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Jiang T, Jiao T, Hu Y, Li T, Liu C, Liu Y, Jiang X, Xia T, Gao LP. Evolutionarily conserved 12-oxophytodienoate reductase trans-lncRNA pair affects disease resistance in tea ( Camellia sinensis) via the jasmonic acid signaling pathway. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2024; 11:uhae129. [PMID: 38966865 PMCID: PMC11220176 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhae129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have gathered significant attention due to their pivotal role in plant growth, development, and biotic and abiotic stress resistance. Despite this, there is still little understanding regarding the functions of lncRNA in these domains in the tea plant (Camellia sinensis), mainly attributable to the insufficiencies in gene manipulation techniques for tea plants. In this study, we designed a novel strategy to identify evolutionarily conserved trans-lncRNA (ECT-lncRNA) pairs in plants. We used highly consistent base sequences in the exon-overlapping region between trans-lncRNAs and their target gene transcripts. Based on this method, we successfully screened 24 ECT-lncRNA pairs from at least two or more plant species. In tea, as observed in model plants such as Arabidopsis, alfalfa, potatoes, and rice, there exists a trans-lncRNA capable of forming an ECT-lncRNA pair with transcripts of the 12-oxophytodienoate reductase (OPR) family, denoted as the OPRL/OPR pair. Considering evolutionary perspectives, the OPRL gene cluster in each species likely originates from a replication event of the OPR gene cluster. Gene manipulation and gene expression analysis revealed that CsOPRL influences disease resistance by regulating CsOPR expression in tea plants. Furthermore, the knockout of StOPRL1 in Solanum tuberosum led to aberrant growth characteristics and strong resistance to fungal infection. This study provides insights into a strategy for the screening and functional verification of ECT-lncRNA pairs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Jiang
- School of Life Science, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036 Anhui, China
| | - Tianming Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization/Key Laboratory of Tea Biology and Tea Processing of Ministry of Agriculture/Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036 Anhui, China
| | - Yingbang Hu
- School of Life Science, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036 Anhui, China
| | - Tongtong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization/Key Laboratory of Tea Biology and Tea Processing of Ministry of Agriculture/Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036 Anhui, China
| | - Cheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization/Key Laboratory of Tea Biology and Tea Processing of Ministry of Agriculture/Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036 Anhui, China
| | - Yajun Liu
- School of Life Science, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036 Anhui, China
| | - Xiaolan Jiang
- School of Life Science, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036 Anhui, China
| | - Tao Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization/Key Laboratory of Tea Biology and Tea Processing of Ministry of Agriculture/Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036 Anhui, China
| | - Li-Ping Gao
- School of Life Science, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036 Anhui, China
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2
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Das S, Zea Rojas MP, Tran EJ. Novel insights on the positive correlation between sense and antisense pairs on gene expression. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2024; 15:e1864. [PMID: 39087253 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1864] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
A considerable proportion of the eukaryotic genome undergoes transcription, leading to the generation of noncoding RNA molecules that lack protein-coding information and are not subjected to translation. These noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are well recognized to have essential roles in several biological processes. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) represent the most extensive category of ncRNAs found in the human genome. Much research has focused on investigating the roles of cis-acting lncRNAs in the regulation of specific target gene expression. In the majority of instances, the regulation of sense gene expression by its corresponding antisense pair occurs in a negative (discordant) manner, resulting in the suppression of the target genes. The notion that a negative correlation exists between sense and antisense pairings is, however, not universally valid. In fact, several recent studies have reported a positive relationship between corresponding cis antisense pairs within plants, budding yeast, and mammalian cancer cells. The positive (concordant) correlation between anti-sense and sense transcripts leads to an increase in the level of the sense transcript within the same genomic loci. In addition, mechanisms such as altering chromatin structure, the formation of R loops, and the recruitment of transcription factors can either enhance transcription or stabilize sense transcripts through their antisense pairs. The primary objective of this work is to provide a comprehensive understanding of both aspects of antisense regulation, specifically focusing on the positive correlation between sense and antisense transcripts in the context of eukaryotic gene expression, including its implications towards cancer progression. This article is categorized under: RNA Processing > 3' End Processing Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > Regulatory RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhadeep Das
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
- Purdue University Institute for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth J Tran
