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Suo J, Liu Y, Yan J, Li Q, Chen W, Liu Z, Zhang Z, Hu Y, Yu W, Yan J, Song L, Wu J. Sucrose promotes cone enlargement via the TgNGA1-TgWRKY47-TgEXPA2 module in Torreya grandis. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 243:1823-1839. [PMID: 39005107 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Cone enlargement is a crucial process for seed production and reproduction in gymnosperms. Most of our knowledge of cone development is derived from observing anatomical structure during gametophyte development. Therefore, the exact molecular mechanism underlying cone enlargement after fertilization is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that sucrose promotes cone enlargement in Torreya grandis, a gymnosperm species with relatively low rates of cone enlargement, via the TgNGA1-TgWRKY47-TgEXPA2 pathway. Cell expansion plays a significant role in cone enlargement in T. grandis. 13C labeling and sucrose feeding experiments indicated that sucrose-induced changes in cell size and number contribute to cone enlargement in this species. RNA-sequencing analysis, transient overexpression in T. grandis cones, and stable overexpression in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) suggested that the expansin gene TgEXPA2 positively regulates cell expansion in T. grandis cones. The WRKY transcription factor TgWRKY47 directly enhances TgEXPA2 expression by binding to its promoter. Additionally, the NGATHA transcription factor TgNGA1 directly interacts with TgWRKY47. This interaction suppresses the DNA-binding ability of TgWRKY47, thereby reducing its transcriptional activation on TgEXPA2 without affecting the transactivation ability of TgWRKY47. Our findings establish a link between sucrose and cone enlargement in T. grandis and elucidate the potential underlying molecular mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinwei Suo
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, China
| | - Ya Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, China
| | - Jiawen Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, China
| | - Qianxi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, China
| | - Weijie Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, China
| | - Zhihui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, China
| | - Zuying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, China
| | - Yuanyuan Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, China
| | - Weiwu Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, China
| | - Jingwei Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, China
| | - Lili Song
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, China
| | - Jiasheng Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 311300, China
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Bowman JL, Moyroud E. Reflections on the ABC model of flower development. THE PLANT CELL 2024; 36:1334-1357. [PMID: 38345422 PMCID: PMC11062442 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koae044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
The formulation of the ABC model by a handful of pioneer plant developmental geneticists was a seminal event in the quest to answer a seemingly simple question: how are flowers formed? Fast forward 30 years and this elegant model has generated a vibrant and diverse community, capturing the imagination of developmental and evolutionary biologists, structuralists, biochemists and molecular biologists alike. Together they have managed to solve many floral mysteries, uncovering the regulatory processes that generate the characteristic spatio-temporal expression patterns of floral homeotic genes, elucidating some of the mechanisms allowing ABC genes to specify distinct organ identities, revealing how evolution tinkers with the ABC to generate morphological diversity, and even shining a light on the origins of the floral gene regulatory network itself. Here we retrace the history of the ABC model, from its genesis to its current form, highlighting specific milestones along the way before drawing attention to some of the unsolved riddles still hidden in the floral alphabet.
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Affiliation(s)
- John L Bowman
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Edwige Moyroud
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, Cambridge University, Cambridge CB2 1LR, UK
- Department of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
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3
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Feng YY, Du H, Huang KY, Ran JH, Wang XQ. Reciprocal expression of MADS-box genes and DNA methylation reconfiguration initiate bisexual cones in spruce. Commun Biol 2024; 7:114. [PMID: 38242964 PMCID: PMC10799047 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-05786-6] [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: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The naturally occurring bisexual cone of gymnosperms has long been considered a possible intermediate stage in the origin of flowers, but the mechanisms governing bisexual cone formation remain largely elusive. Here, we employed transcriptomic and DNA methylomic analyses, together with hormone measurement, to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying bisexual cone development in the conifer Picea crassifolia. Our study reveals a "bisexual" expression profile in bisexual cones, especially in expression patterns of B-class, C-class and LEAFY genes, supporting the out of male model. GGM7 could be essential for initiating bisexual cones. DNA methylation reconfiguration in bisexual cones affects the expression of key genes in cone development, including PcDAL12, PcDAL10, PcNEEDLY, and PcHDG5. Auxin likely plays an important role in the development of female structures of bisexual cones. This study unveils the potential mechanisms responsible for bisexual cone formation in conifers and may shed light on the evolution of bisexuality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Yuan Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Hong Du
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Kai-Yuan Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, 100093, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jin-Hua Ran
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China.
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, 100093, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Xiao-Quan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Diversity and Specialty Crops, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China.
- China National Botanical Garden, Beijing, 100093, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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Rieu P, Arnoux-Courseaux M, Tichtinsky G, Parcy F. Thinking outside the F-box: how UFO controls angiosperm development. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 240:945-959. [PMID: 37664990 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
The formation of inflorescences and flowers is essential for the successful reproduction of angiosperms. In the past few decades, genetic studies have identified the LEAFY transcription factor and the UNUSUAL FLORAL ORGANS (UFO) F-box protein as two major regulators of flower development in a broad range of angiosperm species. Recent research has revealed that UFO acts as a transcriptional cofactor, redirecting the LEAFY floral regulator to novel cis-elements. In this review, we summarize the various roles of UFO across species, analyze past results in light of new discoveries and highlight the key questions that remain to be solved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Rieu
- Laboratoire Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INRAE, IRIG-DBSCI-LPCV, 17 ave des martyrs, F-38054, Grenoble, France
| | - Moïra Arnoux-Courseaux
- Laboratoire Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INRAE, IRIG-DBSCI-LPCV, 17 ave des martyrs, F-38054, Grenoble, France
| | - Gabrielle Tichtinsky
- Laboratoire Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INRAE, IRIG-DBSCI-LPCV, 17 ave des martyrs, F-38054, Grenoble, France
| | - François Parcy
- Laboratoire Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INRAE, IRIG-DBSCI-LPCV, 17 ave des martyrs, F-38054, Grenoble, France
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Li Y, Zhao M, Cai K, Liu L, Han R, Pei X, Zhang L, Zhao X. Phytohormone biosynthesis and transcriptional analyses provide insight into the main growth stage of male and female cones Pinus koraiensis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1273409. [PMID: 37885661 PMCID: PMC10598626 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1273409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
The cone is a crucial component of the whole life cycle of gymnosperm and an organ for sexual reproduction of gymnosperms. In Pinus koraiensis, the quantity and development process of male and female cones directly influence seed production, which in turn influences the tree's economic value. There are, however, due to the lack of genetic information and genomic data, the morphological development and molecular mechanism of female and male cones of P. koraiensis have not been analyzed. Long-term phenological observations were used in this study to document the main process of the growth of both male and female cones. Transcriptome sequencing and endogenous hormone levels at three critical developmental stages were then analyzed to identify the regulatory networks that control these stages of cones development. The most significant plant hormones influencing male and female cones growth were discovered to be gibberellin and brassinosteroids, according to measurements of endogenous hormone content. Additionally, transcriptome sequencing allowed the identification of 71,097 and 31,195 DEGs in male and female cones. The synthesis and control of plant hormones during cones growth were discovered via enrichment analysis of key enrichment pathways. FT and other flowering-related genes were discovered in the coexpression network of flower growth development, which contributed to the growth development of male and female cones of P. koraiensis. The findings of this work offer a cutting-edge foundation for understanding reproductive biology and the molecular mechanisms that control the growth development of male and female cones in P. koraiensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Li
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tree and Grass Genetics and Breeding, College of Forestry and Grassland Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
- College of Life Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Minghui Zhao
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tree and Grass Genetics and Breeding, College of Forestry and Grassland Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Kewei Cai
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tree and Grass Genetics and Breeding, College of Forestry and Grassland Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Lin Liu
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tree and Grass Genetics and Breeding, College of Forestry and Grassland Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Rui Han
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tree and Grass Genetics and Breeding, College of Forestry and Grassland Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaona Pei
- College of Horticulture, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Lina Zhang
- School of Information Technology, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiyang Zhao
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Tree and Grass Genetics and Breeding, College of Forestry and Grassland Science, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
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Akhter S, Westrin KJ, Zivi N, Nordal V, Kretzschmar WW, Delhomme N, Street NR, Nilsson O, Emanuelsson O, Sundström JF. Cone-setting in spruce is regulated by conserved elements of the age-dependent flowering pathway. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 236:1951-1963. [PMID: 36076311 PMCID: PMC9825996 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Reproductive phase change is well characterized in angiosperm model species, but less studied in gymnosperms. We utilize the early cone-setting acrocona mutant to study reproductive phase change in the conifer Picea abies (Norway spruce), a gymnosperm. The acrocona mutant frequently initiates cone-like structures, called transition shoots, in positions where wild-type P. abies always produces vegetative shoots. We collect acrocona and wild-type samples, and RNA-sequence their messenger RNA (mRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) fractions. We establish gene expression patterns and then use allele-specific transcript assembly to identify mutations in acrocona. We genotype a segregating population of inbred acrocona trees. A member of the SQUAMOSA BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE (SPL) gene family, PaSPL1, is active in reproductive meristems, whereas two putative negative regulators of PaSPL1, miRNA156 and the conifer specific miRNA529, are upregulated in vegetative and transition shoot meristems. We identify a mutation in a putative miRNA156/529 binding site of the acrocona PaSPL1 allele and show that the mutation renders the acrocona allele tolerant to these miRNAs. We show co-segregation between the early cone-setting phenotype and trees homozygous for the acrocona mutation. In conclusion, we demonstrate evolutionary conservation of the age-dependent flowering pathway and involvement of this pathway in regulating reproductive phase change in the conifer P. abies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirin Akhter
- Department of Plant Biology, Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCentreSwedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)SE‐750 07UppsalaSweden
| | - Karl Johan Westrin
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Gene TechnologyKTH Royal Institute of TechnologySE‐171 65SolnaSweden
