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Sloan DB, Broz AK, Kuster SA, Muthye V, Peñafiel-Ayala A, Marron JR, Lavrov DV, Brieba LG. Expansion of the MutS Gene Family in Plants. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.17.603841. [PMID: 39071318 PMCID: PMC11275761 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.17.603841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
The MutS gene family is distributed across the tree of life and is involved in recombination, DNA repair, and protein translation. Multiple evolutionary processes have expanded the set of MutS genes in plants relative to other eukaryotes. Here, we investigate the origins and functions of these plant-specific genes. Land plants, green algae, red algae, and glaucophytes share cyanobacterial-like MutS1 and MutS2 genes that presumably were gained via plastid endosymbiotic gene transfer. MutS1 was subsequently lost in some taxa, including seed plants, whereas MutS2 was duplicated in Viridiplantae (i.e., land plants and green algae) with widespread retention of both resulting paralogs. Viridiplantae also have two anciently duplicated copies of the eukaryotic MSH6 gene (i.e., MSH6 and MSH7) and acquired MSH1 via horizontal gene transfer - potentially from a nucleocytovirus. Despite sharing the same name, "plant MSH1" is not directly related to the gene known as MSH1 in some fungi and animals, which may be an ancestral eukaryotic gene acquired via mitochondrial endosymbiosis and subsequently lost in most eukaryotic lineages. There has been substantial progress in understanding the functions of MSH1 and MSH6/MSH7 in plants, but the roles of the cyanobacterial-like MutS1 and MutS2 genes remain uncharacterized. Known functions of bacterial homologs and predicted protein structures, including fusions to diverse nuclease domains, provide hypotheses about potential molecular mechanisms. Because most plant-specific MutS proteins are targeted to the mitochondria and/or plastids, the expansion of this family appears to have played a large role in shaping plant organelle genetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel B Sloan
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Amanda K Broz
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Shady A Kuster
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Viraj Muthye
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Alejandro Peñafiel-Ayala
- Unidad de Genómica Avanzada, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Irapuato, Gto, México
| | - Jennifer R Marron
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Dennis V Lavrov
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Luis G Brieba
- Unidad de Genómica Avanzada, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Irapuato, Gto, México
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2
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Kakoulidou I, Piecyk RS, Meyer RC, Kuhlmann M, Gutjahr C, Altmann T, Johannes F. Mapping parental DMRs predictive of local and distal methylome remodeling in epigenetic F1 hybrids. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202402599. [PMID: 38290756 PMCID: PMC10828516 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202402599] [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: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
F1 hybrids derived from a cross between two inbred parental lines often display widespread changes in DNA methylation and gene expression patterns relative to their parents. An emerging challenge is to understand how parental epigenomic differences contribute to these events. Here, we generated a large mapping panel of F1 epigenetic hybrids, whose parents are isogenic but variable in their DNA methylation patterns. Using a combination of multi-omic profiling and epigenetic mapping strategies we show that differentially methylated regions in parental pericentromeres act as major reorganizers of hybrid methylomes and transcriptomes, even in the absence of genetic variation. These parental differentially methylated regions are associated with hybrid methylation remodeling events at thousands of target regions throughout the genome, both locally (in cis) and distally (in trans). Many of these distally-induced methylation changes lead to nonadditive expression of nearby genes and associate with phenotypic heterosis. Our study highlights the pleiotropic potential of parental pericentromeres in the functional remodeling of hybrid genomes and phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna Kakoulidou
- https://ror.org/02kkvpp62 Plant Epigenomics, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Robert S Piecyk
- https://ror.org/02kkvpp62 Plant Epigenomics, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Rhonda C Meyer
- https://ror.org/02skbsp27 Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Gatersleben, Germany
| | - Markus Kuhlmann
- https://ror.org/02skbsp27 Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Gatersleben, Germany
| | - Caroline Gutjahr
- Plant Genetics, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Thomas Altmann
- https://ror.org/02skbsp27 Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), Gatersleben, Germany
| | - Frank Johannes
- https://ror.org/02kkvpp62 Plant Epigenomics, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- https://ror.org/02kkvpp62 Institute of Advanced Studies, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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3
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Chen Y, Guo P, Dong Z. The role of histone acetylation in transcriptional regulation and seed development. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 194:1962-1979. [PMID: 37979164 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023]
Abstract
Histone acetylation is highly conserved across eukaryotes and has been linked to gene activation since its discovery nearly 60 years ago. Over the past decades, histone acetylation has been evidenced to play crucial roles in plant development and response to various environmental cues. Emerging data indicate that histone acetylation is one of the defining features of "open chromatin," while the role of histone acetylation in transcription remains controversial. In this review, we briefly describe the discovery of histone acetylation, the mechanism of histone acetylation regulating transcription in yeast and mammals, and summarize the research progress of plant histone acetylation. Furthermore, we also emphasize the effect of histone acetylation on seed development and its potential use in plant breeding. A comprehensive knowledge of histone acetylation might provide new and more flexible research perspectives to enhance crop yield and stress resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Adaptation and Molecular Design, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Editing, Innovative Center of Molecular Genetics and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Peiguo Guo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Adaptation and Molecular Design, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Editing, Innovative Center of Molecular Genetics and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhicheng Dong
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Adaptation and Molecular Design, Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Editing, Innovative Center of Molecular Genetics and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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4
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Zhang D, Gan Y, Le L, Pu L. Epigenetic variation in maize agronomical traits for breeding and trait improvement. J Genet Genomics 2024:S1673-8527(24)00028-6. [PMID: 38310944 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2024.01.006] [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: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetics-mediated breeding (Epibreeding) involves engineering crop traits and stress responses through the targeted manipulation of key epigenetic features to enhance agricultural productivity. While conventional breeding methods raise concerns about reduced genetic diversity, epibreeding propels crop improvement through epigenetic variations that regulate gene expression, ultimately impacting crop yield. Epigenetic regulation in crops encompasses various modes, including histone modification, DNA modification, RNA modification, non-coding RNA, and chromatin remodeling. This review summarizes the epigenetic mechanisms underlying major agronomic traits in maize and identifies candidate epigenetic landmarks in the maize breeding process. We propose a valuable strategy for improving maize yield through epibreeding, combining CRISPR/Cas-based epigenome editing technology and Synthetic Epigenetics (SynEpi). Finally, we discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with maize trait improvement through epibreeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daolei Zhang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; School of Life Science, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia 010021, China
| | - Yujun Gan
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Liang Le
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Li Pu
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
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5
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Bai MZ, Guo YY. Bioinformatics Analysis of MSH1 Genes of Green Plants: Multiple Parallel Length Expansions, Intron Gains and Losses, Partial Gene Duplications, and Alternative Splicing. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13620. [PMID: 37686425 PMCID: PMC10487979 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
MutS homolog 1 (MSH1) is involved in the recombining and repairing of organelle genomes and is essential for maintaining their stability. Previous studies indicated that the length of the gene varied greatly among species and detected species-specific partial gene duplications in Physcomitrella patens. However, there are critical gaps in the understanding of the gene size expansion, and the extent of the partial gene duplication of MSH1 remains unclear. Here, we screened MSH1 genes in 85 selected species with genome sequences representing the main clades of green plants (Viridiplantae). We identified the MSH1 gene in all lineages of green plants, except for nine incomplete species, for bioinformatics analysis. The gene is a singleton gene in most of the selected species with conserved amino acids and protein domains. Gene length varies greatly among the species, ranging from 3234 bp in Ostreococcus tauri to 805,861 bp in Cycas panzhihuaensis. The expansion of MSH1 repeatedly occurred in multiple clades, especially in Gymnosperms, Orchidaceae, and Chloranthus spicatus. MSH1 has exceptionally long introns in certain species due to the gene length expansion, and the longest intron even reaches 101,025 bp. And the gene length is positively correlated with the proportion of the transposable elements (TEs) in the introns. In addition, gene structure analysis indicated that the MSH1 of green plants had undergone parallel intron gains and losses in all major lineages. However, the intron number of seed plants (gymnosperm and angiosperm) is relatively stable. All the selected gymnosperms contain 22 introns except for Gnetum montanum and Welwitschia mirabilis, while all the selected angiosperm species preserve 21 introns except for the ANA grade. Notably, the coding region of MSH1 in algae presents an exceptionally high GC content (47.7% to 75.5%). Moreover, over one-third of the selected species contain species-specific partial gene duplications of MSH1, except for the conserved mosses-specific partial gene duplication. Additionally, we found conserved alternatively spliced MSH1 transcripts in five species. The study of MSH1 sheds light on the evolution of the long genes of green plants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yan-Yan Guo
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
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6
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Fang W, Fasano C, Perrella G. Unlocking the Secret to Higher Crop Yield: The Potential for Histone Modifications. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:1712. [PMID: 37111933 PMCID: PMC10144255 DOI: 10.3390/plants12081712] [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: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Histone modifications are epigenetic mechanisms, termed relative to genetics, and they refer to the induction of heritable changes without altering the DNA sequence. It is widely known that DNA sequences precisely modulate plant phenotypes to adapt them to the changing environment; however, epigenetic mechanisms also greatly contribute to plant growth and development by altering chromatin status. An increasing number of recent studies have elucidated epigenetic regulations on improving plant growth and adaptation, thus making contributions to the final yield. In this review, we summarize the recent advances of epigenetic regulatory mechanisms underlying crop flowering efficiency, fruit quality, and adaptation to environmental stimuli, especially to abiotic stress, to ensure crop improvement. In particular, we highlight the major discoveries in rice and tomato, which are two of the most globally consumed crops. We also describe and discuss the applications of epigenetic approaches in crop breeding programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Fang
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Giovanni Celoria 26, 20133 Milan, MI, Italy;
| | - Carlo Fasano
- Trisaia Research Center, Italian National Agency for New Technologies Energy and Sustainable Economic Develoment, (ENEA), 75026 Rotondella, MT, Italy;
| | - Giorgio Perrella
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Giovanni Celoria 26, 20133 Milan, MI, Italy;
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7
