1
|
López-Virgen AG, Dautt-Castro M, Ulloa-Llanes LK, Casas-Flores S, Contreras-Vergara CA, Hernández-Oñate MA, Sotelo-Mundo RR, Vélez-de la Rocha R, Islas-Osuna MA. Genome-wide identification of gene families related to miRNA biogenesis in Mangifera indica L. and their possible role during heat stress. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17737. [PMID: 39035161 PMCID: PMC11260077 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Mango is a popular tropical fruit that requires quarantine hot water treatment (QHWT) for postharvest sanitation, which can cause abiotic stress. Plants have various defense mechanisms to cope with stress; miRNAs mainly regulate the expression of these defense responses. Proteins involved in the biogenesis of miRNAs include DICER-like (DCL), ARGONAUTE (AGO), HYPONASTIC LEAVES 1 (HYL1), SERRATE (SE), HUA ENHANCER1 (HEN1), HASTY (HST), and HEAT-SHOCK PROTEIN 90 (HSP90), among others. According to our analysis, the mango genome contains five DCL, thirteen AGO, six HYL, two SE, one HEN1, one HST, and five putative HSP90 genes. Gene structure prediction and domain identification indicate that sequences contain key domains for their respective gene families, including the RNase III domain in DCL and PAZ and PIWI domains for AGOs. In addition, phylogenetic analysis indicates the formation of clades that include the mango sequences and their respective orthologs in other flowering plant species, supporting the idea these are functional orthologs. The analysis of cis-regulatory elements of these genes allowed the identification of MYB, ABRE, GARE, MYC, and MeJA-responsive elements involved in stress responses. Gene expression analysis showed that most genes are induced between 3 to 6 h after QHWT, supporting the early role of miRNAs in stress response. Interestingly, our results suggest that mango rapidly induces the production of miRNAs after heat stress. This research will enable us to investigate further the regulation of gene expression and its effects on commercially cultivated fruits, such as mango, while maintaining sanitary standards.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrés G. López-Virgen
- CTAOV, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., Hermosillo, Sonora, México
| | - Mitzuko Dautt-Castro
- CTAOV, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., Hermosillo, Sonora, México
| | - Lourdes K. Ulloa-Llanes
- CTAOV, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., Hermosillo, Sonora, México
| | - Sergio Casas-Flores
- División de Biología Molecular, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi, México
| | | | | | - Rogerio R. Sotelo-Mundo
- CTAOA, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., Hermosillo, Sonora, México
| | - Rosabel Vélez-de la Rocha
- Unidad Culiacán, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., Culiacán, Sinaloa, México
| | - Maria A. Islas-Osuna
- CTAOV, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., Hermosillo, Sonora, México
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zaheer U, Munir F, Salum YM, He W. Function and regulation of plant ARGONAUTE proteins in response to environmental challenges: a review. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17115. [PMID: 38560454 PMCID: PMC10979746 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Environmental stresses diversely affect multiple processes related to the growth, development, and yield of many crops worldwide. In response, plants have developed numerous sophisticated defense mechanisms at the cellular and subcellular levels to react and adapt to biotic and abiotic stressors. RNA silencing, which is an innate immune mechanism, mediates sequence-specific gene expression regulation in higher eukaryotes. ARGONAUTE (AGO) proteins are essential components of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). They bind to small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) and target complementary RNAs, causing translational repression or triggering endonucleolytic cleavage pathways. In this review, we aim to illustrate the recently published molecular functions, regulatory mechanisms, and biological roles of AGO family proteins in model plants and cash crops, especially in the defense against diverse biotic and abiotic stresses, which could be helpful in crop improvement and stress tolerance in various plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Uroosa Zaheer
- Plant Protection, State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Plant Protection, International Joint Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Plant Protection, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Faisal Munir
- Plant Protection, State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Plant Protection, International Joint Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Plant Protection, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Yussuf Mohamed Salum
- Plant Protection, State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Plant Protection, International Joint Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Plant Protection, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Weiyi He
- Plant Protection, State Key Laboratory for Ecological Pest Control of Fujian and Taiwan Crops, Institute of Applied Ecology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Plant Protection, International Joint Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
- Plant Protection, Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wang Y, Xu Y, Liao F, Li T, Li X, Wu B, Hong SB, Xu K, Zang Y, Zheng W. Genome-wide identification of GH9 gene family and the assessment of its role during fruit abscission zone formation in Vaccinium ashei. PLANT CELL REPORTS 2023; 42:1589-1609. [PMID: 37474780 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-023-03049-y] [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: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE The genomic location and stage-specific expression pattern of GH9 genes reveal their critical roles during fruit abscission zone formation in Vaccinium ashei. Glycosyl hydrolase family 9 (GH9) cellulases play a crucial role in both cellulose synthesis and hydrolysis during plant growth and development. Despite this importance, there is currently no study on the involvement of GH9-encoding genes, specifically VaGH9s, in abscission zone formation of rabbiteye blueberries (Vaccinium ashei). In this study, we identified a total of 61 VaGH9s in the genome, which can be classified