Organ-specific silencing of duplicated genes in a newly synthesized cotton allotetraploid

Major chromosome rearrangements in intergeneric wheat × rye hybrids in compatible and incompatible crosses detected by GBS read coverage analysis

The presence of incompatibility alleles in primary amphidiploids constitutes a reproductive barrier in newly synthesized wheat-rye hybrids. To overcome this barrier, the genome stabilization process includes large-scale chromosome rearrangements. In incompatible crosses resulting in fertile amphidiploids, the elimination of one of the incompatible alleles Eml-A1 or Eml-R1b can occur already in the somatic tissue of the wheat × rye hybrid embryo. We observed that the interaction of incompatible loci Eml-A1 of wheat and Eml-R1b of rye after overcoming embryo lethality leads to hybrid sterility in primary triticale. During subsequent seed reproductions (R1, R2 or R3) most of the chromosomes of A, B, D and R subgenomes undergo rearrangement or eliminations to increase the fertility of the amphidiploid by natural selection. Genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) coverage analysis showed that improved fertility is associated with the elimination of entire and partial chromosomes carrying factors that either cause the disruption of plant development in hybrid plants or lead to the restoration of the euploid number of chromosomes (2n = 56) in the absence of one of the incompatible alleles. Highly fertile offspring obtained in compatible and incompatible crosses can be successfully adapted for the production of triticale pre-breeding stocks.

Genome organization and botanical diversity

The rich diversity of angiosperms, both the planet's dominant flora and the cornerstone of agriculture, is integrally intertwined with a distinctive evolutionary history. Here, we explore the interplay between angiosperm genome organization and botanical diversity, empowered by genomic approaches ranging from genetic linkage mapping to analysis of gene regulation. Commonality in the genetic hardware of plants has enabled robust comparative genomics that has provided a broad picture of angiosperm evolution and implicated both general processes and specific elements in contributing to botanical diversity. We argue that the hardware of plant genomes-both in content and in dynamics-has been shaped by selection for rather substantial differences in gene regulation between plants and animals such as maize and human, organisms of comparable genome size and gene number. Their distinctive genome content and dynamics may reflect in part the indeterminate development of plants that puts strikingly different demands on gene regulation than in animals. Repeated polyploidization of plant genomes and multiplication of individual genes together with extensive rearrangement and differential retention provide rich raw material for selection of morphological and/or physiological variations conferring fitness in specific niches, whether natural or artificial. These findings exemplify the burgeoning information available to employ in increasing knowledge of plant biology and in modifying selected plants to better meet human needs.

An insight into the gene expression evolution in Gossypium species based on the leaf transcriptomes

BACKGROUND

Gene expression pattern is associated with biological phenotype and is widely used in exploring gene functions. Its evolution is also crucial in understanding species speciation and divergence. The genus Gossypium is a bona fide model for studying plant evolution and polyploidization. However, the evolution of gene expression during cotton species divergence has yet to be extensively discussed.

RESULTS

Based on the seedling leaf transcriptomes, this work analyzed the transcriptomic content and expression patterns across eight cotton species, including six diploids and two natural tetraploids. Our findings indicate that, while the biological function of these cotton transcriptomes remains largely conserved, there has been significant variation in transcriptomic content during species divergence. Furthermore, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of expression distances across cotton species. This analysis lends further support to the use of G. arboreum as a substitute for the A-genome donor of natural cotton polyploids. Moreover, our research highlights the evolution of stress-responsive pathways, including hormone signaling, fatty acid degradation, and flavonoid biosynthesis. These processes appear to have evolved under lower selection pressures, presumably reflecting their critical role in the adaptations of the studied cotton species to diverse environments.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, this study provided insights into the gene expression variation within the genus Gossypium and identified essential genes/pathways whose expression evolution was closely associated with the evolution of cotton species. Furthermore, the method of characterizing genes and pathways under unexpected high or slow selection pressure can also serve as a new strategy for gene function exploration.

Genome-wide identification and characterization of the bHLH gene family and analysis of their potential relevance to chlorophyll metabolism in Raphanus sativus L

BACKGROUND

Green-fleshed radish (Raphanus sativus L.) is an economically important root vegetable of the Brassicaceae family, and chlorophyll accumulates in its root tissues. It was reported that the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors play vital roles in the process of chlorophyll metabolism. Nevertheless, a comprehensive study on the bHLH gene family has not been performed in Raphanus sativus L.

