhances transcription by affecting both the assembly of preinitiation complex and promoter directionality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Athar Ansari
- Department of Biological Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
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26
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Back G, Walther D. Identification of cis-regulatory motifs in first introns and the prediction of intron-mediated enhancement of gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:390. [PMID: 34039279 PMCID: PMC8157754 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07711-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intron mediated enhancement (IME) is the potential of introns to enhance the expression of its respective gene. This essential function of introns has been observed in a wide range of species, including fungi, plants, and animals. However, the mechanisms underlying the enhancement are as of yet poorly understood. The goal of this study was to identify potential IME-related sequence motifs and genomic features in first introns of genes in Arabidopsis thaliana. RESULTS Based on the rationale that functional sequence motifs are evolutionarily conserved, we exploited the deep sequencing information available for Arabidopsis thaliana, covering more than one thousand Arabidopsis accessions, and identified 81 candidate hexamer motifs with increased conservation across all accessions that also exhibit positional occurrence preferences. Of those, 71 were found associated with increased correlation of gene expression of genes harboring them, suggesting a cis-regulatory role. Filtering further for effect on gene expression correlation yielded a set of 16 hexamer motifs, corresponding to five consensus motifs. While all five motifs represent new motif definitions, two are similar to the two previously reported IME-motifs, whereas three are altogether novel. Both consensus and hexamer motifs were found associated with higher expression of alleles harboring them as compared to alleles containing mutated motif variants as found in naturally occurring Arabidopsis accessions. To identify additional IME-related genomic features, Random Forest models were trained for the classification of gene expression level based on an array of sequence-related features. The results indicate that introns contain information with regard to gene expression level and suggest sequence-compositional features as most informative, while position-related features, thought to be of central importance before, were found with lower than expected relevance. CONCLUSIONS Exploiting deep sequencing and broad gene expression information and on a genome-wide scale, this study confirmed the regulatory role on first-introns, characterized their intra-species conservation, and identified a set of novel sequence motifs located in first introns of genes in the genome of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana that may play a role in inducing high and correlated gene expression of the genes harboring them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg Back
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Dirk Walther
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476, Potsdam, Germany.
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27
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Xia T, Yang Y, Zheng H, Han X, Jin H, Xiong Z, Qian W, Xia L, Ji X, Li G, Wang D, Zhang K. Efficient expression and function of a receptor-like kinase in wheat powdery mildew defence require an intron-located MYB binding site. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2021; 19:897-909. [PMID: 33225586 PMCID: PMC8131041 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The LRK10-like receptor kinases (LRK10L-RLKs) are ubiquitously present in higher plants, but knowledge of their expression and function is still limited. Here, we report expression and functional analysis of TtdLRK10L-1, a typical LRK10L-RLK in durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum). The introns of TtdLRK10L-1 contained multiple kinds of predicted cis-elements. To investigate the potential effect of these cis-elements on TtdLRK10L-1 expression and function, two types of transgenic wheat lines were prepared, which expressed a GFP-tagged TtdLRK10L-1 protein (TtdLRK10L-1:GFP) from the cDNA or genomic DNA (gDNA) sequence of TtdLRK10L-1 under the native promoter. TtdLRK10L-1:GFP expression was up-regulated by the powdery mildew pathogen Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt) in both types of transgenic plants, with the scale of the elevation being much stronger in the gDNA lines. Both types of transgenic plants exhibited enhanced resistance to Bgt infection relative to wild type control. Notably, the Bgt defence activated in the gDNA lines was significantly stronger than that in the cDNA lines. Further analysis revealed that a putative MYB transcription factor binding site (MYB-BS, CAGTTA) located in TtdLRK10L-1 intron I was critical for the efficient expression and function of TtdLRK10L-1 in Bgt defence. This MYB-BS could also increase the activity of a superpromoter widely used in ectopic gene expression studies in plants. Together, our results deepen the understanding of the expression and functional characteristics of LRK10L-RLKs. TtdLRK10L-1 is likely useful for further dissecting the molecular processes underlying wheat defence against Bgt and for developing Bgt resistant wheat crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tengfei Xia
- College of AgronomyState Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, and Center for Crop Genome EngineeringHenan Agricultural UniversityZhengzhouChina
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome EngineeringInstitute of Genetics and Developmental BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yanping Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome EngineeringInstitute of Genetics and Developmental BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Hongyuan Zheng
- College of AgronomyState Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, and Center for Crop Genome EngineeringHenan Agricultural UniversityZhengzhouChina
| | - Xinyun Han
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome EngineeringInstitute of Genetics and Developmental BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Huaibing Jin
- College of AgronomyState Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, and Center for Crop Genome EngineeringHenan Agricultural UniversityZhengzhouChina
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome EngineeringInstitute of Genetics and Developmental BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Zijun Xiong
- College of AgronomyState Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, and Center for Crop Genome EngineeringHenan Agricultural UniversityZhengzhouChina
| | - Weiqiang Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene ResearchSchool of Life SciencesPeking UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Lanqi Xia
- Institute of Crop SciencesChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Xiang Ji
- College of AgronomyState Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, and Center for Crop Genome EngineeringHenan Agricultural UniversityZhengzhouChina
| | - Guangwei Li
- College of AgronomyState Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, and Center for Crop Genome EngineeringHenan Agricultural UniversityZhengzhouChina
| | - Daowen Wang
- College of AgronomyState Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, and Center for Crop Genome EngineeringHenan Agricultural UniversityZhengzhouChina
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome EngineeringInstitute of Genetics and Developmental BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Kunpu Zhang
- College of AgronomyState Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, and Center for Crop Genome EngineeringHenan Agricultural UniversityZhengzhouChina
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome EngineeringInstitute of Genetics and Developmental BiologyChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