- Department of Biochemistry, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
- Purdue University Institute for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
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3
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Werner A, Kanhere A, Wahlestedt C, Mattick JS. Natural antisense transcripts as versatile regulators of gene expression. Nat Rev Genet 2024:10.1038/s41576-024-00723-z. [PMID: 38632496 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-024-00723-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as a major class of gene products that have central roles in cell and developmental biology. Natural antisense transcripts (NATs) are an important subset of lncRNAs that are expressed from the opposite strand of protein-coding and non-coding genes and are a genome-wide phenomenon in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. In eukaryotes, a myriad of NATs participate in regulatory pathways that affect expression of their cognate sense genes. Recent developments in the study of NATs and lncRNAs and large-scale sequencing and bioinformatics projects suggest that whether NATs regulate expression, splicing, stability or translation of the sense transcript is influenced by the pattern and degrees of overlap between the sense-antisense pair. Moreover, epigenetic gene regulatory mechanisms prevail in somatic cells whereas mechanisms dependent on the formation of double-stranded RNA intermediates are prevalent in germ cells. The modulating effects of NATs on sense transcript expression make NATs rational targets for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - John S Mattick
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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4
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Chen D, Zhang Z, Chen Y, Li B, Chen T, Tian S. Transcriptional landscape of pathogen-responsive lncRNAs in tomato unveils the role of hydrolase encoding genes in response to Botrytis cinerea invasion. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2024; 47:651-663. [PMID: 37899711 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14757] [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: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
LncRNAs have gained increasing attention owing to their important regulatory roles on growth and stress responses of plants. However, the mechanisms underlying the functions of lncRNAs in fruit-pathogen interaction are still largely unknown. In this study, a total of 273 lncRNAs responding to Botrytis cinerea infection were identified in tomato fruit, among which a higher percentage of antisense lncRNAs were targeted to the genes enriched in hydrolase activity. To ascertain the roles of these lncRNAs, seven hydrolase-related transcripts were transiently knocked-down by virus-induced gene silencing. Silencing of lncRNACXE20 reduced the expression level of a carboxylesterase gene, further enhancing the resistance of tomato to B. cinerea. In contrast, silencing of lncRNACHI, lncRNAMMP, lncRNASBT1.9 and lncRNAPME1.9 impaired the resistance to B. cinerea, respectively. Further RT-qPCR assay and enzymatic activity detection displayed that the attenuated resistance of lncRNAMMP and lncRNASBT1.9-silenced plants was associated with the inhibition on the expression of JA-related genes, while the decreased resistance of lncRNACHI-silenced plants resulted in reduced chitinase activity. Collectively, these results may provide references for deciphering the mechanisms underlying specific lncRNAs to interfere with B. cinerea infection by regulating the expression of defence-related genes or affecting hydrolase activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daoguo Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhanquan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, China
| | - Boqiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, China
| | - Tong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, China
| | - Shiping Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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5
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Land ES, Sheppard J, Doherty CJ, Perera IY. Conserved plant transcriptional responses to microgravity from two consecutive spaceflight experiments. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 14:1308713. [PMID: 38259952 PMCID: PMC10800490 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1308713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Understanding how plants adapt to the space environment is essential, as plants will be a valuable component of long duration space missions. Several spaceflight experiments have focused on transcriptional profiling as a means of understanding plant adaptation to microgravity. However, there is limited overlap between results from different experiments. Differences in experimental conditions and hardware make it difficult to find a consistent response across experiments and to distinguish the primary effects of microgravity from other spaceflight effects. Methods Plant Signaling (PS) and Plant RNA Regulation (PRR) were two separate spaceflight experiments conducted on the International Space Station utilizing the European Modular Cultivation System (EMCS). The EMCS provided a lighted environment for plant growth with centrifugal capabilities providing an onboard 1 g control. Results and discussion An RNA-Seq analysis of shoot samples from PS and PRR revealed a significant overlap of genes differentially expressed in microgravity between the two experiments. Relative to onboard 1 g controls, genes involved in transcriptional regulation, shoot development, and response to auxin and light were upregulated in microgravity in both experiments. Conversely, genes involved in defense response, abiotic stress, Ca++ signaling, and cell wall modification were commonly downregulated in both datasets. The downregulation of stress responses in microgravity in these two experiments is interesting as