1
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Kainth AS, Zhang H, Gross DS. A critical role for Pol II CTD phosphorylation in heterochromatic gene activation. Gene 2024; 918:148473. [PMID: 38615982 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
How gene activation works in heterochromatin, and how the mechanism might differ from the one used in euchromatin, has been largely unexplored. Previous work has shown that in SIR-regulated heterochromatin of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, gene activation occurs in the absence of covalent histone modifications and other alterations of chromatin commonly associated with transcription.Here we demonstrate that such activation occurs in a substantial fraction of cells, consistent with frequent transcriptional bursting, and this raises the possibility that an alternative activation pathway might be used. We address one such possibility, Pol II CTD phosphorylation, and explore this idea using a natural telomere-linked gene, YFR057w, as a model. Unlike covalent histone modifications, we find that Ser2, Ser5 and Ser7 CTD phosphorylated Pol II is prevalent at the drug-induced heterochromatic gene. Particularly enriched relative to the euchromatic state is Ser2 phosphorylation. Consistent with a functional role for Ser2P, YFR057w is negligibly activated in cells deficient in the Ser2 CTD kinases Ctk1 and Bur1 even though the gene is strongly stimulated when it is placed in a euchromatic context. Collectively, our results are consistent with a critical role for Ser2 CTD phosphorylation in driving Pol II recruitment and transcription of a natural heterochromatic gene - an activity that may supplant the need for histone epigenetic modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amoldeep S Kainth
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA 71130, United States
| | - Hesheng Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA 71130, United States
| | - David S Gross
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA 71130, United States.
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2
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Torres JR, Sanchez DH. Emerging roles of plant transcriptional gene silencing under heat. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024. [PMID: 38864847 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Plants continuously endure unpredictable environmental fluctuations that upset their physiology, with stressful conditions negatively impacting yield and survival. As a contemporary threat of rapid progression, global warming has become one of the most menacing ecological challenges. Thus, understanding how plants integrate and respond to elevated temperatures is crucial for ensuring future crop productivity and furthering our knowledge of historical environmental acclimation and adaptation. While the canonical heat-shock response and thermomorphogenesis have been extensively studied, evidence increasingly highlights the critical role of regulatory epigenetic mechanisms. Among these, the involvement under heat of heterochromatic suppression mediated by transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) remains the least understood. TGS refers to a multilayered metabolic machinery largely responsible for the epigenetic silencing of invasive parasitic nucleic acids and the maintenance of parental imprints. Its molecular effectors include DNA methylation, histone variants and their post-translational modifications, and chromatin packing and remodeling. This work focuses on both established and emerging insights into the contribution of TGS to the physiology of plants under stressful high temperatures. We summarized potential roles of constitutive and facultative heterochromatin as well as the most impactful regulatory genes, highlighting events where the loss of epigenetic suppression has not yet been associated with corresponding changes in epigenetic marks.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Roberto Torres
- Facultad de Agronomía, IFEVA (CONICET-UBA), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. San Martín 4453, C1417DSE, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Diego H Sanchez
- Facultad de Agronomía, IFEVA (CONICET-UBA), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Av. San Martín 4453, C1417DSE, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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3
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Mayekar HV, Rajpurohit S. No single rescue recipe: genome complexities modulate insect response to climate change. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 64:101220. [PMID: 38848812 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2024.101220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Declines in insect populations have gained formidable attention. Given their crucial role in the ecosystem, the causes of declining insect populations must be investigated. However, the insect clade has been associated with low extinction and high diversification rates. It is unlikely that insects underwent mass extinctions in the past. However, the pace of current climate change could make insect populations vulnerable to extinction. We propose genome size (GS) and transposable elements (TEs) to be rough estimates to assess extinction risk. Larger GS and/or proliferating TEs have been associated with adaptation in rapid climate change scenarios. We speculate that unstable, stressful environmental conditions are strongly associated with GS and TE expansion, which could be further correlated with adaptations. Alternately, stressful conditions trigger TE bursts that are not purged in smaller populations. GS and TE loads could be indicators of small effective populations in the wild, likely experiencing bottlenecks or drastic climatic perturbations, which calls for an urgent assessment of extinction risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harshad Vijay Mayekar
- Biological and Life Sciences, School of Arts of Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad 380009, India.
| | - Subhash Rajpurohit
- Biological and Life Sciences, School of Arts of Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad 380009, India.
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4
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Crhak Khaitova L, Mikulkova P, Pecinkova J, Kalidass M, Heckmann S, Lermontova I, Riha K. Heat stress impairs centromere structure and segregation of meiotic chromosomes in Arabidopsis. eLife 2024; 12:RP90253. [PMID: 38629825 PMCID: PMC11023694 DOI: 10.7554/elife.90253] [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] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Heat stress is a major threat to global crop production, and understanding its impact on plant fertility is crucial for developing climate-resilient crops. Despite the known negative effects of heat stress on plant reproduction, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the impact of elevated temperature on centromere structure and chromosome segregation during meiosis in Arabidopsis thaliana. Consistent with previous studies, heat stress leads to a decline in fertility and micronuclei formation in pollen mother cells. Our results reveal that elevated temperature causes a decrease in the amount of centromeric histone and the kinetochore protein BMF1 at meiotic centromeres with increasing temperature. Furthermore, we show that heat stress increases the duration of meiotic divisions and prolongs the activity of the spindle assembly checkpoint during meiosis I, indicating an impaired efficiency of the kinetochore attachments to spindle microtubules. Our analysis of mutants with reduced levels of centromeric histone suggests that weakened centromeres sensitize plants to elevated temperature, resulting in meiotic defects and reduced fertility even at moderate temperatures. These results indicate that the structure and functionality of meiotic centromeres in Arabidopsis are highly sensitive to heat stress, and suggest that centromeres and kinetochores may represent a critical bottleneck in plant adaptation to increasing temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Manikandan Kalidass
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) GaterslebenGaterslebenGermany
| | - Stefan Heckmann
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) GaterslebenGaterslebenGermany
| | - Inna Lermontova
- Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) GaterslebenGaterslebenGermany
| | - Karel Riha
- CEITEC Masaryk UniversityBrnoCzech Republic
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5
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Thieme M, Minadakis N, Himber C, Keller B, Xu W, Rutowicz K, Matteoli C, Böhrer M, Rymen B, Laudencia-Chingcuanco D, Vogel JP, Sibout R, Stritt C, Blevins T, Roulin AC. Transposition of HOPPLA in siRNA-deficient plants suggests a limited effect of the environment on retrotransposon mobility in Brachypodium distachyon. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011200. [PMID: 38470914 PMCID: PMC10959353 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Long terminal repeat retrotransposons (LTR-RTs) are powerful mutagens regarded as a major source of genetic novelty and important drivers of evolution. Yet, the uncontrolled and potentially selfish proliferation of LTR-RTs can lead to deleterious mutations and genome instability, with large fitness costs for their host. While population genomics data suggest that an ongoing LTR-RT mobility is common in many species, the understanding of their dual role in evolution is limited. Here, we harness the genetic diversity of 320 sequenced natural accessions of the Mediterranean grass Brachypodium distachyon to characterize how genetic and environmental factors influence plant LTR-RT dynamics in the wild. When combining a coverage-based approach to estimate global LTR-RT copy number variations with mobilome-sequencing of nine accessions exposed to eight different stresses, we find little evidence for a major role of environmental factors in LTR-RT accumulations in B. distachyon natural accessions. Instead, we show that loss of RNA polymerase IV (Pol IV), which mediates RNA-directed DNA methylation in plants, results in high transcriptional and transpositional activities of RLC_BdisC024 (HOPPLA) LTR-RT family elements, and that these effects are not stress-specific. This work supports findings indicating an ongoing mobility in B. distachyon and reveals that host RNA-directed DNA methylation rather than environmental factors controls their mobility in this wild grass model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Thieme
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nikolaos Minadakis
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christophe Himber
- Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Bettina Keller
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Wenbo Xu
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kinga Rutowicz
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Calvin Matteoli
- Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Marcel Böhrer
- Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Bart Rymen
- Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Debbie Laudencia-Chingcuanco
- United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service Western Regional Research Center, Albany, California, United States of America
| | - John P. Vogel
- United States Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Richard Sibout
- Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique Unité BIA- 1268 Biopolymères Interactions Assemblages Equipe Paroi Végétale et Polymères Pariétaux (PVPP), Nantes, France
| | - Christoph Stritt
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), Allschwil, Switzerland
| | - Todd Blevins
- Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Anne C. Roulin
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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6
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Singh VK, Ahmed S, Saini DK, Gahlaut V, Chauhan S, Khandare K, Kumar A, Sharma PK, Kumar J. Manipulating epigenetic diversity in crop plants: Techniques, challenges and opportunities. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2024; 1868:130544. [PMID: 38104668 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications act as conductors of inheritable alterations in gene expression, all while keeping the DNA sequence intact, thereby playing a pivotal role in shaping plant growth and development. This review article presents an overview of techniques employed to investigate and manipulate epigenetic diversity in crop plants, focusing on both naturally occurring and artificially induced epialleles. The significance of epigenetic modifications in facilitating adaptive responses is explored through the examination of how various biotic and abiotic stresses impact them. Further, environmental chemicals are explored for their role in inducing epigenetic changes, particularly focusing on inhibitors of DNA methylation like 5-AzaC and zebularine, as well as inhibitors of histone deacetylation including trichostatin A and sodium butyrate. The review delves into various approaches for generating epialleles, including tissue culture techniques, mutagenesis, and grafting, elucidating their potential to induce heritable epigenetic modifications in plants. In addition, the ground breaking CRISPR/Cas is emphasized for its accuracy in targeting specific epigenetic changes. This presents a potent tools for deciphering the intricacies of epigenetic mechanisms. Furthermore, the intricate relationship between epigenetic modifications and non-coding RNA expression, including siRNAs and miRNAs, is investigated. The emerging role of exo-RNAi in epigenetic regulation is also introduced, unveiling its promising potential for future applications. The article concludes by addressing the opportunities and challenges presented by these techniques, emphasizing their implications for crop improvement. Conclusively, this extensive review provides valuable insights into the intricate realm of epigenetic changes, illuminating their significance in phenotypic plasticity and their potential in advancing crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shoeb Ahmed
- Ch. Charan Singh University, Meerut 250004, India
| | - Dinesh Kumar Saini
- Department of Plant and Soil Science, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Vijay Gahlaut
- University Centre for Research and Development, Chandigarh University, Mohali 140413, Punjab, India
| | | | - Kiran Khandare
- Center of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing, Mohali 140308, Punjab, India
| | - Ashutosh Kumar
- Center of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing, Mohali 140308, Punjab, India
| | - Pradeep Kumar Sharma
- Ch. Charan Singh University, Meerut 250004, India; Maharaja Suhel Dev State University, Azamgarh 276404, U.P., India
| | - Jitendra Kumar
- National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute, Sector-81, Mohali 140306, Punjab, India.