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Dwyer K, Agarwal N, Pile L, Ansari A. Gene Architecture Facilitates Intron-Mediated Enhancement of Transcription. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:669004. [PMID: 33968994 PMCID: PMC8097089 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.669004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Introns impact several vital aspects of eukaryotic organisms like proteomic plasticity, genomic stability, stress response and gene expression. A role for introns in the regulation of gene expression at the level of transcription has been known for more than thirty years. The molecular basis underlying the phenomenon, however, is still not entirely clear. An important clue came from studies performed in budding yeast that indicate that the presence of an intron within a gene results in formation of a multi-looped gene architecture. When looping is defective, these interactions are abolished, and there is no enhancement of transcription despite normal splicing. In this review, we highlight several potential mechanisms through which looping interactions may enhance transcription. The promoter-5′ splice site interaction can facilitate initiation of transcription, the terminator-3′ splice site interaction can enable efficient termination of transcription, while the promoter-terminator interaction can enhance promoter directionality and expedite reinitiation of transcription. Like yeast, mammalian genes also exhibit an intragenic interaction of the promoter with the gene body, especially exons. Such promoter-exon interactions may be responsible for splicing-dependent transcriptional regulation. Thus, the splicing-facilitated changes in gene architecture may play a critical role in regulation of transcription in yeast as well as in higher eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Dwyer
- Department of Biological Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Neha Agarwal
- Department of Biological Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Lori Pile
- Department of Biological Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Athar Ansari
- Department of Biological Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
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29
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Figueira MBDA, de Lima DS, Boechat AL, Filho MGDN, Antunes IA, Matsuda JDS, Ribeiro TRDA, Felix LS, Gonçalves ASF, da Costa AG, Ramasawmy R, Pontillo A, Ogusku MM, Sadahiro A. Single-Nucleotide Variants in the AIM2 - Absent in Melanoma 2 Gene (rs1103577) Associated With Protection for Tuberculosis. Front Immunol 2021; 12:604975. [PMID: 33868225 PMCID: PMC8047195 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.604975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a serious public health burden worldwide. TB is an infectious disease caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex. Innate immune response is critical for controlling mycobacterial infection. NOD-like receptor pyrin domain containing 3/ absent in melanoma 2 (NLRP3/AIM2) inflammasomes are suggested to play an important role in TB. NLRP3/AIM2 mediate the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 to control M. tuberculosis infection. Variants of genes involved in inflammasomes may contribute to elucidation of host immune responses to TB infection. The present study evaluated single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) in inflammasome genes AIM2 (rs1103577), CARD8 (rs2009373), and CTSB (rs1692816) in 401 patients with pulmonary TB (PTB), 133 patients with extrapulmonary TB (EPTB), and 366 healthy control (HC) subjects with no history of TB residing in the Amazonas state. Quantitative Real Time PCR was performed for allelic discrimination. The SNV of AIM2 (rs1103577) is associated with protection for PTB (padj: 0.033, ORadj: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.49-0.97). CTSB (rs1692816) is associated with reduced risk for EPTB when compared with PTB (padj: 0.034, ORadj: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.27-0.94). Serum IL-1β concentrations were higher in patients with PTB than those in HCs (p = 0,0003). The SNV rs1103577 of AIM2 appeared to influence IL-1β release. In a dominant model, individuals with the CC genotype (mean 3.78 ± SD 0.81) appeared to have a higher level of IL-1β compared to carriers of the T allele (mean 3.45 ± SD 0.84) among the patients with PTB (p = 0,0040). We found that SNVs of AIM2 and CTSB were associated with TB, and the mechanisms involved in this process require further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Brasil de Andrade Figueira
- Laboratório de Imunologia Molecular, Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Dhêmerson Souza de Lima
- Laboratório de Imunogenética, Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Antonio Luiz Boechat
- Laboratório de Imunologia Molecular, Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Luana Sousa Felix
- Laboratório de Imunologia Molecular, Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Ariane Senna Fonseca Gonçalves
- Laboratório de Imunologia Molecular, Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Allyson Guimarães da Costa
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil.,Diretoria de Ensino e Pesquisa, Fundação Hospitalar de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas (HEMOAM), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Rajendranath Ramasawmy
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil.,Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Carlos Borborema, Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, Brazil.,Faculdade de Medicina Nilton Lins, Universidade Nilton Lins, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Alessandra Pontillo
- Laboratório de Imunogenética, Departamento de Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mauricio Morishi Ogusku
- Laboratório de Micobacteriologia, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Manaus, Brazil
| | - Aya Sadahiro
- Laboratório de Imunologia Molecular, Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Imunologia Básica e Aplicada, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
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30
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Liu Q, Jiang F, Zhang J, Li X, Kang L. Transcription initiation of distant core promoters in a large-sized genome of an insect. BMC Biol 2021; 19:62. [PMID: 33785021 PMCID: PMC8011201 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01004-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Core promoters have a substantial influence on various steps of transcription, including initiation, elongation, termination, polyadenylation, and finally, translation. The characterization of core promoters is crucial for exploring the regulatory code of transcription initiation. However, the current understanding of insect core promoters is focused on those of Diptera (especially Drosophila) species with small genome sizes. Results Here, we present an analysis of the transcription start sites (TSSs) in the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria, which has a genome size of 6.5 Gb. The genomic differences, including lower precision of transcription initiation and fewer constraints on the distance from transcription factor binding sites or regulatory elements to TSSs, were revealed in locusts compared with Drosophila insects. Furthermore, we found a distinct bimodal log distribution of the distances from the start codons to the core promoters of locust genes. We found stricter constraints on the exon length of mRNA leaders and widespread expression activity of the distant core promoters in locusts compared with fruit flies. We further compared core promoters in seven arthropod species across a broad range of genome sizes to reinforce our results on the emergence of distant core promoters in large-sized genomes. Conclusions In summary, our results provide novel insights into the effects of genome size expansion on distant transcription initiation. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-021-01004-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Liu
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Feng Jiang
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Le Kang
- Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. .,CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. .,State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
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31
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Lim CS, Weinstein BN, Roy SW, Brown CM. Analysis of fungal genomes reveals commonalities of intron gain or loss and functions in intron-poor species. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:4166-4186. [PMID: 33772558 PMCID: PMC8476143 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msab094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous evolutionary reconstructions have concluded that early eukaryotic ancestors including both the last common ancestor of eukaryotes and of all fungi had intron-rich genomes. By contrast, some extant eukaryotes have few introns, underscoring the complex histories of intron–exon structures, and raising the question as to why these few introns are retained. Here, we have used recently available fungal genomes to address a variety of questions related to intron evolution. Evolutionary reconstruction of intron presence and absence using 263 diverse fungal species supports the idea that massive intron reduction through intron loss has occurred in multiple clades. The intron densities estimated in various fungal ancestors differ from zero to 7.6 introns per 1 kb of protein-coding sequence. Massive intron loss has occurred not only in microsporidian parasites and saccharomycetous yeasts, but also in diverse smuts and allies. To investigate the roles of the remaining introns in highly-reduced species, we have searched for their special characteristics in eight intron-poor fungi. Notably, the introns of ribosome-associated genes RPL7 and NOG2 have conserved positions; both intron-containing genes encoding snoRNAs. Furthermore, both the proteins and snoRNAs are involved in ribosome biogenesis, suggesting that the expression of the protein-coding genes and noncoding snoRNAs may be functionally coordinated. Indeed, these introns are also conserved in three-quarters of fungi species. Our study shows that fungal introns have a complex evolutionary history and underappreciated roles in gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Shen Lim
