1
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Dang TTV, Maufrais C, Colin J, Moyrand F, Mouyna I, Coppée JY, Onyishi CU, Lipecka J, Guerrera IC, May RC, Janbon G. Alternative TSS use is widespread in Cryptococcus fungi in response to environmental cues and regulated genome-wide by the transcription factor Tur1. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002724. [PMID: 39052688 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Alternative transcription start site (TSS) usage regulation has been identified as a major means of gene expression regulation in metazoans. However, in fungi, its impact remains elusive as its study has thus far been restricted to model yeasts. Here, we first re-analyzed TSS-seq data to define genuine TSS clusters in 2 species of pathogenic Cryptococcus. We identified 2 types of TSS clusters associated with specific DNA sequence motifs. Our analysis also revealed that alternative TSS usage regulation in response to environmental cues is widespread in Cryptococcus, altering gene expression and protein targeting. Importantly, we performed a forward genetic screen to identify a unique transcription factor (TF) named Tur1, which regulates alternative TSS (altTSS) usage genome-wide when cells switch from exponential phase to stationary phase. ChiP-Seq and DamID-Seq analyses suggest that at some loci, the role of Tur1 might be direct. Tur1 has been previously shown to be essential for virulence in C. neoformans. We demonstrated here that a tur1Δ mutant strain is more sensitive to superoxide stress and phagocytosed more efficiently by macrophages than the wild-type (WT) strain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thi Tuong Vi Dang
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Pasteur, Unité Biologie des ARN des Pathogènes Fongiques, Département de Mycologie, Paris, France
| | - Corinne Maufrais
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Pasteur, HUB Bioinformatique et Biostatistique, C3BI, USR 3756 IP CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Jessie Colin
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Pasteur, Unité Biologie des ARN des Pathogènes Fongiques, Département de Mycologie, Paris, France
- Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Frédérique Moyrand
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Pasteur, Unité Biologie des ARN des Pathogènes Fongiques, Département de Mycologie, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Mouyna
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Pasteur, Unité Biologie des ARN des Pathogènes Fongiques, Département de Mycologie, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Yves Coppée
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Pasteur, Unité Biologie des ARN des Pathogènes Fongiques, Département de Mycologie, Paris, France
| | - Chinaemerem U Onyishi
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection and School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna Lipecka
- Université Paris Cité, SFR Necker INSERM US24/CNRS UAR3633, Proteomics Platform, Paris, France
| | - Ida Chiara Guerrera
- Université Paris Cité, SFR Necker INSERM US24/CNRS UAR3633, Proteomics Platform, Paris, France
| | - Robin C May
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection and School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Guilhem Janbon
- Université Paris Cité, Institut Pasteur, Unité Biologie des ARN des Pathogènes Fongiques, Département de Mycologie, Paris, France
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2
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Yang EJY, Maranas CJ, Nemhauser JL. A comparative analysis of stably expressed genes across diverse angiosperms exposes flexibility in underlying promoter architecture. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2023; 13:jkad206. [PMID: 37697043 PMCID: PMC10627262 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad206] [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: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Promoters regulate both the amplitude and pattern of gene expression-key factors needed for optimization of many synthetic biology applications. Previous work in Arabidopsis found that promoters that contain a TATA-box element tend to be expressed only under specific conditions or in particular tissues, while promoters that lack any known promoter elements, thus designated as Coreless, tend to be expressed more uniformly. To test whether this trend represents a conserved promoter design rule, we identified stably expressed genes across multiple angiosperm species using publicly available RNA-seq data. Comparisons between core promoter architectures and gene expression stability revealed differences in core promoter usage in monocots and eudicots. Furthermore, when tracing the evolution of a given promoter across species, we found that core promoter type was not a strong predictor of expression pattern. Our analysis suggests that core promoter types are correlative rather than causative in promoter expression patterns and highlights the challenges in finding or building constitutive promoters that will work across diverse plant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J Y Yang
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105-1800, USA
| | - Cassandra J Maranas
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105-1800, USA
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3
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Yang EJ, Nemhauser JL. Building a pipeline to identify and engineer constitutive and repressible promoters. QUANTITATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 4:e12. [PMID: 37901686 PMCID: PMC10600573 DOI: 10.1017/qpb.2023.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
To support the increasingly complex circuits needed for plant synthetic biology applications, additional constitutive promoters are essential. Reusing promoter parts can lead to difficulty in cloning, increased heterogeneity between transformants, transgene silencing and trait instability. We have developed a pipeline to identify genes that have stable expression across a wide range of Arabidopsis tissues at different developmental stages and have identified a number of promoters that are well expressed in both transient (Nicotiana benthamiana) and stable (Arabidopsis) transformation assays. We have also introduced two genome-orthogonal gRNA target sites in a subset of the screened promoters, converting them into NOR logic gates. The work here establishes a pipeline to screen for additional constitutive promoters and can form the basis of constructing more complex information processing circuits in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J.Y. Yang
- Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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4