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7
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Chowdary KVSKA, Saini R, Singh AK. Epigenetic regulation during meiosis and crossover. PHYSIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF PLANTS : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 29:1945-1958. [PMID: 38222277 PMCID: PMC10784443 DOI: 10.1007/s12298-023-01390-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Meiosis is a distinctive type of cell division that reorganizes genetic material between generations. The initial stages of meiosis consist of several crucial steps which include double strand break, homologous chromosome pairing, break repair and crossover. Crossover frequency varies depending on the position on the chromosome, higher at euchromatin region and rare at heterochromatin, centromeres, telomeres and ribosomal DNA. Crossover positioning is dependent on various factors, especially epigenetic modifications. DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications, histone variants and non-coding RNAs are most probably playing an important role in positioning of crossovers on a chromosomal level as well as hotspot level. DNA methylation negatively regulates crossover frequency and its effect is visible in centromeres, pericentromeres and heterochromatin regions. Pericentromeric chromatin and heterochromatin mark studies have been a centre of attraction in meiosis. Crossover hotspots are associated with euchromatin regions having specific chromatin modifications such as H3K4me3, H2A.Z. and H3 acetylation. This review will provide the current understanding of the epigenetic role in plants during meiotic recombination, chromosome synapsis, double strand break and hotspots with special attention to euchromatin and heterochromatin marks. Further, the role of epigenetic modifications in regulating meiosis and crossover in other organisms is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- K. V. S. K. Arjun Chowdary
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi, 110021 India
| | - Ramswaroop Saini
- Department of Biotechnology, Joy University, Vadakangulam, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu 627116 India
| | - Amit Kumar Singh
- Department of Plant Molecular Biology, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, New Delhi, 110021 India
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8
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Harris CJ, Amtmann A, Ton J. Epigenetic processes in plant stress priming: Open questions and new approaches. CURRENT OPINION IN PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 75:102432. [PMID: 37523900 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2023.102432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Priming reflects the capacity of plants to memorise environmental stress experience and improve their response to recurring stress. Epigenetic modifications in DNA and associated histone proteins may carry short-term and long-term memory in the same plant or mediate transgenerational effects, but the evidence is still largely circumstantial. New experimental tools now enable scientists to perform targeted manipulations that either prevent or generate a particular epigenetic modification in a particular location of the genome. Such 'reverse epigenetics' approaches allow for the interrogation of causality between individual priming-induced modifications and their role for altering gene expression and plant performance under recurring stress. Furthermore, combining site-directed epigenetic manipulation with conditional and cell-type specific promoters creates novel opportunities to test and engineer spatiotemporal patterns of priming.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Jake Harris
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Anna Amtmann
- School of Molecular Biosciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G128QQ, UK.
| | - Jurriaan Ton
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
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9
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Chu J, Zhang X, Cho J. Visualization of synthetic retroelement integration reveals determinants of permissivity to retrotransposition. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 193:915-918. [PMID: 37403199 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
Real-time visualization of retrotransposon mobilization in Arabidopsis reveals that the DNA damage response pathways are involved in the retrotranspositional process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Chu
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaorui Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jungnam Cho
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100049, China
- CAS-JIC Centre for Excellence in Plant and Microbial Science, Shanghai 200032, China
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10
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Johann To Berens P, Golebiewska K, Peter J, Staerck S, Molinier J. UV-B-induced modulation of constitutive heterochromatin content in Arabidopsis thaliana. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2023; 22:2153-2166. [PMID: 37225911 DOI: 10.1007/s43630-023-00438-w] [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: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Sunlight regulates transcriptional programs and triggers the shaping of the genome throughout plant development. Among the different sunlight wavelengths that reach the surface of the Earth, UV-B (280-315 nm) controls the expression of hundreds of genes for the photomorphogenic responses and also induces the formation of photodamage that interfere with genome integrity and transcriptional programs. The combination of cytogenetics and deep-learning-based analyses allowed determining the location of UV-B-induced photoproducts and quantifying the effects of UV-B irradiation on constitutive heterochromatin content in different Arabidopsis natural variants acclimated to various UV-B regimes. We identified that UV-B-induced photolesions are enriched within chromocenters. Furthermore, we uncovered that UV-B irradiation promotes constitutive heterochromatin dynamics that differs among the Arabidopsis ecotypes having divergent heterochromatin contents. Finally, we identified that the proper restoration of the chromocenter shape, upon DNA repair, relies on the UV-B photoreceptor, UV RESISTANCE LOCUS 8 (UVR8). These findings shed the light on the effect of UV-B exposure and perception in the modulation of constitutive heterochromatin content in Arabidopsis thaliana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Johann To Berens
- Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes du CNRS, 12 rue du Général Zimmer, 67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Kinga Golebiewska
- Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes du CNRS, 12 rue du Général Zimmer, 67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Jackson Peter
- Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes du CNRS, 12 rue du Général Zimmer, 67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Sébastien Staerck
- Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes du CNRS, 12 rue du Général Zimmer, 67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Jean Molinier
- Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes du CNRS, 12 rue du Général Zimmer, 67000, Strasbourg, France.
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11
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Arvas YE, Marakli S, Kaya Y, Kalendar R. The power of retrotransposons in high-throughput genotyping and sequencing. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1174339. [PMID: 37180380 PMCID: PMC10167742 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1174339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The use of molecular markers has become an essential part of molecular genetics through their application in numerous fields, which includes identification of genes associated with targeted traits, operation of backcrossing programs, modern plant breeding, genetic characterization, and marker-assisted selection. Transposable elements are a core component of all eukaryotic genomes, making them suitable as molecular markers. Most of the large plant genomes consist primarily of transposable elements; variations in their abundance contribute to most of the variation in genome size. Retrotransposons are widely present throughout plant genomes, and replicative transposition enables them to insert into the genome without removing the original elements. Various applications of molecular markers have been developed that exploit the fact that these genetic elements are present everywhere and their ability to stably integrate into dispersed chromosomal localities that are polymorphic within a species. The ongoing development of molecular marker technologies is directly related to the deployment of high-throughput genotype sequencing platforms, and this research is of considerable significance. In this review, the practical application to molecular markers, which is a use of technology of interspersed repeats in the plant genome were examined using genomic sources from the past to the present. Prospects and possibilities are also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunus Emre Arvas
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Karadeniz Technical University, Trabzon, Türkiye
| | - Sevgi Marakli
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Yılmaz Kaya
- Agricultural Biotechnology Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Türkiye
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
| | - Ruslan Kalendar
- Center for Life Sciences, National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
- Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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12
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Yang F, Sun Y, Du X, Chu Z, Zhong X, Chen X. Plant-specific histone deacetylases associate with ARGONAUTE4 to promote heterochromatin stabilization and plant heat tolerance. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 238:252-269. [PMID: 36631970 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
High temperature causes devasting effects on many aspects of plant cells and thus enhancing plant heat tolerance is critical for crop production. Emerging studies have revealed the important roles of chromatin modifications in heat stress responses. However, how chromatin is regulated during heat stress remains unclear. We show that heat stress results in heterochromatin disruption coupled with histone hyperacetylation and DNA hypomethylation. Two plant-specific histone deacetylases HD2B and HD2C could promote DNA methylation and relieve the heat-induced heterochromatin decondensation. We noted that most DNA methylation regulated by HD2B and HD2C is lost upon heat stress. HD2B- and HD2C-regulated histone acetylation and DNA methylation are dispensable for heterochromatin maintenance under normal conditions, but critical for heterochromatin stabilization under heat stress. We further showed that HD2B and HD2C promoted DNA methylation through associating with ARGONAUTE4 in nucleoli and Cajal bodies, and facilitating its nuclear accumulation. Thus, HD2B and HD2C act both canonically and noncanonically to stabilize heterochromatin under heat stress. This study not only reveals a novel plant-specific crosstalk between histone deacetylases and key factor of DNA methylation pathway, but also uncovers their new roles in chromatic regulation of plant heat tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangfang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | - Yingnan Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Du
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | - Zhaohui Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | - Xuehua Zhong
- Department of Biology, Washington University, St Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Xiangsong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Hybrid Rice, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430072, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
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13
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Arce AL, Mencia R, Cambiagno DA, Lang PL, Liu C, Burbano HA, Weigel D, Manavella PA. Polymorphic inverted repeats near coding genes impact chromatin topology and phenotypic traits in Arabidopsis thaliana. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112029. [PMID: 36689329 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Transposons are mobile elements that are commonly silenced to protect eukaryotic genome integrity. In plants, transposable element (TE)-derived inverted repeats (IRs) are commonly found near genes, where they affect host gene expression. However, the molecular mechanisms of such regulation are unclear in most cases. Expression of these IRs is associated with production of 24-nt small RNAs, methylation of the IRs, and drastic changes in local 3D chromatin organization. Notably, many of these IRs differ between Arabidopsis thaliana accessions, causing variation in short-range chromatin interactions and gene expression. CRISPR-Cas9-mediated disruption of two IRs leads to a switch in genome topology and gene expression with phenotypic consequences. Our data show that insertion of an IR near a gene provides an anchor point for chromatin interactions that profoundly impact the activity of neighboring loci. This turns IRs into powerful evolutionary agents that can contribute to rapid adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agustín L Arce
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Cátedra de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Regina Mencia
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Cátedra de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Damian A Cambiagno
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Cátedra de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Patricia L Lang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Chang Liu
- Department of Epigenetics, Institute of Biology, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 30, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Hernán A Burbano
- Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Centre for Life's Origins and Evolution, University College London, London, UK
| | - Detlef Weigel
- Department of Molecular Biology, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Pablo A Manavella
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral (CONICET-UNL), Cátedra de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina.
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14
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Carotti E, Carducci F, Canapa A, Barucca M, Biscotti MA. Transposable Element Tissue-Specific Response to Temperature Stress in the Stenothermal Fish Puntius tetrazona. Animals (Basel) 2022; 13:ani13010001. [PMID: 36611611 PMCID: PMC9817673 DOI: 10.3390/ani13010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Ray-finned fish represent a very interesting group of vertebrates comprising a variety of organisms living in different aquatic environments worldwide. In the case of stenothermal fish, thermal fluctuations are poorly tolerated, thus ambient temperature represents a critical factor. In this paper, we considered the tiger barb Puntius tetrazona, a freshwater fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae, living at 21-28 °C. We analyzed the available RNA-Seq data obtained from specimens exposed at 27 °C and 13 °C to investigate the transcriptional activity of transposable elements (TEs) and genes encoding for proteins involved in their silencing in the brain, gill, and liver. TEs are one of the tools generating genetic variability that underlies biological evolution, useful for organisms to adapt to environmental changes. Our findings highlighted a different response of TEs in the three analyzed tissues. While in the brain and gill, no variation in TE transcriptional activity was observed, a remarkable increase at 13 °C was recorded in the liver. Moreover, the transcriptional analysis of genes encoding proteins involved in TE silencing such as heterochromatin formation, the NuRD complex, and the RISC complex (e.g., AGO and GW182 proteins) highlighted their activity in the hepatic tissue. Overall, our findings suggested that this tissue is a target organ for this kind of stress, since TE activation might regulate the expression of stress-induced genes, leading to a better response of the organism to temperature changes. Therefore, this view corroborates once again the idea of a potential role of TEs in organism rapid adaptation, hence representing a promising molecular tool for species resilience.