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Micol-Ponce R, García-Alcázar M, Lebrón R, Capel C, Pineda B, García-Sogo B, Alché JDD, Ortiz-Atienza A, Bretones S, Yuste-Lisbona FJ, Moreno V, Capel J, Lozano R. Tomato POLLEN DEFICIENT 2 encodes a G-type lectin receptor kinase required for viable pollen grain formation. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2023; 74:178-193. [PMID: 36260406 PMCID: PMC9786849 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Pollen development is a crucial biological process indispensable for seed set in flowering plants and for successful crop breeding. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms regulating pollen development in crop species. This study reports a novel male-sterile tomato mutant, pollen deficient 2 (pod2), characterized by the production of non-viable pollen grains and resulting in the development of small parthenocarpic fruits. A combined strategy of mapping-by-sequencing and RNA interference-mediated gene silencing was used to prove that the pod2 phenotype is caused by the loss of Solanum lycopersicum G-type lectin receptor kinase II.9 (SlG-LecRK-II.9) activity. In situ hybridization of floral buds showed that POD2/SlG-LecRK-II.9 is specifically expressed in tapetal cells and microspores at the late tetrad stage. Accordingly, abnormalities in meiosis and tapetum programmed cell death in pod2 occurred during microsporogenesis, resulting in the formation of four dysfunctional microspores leading to an aberrant microgametogenesis process. RNA-seq analyses supported the existence of alterations at the final stage of microsporogenesis, since we found tomato deregulated genes whose counterparts in Arabidopsis are essential for the normal progression of male meiosis and cytokinesis. Collectively, our results revealed the essential role of POD2/SlG-LecRK-II.9 in regulating tomato pollen development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ricardo Lebrón
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología Agroalimentaria (CIAIMBITAL), Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Carmen Capel
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología Agroalimentaria (CIAIMBITAL), Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Benito Pineda
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (UPV-CSIC), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, 46011 Valencia, Spain
| | - Begoña García-Sogo
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (UPV-CSIC), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, 46011 Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan de Dios Alché
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Celular y Molecular de Plantas, Estación Experimental del Zaidín-CSIC, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Ana Ortiz-Atienza
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología Agroalimentaria (CIAIMBITAL), Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Sandra Bretones
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología Agroalimentaria (CIAIMBITAL), Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Fernando Juan Yuste-Lisbona
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología Agroalimentaria (CIAIMBITAL), Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Vicente Moreno
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Plantas (UPV-CSIC), Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, 46011 Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan Capel
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología Agroalimentaria (CIAIMBITAL), Universidad de Almería, 04120 Almería, Spain
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8
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Lieberman-Lazarovich M, Kaiserli E, Bucher E, Mladenov V. Natural and induced epigenetic variation for crop improvement. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 70:102297. [PMID: 36108411 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2022.102297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Maintaining global food security is a major challenge that requires novel strategies for crop improvement. Epigenetic regulation of plant responses to adverse environmental conditions provides a tunable mechanism to optimize plant growth, adaptation and ultimately yield. Epibreeding employs agricultural practices that rely on key epigenetic features as a means of engineering favorable phenotypic traits in target crops. This review summarizes recent findings on the role of epigenetic marks such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, in controlling phenotypic variation in crop species in response to environmental factors. The potential use of natural and induced epigenetic features as platforms for crop improvement via epibreeding, is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Lieberman-Lazarovich
- Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel.
| | - Eirini Kaiserli
- School of Molecular Biosciences, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Etienne Bucher
- Crop Genome Dynamics Group, Agroscope Changins, 1260, Nyon, Switzerland
| | - Velimir Mladenov
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Sq. Dositeja Obradovića 8, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
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9
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Sun L, Xue C, Guo C, Jia C, Yuan H, Pan X, Tai P. Maintenance of grafting reducing cadmium accumulation in soybean (Glycinemax) is mediated by DNA methylation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 847:157488. [PMID: 35870595 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) pollution in farmland soil increases the probability of wastage of land resources and compromised food safety. Grafting can change the absorption rates of elements in crops; however, there are few studies on grafting in bulk grain and cash crops. In this study, Glycine max was used as a scion and Luffa aegyptiaca as a rootstock for grafting experiments. The changes in total sulfur and Cd content in the leaves and grains of grafted species were determined for three consecutive generations, and the gene expression and DNA methylation status of the leaves were analyzed. The results show that grafting significantly reduced the total sulfur and Cd content in soybean leaves and grains; the Cd content in soybean leaves and grains decreased by >50 %. The plant's primary sulfur metabolism pathway was not significantly affected. Glucosinolates and DNA methylation may play important roles in reducing total sulfur and Cd accumulation. Notably, low sulfur and low Cd traits can be maintained over two generations. Our study establishes that grafting can reduce the total sulfur and Cd content in soybean, and these traits can be inherited. In summary, grafting technology can be used to prevent soybean from accumulating Cd in farmland soil. This provides a theoretical basis for grafting to cultivate crops with low Cd accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizong Sun
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China; Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chenyang Xue
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China; Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Cheng Guo
- School of Environmental and Safety Engineering, Liaoning Petrochemical University, Fushun 113001, China
| | - Chunyun Jia
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Honghong Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Xiangwen Pan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Breeding and Design, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Peidong Tai
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China.
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10
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Tonosaki K, Fujimoto R, Dennis ES, Raboy V, Osabe K. Will epigenetics be a key player in crop breeding? FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:958350. [PMID: 36247549 PMCID: PMC9562705 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.958350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
If food and feed production are to keep up with world demand in the face of climate change, continued progress in understanding and utilizing both genetic and epigenetic sources of crop variation is necessary. Progress in plant breeding has traditionally been thought to be due to selection for spontaneous DNA sequence mutations that impart desirable phenotypes. These spontaneous mutations can expand phenotypic diversity, from which breeders can select agronomically useful traits. However, it has become clear that phenotypic diversity can be generated even when the genome sequence is unaltered. Epigenetic gene regulation is a mechanism by which genome expression is regulated without altering the DNA sequence. With the development of high throughput DNA sequencers, it has become possible to analyze the epigenetic state of the whole genome, which is termed the epigenome. These techniques enable us to identify spontaneous epigenetic mutations (epimutations) with high throughput and identify the epimutations that lead to increased phenotypic diversity. These epimutations can create new phenotypes and the causative epimutations can be inherited over generations. There is evidence of selected agronomic traits being conditioned by heritable epimutations, and breeders may have historically selected for epiallele-conditioned agronomic traits. These results imply that not only DNA sequence diversity, but the diversity of epigenetic states can contribute to increased phenotypic diversity. However, since the modes of induction and transmission of epialleles and their stability differ from that of genetic alleles, the importance of inheritance as classically defined also differs. For example, there may be a difference between the types of epigenetic inheritance important to crop breeding and crop production. The former may depend more on longer-term inheritance whereas the latter may simply take advantage of shorter-term phenomena. With the advances in our understanding of epigenetics, epigenetics may bring new perspectives for crop improvement, such as the use of epigenetic variation or epigenome editing in breeding. In this review, we will introduce the role of epigenetic variation in plant breeding, largely focusing on DNA methylation, and conclude by asking to what extent new knowledge of epigenetics in crop breeding has led to documented cases of its successful use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaoru Tonosaki
- Kihara Institute for Biological Research, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Ryo Fujimoto
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Elizabeth S. Dennis
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Victor Raboy
- Independent Researcher Portland, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Kenji Osabe
- Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (SANKEN), Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
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11
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Ketumile D, Yang X, Sanchez R, Kundariya H, Rajewski J, Dweikat IM, Mackenzie SA. Implementation of Epigenetic Variation in Sorghum Selection and Implications for Crop Resilience Breeding. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 12:798243. [PMID: 35154188 PMCID: PMC8828589 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.798243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Crop resilience and yield stability are complex traits essential for food security. Sorghum bicolor is an important grain crop that shows promise for its natural resilience to drought and potential for marginal land production. We have developed sorghum lines in the Tx430 genetic background suppressed for MSH1 expression as a means of inducing de novo epigenetic variation, and have used these materials to evaluate changes in plant growth vigor. Plant crossing and selection in two distinct environments revealed features of phenotypic plasticity derived from MSH1 manipulation. Introduction of an epigenetic variation to an isogenic sorghum population, in the absence of selection, resulted in 10% yield increase under ideal field conditions and 20% increase under extreme low nitrogen conditions. However, incorporation of early-stage selection amplified these outcomes to 36% yield increase under ideal conditions and 64% increase under marginal field conditions. Interestingly, the best outcomes were derived by selecting mid-range performance early-generation lines rather than highest performing. Data also suggested that phenotypic plasticity derived from the epigenetic variation was non-uniform in its response to environmental variability but served to reduce genotype × environment interaction. The MSH1-derived growth vigor appeared to be associated with enhanced seedling root growth and altered expression of auxin response pathways, and plants showed evidence of cold tolerance, features consistent with observations made previously in Arabidopsis. These data imply that the MSH1 system is conserved across plant species, pointing to the value of parallel model plant studies to help devise effective plant selection strategies for epigenetic breeding in multiple crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dikungwa Ketumile
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Xiaodong Yang
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Robersy Sanchez
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - Hardik Kundariya
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
| | - John Rajewski
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Ismail M. Dweikat
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Sally A. Mackenzie
- Department of Biology and Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States
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12
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Gupta C, Salgotra RK. Epigenetics and its role in effecting agronomical traits. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:925688. [PMID: 36046583 PMCID: PMC9421166 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.925688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Climate-resilient crops with improved adaptation to the changing climate are urgently needed to feed the growing population. Hence, developing high-yielding crop varieties with better agronomic traits is one of the most critical issues in agricultural research. These are vital to enhancing yield as well as resistance to harsh conditions, both of which help farmers over time. The majority of agronomic traits are quantitative and are subject to intricate genetic control, thereby obstructing crop improvement. Plant epibreeding is the utilisation of epigenetic variation for crop development, and has a wide range of applications in the field of crop improvement. Epigenetics refers to changes in gene expression that are heritable and induced by methylation of DNA, post-translational modifications of histones or RNA interference rather than an alteration in the underlying sequence of DNA. The epigenetic modifications influence gene expression by changing the state of chromatin, which underpins plant growth and dictates phenotypic responsiveness for extrinsic and intrinsic inputs. Epigenetic modifications, in addition to DNA sequence variation, improve breeding by giving useful markers. Also, it takes epigenome diversity into account to predict plant performance and increase crop production. In this review, emphasis has been given for summarising the role of epigenetic changes in epibreeding for crop improvement.