RESULTS

In this study, a total of 213 Raphanus sativus L. bHLH (RsbHLH) genes were screened in the radish genome, which were grouped into 22 subfamilies. 204 RsbHLH genes were unevenly distributed on nine chromosomes, and nine RsbHLH genes were located on the scaffolds. Gene structure analysis showed that 25 RsbHLH genes were intron-less. Collineation analysis revealed the syntenic orthologous bHLH gene pairs between radish and Arabidopsis thaliana/Brassica rapa/Brassica oleracea. 162 RsbHLH genes were duplicated and retained from the whole genome duplication event, indicating that the whole genome duplication contributed to the expansion of the RsbHLH gene family. RNA-seq results revealed that RsbHLH genes had a variety of expression patterns at five development stages of green-fleshed radish and white-fleshed radish. In addition, the weighted gene co-expression network analysis confirmed four RsbHLH genes closely related to chlorophyll content.

CONCLUSIONS

A total of 213 RsbHLH genes were identified, and we systematically analyzed their gene structure, evolutionary and collineation relationships, conserved motifs, gene duplication, cis-regulatory elements and expression patterns. Finally, four bHLH genes closely involved in chlorophyll content were identified, which may be associated with the photosynthesis of the green-fleshed radish. The current study would provide valuable information for further functional exploration of RsbHLH genes, and facilitate clarifying the molecular mechanism underlying photosynthesis process in green-fleshed radish.

Genetic Diversity, QTL Mapping, and Marker-Assisted Selection Technology in Cotton (Gossypium spp.)

Cotton genetic resources contain diverse economically important traits that can be used widely in breeding approaches to create of high-yielding elite cultivars with superior fiber quality and adapted to biotic and abiotic stresses. Nevertheless, the creation of new cultivars using conventional breeding methods is limited by the cost and proved to be time consuming process, also requires a space to make field observations and measurements. Decoding genomes of cotton species greatly facilitated generating large-scale high-throughput DNA markers and identification of QTLs that allows confirmation of candidate genes, and use them in marker-assisted selection (MAS)-based breeding programs. With the advances of quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping and genome-wide-association study approaches, DNA markers associated with valuable traits significantly accelerate breeding processes by replacing the selection with a phenotype to the selection at the DNA or gene level. In this review, we discuss the evolution and genetic diversity of cotton Gossypium genus, molecular markers and their types, genetic mapping and QTL analysis, application, and perspectives of MAS-based approaches in cotton breeding.

Neofunctionalization of a polyploidization-activated cotton long intergenic non-coding RNA DAN1 during drought stress regulation

The genomic shock of whole-genome duplication (WGD) and hybridization introduces great variation into transcriptomes, for both coding and noncoding genes. An altered transcriptome provides a molecular basis for improving adaptation during the evolution of new species. The allotetraploid cotton, together with the putative diploid ancestor species compose a fine model for study the rapid gene neofunctionalization over the genome shock. Here we report on Drought-Associated Non-coding gene 1 (DAN1), a long intergenic noncoding RNA (lincRNA) that arose from the cotton progenitor A-diploid genome after hybridization and WGD events during cotton evolution. DAN1 in allotetraploid upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is a drought-responsive lincRNA predominantly expressed in the nucleoplasm. Chromatin isolation by RNA purification profiling and electrophoretic mobility shift assay analysis demonstrated that GhDAN1 RNA can bind with DNA fragments containing AAAG motifs, similar to DNA binding with one zinc finger transcription factor binding sequences. The suppression of GhDAN1 mainly regulates genes with AAAG motifs in auxin-response pathways, which are associated with drought stress regulation. As a result, GhDAN1-silenced plants exhibit improved tolerance to drought stress. This phenotype resembles the drought-tolerant phenotype of the A-diploid cotton ancestor species, which has an undetectable expression of DAN1. The role of DAN1 in cotton evolution and drought tolerance regulation suggests that the genomic shock of interspecific hybridization and WGD stimulated neofunctionalization of non-coding genes during the natural evolutionary process.