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Brooke N Weinstein
- Quantitative & Systems Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California-Merced, Merced, CA, USA.,Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Scott W Roy
- Quantitative & Systems Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California-Merced, Merced, CA, USA.,Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Chris M Brown
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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32
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Evolutionary Dynamics of the Pericentromeric Heterochromatin in Drosophila virilis and Related Species. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12020175. [PMID: 33513919 PMCID: PMC7911463 DOI: 10.3390/genes12020175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Pericentromeric heterochromatin in Drosophila generally consists of repetitive DNA, forming the environment associated with gene silencing. Despite the expanding knowledge of the impact of transposable elements (TEs) on the host genome, little is known about the evolution of pericentromeric heterochromatin, its structural composition, and age. During the evolution of the Drosophilidae, hundreds of genes have become embedded within pericentromeric regions yet retained activity. We investigated a pericentromeric heterochromatin fragment found in D. virilis and related species, describing the evolution of genes in this region and the age of TE invasion. Regardless of the heterochromatic environment, the amino acid composition of the genes is under purifying selection. However, the selective pressure affects parts of genes in varying degrees, resulting in expansion of gene introns due to TEs invasion. According to the divergence of TEs, the pericentromeric heterochromatin of the species of virilis group began to form more than 20 million years ago by invasions of retroelements, miniature inverted repeat transposable elements (MITEs), and Helitrons. Importantly, invasions into the heterochromatin continue to occur by TEs that fall under the scope of piRNA silencing. Thus, the pericentromeric heterochromatin, in spite of its ability to induce silencing, has the means for being dynamic, incorporating the regions of active transcription.
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Ruiz JL, Ranford-Cartwright LC, Gómez-Díaz E. The regulatory genome of the malaria vector Anopheles gambiae: integrating chromatin accessibility and gene expression. NAR Genom Bioinform 2021; 3:lqaa113. [PMID: 33987532 PMCID: PMC8092447 DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqaa113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes are primary human malaria vectors, but we know very little about their mechanisms of transcriptional regulation. We profiled chromatin accessibility by the assay for transposase-accessible chromatin by sequencing (ATAC-seq) in laboratory-reared A. gambiae mosquitoes experimentally infected with the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. By integrating ATAC-seq, RNA-seq and ChIP-seq data, we showed a positive correlation between accessibility at promoters and introns, gene expression and active histone marks. By comparing expression and chromatin structure patterns in different tissues, we were able to infer cis-regulatory elements controlling tissue-specific gene expression and to predict the in vivo binding sites of relevant transcription factors. The ATAC-seq assay also allowed the precise mapping of active regulatory regions, including novel transcription start sites and enhancers that were annotated to mosquito immune-related genes. Not only is this study important for advancing our understanding of mechanisms of transcriptional regulation in the mosquito vector of human malaria, but the information we produced also has great potential for developing new mosquito-control and anti-malaria strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- José L Ruiz
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra (IPBLN), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Lisa C Ranford-Cartwright
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Science, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Elena Gómez-Díaz
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra (IPBLN), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 18016 Granada, Spain
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Aljohani MD, El Mouridi S, Priyadarshini M, Vargas-Velazquez AM, Frøkjær-Jensen C. Engineering rules that minimize germline silencing of transgenes in simple extrachromosomal arrays in C. elegans. Nat Commun 2020; 11:6300. [PMID: 33298957 PMCID: PMC7725773 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19898-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Transgenes are prone to progressive silencing due to their structure, copy number, and genomic location. In C. elegans, repressive mechanisms are particularly strong in the germline with almost fully penetrant transgene silencing in simple extrachromosomal arrays and frequent silencing of single-copy transgene insertions. A class of non-coding DNA, Periodic An/Tn Clusters (PATCs) can prevent transgene-silencing in repressive chromatin or from small interfering RNAs (piRNAs). Here, we describe design rules (codon-optimization, intron and PATC inclusion, elevated temperature (25 °C), and vector backbone removal) for efficient germline expression from arrays in wildtype animals. We generate web-based tools to analyze PATCs and reagents for the convenient assembly of PATC-rich transgenes. An extensive collection of silencing resistant fluorescent proteins (e.g., gfp, mCherry, and tagBFP) can be used for dissecting germline regulatory elements and a set of enhanced enzymes (Mos1 transposase, Cas9, Cre, and Flp recombinases) enable efficient genetic engineering in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed D Aljohani
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), KAUST Environmental Epigenetics Program (KEEP), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sonia El Mouridi
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), KAUST Environmental Epigenetics Program (KEEP), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Monika Priyadarshini
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), KAUST Environmental Epigenetics Program (KEEP), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amhed M Vargas-Velazquez
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), KAUST Environmental Epigenetics Program (KEEP), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Christian Frøkjær-Jensen
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), KAUST Environmental Epigenetics Program (KEEP), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
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Kemppainen M, Chowdhury J, Lundberg-Felten J, Pardo A. Fluorescent protein expression in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor: a plasmid toolkit for easy use of fluorescent markers in basidiomycetes. Curr Genet 2020; 66:791-811. [PMID: 32170354 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-020-01060-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
For long time, studies on ectomycorrhiza (ECM) have been limited by inefficient expression of fluorescent proteins (FPs) in the fungal partner. To convert this situation, we have evaluated the basic requirements of FP expression in the model ECM homobasidiomycete Laccaria bicolor and established eGFP and mCherry as functional FP markers. Comparison of intron-containing and intronless FP-expression cassettes confirmed that intron-processing is indispensable for efficient FP expression in Laccaria. Nuclear FP localization was obtained via in-frame fusion of FPs between the intron-containing genomic gene sequences of Laccaria histone H2B, while cytosolic FP expression was produced by incorporating the intron-containing 5' fragment of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase encoding gene. In addition, we have characterized the consensus Kozak sequence of strongly expressed genes in Laccaria and demonstrated its boosting effect on transgene mRNA accumulation. Based on these results, an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation compatible plasmid set was designed for easy use of FPs in Laccaria. The four cloning plasmids presented here allow fast and highly flexible construction of C-terminal in-frame fusions between the sequences of interest and the two FPs, expressed either from the endogenous gene promoter, allowing thus evaluation of the native regulation modes of the gene under study, or alternatively, from the constitutive Agaricus bisporus gpdII promoter for enhanced cellular protein localization assays. The molecular tools described here for cell-biological studies in Laccaria can also be exploited in studies of other biotrophic or saprotrophic basidiomycete species susceptible to genetic transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minna Kemppainen