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Yang J, Yang X, Su T, Hu Z, Zhang M. The Development of Mitochondrial Gene Editing Tools and Their Possible Roles in Crop Improvement for Future Agriculture. ADVANCED GENETICS (HOBOKEN, N.J.) 2021; 3:2100019. [PMID: 36619350 PMCID: PMC9744482 DOI: 10.1002/ggn2.202100019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
We are living in the era of genome editing. Nowadays, targeted editing of the plant nuclear DNA is prevalent in basic biological research and crop improvement since its first establishment a decade ago. However, achieving the same accomplishment for the plant mitochondrial genome has long been deemed impossible. Recently, the pioneer studies on editing plant mitogenome have been done using the mitochondria-targeted transcription activator-like effector nucleases (mitoTALENs) in rice, rapeseed, and Arabidopsis. It is well documented that mitochondria play essential roles in plant development and stress tolerance, particularly, in cytoplasmic male sterility widely used in production of hybrids. The success of mitochondrial genome editing enables studying the fundamentals of mitochondrial genome. Furthermore, mitochondrial RNA editing (mostly by nuclear-encoded pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins) in a sequence-specific manner can simultaneously change the production of translatable mitochondrial mRNA. Moreover, direct editing of the nuclear-encoding mitochondria-targeted factors required for plant mitochondrial genome dynamics and recombination may facilitate genetic manipulation of plant mitochondria. Here, the present state of knowledge on editing the plant mitochondrial genome is reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinghua Yang
- Hainan Institute, Zhejiang UniversityYazhou Bay Science and Technology CitySanya572025China,Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Molecular BreedingInstitute of Vegetable ScienceZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310058China
| | - Xiaodong Yang
- Departments of Biology and Plant ScienceThe Pennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPA16802USA
| | - Tongbing Su
- Beijing Vegetable Research CenterBeijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry SciencesBeijing100097China
| | - Zhongyuan Hu
- Hainan Institute, Zhejiang UniversityYazhou Bay Science and Technology CitySanya572025China,Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Molecular BreedingInstitute of Vegetable ScienceZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310058China
| | - Mingfang Zhang
- Hainan Institute, Zhejiang UniversityYazhou Bay Science and Technology CitySanya572025China,Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Molecular BreedingInstitute of Vegetable ScienceZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310058China
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The Tomato ddm1b Mutant Shows Decreased Sensitivity to Heat Stress Accompanied by Transcriptional Alterations. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12091337. [PMID: 34573319 PMCID: PMC8471610 DOI: 10.3390/genes12091337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Heat stress is a major environmental factor limiting crop productivity, thus presenting a food security challenge. Various approaches are taken in an effort to develop crop species with enhanced tolerance to heat stress conditions. Since epigenetic mechanisms were shown to play a regulatory role in mediating plants' responses to their environment, we investigated the role of DNA methylation in response to heat stress in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), an important vegetable crop. To meet this aim, we tested a DNA methylation-deficient tomato mutant, Slddm1b. In this short communication paper, we report phenotypic and transcriptomic preliminary findings, implying that the tomato ddm1b mutant is significantly less sensitive to heat stress compared with the background tomato line, M82. Under conditions of heat stress, this mutant line presented higher fruit set and seed set rates, as well as a higher survival rate at the seedling stage. On the transcriptional level, we observed differences in the expression of heat stress-related genes, suggesting an altered response of the ddm1b mutant to this stress. Following these preliminary results, further research would shed light on the specific genes that may contribute to the observed thermotolerance of ddm1b and their possibly altered DNA methylation status.
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Kakoulidou I, Avramidou EV, Baránek M, Brunel-Muguet S, Farrona S, Johannes F, Kaiserli E, Lieberman-Lazarovich M, Martinelli F, Mladenov V, Testillano PS, Vassileva V, Maury S. Epigenetics for Crop Improvement in Times of Global Change. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:766. [PMID: 34439998 PMCID: PMC8389687 DOI: 10.3390/biology10080766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetics has emerged as an important research field for crop improvement under the on-going climatic changes. Heritable epigenetic changes can arise independently of DNA sequence alterations and have been associated with altered gene expression and transmitted phenotypic variation. By modulating plant development and physiological responses to environmental conditions, epigenetic diversity-naturally, genetically, chemically, or environmentally induced-can help optimise crop traits in an era challenged by global climate change. Beyond DNA sequence variation, the epigenetic modifications may contribute to breeding by providing useful markers and allowing the use of epigenome diversity to predict plant performance and increase final crop production. Given the difficulties in transferring the knowledge of the epigenetic mechanisms from model plants to crops, various strategies have emerged. Among those strategies are modelling frameworks dedicated to predicting epigenetically controlled-adaptive traits, the use of epigenetics for in vitro regeneration to accelerate crop breeding, and changes of specific epigenetic marks that modulate gene expression of traits of interest. The key challenge that agriculture faces in the 21st century is to increase crop production by speeding up the breeding of resilient crop species. Therefore, epigenetics provides fundamental molecular information with potential direct applications in crop enhancement, tolerance, and adaptation within the context of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna Kakoulidou
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Liesel-Beckmann-Str. 2, 85354 Freising, Germany; (I.K.); (F.J.)
| | - Evangelia V. Avramidou
- Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Biotechnology, Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems, Hellenic Agricultural Organization-Dimitra (ELGO-DIMITRA), 11528 Athens, Greece;
| | - Miroslav Baránek
- Faculty of Horticulture, Mendeleum—Institute of Genetics, Mendel University in Brno, Valtická 334, 69144 Lednice, Czech Republic;
| | - Sophie Brunel-Muguet
- UMR 950 Ecophysiologie Végétale, Agronomie et Nutritions N, C, S, UNICAEN, INRAE, Normandie Université, CEDEX, F-14032 Caen, France;
| | - Sara Farrona
- Plant and AgriBiosciences Centre, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland;
| | - Frank Johannes
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Liesel-Beckmann-Str. 2, 85354 Freising, Germany; (I.K.); (F.J.)
- Institute for Advanced Study, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenberg Str. 2a, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Eirini Kaiserli
- Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Bower Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK;
| | - Michal Lieberman-Lazarovich
- Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel;
| | - Federico Martinelli
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy;
| | - Velimir Mladenov
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Sq. Dositeja Obradovića 8, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia;
| | - Pilar S. Testillano
- Pollen Biotechnology of Crop Plants Group, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas-(CIB-CSIC), Ramiro Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Valya Vassileva
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. Georgi Bonchev Str., Bldg. 21, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria;
| | - Stéphane Maury
- Laboratoire de Biologie des Ligneux et des Grandes Cultures, INRAE, EA1207 USC1328, Université d’Orléans, F-45067 Orléans, France
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Gogolev YV, Ahmar S, Akpinar BA, Budak H, Kiryushkin AS, Gorshkov VY, Hensel G, Demchenko KN, Kovalchuk I, Mora-Poblete F, Muslu T, Tsers ID, Yadav NS, Korzun V. OMICs, Epigenetics, and Genome Editing Techniques for Food and Nutritional Security. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:1423. [PMID: 34371624 PMCID: PMC8309286 DOI: 10.3390/plants10071423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The incredible success of crop breeding and agricultural innovation in the last century greatly contributed to the Green Revolution, which significantly increased yields and ensures food security, despite the population explosion. However, new challenges such as rapid climate change, deteriorating soil, and the accumulation of pollutants require much faster responses and more effective solutions that cannot be achieved through traditional breeding. Further prospects for increasing the efficiency of agriculture are undoubtedly associated with the inclusion in the breeding strategy of new knowledge obtained using high-throughput technologies and new tools in the future to ensure the design of new plant genomes and predict the desired phenotype. This article provides an overview of the current state of research in these areas, as well as the study of soil and plant microbiomes, and the prospective use of their potential in a new field of microbiome engineering. In terms of genomic and phenomic predictions, we also propose an integrated approach that combines high-density genotyping and high-throughput phenotyping techniques, which can improve the prediction accuracy of quantitative traits in crop species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri V. Gogolev
- Federal Research Center Kazan Scientific Center of Russian Academy of Sciences, Kazan Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 420111 Kazan, Russia;
- Federal Research Center Kazan Scientific Center of Russian Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Plant Infectious Diseases, 420111 Kazan, Russia;
| | - Sunny Ahmar
- Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Talca, 1 Poniente 1141, Talca 3460000, Chile; (S.A.); (F.M.-P.)
| | | | - Hikmet Budak
- Montana BioAg Inc., Missoula, MT 59802, USA; (B.A.A.); (H.B.)
| | - Alexey S. Kiryushkin
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Development, Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 197376 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (A.S.K.); (K.N.D.)