these pathways have been previously observed as upregulated in spaceflight compared to ground controls. Similarly, we have observed many stress response genes to be upregulated in the 1 g onboard control compared to ground reference controls; however these genes were specifically downregulated in microgravity. In addition, we analyzed the sRNA landscape of the 1 g and microgravity (μ g) shoot samples from PRR. We identified three miRNAs (miR319c, miR398b, and miR8683) which were upregulated in microgravity, while several of their corresponding target genes were found to be downregulated in microgravity. Interestingly, the downregulated target genes are enriched in those encoding chloroplast-localized enzymes and proteins. These results uncover microgravity unique transcriptional changes and highlight the validity and importance of an onboard 1 g control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric S. Land
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - James Sheppard
- Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Colleen J. Doherty
- Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Imara Y. Perera
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
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6
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Liehrmann A, Delannoy E, Launay-Avon A, Gilbault E, Loudet O, Castandet B, Rigaill G. DiffSegR: an RNA-seq data driven method for differential expression analysis using changepoint detection. NAR Genom Bioinform 2023; 5:lqad098. [PMID: 37954572 PMCID: PMC10632193 DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqad098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
To fully understand gene regulation, it is necessary to have a thorough understanding of both the transcriptome and the enzymatic and RNA-binding activities that shape it. While many RNA-Seq-based tools have been developed to analyze the transcriptome, most only consider the abundance of sequencing reads along annotated patterns (such as genes). These annotations are typically incomplete, leading to errors in the differential expression analysis. To address this issue, we present DiffSegR - an R package that enables the discovery of transcriptome-wide expression differences between two biological conditions using RNA-Seq data. DiffSegR does not require prior annotation and uses a multiple changepoints detection algorithm to identify the boundaries of differentially expressed regions in the per-base log2 fold change. In a few minutes of computation, DiffSegR could rightfully predict the role of chloroplast ribonuclease Mini-III in rRNA maturation and chloroplast ribonuclease PNPase in (3'/5')-degradation of rRNA, mRNA and tRNA precursors as well as intron accumulation. We believe DiffSegR will benefit biologists working on transcriptomics as it allows access to information from a layer of the transcriptome overlooked by the classical differential expression analysis pipelines widely used today. DiffSegR is available at https://aliehrmann.github.io/DiffSegR/index.html.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaud Liehrmann
- Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, Université Evry, Gif sur Yvette, 91190, France
- Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), Université Paris Cité, CNRS, INRAE, Gif sur Yvette, 91190, France
- Laboratoire de Mathématiques et de Modélisation d’Evry (LaMME), Université d’Evry-Val-d’Essonne, UMR CNRS 8071, ENSIIE, USC INRAE, Evry,91037, France
| | - Etienne Delannoy
- Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, Université Evry, Gif sur Yvette, 91190, France
- Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), Université Paris Cité, CNRS, INRAE, Gif sur Yvette, 91190, France
| | - Alexandra Launay-Avon
- Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, Université Evry, Gif sur Yvette, 91190, France
- Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), Université Paris Cité, CNRS, INRAE, Gif sur Yvette, 91190, France
| | - Elodie Gilbault
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), 78000, Versailles, France
| | - Olivier Loudet
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin (IJPB), 78000, Versailles, France
| | - Benoît Castandet
- Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, Université Evry, Gif sur Yvette, 91190, France
- Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), Université Paris Cité, CNRS, INRAE, Gif sur Yvette, 91190, France
| | - Guillem Rigaill
- Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, INRAE, Université Evry, Gif sur Yvette, 91190, France
- Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), Université Paris Cité, CNRS, INRAE, Gif sur Yvette, 91190, France
- Laboratoire de Mathématiques et de Modélisation d’Evry (LaMME), Université d’Evry-Val-d’Essonne, UMR CNRS 8071, ENSIIE, USC INRAE, Evry,91037, France
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7
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Lyu QR, Zhang S, Zhang Z, Tang Z. Functional knockout of long non-coding RNAs with genome editing. Front Genet 2023; 14:1242129. [PMID: 37705609 PMCID: PMC10495571 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1242129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
An effective loss-of-function study is necessary to investigate the biological function of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA). Various approaches are available, including RNA silencing, antisense oligos, and CRISPR-based genome editing. CRISPR-based genome editing is the most widely used for inactivating lncRNA function at the genomic level. Knocking out the lncRNA function can be achieved by removing the promoter and the first exon (PE1), introducing pre-termination poly(A) signals, or deleting the entire locus, unlike frameshift strategies used for messenger RNA (mRNA). However, the intricate genomic interplay between lncRNA and neighbor genes makes it challenging to interpret lncRNA function accurately. This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each lncRNA knockout method and envisions the potential future directions to facilitate lncRNA functional study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Rex Lyu