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Yang EJ, Maranas CJ, Nemhauser JL. A comparative analysis of stably expressed genes across diverse angiosperms exposes flexibility in underlying promoter architecture. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.12.544596. [PMID: 37398445 PMCID: PMC10312641 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.12.544596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Promoters regulate both the amplitude and pattern of gene expression-key factors needed for optimization of many synthetic biology applications. Previous work in Arabidopsis found that promoters that contain a TATA-box element tend to be expressed only under specific conditions or in particular tissues, while promoters which lack any known promoter elements, thus designated as Coreless, tend to be expressed more ubiquitously. To test whether this trend represents a conserved promoter design rule, we identified stably expressed genes across multiple angiosperm species using publicly available RNA-seq data. Comparisons between core promoter architectures and gene expression stability revealed differences in core promoter usage in monocots and eudicots. Furthermore, when tracing the evolution of a given promoter across species, we found that core promoter type was not a strong predictor of expression stability. Our analysis suggests that core promoter types are correlative rather than causative in promoter expression patterns and highlights the challenges in finding or building constitutive promoters that will work across diverse plant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J.Y. Yang
- University of Washington, Department of Biology, Seattle, WA 98105-1800, USA
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5
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Yasmeen E, Wang J, Riaz M, Zhang L, Zuo K. Designing artificial synthetic promoters for accurate, smart, and versatile gene expression in plants. PLANT COMMUNICATIONS 2023:100558. [PMID: 36760129 PMCID: PMC10363483 DOI: 10.1016/j.xplc.2023.100558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
With the development of high-throughput biology techniques and artificial intelligence, it has become increasingly feasible to design and construct artificial biological parts, modules, circuits, and even whole systems. To overcome the limitations of native promoters in controlling gene expression, artificial promoter design aims to synthesize short, inducible, and conditionally controlled promoters to coordinate the expression of multiple genes in diverse plant metabolic and signaling pathways. Synthetic promoters are versatile and can drive gene expression accurately with smart responses; they show potential for enhancing desirable traits in crops, thereby improving crop yield, nutritional quality, and food security. This review first illustrates the importance of synthetic promoters, then introduces promoter architecture and thoroughly summarizes advances in synthetic promoter construction. Restrictions to the development of synthetic promoters and future applications of such promoters in synthetic plant biology and crop improvement are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erum Yasmeen
- Single Cell Research Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Jin Wang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Muhammad Riaz
- Single Cell Research Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Lida Zhang
- Single Cell Research Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Kaijing Zuo
- Single Cell Research Center, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
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6
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Escrich A, Cusido RM, Bonfill M, Palazon J, Sanchez-Muñoz R, Moyano E. The Epigenetic Regulation in Plant Specialized Metabolism: DNA Methylation Limits Paclitaxel in vitro Biotechnological Production. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:899444. [PMID: 35874001 PMCID: PMC9305382 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.899444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Environmental conditions are key factors in the modulation of the epigenetic mechanisms regulating gene expression in plants. Specifically, the maintenance of cell cultures in optimal in vitro conditions alters methylation patterns and, consequently, their genetic transcription and metabolism. Paclitaxel production in Taxus x media cell cultures is reduced during its maintenance in in vitro conditions, compromising the biotechnological production of this valuable anticancer agent. To understand how DNA methylation influences taxane production, the promoters of three genes (GGPPS, TXS, and DBTNBT) involved in taxane biosynthesis have been studied, comparing the methylation patterns between a new line and one of ~14 years old. Our work revealed that while the central promoter of the GGPPS gene is protected from cytosine methylation accumulation, TXS and DBTNBT promoters accumulate methylation at different levels. The DBTNBT promoter of the old line is the most affected, showing a 200 bp regulatory region where all the cytosines were methylated. This evidence the existence of specific epigenetic regulatory mechanisms affecting the last steps of the pathway, such as the DBTNBT promoter. Interestingly, the GGPPS promoter, a regulatory sequence of a non-specific taxane biosynthetic gene, was not affected by this mechanism. In addition, the relationship between the detected methylation points and the predicted transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) showed that the action of TFs would be compromised in the old line, giving a further explanation for the production reduction in in vitro cell cultures. This knowledge could help in designing novel strategies to enhance the biotechnological production of taxanes over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainoa Escrich
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rosa M. Cusido
- Department of Biology, Healthcare and the Environment, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mercedes Bonfill
- Department of Biology, Healthcare and the Environment, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Palazon
- Department of Biology, Healthcare and the Environment, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Science, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raul Sanchez-Muñoz
- Laboratory of Functional Plant Biology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Elisabeth Moyano
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
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7
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Sequence-based evaluation of promoter context for prediction of transcription start sites in Arabidopsis and rice. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6976. [PMID: 35484393 PMCID: PMC9050755 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11169-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Genes are transcribed from transcription start sites (TSSs), and their position in a genome is strictly controlled to avoid mis-expression of undesired regions. In this study, we designed and developed a methodology for the evaluation of promoter context, which detects proximal promoter regions from − 200 to − 60 bp relative to a TSS, in Arabidopsis and rice genomes. The method positively evaluates spacer sequences and Regulatory Element Groups, but not core promoter elements like TATA boxes, and is able to predict the position of a TSS within a width of 200 bp. An important feature of the evaluation/prediction method is its independence of the core promoter elements, which was demonstrated by successful prediction of all the TATA, GA, and coreless types of promoters without notable differences in the accuracy of prediction. The positive relationship identified between the evaluation scores and gene expression levels suggests that this method is useful for the evaluation of promoter maturity.