| | - Nathan Zivi
- Department of Plant Biology, Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCentreSwedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)SE‐750 07UppsalaSweden
- Skogforsk, Uppsala Science ParkUppsalaSE‐751 83Sweden
| | - Veronika Nordal
- Department of Plant Biology, Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCentreSwedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)SE‐750 07UppsalaSweden
| | - Warren W. Kretzschmar
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Gene TechnologyKTH Royal Institute of TechnologySE‐171 65SolnaSweden
| | - Nicolas Delhomme
- Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Umeå Plant Science CentreSwedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)SE‐901 83UmeåSweden
| | - Nathaniel R. Street
- Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå Plant Science CentreUmeå UniversitySE‐901 87UmeåSweden
| | - Ove Nilsson
- Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Umeå Plant Science CentreSwedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)SE‐901 83UmeåSweden
| | - Olof Emanuelsson
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Gene TechnologyKTH Royal Institute of TechnologySE‐171 65SolnaSweden
| | - Jens F. Sundström
- Department of Plant Biology, Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCentreSwedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)SE‐750 07UppsalaSweden
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Fritsche S, Rippel Salgado L, Boron AK, Hanning KR, Donaldson LA, Thorlby G. Transcriptional Regulation of Pine Male and Female Cone Initiation and Development: Key Players Identified Through Comparative Transcriptomics. Front Genet 2022; 13:815093. [PMID: 35368695 PMCID: PMC8971679 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.815093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
With long reproductive timescales, large complex genomes, and a lack of reliable reference genomes, understanding gene function in conifers is extremely challenging. Consequently, our understanding of which genetic factors influence the development of reproductive structures (cones) in monoecious conifers remains limited. Genes with inferred roles in conifer reproduction have mostly been identified through homology and phylogenetic reconstruction with their angiosperm counterparts. We used RNA-sequencing to generate transcriptomes of the early morphological stages of cone development in the conifer species Pinus densiflora and used these to gain a deeper insight into the transcriptional changes during male and female cone development. Paired-end Illumina sequencing was used to generate transcriptomes from non-reproductive tissue and male and female cones at four time points with a total of 382.82 Gbp of data generated. After assembly and stringent filtering, a total of 37,164 transcripts were retrieved, of which a third were functionally annotated using the Mercator plant pipeline. Differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis resulted in the identification of 172,092 DEGs in the nine tissue types. This, alongside GO gene enrichment analyses, pinpointed transcripts putatively involved in conifer reproductive structure development, including co-orthologs of several angiosperm flowering genes and several that have not been previously reported in conifers. This study provides a comprehensive transcriptome resource for male and early female cone development in the gymnosperm species Pinus densiflora. Characterisation of this resource has allowed the identification of potential key players and thus provides valuable insights into the molecular regulation of reproductive structure development in monoecious conifers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffi Fritsche
- Forest Genetics and Biotechnology, Scion, Rotorua, New Zealand
| | - Leonardo Rippel Salgado
- Forest Genetics and Biotechnology, Scion, Rotorua, New Zealand
- Molecular and Digital Breeding, The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research, Te Puke, New Zealand
| | | | | | | | - Glenn Thorlby
- Forest Genetics and Biotechnology, Scion, Rotorua, New Zealand
- *Correspondence: Glenn Thorlby,
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Zhang JX, Liu HM, Yang BN, Wang HL, Niu SH, El-Kassaby YA, Li W. Phytohormone profiles and related gene expressions after endodormancy release in developing Pinus tabuliformis male strobili. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 316:111167. [PMID: 35151451 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2021.111167] [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: 07/25/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Development after endo-dormancy release ensures perennial plants, such as forest trees, proper response to environmental changes and enhances their adaptability. In northern hemisphere, megasporophore and microsporophore of conifers undergo dormancy to complete their development. Here combined with transcriptome data, we used high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-HPLC-MS/MS) to quantitatively analyse the various hormones (Abscisic Acid (ABA), 3-Indoleacetic acid (IAA), Gibberellins (GAs), Cytokinin (CTK), Jasmonic acid (JA) and Salicylic acid (SA)) of Chinese pine (Pinus tabuliformis Carr.) male strobili after endo-dormancy release. More specifically, we analysed endogenous hormones and their related-genes and verified the important role of ABA in plants growth and development. We observed rapid decrease in ABA content after dormancy release, resulting in reducing the inhibitory effect on male strobili growth. Similarly, rapid drop in ABA/GA ratio was observed and was associated with the start of male strobili growth and development. Combined with transcriptome data, we found that HAB2-SnRK2.10 played a central role in the ABA pathway in the entire network of hormones regulating male strobili development. Due to external environment warming, the differentially expressed HAB2-SnRK gene led to ABA content rapid decline, thus initiating male strobili growth. We constructed a network of hormone-regulated development to understand the interactions between hormones after male strobili dormancy release of male strobili. This study provided essential foundations for studying megasporophore and microsporophore growth mechanism after endo-dormancy and offered new ideas for flower development in gymnosperms and angiosperms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Xing Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory of Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants of Ministry of Education, The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong-Mei Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory of Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants of Ministry of Education, The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo-Ning Yang
- National Engineering Laboratory of Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants of Ministry of Education, The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui-Li Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory of Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants of Ministry of Education, The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, People's Republic of China
| | - Shi-Hui Niu
- National Engineering Laboratory of Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants of Ministry of Education, The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, People's Republic of China
| | - Yousry A El-Kassaby
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Wei Li
- National Engineering Laboratory of Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants of Ministry of Education, The Tree and Ornamental Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, College of Biological Sciences and Technology, Beijing Forestry University, People's Republic of China.
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Meade LE, Plackett ARG, Hilton J. Reconstructing development of the earliest seed integuments raises a new hypothesis for the evolution of ancestral seed-bearing structures. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 229:1782-1794. [PMID: 32639670 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16792] [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] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
How plant seeds originated remains unresolved, in part due to disconnects between fossil intermediates and developmental genetics in extant species. The Carboniferous fossil Genomosperma is considered among the most primitive known seeds, with highly lobed integument and exposed nucellus. We have used this key fossil taxon to investigate the evolutionary origins of seed development. We examined sectioned Genomosperma specimens using modern digital 3D reconstruction techniques and established population-level measurements of Genomosperma ovules for quantitative analysis. Genomosperma ovules show significant variation in integumentary lobe fusion and curvature. Our analysis suggests that this variation represents a single species with significant variations in lobe number and fusion, reminiscent of floral development in extant species. We conclude that changes in lobe flexure occurred late in development, consistent with a previously hypothesized function in pollen guidance/retention. We also identify seeds of Genomosperma within cupules for the first time. The presence of a cupule adds evidence towards the plesiomorphy of cupules within seed plants. Together with the similarities identified between the Genomosperma lobed integument and floral organs, we propose that the cupule, integument and nucellus together developed in a shoot-like fashion, potentially ancestral to extant seed plant reproductive shoots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke E Meade
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Andrew R G Plackett
- Birmingham Institute of Forest Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Jason Hilton
- School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
- Birmingham Institute of Forest Research, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
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10
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Wang D, Hao Z, Long X, Wang Z, Zheng X, Ye D, Peng Y, Wu W, Hu X, Wang G, Zheng R, Shi J, Chen J. The Transcriptome of Cunninghamia lanceolata male/female cone reveal the association between MIKC MADS-box genes and reproductive organs development. BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2020; 20:508. [PMID: 33153428 PMCID: PMC7643283 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-020-02634-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cunninghamia lanceolata (Chinese fir), a member of the conifer family Cupressaceae, is one of the most popular cultivated trees for wood production in China. Continuous research is being performed to improve C. lanceolata breeding values. Given the high rate of seed abortion (one of the reasons being the failure of ovule and pollen development) in C. lanceolata, the proper formation of female/male cones could theoretically increase the number of offspring in future generations. MIKC MADS-box genes are well-known for their roles in the flower/cone development and comprise the typical/atypical floral development model for both angiosperms and gymnosperms. RESULTS We performed a transcriptomic analysis to find genes differentially expressed between female and male cones at a single, carefully determined developmental stage, focusing on the MIKC MADS-box genes. We finally obtained 47 unique MIKC MADS-box genes from C. lanceolata and divided these genes into separate branches. 27 out of the 47 MIKC MADS-box genes showed differential expression between female and male cones, and most of them were not expressed in leaves. Out of these 27 genes, most B-class genes (AP3/PI) were up-regulated in the male cone, while TM8 genes were up-regulated in the female cone. Then, with no obvious overall preference for AG (class C + D) genes in female/male cones, it seems likely that these genes are involved in the development of both cones. Finally, a small number of genes such as GGM7, SVP, AGL15, that were specifically expressed in female/male cones, making them candidate genes for sex-specific cone development. CONCLUSIONS Our study identified a number of MIKC MADS-box genes showing differential expression between female and male cones in C. lanceolata, illustrating a potential link of these genes with C. lanceolata cone development. On the basis of this, we postulated a possible cone development model for C. lanceolata. The gene expression library showing differential expression between female and male cones shown here, can be used to discover unknown regulatory networks related to sex-specific cone development in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Forestry Genetics & Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Zhaodong Hao
- Key Laboratory of Forestry Genetics & Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Xiaofei Long
- Key Laboratory of Forestry Genetics & Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Zhanjun Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Hefei Normal University, Hefei, 230601, China
| | - Xueyan Zheng
- National Germplasm Bank of Chinese fir at Fujian Yangkou Forest Farm, Shunchang, 353211, China
| | - Daiquan Ye
- National Germplasm Bank of Chinese fir at Fujian Yangkou Forest Farm, Shunchang, 353211, China
| | - Ye Peng
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Weihuang Wu
- Key Laboratory of Forestry Genetics & Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Xiangyang Hu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Bio-Energy Crops, School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Guibin Wang
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Renhua Zheng
- Fujian Academy of Forestry, Fuzhou, 350012, China
| | - Jisen Shi
- Key Laboratory of Forestry Genetics & Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China
| | - Jinhui Chen
- Key Laboratory of Forestry Genetics & Biotechnology of Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China.