into 3 subclasses based on conserved motifs and domains, gene structures, and phylogenetic analyses. Our synteny analysis revealed that VaGH9s are more closely related to the GH9s of Populus L. than to those of Arabidopsis, Vitis vinifera, and Citrus sinensis. In silico structural analysis predicted that most of VaGH9s are hydrophilic, and localized in cell membrane and/or cell wall, and the variable sets of cis-acting regulatory elements and functional diversity with four categories of stress response, hormone regulation, growth and development, and transcription factor-related elements are present in the promoter sequence of VaGH9s genes. Transcriptomic analysis showed that there were 22 differentially expressed VaGH9s in fruit abscission zone tissue at the veraison stage, and the expression of VaGH9B2 and VaGH9C10 was continuously increased during fruit maturation, which were in parallel with the increasing levels of cellulase activity and oxidative stress indicators, suggesting that they are involved in the separation stage of fruit abscission in Vaccinium ashei. Our work identified 22 VaGH9s potentially involved in different stages of fruit abscission and would aid further investigation into the molecular regulation of abscission in rabbiteye blueberries fruit.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Wang
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control for Subtropical Fruit and Vegetable, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Wusu Road 666, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yue Xu
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control for Subtropical Fruit and Vegetable, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Wusu Road 666, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fangfang Liao
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control for Subtropical Fruit and Vegetable, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Wusu Road 666, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ting Li
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control for Subtropical Fruit and Vegetable, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Wusu Road 666, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaolong Li
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control for Subtropical Fruit and Vegetable, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Wusu Road 666, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Boping Wu
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control for Subtropical Fruit and Vegetable, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Wusu Road 666, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Seung-Beom Hong
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Houston Clear Lake, Houston, TX, 77058-1098, USA
| | - Kai Xu
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control for Subtropical Fruit and Vegetable, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Wusu Road 666, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yunxiang Zang
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control for Subtropical Fruit and Vegetable, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Wusu Road 666, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Weiwei Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Quality and Safety Control for Subtropical Fruit and Vegetable, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Collaborative Innovation Center for Efficient and Green Production of Agriculture in Mountainous Areas of Zhejiang Province, College of Horticulture Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Wusu Road 666, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Podder A, Ahmed FF, Suman MZH, Mim AY, Hasan K. Genome-wide identification of DCL, AGO and RDR gene families and their associated functional regulatory element analyses in sunflower (Helianthus annuus). PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286994. [PMID: 37294803 PMCID: PMC10256174 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/11/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) regulates a variety of eukaryotic gene expressions that are engaged in response to stress, growth, and the conservation of genomic stability during developmental phases. It is also intimately connected to the post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) process and chromatin modification levels. The entire process of RNA interference (RNAi) pathway gene families mediates RNA silencing. The main factors of RNA silencing are the Dicer-Like (DCL), Argonaute (AGO), and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDR) gene families. To the best of our knowledge, genome-wide identification of RNAi gene families like DCL, AGO, and RDR in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) has not yet been studied despite being discovered in some species. So, the goal of this study is to find the RNAi gene families like DCL, AGO, and RDR in sunflower based on bioinformatics approaches. Therefore, we accomplished an inclusive in silico investigation for genome-wide identification of RNAi pathway gene families DCL, AGO, and RDR through bioinformatics approaches such as (sequence homogeneity, phylogenetic relationship, gene structure, chromosomal localization, PPIs, GO, sub-cellular localization). In this study, we have identified five DCL (HaDCLs), fifteen AGO (HaAGOs), and ten RDR (HaRDRs) in the sunflower genome database corresponding to the RNAi genes of model plant Arabidopsis thaliana based on genome-wide analysis and a phylogenetic method. The analysis of the gene structure that contains exon-intron numbers, conserved domain, and motif composition analyses for all HaDCL, HaAGO, and HaRDR gene families indicated almost homogeneity among the same gene family. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis illustrated that there exists interconnection among identified three gene families. The analysis of the Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment showed that the detected genes directly contribute to the RNA gene-silencing and were involved in crucial pathways. It was observed that the cis-acting regulatory components connected to the identified genes were shown to be responsive to hormone, light, stress, and other functions. That was found in HaDCL, HaAGO, and HaRDR genes associated with the development and growth of plants. Finally, we are able to provide some essential information about the components of sunflower RNA silencing through our genome-wide comparison and integrated bioinformatics analysis, which open the door for further research into the functional mechanisms of the identified genes and their regulatory elements.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anamika Podder
- Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
| | - Fee Faysal Ahmed
- Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Zahid Hasan Suman
- Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
| | - Afsana Yeasmin Mim
- Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
| | - Khadiza Hasan
- Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Bélanger S, Zhan J, Meyers BC. Phylogenetic analyses of seven protein families refine the evolution of small RNA pathways in green plants. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 192:1183-1203. [PMID: 36869858 PMCID: PMC10231463 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Several protein families participate in the biogenesis and function of small RNAs (sRNAs) in plants. Those with primary roles include Dicer-like (DCL), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDR), and Argonaute (AGO) proteins. Protein families such as double-stranded RNA-binding (DRB), SERRATE (SE), and SUPPRESSION OF SILENCING 3 (SGS3) act as partners of DCL or RDR proteins. Here, we present curated annotations and phylogenetic analyses of seven sRNA pathway protein families performed on 196 species in the Viridiplantae (aka green plants) lineage. Our results suggest that the RDR3 proteins emerged earlier than RDR1/2/6. RDR6 is found in filamentous green algae and all land plants, suggesting that the evolution of RDR6 proteins coincides with the evolution of phased small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). We traced the origin of the 24-nt reproductive phased siRNA-associated DCL5 protein back to the American sweet flag (Acorus americanus), the earliest diverged, extant monocot species. Our analyses of AGOs identified multiple duplication events of AGO genes that were lost, retained, or further duplicated in subgroups, indicating that the evolution of AGOs is complex in monocots. The results also refine the evolution of several clades of AGO proteins, such as AGO4, AGO6, AGO17, and AGO18. Analyses of nuclear localization signal sequences and catalytic triads of AGO proteins shed light on the regulatory roles of diverse AGOs. Collectively, this work generates a curated and evolutionarily coherent annotation for gene families involved in plant sRNA biogenesis/function and provides insights into the evolution of major sRNA pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Junpeng Zhan
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO 63132, USA
| | - Blake C Meyers
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis, MO 63132, USA
- Division of Plant Science and Technology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Jin Y, Wang B, Bao M, Li Y, Xiao S, Wang Y, Zhang J, Zhao L, Zhang H, Hsu YH, Li M, Gu L. Development of an efficient expression system with large cargo capacity for interrogation of gene function in bamboo based on bamboo mosaic virus. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY 2023. [PMID: 36794821 DOI: 10.1111/jipb.13468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants among monocotyledonous species and is grown extensively in subtropical regions. Although bamboo has high economic value and produces much biomass quickly, gene functional research is hindered by the low efficiency of genetic transformation in this species. We therefore explored the potential of a bamboo mosaic virus (BaMV)-mediated expression system to investigate genotype-phenotype associations. We determined that the sites between the triple gene block proteins (TGBps) and the coat protein (CP) of BaMV are the most efficient insertion sites for the expression of exogenous genes in both monopodial and sympodial bamboo species. Moreover, we validated this system by individually overexpressing the two endogenous genes ACE1 and DEC1, which resulted in the promotion and suppression of internode elongation, respectively. In particular, this system was able to drive the expression of three 2A-linked betalain biosynthesis genes (more than 4 kb in length) to produce betalain, indicating that it has high cargo capacity and may provide the prerequisite basis for the development of a DNA-free bamboo genome editing platform in the future. Since BaMV can infect multiple bamboo species, we anticipate that the system described in this study will greatly contribute to gene function research and further promote the molecular breeding of bamboo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yandong Jin
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Baijie Wang
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Mingchuan Bao
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Yujie Li
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Shengwu Xiao
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Yuhua Wang
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Liangzhen Zhao
- Basic Forestry and Proteomics Research Center, School of Future Technology, College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Hangxiao Zhang
- Basic Forestry and Proteomics Research Center, School of Future Technology, College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Yau-Heiu Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Biotechnology, Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, China
| | - Mingjie Li
- College of crop science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| | - Lianfeng Gu