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15
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Papolu PK, Ramakrishnan M, Mullasseri S, Kalendar R, Wei Q, Zou L, Ahmad Z, Vinod KK, Yang P, Zhou M. Retrotransposons: How the continuous evolutionary front shapes plant genomes for response to heat stress. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1064847. [PMID: 36570931 PMCID: PMC9780303 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1064847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Long terminal repeat retrotransposons (LTR retrotransposons) are the most abundant group of mobile genetic elements in eukaryotic genomes and are essential in organizing genomic architecture and phenotypic variations. The diverse families of retrotransposons are related to retroviruses. As retrotransposable elements are dispersed and ubiquitous, their "copy-out and paste-in" life cycle of replicative transposition leads to new genome insertions without the excision of the original element. The overall structure of retrotransposons and the domains responsible for the various phases of their replication is highly conserved in all eukaryotes. The two major superfamilies of LTR retrotransposons, Ty1/Copia and Ty3/Gypsy, are distinguished and dispersed across the chromosomes of higher plants. Members of these superfamilies can increase in copy number and are often activated by various biotic and abiotic stresses due to retrotransposition bursts. LTR retrotransposons are important drivers of species diversity and exhibit great variety in structure, size, and mechanisms of transposition, making them important putative actors in genome evolution. Additionally, LTR retrotransposons influence the gene expression patterns of adjacent genes by modulating potential small interfering RNA (siRNA) and RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathways. Furthermore, comparative and evolutionary analysis of the most important crop genome sequences and advanced technologies have elucidated the epigenetics and structural and functional modifications driven by LTR retrotransposon during speciation. However, mechanistic insights into LTR retrotransposons remain obscure in plant development due to a lack of advancement in high throughput technologies. In this review, we focus on the key role of LTR retrotransposons response in plants during heat stress, the role of centromeric LTR retrotransposons, and the role of LTR retrotransposon markers in genome expression and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pradeep K. Papolu
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Bamboo Industry Institute, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Muthusamy Ramakrishnan
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Bamboo Industry Institute, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Bamboo Research Institute, Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Sileesh Mullasseri
- Department of Zoology, St. Albert’s College (Autonomous), Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Ruslan Kalendar
- Helsinki Institute of Life Science HiLIFE, Biocenter 3, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- National Laboratory Astana, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
| | - Qiang Wei
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Bamboo Research Institute, Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Long−Hai Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Bamboo Industry Institute, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zishan Ahmad
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Bamboo Research Institute, Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | | | - Ping Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Bamboo Industry Institute, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Bamboo Resources and High-Efficiency Utilization, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mingbing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Bamboo Industry Institute, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Bamboo Resources and High-Efficiency Utilization, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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Thieme M, Brêchet A, Bourgeois Y, Keller B, Bucher E, Roulin AC. Experimentally heat-induced transposition increases drought tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 236:182-194. [PMID: 35715973 PMCID: PMC9544478 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Eukaryotic genomes contain a vast diversity of transposable elements (TEs). Formerly often described as selfish and parasitic DNA sequences, TEs are now recognised as a source of genetic diversity and powerful drivers of evolution. However, because their mobility is tightly controlled by the host, studies experimentally assessing how fast TEs may mediate the emergence of adaptive traits are scarce. We exposed Arabidopsis thaliana high-copy TE lines (hcLines) with up to c. eight-fold increased copy numbers of the heat-responsive ONSEN TE to drought as a straightforward and ecologically highly relevant selection pressure. We provide evidence for increased drought tolerance in five out of the 23 tested hcLines and further pinpoint one of the causative mutations to an exonic insertion of ONSEN in the ribose-5-phosphate-isomerase 2 gene. The resulting loss-of-function mutation caused a decreased rate of photosynthesis, plant size and water consumption. Overall, we show that the heat-induced transposition of a low-copy TE increases phenotypic diversity and leads to the emergence of drought-tolerant individuals in A. thaliana. This is one of the rare empirical examples substantiating the adaptive potential of mobilised stress-responsive TEs in eukaryotes. Our work demonstrates the potential of TE-mediated loss-of-function mutations in stress adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Thieme
- Department of Plant and Microbial BiologyUniversity of Zurich8008ZürichSwitzerland
| | - Arthur Brêchet
- Department of Environmental Sciences – BotanyUniversity of Basel4056BaselSwitzerland
| | - Yann Bourgeois
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of PortsmouthPO1 2DTPortsmouthUK
| | - Bettina Keller
- Department of Plant and Microbial BiologyUniversity of Zurich8008ZürichSwitzerland
| | | | - Anne C. Roulin
- Department of Plant and Microbial BiologyUniversity of Zurich8008ZürichSwitzerland
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17
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Abstract
Transposons were once thought to be junk repetitive DNA in the genome. However, their importance gradually became apparent as it became clear that they regulate gene expression, which is essential for organisms to survive, and that they are important factors in the driving force of evolution. Since there are multiple transposons in the genomes of all organisms, transposons have likely been activated and increased in copy number throughout their long history. This review focuses on environmental stress as a factor in transposon activation, paying particular attention to transposons in plants that are activated by environmental stresses. It is now known that plants respond to environmental stress in various ways, and correspondingly, many transposons respond to stress. The relationship between environmental stress and transposons is reviewed, including the mechanisms of their activation and the effects of transposon activation on host plants.
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18
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Ugarković Đ, Sermek A, Ljubić S, Feliciello I. Satellite DNAs in Health and Disease. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13071154. [PMID: 35885937 PMCID: PMC9324158 DOI: 10.3390/genes13071154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Tandemly repeated satellite DNAs are major components of centromeres and pericentromeric heterochromatin which are crucial chromosomal elements responsible for accurate chromosome segregation. Satellite DNAs also contribute to genome evolution and the speciation process and are important for the maintenance of the entire genome inside the nucleus. In addition, there is increasing evidence for active and tightly regulated transcription of satellite DNAs and for the role of their transcripts in diverse processes. In this review, we focus on recent discoveries related to the regulation of satellite DNA expression and the role of their transcripts, either in heterochromatin establishment and centromere function or in gene expression regulation under various biological contexts. We discuss the role of satellite transcripts in the stress response and environmental adaptation as well as consequences of the dysregulation of satellite DNA expression in cancer and their potential use as cancer biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Đurđica Ugarković
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (A.S.); (S.L.)
- Correspondence: (Đ.U.); (I.F.); Tel.: +385-1-4561-083 (D.U.); +39-081-746-4317 (I.F.)
| | - Antonio Sermek
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (A.S.); (S.L.)
| | - Sven Ljubić
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (A.S.); (S.L.)
| | - Isidoro Feliciello
- Department of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (A.S.); (S.L.)
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Via Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
- Correspondence: (Đ.U.); (I.F.); Tel.: +385-1-4561-083 (D.U.); +39-081-746-4317 (I.F.)
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19
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Perrella G, Bäurle I, van Zanten M. Epigenetic regulation of thermomorphogenesis and heat stress tolerance. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 234:1144-1160. [PMID: 35037247 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Many environmental conditions fluctuate and organisms need to respond effectively. This is especially true for temperature cues that can change in minutes to seasons and often follow a diurnal rhythm. Plants cannot migrate and most cannot regulate their temperature. Therefore, a broad array of responses have evolved to deal with temperature cues from freezing to heat stress. A particular response to mildly elevated temperatures is called thermomorphogenesis, a suite of morphological adaptations that includes thermonasty, formation of thin leaves and elongation growth of petioles and hypocotyl. Thermomorphogenesis allows for optimal performance in suboptimal temperature conditions by enhancing the cooling capacity. When temperatures rise further, heat stress tolerance mechanisms can be induced that enable the plant to survive the stressful temperature, which typically comprises cellular protection mechanisms and memory thereof. Induction of thermomorphogenesis, heat stress tolerance and stress memory depend on gene expression regulation, governed by diverse epigenetic processes. In this Tansley review we update on the current knowledge of epigenetic regulation of heat stress tolerance and elevated temperature signalling and response, with a focus on thermomorphogenesis regulation and heat stress memory. In particular we highlight the emerging role of H3K4 methylation marks in diverse temperature signalling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Perrella
- Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Trisaia Research Centre, S.S. Ionica, km 419.5, 75026, Rotondella (Matera), Italy
| | - Isabel Bäurle
- Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, D-14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Martijn van Zanten
- Molecular Plant Physiology, Institute of Environmental Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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20
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Heckenhauer J, Frandsen PB, Sproul JS, Li Z, Paule J, Larracuente AM, Maughan PJ, Barker MS, Schneider JV, Stewart RJ, Pauls SU. Genome size evolution in the diverse insect order Trichoptera. Gigascience 2022; 11:6537159. [PMID: 35217860 PMCID: PMC8881205 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giac011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Genome size is implicated in the form, function, and ecological success of a species. Two principally different mechanisms are proposed as major drivers of eukaryotic genome evolution and diversity: polyploidy (i.e., whole-genome duplication) or smaller duplication events and bursts in the activity of repetitive elements. Here, we generated de novo genome assemblies of 17 caddisflies covering all major lineages of Trichoptera. Using these and previously sequenced genomes, we use caddisflies as a model for understanding genome size evolution in diverse insect lineages. Results We detect a ∼14-fold variation in genome size across the order Trichoptera. We find strong evidence that repetitive element expansions, particularly those of transposable elements (TEs), are important drivers of large caddisfly genome sizes. Using an innovative method to examine TEs associated with universal single-copy orthologs (i.e., BUSCO genes), we find that TE expansions have a major impact on protein-coding gene regions, with TE-gene associations showing a linear relationship with increasing genome size. Intriguingly, we find that expanded genomes preferentially evolved in caddisfly clades with a higher ecological diversity (i.e., various feeding modes, diversification in variable, less stable environments). Conclusion Our findings provide a platform to test hypotheses about the potential evolutionary roles of TE activity and TE-gene associations, particularly in groups with high species, ecological, and functional diversities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Heckenhauer
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Frankfurt 60325, Germany.,Department of Terrestrial Zoology, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Frankfurt 60325, Germany
| | - Paul B Frandsen
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Frankfurt 60325, Germany.,Department of Plant & Wildlife Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA.,Data Science Lab, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560, USA
| | - John S Sproul
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14620, USA.,Department of Biology, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USA
| | - Zheng Li
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Juraj Paule
- Department of Botany and Molecular Evolution, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Frankfurt 60325, Germany
| | | | - Peter J Maughan
- Department of Plant & Wildlife Sciences, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
| | - Michael S Barker
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Julio V Schneider
- Department of Terrestrial Zoology, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Frankfurt 60325, Germany
| | - Russell J Stewart
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Steffen U Pauls
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics (LOEWE-TBG), Frankfurt 60325, Germany.,Department of Terrestrial Zoology, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Frankfurt 60325, Germany.,Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus-Liebig-University, Gießen 35390, Germany
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21
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Signor S, Yocum G, Bowsher J. Life stage and the environment as effectors of transposable element activity in two bee species. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 137:104361. [PMID: 35063439 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2022.104361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Diapause is a complex physiological phenomenon that allows insects to weather stressful environmental conditions. The regulation of diapause is accordingly complex, including signaling pathways that involve both small RNA and mRNA and affect the cell cycle, stress resistance, and developmental timing. Transposable elements, mobile genetic elements that replicate within the genome, are also thought to be stress responsive and regulated by the small RNA pathway. Therefore, we asked what the relationship was between environmental stress, diapause status, and transposable element expression in two species of agriculturally important bees, Megachile rotundata and Osmia lignaria. We characterized the TE content of the genomes of both species, then evaluated the expression of TE families during temperature stress, general environmental stress, and diapause stage. We found that the genomic TE content of the two species was very different, and M. rotundata has a larger number of annotated TEs compared to O. lignaria. We also found that both diapause stage and temperature stress had large effects on TE expression. The fold change of TE famlies tended to be larger in those expressed during diapause, however there was only a small majority that were upregulated during diapause. This suggests that stress and diapause do not break down to a simple up-regulation or down-regulation of TEs, but rather that the TE family, the genomic position of its insertions, and the exact heterochromatin formation of the organism at any given environmental state or life stage may affect overall expression of TEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Signor
- North Dakota State University, Department of Biological Sciences, United States.