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Rudall PJ. Colourful cones: how did flower colour first evolve? JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2020; 71:759-767. [PMID: 31714579 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erz479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Angiosperms that are biotically pollinated typically produce flowers with bright and contrasting colours that help to attract pollinators and hence contribute to the reproductive success of the species. This colourful array contrasts with the much less multicoloured reproductive structures of the four living gymnosperm lineages, which are mostly wind pollinated, though cycads and Gnetales are predominantly pollinated by insects that feed on surface fluids from the pollination drops. This review examines the possible evolutionary pathways and cryptic clues for flower colour in both living and fossil seed plants. It investigates how the ancestral flowering plants could have overcome the inevitable trade-off that exists between attracting pollinators and minimizing herbivory, and explores the possible evolutionary and biological inferences from the colours that occur in some living gymnosperms. The red colours present in the seed-cone bracts of some living conifers result from accumulation of anthocyanin pigments; their likely primary function is to help protect the growing plant tissues under particular environmental conditions. Thus, the visual cue provided by colour in flower petals could have first evolved as a secondary effect, probably post-dating the evolution of bee colour vision but occurring before the subsequent functional accumulation of a range of different flower pigments.
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De La Torre AR, Piot A, Liu B, Wilhite B, Weiss M, Porth I. Functional and morphological evolution in gymnosperms: A portrait of implicated gene families. Evol Appl 2020; 13:210-227. [PMID: 31892953 PMCID: PMC6935586 DOI: 10.1111/eva.12839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Gymnosperms diverged from their sister plant clade of flowering plants 300 Mya. Morphological and functional divergence between the two major seed plant clades involved significant changes in their reproductive biology, water-conducting systems, secondary metabolism, stress defense mechanisms, and small RNA-mediated epigenetic silencing. The relatively recent sequencing of several gymnosperm genomes and the development of new genomic resources have enabled whole-genome comparisons within gymnosperms, and between angiosperms and gymnosperms. In this paper, we aim to understand how genes and gene families have contributed to the major functional and morphological differences in gymnosperms, and how this information can be used for applied breeding and biotechnology. In addition, we have analyzed the angiosperm versus gymnosperm evolution of the pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR) gene family with a wide range of functionalities in plants' interaction with their environment including defense mechanisms. Some of the genes reviewed here are newly studied members of gene families that hold potential for biotechnological applications related to commercial and pharmacological value. Some members of conifer gene families can also be exploited for their potential in phytoremediation applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anthony Piot
- Department of Wood and Forest SciencesLaval UniversityQuebec CityQuebecCanada
- Institute for System and Integrated Biology (IBIS)Laval UniversityQuebec CityQuebecCanada
- Centre for Forest Research (CEF)Laval UniversityQuebec CityQuebecCanada
| | - Bobin Liu
- School of ForestryNorthern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffAZUSA
- College of ForestryFujian Agricultural and Forestry UniversityFuzhouFujianChina
| | | | - Matthew Weiss
- School of ForestryNorthern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffAZUSA
| | - Ilga Porth
- Department of Wood and Forest SciencesLaval UniversityQuebec CityQuebecCanada
- Institute for System and Integrated Biology (IBIS)Laval UniversityQuebec CityQuebecCanada
- Centre for Forest Research (CEF)Laval UniversityQuebec CityQuebecCanada
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Hoffmeier A, Gramzow L, Bhide AS, Kottenhagen N, Greifenstein A, Schubert O, Mummenhoff K, Becker A, Theißen G. A Dead Gene Walking: Convergent Degeneration of a Clade of MADS-Box Genes in Crucifers. Mol Biol Evol 2019; 35:2618-2638. [PMID: 30053121 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msy142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Genes are "born," and eventually they "die." These processes shape the phenotypic evolution of organisms and are hence of great biological interest. If genes die in plants, they generally do so quite rapidly. Here, we describe the fate of GOA-like genes that evolve in a dramatically different manner. GOA-like genes belong to the subfamily of Bsister genes of MIKC-type MADS-box genes. Typical MIKC-type genes encode conserved transcription factors controlling plant development. We show that ABS-like genes, a clade of Bsister genes, are indeed highly conserved in crucifers (Brassicaceae) maintaining the ancestral function of Bsister genes in ovule and seed development. In contrast, their closest paralogs, the GOA-like genes, have been undergoing convergent gene death in Brassicaceae. Intriguingly, erosion of GOA-like genes occurred after millions of years of coexistence with ABS-like genes. We thus describe Delayed Convergent Asymmetric Degeneration, a so far neglected but possibly frequent pattern of duplicate gene evolution that does not fit classical scenarios. Delayed Convergent Asymmetric Degeneration of GOA-like genes may have been initiated by a reduction in the expression of an ancestral GOA-like gene in the stem group of Brassicaceae and driven by dosage subfunctionalization. Our findings have profound implications for gene annotations in genomics, interpreting patterns of gene evolution and using genes in phylogeny reconstructions of species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Hoffmeier
- Genetics, Matthias Schleiden Institute, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Lydia Gramzow
- Genetics, Matthias Schleiden Institute, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Amey S Bhide
- Plant Developmental Biology Group, Institute of Botany, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Nina Kottenhagen
- Genetics, Matthias Schleiden Institute, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Andreas Greifenstein
- Genetics, Matthias Schleiden Institute, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Olesia Schubert
- Plant Developmental Biology Group, Institute of Botany, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Klaus Mummenhoff
- Department of Biology/Botany, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Annette Becker
- Plant Developmental Biology Group, Institute of Botany, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Günter Theißen
- Genetics, Matthias Schleiden Institute, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany
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Ma J, Deng S, Chen L, Jia Z, Sang Z, Zhu Z, Ma L, Chen F. Gene duplication led to divergence of expression patterns, protein-protein interaction patterns and floral development functions of AGL6-like genes in the basal angiosperm Magnolia wufengensis (Magnoliaceae). TREE PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 39:861-876. [PMID: 31034013 DOI: 10.1093/treephys/tpz010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Revised: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The MADS-box family genes play critical roles in the regulation of growth and development of flowering plants. AGAMOUS-LIKE 6 (AGL6)-like genes are one of the most enigmatic subfamilies of the MADS-box family because of highly variable expression patterns and ambiguous functions, which have long puzzled researchers. A lot of AGL6 homologs have been identified from gymnosperms and angiosperms. However, only a few have been characterized, especially for basal angiosperm taxa. Magnolia wufengensis is a woody basal angiosperm from the family Magnoliaceae. In the current study, the phylogenesis, expression and protein-protein interaction (PPI) patterns, and functions of two AGL6 homologs from M. wufengensis, MawuAGL6-1 and MawuAGL6-2, were analyzed. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the two AGL6 duplicates may have arisen by gene duplication before the divergence of Magnoliaceae and Lauraceae, with the diversification of their expression and PPI patterns after gene duplication. Functional analysis revealed that, in addition to common functions in accelerating flowering, MawuAGL6-1 might be responsible for flower meristem determinacy, while MawuAGL6-2 is preferentially recruited to regulate tepal morphogenesis. These findings further advance our understanding of the evolution of phylogenesis, expression, interaction and functions of AGL6 lineage genes from basal angiosperms, as well as the entire AGL6 lineage genes, and the significance of AGL6 lineage genes in the evolution and biological diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang Ma
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Silviculture and Conservation, Forestry College, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Regional Plant Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement (CTGU)/Biotechnology Research Center, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, PR China
| | - Shixin Deng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Silviculture and Conservation, Forestry College, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Liyuan Chen
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Silviculture and Conservation, Forestry College, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Zhongkui Jia
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Silviculture and Conservation, Forestry College, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Ziyang Sang
- Forestry Bureau of Wufeng County, Wufeng, Hubei Province, PR China
| | - Zhonglong Zhu
- Wufeng Bo Ling Magnolia Wufengensis Technology Development Co., Ltd, Wufeng, Hubei Province, PR China
| | - Lvyi Ma
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Silviculture and Conservation, Forestry College, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Faju Chen
- Key Laboratory of Three Gorges Regional Plant Genetics & Germplasm Enhancement (CTGU)/Biotechnology Research Center, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, PR China
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15
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Shen G, Yang CH, Shen CY, Huang KS. Origination and selection of ABCDE and AGL6 subfamily MADS-box genes in gymnosperms and angiosperms. Biol Res 2019; 52:25. [PMID: 31018872 PMCID: PMC6480507 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-019-0233-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The morphological diversity of flower organs is closely related to functional divergence within the MADS-box gene family. Bryophytes and seedless vascular plants have MADS-box genes but do not have ABCDE or AGAMOUS-LIKE6 (AGL6) genes. ABCDE and AGL6 genes belong to the subgroup of MADS-box genes. Previous works suggest that the B gene was the first ABCDE and AGL6 genes to emerge in plant but there are no mentions about the probable origin time of ACDE and AGL6 genes. Here, we collected ABCDE and AGL6 gene 381 protein sequences and 361 coding sequences from gymnosperms and angiosperms and reconstructed a complete Bayesian phylogeny of these genes. In this study, we want to clarify the probable origin time of ABCDE and AGL6 genes is a great help for understanding the role of the formation of the flower, which can decipher the forming order of MADS-box genes in the future. RESULTS These genes appeared to have been under purifying selection and their evolutionary rates are not significantly different from each other. Using the Bayesian evolutionary analysis by sampling trees (BEAST) tool, we estimated that: the mutation rate of the ABCDE and AGL6 genes was 2.617 × 10-3 substitutions/site/million years, and that B genes originated 339 million years ago (MYA), CD genes originated 322 MYA, and A genes shared the most recent common ancestor with E/AGL6 296 MYA, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The phylogeny of ABCDE and AGL6 genes subfamilies differed. The APETALA1 (AP1 or A gene) subfamily clustered into one group. The APETALA3/PISTILLATA (AP3/PI or B genes) subfamily clustered into two groups: the AP3 and PI clades. The AGAMOUS/SHATTERPROOF/SEEDSTICK (AG/SHP/STK or CD genes) subfamily clustered into a single group. The SEPALLATA (SEP or E gene) subfamily in angiosperms clustered into two groups: the SEP1/2/4 and SEP3 clades. The AGL6 subfamily clustered into a single group. Moreover, ABCDE and AGL6 genes appeared in the following order: AP3/PI → AG/SHP/STK → AGL6/SEP/AP1. In this study, we collected candidate sequences from gymnosperms and angiosperms. This study highlights important events in the evolutionary history of the ABCDE and AGL6 gene families and clarifies their evolutionary path.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gangxu Shen
- Department of Electrical Engineering, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- The School of Chinese Medicine for Post-Baccalaureate, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hui Yang
- College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Yen Shen
- Department of Electrical Engineering, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Keng-Shiang Huang
- The School of Chinese Medicine for Post-Baccalaureate, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Pinus massoniana Introgression Hybrids Display Differential Expression of Reproductive Genes. FORESTS 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/f10030230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Pinus massoniana and P. hwangshanensis are two conifer species located in southern China, which are of both economic and ornamental value. Around the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, P. massoniana occurs mainly at altitudes below 700 m, while P. hwangshanensis can be found above 900 m. At altitudes where the distribution of both pines overlaps, a natural introgression hybrid exists, which we will further refer to as the Z pine. This pine has a morphological character that shares attributes of both P. massoniana and P. hwangshanensis. However, compared to the other two pines, its reproductive structure, the pinecone, has an ultra-low ripening rate with seeds that germinate poorly. In this study, we aimed to find the reason for the impaired cone maturation by comparing transcriptome libraries of P. massoniana and Z pine cones at seven successive growth stages. After sequencing and assembly, we obtained unigenes and then annotated them against NCBI’s non-redundant nucleotide and protein sequences, Swiss-Prot, Clusters of Orthologous Groups, Gene Ontology and KEGG Orthology databases. Gene expression levels were estimated and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of the two pines were mined and analyzed. We found that several of them indeed relate to reproductive process. At every growth stage, these genes are expressed at a higher level in P. massoniana than in the Z pine. These data provide insight into understanding which molecular mechanisms are altered between P. massoniana and the Z pine that might cause changes in the reproductive process.