- Laboratory of Molecular Mycology, Institute of Basic and Applied Microbiology, Department of Science and Technology, Nacional University of Quilmes and CONICET, Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Jamil Chowdhury
- Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Umeå Plant Science Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Judith Lundberg-Felten
- Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Umeå Plant Science Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 901 83, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Alejandro Pardo
- Laboratory of Molecular Mycology, Institute of Basic and Applied Microbiology, Department of Science and Technology, Nacional University of Quilmes and CONICET, Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Baier T, Jacobebbinghaus N, Einhaus A, Lauersen KJ, Kruse O. Introns mediate post-transcriptional enhancement of nuclear gene expression in the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. PLoS Genet 2020; 16:e1008944. [PMID: 32730252 PMCID: PMC7419008 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Efficient nuclear transgene expression in the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is generally hindered by low transcription rates. Introns can increase transcript abundance by a process called Intron-Mediated Enhancement (IME) in this alga and has been broadly observed in other eukaryotes. However, the mechanisms of IME in microalgae are poorly understood. Here, we identified 33 native introns from highly expressed genes in C. reinhardtii selected from transcriptome studies as well as 13 non-native introns. We investigated their IME capacities and probed the mechanism of action by modification of splice sites, internal sequence motifs, and position within transgenes. Several introns were found to elicit strong IME and found to be broadly applicable in different expression constructs. We determined that IME in C. reinhardtii exclusively occurs from introns within transcribed ORFs regardless of the promoter and is not induced by traditional enhancers of transcription. Our results elucidate some mechanistic details of IME in C. reinhardtii, which are similar to those observed in higher plants yet underly distinctly different induction processes. Our findings narrow the focus of targets responsible for algal IME and provides evidence that introns are underestimated regulators of C. reinhardtii nuclear gene expression. Although many genetic tools and basic transformation strategies exist for the model microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, high-level genetic engineering with this organism is hindered by its inherent recalcitrance to foreign gene expression and limited knowledge of responsible expression regulators. In this work, we characterized the dynamics of 33 endogenous and 13 non-native introns and their effect on gene expression as artificial insertions into codon optimized transgenes. We found that introns from different origins have the capacity to increase gene expression rates. Intron-mediated enhancement was observed exclusively when these elements were placed in transcripts but not outside of transcribed mRNA regions. Insertion of different endogenous introns into coding sequences was found to positively affect expression rates through a synergy of additive transcription enhancement and exon length reduction, similar to those natively found in the C. reinhardtii genome. Our results indicate that intensive mRNA processing plays an underestimated role in the regulation of native gene expression in C. reinhardtii. In addition to internal sequence motifs, the location of artificially introduced introns greatly affected transgene expression levels. This work is highly valuable to the greater microalgal and synthetic biology research communities and contributes to broadening our understanding of eukaryotic intron-mediated enhancement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Baier
- Bielefeld University, Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Universitätsstrasse, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Nick Jacobebbinghaus
- Bielefeld University, Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Universitätsstrasse, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Alexander Einhaus
- Bielefeld University, Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Universitätsstrasse, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Kyle J. Lauersen
- Bielefeld University, Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Universitätsstrasse, Bielefeld, Germany
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Olaf Kruse
- Bielefeld University, Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Universitätsstrasse, Bielefeld, Germany
- * E-mail:
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An osmolality/salinity-responsive enhancer 1 (OSRE1) in intron 1 promotes salinity induction of tilapia glutamine synthetase. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12103. [PMID: 32694739 PMCID: PMC7374092 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-69090-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Euryhaline tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) are fish that tolerate a wide salinity range from fresh water to > 3× seawater. Even though the physiological effector mechanisms of osmoregulation that maintain plasma homeostasis in fresh water and seawater fish are well known, the corresponding molecular mechanisms that control switching between hyper- (fresh water) and hypo-osmoregulation (seawater) remain mostly elusive. In this study we show that hyperosmotic induction of glutamine synthetase represents a prominent part of this switch. Proteomics analysis of the O. mossambicus OmB cell line revealed that glutamine synthetase is transcriptionally regulated by hyperosmolality. Therefore, the 5' regulatory sequence of O. mossambicus glutamine synthetase was investigated. Using an enhancer trapping assay, we discovered a novel osmosensitive mechanism by which intron 1 positively mediates glutamine synthetase transcription. Intron 1 includes a single, functional copy of an osmoresponsive element, osmolality/salinity-responsive enhancer 1 (OSRE1). Unlike for conventional enhancers, the hyperosmotic induction of glutamine synthetase by intron 1 is position dependent. But irrespective of intron 1 position, OSRE1 deletion from intron 1 abolishes hyperosmotic enhancer activity. These findings indicate that proper intron 1 positioning and the presence of an OSRE1 in intron 1 are required for precise enhancement of hyperosmotic glutamine synthetase expression.
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First Come, First Served: Sui Generis Features of the First Intron. PLANTS 2020; 9:plants9070911. [PMID: 32707681 PMCID: PMC7411622 DOI: 10.3390/plants9070911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Most of the transcribed genes in eukaryotic cells are interrupted by intervening sequences called introns that are co-transcriptionally removed from nascent messenger RNA through the process of splicing. In Arabidopsis, 79% of genes contain introns and more than 60% of intron-containing genes undergo alternative splicing (AS), which ostensibly is considered to increase protein diversity as one of the intrinsic mechanisms for fitness to the varying environment or the internal developmental program. In addition, recent findings have prevailed in terms of overlooked intron functions. Here, we review recent progress in the underlying mechanisms of intron function, in particular by focusing on unique features of the first intron that is located in close proximity to the transcription start site. The distinct deposition of epigenetic marks and nucleosome density on the first intronic DNA sequence, the impact of the first intron on determining the transcription start site and elongation of its own expression (called intron-mediated enhancement, IME), translation control in 5′-UTR, and the new mechanism of the trans-acting function of the first intron in regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level are summarized.