| | - Vladimir Y. Gorshkov
- Federal Research Center Kazan Scientific Center of Russian Academy of Sciences, Kazan Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 420111 Kazan, Russia;
- Federal Research Center Kazan Scientific Center of Russian Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Plant Infectious Diseases, 420111 Kazan, Russia;
| | - Goetz Hensel
- Centre for Plant Genome Engineering, Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225 Dusseldorf, Germany;
- Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Czech Advanced Technology and Research Institute, Palacký University Olomouc, 78371 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Kirill N. Demchenko
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Development, Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 197376 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (A.S.K.); (K.N.D.)
| | - Igor Kovalchuk
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada; (I.K.); (N.S.Y.)
| | - Freddy Mora-Poblete
- Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Talca, 1 Poniente 1141, Talca 3460000, Chile; (S.A.); (F.M.-P.)
| | - Tugdem Muslu
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, 34956 Istanbul, Turkey;
| | - Ivan D. Tsers
- Federal Research Center Kazan Scientific Center of Russian Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Plant Infectious Diseases, 420111 Kazan, Russia;
| | - Narendra Singh Yadav
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada; (I.K.); (N.S.Y.)
| | - Viktor Korzun
- Federal Research Center Kazan Scientific Center of Russian Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Plant Infectious Diseases, 420111 Kazan, Russia;
- KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA, Grimsehlstr. 31, 37555 Einbeck, Germany
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Raina A, Sahu PK, Laskar RA, Rajora N, Sao R, Khan S, Ganai RA. Mechanisms of Genome Maintenance in Plants: Playing It Safe With Breaks and Bumps. Front Genet 2021; 12:675686. [PMID: 34239541 PMCID: PMC8258418 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.675686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Maintenance of genomic integrity is critical for the perpetuation of all forms of life including humans. Living organisms are constantly exposed to stress from internal metabolic processes and external environmental sources causing damage to the DNA, thereby promoting genomic instability. To counter the deleterious effects of genomic instability, organisms have evolved general and specific DNA damage repair (DDR) pathways that act either independently or mutually to repair the DNA damage. The mechanisms by which various DNA repair pathways are activated have been fairly investigated in model organisms including bacteria, fungi, and mammals; however, very little is known regarding how plants sense and repair DNA damage. Plants being sessile are innately exposed to a wide range of DNA-damaging agents both from biotic and abiotic sources such as ultraviolet rays or metabolic by-products. To escape their harmful effects, plants also harbor highly conserved DDR pathways that share several components with the DDR machinery of other organisms. Maintenance of genomic integrity is key for plant survival due to lack of reserve germline as the derivation of the new plant occurs from the meristem. Untowardly, the accumulation of mutations in the meristem will result in a wide range of genetic abnormalities in new plants affecting plant growth development and crop yield. In this review, we will discuss various DNA repair pathways in plants and describe how the deficiency of each repair pathway affects plant growth and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aamir Raina
- Mutation Breeding Laboratory, Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
- Botany Section, Women’s College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Parmeshwar K. Sahu
- Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Indira Gandhi Agriculture University, Raipur, India
| | | | - Nitika Rajora
- National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute, Mohali, India
| | - Richa Sao
- Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Indira Gandhi Agriculture University, Raipur, India
| | - Samiullah Khan
- Mutation Breeding Laboratory, Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
| | - Rais A. Ganai
- Watson-Crick Centre for Molecular Medicine, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, India
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18
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Dopp IJ, Yang X, Mackenzie SA. A new take on organelle-mediated stress sensing in plants. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 230:2148-2153. [PMID: 33704791 PMCID: PMC8214450 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Plants are able to adjust phenotype in response to changes in the environment. This system depends on an internal capacity to sense environmental conditions and to process this information to plant response. Recent studies have pointed to mitochondria and plastids as important environmental sensors, capable of perceiving stressful conditions and triggering gene expression, epigenomic, metabolic and phytohormone changes in the plant. These processes involve integrated gene networks that ultimately modulate the energy balance between growth and plant defense. This review attempts to link several unusual recent findings into a comprehensive hypothesis for the regulation of plant phenotypic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac J. Dopp
- Departments of Biology and Plant Science, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Plant Biology Graduate Program, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Xiaodong Yang
- Departments of Biology and Plant Science, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Sally A. Mackenzie
- Departments of Biology and Plant Science, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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19
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V K, Chandrashekar BK, K K, Ag S, Makarla U, Ramu VS. Disruption in the DNA Mismatch Repair Gene MSH2 by CRISPR- Cas9 in Indica Rice Can Create Genetic Variability. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2021; 69:4144-4152. [PMID: 33789420 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.1c00328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Genetic variation is crucial for crop improvement. We adopted a gene editing approach to create variations in the rice genome by targeting the mutator locus homolog 2 (MSH2), a DNA mismatch repair gene. The hypothesis is that disruption of the MSH2 gene leads to a reduced DNA mismatch repair that creates INDELs, resulting in altered phenotypes. The Indica rice (IR-64) genotype was transformed with a guide RNA targeted to the MSH2 gene using an Agrobacterium-mediated in planta method. Many plants showed integration of Cas9 and gRNA constructs in rice plants. One of the msh2 mutants showed a superior phenotype due to editing and possible INDELs in the whole genome. The stable integration of the transgene and its flanking sequence analysis confirms no disruption of any gene, and the observed phenotype is due to the mutations in the MSH2 gene. Few transgenic plants showed disruption of genes due to T-DNA integration that led to altered phenotypes. The plants with altered phenotypes having more tiller number, early flowering, and robust growth with a high biomass were identified. These genetically reprogrammed rice plants could be a potential resource to create more segregating population or act as donor lines to stabilize the important agronomic traits that may help in a speed breeding process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthika V
- Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore 560065, India
| | - Babitha K Chandrashekar
- Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad 121001, India
| | - Kiranmai K
- Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore 560065, India
| | - Shankar Ag
- Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore 560065, India
| | - Udayakumar Makarla
- Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, Bangalore 560065, India
| | - Vemanna S Ramu
- Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics, Regional Centre for Biotechnology, Faridabad 121001, India
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Scossa F, Alseekh S, Fernie AR. Integrating multi-omics data for crop improvement. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 257:153352. [PMID: 33360148 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2020.153352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Our agricultural systems are now in urgent need to secure food for a growing world population. To meet this challenge, we need a better characterization of plant genetic and phenotypic diversity. The combination of genomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics enables a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying the complex architecture of many phenotypic traits of agricultural relevance. We review the recent advances in plant genomics to see how these can be integrated with broad molecular profiling approaches to improve our understanding of plant phenotypic variation and inform crop breeding strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Scossa
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, 14476, Potsdam, Golm, Germany; Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA), Research Centre for Genomics and Bioinformatics (CREA-GB), 00178, Rome, Italy.
| | - Saleh Alseekh
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, 14476, Potsdam, Golm, Germany; Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology (CPSBB), Plovdiv, Bulgaria
| | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie, 14476, Potsdam, Golm, Germany; Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology (CPSBB), Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
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21
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Zhao N, Li Z, Zhang L, Yang X, Mackenzie SA, Hu Z, Zhang M, Yang J. MutS HOMOLOG1 mediates fertility reversion from cytoplasmic male sterile Brassica juncea in response to environment. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2021; 44:234-246. [PMID: 32978825 DOI: 10.1111/pce.13895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Spontaneous fertility reversion has been documented in cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) plants of several species, influenced in frequency by nuclear genetic background. In this study, we found that MutS HOMOLOG1 (MSH1) mediates fertility reversion via substoichiometric shifting (SSS) of the CMS-associated mitochondrial Open Reading Frame 220 (ORF220), a process that may be regulated by pollination signalling in Brassica juncea. We show that plants adjust their growth and development in response to unsuccessful pollination. Measurable decrease in MSH1 transcript levels and evidence of ORF220 SSS under non-pollination conditions suggest that this nuclear-mitochondrial interplay influences fertility reversion in CMS plants in response to physiological signals. Suppression of MSH1 expression induced higher frequency SSS in CMS plants than occurs normally. Transcriptional analysis of floral buds under pollination and non-pollination conditions, and the response of MSH1 expression to different sugars, supports the hypothesis that carbon flux is involved in the pollination signalling of fertility reversion in CMS plants. Our findings suggest that facultative gynodioecy as a reproductive strategy may incorporate environmentally responsive genes like MSH1 as an "on-off" switch for sterility-fertility transition under ecological conditions of reproductive isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Zhao
- Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhangping Li
- Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lili Zhang
- Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaodong Yang
- Departments of Biology and Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sally A Mackenzie
- Departments of Biology and Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Zhongyuan Hu
- Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mingfang Zhang
- Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth and Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jinghua Yang
- Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, Institute of Vegetable Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Horticultural Plant Growth and Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hangzhou, China
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22
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Kundariya H, Yang X, Morton K, Sanchez R, Axtell MJ, Hutton SF, Fromm M, Mackenzie SA. MSH1-induced heritable enhanced growth vigor through grafting is associated with the RdDM pathway in plants. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5343. [PMID: 33093443 PMCID: PMC7582163 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19140-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants transmit signals long distances, as evidenced in grafting experiments that create distinct rootstock-scion junctions. Noncoding small RNA is a signaling molecule that is graft transmissible, participating in RNA-directed DNA methylation; but the meiotic transmissibility of graft-mediated epigenetic changes remains unclear. Here, we exploit the MSH1 system in Arabidopsis and tomato to introduce rootstock epigenetic variation to grafting experiments. Introducing mutations dcl2, dcl3 and dcl4 to the msh1 rootstock disrupts siRNA production and reveals RdDM targets of methylation repatterning. Progeny from grafting experiments show enhanced growth vigor relative to controls. This heritable enhancement-through-grafting phenotype is RdDM-dependent, involving 1380 differentially methylated genes, many within auxin-related gene pathways. Growth vigor is associated with robust root growth of msh1 graft progeny, a phenotype associated with auxin transport based on inhibitor assays. Large-scale field experiments show msh1 grafting effects on tomato plant performance, heritable over five generations, demonstrating the agricultural potential of epigenetic variation. The meiotic transmissibility and progeny phenotypic influence of graft-mediated epigenetic changes remain unclear. Here, the authors use the msh1 mutant in the rootstock to trigger heritable enhanced growth vigor in Arabidopsis and tomato, and show it is associated with the RNA-directed DNA methylation pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hardik Kundariya
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA.,Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Xiaodong Yang
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Kyla Morton
- EpiCrop Technologies, Inc., Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Robersy Sanchez
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Michael J Axtell
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Samuel F Hutton
- Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, IFAS, University of Florida, Wimauma, FL, USA
| | | | - Sally A Mackenzie
- Departments of Biology and Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
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23
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Epigenetics and epigenomics: underlying mechanisms, relevance, and implications in crop improvement. Funct Integr Genomics 2020; 20:739-761. [PMID: 33089419 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-020-00756-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetics is defined as changes in gene expression that are not associated with changes in DNA sequence but due to the result of methylation of DNA and post-translational modifications to the histones. These epigenetic modifications are known to regulate gene expression by bringing changes in the chromatin state, which underlies plant development and shapes phenotypic plasticity in responses to the environment and internal cues. This review articulates the role of histone modifications and DNA methylation in modulating biotic and abiotic stresses, as well as crop improvement. It also highlights the possibility of engineering epigenomes and epigenome-based predictive models for improving agronomic traits.