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von Aderkas P, Prior NA, Little SA. The Evolution of Sexual Fluids in Gymnosperms From Pollination Drops to Nectar. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 9:1844. [PMID: 30619413 PMCID: PMC6305574 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.01844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
A current synthesis of data from modern and fossil plants paints a new picture of sexual fluids, including nectar, as a foundational component of gymnosperm reproductive evolution. We review the morpho-anatomical adaptations, their accompanying secretions, and the functional compounds involved. We discuss two types of secretions: (1) those involved in fertilization fluids produced by gametophytes and archegonia of zooidogamous gymnosperms, i.e., Ginkgo and cycads, and (2) those involved in pollen capture mechanisms (PCMs), i.e., pollination drops. Fertilization fluids provide both liquid in which sperm swim, as well as chemotactic signals that direct sperm to the egg. Such fertilization fluids were probably found among many extinct plants such as ancient cycads and others with swimming sperm, but were subsequently lost upon the evolution of siphonogamy (direct delivery of sperm to the egg by pollen tubes), as found in modern gnetophytes, conifers, and Pinaceae. Pollination drops are discussed in terms of three major types of PCMs and the unique combinations of morphological and biochemical adaptations that define each. These include their amino acids, sugars, calcium, phosphate and proteins. The evolution of PCMs is also discussed with reference to fossil taxa. The plesiomorphic state of extant gymnosperms is a sugar-containing pollination drop functioning as a pollen capture surface, and an in ovulo pollen germination medium. Additionally, these drops are involved in ovule defense, and provide nectar for pollinators. Pollination drops in anemophilous groups have low sugar concentrations that are too low to provide insects with a reward. Instead, they appear to be optimized for defense and microgametophyte development. In insect-pollinated modern Gnetales a variety of tissues produce sexual fluids that bear the biochemical signature of nectar. Complete absence of fluid secretions is restricted to a few, poorly studied modern conifers, and is presumably derived. Aspects of pollination drop dynamics, e.g., regulation of secretion and retraction, are reviewed. Lastly, we discuss pollination drops' control of pollen germination. Large gaps in our current knowledge include the composition of fertilization fluids, the pollination drops of Podocarpaceae, and the overall hydrodynamics of sexual fluids in general.
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Plackett AR, Conway SJ, Hewett Hazelton KD, Rabbinowitsch EH, Langdale JA, Di Stilio VS. LEAFY maintains apical stem cell activity during shoot development in the fern Ceratopteris richardii. eLife 2018; 7:39625. [PMID: 30355440 PMCID: PMC6200394 DOI: 10.7554/elife.39625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
During land plant evolution, determinate spore-bearing axes (retained in extant bryophytes such as mosses) were progressively transformed into indeterminate branching shoots with specialized reproductive axes that form flowers. The LEAFY transcription factor, which is required for the first zygotic cell division in mosses and primarily for floral meristem identity in flowering plants, may have facilitated developmental innovations during these transitions. Mapping the LEAFY evolutionary trajectory has been challenging, however, because there is no functional overlap between mosses and flowering plants, and no functional data from intervening lineages. Here, we report a transgenic analysis in the fern Ceratopteris richardii that reveals a role for LEAFY in maintaining cell divisions in the apical stem cells of both haploid and diploid phases of the lifecycle. These results support an evolutionary trajectory in which an ancestral LEAFY module that promotes cell proliferation was progressively co-opted, adapted and specialized as novel shoot developmental contexts emerged. The first plants colonized land around 500 million years ago. These plants had simple shoots with no branches, similar to the mosses that live today. Later on, some plants evolved more complex structures including branched shoots and flowers (collectively known as the “flowering plants”). Ferns are a group of plants that evolved midway between the mosses and flowering plants and have branched shoots but no flowers. The gradual transition from simple to more complex plant structures required changes to the way in which cells divide and grow within plant shoots. Whereas animals produce new cells throughout their body, most plant cells divide in areas known as meristems. All plants grow from embryos, which contain meristems that will form the roots and shoots of the mature plant. A gene called LEAFY is required for cells in moss embryos to divide. However, in flowering plants LEAFY does not carry out this role, instead it is only required to make the meristems that produce flowers. How did LEAFY transition from a general role in embryos to a more specialized role in making flowers? To address this question, Plackett, Conway et al. studied the two LEAFY genes in a fern called Ceratopteris richardii. The experiments showed that at least one of these LEAFY genes was active in the meristems of fern shoots throughout the lifespan of the plant. The shoots of ferns with less active LEAFY genes could not form the leaves seen in normal C. richardii plants. This suggests that as land plants evolved, the role of LEAFY changed from forming embryos to forming complex shoot structures. Most of our major crops are flowering plants. By understanding how the role of LEAFY has changed over the evolution of land plants, it might be possible to manipulate LEAFY genes in crop plants to alter shoot structures to better suit specific environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Rg Plackett
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Jane A Langdale
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Gernandt DS, Reséndiz Arias C, Terrazas T, Aguirre Dugua X, Willyard A. Incorporating fossils into the Pinaceae tree of life. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2018; 105:1329-1344. [PMID: 30091785 DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
PREMISE OF THE STUDY Pinaceae have a rich but enigmatic early fossil record, much of which is represented by permineralized seed cones. Our incomplete knowledge of morphology and anatomy in living and extinct species poses an important barrier to understanding their phylogenetic relationships and timing of diversification. METHODS We expanded a morphology matrix to 46 fossil and 31 extant Pinaceae species, mainly adding characters from stem and leaf anatomy and seed cones. Using parsimony and Bayesian inference, we compared phylogenetic relationships for extant taxa with and without fossils from the morphology matrix combined with an alignment of plastid gene sequences. KEY RESULTS Combined analysis of morphological and molecular characters resulted in a phylogeny of extant Pinaceae that was robust at all nodes except those relating to the interrelationships of Pinus, Picea, and Cathaya and the position of Cedrus. Simultaneous analysis of all fossil and extant species did not result in changes in the relationships among the extant species but did greatly reduce branch support. We found that the placement of most fossils was sensitive to the method of phylogenetic reconstruction when analyzing them singly with the extant species. CONCLUSIONS A robust phylogenetic hypothesis for the main lineages of Pinaceae is emerging. Most Early Cretaceous fossils are stem or crown lineages of Pinus, but close relationships also were found between fossils and several other extant genera. The phylogenetic position of fossils broadly supports the existence of extant genera in the Lower Cretaceous.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Gernandt
- Departamento de Botánica, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
| | - Cecelic Reséndiz Arias
- Departamento de Botánica, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
| | - Teresa Terrazas
- Departamento de Botánica, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
| | - Xitlali Aguirre Dugua
- Departamento de Botánica, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
| | - Ann Willyard
- Biology Department, Hendrix College, Conway, AR, 72032, USA
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20
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Dörken VM, Rudall PJ. Understanding the cone scale in Cupressaceae: insights from seed-cone teratology in Glyptostrobus pensilis. PeerJ 2018; 6:e4948. [PMID: 29868298 PMCID: PMC5985763 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Both wild-type and teratological seed cones are described in the monoecious conifer Glyptostrobus pensilis and compared with those of other Cupressaceae sensu lato and other conifers. Some Cupressaceae apparently possess a proliferation of axillary structures in their cone scales. In our interpretation, in Glyptostrobus each bract of both typical and atypical seed cones bears two descending accessory shoots, interpreted here as seed scales (ovuliferous scales). The primary seed scale is fertile and forms the ovules, the second is sterile and forms characteristic tooth-like structures. The bract and the two axillary seed scales are each supplied with a single distinct vascular bundle that enters the cone axis as a separate strand; this vasculature also characterises the descending accessory short shoots in the vegetative parts of the crown. In wild-type seed cones, the fertile seed scale is reduced to its ovules, and the ovules are always axillary. In contrast, the ovules of some of the teratological seed cones examined were located at the centre of the cone scale. An additional tissue found on the upper surface of the sterile lower seed scale is here interpreted as the axis of the fertile seed scale. Thus, the central position of the ovules can be explained by recaulescent fusion of the upper fertile and lower sterile seed scales. In several teratological cone scales, the ovules were enveloped by an additional sterile tissue that is uniseriate and represents an epidermal outgrowth of the fertile seed scale. Close to the ovules, the epidermis was detached from lower tissue and surrounded the ovule completely, except at the micropyle. These teratological features are potentially significant in understanding seed-cone homologies among extant conifers.