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8
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Genome-Wide Prediction of Transcription Start Sites in Conifers. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031735. [PMID: 35163661 PMCID: PMC8836283 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The identification of promoters is an essential step in the genome annotation process, providing a framework for gene regulatory networks and their role in transcription regulation. Despite considerable advances in the high-throughput determination of transcription start sites (TSSs) and transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs), experimental methods are still time-consuming and expensive. Instead, several computational approaches have been developed to provide fast and reliable means for predicting the location of TSSs and regulatory motifs on a genome-wide scale. Numerous studies have been carried out on the regulatory elements of mammalian genomes, but plant promoters, especially in gymnosperms, have been left out of the limelight and, therefore, have been poorly investigated. The aim of this study was to enhance and expand the existing genome annotations using computational approaches for genome-wide prediction of TSSs in the four conifer species: loblolly pine, white spruce, Norway spruce, and Siberian larch. Our pipeline will be useful for TSS predictions in other genomes, especially for draft assemblies, where reliable TSS predictions are not usually available. We also explored some of the features of the nucleotide composition of the predicted promoters and compared the GC properties of conifer genes with model monocot and dicot plants. Here, we demonstrate that even incomplete genome assemblies and partial annotations can be a reliable starting point for TSS annotation. The results of the TSS prediction in four conifer species have been deposited in the Persephone genome browser, which allows smooth visualization and is optimized for large data sets. This work provides the initial basis for future experimental validation and the study of the regulatory regions to understand gene regulation in gymnosperms.
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9
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Efremova LN, Strelnikova SR, Gazizova GR, Minkina EA, Komakhin RA. A Synthetic Strong and Constitutive Promoter Derived from the Stellaria media pro-SmAMP1 and pro-SmAMP2 Promoters for Effective Transgene Expression in Plants. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:E1407. [PMID: 33256091 PMCID: PMC7760760 DOI: 10.3390/genes11121407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Synthetic promoters are vital for genetic engineering-based strategies for crop improvement, but effective methodologies for their creation and systematic testing are lacking. We report here on the comparative analysis of the promoters pro-SmAMP1 and pro-SmAMP2 from Stellaria media ANTIMICROBIAL PEPTIDE1 (AMP1) and ANTIMICROBIAL PEPTIDE2 (AMP2). These promoters are more effective than the well-known Cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. Although these promoters share about 94% identity, the pro-SmAMP1 promoter demonstrated stronger transient expression of a reporter gene in Agrobacterium infiltration of Nicotiana benthamiana leaves, while the pro-SmAMP2 promoter was more effective for the selection of transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) cells when driving a selectable marker. Using the cap analysis of gene expression method, we detected no differences in the structure of the transcription start sites for either promoter in transgenic plants. For both promoters, we used fine-scale deletion analysis to identify 160 bp-long sequences that retain the unique properties of each promoter. With the use of chimeric promoters and directed mutagenesis, we demonstrated that the superiority of the pro-SmAMP1 promoter for Agrobacterium-mediated infiltration is caused by the proline-inducible ACTCAT cis-element strictly positioned relative to the TATA box in the core promoter. Surprisingly, the ACTCAT cis-element not only activated but also suppressed the efficiency of the pro-SmAMP1 promoter under proline stress. The absence of the ACTCAT cis-element and CAANNNNATC motif (negative regulator) in the pro-SmAMP2 promoter provided a more constitutive gene expression profile and better selection of transgenic cells on selective medium. We created a new synthetic promoter that enjoys high effectiveness both in transient expression and in selection of transgenic cells. Intact promoters with differing properties and high degrees of sequence identity may thus be used as a basis for the creation of new synthetic promoters for precise and coordinated gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larisa N. Efremova
- All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Moscow 127550, Russia; (L.N.E.); (S.R.S.)
| | - Svetlana R. Strelnikova
- All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Moscow 127550, Russia; (L.N.E.); (S.R.S.)
| | - Guzel R. Gazizova
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan 420008, Russia; (G.R.G.); (E.A.M.)
| | - Elena A. Minkina
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan 420008, Russia; (G.R.G.); (E.A.M.)
| | - Roman A. Komakhin
- All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Moscow 127550, Russia; (L.N.E.); (S.R.S.)
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10
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Ali S, Kim WC. A Fruitful Decade Using Synthetic Promoters in the Improvement of Transgenic Plants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:1433. [PMID: 31737027 PMCID: PMC6838210 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Advances in plant biotechnology provide various means to improve crop productivity and greatly contributing to sustainable agriculture. A significant advance in plant biotechnology has been the availability of novel synthetic promoters for precise spatial and temporal control of transgene expression. In this article, we review the development of various synthetic promotors and the rise of their use over the last several decades for regulating the transcription of various transgenes. Similarly, we provided a brief description of the structure and scope of synthetic promoters and the engineering of their cis-regulatory elements for different targets. Moreover, the functional characteristics of different synthetic promoters, their modes of regulating the expression of candidate genes in response to different conditions, and the resulting plant trait improvements reported in the past decade are discussed.