- Medical Research Center, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Academy of Medical Sciences, Chongqing, China
| | - Shikuan Zhang
- Key Lab in Healthy Science and Technology of Shenzhen, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Department of Chinese Medical Gastrointestinal of China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiyu Tang
- Medical Research Center, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, China
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8
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Feng S, Long X, Gao M, Zhao Y, Guan X. Global identification of natural antisense transcripts in Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium barbadense under chilling stress. iScience 2023; 26:107362. [PMID: 37554457 PMCID: PMC10405317 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural antisense transcripts (NATs) in model plants have been recognized as important regulators of gene expression under abiotic stresses. However, the functional roles of NATs in crops under low temperature are still unclear. Here, we identified 815 and 689 NATs from leaves of Gossypium hirsutum and G. barbadense under chilling stress. Among those, 224 NATs were identified as interspecific homologs between the two species. The correlation coefficients for expression of NATs and their cognate sense genes (CSG) were 0.43 and 0.37 in G. hirsutum and G. barbadense, respectively. Furthermore, expression of interspecific NATs and CSGs alike was highly consistent under chilling stress with correlation coefficients of 0.90-0.91. Four cold-associated NATs were selected for functional validation using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS). Our results suggest that CAN1 engage in the molecular regulation of chilling stress by regulating SnRK2.8 expression. This highly conserved NAT have valuable potential for applications in breeding cold-tolerant cotton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shouli Feng
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Resources, The Advanced Seed Institute, Plant Precision Breeding Academy, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 300058, China
- Xianghu Laboratory, Hangzhou 311231, China
| | - Xuan Long
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Resources, The Advanced Seed Institute, Plant Precision Breeding Academy, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 300058, China
| | - Mengtao Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, College of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Yongyan Zhao
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Resources, The Advanced Seed Institute, Plant Precision Breeding Academy, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 300058, China
- Hainan Institute of Zhejiang University, Building 11, Yonyou Industrial Park, Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, Yazhou District, Sanya, Hainan 572025, China
| | - Xueying Guan
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Resources, The Advanced Seed Institute, Plant Precision Breeding Academy, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 300058, China
- Hainan Institute of Zhejiang University, Building 11, Yonyou Industrial Park, Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, Yazhou District, Sanya, Hainan 572025, China
- Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Lab, Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, Yazhou District, Sanya, Hainan 572025, China
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9
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Upadhyay SK. Phosphate Deficiency: A Tale from the End of PILNCR2. Noncoding RNA 2023; 9:40. [PMID: 37624032 PMCID: PMC10457764 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna9040040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
A deficiency in inorganic phosphate (Pi) induces the expression of miRNA399 and the accumulation of its target Pi transporters (PHT1s) mRNA, which is contrary to the goal of miRNA-mediated gene regulation. Recently, a novel mechanism of RNA/RNA-duplex formation between the transcripts of a Pi deficiency-induced long non-coding RNA (PILNCR2) and PHT1s has been reported, which prevents the binding and cleavage of miRNA399 to PHT1 mRNAs, thereby providing tolerance of Pi-deficient conditions. Moreover, the way in which ribosomes move through the RNA/RNA-duplex for the translation of PHT1 transporter proteins remains elusive.
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10
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Zhong V, Archibald BN, Brophy JAN. Transcriptional and post-transcriptional controls for tuning gene expression in plants. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 71:102315. [PMID: 36462457 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2022.102315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Plant biotechnologists seek to modify plants through genetic reprogramming, but our ability to precisely control gene expression in plants is still limited. Here, we review transcription and translation in the model plants Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana with an eye toward control points that may be used to predictably modify gene expression. We highlight differences in gene expression requirements between these plants and other species, and discuss the ways in which our understanding of gene expression has been used to engineer plants. This review is intended to serve as a resource for plant scientists looking to achieve precise control over gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Zhong
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Bella N Archibald
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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11