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21
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Akhter S, Kretzschmar WW, Nordal V, Delhomme N, Street NR, Nilsson O, Emanuelsson O, Sundström JF. Integrative Analysis of Three RNA Sequencing Methods Identifies Mutually Exclusive Exons of MADS-Box Isoforms During Early Bud Development in Picea abies. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2018; 9:1625. [PMID: 30483285 PMCID: PMC6243048 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.01625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Recent efforts to sequence the genomes and transcriptomes of several gymnosperm species have revealed an increased complexity in certain gene families in gymnosperms as compared to angiosperms. One example of this is the gymnosperm sister clade to angiosperm TM3-like MADS-box genes, which at least in the conifer lineage has expanded in number of genes. We have previously identified a member of this sub-clade, the conifer gene DEFICIENS AGAMOUS LIKE 19 (DAL19), as being specifically upregulated in cone-setting shoots. Here, we show through Sanger sequencing of mRNA-derived cDNA and mapping to assembled conifer genomic sequences that DAL19 produces six mature mRNA splice variants in Picea abies. These splice variants use alternate first and last exons, while their four central exons constitute a core region present in all six transcripts. Thus, they are likely to be transcript isoforms. Quantitative Real-Time PCR revealed that two mutually exclusive first DAL19 exons are differentially expressed across meristems that will form either male or female cones, or vegetative shoots. Furthermore, mRNA in situ hybridization revealed that two mutually exclusive last DAL19 exons were expressed in a cell-specific pattern within bud meristems. Based on these findings in DAL19, we developed a sensitive approach to transcript isoform assembly from short-read sequencing of mRNA. We applied this method to 42 putative MADS-box core regions in P. abies, from which we assembled 1084 putative transcripts. We manually curated these transcripts to arrive at 933 assembled transcript isoforms of 38 putative MADS-box genes. 152 of these isoforms, which we assign to 28 putative MADS-box genes, were differentially expressed across eight female, male, and vegetative buds. We further provide evidence of the expression of 16 out of the 38 putative MADS-box genes by mapping PacBio Iso-Seq circular consensus reads derived from pooled sample sequencing to assembled transcripts. In summary, our analyses reveal the use of mutually exclusive exons of MADS-box gene isoforms during early bud development in P. abies, and we find that the large number of identified MADS-box transcripts in P. abies results not only from expansion of the gene family through gene duplication events but also from the generation of numerous splice variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirin Akhter
- Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Warren W. Kretzschmar
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Gene Technology, School of Engineering Sciences in Biotechnology, Chemistry and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Solna, Sweden
| | - Veronika Nordal
- Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Nicolas Delhomme
- Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Nathaniel R. Street
- Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Ove Nilsson
- Umeå Plant Science Centre, Department of Forest Genetics and Plant Physiology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Olof Emanuelsson
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Gene Technology, School of Engineering Sciences in Biotechnology, Chemistry and Health, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Solna, Sweden
| | - Jens F. Sundström
- Linnean Center for Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Department of Plant Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Jens F. Sundström,
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22
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Zhao J, Chen L, Zhao T, Gai J. Chicken Toes-Like Leaf and Petalody Flower (CTP) is a novel regulator that controls leaf and flower development in soybean. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2017; 68:5565-5581. [PMID: 29077868 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erx358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
A soybean mutant displaying chicken toes-like leaves and petalody flowers was identified as being caused by a single recessive gene, termed ctp. Using heterozygous-inbred recombinants, this gene was fine-mapped to a 37-kb region harbouring three predicted genes on chromosome 5. The gene Glyma05g022400.1 was detected to have a 33-bp deletion in its first exon that was responsible for ctp. Validation for this gene was provided by the fact that the 33-bp deletion-derived marker I2 completely co-segregated with the phenotypes of 96 F10-derived residual heterozygous lines and 2200 fine-mapping individuals, and by the fact that the orthologue NbCTP in Nicotiana benthamiana also influenced leaf and flower development under virus-induced gene silencing. In terms of characterization, the CTPs shared highly conserved domains specifically in higher plants, GmCTP was alternatively spliced, and it was expressed in multiple organs, especially in lateral meristems. GmCTP was localized to the nucleus and other regions and performed transcriptional activity. In ctp, the expression levels and splicing patterns were dramatically disrupted, and many key regulators in leaf and/or floral developmental pathways were interrupted. Thus, CTP is a novel and critical pleiotropic regulator of leaf and flower development that participates in multiple regulation pathways, and may play key roles in lateral organ differentiation as a putative novel transcription regulator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhao
- Soybean Research Institute, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- National Center for Soybean Improvement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- National Key Laboratory for Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Soybean Research Institute, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- National Center for Soybean Improvement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- National Key Laboratory for Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Tuanjie Zhao
- Soybean Research Institute, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- National Center for Soybean Improvement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- National Key Laboratory for Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Junyi Gai
- Soybean Research Institute, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- National Center for Soybean Improvement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Soybean, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- National Key Laboratory for Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
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23
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Moyroud E, Monniaux M, Thévenon E, Dumas R, Scutt CP, Frohlich MW, Parcy F. A link between LEAFY and B-gene homologues in Welwitschia mirabilis sheds light on ancestral mechanisms prefiguring floral development. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2017; 216:469-481. [PMID: 28233912 DOI: 10.1111/nph.14483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2016] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Flowering plants evolved from an unidentified gymnosperm ancestor. Comparison of the mechanisms controlling development in angiosperm flowers and gymnosperm cones may help to elucidate the mysterious origin of the flower. We combined gene expression studies with protein behaviour characterization in Welwitschia mirabilis to test whether the known regulatory links between LEAFY and its MADS-box gene targets, central to flower development, might also contribute to gymnosperm reproductive development. We found that WelLFY, one of two LEAFY-like genes in Welwitschia, could be an upstream regulator of the MADS-box genes APETALA3/PISTILLATA-like (B-genes). We demonstrated that, even though their DNA-binding domains are extremely similar, WelLFY and its paralogue WelNDLY exhibit distinct DNA-binding specificities, and that, unlike WelNDLY, WelLFY shares with its angiosperm orthologue the capacity to bind promoters of Welwitschia B-genes. Finally, we identified several cis-elements mediating these interactions in Welwitschia and obtained evidence that the link between LFY homologues and B-genes is also conserved in two other gymnosperms, Pinus and Picea. Although functional approaches to investigate cone development in gymnosperms are limited, our state-of-the-art biophysical techniques, coupled with expression studies, provide evidence that crucial links, central to the control of floral development, may already have existed before the appearance of flowers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwige Moyroud
- LPCV, CEA, CNRS, INRA, Université Grenoble-Alpes, BIG, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Marie Monniaux
- LPCV, CEA, CNRS, INRA, Université Grenoble-Alpes, BIG, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Emmanuel Thévenon
- LPCV, CEA, CNRS, INRA, Université Grenoble-Alpes, BIG, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Renaud Dumas
- LPCV, CEA, CNRS, INRA, Université Grenoble-Alpes, BIG, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Charles P Scutt
- Laboratoire de Reproduction et Développement des Plantes, UMR5667, CNRS, INRA, Université de Lyon, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 46 allée d'Italie, 69364, Lyon Cedex 07, France
| | - Michael W Frohlich
- Laboratoire de Reproduction et Développement des Plantes, UMR5667, CNRS, INRA, Université de Lyon, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 46 allée d'Italie, 69364, Lyon Cedex 07, France
- Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3DS, UK
| | - François Parcy
- LPCV, CEA, CNRS, INRA, Université Grenoble-Alpes, BIG, 38000, Grenoble, France
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24
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Pfannebecker KC, Lange M, Rupp O, Becker A. An Evolutionary Framework for Carpel Developmental Control Genes. Mol Biol Evol 2017; 34:330-348. [PMID: 28049761 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msw229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Carpels are the female reproductive organs of flowering plants (angiosperms), enclose the ovules, and develop into fruits. The presence of carpels unites angiosperms, and they are suggested to be the most important autapomorphy of the angiosperms, e.g., they prevent inbreeding and allow efficient seed dispersal. Many transcriptional regulators and coregulators essential for carpel development are encoded by diverse gene families and well characterized in Arabidopsis thaliana. Among these regulators are AGAMOUS (AG), ETTIN (ETT), LEUNIG (LUG), SEUSS (SEU), SHORT INTERNODE/STYLISH (SHI/STY), and SEPALLATA1, 2, 3, 4 (SEP1, 2, 3, 4). However, the timing of the origin and their subsequent molecular evolution of these carpel developmental regulators are largely unknown. Here, we have sampled homologs of these carpel developmental regulators from the sequenced genomes of a wide taxonomic sampling of the land plants, such as Physcomitrella patens, Selaginella moellendorfii, Picea abies, and several angiosperms. Careful phylogenetic analyses were carried out that provide a phylogenetic background for the different gene families and provide minimal estimates for the ages of these developmental regulators. Our analyses and published work show that LUG-, SEU-, and SHI/STY-like genes were already present in the Most Recent Common Ancestor (MRCA) of all land plants, AG- and SEP-like genes were present in the MRCA of seed plants and their origin may coincide with the ξ Whole Genome Duplication. Our work shows that the carpel development regulatory network was, in part, recruited from preexisting network components that were present in the MRCA of angiosperms and modified to regulate gynoecium development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai C Pfannebecker
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Institute of Botany, Justus-Liebig-University, Gießen, Germany
| | - Matthias Lange
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Institute of Botany, Justus-Liebig-University, Gießen, Germany
| | - Oliver Rupp
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Institute of Bioinformatics and Systems Biology, Justus-Liebig-University, Gießen, Germany
| | - Annette Becker
- Department of Biology and Chemistry, Institute of Botany, Justus-Liebig-University, Gießen, Germany
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25