Trajectories of Homoeolog-Specific Expression in Allotetraploid Tragopogon castellanus Populations of Independent Origins

Polyploidization can have a significant ecological and evolutionary impact by providing substantially more genetic material that may result in novel phenotypes upon which selection may act. While the effects of polyploidization are broadly reviewed across the plant tree of life, the reproducibility of these effects within naturally occurring, independently formed polyploids is poorly characterized. The flowering plant genus Tragopogon (Asteraceae) offers a rare glimpse into the intricacies of repeated allopolyploid formation with both nascent (< 90 years old) and more ancient (mesopolyploids) formations. Neo- and mesopolyploids in Tragopogon have formed repeatedly and have extant diploid progenitors that facilitate the comparison of genome evolution after polyploidization across a broad span of evolutionary time. Here, we examine four independently formed lineages of the mesopolyploid Tragopogon castellanus for homoeolog expression changes and fractionation after polyploidization. We show that expression changes are remarkably similar among these independently formed polyploid populations with large convergence among expressed loci, moderate convergence among loci lost, and stochastic silencing. We further compare and contrast these results for T. castellanus with two nascent Tragopogon allopolyploids. While homoeolog expression bias was balanced in both nascent polyploids and T. castellanus, the degree of additive expression was significantly different, with the mesopolyploid populations demonstrating more non-additive expression. We suggest that gene dosage and expression noise minimization may play a prominent role in regulating gene expression patterns immediately after allopolyploidization as well as deeper into time, and these patterns are conserved across independent polyploid lineages.

Genome evolution during bread wheat formation unveiled by the distribution dynamics of SSR sequences on chromosomes using FISH

BACKGROUND

During the bread wheat speciation by polyploidization, a series of genome rearrangement and sequence recombination occurred. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) sequences, predominately located in heterochromatic regions of chromosomes, are the effective marker for tracing the genomic DNA sequence variations. However, to date the distribution dynamics of SSRs on chromosomes of bread wheat and its donors, including diploid and tetraploid Triticum urartu, Aegilops speltoides, Aegilops tauschii, Triticum turgidum ssp. dicocoides, reflecting the genome evolution events during bread wheat formation had not been comprehensively investigated.

RESULTS

The genome evolution was studied by comprehensively comparing the distribution patterns of (AAC)_n, (AAG)_n, (AGC)_n and (AG)_n in bread wheat Triticum aestivum var. Chinese Spring and its progenitors T. urartu, A. speltoides, Ae. tauschii, wild tetroploid emmer wheat T. dicocoides, and cultivated emmer wheat T. dicoccum. Results indicated that there are specific distribution patterns in different chromosomes from different species for each SSRs. They provided efficient visible markers for identification of some individual chromosomes and SSR sequence evolution tracing from the diploid progenitors to hexaploid wheat. During wheat speciation, the SSR sequence expansion occurred predominately in the centromeric and pericentromeric regions of B genome chromosomes accompanied by little expansion and elimination on other chromosomes. This result indicated that the B genome might be more sensitive to the "genome shock" and more changeable during wheat polyplodization.

CONCLUSIONS

During the bread wheat evolution, SSRs including (AAC)_n, (AAG)_n, (AGC)_n and (AG)_n in B genome displayed the greatest changes (sequence expansion) especially in centromeric and pericentromeric regions during the polyploidization from Ae. speltoides S genome, the most likely donor of B genome. This work would enable a better understanding of the wheat genome formation and evolution and reinforce the viewpoint that B genome was originated from S genome.

Gradual evolution of allopolyploidy in Arabidopsis suecica

Most diploid organisms have polyploid ancestors. The evolutionary process of polyploidization is poorly understood but has frequently been conjectured to involve some form of 'genome shock', such as genome reorganization and subgenome expression dominance. Here we study polyploidization in Arabidopsis suecica, a post-glacial allopolyploid species formed via hybridization of Arabidopsis thaliana and Arabidopsis arenosa. We generated a chromosome-level genome assembly of A. suecica and complemented it with polymorphism and transcriptome data from all species. Despite a divergence around 6 million years ago (Ma) between the ancestral species and differences in their genome composition, we see no evidence of a genome shock: the A. suecica genome is colinear with the ancestral genomes; there is no subgenome dominance in expression; and transposon dynamics appear stable. However, we find changes suggesting gradual adaptation to polyploidy. In particular, the A. thaliana subgenome shows upregulation of meiosis-related genes, possibly to prevent aneuploidy and undesirable homeologous exchanges that are observed in synthetic A. suecica, and the A. arenosa subgenome shows upregulation of cyto-nuclear processes, possibly in response to the new cytoplasmic environment of A. suecica, with plastids maternally inherited from A. thaliana. These changes are not seen in synthetic hybrids, and thus are likely to represent subsequent evolution.