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11
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Bennetzen JL, Wang X. Relationships between Gene Structure and Genome Instability in Flowering Plants. MOLECULAR PLANT 2018; 11:407-413. [PMID: 29462722 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2018.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Revised: 02/11/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Flowering plant (angiosperm) genomes are exceptional in their variability with respect to genome size, ploidy, chromosome number, gene content, and gene arrangement. Gene movement, although observed in some of the earliest plant genome comparisons, has been relatively underinvestigated. We present herein a description of several interesting properties of plant gene and genome structure that are pertinent to the successful movement of a gene to a new location. These considerations lead us to propose a model that can explain the frequent success of plant gene mobility, namely that Small Insulated Genes Move Around (SIGMAR). The SIGMAR model is then compared with known processes for gene mobilization, and predictions of the SIGMAR model are formulated to encourage future experimentation. The overall results indicate that the frequent gene movement in angiosperm genomes is partly an outcome of the unusual properties of angiosperm genes, especially their small size and insulation from epigenetic silencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey L Bennetzen
- State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization/Key Laboratory of Tea Biology and Processing, Ministry of Agriculture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, People's Republic of China; Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
| | - Xuewen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization/Key Laboratory of Tea Biology and Processing, Ministry of Agriculture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui 230036, People's Republic of China; Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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12
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Tokizawa M, Kusunoki K, Koyama H, Kurotani A, Sakurai T, Suzuki Y, Sakamoto T, Kurata T, Yamamoto YY. Identification of Arabidopsis genic and non-genic promoters by paired-end sequencing of TSS tags. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2017; 90:587-605. [PMID: 28214361 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.13511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2016] [Revised: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Information about transcription start sites (TSSs) provides baseline data for the analysis of promoter architecture. In this paper we used paired- and single-end deep sequencing to analyze Arabidopsis TSS tags from several libraries prepared from roots, shoots, flowers and etiolated seedlings. The clustering of approximately 33 million mapped TSS tags led to the identification of 324 461 promoters that covered 79.7% (21 672/27 206) of protein-coding genes in the Arabidopsis genome. In addition we identified intragenic, antisense and orphan promoters that were not associated with any gene models. Of these, intragenic promoters exhibited unique characteristics regarding dinucleotide sequences at TSSs and core promoter element composition, suggesting that these promoters use different mechanisms of transcriptional initiation. An analysis of base composition with regard to promoter position revealed a low GC content throughout the promoter region and several local strand biases that were evident for TATA-type promoters, but not for Coreless-type promoters. Most observed strand biases coincided with strand biases of single nucleotide polymorphism rate. Our analysis also revealed that transcription of a gene is supported by an average of 2.7 genic promoters, among which one specific promoter, designated as a top promoter, substantially determines the expression level of the gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mutsutomo Tokizawa
- United Graduate School of Agriculture, Gifu University, Yanagido 1-1, Gifu City, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Kusunoki
- United Graduate School of Agriculture, Gifu University, Yanagido 1-1, Gifu City, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Koyama
- United Graduate School of Agriculture, Gifu University, Yanagido 1-1, Gifu City, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan
- Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Yanagido 1-1, Gifu City, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan
| | - Atsushi Kurotani
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Suehiro-cho 1-7-22, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Sakurai
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Suehiro-cho 1-7-22, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
| | - Yutaka Suzuki
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Shiroganedai 4-6-1, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8639, Japan
| | - Tomoaki Sakamoto
- Plant Global Education Project, Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Takayam-cho 8916-5, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Kurata
- Plant Global Education Project, Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Takayam-cho 8916-5, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan
| | - Yoshiharu Y Yamamoto
- United Graduate School of Agriculture, Gifu University, Yanagido 1-1, Gifu City, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan
- Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Yanagido 1-1, Gifu City, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Suehiro-cho 1-7-22, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan
- JST ALCA, Tokyo, Japan
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13
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Babiychuk E, Hoang KT, Vandepoele K, Van De Slijke E, Geelen D, De Jaeger G, Obokata J, Kushnir S. The mutation nrpb1-A325V in the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II suppresses compromised growth of Arabidopsis plants deficient in a function of the general transcription factor IIF. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2017; 89:730-745. [PMID: 27862530 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.13417] [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: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The evolutionarily conserved 12-subunit RNA polymerase II (Pol II) is a central catalytic component that drives RNA synthesis during the transcription cycle that consists of transcription initiation, elongation, and termination. A diverse set of general transcription factors, including a multifunctional TFIIF, govern Pol II selectivity, kinetic properties, and transcription coupling with posttranscriptional processes. Here, we show that TFIIF of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) resembles the metazoan complex that is composed of the TFIIFα and TFIIFβ polypeptides. Arabidopsis has two TFIIFβ subunits, of which TFIIFβ1/MAN1 is essential and TFIIFβ2/MAN2 is not. In the partial loss-of-function mutant allele man1-1, the winged helix domain of Arabidopsis TFIIFβ1/MAN1 was dispensable for plant viability, whereas the cellular organization of the shoot and root apical meristems were abnormal. Forward genetic screening identified an epistatic interaction between the largest Pol II subunit nrpb1-A325V variant and the man1-1 mutation. The suppression of the man1-1 mutant developmental defects by a mutation in Pol II suggests a link between TFIIF functions in Arabidopsis transcription cycle and the maintenance of cellular organization in the shoot and root apical meristems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Babiychuk
- Vale Institute of Technology Sustainable Development, 66055-090, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Khai Trinh Hoang
- Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, Can Tho Technical Economic College, Can Tho, Vietnam
| | - Klaas Vandepoele
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Eveline Van De Slijke
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Danny Geelen
- Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Geert De Jaeger
- Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Junichi Obokata
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University, Kyoto, 606-8522, Japan
| | - Sergei Kushnir
- Vale Institute of Technology Sustainable Development, 66055-090, Belém, Pará, Brazil
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14
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Abstract
ppdb ( http://ppdb.agr.gifu-u.ac.jp ) is a web-based plant promoter database that provides promoter information of each gene in genomes of Arabidopsis, rice, poplar, and Physcomitrella patens. In this database, recognition of a promoter structure is achieved by annotating genome sequences with our sequence lists of bioinformatically identified octamers for core promoter structure (TATA boxes, Initiators, Y Patches, GA and CA Elements) and regulatory element groups (REGs), together with information of transcription start sites (TSSs) that have been experimentally identified. Our promoter elements are octamer sequences that show strongly biased localization profiles in the promoter region, extracted by the local distribution of short sequence (LDSS) analysis. In addition, REGs are linked with the information of the PLACE database and also with their physiological roles that are predicted using large-scale gene expression data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazutaka Kusunoki
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Gifu University, Yanagido 1-1, Gifu City, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan
| | - Yoshiharu Y Yamamoto
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Gifu University, Yanagido 1-1, Gifu City, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan.
- Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Yanagido 1-1, Gifu City, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan.
- RIKEN CSRS, Suehiro-cho 1-7-22, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 230-0045, Japan.
- JST ALCA, Tokyo, Japan.
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Megraw M, Cumbie JS, Ivanchenko MG, Filichkin SA. Small Genetic Circuits and MicroRNAs: Big Players in Polymerase II Transcriptional Control in Plants. THE PLANT CELL 2016; 28:286-303. [PMID: 26869700 PMCID: PMC4790873 DOI: 10.1105/tpc.15.00852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2015] [Accepted: 02/10/2016] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) regulatory cascades involving transcription factors (TFs) and their targets orchestrate the genetic circuitry of every eukaryotic organism. In order to understand how these cascades function, they can be dissected into small genetic networks, each containing just a few Pol II transcribed genes, that generate specific signal-processing outcomes. Small RNA regulatory circuits involve direct regulation of a small RNA by a TF and/or direct regulation of a TF by a small RNA and have been shown to play unique roles in many organisms. Here, we will focus on small RNA regulatory circuits containing Pol II transcribed microRNAs (miRNAs). While the role of miRNA-containing regulatory circuits as modular building blocks for the function of complex networks has long been on the forefront of studies in the animal kingdom, plant studies are poised to take a lead role in this area because of their advantages in probing transcriptional and posttranscriptional control of Pol II genes. The relative simplicity of tissue- and cell-type organization, miRNA targeting, and genomic structure make the Arabidopsis thaliana plant model uniquely amenable for small RNA regulatory circuit studies in a multicellular organism. In this Review, we cover analysis, tools, and validation methods for probing the component interactions in miRNA-containing regulatory circuits. We then review the important roles that plant miRNAs are playing in these circuits and summarize methods for the identification of small genetic circuits that strongly influence plant function. We conclude by noting areas of opportunity where new plant studies are imminently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly Megraw
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
| | - Jason S Cumbie
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
| | - Maria G Ivanchenko
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
| | - Sergei A Filichkin
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
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16
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Liu W, Stewart CN. Plant synthetic promoters and transcription factors. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2016; 37:36-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2015.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2015] [Accepted: 10/06/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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17
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Identifying Gene Regulatory Networks in Arabidopsis by In Silico Prediction, Yeast-1-Hybrid, and Inducible Gene Profiling Assays. Methods Mol Biol 2015; 1370:29-50. [PMID: 26659952 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3142-2_3] [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: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
A system-wide understanding of gene regulation will provide deep insights into plant development and physiology. In this chapter we describe a threefold approach to identify the gene regulatory networks in Arabidopsis thaliana that function in a specific tissue or biological process. Since no single method is sufficient to establish comprehensive and high-confidence gene regulatory networks, we focus on the integration of three approaches. First, we describe an in silico prediction method of transcription factor-DNA binding, then an in vivo assay of transcription factor-DNA binding by yeast-1-hybrid and lastly the identification of co-expression clusters by transcription factor induction in planta. Each of these methods provides a unique tool to advance our understanding of gene regulation, and together provide a robust model for the generation of gene regulatory networks.
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18
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Tokizawa M, Kobayashi Y, Saito T, Kobayashi M, Iuchi S, Nomoto M, Tada Y, Yamamoto YY, Koyama H. SENSITIVE TO PROTON RHIZOTOXICITY1, CALMODULIN BINDING TRANSCRIPTION ACTIVATOR2, and other transcription factors are involved in ALUMINUM-ACTIVATED MALATE TRANSPORTER1 expression. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2015; 167:991-1003. [PMID: 25627216 PMCID: PMC4348791 DOI: 10.1104/pp.114.256552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2014] [Accepted: 01/22/2015] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) the root apex is protected from aluminum (Al) rhizotoxicity by excretion of malate, an Al chelator, by ALUMINUM-ACTIVATED MALATE TRANSPORTER1 (AtALMT1). AtALMT1 expression is fundamentally regulated by the SENSITIVE TO PROTON RHIZOTOXICITY1 (STOP1) zinc finger protein, but other transcription factors have roles that enable Al-inducible expression with a broad dynamic range. In this study, we characterized multiple cis-elements in the AtALMT1 promoter that interact with transcription factors. In planta complementation assays of AtALMT1 driven by 5' truncated promoters of different lengths showed that the promoter region between -540 and 0 (the first ATG) restored the Al-sensitive phenotype of atalm1 and thus contains cis-elements essential for AtALMT1 expression for Al tolerance. Computation of overrepresented octamers showed that eight regions in this promoter region contained potential cis-elements involved in Al induction and STOP1 regulation. Mutation in a position around -297 from the first ATG completely inactivated AtALMT1 expression and Al response. In vitro binding assays showed that this region contained the STOP1 binding site, which accounted for the recognition by four zinc finger domains of the protein. Other positions were characterized as cis-elements that regulated expression by repressors and activators and a transcription factor that determines root tip expression of AtALMT1. From the consensus of known cis-elements, we identified CALMODULIN-BINDING TRANSCRIPTION ACTIVATOR2 to be an activator of AtALMT1 expression. Al-inducible expression of AtALMT1 changed transcription starting sites, which increased the abundance of transcripts with a shortened 5' untranslated region. The present analyses identified multiple mechanisms that regulate AtALMT1 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mutsutomo Tokizawa
- Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan (M.T., Y.K., T.S., Y.Y.Y., H.K.);RIKEN BioResource Center, Ibaraki 305-0074, Japan (M.K., S.I.); andDivision of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science (M.N.), and The Center for Gene Research, Division of Biological Science (Y.T.), Nagoya University, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
| | - Yuriko Kobayashi
- Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan (M.T., Y.K., T.S., Y.Y.Y., H.K.);RIKEN BioResource Center, Ibaraki 305-0074, Japan (M.K., S.I.); andDivision of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science (M.N.), and The Center for Gene Research, Division of Biological Science (Y.T.), Nagoya University, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
| | - Tatsunori Saito
- Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan (M.T., Y.K., T.S., Y.Y.Y., H.K.);RIKEN BioResource Center, Ibaraki 305-0074, Japan (M.K., S.I.); andDivision of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science (M.N.), and The Center for Gene Research, Division of Biological Science (Y.T.), Nagoya University, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
| | - Masatomo Kobayashi
- Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan (M.T., Y.K., T.S., Y.Y.Y., H.K.);RIKEN BioResource Center, Ibaraki 305-0074, Japan (M.K., S.I.); andDivision of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science (M.N.), and The Center for Gene Research, Division of Biological Science (Y.T.), Nagoya University, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
| | - Satoshi Iuchi
- Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan (M.T., Y.K., T.S., Y.Y.Y., H.K.);RIKEN BioResource Center, Ibaraki 305-0074, Japan (M.K., S.I.); andDivision of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science (M.N.), and The Center for Gene Research, Division of Biological Science (Y.T.), Nagoya University, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
| | - Mika Nomoto
- Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan (M.T., Y.K., T.S., Y.Y.Y., H.K.);RIKEN BioResource Center, Ibaraki 305-0074, Japan (M.K., S.I.); andDivision of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science (M.N.), and The Center for Gene Research, Division of Biological Science (Y.T.), Nagoya University, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
| | - Yasuomi Tada
- Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan (M.T., Y.K., T.S., Y.Y.Y., H.K.);RIKEN BioResource Center, Ibaraki 305-0074, Japan (M.K., S.I.); andDivision of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science (M.N.), and The Center for Gene Research, Division of Biological Science (Y.T.), Nagoya University, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
| | - Yoshiharu Y Yamamoto
- Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan (M.T., Y.K., T.S., Y.Y.Y., H.K.);RIKEN BioResource Center, Ibaraki 305-0074, Japan (M.K., S.I.); andDivision of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science (M.N.), and The Center for Gene Research, Division of Biological Science (Y.T.), Nagoya University, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Koyama
- Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan (M.T., Y.K., T.S., Y.Y.Y., H.K.);RIKEN BioResource Center, Ibaraki 305-0074, Japan (M.K., S.I.); andDivision of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science (M.N.), and The Center for Gene Research, Division of Biological Science (Y.T.), Nagoya University, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
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19
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Morton T, Petricka J, Corcoran DL, Li S, Winter CM, Carda A, Benfey PN, Ohler U, Megraw M. Paired-end analysis of transcription start sites in Arabidopsis reveals plant-specific promoter signatures. THE PLANT CELL 2014; 26:2746-60. [PMID: 25035402 PMCID: PMC4145111 DOI: 10.1105/tpc.114.125617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2014] [Revised: 06/03/2014] [Accepted: 06/24/2014] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Understanding plant gene promoter architecture has long been a challenge due to the lack of relevant large-scale data sets and analysis methods. Here, we present a publicly available, large-scale transcription start site (TSS) data set in plants using a high-resolution method for analysis of 5' ends of mRNA transcripts. Our data set is produced using the paired-end analysis of transcription start sites (PEAT) protocol, providing millions of TSS locations from wild-type Columbia-0 Arabidopsis thaliana whole root samples. Using this data set, we grouped TSS reads into "TSS tag clusters" and categorized clusters into three spatial initiation patterns: narrow peak, broad with peak, and weak peak. We then designed a machine learning model that predicts the presence of TSS tag clusters with outstanding sensitivity and specificity for all three initiation patterns. We used this model to analyze the transcription factor binding site content of promoters exhibiting these initiation patterns. In contrast to the canonical notions of TATA-containing and more broad "TATA-less" promoters, the model shows that, in plants, the vast majority of transcription start sites are TATA free and are defined by a large compendium of known DNA sequence binding elements. We present results on the usage of these elements and provide our Plant PEAT Peaks (3PEAT) model that predicts the presence of TSSs directly from sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taj Morton
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
| | - Jalean Petricka
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708 Department of Biology, HHMI and Center for Systems Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708 Department of Biology, Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota 55057
| | - David L Corcoran
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708
| | - Song Li
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708
| | - Cara M Winter
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708 Department of Biology, HHMI and Center for Systems Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708
| | - Alexa Carda
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708
| | - Philip N Benfey
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708 Department of Biology, HHMI and Center for Systems Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708
| | - Uwe Ohler
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708 Department of Computer Science, Duke University, 308 Research Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27708 Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27710 Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Molly Megraw
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708 Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
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20
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Sibthorp C, Wu H, Cowley G, Wong PWH, Palaima P, Morozov IY, Weedall GD, Caddick MX. Transcriptome analysis of the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans directed to the global identification of promoters. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:847. [PMID: 24299161 PMCID: PMC4046813 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2013] [Accepted: 11/15/2013] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans has been a tractable model organism for cell biology and genetics for over 60 years. It is among a large number of Aspergilli whose genomes have been sequenced since 2005, including medically and industrially important species. In order to advance our knowledge of its biology and increase its utility as a genetic model by improving gene annotation we sequenced the transcriptome of A. nidulans with a focus on 5' end analysis. RESULTS Strand-specific whole transcriptome sequencing showed that 80-95% of annotated genes appear to be expressed across the conditions tested. We estimate that the total gene number should be increased by approximately 1000, to 11,800. With respect to splicing 8.3% of genes had multiple alternative transcripts, but alternative splicing by exon-skipping was very rare. 75% of annotated genes showed some level of antisense transcription and for one gene, meaB, we demonstrated the antisense transcript has a regulatory role. Specific sequencing of the 5' ends of transcripts was used for genome wide mapping of transcription start sites, allowing us to interrogate over 7000 promoters and 5' untranslated regions. CONCLUSIONS Our data has revealed the complexity of the A. nidulans transcriptome and contributed to improved genome annotation. The data can be viewed on the AspGD genome browser.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Sibthorp