- Basic Forestry and Proteomics Research Center, School of Future Technology, College of Forestry, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350002, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Jing X, Xu L, Huai X, Zhang H, Zhao F, Qiao Y. Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of Argonaute, Dicer-like and RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase Gene Families and Their Expression Analyses in Fragaria spp. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14010121. [PMID: 36672862 PMCID: PMC9859564 DOI: 10.3390/genes14010121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In the growth and development of plants, some non-coding small RNAs (sRNAs) not only mediate RNA interference at the post-transcriptional level, but also play an important regulatory role in chromatin modification at the transcriptional level. In these processes, the protein factors Argonaute (AGO), Dicer-like (DCL), and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDR) play very important roles in the synthesis of sRNAs respectively. Though they have been identified in many plants, the information about these gene families in strawberry was poorly understood. In this study, using a genome-wide analysis and a phylogenetic approach, 13 AGO, six DCL, and nine RDR genes were identified in diploid strawberry Fragaria vesca. We also identified 33 AGO, 18 DCL, and 28 RDR genes in octoploid strawberry Fragaria × ananassa, studied the expression patterns of these genes in various tissues and developmental stages of strawberry, and researched the response of these genes to some hormones, finding that almost all genes respond to the five hormone stresses. This study is the first report of a genome-wide analysis of AGO, DCL, and RDR gene families in Fragaria spp., in which we provide basic genomic information and expression patterns for these genes. Additionally, this study provides a basis for further research on the functions of these genes and some evidence for the evolution between diploid and octoploid strawberries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotong Jing
- Laboratory of Fruit Crop Biotechnology, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Linlin Xu
- Institute of Pomology, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic Improvement, Nanjing 210014, China
| | - Xinjia Huai
- Laboratory of Fruit Crop Biotechnology, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Laboratory of Fruit Crop Biotechnology, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Fengli Zhao
- Laboratory of Fruit Crop Biotechnology, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yushan Qiao
- Laboratory of Fruit Crop Biotechnology, College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, No. 1 Weigang, Nanjing 210095, China
- Institute of Pomology, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Genetic Improvement, Nanjing 210014, China
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Xiang R, Ahmad B, Liang C, Shi X, Yang L, Du G, Wang L. Systematic genome-wide and expression analysis of RNA-directed DNA methylation pathway genes in grapes predicts their involvement in multiple biological processes. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1089392. [PMID: 36570893 PMCID: PMC9780290 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1089392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) is an important epigenetic pathway in plants and mediates transcriptional silencing by siRNAs. Different gene families have role in the regulation of the RdDM pathway and there is a lack of information about these gene families in the grapes (Vitis vinifera L.). Here, we mentioned the genome-wide identification, bioinformatics analysis, evolutionary history, and expression profiling of VvRdDM pathway genes against various stresses, hormonal treatments as well as in different organs. Sixty VvRdDM genes belonging to fourteen different families were identified. All the genes were unevenly distributed and chromosome 4 contained the highest number of genes (7). Most of the genes showed similar exon-intron and motif distribution patterns within the same subfamilies. Out of 14 families, only members of 4 families underwent duplication events during the evolutionary process and 50% of members of the AGO family are the result of duplication events. Based on Ka/Ks ratio all duplicated gene pairs have a negative mode of selection. VvRdDM pathway genes showed differential spatiotemporal expression patterns against different hormone and stress treatments. Further, with multiple transcriptome analysis, some VvRdDM genes showed a broad spectrum of high expression in different organs at various stages, and VvRdDM genes also displayed different expression in seeded and seedless cultivars during different phases of seed development. This proposed that VvRdDM genes may play multiple roles in grape growth and development, especially in seed development. qRT-PCR analysis of selected genes further verified the critical roles of RdDM genes in multiple biological processes, especially in seed development/ovule abortion i.e., VvIDN2a, VvDRD1a, VvRDR1a, and VvRDR6. Our study provides detailed information about VvRdDM genes in perspective of gene structure and evolution, as well as expression pattern against different stress, hormones and in different plants parts. It provides new candidate gene resources for further functional characterization and molecular breeding of grapes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rui Xiang
- College of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Bilal Ahmad
- College of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
- Department of Horticulture, Muhammad Nawaz Sharif (MNS)-University of Agriculture Multan, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Chen Liang
- College of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Xiaoxin Shi
- College of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Lili Yang
- Shijiazhuang Fruit Research Institute, Hebei Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Guoqiang Du
- College of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| | - Li Wang
- College of Horticulture, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
MicroRNAs Mediated Plant Responses to Salt Stress. Cells 2022; 11:cells11182806. [PMID: 36139379 PMCID: PMC9496875 DOI: 10.3390/cells11182806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most damaging issues to cultivatable land is soil salinity. While salt stress influences plant growth and yields at low to moderate levels, severe salt stress is harmful to plant growth. Mineral shortages and toxicities frequently exacerbate the problem of salinity. The growth of many plants is quantitatively reduced by various levels of salt stress depending on the stage of development and duration of stress. Plants have developed various mechanisms to withstand salt stress. One of the key strategies is the utilization of microRNAs (miRNAs) that can influence gene regulation at the post-transcriptional stage under different environmental conditions, including salinity. Here, we have reviewed the miRNA-mediated adaptations of various plant species to salt stress and other abiotic variables. Moreover, salt responsive (SR)-miRNAs, their targets, and corresponding pathways have also been discussed. The review article concludes by suggesting that the utilization of miRNAs may be a vital strategy to generate salt tolerant crops ensuring food security in the future.