Genomics of Evolutionary Novelty in Hybrids and Polyploids

It has long been recognized that hybridization and polyploidy are prominent processes in plant evolution. Although classically recognized as significant in speciation and adaptation, recognition of the importance of interspecific gene flow has dramatically increased during the genomics era, concomitant with an unending flood of empirical examples, with or without genome doubling. Interspecific gene flow is thus increasingly thought to lead to evolutionary innovation and diversification, via adaptive introgression, homoploid hybrid speciation and allopolyploid speciation. Less well understood, however, are the suite of genetic and genomic mechanisms set in motion by the merger of differentiated genomes, and the temporal scale over which recombinational complexity mediated by gene flow might be expressed and exposed to natural selection. We focus on these issues here, considering the types of molecular genetic and genomic processes that might be set in motion by the saltational event of genome merger between two diverged species, either with or without genome doubling, and how these various processes can contribute to novel phenotypes. Genetic mechanisms include the infusion of new alleles and the genesis of novel structural variation including translocations and inversions, homoeologous exchanges, transposable element mobilization and novel insertional effects, presence-absence variation and copy number variation. Polyploidy generates massive transcriptomic and regulatory alteration, presumably set in motion by disrupted stoichiometries of regulatory factors, small RNAs and other genome interactions that cascade from single-gene expression change up through entire networks of transformed regulatory modules. We highlight both these novel combinatorial possibilities and the range of temporal scales over which such complexity might be generated, and thus exposed to natural selection and drift.

Chasing the Apomictic Factors in the Ranunculus auricomus Complex: Exploring Gene Expression Patterns in Microdissected Sexual and Apomictic Ovules

Apomixis, the asexual reproduction via seeds, is associated to polyploidy and hybridization. To identify possible signatures of apomixis, and possible candidate genes underlying the shift from sex to apomixis, microarray-based gene expression patterns of live microdissected ovules at four different developmental stages were compared between apomictic and sexual individuals of the Ranunculus auricomus complex. Following predictions from previous work on mechanisms underlying apomixis penetrance and expressivity in the genus, gene expression patterns were classified into three categories based on their relative expression in apomicts compared to their sexual parental ancestors. We found evidence of misregulation and differential gene expression between apomicts and sexuals, with the highest number of differences detected during meiosis progression and emergence of aposporous initial (AI) cells, a key developmental stage in the ovule of apomicts where a decision between divergent reproductive pathways takes place. While most of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) could not be annotated, gene expression was classified into transgressive, parent of origin and ploidy effects. Genes related to gametogenesis and meiosis demonstrated patterns reflective of transgressive and genome dosage effects, which support the hypothesis of a dominant factor controlling apomixis in Ranunculus and modulated by secondary modifiers. Three genes with probable functions in sporogenesis and gametogenesis development are identified and characterized for future studies.

Polyploidization-driven differentiation of freezing tolerance in Solidago canadensis

Solidago canadensis, originating from the temperate region of North America, has expanded southward to subtropical regions through polyploidization. Here we investigated whether freezing tolerance of S. canadensis was weakened during expansion. Measurement of the temperature causing 50% ruptured cells (LT₅₀ ) in 35 S. canadensis populations revealed ploidy-related differentiation in freezing tolerance. Freezing tolerance was found to decrease with increasing ploidy. The polyploid populations of S. canadensis had lower ScICE1 gene expression levels but more ScICE1 gene copies than the diploids. Furthermore, more DNA methylation sites in the ScICE1 gene promoter were detected in the polyploids than in the diploids. The results suggest that promoter methylation represses the expression of multi-copy ScICE1 genes, leading to weaker freezing tolerance in polyploid S. canadensis compared to the diploids. The study provides empirical evidence that DNA methylation regulates expression of the gene copies and supports polyploidization-driven adaptation to new environments.