- />Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Biosciences Building, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB UK
| | - Huihai Wu
- />Department of Computer Science, University of Liverpool, Ashton Building, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3BX UK
| | - Gwendolyn Cowley
- />Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Biosciences Building, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB UK
| | - Prudence W H Wong
- />Department of Computer Science, University of Liverpool, Ashton Building, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3BX UK
| | - Paulius Palaima
- />Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Biosciences Building, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB UK
| | - Igor Y Morozov
- />Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Biosciences Building, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB UK
- />Department of Biomolecular and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, James Starley Building, Coventry, CV1 5FB UK
| | - Gareth D Weedall
- />Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Biosciences Building, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB UK
| | - Mark X Caddick
- />Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Biosciences Building, Crown Street, Liverpool, L69 7ZB UK
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21
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Kumari S, Ware D. Genome-wide computational prediction and analysis of core promoter elements across plant monocots and dicots. PLoS One 2013; 8:e79011. [PMID: 24205361 PMCID: PMC3812177 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0079011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2013] [Accepted: 09/18/2013] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcription initiation, essential to gene expression regulation, involves recruitment of basal transcription factors to the core promoter elements (CPEs). The distribution of currently known CPEs across plant genomes is largely unknown. This is the first large scale genome-wide report on the computational prediction of CPEs across eight plant genomes to help better understand the transcription initiation complex assembly. The distribution of thirteen known CPEs across four monocots (Brachypodium distachyon, Oryza sativa ssp. japonica, Sorghum bicolor, Zea mays) and four dicots (Arabidopsis thaliana, Populus trichocarpa, Vitis vinifera, Glycine max) reveals the structural organization of the core promoter in relation to the TATA-box as well as with respect to other CPEs. The distribution of known CPE motifs with respect to transcription start site (TSS) exhibited positional conservation within monocots and dicots with slight differences across all eight genomes. Further, a more refined subset of annotated genes based on orthologs of the model monocot (O. sativa ssp. japonica) and dicot (A. thaliana) genomes supported the positional distribution of these thirteen known CPEs. DNA free energy profiles provided evidence that the structural properties of promoter regions are distinctly different from that of the non-regulatory genome sequence. It also showed that monocot core promoters have lower DNA free energy than dicot core promoters. The comparison of monocot and dicot promoter sequences highlights both the similarities and differences in the core promoter architecture irrespective of the species-specific nucleotide bias. This study will be useful for future work related to genome annotation projects and can inspire research efforts aimed to better understand regulatory mechanisms of transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunita Kumari
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, United States of America,
| | - Doreen Ware
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, United States of America,
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agriculture Research Service, Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
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22
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Kakei Y, Ogo Y, Itai RN, Kobayashi T, Yamakawa T, Nakanishi H, Nishizawa NK. Development of a novel prediction method of cis-elements to hypothesize collaborative functions of cis-element pairs in iron-deficient rice. RICE (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2013; 6:22. [PMID: 24279975 PMCID: PMC4883709 DOI: 10.1186/1939-8433-6-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2013] [Accepted: 09/13/2013] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cis-acting elements are essential genomic sequences that control gene expression. In higher eukaryotes, a series of cis-elements function cooperatively. However, further studies are required to examine the co-regulation of multiple cis-elements on a promoter. The aim of this study was to propose a model of cis-element networks that cooperatively regulate gene expression in rice under iron (Fe) deficiency. RESULTS We developed a novel clustering-free method, microarray-associated motif analyzer (MAMA), to predict novel cis-acting elements based on weighted sequence similarities and gene expression profiles in microarray analyses. Simulation of gene expression was performed using a support vector machine and based on the presence of predicted motifs and motif pairs. The accuracy of simulated gene expression was used to evaluate the quality of prediction and to optimize the parameters used in this method. Based on sequences of Oryza sativa genes upregulated by Fe deficiency, MAMA returned experimentally identified cis-elements responsible for Fe deficiency in O. sativa. When this method was applied to O. sativa subjected to zinc deficiency and Arabidopsis thaliana subjected to salt stress, several novel candidate cis-acting elements that overlap with known cis-acting elements, such as ZDRE, ABRE, and DRE, were identified. After optimization, MAMA accurately simulated more than 87% of gene expression. Predicted motifs strongly co-localized in the upstream regions of regulated genes and sequences around transcription start sites. Furthermore, in many cases, the separation (in bp) between co-localized motifs was conserved, suggesting that predicted motifs and the separation between them were important in the co-regulation of gene expression. CONCLUSIONS Our results are suggestive of a typical sequence model for Fe deficiency-responsive promoters and some strong candidate cis-elements that function cooperatively with known cis-elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Kakei