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Cheng Q, Xiao H, Xiong Q. Conserved exitrons of FLAGELLIN-SENSING 2 (FLS2) across dicot plants and their functions. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2020; 296:110507. [PMID: 32540022 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2020.110507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Revised: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The alternative splicing of pattern recognition receptor genes regulates immune signalling in mammals, but in plants its role is still unknown. Here, we detected alternatively spliced introns (exitrons) in the first annotated exons of FLAGELLIN-SENSING 2 (FLS2) genes in all the examined dicot plants across nine families. The 5' splice site (SS) regions were conserved and with rare synonymous substitutions. Point mutations and gene swaps indicated that the position and efficiency of exitron splicing primarily depended on the nucleotide sequences of FLS2 genes. Single-nucleotide mutations in the invariable codon carrying 5' SS dramatically altered the accumulation of poplar and tomato FLS2 transcripts, indicating the 5'-proximal exitrons of FLS2 function as stimulatory introns on gene expression. The 3' SSs of exitrons are diverse and can be changed by 1-2 nucleotide mutations in Salicaceae FLS2. The alternative transcripts (ATs) of poplar and tobacco FLS2, which encode small secreted proteins, were specifically induced by flg22, and one such AT from tobacco FLS2 suppressed flg22-induced response. Our results indicated that the exitrons of FLS2 genes regulate the accumulation of transcripts by an intron mediated enhancement (IME) mechanism and some ATs have the potential to encode suppressors for FLS2 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics & Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China.
| | - Hongju Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics & Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Qin Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics & Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
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Basso MF, Arraes FBM, Grossi-de-Sa M, Moreira VJV, Alves-Ferreira M, Grossi-de-Sa MF. Insights Into Genetic and Molecular Elements for Transgenic Crop Development. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:509. [PMID: 32499796 PMCID: PMC7243915 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Climate change and the exploration of new areas of cultivation have impacted the yields of several economically important crops worldwide. Both conventional plant breeding based on planned crosses between parents with specific traits and genetic engineering to develop new biotechnological tools (NBTs) have allowed the development of elite cultivars with new features of agronomic interest. The use of these NBTs in the search for agricultural solutions has gained prominence in recent years due to their rapid generation of elite cultivars that meet the needs of crop producers, and the efficiency of these NBTs is closely related to the optimization or best use of their elements. Currently, several genetic engineering techniques are used in synthetic biotechnology to successfully improve desirable traits or remove undesirable traits in crops. However, the features, drawbacks, and advantages of each technique are still not well understood, and thus, these methods have not been fully exploited. Here, we provide a brief overview of the plant genetic engineering platforms that have been used for proof of concept and agronomic trait improvement, review the major elements and processes of synthetic biotechnology, and, finally, present the major NBTs used to improve agronomic traits in socioeconomically important crops.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fabrício Barbosa Monteiro Arraes
- Plant Biotechnology, Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, Brazil
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Maíra Grossi-de-Sa
- Plant Biotechnology, Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Valdeir Junio Vaz Moreira
- Plant Biotechnology, Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, Brazil
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Maria Fatima Grossi-de-Sa
- Plant Biotechnology, Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, Brazil
- Department of Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology, Catholic University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
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Rojas-Sánchez U, López-Calleja AC, Millán-Chiu BE, Fernández F, Loske AM, Gómez-Lim MA. Enhancing the yield of human erythropoietin in Aspergillus niger by introns and CRISPR-Cas9. Protein Expr Purif 2020; 168:105570. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2020.105570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 01/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Wang F, Zhang J, Chen Y, Zhang C, Gong J, Song Z, Zhou J, Wang J, Zhao C, Jiao M, Liu A, Du Z, Yuan Y, Fan S, Zhang J. Identification of candidate genes for key fibre-related QTLs and derivation of favourable alleles in Gossypium hirsutum recombinant inbred lines with G. barbadense introgressions. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2020; 18:707-720. [PMID: 31446669 PMCID: PMC7004909 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Fine mapping QTLs and identifying candidate genes for cotton fibre-quality and yield traits would be beneficial to cotton breeding. Here, we constructed a high-density genetic map by specific-locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) to identify QTLs associated with fibre-quality and yield traits using 239 recombinant inbred lines (RILs), which was developed from LMY22 (a high-yield Gossypium hirsutumL. cultivar) × LY343 (a superior fibre-quality germplasm with G. barbadenseL. introgressions). The genetic map spanned 3426.57 cM, including 3556 SLAF-based SNPs and 199 SSR marker loci. A total of 104 QTLs, including 67 QTLs for fibre quality and 37 QTLs for yield traits, were identified with phenotypic data collected from 7 environments. Among these, 66 QTLs were co-located in 19 QTL clusters on 12 chromosomes, and 24 QTLs were detected in three or more environments and determined to be stable. We also investigated the genomic components of LY343 and their contributions to fibre-related traits by deep sequencing the whole genome of LY343, and we found that genomic components from G. hirsutum races (which entered LY343 via its G. barbadense parent) contributed more favourable alleles than those from G. barbadense. We further identified six putative candidate genes for stable QTLs, including Gh_A03G1147 (GhPEL6), Gh_D07G1598 (GhCSLC6) and Gh_D13G1921 (GhTBL5) for fibre-length QTLs and Gh_D03G0919 (GhCOBL4), Gh_D09G1659 (GhMYB4) and Gh_D09G1690 (GhMYB85) for lint-percentage QTLs. Our results provide comprehensive insight into the genetic basis of the formation of fibre-related traits and would be helpful for cloning fibre-development-related genes as well as for marker-assisted genetic improvement in cotton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Furong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cotton Breeding and Cultivation in Huang‐Huai‐Hai PlainMinistry of AgricultureCotton Research Center of Shandong Academy of Agricultural SciencesJinanChina