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Meena SK, Heidecker M, Engelmann S, Jaber A, de Vries T, Triller S, Baumann-Kaschig K, Abel S, Behrens SE, Gago-Zachert S. Altered expression levels of long non-coding natural antisense transcripts overlapping the UGT73C6 gene affect rosette size in Arabidopsis thaliana. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 113:460-477. [PMID: 36495314 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16058] [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: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Natural antisense long non-coding RNAs (lncNATs) are involved in the regulation of gene expression in plants, modulating different relevant developmental processes and responses to various stimuli. We have identified and characterized two lncNATs (NAT1UGT73C6 and NAT2UGT73C6 , collectively NATsUGT73C6 ) from Arabidopsis thaliana that are transcribed from a gene fully overlapping UGT73C6, a member of the UGT73C subfamily of genes encoding UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs). Expression of both NATsUGT73C6 is developmentally controlled and occurs independently of the transcription of UGT73C6 in cis. Downregulation of NATsUGT73C6 levels through artificial microRNAs results in a reduction of the rosette area, while constitutive overexpression of NAT1UGT73C6 or NAT2UGT73C6 leads to the opposite phenotype, an increase in rosette size. This activity of NATsUGT73C6 relies on its RNA sequence and, although modulation of UGT73C6 in cis cannot be excluded, the observed phenotypes are not a consequence of the regulation of UGT73C6 in trans. The NATsUGT73C6 levels were shown to affect cell proliferation and thus individual leaf size. Consistent with this concept, our data suggest that the NATsUGT73C6 influence the expression levels of key transcription factors involved in regulating leaf growth by modulating cell proliferation. These findings thus reveal an additional regulatory layer on the process of leaf growth. In this work, we characterized at the molecular level two long non-coding RNAs (NATsUGT73C6 ) that are transcribed in the opposite direction to UGT73C6, a gene encoding a glucosyltransferase involved in brassinosteroid homeostasis in A. thaliana. Our results indicate that NATsUGT73C6 expression influences leaf growth by acting in trans and by modulating the levels of transcription factors that are involved in the regulation of cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiv Kumar Meena
- Department of Molecular Signal Processing, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Halle/Saale, D-06120, Germany
| | - Michel Heidecker
- Department of Molecular Signal Processing, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Halle/Saale, D-06120, Germany
| | - Susanne Engelmann
- Department of Molecular Signal Processing, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Halle/Saale, D-06120, Germany
| | - Ammar Jaber
- Department of Molecular Signal Processing, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Halle/Saale, D-06120, Germany
| | - Tebbe de Vries
- Department of Molecular Signal Processing, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Halle/Saale, D-06120, Germany
| | - Saskia Triller
- Department of Molecular Signal Processing, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Halle/Saale, D-06120, Germany
| | - Katja Baumann-Kaschig
- Department of Molecular Signal Processing, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Halle/Saale, D-06120, Germany
| | - Steffen Abel
- Department of Molecular Signal Processing, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Halle/Saale, D-06120, Germany
| | - Sven-Erik Behrens
- Section Microbial Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, D-06120, Germany
| | - Selma Gago-Zachert
- Department of Molecular Signal Processing, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Halle/Saale, D-06120, Germany
- Section Microbial Biotechnology, Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle/Saale, D-06120, Germany
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12
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Zacharaki V, Meena SK, Kindgren P. The non-coding RNA SVALKA locus produces a cis-natural antisense transcript that negatively regulates the expression of CBF1 and biomass production at normal temperatures. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2023:100551. [PMID: 36681861 PMCID: PMC10363475 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2023.100551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Non-coding transcription is present in all eukaryotic genomes, but we lack fundamental knowledge about its importance for an organism's ability to develop properly. In plants, emerging evidence highlights the essential biological role of non-coding transcription in the regulation of coding transcription. However, we have few molecular insights into this regulation. Here, we show that a long isoform of the long non-coding RNA SVALKA-L (SVK-L) forms a natural antisense transcript to the host gene CBF1 and negatively regulates CBF1 mRNA levels at normal temperatures in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Furthermore, we show detailed evidence for the specific mode of action of SVK-L. This pathway includes the formation of double-stranded RNA that is recognized by the DICER proteins and subsequent downregulation of CBF1 mRNA levels. Thus, the CBF1-SVK regulatory circuit is not only important for its previously known role in cold temperature acclimation but also for biomass production at normal temperatures. Our study characterizes the developmental role of SVK-L and offers mechanistic insight into how biologically important overlapping natural antisense transcripts can act on and fine-tune the steady-state levels of their host gene's mRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasiliki Zacharaki
- Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Shiv Kumar Meena
- Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Peter Kindgren
- Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 90187 Umeå, Sweden.