| | - George Yocum
- Bioscience Research Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture/Agricultural Research Service, United States
| | - Julia Bowsher
- North Dakota State University, Department of Biological Sciences, United States
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22
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Tossi VE, Martínez Tosar LJ, Laino LE, Iannicelli J, Regalado JJ, Escandón AS, Baroli I, Causin HF, Pitta-Álvarez SI. Impact of polyploidy on plant tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:869423. [PMID: 36072313 PMCID: PMC9441891 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.869423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Polyploidy, defined as the coexistence of three or more complete sets of chromosomes in an organism's cells, is considered as a pivotal moving force in the evolutionary history of vascular plants and has played a major role in the domestication of several crops. In the last decades, improved cultivars of economically important species have been developed artificially by inducing autopolyploidy with chemical agents. Studies on diverse species have shown that the anatomical and physiological changes generated by either natural or artificial polyploidization can increase tolerance to abiotic and biotic stresses as well as disease resistance, which may positively impact on plant growth and net production. The aim of this work is to review the current literature regarding the link between plant ploidy level and tolerance to abiotic and biotic stressors, with an emphasis on the physiological and molecular mechanisms responsible for these effects, as well as their impact on the growth and development of both natural and artificially generated polyploids, during exposure to adverse environmental conditions. We focused on the analysis of those types of stressors in which more progress has been made in the knowledge of the putative morpho-physiological and/or molecular mechanisms involved, revealing both the factors in common, as well as those that need to be addressed in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanesa E. Tossi
- Laboratorio de Cultivo Experimental de Plantas y Microalgas, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental (DBBE), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Int. Güiraldes y Cantilo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Micología y Botánica (INMIBO), Ciudad Universitaria, Int. Güiraldes y Cantilo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Leandro J. Martínez Tosar
- Laboratorio de Cultivo Experimental de Plantas y Microalgas, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental (DBBE), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Int. Güiraldes y Cantilo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Micología y Botánica (INMIBO), Ciudad Universitaria, Int. Güiraldes y Cantilo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Alimentos, Agro y Ambiental (DEBAL), Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Argentina de la Empresa (UADE), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Leandro E. Laino
- Laboratorio de Cultivo Experimental de Plantas y Microalgas, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental (DBBE), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Int. Güiraldes y Cantilo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jesica Iannicelli
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología, Agropecuaria (INTA), Instituto de Genética “Ewald A. Favret”, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental (IBBEA), Ciudad Universitaria, Int. Güiraldes y Cantilo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - José Javier Regalado
- Laboratorio de Cultivo Experimental de Plantas y Microalgas, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental (DBBE), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Int. Güiraldes y Cantilo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Micología y Botánica (INMIBO), Ciudad Universitaria, Int. Güiraldes y Cantilo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandro Salvio Escandón
- Instituto Nacional de Tecnología, Agropecuaria (INTA), Instituto de Genética “Ewald A. Favret”, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Irene Baroli
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental (IBBEA), Ciudad Universitaria, Int. Güiraldes y Cantilo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental (DBBE), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Int. Güiraldes y Cantilo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Irene Baroli,
| | - Humberto Fabio Causin
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental (DBBE), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Int. Güiraldes y Cantilo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Humberto Fabio Causin,
| | - Sandra Irene Pitta-Álvarez
- Laboratorio de Cultivo Experimental de Plantas y Microalgas, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental (DBBE), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Int. Güiraldes y Cantilo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Micología y Botánica (INMIBO), Ciudad Universitaria, Int. Güiraldes y Cantilo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- *Correspondence: Sandra Irene Pitta-Álvarez, ;
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Kirov I, Merkulov P, Dudnikov M, Polkhovskaya E, Komakhin RA, Konstantinov Z, Gvaramiya S, Ermolaev A, Kudryavtseva N, Gilyok M, Divashuk MG, Karlov GI, Soloviev A. Transposons Hidden in Arabidopsis thaliana Genome Assembly Gaps and Mobilization of Non-Autonomous LTR Retrotransposons Unravelled by Nanotei Pipeline. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:2681. [PMID: 34961152 PMCID: PMC8704663 DOI: 10.3390/plants10122681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Long-read data is a great tool to discover new active transposable elements (TEs). However, no ready-to-use tools were available to gather this information from low coverage ONT datasets. Here, we developed a novel pipeline, nanotei, that allows detection of TE-contained structural variants, including individual TE transpositions. We exploited this pipeline to identify TE insertion in the Arabidopsis thaliana genome. Using nanotei, we identified tens of TE copies, including ones for the well-characterized ONSEN retrotransposon family that were hidden in genome assembly gaps. The results demonstrate that some TEs are inaccessible for analysis with the current A. thaliana (TAIR10.1) genome assembly. We further explored the mobilome of the ddm1 mutant with elevated TE activity. Nanotei captured all TEs previously known to be active in ddm1 and also identified transposition of non-autonomous TEs. Of them, one non-autonomous TE derived from (AT5TE33540) belongs to TR-GAG retrotransposons with a single open reading frame (ORF) encoding the GAG protein. These results provide the first direct evidence that TR-GAGs and other non-autonomous LTR retrotransposons can transpose in the plant genome, albeit in the absence of most of the encoded proteins. In summary, nanotei is a useful tool to detect active TEs and their insertions in plant genomes using low-coverage data from Nanopore genome sequencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilya Kirov
- All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Timiryazevskaya Str. 42, 127550 Moscow, Russia; (P.M.); (M.D.); (E.P.); (R.A.K.); (Z.K.); (S.G.); (M.G.); (M.G.D.); (G.I.K.); (A.S.)
- Kurchatov Genomics Center of ARRIAB, All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Timiryazevskaya Str. 42, 127550 Moscow, Russia
| | - Pavel Merkulov
- All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Timiryazevskaya Str. 42, 127550 Moscow, Russia; (P.M.); (M.D.); (E.P.); (R.A.K.); (Z.K.); (S.G.); (M.G.); (M.G.D.); (G.I.K.); (A.S.)
| | - Maxim Dudnikov
- All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Timiryazevskaya Str. 42, 127550 Moscow, Russia; (P.M.); (M.D.); (E.P.); (R.A.K.); (Z.K.); (S.G.); (M.G.); (M.G.D.); (G.I.K.); (A.S.)
- Kurchatov Genomics Center of ARRIAB, All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Timiryazevskaya Str. 42, 127550 Moscow, Russia
| | - Ekaterina Polkhovskaya
- All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Timiryazevskaya Str. 42, 127550 Moscow, Russia; (P.M.); (M.D.); (E.P.); (R.A.K.); (Z.K.); (S.G.); (M.G.); (M.G.D.); (G.I.K.); (A.S.)
| | - Roman A. Komakhin
- All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Timiryazevskaya Str. 42, 127550 Moscow, Russia; (P.M.); (M.D.); (E.P.); (R.A.K.); (Z.K.); (S.G.); (M.G.); (M.G.D.); (G.I.K.); (A.S.)
| | - Zakhar Konstantinov
- All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Timiryazevskaya Str. 42, 127550 Moscow, Russia; (P.M.); (M.D.); (E.P.); (R.A.K.); (Z.K.); (S.G.); (M.G.); (M.G.D.); (G.I.K.); (A.S.)
| | - Sofya Gvaramiya
- All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Timiryazevskaya Str. 42, 127550 Moscow, Russia; (P.M.); (M.D.); (E.P.); (R.A.K.); (Z.K.); (S.G.); (M.G.); (M.G.D.); (G.I.K.); (A.S.)
| | - Aleksey Ermolaev
- Center of Molecular Biotechnology, Russian State Agrarian University-Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, 127550 Moscow, Russia; (A.E.); (N.K.)
| | - Natalya Kudryavtseva
- Center of Molecular Biotechnology, Russian State Agrarian University-Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, 127550 Moscow, Russia; (A.E.); (N.K.)
| | - Marina Gilyok
- All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Timiryazevskaya Str. 42, 127550 Moscow, Russia; (P.M.); (M.D.); (E.P.); (R.A.K.); (Z.K.); (S.G.); (M.G.); (M.G.D.); (G.I.K.); (A.S.)
| | - Mikhail G. Divashuk
- All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Timiryazevskaya Str. 42, 127550 Moscow, Russia; (P.M.); (M.D.); (E.P.); (R.A.K.); (Z.K.); (S.G.); (M.G.); (M.G.D.); (G.I.K.); (A.S.)
- Kurchatov Genomics Center of ARRIAB, All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Timiryazevskaya Str. 42, 127550 Moscow, Russia
| | - Gennady I. Karlov
- All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Timiryazevskaya Str. 42, 127550 Moscow, Russia; (P.M.); (M.D.); (E.P.); (R.A.K.); (Z.K.); (S.G.); (M.G.); (M.G.D.); (G.I.K.); (A.S.)
| | - Alexander Soloviev
- All-Russia Research Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Timiryazevskaya Str. 42, 127550 Moscow, Russia; (P.M.); (M.D.); (E.P.); (R.A.K.); (Z.K.); (S.G.); (M.G.); (M.G.D.); (G.I.K.); (A.S.)