- />Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, 113-8657 Bunkyo-ku Tokyo, Japan
- />Plant Biotechnology Division, Yokohama City University, Kihara Institute for Biological Research Maiokacho, 641-12, Totsuka, Yokohama, Kanagawa 244-0813 Japan
| | - Yuko Ogo
- />Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, 113-8657 Bunkyo-ku Tokyo, Japan
- />Functional Transgenic Crops Research Unit, Genetically Modified Organism Research Center National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Kannondai 2-1-2, 305-8602 Tsukuba, Ibaraki Japan
| | - Reiko N Itai
- />Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, 113-8657 Bunkyo-ku Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takanori Kobayashi
- />Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, 113-8657 Bunkyo-ku Tokyo, Japan
- />Research Institute for Bioresources and Biotechnology, Ishikawa Prefectural University, 1-308 Suematsu, 921-8836 Nonoichi-machi, Ishikawa Japan
- />Research Institute for Bioresources and Biotechnology, Ishikawa Prefectural University, 1-308 Suematsu, 921-8836 Nonoichi-machi, Ishikawa Japan
| | - Takashi Yamakawa
- />Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, 113-8657 Bunkyo-ku Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiromi Nakanishi
- />Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, 113-8657 Bunkyo-ku Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naoko K Nishizawa
- />Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, 113-8657 Bunkyo-ku Tokyo, Japan
- />Research Institute for Bioresources and Biotechnology, Ishikawa Prefectural University, 1-308 Suematsu, 921-8836 Nonoichi-machi, Ishikawa Japan
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23
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Gagniuc P, Ionescu-Tirgoviste C. Gene promoters show chromosome-specificity and reveal chromosome territories in humans. BMC Genomics 2013; 14:278. [PMID: 23617842 PMCID: PMC3668249 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-14-278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2012] [Accepted: 02/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gene promoters have guided evolution processes for millions of years. It seems that they were the main engine responsible for the integration of different mutations favorable for the environmental conditions. In cooperation with different transcription factors and other biochemical components, these regulatory regions dictate the synthesis frequency of RNA molecules. Predominantly in the last decade, it has become clear that nuclear organization impacts upon gene regulation. To fully understand the connections between Homo sapiens chromosomes and their gene promoters, we analyzed 1200 promoter sequences using our Kappa Index of Coincidence method. Results In order to measure the structural similarity of gene promoters, we used two-dimensional image-based patterns obtained through Kappa Index of Coincidence (Kappa IC) and (C+G)% values. The center of weight of each promoter pattern indicated a structure similarity between promoters of each chromosome. Furthermore, the proximity of chromosomes seems to be in accordance to the structural similarity of their gene promoters. The arrangement of chromosomes according to Kappa IC values of promoters, shows a striking symmetry between the chromosome length and the structure of promoters located on them. High Kappa IC and (C+G)% values of gene promoters were also directly associated with the most frequent genetic diseases. Taking into consideration these observations, a general hypothesis for the evolutionary dynamics of the genome has been proposed. In this hypothesis, heterochromatin and euchromatin domains exchange DNA sequences according to a difference in the rate of Slipped Strand Mispairing and point mutations. Conclusions In this paper we showed that gene promoters appear to be specific to each chromosome. Furthermore, the proximity between chromosomes seems to be in accordance to the structural similarity of their gene promoters. Our findings are based on comprehensive data from Transcriptional Regulatory Element Database and a new computer model whose core is using Kappa index of coincidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Gagniuc
- Institute of Genetics, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania.
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24
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Eukaryotic genomes may exhibit up to 10 generic classes of gene promoters. BMC Genomics 2012; 13:512. [PMID: 23020586 PMCID: PMC3549790 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-13-512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2012] [Accepted: 09/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The main function of gene promoters appears to be the integration of different gene products in their biological pathways in order to maintain homeostasis. Generally, promoters have been classified in two major classes, namely TATA and CpG. Nevertheless, many genes using the same combinatorial formation of transcription factors have different gene expression patterns. Accordingly, we tried to ask ourselves some fundamental questions: Why certain genes have an overall predisposition for higher gene expression levels than others? What causes such a predisposition? Is there a structural relationship of these sequences in different tissues? Is there a strong phylogenetic relationship between promoters of closely related species? RESULTS In order to gain valuable insights into different promoter regions, we obtained a series of image-based patterns which allowed us to identify 10 generic classes of promoters. A comprehensive analysis was undertaken for promoter sequences from Arabidopsis thaliana, Drosophila melanogaster, Homo sapiens and Oryza sativa, and a more extensive analysis of tissue-specific promoters in humans. We observed a clear preference for these species to use certain classes of promoters for specific biological processes. Moreover, in humans, we found that different tissues use distinct classes of promoters, reflecting an emerging promoter network. Depending on the tissue type, comparisons made between these classes of promoters reveal a complementarity between their patterns whereas some other classes of promoters have been observed to occur in competition. Furthermore, we also noticed the existence of some transitional states between these classes of promoters that may explain certain evolutionary mechanisms, which suggest a possible predisposition for specific levels of gene expression and perhaps for a different number of factors responsible for triggering gene expression. Our conclusions are based on comprehensive data from three different databases and a new computer model whose core is using Kappa index of coincidence. CONCLUSIONS To fully understand the connections between gene promoters and gene expression, we analyzed thousands of promoter sequences using our Kappa Index of Coincidence method and a specialized Optical Character Recognition (OCR) neural network. Under our criteria, 10 classes of promoters were detected. In addition, the existence of "transitional" promoters suggests that there is an evolutionary weighted continuum between classes, depending perhaps upon changes in their gene products.
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