Homeologous regulation of Frigida-like genes provides insights on reproductive development and somatic embryogenesis in the allotetraploid Coffea arabica

Coffea arabica is an allotetraploid of high economic importance. C. arabica transcriptome is a combination of the transcripts of two parental genomes (C. eugenioides and C. canephora) that gave rise to the homeologous genes of the species. Previous studies have reported the transcriptional dynamics of C. arabica. In these reports, the ancestry of homeologous genes was identified and the overall regulation of homeologous differential expression (HDE) was explored. One of these genes is part of the FRIGIDA-like family (FRL), which includes the Arabidopsis thaliana flowering-time regulation protein, FRIGIDA (FRI). As nonfunctional FRI proteins give rise to rapid-cycling summer annual ecotypes instead of vernalization-responsive winter-annuals, allelic variation in FRI can modulate flowering time in A. thaliana. Using bioinformatics, genomic analysis, and the evaluation of gene expression of homeologs, we characterized the FRL gene family in C. arabica. Our findings indicate that C. arabica expresses 10 FRL homeologs, and that, throughout flower and fruit development, these genes are differentially transcribed. Strikingly, in addition to confirming the expression of FRL genes during zygotic embryogenesis, we detected FRL expression during direct somatic embryogenesis, a novel finding regarding the FRL gene family. The HDE profile of FRL genes suggests an intertwined homeologous gene regulation. Furthermore, we observed that FLC gene of C. arabica has an expression profile similar to that of CaFRL genes.

Evolutionary Conservation and Divergence of Genes Encoding 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl Coenzyme A Synthase in the Allotetraploid Cotton Species Gossypium hirsutum

Polyploidization is important for the speciation and subsequent evolution of many plant species. Analyses of the duplicated genes produced via polyploidization events may clarify the origin and evolution of gene families. During terpene biosynthesis, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A synthase (HMGS) functions as a key enzyme in the mevalonate pathway. In this study, we first identified a total of 53 HMGS genes in 23 land plant species, while no HMGS genes were detected in three green algae species. The phylogenetic analysis suggested that plant HMGS genes may have originated from a common ancestral gene before clustering in different branches during the divergence of plant lineages. Then, we detected six HMGS genes in the allotetraploid cotton species (Gossypium hirsutum), which was twice that of the two diploid cotton species (Gossypium raimondii and Gossypium arboreum). The comparison of gene structures and phylogenetic analysis of HMGS genes revealed conserved evolution during polyploidization in Gossypium. Moreover, the expression patterns indicated that six GhHMGS genes were expressed in all tested tissues, with most genes considerably expressed in the roots, and they were responsive to various phytohormone treatments and abiotic stresses. The sequence and expression divergence of duplicated genes in G. hirsutum implied the sub-functionalization of GhHMGS1A and GhHMGS1D as well as GhHMGS3A and GhHMGS3D, whereas it implied the pseudogenization of GhHMGS2A and GhHMGS2D. Collectively, our study unraveled the evolutionary history of HMGS genes in green plants and from diploid to allotetraploid in cotton and illustrated the different evolutionary fates of duplicated HMGS genes resulting from polyploidization.

Rapid Genomic and Genetic Changes in the First Generation of Autotetraploid Lineages Derived from Distant Hybridization of Carassius auratus Red Var. (♀) × Megalobrama amblycephala (♂)

Autopolyploids are traditionally used to demonstrate multivalent pairing and unstable inheritance. However, the autotetraploid fish (4nRR) (RRRR, 4n = 200) derived from the distant hybridization of Carassius auratus red var. (RCC) (RR, 2n = 100) (♀) × Megalobrama amblycephala (BSB) (BB, 2n = 48) (♂) exhibits chromosome number (or ploidy) stability over consecutive generations (F₁-F₁₀). Comparative analysis based on somatic and gametic chromosomal loci [centromeric, 5S rDNA, and Ag-NORs (silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions)] revealed that a substantial loss of chromosomal loci during genome doubling increases the divergence between homologous chromosomes and that diploid-like chromosome pairing was restored during meiosis in the first generation of 4nRR lineages. In addition, a comparative analysis of genomes and transcriptomes from 4nRR (F₁) and its diploid progenitor (RCC) exhibited significant genomic structure and gene expression changes. From these data, we suggest that genomes and genes diverge and that expression patterns change in the first generations following autotetraploidization, which are processes that might contribute to the stable inheritance and successful establishment of autotetraploid lineages.