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Varotto S, Tani E, Abraham E, Krugman T, Kapazoglou A, Melzer R, Radanović A, Miladinović D. Epigenetics: possible applications in climate-smart crop breeding. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2020; 71:5223-5236. [PMID: 32279074 PMCID: PMC7475248 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
To better adapt transiently or lastingly to stimuli from the surrounding environment, the chromatin states in plant cells vary to allow the cells to fine-tune their transcriptional profiles. Modifications of chromatin states involve a wide range of post-transcriptional histone modifications, histone variants, DNA methylation, and activity of non-coding RNAs, which can epigenetically determine specific transcriptional outputs. Recent advances in the area of '-omics' of major crops have facilitated identification of epigenetic marks and their effect on plant response to environmental stresses. As most epigenetic mechanisms are known from studies in model plants, we summarize in this review recent epigenetic studies that may be important for improvement of crop adaptation and resilience to environmental changes, ultimately leading to the generation of stable climate-smart crops. This has paved the way for exploitation of epigenetic variation in crop breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Varotto
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals, and the Environment, University of Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell’Università, Padova, Italy
| | - Eleni Tani
- Department of Crop Science, Laboratory of Plant Breeding and Biometry, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Abraham
- Laboratory of Range Science, School of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Tamar Krugman
- Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Aliki Kapazoglou
- Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture (IOSV), Department of Vitis, Hellenic Agricultural Organization-Demeter (HAO-Demeter), Lykovrysi, Greece
| | - Rainer Melzer
- School of Biology and Environmental Science and Earth Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
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Segregation of an MSH1 RNAi transgene produces heritable non-genetic memory in association with methylome reprogramming. Nat Commun 2020; 11:2214. [PMID: 32371941 PMCID: PMC7200659 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16036-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
MSH1 is a plant-specific protein. RNAi suppression of MSH1 results in phenotype variability for developmental and stress response pathways. Segregation of the RNAi transgene produces non-genetic msh1 ‘memory’ with multi-generational inheritance. First-generation memory versus non-memory comparison, and six-generation inheritance studies, identifies gene-associated, heritable methylation repatterning. Genome-wide methylome analysis integrated with RNAseq and network-based enrichment studies identifies altered circadian clock networks, and phytohormone and stress response pathways that intersect with circadian control. A total of 373 differentially methylated loci comprising these networks are sufficient to discriminate memory from nonmemory full sibs. Methylation inhibitor 5-azacytidine diminishes the differences between memory and wild type for growth, gene expression and methylation patterning. The msh1 reprogramming is dependent on functional HISTONE DEACETYLASE 6 and methyltransferase MET1, and transition to memory requires the RNA-directed DNA methylation pathway. This system of phenotypic plasticity may serve as a potent model for defining accelerated plant adaptation during environmental change. Segregation of an MSH1 RNAi transgene produces non-genetic memory that displays transgenerational inheritance in Arabidopsis. Here, the authors compare memory and non-memory full-sib progenies to show the involvement of DNA methylation reprogramming, involving the RdDM pathway, in transition to a heritable memory state.
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Abstract
Epigenetic changes influence gene expression and contribute to the modulation of biological processes in response to the environment. Transgenerational epigenetic changes in gene expression have been described in many eukaryotes. However, plants appear to have a stronger propensity for inheriting novel epialleles. This mini-review discusses how plant traits, such as meristematic growth, totipotency, and incomplete epigenetic erasure in gametes promote epiallele inheritance. Additionally, we highlight how plant biology may be inherently tailored to reap the benefits of epigenetic metastability. Importantly, environmentally triggered small RNA expression and subsequent epigenetic changes may allow immobile plants to adapt themselves, and possibly their progeny, to thrive in local environments. The change of epigenetic states through the passage of generations has ramifications for evolution in the natural and agricultural world. In populations containing little genetic diversity, such as elite crop germplasm or habitually self-reproducing species, epigenetics may provide an important source of heritable phenotypic variation. Basic understanding of the processes that direct epigenetic shifts in the genome may allow for breeding or bioengineering for improved plant traits that do not require changes to DNA sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A A Minow
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Joseph Colasanti
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
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Abstract
Recent advances in genome engineering are revolutionizing crop research and plant breeding. The ability to make specific modifications to a plant's genetic material creates opportunities for rapid development of elite cultivars with desired traits. The plant genome can be altered in several ways, including targeted introduction of nucleotide changes, deleting DNA segments, introducing exogenous DNA fragments and epigenetic modifications. Targeted changes are mediated by sequence specific nucleases (SSNs), such as zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and CRISPR (clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeats)-Cas (CRISPR associated protein) systems. Recent advances in engineering chimeric Cas nucleases fused to base editing enzymes permit for even greater precision in base editing and control over gene expression. In addition to gene editing technologies, improvement in delivery systems of exogenous DNA into plant cells have increased the rate of successful gene editing events. Regeneration of fertile plants containing the desired edits remains challenging; however, manipulation of embryogenesis-related genes such as BABY BOOM (BBM) has been shown to facilitate regeneration through tissue culture, often a major hurdle in recalcitrant cultivars. Epigenome reprogramming for improved crop performance is another possibility for future breeders, with recent studies on MutS HOMOLOG 1 (MSH1) demonstrating epigenetic-dependent hybrid vigor in several crops. While these technologies offer plant breeders new tools in creating high yielding, better adapted crop varieties, constantly evolving government policy regarding the cultivation of plants containing transgenes may impede the widespread adoption of some of these techniques. This chapter summarizes advances in genome editing tools and discusses the future of these techniques for crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andriy Bilichak
- Morden Research and Development Center, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Morden, MB, Canada.
| | - Daniel Gaudet
- The University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - John Laurie
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
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Abstract
Cytosine methylation as a reversible chromatin mark has been investigated extensively for its influence on gene silencing and the regulation of its dynamic association-disassociation at specific sites within a eukaryotic genome. With the remarkable reductions in cost and time associated with whole-genome DNA sequence analysis, coupled with the high fidelity of bisulfite-treated DNA sequencing, single nucleotide resolution of cytosine methylation repatterning within even very large genomes is increasingly achievable. What remains a challenge is the analysis of genome-wide methylome datasets and, consequently, a clear understanding of the overall influence of methylation repatterning on gene expression or vice versa. Reported data have sometimes been subject to stringent data filtering methods that can serve to skew downstream biological interpretation. These complications derive from methylome analysis procedures that vary widely in method and parameter setting. DNA methylation as a chromatin feature that influences DNA stability can be dynamic and rapidly responsive to environmental change. Consequently, methods to discriminate background "noise" of the system from biological signal in response to specific perturbation is essential in some types of experiments. We describe numerous aspects of whole-genome bisulfite sequence data that must be contemplated as well as the various steps of methylome data analysis which impact the biological interpretation of the final output.