Collapse
|
10
|
Fu M, Chen Y, Li H, Wang L, Liu R, Liu Z. Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analyses of the Cotton AGO Genes and Their Potential Roles in Fiber Development and Stress Response. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13081492. [PMID: 36011401 PMCID: PMC9408788 DOI: 10.3390/genes13081492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Argonaute proteins (AGOs) are indispensable components of RNA silencing. However, systematic characterization of the AGO genes have not been completed in cotton until now. In this study, cotton AGO genes were identified and analyzed with respect to their evolution and expression profile during biotic and abiotic stresses. We identified 14 GaAGO, 14 GrAGO, and 28 GhAGO genes in the genomes of Gossypium arboreum, Gossypium raimondii, and Gossypium hirsutum. Cotton AGO proteins were classified into four subgroups. Structural and functional conservation were observed in the same subgroups based on the analysis of the gene structure and conserved domains. Twenty-four duplicated gene pairs were identified in GhAGO genes, and all of them exhibited strong purifying selection during evolution. Moreover, RNA-seq analysis showed that most of the GhAGO genes exhibit high expression levels in the fiber initiation and elongation processes. Furthermore, the expression profiles of GhAGO genes tested by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) demonstrated that they were sensitive to Verticillium wilt infection and salt and drought stresses. Overall, our results will pave the way for further functional investigation of the cotton AGO gene family, which may be involved in fiber development and stress response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Zhanji Liu
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-531-6665-9992
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Li Z, Li W, Guo M, Liu S, Liu L, Yu Y, Mo B, Chen X, Gao L. Origin, evolution and diversification of plant ARGONAUTE proteins. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 109:1086-1097. [PMID: 34845788 PMCID: PMC9208301 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Argonaute (AGO) proteins are central players in RNA interference in eukaryotes. They associate with small RNAs (sRNA) and lead to transcriptional or posttranscriptional silencing of targets, thereby regulating diverse biological processes. The molecular and biological functions of AGO proteins have been extensively characterized, particularly in a few angiosperm species, leading to the recognition that the AGO family has expanded to accommodate diverse sRNAs thereby performing diverse biological functions. However, understanding of the expansion of AGO proteins in plants is still limited, due to a dearth of knowledge of AGO proteins in green algal groups. Here, we identified more than 2900 AGO proteins from 244 plant species, including green algae, and performed a large-scale phylogenetic analysis. The phylogeny shows that the plant AGO family gave rise to four clades after the emergence of hydrobiontic algae and prior to the emergence of land plants. Subsequent parallel expansion in ferns and angiosperms resulted in eight main clades in angiosperms: AGO2, AGO7, AGO6, AGO4, AGO1, AGO10a, AGO10b and AGO5. On the basis of this phylogeny, we identified two novel AGO4 orthologs that Arabidopsis does not have, and redefined AGO10, which is composed of AGO10a and AGO10b. Finally, we propose a hypothetical evolutionary model of AGO proteins in plants. Our studies provide a deeper understanding of the phylogenetic relationships of AGO family members in the green lineage, which would help to further reveal their roles as RNAi effectors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zancong Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Wenqi Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Mingxi Guo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Simu Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Lin Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Yu Yu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Beixin Mo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Xuemei Chen
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, Institute of Integrative Genome Biology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Lei Gao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Wang J, Li J, Li Z, Liu B, Zhang L, Guo D, Huang S, Qian W, Guo L. Genomic insights into longan evolution from a chromosome-level genome assembly and population genomics of longan accessions. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2022; 9:uhac021. [PMID: 35184175 PMCID: PMC9071379 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhac021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Longan (Dimocarpus longan) is a subtropical fruit best known for its nutritious fruit and regarded as a precious tonic and traditional medicine since ancient times. High-quality chromosome-scale genome assembly is valuable for functional genomic study and genetic improvement of longan. Here, we report a chromosome-level reference genome sequence for longan cultivar JDB with an assembled genome of 455.5 Mb in size anchored to fifteen chromosomes, representing a significant improvement of contiguity (contig N50 = 12.1 Mb, scaffold N50 = 29.5 Mb) over a previous draft assembly. A total of 40 420 protein-coding genes were predicted in D. longan genome. Synteny analysis suggests longan shares the widespread gamma event with core eudicots, but has no other whole genome duplications. Comparative genomics showed that D. longan genome experienced significant expansions of gene families related to phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and UDP-glucosyltransferase. Deep genome sequencing analysis of longan cultivars identified longan biogeography as a major contributing factor for genetic diversity, and revealed a clear population admixture and introgression among cultivars of different geographic origins, postulating a likely migration trajectory of longan overall confirmed by existing historical records. Finally, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of longan cultivars identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) for six different fruit quality traits and revealed a shared QTL containing three genes for total soluble solid and seed weight. The chromosome-level reference genome assembly, annotation and population genetic resource for D. longan will facilitate the molecular studies and breeding of desirable longan cultivars in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Tree Research of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
- Institution of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianguang Li
- Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Tree Research of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
- Institution of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zaiyuan Li
- Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bo Liu
- Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lili Zhang
- Weifang Institute of Technology, Weifang, China
| | - Dongliang Guo
- Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Tree Research of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
- Institution of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shilian Huang
- Key Laboratory of South Subtropical Fruit Biology and Genetic Resource Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Key Laboratory of Tropical and Subtropical Fruit Tree Research of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China
- Institution of Fruit Tree Research, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wanqiang Qian
- Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Li Guo
- Peking University Institute of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Weifang, China
- Faculty of Electronic and Information Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