Allele-specific expression variation at different ploidy levels in Squalius alburnoides

Allopolyploid plants are long known to be subject to a homoeolog expression bias of varying degree. The same phenomenon was only much later suspected to occur also in animals based on studies of single selected genes in an allopolyploid vertebrate, the Iberian fish Squalius alburnoides. Consequently, this species became a good model for understanding the evolution of gene expression regulation in polyploid vertebrates. Here, we analyzed for the first time genome-wide allele-specific expression data from diploid and triploid hybrids of S. alburnoides and compared homoeolog expression profiles of adult livers and of juveniles. Co-expression of alleles from both parental genomic types was observed for the majority of genes, but with marked homoeolog expression bias, suggesting homoeolog specific reshaping of expression level patterns in hybrids. Complete silencing of one allele was also observed irrespective of ploidy level, but not transcriptome wide as previously speculated. Instead, it was found only in a restricted number of genes, particularly ones with functions related to mitochondria and ribosomes. This leads us to hypothesize that allelic silencing may be a way to overcome intergenomic gene expression interaction conflicts, and that homoeolog expression bias may be an important mechanism in the achievement of sustainable genomic interactions, mandatory to the success of allopolyploid systems, as in S. alburnoides.

The Gene Structure and Expression Level Changes of the GH3 Gene Family in Brassica napus Relative to Its Diploid Ancestors

The GH3 gene family plays a vital role in the phytohormone-related growth and developmental processes. The effects of allopolyploidization on GH3 gene structures and expression levels have not been reported. In this study, a total of 38, 25, and 66 GH3 genes were identified in Brassica rapa (A_rA_r), Brassica oleracea (C_oC_o), and Brassica napus (A_nAC_nC_n), respectively. BnaGH3 genes were unevenly distributed on chromosomes with 39 on A_n and 27 on C_n, in which six BnaGH3 genes may appear as new genes. The whole genome triplication allowed the GH3 gene family to expand in diploid ancestors, and allopolyploidization made the GH3 gene family re-expand in B. napus. For most BnaGH3 genes, the exon-intron compositions were similar to diploid ancestors, while the cis-element distributions were obviously different from its ancestors. After allopolyploidization, the expression patterns of GH3 genes from ancestor species changed greatly in B. napus, and the orthologous gene pairs between A_n/A_r and C_n/C_o had diverged expression patterns across four tissues. Our study provides a comprehensive analysis of the GH3 gene family in B. napus, and these results could contribute to identifying genes with vital roles in phytohormone-related growth and developmental processes.

Different divergence events for three pairs of PEBPs in Gossypium as implied by evolutionary analysis

INTRODUCTION

The phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein (PEBP) gene family plays a crucial role in seed germination, reproductive transformation, and other important developmental processes in plants, but its distribution in Gossypium genomes or species, evolutionary properties, and the fates of multiple duplicated genes remain unclear.

OBJECTIVES

The primary objectives of this study were to elucidate the distribution and characteristics of PEBP genes in Gossypium, as well as the evolutionary pattern of duplication and deletion, and functional differentiation of PEBPs in plants.

METHODS

Using the PEBP protein sequences in Arabidopsis thaliana as queries, blast alignment was carried out for the identification of PEBP genes in four sequenced cotton species. Using the primers designed according to the PEBP genome sequences, PEBP genes were cloned from 15 representative genomes of Gossypium genus, and the gene structure, CDS sequence, protein sequence and properties were predicted and phylogenetic analysis was performed. Taking PEBP proteins of grape as reference, grouping of orthologous gene, analysis of phylogeny and divergence of PEBPs in nine species were conducted to reconstruct the evolutionary pattern of PEBP genes in plants.

RESULTS

We identified and cloned 160 PEBPs from 15 cotton species, and the phylogenetic analysis showed that the genes could be classified into the following three subfamilies: MFT-like, FT-like and TFL1-like. There were eight single orthologous group (OG) members in each diploid and 16 double OG members in each tetraploid. An analysis of the expression and selective pressure indicated that expression divergence and strong purification selection within the same OG presented in the PEBP gene family.

CONCLUSION

An evolutionary pattern of duplication and deletion of the PEBP family in the evolutionary history of Gossypium was suggested, and three pairs of genes resulted from different whole-genome duplication events.