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Marcellini S, González F, Sarrazin AF, Pabón-Mora N, Benítez M, Piñeyro-Nelson A, Rezende GL, Maldonado E, Schneider PN, Grizante MB, Da Fonseca RN, Vergara-Silva F, Suaza-Gaviria V, Zumajo-Cardona C, Zattara EE, Casasa S, Suárez-Baron H, Brown FD. Evolutionary Developmental Biology (Evo-Devo) Research in Latin America. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2016; 328:5-40. [PMID: 27491339 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.22687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Revised: 06/16/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Famous for its blind cavefish and Darwin's finches, Latin America is home to some of the richest biodiversity hotspots of our planet. The Latin American fauna and flora inspired and captivated naturalists from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, including such notable pioneers such as Fritz Müller, Florentino Ameghino, and Léon Croizat who made a significant contribution to the study of embryology and evolutionary thinking. But, what are the historical and present contributions of the Latin American scientific community to Evo-Devo? Here, we provide the first comprehensive overview of the Evo-Devo laboratories based in Latin America and describe current lines of research based on endemic species, focusing on body plans and patterning, systematics, physiology, computational modeling approaches, ecology, and domestication. Literature searches reveal that Evo-Devo in Latin America is still in its early days; while showing encouraging indicators of productivity, it has not stabilized yet, because it relies on few and sparsely distributed laboratories. Coping with the rapid changes in national scientific policies and contributing to solve social and health issues specific to each region are among the main challenges faced by Latin American researchers. The 2015 inaugural meeting of the Pan-American Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology played a pivotal role in bringing together Latin American researchers eager to initiate and consolidate regional and worldwide collaborative networks. Such networks will undoubtedly advance research on the extremely high genetic and phenotypic biodiversity of Latin America, bound to be an almost infinite source of amazement and fascinating findings for the Evo-Devo community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvain Marcellini
- Laboratorio de Desarrollo y Evolución, Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Favio González
- Facultad de Ciencias, Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Andres F Sarrazin
- Instituto de Química, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | | | - Mariana Benítez
- Laboratorio Nacional de Ciencias de la Sostenibilidad, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Alma Piñeyro-Nelson
- Departamento de Producción Agrícola y Animal, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Gustavo L Rezende
- Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, CBB, LQFPP, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil
| | - Ernesto Maldonado
- EvoDevo Lab, Unidad de Sistemas Arrecifales, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo, México
| | | | | | - Rodrigo Nunes Da Fonseca
- Núcleo em Ecologia e Desenvolvimento SócioAmbiental de Macaé (NUPEM), Campus Macaé, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Macae, RJ, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Sofia Casasa
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | | | - Federico D Brown
- Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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26
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Pirone-Davies C, Prior N, von Aderkas P, Smith D, Hardie D, Friedman WE, Mathews S. Insights from the pollination drop proteome and the ovule transcriptome of Cephalotaxus at the time of pollination drop production. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2016; 117:973-84. [PMID: 27045089 PMCID: PMC4866313 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcw026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2015] [Accepted: 01/08/2016] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Many gymnosperms produce an ovular secretion, the pollination drop, during reproduction. The drops serve as a landing site for pollen, but also contain a suite of ions and organic compounds, including proteins, that suggests diverse roles for the drop during pollination. Proteins in the drops of species of Chamaecyparis, Juniperus, Taxus, Pseudotsuga, Ephedra and Welwitschia are thought to function in the conversion of sugars, defence against pathogens, and pollen growth and development. To better understand gymnosperm pollination biology, the pollination drop proteomes of pollination drops from two species of Cephalotaxus have been characterized and an ovular transcriptome for C. sinensis has been assembled. METHODS Mass spectrometry was used to identify proteins in the pollination drops of Cephalotaxus sinensis and C. koreana RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) was employed to assemble a transcriptome and identify transcripts present in the ovules of C. sinensis at the time of pollination drop production. KEY RESULTS About 30 proteins were detected in the pollination drops of both species. Many of these have been detected in the drops of other gymnosperms and probably function in defence, polysaccharide metabolism and pollen tube growth. Other proteins appear to be unique to Cephalotaxus, and their putative functions include starch and callose degradation, among others. Together, the proteins appear either to have been secreted into the drop or to occur there due to breakdown of ovular cells during drop production. Ovular transcripts represent a wide range of gene ontology categories, and some may be involved in drop formation, ovule development and pollen-ovule interactions. CONCLUSIONS The proteome of Cephalotaxus pollination drops shares a number of components with those of other conifers and gnetophytes, including proteins for defence such as chitinases and for carbohydrate modification such as β-galactosidase. Proteins likely to be of intracellular origin, however, form a larger component of drops from Cephalotaxus than expected from studies of other conifers. This is consistent with the observation of nucellar breakdown during drop formation in Cephalotaxus The transcriptome data provide a framework for understanding multiple metabolic processes that occur within the ovule and the pollination drop just before fertilization. They reveal the deep conservation of WUSCHEL expression in ovules and raise questions about whether any of the S-locus transcripts in Cephalotaxus ovules might be involved in pollen-ovule recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Derek Smith
- UVic Genome BC Proteomics Centre, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Darryl Hardie
- UVic Genome BC Proteomics Centre, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - William E Friedman
- The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sarah Mathews
- CSIRO, Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Canberra, Australia and
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27
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Niu S, Yuan H, Sun X, Porth I, Li Y, El-Kassaby YA, Li W. A transcriptomics investigation into pine reproductive organ development. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2016; 209:1278-1289. [PMID: 26406997 DOI: 10.1111/nph.13680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2015] [Accepted: 08/20/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The development of reproductive structures in gymnosperms is still poorly studied because of a lack of genomic information and useful genetic tools. The hermaphroditic reproductive structure derived from unisexual gymnosperms is an even less studied aspect of seed plant evolution. To extend our understanding of the molecular mechanism of hermaphroditism and the determination of sexual identity of conifer reproductive structures in general, unisexual and bisexual cones from Pinus tabuliformis were profiled for gene expression using 60K microarrays. Expression patterns of genes during progression of sexual cone development were analysed using RNA-seq. The results showed that, overall, the transcriptomes of male structures in bisexual cones were more similar to those of female cones. However, the expression of several MADS-box genes in the bisexual cones was similar to that of male cones at the more juvenile developmental stage, while despite these expression shifts, male structures of bisexual cones and normal male cones were histologically indistinguishable and cone development was continuous. This study represents a starting point for in-depth analysis of the molecular regulation of cone development and also the origin of hermaphroditism in pine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihui Niu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Forest Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory for Genetics and Breeding of Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants of Ministry of Education, College of biological sciences and technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Huwei Yuan
- National Engineering Laboratory for Forest Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory for Genetics and Breeding of Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants of Ministry of Education, College of biological sciences and technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Xinrui Sun
- National Engineering Laboratory for Forest Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory for Genetics and Breeding of Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants of Ministry of Education, College of biological sciences and technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Ilga Porth
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Département des Sciences du Bois et de la Forêt, Faculté de Foresterie, de Géographie et de Géomatique, Université Laval, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Yue Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Forest Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory for Genetics and Breeding of Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants of Ministry of Education, College of biological sciences and technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yousry A El-Kassaby
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, Faculty of Forestry, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Wei Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Forest Tree Breeding, Key Laboratory for Genetics and Breeding of Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants of Ministry of Education, College of biological sciences and technology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China
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28
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Uddenberg D, Akhter S, Ramachandran P, Sundström JF, Carlsbecker A. Sequenced genomes and rapidly emerging technologies pave the way for conifer evolutionary developmental biology. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2015; 6:970. [PMID: 26579190 PMCID: PMC4630563 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2015.00970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Conifers, Ginkgo, cycads and gnetophytes comprise the four groups of extant gymnosperms holding a unique position of sharing common ancestry with the angiosperms. Comparative studies of gymnosperms and angiosperms are the key to a better understanding of ancient seed plant morphologies, how they have shifted over evolution to shape modern day species, and how the genes governing these morphologies have evolved. However, conifers and other gymnosperms have been notoriously difficult to study due to their long generation times, inaccessibility to genetic experimentation and unavailable genome sequences. Now, with three draft genomes from spruces and pines, rapid advances in next generation sequencing methods for genome wide expression analyses, and enhanced methods for genetic transformation, we are much better equipped to address a number of key evolutionary questions relating to seed plant evolution. In this mini-review we highlight recent progress in conifer developmental biology relevant to evo-devo questions. We discuss how genome sequence data and novel techniques might allow us to explore genetic variation and naturally occurring conifer mutants, approaches to reduce long generation times to allow for genetic studies in conifers, and other potential upcoming research avenues utilizing current and emergent techniques. Results from developmental studies of conifers and other gymnosperms in comparison to those in angiosperms will provide information to trace core molecular developmental control tool kits of ancestral seed plants, but foremost they will greatly improve our understanding of the biology of conifers and other gymnosperms in their own right.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Uddenberg
- Physiological Botany, Department of Organismal Biology and Linnean Centre for Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Shirin Akhter