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Antisense Transcription in Plants: A Systematic Review and an Update on cis-NATs of Sugarcane. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911603. [PMID: 36232906 PMCID: PMC9569758 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Initially, natural antisense transcripts (NATs, natRNAs, or asRNAs) were considered repressors; however, their functions in gene regulation are diverse. Positive, negative, or neutral correlations to the cognate gene expression have been noted. Although the first studies were published about 50 years ago, there is still much to be investigated regarding antisense transcripts in plants. A systematic review of scientific publications available in the Web of Science databases was conducted to contextualize how the studying of antisense transcripts has been addressed. Studies were classified considering three categories: “Natural antisense” (208), artificial antisense used in “Genetic Engineering” (797), or “Natural antisense and Genetic Engineering”-related publications (96). A similar string was used for a systematic search in the NCBI Gene database. Of the 1132 antisense sequences found for plants, only 0.8% were cited in PubMed and had antisense information confirmed. This value was the lowest when compared to fungi (2.9%), bacteria (2.3%), and mice (54.1%). Finally, we present an update for the cis-NATs identified in Saccharum spp. Of the 1413 antisense transcripts found in different experiments, 25 showed concordant expressions, 22 were discordant, 1264 did not correlate with the cognate genes, and 102 presented variable results depending on the experiment.
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14
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Ku YS, Lin X, Fan K, Cheng SS, Chan TF, Chung G, Lam HM. The Identification of MATE Antisense Transcripts in Soybean Using Strand-Specific RNA-Seq Datasets. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:228. [PMID: 35205273 PMCID: PMC8871956 DOI: 10.3390/genes13020228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural antisense transcripts (NATs) have been generally reported as negative regulators of their sense counterparts. Multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) proteins mediate the transport of various substrates. Although MATEs have been identified genome-wide in various plant species, their transcript regulators remain unclear. Here, using the publicly available strand-specific RNA-seq datasets of Glycine soja (wild soybean) which have the data from various tissues including developing pods, developing seeds, embryos, cotyledons and hypocotyls, roots, apical buds, stems, and flowers, we identified 35 antisense transcripts of MATEs from 28 gene loci after transcriptome assembly. Spearman correlation coefficients suggested the positive expression correlations of eight MATE antisense and sense transcript pairs. By aligning the identified transcripts with the reference genome of Glycine max (cultivated soybean), the MATE antisense and sense transcript pairs were identified. Using soybean C08 (Glycine max), in developing pods and seeds, the positive correlations between MATE antisense and sense transcript pairs were shown by RT-qPCR. These findings suggest that soybean antisense transcripts are not necessarily negative transcription regulators of their sense counterparts. This study enhances the existing knowledge on the transcription regulation of MATE transporters by uncovering the previously unknown MATE antisense transcripts and their potential synergetic effects on sense transcripts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yee-Shan Ku
- Centre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (Y.-S.K.); (X.L.); (K.F.); (S.-S.C.); (T.-F.C.)
| | - Xiao Lin
- Centre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (Y.-S.K.); (X.L.); (K.F.); (S.-S.C.); (T.-F.C.)
| | - Kejing Fan
- Centre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (Y.-S.K.); (X.L.); (K.F.); (S.-S.C.); (T.-F.C.)
| | - Sau-Shan Cheng
- Centre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (Y.-S.K.); (X.L.); (K.F.); (S.-S.C.); (T.-F.C.)
| | - Ting-Fung Chan
- Centre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (Y.-S.K.); (X.L.); (K.F.); (S.-S.C.); (T.-F.C.)
| | - Gyuhwa Chung
- Department of Biotechnology, Chonnam National University, Yeosu 59626, Korea;
| | - Hon-Ming Lam
- Centre for Soybean Research of the State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology and School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; (Y.-S.K.); (X.L.); (K.F.); (S.-S.C.); (T.-F.C.)
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Transcriptional Association between mRNAs and Their Paired Natural Antisense Transcripts Following Fusarium oxysporum Inoculation in Brassica rapa L. HORTICULTURAE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae8010017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play important roles in abiotic and biotic stress responses; however, studies on the mechanism of regulation of lncRNA expression are limited in plants. The present study examined the relationship between lncRNA expression level and two active histone modifications (H3K4me3 and H3K36me3) in Brassica rapa. Both histone marks were enriched in the chromatin regions encoding lncRNAs, especially around the transcription start site. The transcription level of long intergenic noncoding RNAs was positively associated with the level of H3K4me3 and H3K36me3, while this association was not observed in natural antisense RNAs (NATs) and intronic noncoding RNAs. As coordinate expression of mRNAs and paired NATs under biotic stress treatment has been identified, the transcriptional relationship between mRNAs and their paired NATs following Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. conglutinans (Foc) inoculation was examined. A positive association of expression levels between mRNAs and their paired NATs following Foc inoculation was observed. This association held for several defense-response-related genes and their NAT pairs. These results suggest that coordinate expression of mRNAs and paired NATs plays a role in the defense response against Foc.
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