- College of Life SciencesShandong Normal UniversityJinanChina
| | - Jingxia Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Cotton Breeding and Cultivation in Huang‐Huai‐Hai PlainMinistry of AgricultureCotton Research Center of Shandong Academy of Agricultural SciencesJinanChina
| | - Yu Chen
- Key Laboratory of Cotton Breeding and Cultivation in Huang‐Huai‐Hai PlainMinistry of AgricultureCotton Research Center of Shandong Academy of Agricultural SciencesJinanChina
| | - Chuanyun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Cotton Breeding and Cultivation in Huang‐Huai‐Hai PlainMinistry of AgricultureCotton Research Center of Shandong Academy of Agricultural SciencesJinanChina
| | - Juwu Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton BiologyKey Laboratory of Biological and Genetic Breeding of CottonMinistry of AgricultureInstitute of Cotton ResearchChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesAnyangChina
| | - Zhangqiang Song
- Key Laboratory of Cotton Breeding and Cultivation in Huang‐Huai‐Hai PlainMinistry of AgricultureCotton Research Center of Shandong Academy of Agricultural SciencesJinanChina
| | - Juan Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Cotton Breeding and Cultivation in Huang‐Huai‐Hai PlainMinistry of AgricultureCotton Research Center of Shandong Academy of Agricultural SciencesJinanChina
| | - Jingjing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cotton Breeding and Cultivation in Huang‐Huai‐Hai PlainMinistry of AgricultureCotton Research Center of Shandong Academy of Agricultural SciencesJinanChina
| | - Chengjie Zhao
- College of Life SciencesShandong Normal UniversityJinanChina
| | - Mengjia Jiao
- College of Life SciencesShandong Normal UniversityJinanChina
| | - Aiying Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton BiologyKey Laboratory of Biological and Genetic Breeding of CottonMinistry of AgricultureInstitute of Cotton ResearchChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesAnyangChina
| | - Zhaohai Du
- Key Laboratory of Cotton Breeding and Cultivation in Huang‐Huai‐Hai PlainMinistry of AgricultureCotton Research Center of Shandong Academy of Agricultural SciencesJinanChina
| | - Youlu Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Cotton BiologyKey Laboratory of Biological and Genetic Breeding of CottonMinistry of AgricultureInstitute of Cotton ResearchChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesAnyangChina
| | - Shoujin Fan
- College of Life SciencesShandong Normal UniversityJinanChina
| | - Jun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Cotton Breeding and Cultivation in Huang‐Huai‐Hai PlainMinistry of AgricultureCotton Research Center of Shandong Academy of Agricultural SciencesJinanChina
- College of Life SciencesShandong Normal UniversityJinanChina
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Crespo-Salvador Ó, Sánchez-Giménez L, López-Galiano MJ, Fernández-Crespo E, Schalschi L, García-Robles I, Rausell C, Real MD, González-Bosch C. The Histone Marks Signature in Exonic and Intronic Regions Is Relevant in Early Response of Tomato Genes to Botrytis cinerea and in miRNA Regulation. PLANTS 2020; 9:plants9030300. [PMID: 32121544 PMCID: PMC7154849 DOI: 10.3390/plants9030300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Research into the relationship between epigenetic regulation and resistance to biotic stresses provides alternatives for plant protection and crop improvement. To unravel the mechanisms underlying tomato responses to Botrytis cinerea, we performed a chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis showing the increase in H3K9ac mark along the early induced genes SlyDES, SlyDOX1, and SlyLoxD encoding oxylipin-pathway enzymes, and SlyWRKY75 coding for a transcriptional regulator of hormonal signaling. This histone mark showed a more distinct distribution than the previously studied H3K4me3. The RNAPol-ChIP analysis reflected the actual gene transcription associated with increased histone modifications. A different pattern of marks in the oxylipin-related genes against P. syringae supported a pathogen-specific profile, while no significant differences occurred in SlyWRKY75. The epigenetic regulation of SlyWRKY75 by the intron-binding miR1127-3p was supported by the presence of SlyWRKY75 pre-mRNA in control plants. Interestingly, mRNA was found to be accumulated in response to B. cinerea and P. syringae, while reduction in miRNA only occurred against B. cinerea. The intronic region presented a similar pattern of marks than the rest of the gene in both pathosystems, except for H3K4me3 in the miRNA binding site upon B. cinerea. We located the gene encoding Sly-miR1127-3p, which presented reduced H3K4me3 on its promoter against B. cinerea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Óscar Crespo-Salvador
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Valencia, Agrochemical and Food Technology Institute (CSIC), 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain; (Ó.C.-S.); (L.S.-G.)
| | - Lorena Sánchez-Giménez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Valencia, Agrochemical and Food Technology Institute (CSIC), 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain; (Ó.C.-S.); (L.S.-G.)
| | - Mª José López-Galiano
- Department of Genetics, University of Valencia, Burjassot, 46100 Valencia, Spain; (M.J.L.-G.); (I.G.-R.); (C.R.); (M.D.R.)
| | - Emma Fernández-Crespo
- Plant Physiology Area, Biochemistry and Biotechnology Group, Department CAMN, University Jaume I, 12071 Castellón, Spain; (E.F.-C.); (L.S.)
| | - Loredana Schalschi
- Plant Physiology Area, Biochemistry and Biotechnology Group, Department CAMN, University Jaume I, 12071 Castellón, Spain; (E.F.-C.); (L.S.)
| | - Inmaculada García-Robles
- Department of Genetics, University of Valencia, Burjassot, 46100 Valencia, Spain; (M.J.L.-G.); (I.G.-R.); (C.R.); (M.D.R.)
| | - Carolina Rausell
- Department of Genetics, University of Valencia, Burjassot, 46100 Valencia, Spain; (M.J.L.-G.); (I.G.-R.); (C.R.); (M.D.R.)
| | - M Dolores Real
- Department of Genetics, University of Valencia, Burjassot, 46100 Valencia, Spain; (M.J.L.-G.); (I.G.-R.); (C.R.); (M.D.R.)