Ovule Gene Expression Analysis in Sexual and Aposporous Apomictic Hypericum perforatum L. (Hypericaceae) Accessions

Hypericum perforatum L. (2n = 4x = 32) is an attractive model system for the study of aposporous apomixis. The earliest phenotypic features of aposporous apomixis in this species are the mitotic formation of unreduced embryo sacs from a somatic cell of the ovule nucellus and the avoidance of meiosis. In this research we addressed gene expression variation in sexual and apomictic plants, by focusing on the ovule nucellus, which is the cellular domain primarily involved into the differentiation of meiocyte precursors and aposporous embryo sacs, at a pre-meiotic developmental stage. Gene expression analyses performed by RNAseq identified 396 differentially expressed genes and 1834 transcripts displaying phenotype-specific expression. Furthermore, the sequencing and assembly of the genome from a diploid sexual accession allowed the annotation of a 50 kb sequence portion located upstream the HAPPY locus and to address the extent to which single transcripts were assembled in multiple variants and their co-expression levels. About one third of identified DEGs and phenotype-specific transcripts were associated to transcript variants with alternative expression patterns. Additionally, considering DEGs and phenotype-specific transcript, the co-expression level was estimated in about two transcripts per locus. Our gene expression study shows massive differences in the expression of several genes encoding for transposable elements. Transcriptional differences in the ovule nucellus and pistil terminal developmental stages were also found for subset of genes encoding for potentially interacting proteins involved in pre-mRNA splicing. Furthermore, the sexual and aposporous ovule transcriptomes were characterized by differential expression in genes operating in RNA silencing, RNA-mediated DNA methylation (RdDM) and histone and chromatin modifications. These findings are consistent with a role of these processes in regulating cell fate determination in the ovule, as indicated by forward genetic studies in sexual model species. The association between aposporous apomixis, pre-mRNA splicing and DNA methylation mediated by sRNAs, which is supported by expression data and by the enrichment in GO terms related to these processes, is consistent with the massive differential expression of multiple transposon-related sequences observed in ovules collected from both sexual and aposporous apomictic accessions. Overall, our data suggest that phenotypic expression of aposporous apomixis is concomitant with the modulation of key genes involved in the two interconnected processes: RNA splicing and RNA-directed DNA methylation.

Rapid and pervasive development- and tissue-specific homeolog expression partitioning in newly formed inter-subspecific rice segmental allotetraploids

Background

In diverse plant taxa, whole-genome duplication (WGD) events are major sources of phenotypic novelty. Studies of gene expression in synthetic polyploids have shown immediate expression and functional partitioning of duplicated genes among different tissues. Many studies of the tissue-specific homeolog expression partitioning have focused on allopolyploids that have very different parental genomes, while few studies have focused on autopolyploids or allopolyploids that have similar parental genomes.

Results

In this study, we used a set of reciprocal F1 hybrids and synthetic tetraploids constructed from subspecies (japonica and indica) of Asian rice (Oryza sativa L.) as a model to gain insights into the expression partitioning of homeologs among tissues in a developmental context. We assayed the tissue-specific silencing (TSS) of the parental homeologs of 30 key genes in the hybrids and tetraploids relative to the in vitro “hybrids” (parental mixes) using Sequenom MassARRAY. We found that the parental mix and synthetic tetraploids had higher frequencies of homeolog TSS than the F1, revealing an instantaneous role of WGD on homeolog expression partitioning.

Conclusions

Our observations contradicted those of previous studies in which newly formed allopolyploids had a low TSS frequency, similar to that of F1 hybrids, suggesting that the impact of WGD on homeolog expression requires a longer time to manifest. In addition, we found that the TSS frequency in the tetraploids varied at different growth stages and that roots had a much higher frequency of TSS than leaves, which indicated that developmental and metabolic traits may influence the expression states of duplicated genes in newly formed plant polyploids.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-018-5150-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A Robust Methodology for Assessing Differential Homeolog Contributions to the Transcriptomes of Allopolyploids

Polyploidy has played a pivotal and recurring role in angiosperm evolution. Allotetraploids arise from hybridization between species and possess duplicated gene copies (homeologs) that serve redundant roles immediately after polyploidization. Although polyploidization is a major contributor to plant evolution, it remains poorly understood. We describe an analytical approach for assessing homeolog-specific expression that begins with de novo assembly of parental transcriptomes and effectively (i) reduces redundancy in de novo assemblies, (ii) identifies putative orthologs, (iii) isolates common regions between orthologs, and (iv) assesses homeolog-specific expression using a robust Bayesian Poisson-Gamma model to account for sequence bias when mapping polyploid reads back to parental references. Using this novel methodology, we examine differential homeolog contributions to the transcriptome in the recently formed allopolyploids Tragopogon mirus and T. miscellus (Compositae). Notably, we assess a larger Tragopogon gene set than previous studies of this system. Using carefully identified orthologous regions and filtering biased orthologs, we find in both allopolyploids largely balanced expression with no strong parental bias. These new methods can be used to examine homeolog expression in any tetrapolyploid system without requiring a reference genome.