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Mackenzie SA, Kundariya H. Organellar protein multi-functionality and phenotypic plasticity in plants. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 375:20190182. [PMID: 31787051 PMCID: PMC6939364 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
With the increasing impact of climate instability on agricultural and ecological systems has come a heightened sense of urgency to understand plant adaptation mechanisms in more detail. Plant species have a remarkable ability to disperse their progeny to a wide range of environments, demonstrating extraordinary resiliency mechanisms that incorporate epigenetics and transgenerational stability. Surprisingly, some of the underlying versatility of plants to adapt to abiotic and biotic stress emerges from the neofunctionalization of organelles and organellar proteins. We describe evidence of possible plastid specialization and multi-functional organellar protein features that serve to enhance plant phenotypic plasticity. These features appear to rely on, for example, spatio-temporal regulation of plastid composition, and unusual interorganellar protein targeting and retrograde signalling features that facilitate multi-functionalization. Although we report in detail on three such specializations, involving MSH1, WHIRLY1 and CUE1 proteins in Arabidopsis, there is ample reason to believe that these represent only a fraction of what is yet to be discovered as we begin to elaborate cross-species diversity. Recent observations suggest that plant proteins previously defined in one context may soon be rediscovered in new roles and that much more detailed investigation of proteins that show subcellular multi-targeting may be warranted. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Linking the mitochondrial genotype to phenotype: a complex endeavour’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally A Mackenzie
- Departments of Biology and Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, 362 Frear North Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Hardik Kundariya
- Departments of Biology and Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, 362 Frear North Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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Jo YD, Lee HY, Ro NY, Kim SH, Kim JB, Kang BC, Kang SY. Mitotypes Based on Structural Variation of Mitochondrial Genomes Imply Relationships With Morphological Phenotypes and Cytoplasmic Male Sterility in Peppers. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2019; 10:1343. [PMID: 31708952 PMCID: PMC6822277 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2019.01343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Plant mitochondrial genomes characteristically contain extensive structural variation that can be used to define and classify cytoplasm types. We developed markers based on structural variation in the mitochondrial genomes of fertile and cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) pepper lines and applied them to a panel of Capsicum accessions. We designed a total of 20 sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers based on DNA rearrangement junctions or cytoplasm-specific segments that did not show high similarity to any nuclear mitochondrial DNA segments. We used those markers to classify the mitotypes of 96 C. annuum accessions into 15 groups. Precise genotyping of other Capsicum species (C. frutescens, C. chinense, and C. baccatum) was hampered because of various stoichiometric levels of marker amplicons. We developed a multiplex PCR system based on four of the markers that efficiently classified the C. annuum accessions into five mitotype groups. Close relationships between specific mitotypes and morphological phenotypes implied that diversification or domestication of C. annuum germplasm might have been accompanied by structural rearrangements of mitochondrial DNA or the selection of germplasms with specific mitotypes. Meanwhile, CMS lines shared the same amplification profile of markers with another mitotype. Further analysis using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers based on single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or insertions and deletions (InDels) and CMS-specific open reading frames (orfs) provided new information about the origin of the CMS-specific mitotype and evaluation of candidates for CMS-associated genes, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeong Deuk Jo
- Radiation Breeding Team, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup, South Korea
| | - Hea-Young Lee
- Department of Plant Science and Vegetable Breeding Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Na-Young Ro
- National Agrobiodiversity Center, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Jeonju, South Korea
| | - Sang Hoon Kim
- Radiation Breeding Team, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup, South Korea
| | - Jin-Baek Kim
- Radiation Breeding Team, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup, South Korea
| | - Byoung-Cheorl Kang
- Department of Plant Science and Vegetable Breeding Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Si-Yong Kang
- Radiation Breeding Team, Advanced Radiation Technology Institute, Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, Jeongeup, South Korea
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Abstract
The evolutionary processes that transitioned plants to land-based habitats also incorporated a multiplicity of strategies to enhance resilience to the greater environmental variation encountered on land. The sensing of light, its quality, quantity, and duration, is central to plant survival and, as such, serves as a central network hub. Similarly, plants as sessile organisms that can encounter isolation must continually assess their reproductive options, requiring plasticity in propagation by self- and cross-pollination or asexual strategies. Irregular fluctuations and intermittent extremes in temperature, soil fertility, and moisture conditions have given impetus to genetic specializations for network resiliency, protein neofunctionalization, and internal mechanisms to accelerate their evolution. We review some of the current advancements made in understanding plant resiliency and phenotypic plasticity mechanisms. These mechanisms incorporate unusual nuclear-cytoplasmic interactions, various transposable element (TE) activities, and epigenetic plasticity of central gene networks that are broadly pleiotropic to influence resiliency phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Yang
- Departments of Biology and Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Sally A Mackenzie
- Departments of Biology and Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
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32
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Johnston IG. Tension and Resolution: Dynamic, Evolving Populations of Organelle Genomes within Plant Cells. MOLECULAR PLANT 2019; 12:764-783. [PMID: 30445187 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2018.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Revised: 10/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondria and plastids form dynamic, evolving populations physically embedded in the fluctuating environment of the plant cell. Their evolutionary heritage has shaped how the cell controls the genetic structure and the physical behavior of its organelle populations. While the specific genes involved in these processes are gradually being revealed, the governing principles underlying this controlled behavior remain poorly understood. As the genetic and physical dynamics of these organelles are central to bioenergetic performance and plant physiology, this challenges both fundamental biology and strategies to engineer better-performing plants. This article reviews current knowledge of the physical and genetic behavior of mitochondria and chloroplasts in plant cells. An overarching hypothesis is proposed whereby organelles face a tension between genetic robustness and individual control and responsiveness, and different species resolve this tension in different ways. As plants are immobile and thus subject to fluctuating environments, their organelles are proposed to favor individual responsiveness, sacrificing genetic robustness. Several notable features of plant organelles, including large genomes, mtDNA recombination, fragmented organelles, and plastid/mitochondrial differences may potentially be explained by this hypothesis. Finally, the ways that quantitative and systems biology can help shed light on the plethora of open questions in this field are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iain G Johnston
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK; Birmingham Institute for Forest Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.
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33
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Raju SKK, Shao M, Sanchez R, Xu Y, Sandhu A, Graef G, Mackenzie S. An epigenetic breeding system in soybean for increased yield and stability. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2018; 16:1836-1847. [PMID: 29570925 PMCID: PMC6181216 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Revised: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 02/24/2018] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic variation has been associated with a wide range of adaptive phenotypes in plants, but there exist few direct means for exploiting this variation. RNAi suppression of the plant-specific gene, MutS HOMOLOG1 (MSH1), in multiple plant species produces a range of developmental changes accompanied by modulation of defence, phytohormone and abiotic stress response pathways along with methylome repatterning. This msh1-conditioned developmental reprogramming is retained independent of transgene segregation, giving rise to transgene-null 'memory' effects. An isogenic memory line crossed to wild type produces progeny families displaying increased variation in adaptive traits that respond to selection. This study investigates amenability of the MSH1 system for inducing agronomically valuable epigenetic variation in soybean. We developed MSH1 epi-populations by crossing with msh1-acquired soybean memory lines. Derived soybean epi-lines showed increase in variance for multiple yield-related traits including pods per plant, seed weight and maturity time in both glasshouse and field trials. Selected epi-F2:4 and epi-F2:5 lines showed an increase in seed yield over wild type. By epi-F2:6, we observed a return of MSH1-derived enhanced growth back to wild-type levels. Epi-populations also showed evidence of reduced epitype-by-environment (e × E) interaction, indicating higher yield stability. Transcript profiling of epi-lines identified putative signatures of enhanced growth behaviour across generations. Genes related to cell cycle, abscisic acid biosynthesis and auxin response, particularly SMALL AUXIN UP RNAs (SAURs), were differentially expressed in epi-F2:4 lines that showed increased yield when compared to epi-F2:6 . These data support the potential of MSH1-derived epigenetic variation in plant breeding for enhanced yield and yield stability.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mon‐Ray Shao
- Department of Agronomy and HorticultureUniversity of Nebraska‐LincolnLincolnNEUSA
| | - Robersy Sanchez
- Department of Agronomy and HorticultureUniversity of Nebraska‐LincolnLincolnNEUSA
- Present address:
Departments of Biology and Plant SciencePennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPAUSA
| | - Ying‐Zhi Xu
- Department of Agronomy and HorticultureUniversity of Nebraska‐LincolnLincolnNEUSA
| | - Ajay Sandhu
- Department of Agronomy and HorticultureUniversity of Nebraska‐LincolnLincolnNEUSA
- Present address:
SyngentaWoodlandCAUSA
| | - George Graef
- Department of Agronomy and HorticultureUniversity of Nebraska‐LincolnLincolnNEUSA
| | - Sally Mackenzie
- Department of Agronomy and HorticultureUniversity of Nebraska‐LincolnLincolnNEUSA
- Present address:
Departments of Biology and Plant SciencePennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPAUSA
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Kenchanmane Raju SK, Shao M, Wamboldt Y, Mackenzie S. Epigenomic plasticity of Arabidopsis msh1 mutants under prolonged cold stress. PLANT DIRECT 2018; 2:e00079. [PMID: 31245744 PMCID: PMC6508824 DOI: 10.1002/pld3.79] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2018] [Revised: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Dynamic transcriptional and epigenetic changes enable rapid adaptive benefit to environmental fluctuations. However, the underlying mechanisms and the extent to which this occurs are not well known. MutS Homolog 1 (MSH1) mutants cause heritable developmental phenotypes accompanied by modulation of defense, phytohormone, stress-response, and circadian rhythm genes, as well as heritable changes in DNA methylation patterns. Consistent with gene expression changes, msh1 mutants display enhanced tolerance for abiotic stress including drought and salt stress, while showing increased susceptibility to freezing temperatures. Despite changes in defense and biotic stress-response genes, msh1 mutants showed increasing susceptibility to the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae. Our results suggest that chronic cold and low light stress (10°C, 150 μmol m-2 s-1) influences non-CG methylation to a greater degree in msh1 mutants compared to wild-type Col-0. Furthermore, CHG changes are more closely pericentromeric, whereas CHH changes are generally more dispersed. This increased variation in non-CG methylation pattern does not significantly affect the msh1-derived enhanced growth behavior after mutants are crossed with isogenic wild type, reiterating the importance of CG methylation changes in msh1-derived enhanced vigor. These results indicate that msh1methylome is hyper-responsive to environmental stress in a manner distinct from the wild-type response, but CG methylation changes are potentially responsible for growth vigor changes in the crossed progeny.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mon‐Ray Shao
- Department of Agronomy and HorticultureUniversity of Nebraska‐LincolnLincolnNebraska
| | - Yashitola Wamboldt
- Department of Agronomy and HorticultureUniversity of Nebraska‐LincolnLincolnNebraska
| | - Sally Mackenzie
- Department of Agronomy and HorticultureUniversity of Nebraska‐LincolnLincolnNebraska
- Present address:
Departments of Biology and Plant SciencePennsylvania State UniversityUniversity ParkPennsylvania
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35
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Gouil Q, Baulcombe DC. Paramutation-like features of multiple natural epialleles in tomato. BMC Genomics 2018; 19:203. [PMID: 29554868 PMCID: PMC5859443 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-4590-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Freakish and rare or the tip of the iceberg? Both phrases have been used to refer to paramutation, an epigenetic drive that contravenes Mendel’s first law of segregation. Although its underlying mechanisms are beginning to unravel, its understanding relies only on a few examples that may involve transgenes or artificially generated epialleles. Results By using DNA methylation of introgression lines as an indication of past paramutation, we reveal that the paramutation-like properties of the H06 locus in hybrids of Solanum lycopersicum and a range of tomato relatives and cultivars depend on the timing of sRNA production and conform to an RNA-directed mechanism. In addition, by scanning the methylomes of tomato introgression lines for shared regions of differential methylation that are absent in the S. lycopersicum parent, we identify thousands of candidate regions for paramutation-like behaviour. The methylation patterns for a subset of these regions segregate with non Mendelian ratios, consistent with secondary paramutation-like interactions to variable extents depending on the locus. Conclusion Together these results demonstrate that paramutation-like epigenetic interactions are common for natural epialleles in tomato, but vary in timing and penetrance. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-018-4590-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin Gouil
- Present address: Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, 3052, Australia. .,Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK.
| | - David C Baulcombe
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK.