El-Sappah AH, Yan K, Huang Q, Islam MM, Li Q, Wang Y, Khan MS, Zhao X, Mir RR, Li J, El-Tarabily KA, Abbas M. Comprehensive Mechanism of Gene Silencing and Its Role in Plant Growth and Development. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:705249. [PMID: 34589097 PMCID: PMC8475493 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.705249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Gene silencing is a negative feedback mechanism that regulates gene expression to define cell fate and also regulates metabolism and gene expression throughout the life of an organism. In plants, gene silencing occurs via transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) and post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS). TGS obscures transcription via the methylation of 5' untranslated region (5'UTR), whereas PTGS causes the methylation of a coding region to result in transcript degradation. In this review, we summarized the history and molecular mechanisms of gene silencing and underlined its specific role in plant growth and crop production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed H. El-Sappah
- School of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin, China
- Genetics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
- Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province for Refining Sichuan Tea, Yibin, China
| | - Kuan Yan
- School of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin, China
- Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province for Refining Sichuan Tea, Yibin, China
| | - Qiulan Huang
- School of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin, China
- Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province for Refining Sichuan Tea, Yibin, China
- College of Tea Science, Yibin University, Yibin, China
| | | | - Quanzi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
- Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Wang
- School of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin, China
- Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province for Refining Sichuan Tea, Yibin, China
| | - Muhammad Sarwar Khan
- Center of Agriculture Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Xianming Zhao
- School of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin, China
- Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province for Refining Sichuan Tea, Yibin, China
| | - Reyazul Rouf Mir
- Division of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture (FoA), Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST–K), Sopore, India
| | - Jia Li
- School of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin, China
- Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province for Refining Sichuan Tea, Yibin, China
| | - Khaled A. El-Tarabily
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | - Manzar Abbas
- School of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Engineering, Yibin University, Yibin, China
- Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province for Refining Sichuan Tea, Yibin, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Ahmed FF, Hossen MI, Sarkar MAR, Konak JN, Zohra FT, Shoyeb M, Mondal S. Genome-wide identification of DCL, AGO and RDR gene families and their associated functional regulatory elements analyses in banana (Musa acuminata). PLoS One 2021; 16:e0256873. [PMID: 34473743 PMCID: PMC8412350 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA silencing is mediated through RNA interference (RNAi) pathway gene families, i.e., Dicer-Like (DCL), Argonaute (AGO), and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDR) and their cis-acting regulatory elements. The RNAi pathway is also directly connected with the post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) mechanism, and the pathway controls eukaryotic gene regulation during growth, development, and stress response. Nevertheless, genome-wide identification of RNAi pathway gene families such as DCL, AGO, and RDR and their regulatory network analyses related to transcription factors have not been studied in many fruit crop species, including banana (Musa acuminata). In this study, we studied in silico genome-wide identification and characterization of DCL, AGO, and RDR genes in bananas thoroughly via integrated bioinformatics approaches. A genome-wide analysis identified 3 MaDCL, 13 MaAGO, and 5 MaRDR candidate genes based on multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic tree related to the RNAi pathway in banana genomes. These genes correspond to the Arabidopsis thaliana RNAi silencing genes. The analysis of the conserved domain, motif, and gene structure (exon-intron numbers) for MaDCL, MaAGO, and MaRDR genes showed higher homogeneity within the same gene family. The Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis exhibited that the identified RNAi genes could be involved in RNA silencing and associated metabolic pathways. A number of important transcription factors (TFs), e.g., ERF, Dof, C2H2, TCP, GATA and MIKC_MADS families, were identified by network and sub-network analyses between TFs and candidate RNAi gene families. Furthermore, the cis-acting regulatory elements related to light-responsive (LR), stress-responsive (SR), hormone-responsive (HR), and other activities (OT) functions were identified in candidate MaDCL, MaAGO, and MaRDR genes. These genome-wide analyses of these RNAi gene families provide valuable information related to RNA silencing, which would shed light on further characterization of RNAi genes, their regulatory elements, and functional roles, which might be helpful for banana improvement in the breeding program.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fee Faysal Ahmed
- Faculty of Science, Department of Mathematics, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
- * E-mail:
| | - Md. Imran Hossen
- Faculty of Science, Department of Mathematics, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Abdur Rauf Sarkar
- Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
| | - Jesmin Naher Konak
- Faculty of Life Science, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University, Tangail, Bangladesh
| | - Fatema Tuz Zohra
- Faculty of Agriculture, Laboratory of Fruit Science, Saga University, Honjo-machi, Saga, Japan
| | - Md. Shoyeb
- Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
| | - Samiran Mondal
- Faculty of Science, Department of Mathematics, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Potential Mechanisms for Ethylene-Inducible Pedicel–Fruit Abscission Zone Activation in Non-Climacteric Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.). HORTICULTURAE 2021; 7. [PMID: 36313595 PMCID: PMC9608358 DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae7090270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The harvesting of sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) fruit is a labor-intensive process. The mechanical harvesting of sweet cherry fruit is feasible; however, it is dependent on the formation of an abscission zone at the fruit–pedicel junction. The natural propensity for pedicel—fruit abscission zone (PFAZ) activation varies by cultivar, and the general molecular basis for PFAZ activation is not well characterized. In this study, ethylene-inducible change in pedicel fruit retention force (PFRF) was recorded in a developmental time-course with a concomitant analysis of the PFAZ transcriptome from three sweet cherry cultivars. In ‘Skeena’, mean PFRF for both control and treatment fruit dropped below the 0.40 kg-force (3.92 N) threshold for mechanical harvesting, indicating the activation of a discrete PFAZ. In ‘Bing’, mean PFRF for both control and treatment groups decreased over time. However, a mean PFRF conducive to mechanical harvesting was achieved only in the ethylene-treated fruit. While in ‘Chelan’ the mean PFRF of the control and treatment groups did not meet the threshold required for efficient mechanical harvesting. Transcriptome analysis of the PFAZ region followed by the functional annotation, differential expression analysis, and gene ontology (GO) enrichment analyses of the data facilitated the identification of phytohormone-responsive and abscission-related transcripts, as well as processes that exhibited differential expression and enrichment in a cultivar-dependent manner over the developmental time-course. Additionally, read alignment-based variant calling revealed several short variants in differentially expressed genes, associated with enriched gene ontologies and associated metabolic processes, lending potential insight into the genetic basis for different abscission responses between the cultivars. These results provide genetic targets for the induction or inhibition of PFAZ activation, depending on the desire to harvest the fruit with or without the stem attached. Understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying the development of the PFAZ will inform future cultivar development while laying a foundation for mechanized sweet cherry harvest.