| | - Carmen González-Bosch
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Valencia, Agrochemical and Food Technology Institute (CSIC), 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain; (Ó.C.-S.); (L.S.-G.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-963900022
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Joseph BB, Wang Y, Edeen P, Lažetić V, Grant BD, Fay DS. Control of clathrin-mediated endocytosis by NIMA family kinases. PLoS Genet 2020; 16:e1008633. [PMID: 32069276 PMCID: PMC7048319 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Endocytosis, the process by which cells internalize plasma membrane and associated cargo, is regulated extensively by posttranslational modifications. Previous studies suggested the potential involvement of scores of protein kinases in endocytic control, of which only a few have been validated in vivo. Here we show that the conserved NIMA-related kinases NEKL-2/NEK8/9 and NEKL-3/NEK6/7 (the NEKLs) control clathrin-mediated endocytosis in C. elegans. Loss of NEKL-2 or NEKL-3 activities leads to penetrant larval molting defects and to the abnormal localization of trafficking markers in arrested larvae. Using an auxin-based degron system, we also find that depletion of NEKLs in adult-stage C. elegans leads to gross clathrin mislocalization and to a dramatic reduction in clathrin mobility at the apical membrane. Using a non-biased genetic screen to identify suppressors of nekl molting defects, we identified several components and regulators of AP2, the major clathrin adapter complex acting at the plasma membrane. Strikingly, reduced AP2 activity rescues both nekl mutant molting defects as well as associated trafficking phenotypes, whereas increased levels of active AP2 exacerbate nekl defects. Moreover, in a unique example of mutual suppression, NEKL inhibition alleviates defects associated with reduced AP2 activity, attesting to the tight link between NEKL and AP2 functions. We also show that NEKLs are required for the clustering and internalization of membrane cargo required for molting. Notably, we find that human NEKs can rescue molting and trafficking defects in nekl mutant worms, suggesting that the control of intracellular trafficking is an evolutionarily conserved function of NEK family kinases. In order to function properly, cells must continually import materials from the outside. This process, termed endocytosis, is necessary for the uptake of nutrients and for interpreting signals coming from the external environment or from within the body. These signals are critical during animal development but also affect many types of cell behaviors throughout life. In our current work, we show that several highly conserved proteins in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, NEKL-2 and NEKL-3, regulate endocytosis. The human counterparts of NEKL-2 and NEKL-3 have been implicated in cardiovascular and renal diseases as well as many types of cancers. However, their specific functions within cells is incompletely understood and very little is known about their role in endocytosis or how this role might impact disease processes. Here we use several complementary approaches to characterize the specific functions of C. elegans NEKL-2 and NEKL-3 in endocytosis and show that their human counterparts likely have very similar functions. This work paves the way to a better understanding of fundamental biological processes and to determining the cellular functions of proteins connected to human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Braveen B. Joseph
- Department of Molecular Biology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, United States of America
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, United States of America
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Phil Edeen
- Department of Molecular Biology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, United States of America
| | - Vladimir Lažetić
- Department of Molecular Biology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, United States of America
| | - Barth D. Grant
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - David S. Fay
- Department of Molecular Biology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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El-Kenawy A, Benarba B, Neves AF, de Araujo TG, Tan BL, Gouri A. Gene surgery: Potential applications for human diseases. EXCLI JOURNAL 2019; 18:908-930. [PMID: 31762718 PMCID: PMC6868916 DOI: 10.17179/excli2019-1833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Gene therapy became in last decade a new emerging therapeutic era showing promising results against different diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and neurological disorders. Recently, the genome editing technique for eukaryotic cells called CRISPR-Cas (Clustered Regulatory Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) has enriched the field of gene surgery with enhanced applications. In the present review, we summarized the different applications of gene surgery for treating human diseases such as cancer, diabetes, nervous, and cardiovascular diseases, besides the molecular mechanisms involved in these important effects. Several studies support the important therapeutic applications of gene surgery in a large number of health disorders and diseases including β-thalassemia, cancer, immunodeficiencies, diabetes, and neurological disorders. In diabetes, gene surgery was shown to be effective in type 1 diabetes by triggering different signaling pathways. Furthermore, gene surgery, especially that using CRISPR-Cas possessed important application on diagnosis, screening and treatment of several cancers such as lung, liver, pancreatic and colorectal cancer. Nevertheless, gene surgery still presents some limitations such as the design difficulties and costs regarding ZFNs (Zinc Finger Nucleases) and TALENs (Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases) use, off-target effects, low transfection efficiency, in vivo delivery-safety and ethical issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayman El-Kenawy
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Taif University, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Molecular Biology, GEBRI, University of Sadat City, P.O. Box 79, Sadat City, Egypt
| | - Bachir Benarba
- Laboratory Research on Biological Systems and Geomatics, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, University of Mascara, Algeria
| | - Adriana Freitas Neves
- Institute of Biotechnology, Molecular Biology Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Goias, Catalao, Brazil
| | - Thaise Gonçalves de Araujo
- Laboratory of Genetics and Biotechnology, Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlandia, Patos de Minas, MG, Brazil
| | - Bee Ling Tan
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Adel Gouri
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Annaba, Algeria
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Gui Z, Li W, Fei S, Guo M, Chen H, Sun L, Han Z, Tao J, Ju X, Yang H, Wei JF, Tan R, Gu M. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of Ubiquitin-Related Genes were Associated with Allograft Fibrosis of Renal Transplant Fibrosis. Ann Transplant 2019; 24:553-568. [PMID: 31582715 PMCID: PMC6792502 DOI: 10.12659/aot.917767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IF/TA) have been recognized as crucial factors contributing to graft loss resulting from chronic renal allograft injuries. Recent studies have indicated a significant association between the progression of organ fibrosis and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) found on certain genes. Our research sought to understand these potential associations and detect the potential impact of SNPs on ubiquitin-related genes related to allograft fibrosis in kidney transplant recipients. MATERIAL AND METHODS There were 200 patients enrolled in this study, from which samples were extracted for total DNA. Targeted next-generation sequencing was used to detect SNPs on 9 genes (FBXL21, PIAS1/2, SUMO1/2/3/4, UBE2D1, and UBE2I). Minor allele frequency (MAF) and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) tests were used and followed by linkage disequilibrium analysis. General linear models (GLM) were used to identify significant confounding factors. Finally, multiple inheritance models and haplotype analyses were conducted to explore associations between SNPs and the degree of the severity of renal allograft fibrosis. RESULTS In total, 144 SNPs were identified in targeted sequencing. After filtering based on results from MAF and HWE tests, 15 tagger SNPs were selected for further analyses of associations. GLMs indicated that the administration of sirolimus significantly contributed to the degree of severity of allograft fibrosis (P=0.011). After adjusting for confounding factors and applying a Bonferroni correction, multiple inheritance model analyses indicated that the recessive model of rs644731 of the PIAS2 gene was significantly correlated with the occurrence of IF/TA (P=0.01). Furthermore, single-locus based analysis of rs644731 did not indicate that it had a positive influence on IF/TA in a degree-dependent manner. Finally, linkage disequilibrium analysis revealed 3 haplotypes all lacking significant correlation with respect to the IF/TA experimental cohort. CONCLUSIONS We are the first to reveal that mutations of rs644731 in the PIAS2 gene were significantly correlated with the progression of IF/TA in kidney transplant recipients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeping Gui