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36
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Fujimoto R, Uezono K, Ishikura S, Osabe K, Peacock WJ, Dennis ES. Recent research on the mechanism of heterosis is important for crop and vegetable breeding systems. BREEDING SCIENCE 2018; 68:145-158. [PMID: 29875598 PMCID: PMC5982191 DOI: 10.1270/jsbbs.17155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Heterosis or hybrid vigor is a phenomenon where hybrid progeny have superior performance compared to their parental inbred lines. This is important in the use of F1 hybrid cultivars in many crops and vegetables. However, the molecular mechanism of heterosis is not clearly understood. Gene interactions between the two genomes such as dominance, overdominance, and epistasis have been suggested to explain the increased biomass and yield. Genetic analyses of F1 hybrids in maize, rice, and canola have defined a large number of quantitative trait loci, which may contribute to heterosis. Recent molecular analyses of transcriptomes together with reference to the epigenome of the parents and hybrids have begun to uncover new facts about the generation of heterosis. These include the identification of gene expression changes in hybrids, which may be important for heterosis, the role of epigenetic processes in heterosis, and the development of stable high yielding lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Fujimoto
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University,
Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 657-8501,
Japan
- Corresponding author (e-mail: )
| | - Kosuke Uezono
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University,
Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 657-8501,
Japan
| | - Sonoko Ishikura
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University,
Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 657-8501,
Japan
| | - Kenji Osabe
- Plant Epigenetics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University,
Onna-son, Okinawa 904-0495,
Japan
| | - W. James Peacock
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food,
Canberra, ACT 2601,
Australia
- University of Technology, Sydney,
PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007,
Australia
| | - Elizabeth S. Dennis
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food,
Canberra, ACT 2601,
Australia
- University of Technology, Sydney,
PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007,
Australia
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Dwivedi SL, Scheben A, Edwards D, Spillane C, Ortiz R. Assessing and Exploiting Functional Diversity in Germplasm Pools to Enhance Abiotic Stress Adaptation and Yield in Cereals and Food Legumes. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:1461. [PMID: 28900432 PMCID: PMC5581882 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.01461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
There is a need to accelerate crop improvement by introducing alleles conferring host plant resistance, abiotic stress adaptation, and high yield potential. Elite cultivars, landraces and wild relatives harbor useful genetic variation that needs to be more easily utilized in plant breeding. We review genome-wide approaches for assessing and identifying alleles associated with desirable agronomic traits in diverse germplasm pools of cereals and legumes. Major quantitative trait loci and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with desirable agronomic traits have been deployed to enhance crop productivity and resilience. These include alleles associated with variation conferring enhanced photoperiod and flowering traits. Genetic variants in the florigen pathway can provide both environmental flexibility and improved yields. SNPs associated with length of growing season and tolerance to abiotic stresses (precipitation, high temperature) are valuable resources for accelerating breeding for drought-prone environments. Both genomic selection and genome editing can also harness allelic diversity and increase productivity by improving multiple traits, including phenology, plant architecture, yield potential and adaptation to abiotic stresses. Discovering rare alleles and useful haplotypes also provides opportunities to enhance abiotic stress adaptation, while epigenetic variation has potential to enhance abiotic stress adaptation and productivity in crops. By reviewing current knowledge on specific traits and their genetic basis, we highlight recent developments in the understanding of crop functional diversity and identify potential candidate genes for future use. The storage and integration of genetic, genomic and phenotypic information will play an important role in ensuring broad and rapid application of novel genetic discoveries by the plant breeding community. Exploiting alleles for yield-related traits would allow improvement of selection efficiency and overall genetic gain of multigenic traits. An integrated approach involving multiple stakeholders specializing in management and utilization of genetic resources, crop breeding, molecular biology and genomics, agronomy, stress tolerance, and reproductive/seed biology will help to address the global challenge of ensuring food security in the face of growing resource demands and climate change induced stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Armin Scheben
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, PerthWA, Australia
| | - David Edwards
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, PerthWA, Australia
| | - Charles Spillane
- Plant and AgriBiosciences Research Centre, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland GalwayGalway, Ireland
| | - Rodomiro Ortiz
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesAlnarp, Sweden
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Shao MR, Kumar Kenchanmane Raju S, Laurie JD, Sanchez R, Mackenzie SA. Stress-responsive pathways and small RNA changes distinguish variable developmental phenotypes caused by MSH1 loss. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2017; 17:47. [PMID: 28219335 PMCID: PMC5319189 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-017-0996-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Proper regulation of nuclear-encoded, organelle-targeted genes is crucial for plastid and mitochondrial function. Among these genes, MutS Homolog 1 (MSH1) is notable for generating an assortment of mutant phenotypes with varying degrees of penetrance and pleiotropy. Stronger phenotypes have been connected to stress tolerance and epigenetic changes, and in Arabidopsis T-DNA mutants, two generations of homozygosity with the msh1 insertion are required before severe phenotypes begin to emerge. These observations prompted us to examine how msh1 mutants contrast according to generation and phenotype by profiling their respective transcriptomes and small RNA populations. RESULTS Using RNA-seq, we analyze pathways that are associated with MSH1 loss, including abiotic stresses such as cold response, pathogen defense and immune response, salicylic acid, MAPK signaling, and circadian rhythm. Subtle redox and environment-responsive changes also begin in the first generation, in the absence of strong phenotypes. Using small RNA-seq we further identify miRNA changes, and uncover siRNA trends that indicate modifications at the chromatin organization level. In all cases, the magnitude of changes among protein-coding genes, transposable elements, and small RNAs increases according to generation and phenotypic severity. CONCLUSION Loss of MSH1 is sufficient to cause large-scale regulatory changes in pathways that have been individually linked to one another, but rarely described all together within a single mutant background. This study enforces the recognition of organelles as critical integrators of both internal and external cues, and highlights the relationship between organelle and nuclear regulation in fundamental aspects of plant development and stress signaling. Our findings also encourage further investigation into potential connections between organelle state and genome regulation vis-á-vis small RNA feedback.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mon-Ray Shao
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE USA
| | | | - John D. Laurie
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE USA
- Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Robersy Sanchez
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE USA
| | - Sally A. Mackenzie
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE USA
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Liberatore KL, Dukowic-Schulze S, Miller ME, Chen C, Kianian SF. The role of mitochondria in plant development and stress tolerance. Free Radic Biol Med 2016; 100:238-256. [PMID: 27036362 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2016.03.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Revised: 03/25/2016] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Eukaryotic cells require orchestrated communication between nuclear and organellar genomes, perturbations in which are linked to stress response and disease in both animals and plants. In addition to mitochondria, which are found across eukaryotes, plant cells contain a second organelle, the plastid. Signaling both among the organelles (cytoplasmic) and between the cytoplasm and the nucleus (i.e. nuclear-cytoplasmic interactions (NCI)) is essential for proper cellular function. A deeper understanding of NCI and its impact on development, stress response, and long-term health is needed in both animal and plant systems. Here we focus on the role of plant mitochondria in development and stress response. We compare and contrast features of plant and animal mitochondrial genomes (mtDNA), particularly highlighting the large and highly dynamic nature of plant mtDNA. Plant-based tools are powerful, yet underutilized, resources for enhancing our fundamental understanding of NCI. These tools also have great potential for improving crop production. Across taxa, mitochondria are most abundant in cells that have high energy or nutrient demands as well as at key developmental time points. Although plant mitochondria act as integrators of signals involved in both development and stress response pathways, little is known about plant mtDNA diversity and its impact on these processes. In humans, there are strong correlations between particular mitotypes (and mtDNA mutations) and developmental differences (or disease). We propose that future work in plants should focus on defining mitotypes more carefully and investigating their functional implications as well as improving techniques to facilitate this research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie L Liberatore
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Cereal Disease Laboratory, St. Paul, MN 55108, United States; Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, United States.
| | | | - Marisa E Miller
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Cereal Disease Laboratory, St. Paul, MN 55108, United States; Department of Horticultural Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, United States
| | - Changbin Chen
- Department of Horticultural Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, United States
| | - Shahryar F Kianian
- United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, Cereal Disease Laboratory, St. Paul, MN 55108, United States; Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, United States
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Twenty-four-nucleotide siRNAs produce heritable trans-chromosomal methylation in F1 Arabidopsis hybrids. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:E6895-E6902. [PMID: 27791153 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1613623113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Hybrid Arabidopsis plants undergo epigenetic reprogramming producing decreased levels of 24-nt siRNAs and altered patterns of DNA methylation that can affect gene expression. Driving the changes in methylation are the processes trans-chromosomal methylation (TCM) and trans-chromosomal demethylation (TCdM). In TCM/TCdM the methylation state of one allele is altered to resemble the other allele. We show that Pol IV-dependent sRNAs are required to establish TCM events. The changes in DNA methylation and the associated changes in sRNA levels in the F1 hybrid can be maintained in subsequent generations and affect hundreds of regions in the F2 epigenome. The inheritance of these altered epigenetic states varies in F2 individuals, resulting in individuals with genetically identical loci displaying different epigenetic states and gene expression profiles. The change in methylation at these regions is associated with the presence of sRNAs. Loci without any sRNA activity can have altered methylation states, suggesting that a sRNA-independent mechanism may also contribute to the altered methylation state of the F1 and F2 generations.