Collapse
|
16
|
Genome-Wide Identification and Evolutionary Analysis of Argonaute Genes in Hexaploid Bread Wheat. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 2021:9983858. [PMID: 34239939 PMCID: PMC8233069 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9983858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Argonaute (AGO) proteins play a pivotal role in plant growth and development as the core components of RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). However, no systematic characterization of AGO genes in wheat has been reported to date. In this study, a total number of 69 TaAGO genes in the hexaploid bread wheat (Triticum aestivum cv. Chinese Spring) genome, divided into 10 subfamilies, were identified. Compared to all wheat genes, TaAGOs showed a significantly lower evolutionary rate, which is consistent with their high conservation in eukaryotes. However, the homoeolog retention was remarkably higher than the average, implying the nonredundant biological importance of TaAGO genes in bread wheat. Further homoeologous gene expression bias analyses revealed that TaAGOs may have undergone neofunctionalization after polyploidization and duplication through the divergent expression of homoeologous gene copies, to provide new opportunities for the generation of adaptive traits. Moreover, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analyses indicated that TaAGO gene expression was involved in response to heat, drought, and salt stresses. Our results would provide a theoretical basis for future studies on the biological functions of TaAGO genes in wheat and other gramineous species.
Collapse
|
17
|
Chachar S, Liu J, Zhang P, Riaz A, Guan C, Liu S. Harnessing Current Knowledge of DNA N6-Methyladenosine From Model Plants for Non-model Crops. Front Genet 2021; 12:668317. [PMID: 33995495 PMCID: PMC8118384 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.668317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications alter the gene activity and function by causing change in the chromosomal architecture through DNA methylation/demethylation, or histone modifications without causing any change in DNA sequence. In plants, DNA cytosine methylation (5mC) is vital for various pathways such as, gene regulation, transposon suppression, DNA repair, replication, transcription, and recombination. Thanks to recent advances in high throughput sequencing (HTS) technologies for epigenomic “Big Data” generation, accumulated studies have revealed the occurrence of another novel DNA methylation mark, N6-methyladenosine (6mA), which is highly present on gene bodies mainly activates gene expression in model plants such as eudicot Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and monocot rice (Oryza sativa). However, in non-model crops, the occurrence and importance of 6mA remains largely less known, with only limited reports in few species, such as Rosaceae (wild strawberry), and soybean (Glycine max). Given the aforementioned vital roles of 6mA in plants, hereinafter, we summarize the latest advances of DNA 6mA modification, and investigate the historical, known and vital functions of 6mA in plants. We also consider advanced artificial-intelligence biotechnologies that improve extraction and prediction of 6mA concepts. In this Review, we discuss the potential challenges that may hinder exploitation of 6mA, and give future goals of 6mA from model plants to non-model crops.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sadaruddin Chachar
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China.,Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Crop Production, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan
| | - Jingrong Liu
- College of Mathematics and Statistics, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Pingxian Zhang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Adeel Riaz
- Deaprtment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Okara, Okara, Pakistan
| | - Changfei Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Shuyuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, College of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Genome-wide identification, evolutionary relationship and expression analysis of AGO, DCL and RDR family genes in tea. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8679. [PMID: 33883595 PMCID: PMC8060290 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87991-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Three gene families in plants viz. Argonaute (AGOs), Dicer-like (DCLs) and RNA dependent RNA polymerase (RDRs) constitute the core components of small RNA mediated gene silencing machinery. The present study endeavours to identify members of these gene families in tea and to investigate their expression patterns in different tissues and various stress regimes. Using genome-wide analysis, we have identified 18 AGOs, 5 DCLs and 9 RDRs in tea, and analyzed their phylogenetic relationship with orthologs of Arabidopsis thaliana. Gene expression analysis revealed constitutive expression of CsAGO1 in all the studied tissues and stress conditions, whereas CsAGO10c showed most variable expression among all the genes. CsAGO10c gene was found to be upregulated in tissues undergoing high meristematic activity such as buds and roots, as well as in Exobasidium vexans infected samples. CsRDR2 and two paralogs of CsAGO4, which are known to participate in biogenesis of hc-siRNAs, showed similarities in their expression levels in most of the tea plant tissues. This report provides first ever insight into the important gene families involved in biogenesis of small RNAs in tea. The comprehensive knowledge of these small RNA biogenesis purveyors can be utilized for tea crop improvement aimed at stress tolerance and quality enhancement.