- Department of Plant Biology and Linnean Centre for Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Prashanth Ramachandran
- Physiological Botany, Department of Organismal Biology and Linnean Centre for Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jens F. Sundström
- Department of Plant Biology and Linnean Centre for Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Annelie Carlsbecker
- Physiological Botany, Department of Organismal Biology and Linnean Centre for Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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29
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Yan L, Wang X, Liu H, Tian Y, Lian J, Yang R, Hao S, Wang X, Yang S, Li Q, Qi S, Kui L, Okpekum M, Ma X, Zhang J, Ding Z, Zhang G, Wang W, Dong Y, Sheng J. The Genome of Dendrobium officinale Illuminates the Biology of the Important Traditional Chinese Orchid Herb. MOLECULAR PLANT 2015; 8:922-34. [PMID: 25825286 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2014.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2014] [Revised: 12/15/2014] [Accepted: 12/16/2014] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo is a traditional Chinese orchid herb that has both ornamental value and a broad range of therapeutic effects. Here, we report the first de novo assembled 1.35 Gb genome sequences for D. officinale by combining the second-generation Illumina Hiseq 2000 and third-generation PacBio sequencing technologies. We found that orchids have a complete inflorescence gene set and have some specific inflorescence genes. We observed gene expansion in gene families related to fungus symbiosis and drought resistance. We analyzed biosynthesis pathways of medicinal components of D. officinale and found extensive duplication of SPS and SuSy genes, which are related to polysaccharide generation, and that the pathway of D. officinale alkaloid synthesis could be extended to generate 16-epivellosimine. The D. officinale genome assembly demonstrates a new approach to deciphering large complex genomes and, as an important orchid species and a traditional Chinese medicine, the D. officinale genome will facilitate future research on the evolution of orchid plants, as well as the study of medicinal components and potential genetic breeding of the dendrobe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Yan
- College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China; Pu'er Institute of Pu-er Tea, Pu'er 665000, China
| | - Xiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Hui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Yang Tian
- College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China; Key Laboratory of Puerh Tea Science, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Jinmin Lian
- China National GeneBank-Shenzhen, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Ruijuan Yang
- Pu'er Institute of Pu-er Tea, Pu'er 665000, China
| | - Shumei Hao
- Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Xuanjun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Puerh Tea Science, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Shengchao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Puerh Tea Science, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Qiye Li
- China National GeneBank-Shenzhen, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Shuai Qi
- Agri-Biotech Lab, Kunming 650502, China
| | - Ling Kui
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Moses Okpekum
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Xiao Ma
- Key Laboratory of Puerh Tea Science, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Jiajin Zhang
- School of Science and Information Engineering, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Zhaoli Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Guojie Zhang
- China National GeneBank-Shenzhen, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Wen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Yang Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China; Laboratory of Applied Genomics and Synthetic Biology, College of Life Science, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China.
| | - Jun Sheng
- College of Life Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China; Key Laboratory of Puerh Tea Science, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China.
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Silva CS, Puranik S, Round A, Brennich M, Jourdain A, Parcy F, Hugouvieux V, Zubieta C. Evolution of the Plant Reproduction Master Regulators LFY and the MADS Transcription Factors: The Role of Protein Structure in the Evolutionary Development of the Flower. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2015; 6:1193. [PMID: 26779227 PMCID: PMC4701952 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2015.01193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Accepted: 12/11/2015] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the evolutionary leap from non-flowering (gymnosperms) to flowering (angiosperms) plants and the origin and vast diversification of the floral form has been one of the focuses of plant evolutionary developmental biology. The evolving diversity and increasing complexity of organisms is often due to relatively small changes in genes that direct development. These "developmental control genes" and the transcription factors (TFs) they encode, are at the origin of most morphological changes. TFs such as LEAFY (LFY) and the MADS-domain TFs act as central regulators in key developmental processes of plant reproduction including the floral transition in angiosperms and the specification of the male and female organs in both gymnosperms and angiosperms. In addition to advances in genome wide profiling and forward and reverse genetic screening, structural techniques are becoming important tools in unraveling TF function by providing atomic and molecular level information that was lacking in purely genetic approaches. Here, we summarize previous structural work and present additional biophysical and biochemical studies of the key master regulators of plant reproduction - LEAFY and the MADS-domain TFs SEPALLATA3 and AGAMOUS. We discuss the impact of structural biology on our understanding of the complex evolutionary process leading to the development of the bisexual flower.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina S. Silva
- CNRS, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, UMR 5168Grenoble, France
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, University of Grenoble AlpesGrenoble, France
- Commissariat à l´Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Direction des Sciences du Vivant, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, Institut de Recherches en Technologies et Sciences pour le VivantGrenoble, France
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, Institut National de la Recherche AgronomiqueGrenoble, France
| | - Sriharsha Puranik
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Structural Biology GroupGrenoble, France
| | - Adam Round
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Grenoble OutstationGrenoble, France
- Unit for Virus Host-Cell Interactions, University of Grenoble Alpes-EMBL-CNRSGrenoble, France
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Keele UniversityKeele, UK
| | - Martha Brennich
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Structural Biology GroupGrenoble, France
| | - Agnès Jourdain
- CNRS, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, UMR 5168Grenoble, France
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, University of Grenoble AlpesGrenoble, France
- Commissariat à l´Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Direction des Sciences du Vivant, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, Institut de Recherches en Technologies et Sciences pour le VivantGrenoble, France
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, Institut National de la Recherche AgronomiqueGrenoble, France
| | - François Parcy
- CNRS, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, UMR 5168Grenoble, France
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, University of Grenoble AlpesGrenoble, France
- Commissariat à l´Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Direction des Sciences du Vivant, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, Institut de Recherches en Technologies et Sciences pour le VivantGrenoble, France
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, Institut National de la Recherche AgronomiqueGrenoble, France
| | - Veronique Hugouvieux
- CNRS, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, UMR 5168Grenoble, France
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, University of Grenoble AlpesGrenoble, France
- Commissariat à l´Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Direction des Sciences du Vivant, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, Institut de Recherches en Technologies et Sciences pour le VivantGrenoble, France
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, Institut National de la Recherche AgronomiqueGrenoble, France
| | - Chloe Zubieta
- CNRS, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, UMR 5168Grenoble, France
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, University of Grenoble AlpesGrenoble, France
- Commissariat à l´Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Direction des Sciences du Vivant, Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, Institut de Recherches en Technologies et Sciences pour le VivantGrenoble, France
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire & Végétale, Institut National de la Recherche AgronomiqueGrenoble, France
- *Correspondence: Chloe Zubieta,
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Pabón-Mora N, Suárez-Baron H, Ambrose BA, González F. Flower Development and Perianth Identity Candidate Genes in the Basal Angiosperm Aristolochia fimbriata (Piperales: Aristolochiaceae). FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2015; 6:1095. [PMID: 26697047 PMCID: PMC4675851 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2015.01095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 11/22/2015] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Aristolochia fimbriata (Aristolochiaceae: Piperales) exhibits highly synorganized flowers with a single convoluted structure forming a petaloid perianth that surrounds the gynostemium, putatively formed by the congenital fusion between stamens and the upper portion of the carpels. Here we present the flower development and morphology of A. fimbriata, together with the expression of the key regulatory genes that participate in flower development, particularly those likely controlling perianth identity. A. fimbriata is a member of the magnoliids, and thus gene expression detected for all ABCE MADS-box genes in this taxon, can also help to elucidate patterns of gene expression prior the independent duplications of these genes in eudicots and monocots. Using both floral development and anatomy in combination with the isolation of MADS-box gene homologs, gene phylogenetic analyses and expression studies (both by reverse transcription PCR and in situ hybridization), we present hypotheses on floral organ identity genes involved in the formation of this bizarre flower. We found that most MADS-box genes were expressed in vegetative and reproductive tissues with the exception of AfimSEP2, AfimAGL6, and AfimSTK transcripts that are only found in flowers and capsules but are not detected in leaves. Two genes show ubiquitous expression; AfimFUL that is found in all floral organs at all developmental stages as well as in leaves and capsules, and AfimAG that has low expression in leaves and is found in all floral organs at all stages with a considerable reduction of expression in the limb of anthetic flowers. Our results indicate that expression of AfimFUL is indicative of pleiotropic roles and not of a perianth identity specific function. On the other hand, expression of B-class genes, AfimAP3 and AfimPI, suggests their conserved role in stamen identity and corroborates that the perianth is sepal and not petal-derived. Our data also postulates an AGL6 ortholog as a candidate gene for sepal identity in the Aristolochiaceae and provides testable hypothesis for a modified ABCE model in synorganized magnoliid flowers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Pabón-Mora
- Instituto de Biología, Universidad de AntioquiaMedellín, Colombia
- The New York Botanical Garden, BronxNY, USA
- *Correspondence: Natalia Pabón-Mora,
| | | | | | - Favio González
- Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de ColombiaBogotá, Colombia