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Viviani A, Ventimiglia M, Fambrini M, Vangelisti A, Mascagni F, Pugliesi C, Usai G. Impact of transposable elements on the evolution of complex living systems and their epigenetic control. Biosystems 2021; 210:104566. [PMID: 34718084 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2021.104566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) contribute to genomic innovations, as well as genome instability, across a wide variety of species. Popular designations such as 'selfish DNA' and 'junk DNA,' common in the 1980s, may be either inaccurate or misleading, while a more enlightened view of the TE-host relationship covers a range from parasitism to mutualism. Both plant and animal hosts have evolved epigenetic mechanisms to reduce the impact of TEs, both by directly silencing them and by reducing their ability to transpose in the genome. However, TEs have also been co-opted by both plant and animal genomes to perform a variety of physiological functions, ranging from TE-derived proteins acting directly in normal biological functions to innovations in transcription factor activity and also influencing gene expression. Their presence, in fact, can affect a range of features at genome, phenotype, and population levels. The impact TEs have had on evolution is multifaceted, and many aspects still remain unexplored. In this review, the epigenetic control of TEs is contextualized according to the evolution of complex living systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambra Viviani
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE), University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto, 80-56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Maria Ventimiglia
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE), University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto, 80-56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Fambrini
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE), University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto, 80-56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alberto Vangelisti
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE), University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto, 80-56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Flavia Mascagni
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE), University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto, 80-56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Claudio Pugliesi
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE), University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto, 80-56124, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Gabriele Usai
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE), University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto, 80-56124, Pisa, Italy
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Dalakouras A, Vlachostergios D. Epigenetic approaches to crop breeding: current status and perspectives. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021; 72:5356-5371. [PMID: 34017985 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
In order to tackle the cumulative adverse effects of global climate change, reduced farmland, and heightened needs of an ever-increasing world population, modern agriculture is in urgent search of solutions that can ensure world food security and sustainable development. Classical crop breeding is still a powerful method to obtain crops with valued agronomical traits, but its potential is gradually being compromised by the menacing decline of genetic variation. Resorting to the epigenome as a source of variation could serve as a promising alternative. Here, we discuss current status of epigenetics-mediated crop breeding (epibreeding), highlight its advances and limitations, outline currently available methodologies, and propose novel RNA-based strategies to modify the epigenome in a gene-specific and transgene-free manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios Dalakouras
- Institute of Industrial and Forage Crops, HAO-DEMETER, 41335 Larissa, Greece
- Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, HAO-DEMETER, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
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26
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McGowan MT, Zhang Z, Ficklin SP. Chromosomal characteristics of salt stress heritable gene expression in the rice genome. BMC Genom Data 2021; 22:17. [PMID: 34044788 PMCID: PMC8162008 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-021-00970-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gene expression is potentially an important heritable quantitative trait that mediates between genetic variation and higher-level complex phenotypes through time and condition-dependent regulatory interactions. Therefore, we sought to explore both the genomic and condition-specific characteristics of gene expression heritability within the context of chromosomal structure. RESULTS Heritability was estimated for biological gene expression using a diverse, 84-line, Oryza sativa (rice) population under optimal and salt-stressed conditions. Overall, 5936 genes were found to have heritable expression regardless of condition and 1377 genes were found to have heritable expression only during salt stress. These genes with salt-specific heritable expression are enriched for functional terms associated with response to stimulus and transcription factor activity. Additionally, we discovered that highly and lowly expressed genes, and genes with heritable expression are distributed differently along the chromosomes in patterns that follow previously identified high-throughput chromosomal conformation capture (Hi-C) A/B chromatin compartments. Furthermore, multiple genomic hot-spots enriched for genes with salt-specific heritability were identified on chromosomes 1, 4, 6, and 8. These hotspots were found to contain genes functionally enriched for transcriptional regulation and overlaps with a previously identified major QTL for salt-tolerance in rice. CONCLUSIONS Investigating the heritability of traits, and in-particular gene expression traits, is important towards developing a basic understanding of how regulatory networks behave across a population. This work provides insights into spatial patterns of heritable gene expression at the chromosomal level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew T McGowan
- Molecular Plant Sciences Program, Washington State University, French Ad 324G, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA.
| | - Zhiwu Zhang
- Molecular Plant Sciences Program, Washington State University, French Ad 324G, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA.,Department of Crops and Soils, Washington State University, 105 Johnson Hall, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Stephen P Ficklin
- Molecular Plant Sciences Program, Washington State University, French Ad 324G, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA.,Department of Horticulture, Washington State University, 149 Johnson Hall, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
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27
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Liu S, de Jonge J, Trejo‐Arellano MS, Santos‐González J, Köhler C, Hennig L. Role of H1 and DNA methylation in selective regulation of transposable elements during heat stress. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 229:2238-2250. [PMID: 33091182 PMCID: PMC7894476 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Heat-stressed Arabidopsis plants release heterochromatin-associated transposable element (TE) silencing, yet it is not accompanied by major reductions of epigenetic repressive modifications. In this study, we explored the functional role of histone H1 in repressing heterochromatic TEs in response to heat stress. We generated and analyzed RNA and bisulfite-sequencing data of wild-type and h1 mutant seedlings before and after heat stress. Loss of H1 caused activation of pericentromeric Gypsy elements upon heat treatment, despite these elements remaining highly methylated. By contrast, nonpericentromeric Copia elements became activated concomitantly with loss of DNA methylation. The same Copia elements became activated in heat-treated chromomethylase 2 (cmt2) mutants, indicating that H1 represses Copia elements through maintaining DNA methylation under heat. We discovered that H1 is required for TE repression in response to heat stress, but its functional role differs depending on TE location. Strikingly, H1-deficient plants treated with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor zebularine were highly tolerant to heat stress, suggesting that both H1 and DNA methylation redundantly suppress the plant response to heat stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shujing Liu
- Department of Plant BiologySwedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Linnean Center for Plant BiologyUppsala75007Sweden
| | - Jennifer de Jonge
- Department of Plant BiologySwedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Linnean Center for Plant BiologyUppsala75007Sweden
| | - Minerva S. Trejo‐Arellano
- Department of Plant BiologySwedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Linnean Center for Plant BiologyUppsala75007Sweden
| | - Juan Santos‐González
- Department of Plant BiologySwedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Linnean Center for Plant BiologyUppsala75007Sweden
| | - Claudia Köhler
- Department of Plant BiologySwedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Linnean Center for Plant BiologyUppsala75007Sweden
| | - Lars Hennig
- Department of Plant BiologySwedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Linnean Center for Plant BiologyUppsala75007Sweden
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Mihìc P, Hédouin S, Francastel C. Centromeres Transcription and Transcripts for Better and for Worse. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR AND SUBCELLULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 60:169-201. [PMID: 34386876 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-74889-0_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Centromeres are chromosomal regions that are essential for the faithful transmission of genetic material through each cell division. They represent the chromosomal platform on which assembles a protein complex, the kinetochore, which mediates attachment to the mitotic spindle. In most organisms, centromeres assemble on large arrays of tandem satellite repeats, although their DNA sequences and organization are highly divergent among species. It has become evident that centromeres are not defined by underlying DNA sequences, but are instead epigenetically defined by the deposition of the centromere-specific histone H3 variant, CENP-A. In addition, and although long regarded as silent chromosomal loci, centromeres are in fact transcriptionally competent in most species, yet at low levels in normal somatic cells, but where the resulting transcripts participate in centromere architecture, identity, and function. In this chapter, we discuss the various roles proposed for centromere transcription and their transcripts, and the potential molecular mechanisms involved. We also discuss pathological cases in which unscheduled transcription of centromeric repeats or aberrant accumulation of their transcripts are pathological signatures of chromosomal instability diseases. In sum, tight regulation of centromeric satellite repeats transcription is critical for healthy development and tissue homeostasis, and thus prevents the emergence of disease states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pia Mihìc
- Université De Paris, Epigenetics and Cell Fate, CNRS UMR7216, Paris, France
| | - Sabrine Hédouin
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Claire Francastel
- Université De Paris, Epigenetics and Cell Fate, CNRS UMR7216, Paris, France.
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Distinct Regulation of the Expression of Satellite DNAs in the Beetle Tribolium castaneum. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:ijms22010296. [PMID: 33396654 PMCID: PMC7796160 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In the flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (peri)centromeric heterochromatin is mainly composed of a major satellite DNA TCAST1 interspersed with minor satellites. With the exception of heterochromatin, clustered satellite repeats are found dispersed within euchromatin. In order to uncover a possible satellite DNA function within the beetle genome, we analysed the expression of the major TCAST1 and a minor TCAST2 satellite during the development and upon heat stress. The results reveal that TCAST1 transcription was strongly induced at specific embryonic stages and upon heat stress, while TCAST2 transcription is stable during both processes. TCAST1 transcripts are processed preferentially into piRNAs during embryogenesis and into siRNAs during later development, contrary to TCAST2 transcripts, which are processed exclusively into piRNAs. In addition, increased TCAST1 expression upon heat stress is accompanied by the enrichment of the silent histone mark H3K9me3 on the major satellite, while the H3K9me3 level at TCAST2 remains unchanged. The transcription of the two satellites is proposed to be affected by the chromatin state: heterochromatin and euchromatin, which are assumed to be the prevalent sources of TCAST1 and TCAST2 transcripts, respectively. In addition, distinct regulation of the expression might be related to diverse roles that major and minor satellite RNAs play during the development and stress response.
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Castander-Olarieta A, Pereira C, Sales E, Meijón M, Arrillaga I, Cañal MJ, Goicoa T, Ugarte MD, Moncaleán P, Montalbán IA. Induction of Radiata Pine Somatic Embryogenesis at High Temperatures Provokes a Long-Term Decrease in DNA Methylation/Hydroxymethylation and Differential Expression of Stress-Related Genes. PLANTS 2020; 9:plants9121762. [PMID: 33322106 PMCID: PMC7762990 DOI: 10.3390/plants9121762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Based on the hypothesis that embryo development is a crucial stage for the formation of stable epigenetic marks that could modulate the behaviour of the resulting plants, in this study, radiata pine somatic embryogenesis was induced at high temperatures (23 °C, eight weeks, control; 40 °C, 4 h; 60 °C, 5 min) and the global methylation and hydroxymethylation levels of emerging embryonal masses and somatic plants were analysed using LC-ESI-MS/ MS-MRM. In this context, the expression pattern of six genes previously described as stress-mediators was studied throughout the embryogenic process until plant level to assess whether the observed epigenetic changes could have provoked a sustained alteration of the transcriptome. Results indicated that the highest temperatures led to hypomethylation of both embryonal masses and somatic plants. Moreover, we detected for the first time in a pine species the presence of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, and revealed its tissue specificity and potential involvement in heat-stress responses. Additionally, a heat shock protein-coding gene showed a down-regulation tendency along the process, with a special emphasis given to embryonal masses at first subculture and ex vitro somatic plants. Likewise, the transcripts of several proteins related with translation, oxidative stress response, and drought resilience were differentially expressed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cátia Pereira
- Department of Forestry Science, NEIKER, 01192 Arkaute, Spain; (A.C.-O.); (C.P.)
- Center for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ester Sales
- Departament of Ciencias Agrarias y del Medio Natural, Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad de Zaragoza, Escuela Politécnica Superior, 22071 Huesca, Spain;
| | - Mónica Meijón
- Plant Physiology, Department of Organisms and Systems Biology and University Institute of Biotechnology (IUBA), University of Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain; (M.M.); (M.J.C.)
| | - Isabel Arrillaga
- Departamento de Biología Vegetal, Facultad de Farmacia, Instituto BiotecMed, Universidad de Valencia, 46100 Burjassot, Spain;
| | - María Jesús Cañal
- Plant Physiology, Department of Organisms and Systems Biology and University Institute of Biotechnology (IUBA), University of Oviedo, 33006 Oviedo, Spain; (M.M.); (M.J.C.)
| | - Tomás Goicoa
- Department of Statistics, Computer Science and Mathematics, Universidad Pública de Navarra, 31006 Pamplona, Spain; (T.G.); (M.D.U.)
- INAMAT2 (Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics), Universidad Pública de Navarra, 31006 Pamplona, Spain
| | - María Dolores Ugarte
- Department of Statistics, Computer Science and Mathematics, Universidad Pública de Navarra, 31006 Pamplona, Spain; (T.G.); (M.D.U.)
- INAMAT2 (Institute for Advanced Materials and Mathematics), Universidad Pública de Navarra, 31006 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Paloma Moncaleán
- Department of Forestry Science, NEIKER, 01192 Arkaute, Spain; (A.C.-O.); (C.P.)
- Correspondence: (P.M.); (I.A.M.)
| | - Itziar A. Montalbán
- Department of Forestry Science, NEIKER, 01192 Arkaute, Spain; (A.C.-O.); (C.P.)
- Correspondence: (P.M.); (I.A.M.)