Collapse
|
19
|
Mosharaf MP, Rahman H, Ahsan MA, Akond Z, Ahmed FF, Islam MM, Moni MA, Mollah MNH. In silico identification and characterization of AGO, DCL and RDR gene families and their associated regulatory elements in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L.). PLoS One 2020; 15:e0228233. [PMID: 33347517 PMCID: PMC7751981 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) plays key roles in post-transcriptional and chromatin modification levels as well as regulates various eukaryotic gene expressions which are involved in stress responses, development and maintenance of genome integrity during developmental stages. The whole mechanism of RNAi pathway is directly involved with the gene-silencing process by the interaction of Dicer-Like (DCL), Argonaute (AGO) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDR) gene families and their regulatory elements. However, these RNAi gene families and their sub-cellular locations, functional pathways and regulatory components were not extensively investigated in the case of economically and nutritionally important fruit plant sweet orange (Citrus sinensis L.). Therefore, in silico characterization, gene diversity and regulatory factor analysis of RNA silencing genes in C. sinensis were conducted by using the integrated bioinformatics approaches. Genome-wide comparison analysis based on phylogenetic tree approach detected 4 CsDCL, 8 CsAGO and 4 CsRDR as RNAi candidate genes in C. sinensis corresponding to the RNAi genes of model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. The domain and motif composition and gene structure analyses for all three gene families exhibited almost homogeneity within the same group members. The Gene Ontology enrichment analysis clearly indicated that the predicted genes have direct involvement into the gene-silencing and other important pathways. The key regulatory transcription factors (TFs) MYB, Dof, ERF, NAC, MIKC_MADS, WRKY and bZIP were identified by their interaction network analysis with the predicted genes. The cis-acting regulatory elements associated with the predicted genes were detected as responsive to light, stress and hormone functions. Furthermore, the expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis showed that these RNAi candidate genes were highly expressed in fruit and leaves indicating their organ specific functions. Our genome-wide comparison and integrated bioinformatics analyses provided some necessary information about sweet orange RNA silencing components that would pave a ground for further investigation of functional mechanism of the predicted genes and their regulatory factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Md. Parvez Mosharaf
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Statistics, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
| | - Hafizur Rahman
- Department of Microbiology, Rajshahi Institute of Biosciences, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Asif Ahsan
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Statistics, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
| | - Zobaer Akond
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Statistics, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
- Institute of Environmental Science, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
- Agricultural Statistics and ICT Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gazipur, Bangladesh
| | - Fee Faysal Ahmed
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Statistics, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
- Department of Mathematics, Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Mazharul Islam
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Statistics, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Ali Moni
- The University of Sydney, Sydney Medical School, School of Medical Sciences, Discipline of Biomedical Science, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Md. Nurul Haque Mollah
- Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Statistics, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Genome-Wide Identification and Coexpression Network Analysis of DNA Methylation Pathway Genes and Their Differentiated Functions in Ginkgo biloba L. FORESTS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/f11101076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
DNA methylation plays a vital role in diverse biological processes. DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) genes and RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM)-related genes are key genes responsible for establishing and maintaining genome DNA methylation in plants. In the present study, we systematically identified nine GbDNMTs in Ginkgo biloba, including the three common families of GbMET1a/1b, GbCMT2, and GbDRMa/b/2a/2b/2c, and a fourth family—GbDNMT3—which is absent in most angiosperms. We also identified twenty RdDM-related genes, including four GbDCLs, six GbAGOs, and ten GbRDRs. Expression analysis of the genes showed the different patterns of individual genes, and 15 of 29 genes displayed expression change under five types of abiotic stress. Gene coexpression analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) using 126 public transcriptomic datasets revealed that these genes were clustered into two groups. In group I, genes covered members from all six families which were preferentially expressed in the ovulate strobile and fruit. A gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of WGCNA modules indicated that group I genes were most correlated with the biological process of cell proliferation. Group II only consisted of RdDM-related genes, including GbDRMs, GbAGOs, and GbRDRs, but no GbDCLs, and these genes were specifically expressed in the cambium, suggesting that they may function in a dicer-like (DCL)-independent RdDM pathway in specific tissues. The gene module related to group II was most enriched in signal transduction, cell communication, and the response to the stimulus. These results demonstrate that gene family members could be conserved or diverged across species, and multi-member families in the same pathway may cluster into different modules to function differentially. The study provides insight into the DNA methylation genes and their possible functions in G. biloba, laying a foundation for the further study of DNA methylation in gymnosperms.
Collapse
|