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Atkinson BA, Rothwell GW, Stockey RA. Hughmillerites vancouverensis sp. nov. and the Cretaceous diversification of Cupressaceae. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY 2014; 101:2136-2147. [PMID: 25480710 DOI: 10.3732/ajb.1400369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED • PREMISE OF THE STUDY Two ovulate conifer cones, one of which is attached terminally to a short leafy shoot, reveal the presence of a new species of Hughmillerites in the Early Cretaceous Apple Bay flora of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. This ancient conifer expands the diversity of Cupressaceae in the Mesozoic and reveals details about the evolution of Subfamily: Cunninghamioideae.• METHODS Specimens were studied from anatomical sections prepared using the cellulose acetate peel technique.• KEY RESULTS Vegetative shoots have helically arranged leaves that are Cunninghamia-like. Seed cones have many helically arranged bract/scale complexes in which the bract is larger than the ovuliferous scale. Each ovuliferous scale has three free tips that separate from the bract immediately distal to an inverted seed. Several ovuliferous scales show interseminal ridges between seeds.• CONCLUSIONS This study documents a new extinct species of cunninghamioid conifers, Hughmillerites vancouverensis, expanding the record of the genus from the Late Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous. This new extinct species emphasizes the important role that conifers from subfamily Cunninghamioideae played in the initial evolutionary radiation of Cupressaceae. In light of recent findings in conifer regulatory genetics, we use H. vancouverensis to hypothesize that variations of expression in certain gene homologues played an important role in the evolution of the cupressaceous ovuliferous scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian A Atkinson
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, 2082 Cordley Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 USA
| | - Gar W Rothwell
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, 2082 Cordley Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 USA Department of Environmental and Plant Biology, 315 Porter Hall, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701 USA
| | - Ruth A Stockey
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, 2082 Cordley Hall, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 USA
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Liu WZ, Hilu K, Wang YL. From leaf and branch into a flower: Magnolia tells the story. BOTANICAL STUDIES 2014; 55:28. [PMID: 28510966 PMCID: PMC5432820 DOI: 10.1186/1999-3110-55-28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2014] [Accepted: 02/15/2014] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the classical doctrines, Magnolia was frequently considered the archetype among flowering plants, and its conduplicate carpel with marginal placentation was assumed to be derived from a leaf-like organ bearing ovules along its margins. Although the robustness of this concept has been seriously questioned by advances in botanical research, especially the emergence of Magnolia deeper in the angiosperm tree of life in molecular systematics, it remains the most-taught interpretation for the origin of carpels. RESULTS To test the validity of this classical doctrine, we performed comparative anatomical analyses of the vascular bundles in the flowers of Magnolia using fine (8-μm) paraffin -sections. We document the presence of two independent vascular systems in the carpels: the collateral bundles of the dorsal and ventral veins arising from the stelar bundle, and the amphicribral ovular bundles arising from the cortical bundles. This observation in conjunction with data from other fields concurrently suggests that the ovary wall is equivalent to a foliar organ whereas the placenta represents an ovule-bearing shoot. CONCLUSIONS Our observation on the former model plant, Magnolia, nullifies the classical doctrine of carpel evolution and supports the Unifying Theory. This conclusion prompts a reconsideration of the concept of angiosperm flower evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Zhe Liu
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China (Ministry of Education), School of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an, China
| | - Khidir Hilu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
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Gramzow L, Weilandt L, Theißen G. MADS goes genomic in conifers: towards determining the ancestral set of MADS-box genes in seed plants. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2014; 114:1407-29. [PMID: 24854168 PMCID: PMC4204780 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcu066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2013] [Accepted: 03/10/2014] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS MADS-box genes comprise a gene family coding for transcription factors. This gene family expanded greatly during land plant evolution such that the number of MADS-box genes ranges from one or two in green algae to around 100 in angiosperms. Given the crucial functions of MADS-box genes for nearly all aspects of plant development, the expansion of this gene family probably contributed to the increasing complexity of plants. However, the expansion of MADS-box genes during one important step of land plant evolution, namely the origin of seed plants, remains poorly understood due to the previous lack of whole-genome data for gymnosperms. METHODS The newly available genome sequences of Picea abies, Picea glauca and Pinus taeda were used to identify the complete set of MADS-box genes in these conifers. In addition, MADS-box genes were identified in the growing number of transcriptomes available for gymnosperms. With these datasets, phylogenies were constructed to determine the ancestral set of MADS-box genes of seed plants and to infer the ancestral functions of these genes. KEY RESULTS Type I MADS-box genes are under-represented in gymnosperms and only a minimum of two Type I MADS-box genes have been present in the most recent common ancestor (MRCA) of seed plants. In contrast, a large number of Type II MADS-box genes were found in gymnosperms. The MRCA of extant seed plants probably possessed at least 11-14 Type II MADS-box genes. In gymnosperms two duplications of Type II MADS-box genes were found, such that the MRCA of extant gymnosperms had at least 14-16 Type II MADS-box genes. CONCLUSIONS The implied ancestral set of MADS-box genes for seed plants shows simplicity for Type I MADS-box genes and remarkable complexity for Type II MADS-box genes in terms of phylogeny and putative functions. The analysis of transcriptome data reveals that gymnosperm MADS-box genes are expressed in a great variety of tissues, indicating diverse roles of MADS-box genes for the development of gymnosperms. This study is the first that provides a comprehensive overview of MADS-box genes in conifers and thus will provide a framework for future work on MADS-box genes in seed plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Gramzow
- Department of Genetics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 12, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Lisa Weilandt
- Department of Genetics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 12, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Günter Theißen
- Department of Genetics, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Philosophenweg 12, 07743 Jena, Germany
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Pabón-Mora N, Wong GKS, Ambrose BA. Evolution of fruit development genes in flowering plants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2014; 5:300. [PMID: 25018763 PMCID: PMC4071287 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2014.00300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2014] [Accepted: 06/07/2014] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The genetic mechanisms regulating dry fruit development and opercular dehiscence have been identified in Arabidopsis thaliana. In the bicarpellate silique, valve elongation and differentiation is controlled by FRUITFULL (FUL) that antagonizes SHATTERPROOF1-2 (SHP1/SHP2) and INDEHISCENT (IND) at the dehiscence zone where they control normal lignification. SHP1/2 are also repressed by REPLUMLESS (RPL), responsible for replum formation. Similarly, FUL indirectly controls two other factors ALCATRAZ (ALC) and SPATULA (SPT) that function in the proper formation of the separation layer. FUL and SHP1/2 belong to the MADS-box family, IND and ALC belong to the bHLH family and RPL belongs to the homeodomain family, all of which are large transcription factor families. These families have undergone numerous duplications and losses in plants, likely accompanied by functional changes. Functional analyses of homologous genes suggest that this network is fairly conserved in Brassicaceae and less conserved in other core eudicots. Only the MADS box genes have been functionally characterized in basal eudicots and suggest partial conservation of the functions recorded for Brassicaceae. Here we do a comprehensive search of SHP, IND, ALC, SPT, and RPL homologs across core-eudicots, basal eudicots, monocots and basal angiosperms. Based on gene-tree analyses we hypothesize what parts of the network for fruit development in Brassicaceae, in particular regarding direct and indirect targets of FUL, might be conserved across angiosperms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Pabón-Mora
- Instituto de Biología, Universidad de AntioquiaMedellín, Colombia
- The New York Botanical GardenBronx, NY, USA
- *Correspondence: Natalia Pabón-Mora, Instituto de Biología, Universidad de Antioquia, Calle 70 No 52-21, AA 1226 Medellín, Colombia e-mail:
| | - Gane Ka-Shu Wong
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of AlbertaEdmonton, AB, Canada
- Department of Medicine, University of AlbertaEdmonton, AB, Canada
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial ZoneShenzhen, China
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Ruelens P, Geuten K. When paleontology and molecular genetics meet: a genetic context for the evolution of conifer ovuliferous scales. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2013; 200:10-12. [PMID: 24032566 DOI: 10.1111/nph.12417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Philip Ruelens
- Department of Biology, University of Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, B-3001, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Koen Geuten
- Department of Biology, University of Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, B-3001, Leuven, Belgium
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Geuten K, Coenen H. Heterochronic genes in plant evolution and development. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2013; 4:381. [PMID: 24093023 PMCID: PMC3782661 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2013.00381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2013] [Accepted: 09/06/2013] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Evolution of morphology includes evolutionary shifts of developmental processes in space or in time. Heterochronic evolution is defined as a temporal shift. The concept of heterochrony has been very rewarding to investigators of both animal and plant developmental evolution, because it has strong explanatory power when trying to understand morphological diversity. While for animals, extensive literature on heterochrony developed along with the field of evolution of development, in plants the concept has been applied less often and is less elaborately developed. Yet novel genetic findings highlight heterochrony as a developmental and evolutionary process in plants. Similar to what has been found for the worm Caenorhabditis, a heterochronic gene pathway controlling developmental timing has been elucidated in flowering plants. Two antagonistic microRNA's miR156 and miR172 target two gene families of transcription factors, SQUAMOSA PROMOTOR BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE and APETALA2-like, respectively. Here, we propose that this finding now allows the molecular investigation of cases of heterochronic evolution in plants. We illustrate this point by examining microRNA expression patterns in the Antirrhinum majus incomposita and choripetala heterochronic mutants. Some of the more beautiful putative cases of heterochronic evolution can be found outside flowering plants, but little is known about the extent of conservation of this flowering plant pathway in other land plants. We show that the expression of an APETALA2-like gene decreases with age in a fern species. This contributes to the idea that ferns share some heterochronic gene functions with flowering plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koen Geuten
- *Correspondence: Koen Geuten, Department of Biology, Laboratory of Molecular Plant Biology, University of Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, 3001 Leuven, Belgium e-mail:
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Wang X, Luo B. Mechanical Pressure, Not Genes, Makes Ovulate Parts Leaf-Like in <i>Cycas</i>. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PLANT SCIENCES 2013; 04:53-57. [DOI: 10.4236/ajps.2013.412a1008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
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