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31
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Bourguet P, López-González L, Gómez-Zambrano Á, Pélissier T, Hesketh A, Potok ME, Pouch-Pélissier MN, Perez M, Da Ines O, Latrasse D, White CI, Jacobsen SE, Benhamed M, Mathieu O. DNA polymerase epsilon is required for heterochromatin maintenance in Arabidopsis. Genome Biol 2020; 21:283. [PMID: 33234150 PMCID: PMC7687843 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-020-02190-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chromatin organizes DNA and regulates its transcriptional activity through epigenetic modifications. Heterochromatic regions of the genome are generally transcriptionally silent, while euchromatin is more prone to transcription. During DNA replication, both genetic information and chromatin modifications must be faithfully passed on to daughter strands. There is evidence that DNA polymerases play a role in transcriptional silencing, but the extent of their contribution and how it relates to heterochromatin maintenance is unclear. RESULTS We isolate a strong hypomorphic Arabidopsis thaliana mutant of the POL2A catalytic subunit of DNA polymerase epsilon and show that POL2A is required to stabilize heterochromatin silencing genome-wide, likely by preventing replicative stress. We reveal that POL2A inhibits DNA methylation and histone H3 lysine 9 methylation. Hence, the release of heterochromatin silencing in POL2A-deficient mutants paradoxically occurs in a chromatin context of increased levels of these two repressive epigenetic marks. At the nuclear level, the POL2A defect is associated with fragmentation of heterochromatin. CONCLUSION These results indicate that POL2A is critical to heterochromatin structure and function, and that unhindered replisome progression is required for the faithful propagation of DNA methylation throughout the cell cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Bourguet
- Institute of Genetics Reproduction and Development (iGReD), Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Inserm, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Leticia López-González
- Institute of Genetics Reproduction and Development (iGReD), Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Inserm, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Ángeles Gómez-Zambrano
- Institute of Genetics Reproduction and Development (iGReD), Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Inserm, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
- Present Address: Instituto de Bioquímica Vegetal y Fotosíntesis, CSIC-Cartuja, Avda, Américo Vespucio, 49., 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Thierry Pélissier
- Institute of Genetics Reproduction and Development (iGReD), Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Inserm, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Amy Hesketh
- Institute of Genetics Reproduction and Development (iGReD), Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Inserm, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Magdalena E Potok
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Marie-Noëlle Pouch-Pélissier
- Institute of Genetics Reproduction and Development (iGReD), Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Inserm, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Magali Perez
- Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), CNRS, INRA, University Paris-Sud, University of Evry, University Paris-Diderot, Sorbonne Paris-Cite, University of Paris-Saclay, Batiment, 630, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Olivier Da Ines
- Institute of Genetics Reproduction and Development (iGReD), Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Inserm, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - David Latrasse
- Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), CNRS, INRA, University Paris-Sud, University of Evry, University Paris-Diderot, Sorbonne Paris-Cite, University of Paris-Saclay, Batiment, 630, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Charles I White
- Institute of Genetics Reproduction and Development (iGReD), Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Inserm, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Steven E Jacobsen
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Moussa Benhamed
- Institute of Plant Sciences Paris-Saclay (IPS2), CNRS, INRA, University Paris-Sud, University of Evry, University Paris-Diderot, Sorbonne Paris-Cite, University of Paris-Saclay, Batiment, 630, 91405, Orsay, France
| | - Olivier Mathieu
- Institute of Genetics Reproduction and Development (iGReD), Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, Inserm, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
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32
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Fambrini M, Usai G, Vangelisti A, Mascagni F, Pugliesi C. The plastic genome: The impact of transposable elements on gene functionality and genomic structural variations. Genesis 2020; 58:e23399. [DOI: 10.1002/dvg.23399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Fambrini
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE) University of Pisa Pisa Italy
| | - Gabriele Usai
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE) University of Pisa Pisa Italy
| | - Alberto Vangelisti
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE) University of Pisa Pisa Italy
| | - Flavia Mascagni
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE) University of Pisa Pisa Italy
| | - Claudio Pugliesi
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (DAFE) University of Pisa Pisa Italy
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Zhang SJ, Liu L, Yang R, Wang X. Genome Size Evolution Mediated by Gypsy Retrotransposons in Brassicaceae. GENOMICS PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS 2020; 18:321-332. [PMID: 33137519 PMCID: PMC7801240 DOI: 10.1016/j.gpb.2018.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Revised: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The dynamic activity of transposable elements (TEs) contributes to the vast diversity of genome size and architecture among plants. Here, we examined the genomic distribution and transposition activity of long terminal repeat retrotransposons (LTR-RTs) in Arabidopsis thaliana (Ath) and three of its relatives, Arabidopsis lyrata (Aly), Eutrema salsugineum (Esa), and Schrenkiella parvula (Spa), in Brassicaceae. Our analyses revealed the distinct evolutionary dynamics of Gypsyretrotransposons, which reflects the different patterns of genome size changes of the four species over the past million years. The rate of Gypsy transposition in Aly is approximately five times more rapid than that of Ath and Esa, suggesting an expanding Aly genome. Gypsy insertions in Esa are strictly confined to pericentromeric heterochromatin and associated with dramatic centromere expansion. In contrast, Gypsy insertions in Spa have been largely suppressed over the last million years, likely as a result of a combination of an inherent molecular mechanism of preferential DNA removal and purifying selection at Gypsy elements. Additionally, species-specific clades of Gypsy elements shaped the distinct genome architectures of Aly and Esa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Jian Zhang
- Department of Crop Genomics and Bioinformatics, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, National Maize Improvement Center of China, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, China
| | - Lei Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Research and Development, School of Sciences, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
| | - Ruolin Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China.
| | - Xiangfeng Wang
- Department of Crop Genomics and Bioinformatics, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, National Maize Improvement Center of China, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100094, China.
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Pecinka A, Chevalier C, Colas I, Kalantidis K, Varotto S, Krugman T, Michailidis C, Vallés MP, Muñoz A, Pradillo M. Chromatin dynamics during interphase and cell division: similarities and differences between model and crop plants. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2020; 71:5205-5222. [PMID: 31626285 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erz457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Genetic information in the cell nucleus controls organismal development and responses to the environment, and finally ensures its own transmission to the next generations. To achieve so many different tasks, the genetic information is associated with structural and regulatory proteins, which orchestrate nuclear functions in time and space. Furthermore, plant life strategies require chromatin plasticity to allow a rapid adaptation to abiotic and biotic stresses. Here, we summarize current knowledge on the organization of plant chromatin and dynamics of chromosomes during interphase and mitotic and meiotic cell divisions for model and crop plants differing as to genome size, ploidy, and amount of genomic resources available. The existing data indicate that chromatin changes accompany most (if not all) cellular processes and that there are both shared and unique themes in the chromatin structure and global chromosome dynamics among species. Ongoing efforts to understand the molecular mechanisms involved in chromatin organization and remodeling have, together with the latest genome editing tools, potential to unlock crop genomes for innovative breeding strategies and improvements of various traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ales Pecinka
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Acad Sci, Centre of the Region Haná for Agricultural and Biotechnological Research, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | | | - Isabelle Colas
- James Hutton Institute, Cell and Molecular Science, Pr Waugh's Lab, Invergowrie, Dundee, UK
| | - Kriton Kalantidis
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, and Institute of Molecular Biology Biotechnology, FoRTH, Heraklion, Greece
| | - Serena Varotto
- Department of Agronomy Animal Food Natural Resources and Environment (DAFNAE) University of Padova, Agripolis viale dell'Università, Legnaro (PD), Italy
| | - Tamar Krugman
- Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Christos Michailidis
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Czech Acad Sci, Praha 6 - Lysolaje, Czech Republic
| | - María-Pilar Vallés
- Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Estación Experimental Aula Dei (EEAD), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Aitor Muñoz
- Department of Plant Molecular Genetics, National Center of Biotechnology/Superior Council of Scientific Research, Autónoma University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mónica Pradillo
- Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Leo L, Marchetti M, Giunta S, Fanti L. Epigenetics as an Evolutionary Tool for Centromere Flexibility. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11070809. [PMID: 32708654 PMCID: PMC7397245 DOI: 10.3390/genes11070809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Centromeres are the complex structures responsible for the proper segregation of chromosomes during cell division. Structural or functional alterations of the centromere cause aneuploidies and other chromosomal aberrations that can induce cell death with consequences on health and survival of the organism as a whole. Because of their essential function in the cell, centromeres have evolved high flexibility and mechanisms of tolerance to preserve their function following stress, whether it is originating from within or outside the cell. Here, we review the main epigenetic mechanisms of centromeres’ adaptability to preserve their functional stability, with particular reference to neocentromeres and holocentromeres. The centromere position can shift in response to altered chromosome structures, but how and why neocentromeres appear in a given chromosome region are still open questions. Models of neocentromere formation developed during the last few years will be hereby discussed. Moreover, we will discuss the evolutionary significance of diffuse centromeres (holocentromeres) in organisms such as nematodes. Despite the differences in DNA sequences, protein composition and centromere size, all of these diverse centromere structures promote efficient chromosome segregation, balancing genome stability and adaptability, and ensuring faithful genome inheritance at each cellular generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Leo
- Istituto Pasteur Italia, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie “Charles Darwin”, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (L.L.); (M.M.); (S.G.)
| | - Marcella Marchetti
- Istituto Pasteur Italia, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie “Charles Darwin”, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (L.L.); (M.M.); (S.G.)
| | - Simona Giunta
- Istituto Pasteur Italia, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie “Charles Darwin”, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (L.L.); (M.M.); (S.G.)
- Laboratory of Chromosome and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Laura Fanti
- Istituto Pasteur Italia, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie “Charles Darwin”, “Sapienza” University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (L.L.); (M.M.); (S.G.)
- Correspondence:
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Picart-Picolo A, Picart C, Picault N, Pontvianne F. Nucleolus-associated chromatin domains are maintained under heat stress, despite nucleolar reorganization in Arabidopsis thaliana. JOURNAL OF PLANT RESEARCH 2020; 133:463-470. [PMID: 32372397 DOI: 10.1007/s10265-020-01201-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Several layers of mechanisms participate in plant adaptation to heat-stress. For example, the plant metabolism switches from cell growth mode to stress adaptation mode. Ribosome biogenesis is one of the most energy costly pathways. That biogenesis process occurs in the nucleolus, the largest nuclear compartment, whose structure is highly dependent on this pathway. We used a nucleolar marker to track the structure of the nucleolus, and revealed a change in its sub-nucleolar distribution under heat stress. In addition, the nucleolus is implicated in other cellular processes, such as genome organization within the nucleus. However, our analyses of nucleolus-associated chromatin domains under heat stress did not reveal significant differences compared to the control plants, suggesting a lack of connection between two of the main functions of the nucleolus: ribosome biogenesis and nuclear organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariadna Picart-Picolo
- CNRS, LGDP UMR5096, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan, France
- UPVD, LGDP UMR5096, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan, France
| | - Claire Picart
- CNRS, LGDP UMR5096, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan, France
- UPVD, LGDP UMR5096, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan, France
| | - Nathalie Picault
- CNRS, LGDP UMR5096, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan, France
- UPVD, LGDP UMR5096, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan, France
| | - Frederic Pontvianne
- CNRS, LGDP UMR5096, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan, France.
- UPVD, LGDP UMR5096, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan, France.