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Wencheng Li
- Department of Urology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical Iniversity, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Shuang Fei
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Miao Guo
- Research Division of Clinical Pharmacology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Li Sun
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Zhijian Han
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Jun Tao
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Xiaobin Ju
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Haiwei Yang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Ji-Fu Wei
- Research Division of Clinical Pharmacology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Ruoyun Tan
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Min Gu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
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van Bezouw RFHM, Janssen EM, Ashrafuzzaman M, Ghahramanzadeh R, Kilian B, Graner A, Visser RGF, van der Linden CG. Shoot sodium exclusion in salt stressed barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is determined by allele specific increased expression of HKT1;5. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 241:153029. [PMID: 31499444 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2019.153029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
High affinity potassium transporters (HKT) are recognized as important genes for crop salt tolerance improvement. In this study, we investigated HvHKT1;5 as a candidate gene for a previously discovered quantitative trait locus that controls shoot Na+ and Na+/K+ ratio in salt-stressed barley lines on a hydroponic system. Two major haplotype groups could be distinguished for this gene in a barley collection of 95 genotypes based on the presence of three intronic insertions; a designated haplotype group A (HGA, same as reference sequence) and haplotype group B (HGB, with insertions). HGB was associated with a much stronger root expression of HKT1;5 compared to HGA, and consequently higher K+ and lower Na+ and Cl- concentrations and a lower Na+/K+ ratio in the shoots three weeks after exposure to 200 mM NaCl. Our experimental results suggest that allelic variation in the promoter region of the HGB gene is linked to the three insertions may be responsible for the observed increase in expression of HvHKT1;5 alleles after one week of salt stress induction. This study shows that in barley - similar to wheat and rice - HKT1;5 is an important contributor to natural variation in shoot Na+ exclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roel F H M van Bezouw
- Wageningen University and Research, Plant Breeding, PO Box 386, 6700 AJ, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Elly M Janssen
- Wageningen University and Research, Plant Breeding, PO Box 386, 6700 AJ, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Md Ashrafuzzaman
- Wageningen University and Research, Plant Breeding, PO Box 386, 6700 AJ, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Robab Ghahramanzadeh
- Wageningen University and Research, Plant Breeding, PO Box 386, 6700 AJ, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Benjamin Kilian
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, 06466, Seeland, Germany; Global Crop Diversity Trust, 53113, Bonn, Germany
| | - Andreas Graner
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Corrensstr. 3, 06466, Seeland, Germany
| | - Richard G F Visser
- Wageningen University and Research, Plant Breeding, PO Box 386, 6700 AJ, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - C Gerard van der Linden
- Wageningen University and Research, Plant Breeding, PO Box 386, 6700 AJ, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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An intron-derived motif strongly increases gene expression from transcribed sequences through a splicing independent mechanism in Arabidopsis thaliana. Sci Rep 2019; 9:13777. [PMID: 31551463 PMCID: PMC6760150 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50389-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Certain introns significantly increase mRNA accumulation by a poorly understood mechanism. These introns have no effect when located upstream, or more than ~1 Kb downstream, of the start of transcription. We tested the ability of a formerly non-stimulating intron containing 11 copies of the sequence TTNGATYTG, which is over-represented in promoter-proximal introns in Arabidopsis thaliana, to affect expression from various positions. The activity profile of this intron at different locations was similar to that of a natural intron from the UBQ10 gene, suggesting that the motif increases mRNA accumulation by the same mechanism. A series of introns with different numbers of this motif revealed that the effect on expression is linearly dependent on motif copy number up to at least 20, with each copy adding another 1.5-fold increase in mRNA accumulation. Furthermore, 6 copies of the motif stimulated mRNA accumulation to a similar degree from within an intron or when introduced into the 5'-UTR and coding sequences of an intronless construct, demonstrating that splicing is not required for this sequence to boost expression. The ability of this motif to substantially elevate expression from several hundred nucleotides downstream of the transcription start site reveals a novel type of eukaryotic gene regulation.
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Jaeger D, Baier T, Lauersen KJ. Intronserter, an advanced online tool for design of intron containing transgenes. ALGAL RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2019.101588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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50
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Mo D, Li X, Raabe CA, Cui D, Vollmar JF, Rozhdestvensky TS, Skryabin BV, Brosius J. A universal approach to investigate circRNA protein coding function. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11684. [PMID: 31406268 PMCID: PMC6690939 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48224-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are an emerging class of RNA molecules that have been linked to human diseases and important regulatory pathways. Their functional roles are still under investigation, often hampered by inefficient circRNA formation in and ex vivo. We generated an intron-mediated enhancement (IME) system that-in comparison to previously published methods-increases circRNA formation up to 5-fold. This strategy also revealed previously undetected translation of circRNA, e.g., circRtn4. Substantiated by Western blots and mass spectrometry we showed that in mammalian cells, translation of circRtn4 containing a potential "infinite" circular reading frame resulted in "monomers" and extended proteins, presumably "multimer" tandem repeats. In order to achieve high levels of circRNA formation and translation of other natural or recombinant circRNAs, we constructed a versatile circRNA expression vector-pCircRNA-DMo. We demonstrated the general applicability of this method by efficiently generating two additional circRNAs exhibiting high expression levels. The circRNA expression vector will be an important tool to investigate different aspects of circRNA biogenesis and to gain insights into mechanisms of circular RNA translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingding Mo
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 9b, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
- Medical Faculty, Core Facility Transgenic Animal and Genetic Engineering Models (TRAM), University of Münster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149, Münster, Germany.
| | - Xinping Li
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 9b, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Carsten A Raabe
- Institute of Experimental Pathology, Centre for Molecular Biology of Inflammation (ZMBE), University of Münster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149, Münster, Germany
- Brandenburg Medical School (MHB), Fehrbelliner Strasse 38, D-16816, Neuruppin, Germany
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Centre for Molecular Biology of Inflammation (ZMBE), University of Münster, Von-Esmarch-Strasse 56, D-48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Di Cui
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 9b, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Jeanne-Franca Vollmar
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 9b, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Timofey S Rozhdestvensky
- Medical Faculty, Core Facility Transgenic Animal and Genetic Engineering Models (TRAM), University of Münster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Boris V Skryabin
- Medical Faculty, Core Facility Transgenic Animal and Genetic Engineering Models (TRAM), University of Münster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Juergen Brosius
- Institute of Experimental Pathology, Centre for Molecular Biology of Inflammation (ZMBE), University of Münster, Von-Esmarch-Str. 56, D-48149, Münster, Germany
- Institutes for Systems Genetics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
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