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41
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Wu J, Luo Z, Jiang N. Design of efficient simplified genomic DNA and bisulfite sequencing in large plant populations. QUANTITATIVE BIOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s40484-016-0079-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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42
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Chavarriaga-Aguirre P, Brand A, Medina A, Prías M, Escobar R, Martinez J, Díaz P, López C, Roca WM, Tohme J. The potential of using biotechnology to improve cassava: a review. IN VITRO CELLULAR & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY. PLANT : JOURNAL OF THE TISSUE CULTURE ASSOCIATION 2016; 52:461-478. [PMID: 27818605 PMCID: PMC5071364 DOI: 10.1007/s11627-016-9776-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 07/06/2016] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The importance of cassava as the fourth largest source of calories in the world requires that contributions of biotechnology to improving this crop, advances and current challenges, be periodically reviewed. Plant biotechnology offers a wide range of opportunities that can help cassava become a better crop for a constantly changing world. We therefore review the state of knowledge on the current use of biotechnology applied to cassava cultivars and its implications for breeding the crop into the future. The history of the development of the first transgenic cassava plant serves as the basis to explore molecular aspects of somatic embryogenesis and friable embryogenic callus production. We analyze complex plant-pathogen interactions to profit from such knowledge to help cassava fight bacterial diseases and look at candidate genes possibly involved in resistance to viruses and whiteflies-the two most important traits of cassava. The review also covers the analyses of main achievements in transgenic-mediated nutritional improvement and mass production of healthy plants by tissue culture and synthetic seeds. Finally, the perspectives of using genome editing and the challenges associated to climate change for further improving the crop are discussed. During the last 30 yr, great advances have been made in cassava using biotechnology, but they need to scale out of the proof of concept to the fields of cassava growers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Chavarriaga-Aguirre
- Agrobiodiversity Research Area, International Center for tropical Agriculture-CIAT, AA 6713 Cali, Colombia
| | - Alejandro Brand
- Agrobiodiversity Research Area, International Center for tropical Agriculture-CIAT, AA 6713 Cali, Colombia
| | - Adriana Medina
- Agrobiodiversity Research Area, International Center for tropical Agriculture-CIAT, AA 6713 Cali, Colombia
| | - Mónica Prías
- Agrobiodiversity Research Area, International Center for tropical Agriculture-CIAT, AA 6713 Cali, Colombia
| | - Roosevelt Escobar
- Agrobiodiversity Research Area, International Center for tropical Agriculture-CIAT, AA 6713 Cali, Colombia
| | - Juan Martinez
- Agrobiodiversity Research Area, International Center for tropical Agriculture-CIAT, AA 6713 Cali, Colombia
| | - Paula Díaz
- Biology Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 30 No. 45-03. Edificio 421, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Camilo López
- Biology Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 30 No. 45-03. Edificio 421, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Willy M Roca
- International Potato Center-CIP, Av. La Molina 1895, Lima 12, P.O. Box 1558, Lima, Perú
| | - Joe Tohme
- Agrobiodiversity Research Area, International Center for tropical Agriculture-CIAT, AA 6713 Cali, Colombia
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Bilichak A, Kovalchuk I. Transgenerational response to stress in plants and its application for breeding. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2016; 67:2081-92. [PMID: 26944635 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erw066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
A growing number of reports indicate that plants possess the ability to maintain a memory of stress exposure throughout their ontogenesis and even transmit it faithfully to the following generation. Some of the features of transgenerational memory include elevated genome instability, a higher tolerance to stress experienced by parents, and a cross-tolerance. Although the underlying molecular mechanisms of this phenomenon are not clear, a likely contributing factor is the absence of full-scale reprogramming of the epigenetic landscape during gametogenesis; therefore, epigenetic marks can occasionally escape the reprogramming process and can be passed on to the progeny. To date, it is not entirely clear which part of the epigenetic landscape is more likely to escape the reprogramming events, and whether such a process is random or directed and sequence specific. The identification of specific epigenetic marks associated with specific stressors would allow generation of stress-tolerant plants through the recently discovered techniques for precision epigenome engineering. The engineered DNA-binding domains (e.g. ZF, TALE, and dCas9) fused to particular chromatin modifiers would make it possible to target epigenetic modifications to the selected loci, probably allowing stress tolerance to be achieved in the progeny. This approach, termed epigenetic breeding, along with other methods has great potential to be used for both the assessment of the propagation of epigenetic marks across generations and trait improvement in plants. In this communication, we provide a short overview of recent reports demonstrating a transgenerational response to stress in plants, and discuss the underlying potential molecular mechanisms of this phenomenon and its use for plant biotechnology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Igor Kovalchuk
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, University Drive 4401, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3M4, Canada
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Soltani A, Kumar A, Mergoum M, Pirseyedi SM, Hegstad JB, Mazaheri M, Kianian SF. Novel nuclear-cytoplasmic interaction in wheat (Triticum aestivum) induces vigorous plants. Funct Integr Genomics 2016; 16:171-82. [PMID: 26860316 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-016-0475-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2015] [Revised: 01/03/2016] [Accepted: 01/10/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Interspecific hybridization can be considered an accelerator of evolution, otherwise a slow process, solely dependent on mutation and recombination. Upon interspecific hybridization, several novel interactions between nuclear and cytoplasmic genomes emerge which provide additional sources of diversity. The magnitude and essence of intergenomic interactions between nuclear and cytoplasmic genomes remain unknown due to the direction of many crosses. This study was conducted to address the role of nuclear-cytoplasmic interactions as a source of variation upon hybridization. Wheat (Triticum aestivum) alloplasmic lines carrying the cytoplasm of Aegilops mutica along with an integrated approach utilizing comparative quantitative trait locus (QTL) and epigenome analysis were used to dissect this interaction. The results indicate that cytoplasmic genomes can modify the magnitude of QTL controlling certain physiological traits such as dry matter weight. Furthermore, methylation profiling analysis detected eight polymorphic regions affected by the cytoplasm type. In general, these results indicate that novel nuclear-cytoplasmic interactions can potentially trigger an epigenetic modification cascade in nuclear genes which eventually change the genetic network controlling physiological traits. These modified genetic networks can serve as new sources of variation to accelerate the evolutionary process. Furthermore, this variation can synthetically be produced by breeders in their programs to develop epigenomic-segregating lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Soltani
- Department of Plant Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, 58108, USA
| | - Ajay Kumar
- Department of Plant Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, 58108, USA
| | - Mohamed Mergoum
- Department of Crop and Soil, University of Georgia, 1109 Experiment St, Griffin, GA, 30223, USA
| | | | - Justin B Hegstad
- Department of Plant Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, 58108, USA
| | - Mona Mazaheri
- Department of Plant Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, 58108, USA
| | - Shahryar F Kianian
- USDA-ARS Cereal Disease Laboratory, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, 55108, USA.
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Virdi KS, Wamboldt Y, Kundariya H, Laurie JD, Keren I, Kumar KRS, Block A, Basset G, Luebker S, Elowsky C, Day PM, Roose JL, Bricker TM, Elthon T, Mackenzie SA. MSH1 Is a Plant Organellar DNA Binding and Thylakoid Protein under Precise Spatial Regulation to Alter Development. MOLECULAR PLANT 2016; 9:245-260. [PMID: 26584715 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2015.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2015] [Revised: 10/20/2015] [Accepted: 10/29/2015] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
As metabolic centers, plant organelles participate in maintenance, defense, and signaling. MSH1 is a plant-specific protein involved in organellar genome stability in mitochondria and plastids. Plastid depletion of MSH1 causes heritable, non-genetic changes in development and DNA methylation. We investigated the msh1 phenotype using hemi-complementation mutants and transgene-null segregants from RNAi suppression lines to sub-compartmentalize MSH1 effects. We show that MSH1 expression is spatially regulated, specifically localizing to plastids within the epidermis and vascular parenchyma. The protein binds DNA and localizes to plastid and mitochondrial nucleoids, but fractionation and protein-protein interactions data indicate that MSH1 also associates with the thylakoid membrane. Plastid MSH1 depletion results in variegation, abiotic stress tolerance, variable growth rate, and delayed maturity. Depletion from mitochondria results in 7%-10% of plants altered in leaf morphology, heat tolerance, and mitochondrial genome stability. MSH1 does not localize within the nucleus directly, but plastid depletion produces non-genetic changes in flowering time, maturation, and growth rate that are heritable independent of MSH1. MSH1 depletion alters non-photoactive redox behavior in plastids and a sub-set of mitochondrially altered lines. Ectopic expression produces deleterious effects, underlining its strict expression control. Unraveling the complexity of the MSH1 effect offers insight into triggers of plant-specific, transgenerational adaptation behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamaldeep S Virdi
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Yashitola Wamboldt
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Hardik Kundariya
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - John D Laurie
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Ido Keren
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - K R Sunil Kumar
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Anna Block
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Gilles Basset
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Steve Luebker
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Christian Elowsky
- Center for Biotechnology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Philip M Day
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Johnna L Roose
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Terry M Bricker
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Thomas Elthon
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - Sally A Mackenzie
- Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA.
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