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Heat Stress Affects H3K9me3 Level at Human Alpha Satellite DNA Repeats. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11060663. [PMID: 32570830 PMCID: PMC7348797 DOI: 10.3390/genes11060663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Satellite DNAs are tandemly repeated sequences preferentially assembled into large arrays within constitutive heterochromatin and their transcription is often activated by stress conditions, particularly by heat stress. Bioinformatic analyses of sequenced genomes however reveal single repeats or short arrays of satellite DNAs dispersed in the vicinity of genes within euchromatin. Here, we analyze transcription of a major human alpha satellite DNA upon heat stress and follow the dynamics of “silent” H3K9me3 and “active” H3K4me2/3 histone marks at dispersed euchromatic and tandemly arranged heterochromatic alpha repeats. The results show H3K9me3 enrichment at alpha repeats upon heat stress, which correlates with the dynamics of alpha satellite DNA transcription activation, while no change in H3K4me2/3 level is detected. Spreading of H3K9me3 up to 1–2 kb from the insertion sites of the euchromatic alpha repeats is detected, revealing the alpha repeats as modulators of local chromatin structure. In addition, expression of genes containing alpha repeats within introns as well as of genes closest to the intergenic alpha repeats is downregulated upon heat stress. Further studies are necessary to reveal the possible contribution of H3K9me3 enriched alpha repeats, in particular those located within introns, to the silencing of their associated genes.
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Heat stress-induced transposon activation correlates with 3D chromatin organization rearrangement in Arabidopsis. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1886. [PMID: 32312999 PMCID: PMC7170881 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15809-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In higher eukaryotes, heterochromatin is mainly composed of transposable elements (TEs) silenced by epigenetic mechanisms. But, the silencing of certain heterochromatin-associated TEs is disrupted by heat stress. By comparing genome-wide high-resolution chromatin packing patterns under normal or heat conditions obtained through Hi-C analysis, we show here that heat stress causes global rearrangement of the 3D genome in Arabidopsis thaliana. Contacts between pericentromeric regions and distal chromosome arms, as well as proximal intra-chromosomal interactions along the chromosomes, are enhanced. However, interactions within pericentromeres and those between distal intra-chromosomal regions are decreased. Many inter-chromosomal interactions, including those within the KNOT, are also reduced. Furthermore, heat activation of TEs exhibits a high correlation with the reduction of chromosomal interactions involving pericentromeres, the KNOT, the knob, and the upstream and downstream flanking regions of the activated TEs. Together, our results provide insights into the relationship between TE activation and 3D genome reorganization.
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Corrêa RL, Sanz-Carbonell A, Kogej Z, Müller SY, Ambrós S, López-Gomollón S, Gómez G, Baulcombe DC, Elena SF. Viral Fitness Determines the Magnitude of Transcriptomic and Epigenomic Reprograming of Defense Responses in Plants. Mol Biol Evol 2020; 37:1866-1881. [DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Although epigenetic factors may influence the expression of defense genes in plants, their role in antiviral responses and the impact of viral adaptation and evolution in shaping these interactions are still poorly explored. We used two isolates of turnip mosaic potyvirus with varying degrees of adaptation to Arabidopsis thaliana to address these issues. One of the isolates was experimentally evolved in the plant and presented increased load and virulence relative to the ancestral isolate. The magnitude of the transcriptomic responses was larger for the evolved isolate and indicated a role of innate immunity systems triggered by molecular patterns and effectors in the infection process. Several transposable elements located in different chromatin contexts and epigenetic-related genes were also affected. Correspondingly, mutant plants having loss or gain of repressive marks were, respectively, more tolerant and susceptible to turnip mosaic potyvirus, with a more efficient response against the ancestral isolate. In wild-type plants, both isolates induced similar levels of cytosine methylation changes, including in and around transposable elements and stress-related genes. Results collectively suggested that apart from RNA silencing and basal immunity systems, DNA methylation and histone modification pathways may also be required for mounting proper antiviral defenses and that the effectiveness of this type of regulation strongly depends on the degree of viral adaptation to the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Régis L Corrêa
- Instituto de Biología Integrativa de Sistemas (I2SysBio), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)—Universitat de València, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
- Department of Genetics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Alejandro Sanz-Carbonell
- Instituto de Biología Integrativa de Sistemas (I2SysBio), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)—Universitat de València, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Zala Kogej
- Department of Biotechnology and Systems Biology, National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Instituto de Biología Integrativa de Sistemas (I2SysBio), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)—Universitat de València, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Sebastian Y Müller
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Silvia Ambrós
- Instituto de Biología Integrativa de Sistemas (I2SysBio), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)—Universitat de València, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Sara López-Gomollón
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Gustavo Gómez
- Instituto de Biología Integrativa de Sistemas (I2SysBio), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)—Universitat de València, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - David C Baulcombe
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Santiago F Elena
- Instituto de Biología Integrativa de Sistemas (I2SysBio), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)—Universitat de València, Paterna, Valencia, Spain
- The Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM
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40
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Wei J, Dong Z, Ow DW. Spontaneous reactivation of a site-specifically placed transgene independent of copy number or DNA methylation. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2020; 71:1574-1584. [PMID: 31740977 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erz514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
As millions of seeds are produced from a breeding line, the long-term stability of transgene expression is vital for commercial-scale production of seeds with transgenic traits. Transgenes can be silenced by epigenetic mechanisms, but reactivation of expression can occur as a result of treatment with chromatin modification inhibitors such as 5-azacytidine, from stress such as heat or UV-B, or in mutants that have acquired a defect in gene silencing. Previously, we targeted a gfp reporter gene into the tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) genome by site-specific recombination but still found some silenced lines among independent integration events. One such line also had a second random copy and both copies showed DNA hypermethylation. To test whether removing the second copy would reactivate gfp expression, two T1 plants were backcrossed to the wild type. Whereas the silenced status was maintained in the progenies from one backcross, spontaneous partial reactivation of gfp expression was found among progenies from a second backcross. However, this reactivation did not correlate with loss of the second random copy or with a significant change in the pattern or amount of DNA hypermethylation. This finding supports the suggestion that gene reactivation does not necessarily involve loss of DNA homology or methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjie Wei
- Plant Gene Engineering Center; Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Applied Botany. South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhicheng Dong
- Plant Gene Engineering Center; Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Applied Botany. South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - David W Ow
- Plant Gene Engineering Center; Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Genetic Improvement; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Applied Botany. South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
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41
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Wu J, Wang T. Synergistic Effect of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles and Heat Stress on the Alleviation of Transcriptional Gene Silencing in Arabidopsis thaliana. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2020; 104:49-56. [PMID: 31745599 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-019-02749-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2019] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Phytotoxicity is an inevitable consideration in evaluating the potential ecological effects of nanoparticles (NPs). Natural ecosystems are complex and accompanied by many other environmental factors. Thus understanding the impact of NPs on plant response to other environmental stresses is crucial to assess the comprehensive toxicity of NPs in ecosystem. In the present study, Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings were cultured in medium containing zinc oxide NPs (ZnO-NPs) then subjected to heat stress at 37°C. Alleviation of transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) in aerial leafy tissues was assessed as an epi-genotoxic endpoint. Results showed that 1 µg/mL ZnO-NPs alone can not alleviate GUS gene (β-glucuronidase) which silenced by TGS (TGS-GUS), but it significantly enhanced heat stress-induced alleviation of TGS-GUS, suggesting an synergistic effect of ZnO-NPs and heat stress on genomic instability. Further study showed that the initiation of synergistic effect could be regulated by plant developmental stage, heat duration and temperature, and heat shock related genes might be involved in.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Wu
- Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 1138, Hefei, 230031, Anhui, People's Republic of China
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Wang
- Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 1138, Hefei, 230031, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
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Srikant T, Drost HG. How Stress Facilitates Phenotypic Innovation Through Epigenetic Diversity. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:606800. [PMID: 33519857 PMCID: PMC7843580 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.606800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Climate adaptation through phenotypic innovation will become the main challenge for plants during global warming. Plants exhibit a plethora of mechanisms to achieve environmental and developmental plasticity by inducing dynamic alterations of gene regulation and by maximizing natural variation through large population sizes. While successful over long evolutionary time scales, most of these mechanisms lack the short-term adaptive responsiveness that global warming will require. Here, we review our current understanding of the epigenetic regulation of plant genomes, with a focus on stress-response mechanisms and transgenerational inheritance. Field and laboratory-scale experiments on plants exposed to stress have revealed a multitude of temporally controlled, mechanistic strategies integrating both genetic and epigenetic changes on the genome level. We analyze inter- and intra-species population diversity to discuss how methylome differences and transposon activation can be harnessed for short-term adaptive efforts to shape co-evolving traits in response to qualitatively new climate conditions and environmental stress.
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Liu J, He Z. Small DNA Methylation, Big Player in Plant Abiotic Stress Responses and Memory. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:595603. [PMID: 33362826 PMCID: PMC7758401 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.595603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
DNA methylation is a conserved epigenetic mark that plays important roles in maintaining genome stability and regulating gene expression. As sessile organisms, plants have evolved sophisticated regulatory systems to endure or respond to diverse adverse abiotic environmental challenges, i.e., abiotic stresses, such as extreme temperatures (cold and heat), drought and salinity. Plant stress responses are often accompanied by changes in chromatin modifications at diverse responsive loci, such as 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and N 6-methyladenine (6mA) DNA methylation. Some abiotic stress responses are memorized for several hours or days through mitotic cell divisions and quickly reset to baseline levels after normal conditions are restored, which is referred to as somatic memory. In some cases, stress-induced chromatin marks are meiotically heritable and can impart the memory of stress exposure from parent plants to at least the next stress-free offspring generation through the mechanisms of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, which may offer the descendants the potential to be adaptive for better fitness. In this review, we briefly summarize recent achievements regarding the establishment, maintenance and reset of DNA methylation, and highlight the diverse roles of DNA methylation in plant responses to abiotic stresses. Further, we discuss the potential role of DNA methylation in abiotic stress-induced somatic memory and transgenerational inheritance. Future research directions are proposed to develop stress-tolerant engineered crops to reduce the negative effects of abiotic stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junzhong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan and Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
- *Correspondence: Junzhong Liu,
| | - Zuhua He
- National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- Zuhua He,
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Esposito S, Barteri F, Casacuberta J, Mirouze M, Carputo D, Aversano R. LTR-TEs abundance, timing and mobility in Solanum commersonii and S. tuberosum genomes following cold-stress conditions. PLANTA 2019; 250:1781-1787. [PMID: 31562541 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-019-03283-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Copia/Ale is the youngest lineage in both Solanum tuberosum and S. commersonii. Within it, we identified nightshade, a new LTR element active in the cultivated potato. From an evolutionary perspective, long-terminal repeat retrotransposons (LTR-RT) activity during stress may be viewed as a mean by which organisms can keep up rates of genetic adaptation to changing conditions. Potato is one of the most important crop consumed worldwide, but studies on LTR-RT characterization are still lacking. Here, we assessed the abundance, insertion time and activity of LTR-RTs in both cultivated Solanum tuberosum and its cold-tolerant wild relative S. commersonii genomes. Gypsy elements were more abundant than Copia ones, suggesting that the former was somehow more successful in colonizing potato genomes. However, Copia elements, and in particular, the Ale lineage, are younger than Gypsy ones, since their insertion time was in average ~ 2 Mya. Due to the ability of LTR-RTs to be circularized by the host DNA repair mechanisms, we identified via mobilome-seq a Copia/Ale element (called nightshade, informal name used for potato family) active in S. tuberosum genome. Our analyses represent a valuable resource for comparative genomics within the Solanaceae, transposon-tagging and for the design of cultivar-specific molecular markers in potato.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Esposito
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Portici, Italy
| | - Fabio Barteri
- Center for Research in Agricultural Genomics, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries-Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Campus Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Casacuberta
- Center for Research in Agricultural Genomics, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries-Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, Campus Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marie Mirouze
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, IRD DIADE, Université de Perpignan, Plant Genome and Development Laboratory, Perpignan, France
| | - Domenico Carputo
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Portici, Italy.
| | - Riccardo Aversano
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Portici, Italy.
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45
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Graindorge S, Cognat V, Johann to Berens P, Mutterer J, Molinier J. Photodamage repair pathways contribute to the accurate maintenance of the DNA methylome landscape upon UV exposure. PLoS Genet 2019; 15:e1008476. [PMID: 31738755 PMCID: PMC6886878 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Plants are exposed to the damaging effect of sunlight that induces DNA photolesions. In order to maintain genome integrity, specific DNA repair pathways are mobilized. Upon removal of UV-induced DNA lesions, the accurate re-establishment of epigenome landscape is expected to be a prominent step of these DNA repair pathways. However, it remains poorly documented whether DNA methylation is accurately maintained at photodamaged sites and how photodamage repair pathways contribute to the maintenance of genome/methylome integrities. Using genome wide approaches, we report that UV-C irradiation leads to CHH DNA methylation changes. We identified that the specific DNA repair pathways involved in the repair of UV-induced DNA lesions, Direct Repair (DR), Global Genome Repair (GGR) and small RNA-mediated GGR prevent the excessive alterations of DNA methylation landscape. Moreover, we identified that UV-C irradiation induced chromocenter reorganization and that photodamage repair factors control this dynamics. The methylome changes rely on misregulation of maintenance, de novo and active DNA demethylation pathways highlighting that molecular processes related to genome and methylome integrities are closely interconnected. Importantly, we identified that photolesions are sources of DNA methylation changes in repressive chromatin. This study unveils that DNA repair factors, together with small RNA, act to accurately maintain both genome and methylome integrities at photodamaged silent genomic regions, strengthening the idea that plants have evolved sophisticated interplays between DNA methylation dynamics and DNA repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéfanie Graindorge
- Institut de biologie moléculaire des plantes, UPR2357-CNRS, Strasbourg, France
| | - Valérie Cognat
- Institut de biologie moléculaire des plantes, UPR2357-CNRS, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Jérôme Mutterer
- Institut de biologie moléculaire des plantes, UPR2357-CNRS, Strasbourg, France
| | - Jean Molinier
- Institut de biologie moléculaire des plantes, UPR2357-CNRS, Strasbourg, France
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Benoit M, Drost HG, Catoni M, Gouil Q, Lopez-Gomollon S, Baulcombe D, Paszkowski J. Environmental and epigenetic regulation of Rider retrotransposons in tomato. PLoS Genet 2019; 15:e1008370. [PMID: 31525177 PMCID: PMC6762207 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Transposable elements in crop plants are the powerful drivers of phenotypic variation that has been selected during domestication and breeding programs. In tomato, transpositions of the LTR (long terminal repeat) retrotransposon family Rider have contributed to various phenotypes of agronomical interest, such as fruit shape and colour. However, the mechanisms regulating Rider activity are largely unknown. We have developed a bioinformatics pipeline for the functional annotation of retrotransposons containing LTRs and defined all full-length Rider elements in the tomato genome. Subsequently, we showed that accumulation of Rider transcripts and transposition intermediates in the form of extrachromosomal DNA is triggered by drought stress and relies on abscisic acid signalling. We provide evidence that residual activity of Rider is controlled by epigenetic mechanisms involving siRNAs and the RNA-dependent DNA methylation pathway. Finally, we demonstrate the broad distribution of Rider-like elements in other plant species, including crops. Our work identifies Rider as an environment-responsive element and a potential source of genetic and epigenetic variation in plants. Transposons are major constituents of plant genomes and represent a powerful source of internal genetic and epigenetic variation. For example, domestication of maize has been facilitated by a dramatic change in plant architecture, the consequence of a transposition event. Insertion of transposons near genes often confers quantitative phenotypic variation linked to changes in transcriptional patterns, as documented for blood oranges and grapes. In tomato, the most widely grown fruit crop and model for fleshy fruit biology, occurrences of several beneficial traits related to fruit shape and plant architecture are due to the activity of the transposon family Rider. While Rider represents a unique endogenous source of genetic and epigenetic variation, mechanisms regulating Rider activity remain unexplored. By achieving experimentally-controlled activation of the Rider family, we shed light on the regulation of these transposons by drought stress, signalling by phytohormones, as well as epigenetic pathways. Furthermore, we reveal the presence of Rider-like elements in other economically important crops such as rapeseed, beetroot and quinoa. This suggests that drought-inducible Rider activation could be further harnessed to generate genetic and epigenetic variation for crop breeding, and highlights the potential of transposon-directed mutagenesis for crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Benoit
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Hajk-Georg Drost
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Marco Catoni
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Quentin Gouil
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Lopez-Gomollon
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - David Baulcombe
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Jerzy Paszkowski
- The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Cechova M, Harris RS, Tomaszkiewicz M, Arbeithuber B, Chiaromonte F, Makova KD. High satellite repeat turnover in great apes studied with short- and long-read technologies. Mol Biol Evol 2019; 36:2415-2431. [PMID: 31273383 PMCID: PMC6805231 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msz156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Revised: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Satellite repeats are a structural component of centromeres and telomeres, and in some instances, their divergence is known to drive speciation. Due to their highly repetitive nature, satellite sequences have been understudied and underrepresented in genome assemblies. To investigate their turnover in great apes, we studied satellite repeats of unit sizes up to 50 bp in human, chimpanzee, bonobo, gorilla, and Sumatran and Bornean orangutans, using unassembled short and long sequencing reads. The density of satellite repeats, as identified from accurate short reads (Illumina), varied greatly among great ape genomes. These were dominated by a handful of abundant repeated motifs, frequently shared among species, which formed two groups: 1) the (AATGG)n repeat (critical for heat shock response) and its derivatives; and 2) subtelomeric 32-mers involved in telomeric metabolism. Using the densities of abundant repeats, individuals could be classified into species. However, clustering did not reproduce the accepted species phylogeny, suggesting rapid repeat evolution. Several abundant repeats were enriched in males versus females; using Y chromosome assemblies or Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization, we validated their location on the Y. Finally, applying a novel computational tool, we identified many satellite repeats completely embedded within long Oxford Nanopore and Pacific Biosciences reads. Such repeats were up to 59 kb in length and consisted of perfect repeats interspersed with other similar sequences. Our results based on sequencing reads generated with three different technologies provide the first detailed characterization of great ape satellite repeats, and open new avenues for exploring their functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Cechova
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA USA
| | - Robert S Harris
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA USA
| | - Marta Tomaszkiewicz
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA USA
| | - Barbara Arbeithuber
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA USA
| | - Francesca Chiaromonte
- Department of Statistics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA USA.,EMbeDS, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.,Center for Medical Genomics, Penn State, University Park, PA USA
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Casier K, Delmarre V, Gueguen N, Hermant C, Viodé E, Vaury C, Ronsseray S, Brasset E, Teysset L, Boivin A. Environmentally-induced epigenetic conversion of a piRNA cluster. eLife 2019; 8:39842. [PMID: 30875295 PMCID: PMC6420265 DOI: 10.7554/elife.39842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Transposable element (TE) activity is repressed in animal gonads by PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) produced by piRNA clusters. Current models in flies propose that germinal piRNA clusters are functionally defined by the maternal inheritance of piRNAs produced during the previous generation. Taking advantage of an inactive, but ready to go, cluster of P-element derived transgene insertions in Drosophila melanogaster, we show here that raising flies at high temperature (29°C) instead of 25°C triggers the stable conversion of this locus from inactive into actively producing functional piRNAs. The increase of antisense transcripts from the cluster at 29°C combined with the requirement of transcription of euchromatic homologous sequences, suggests a role of double stranded RNA in the production of de novo piRNAs. This report describes the first case of the establishment of an active piRNA cluster by environmental changes in the absence of maternal inheritance of homologous piRNAs. Editorial note This article has been through an editorial process in which the authors decide how to respond to the issues raised during peer review. The Reviewing Editor's assessment is that all the issues have been addressed (see decision letter).
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Casier
- Laboratoire Biologie du Développement, UMR7622, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, Paris, France
| | - Valérie Delmarre
- Laboratoire Biologie du Développement, UMR7622, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Gueguen
- GReD, Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, INSERM, BP 10448, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Catherine Hermant
- Laboratoire Biologie du Développement, UMR7622, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, Paris, France
| | - Elise Viodé
- Laboratoire Biologie du Développement, UMR7622, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, Paris, France
| | - Chantal Vaury
- GReD, Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, INSERM, BP 10448, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Stéphane Ronsseray
- Laboratoire Biologie du Développement, UMR7622, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, Paris, France
| | - Emilie Brasset
- GReD, Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, INSERM, BP 10448, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Laure Teysset
- Laboratoire Biologie du Développement, UMR7622, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, Paris, France
| | - Antoine Boivin
- Laboratoire Biologie du Développement, UMR7622, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, Paris, France
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An H3K27me3 demethylase-HSFA2 regulatory loop orchestrates transgenerational thermomemory in Arabidopsis. Cell Res 2019; 29:379-390. [PMID: 30778176 PMCID: PMC6796840 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-019-0145-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Global warming has profound effects on plant growth and fitness. Plants have evolved sophisticated epigenetic machinery to respond quickly to heat, and exhibit transgenerational memory of the heat-induced release of post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS). However, how thermomemory is transmitted to progeny and the physiological relevance are elusive. Here we show that heat-induced HEAT SHOCK TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR A2 (HSFA2) directly activates the H3K27me3 demethylase RELATIVE OF EARLY FLOWERING 6 (REF6), which in turn derepresses HSFA2. REF6 and HSFA2 establish a heritable feedback loop, and activate an E3 ubiquitin ligase, SUPPRESSOR OF GENE SILENCING 3 (SGS3)-INTERACTING PROTEIN 1 (SGIP1). SGIP1-mediated SGS3 degradation leads to inhibited biosynthesis of trans-acting siRNA (tasiRNA). The REF6-HSFA2 loop and reduced tasiRNA converge to release HEAT-INDUCED TAS1 TARGET 5 (HTT5), which drives early flowering but attenuates immunity. Thus, heat induces transmitted phenotypes via a coordinated epigenetic network involving histone demethylases, transcription factors, and tasiRNAs, ensuring reproductive success and transgenerational stress adaptation.
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50
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Site-specific manipulation of Arabidopsis loci using CRISPR-Cas9 SunTag systems. Nat Commun 2019; 10:729. [PMID: 30760722 PMCID: PMC6374409 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-08736-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding genomic functions requires site-specific manipulation of loci via efficient protein effector targeting systems. However, few approaches for targeted manipulation of the epigenome are available in plants. Here, we adapt the dCas9-SunTag system to engineer targeted gene activation and DNA methylation in Arabidopsis. We demonstrate that a dCas9-SunTag system utilizing the transcriptional activator VP64 drives robust and specific activation of several loci, including protein coding genes and transposable elements, in diverse chromatin contexts. In addition, we present a CRISPR-based methylation targeting system for plants, utilizing a SunTag system with the catalytic domain of the Nicotiana tabacum DRM methyltransferase, which efficiently targets DNA methylation to specific loci, including the FWA promoter, triggering a developmental phenotype, and the SUPERMAN promoter. These SunTag systems represent valuable tools for the site-specific manipulation of plant epigenomes.
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