Evolution of the Largest Mammalian Genome

The genome of the red vizcacha rat (Rodentia, Octodontidae, Tympanoctomys barrerae) is the largest of all mammals, and about double the size of their close relative, the mountain vizcacha rat Octomys mimax, even though the lineages that gave rise to these species diverged from each other only about 5 Ma. The mechanism for this rapid genome expansion is controversial, and hypothesized to be a consequence of whole genome duplication or accumulation of repetitive elements. To test these alternative but nonexclusive hypotheses, we gathered and evaluated evidence from whole transcriptome and whole genome sequences of T. barrerae and O. mimax. We recovered support for genome expansion due to accumulation of a diverse assemblage of repetitive elements, which represent about one half and one fifth of the genomes of T. barrerae and O. mimax, respectively, but we found no strong signal of whole genome duplication. In both species, repetitive sequences were rare in transcribed regions as compared with the rest of the genome, and mostly had no close match to annotated repetitive sequences from other rodents. These findings raise new questions about the genomic dynamics of these repetitive elements, their connection to widespread chromosomal fissions that occurred in the T. barrerae ancestor, and their fitness effects—including during the evolution of hypersaline dietary tolerance in T. barrerae.

Genetic changes in a novel breeding population of Brassica napus synthesized from hundreds of crosses between B. rapa and B. carinata

Introgression of genomic variation between and within related crop species is a significant evolutionary approach for population differentiation, genome reorganization and trait improvement. Using the Illumina Infinium Brassica 60K SNP array, we investigated genomic changes in a panel of advanced generation new-type Brassica napus breeding lines developed from hundreds of interspecific crosses between 122 Brassica rapa and 74 Brassica carinata accessions, and compared them with representative accessions of their three parental species. The new-type B. napus population presented rich genetic diversity and abundant novel genomic alterations, consisting of introgressions from B. rapa and B. carinata, novel allelic combinations, reconstructed linkage disequilibrium patterns and haplotype blocks, and frequent deletions and duplications (nonrandomly distributed), particularly in the C subgenome. After a much shorter, but very intensive, selection history compared to traditional B. napus, a total of 15 genomic regions with strong selective sweeps and 112 genomic regions with putative signals of selective sweeps were identified. Some of these regions were associated with important agronomic traits that were selected for during the breeding process, while others were potentially associated with restoration of genome stability and fertility after interspecific hybridization. Our results demonstrate how a novel method for population-based crop genetic improvement can lead to rapid adaptation, restoration of genome stability and positive responses to artificial selection.

Genomic and transcriptomic alterations following intergeneric hybridization and polyploidization in the Chrysanthemum nankingense×Tanacetum vulgare hybrid and allopolyploid (Asteraceae)

Allopolyploid formation involves two major events: interspecific hybridization and polyploidization. A number of species in the Asteraceae family are polyploids because of frequent hybridization. The effects of hybridization on genomics and transcriptomics in Chrysanthemum nankingense×Tanacetum vulgare hybrids have been reported. In this study, we obtained allopolyploids by applying a colchicine treatment to a synthesized C. nankingense×T. vulgare hybrid. Sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP), methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism (MSAP), and high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) technologies were used to investigate the genomic, epigenetic, and transcriptomic alterations in both the hybrid and allopolyploids. The genomic alterations in the hybrid and allopolyploids mainly involved the loss of parental fragments and the gain of novel fragments. The DNA methylation level of the hybrid was reduced by hybridization but was restored somewhat after polyploidization. There were more significant differences in gene expression between the hybrid/allopolyploid and the paternal parent than between the hybrid/allopolyploid and the maternal parent. Most differentially expressed genes (DEGs) showed down-regulation in the hybrid/allopolyploid relative to the parents. Among the non-additive genes, transgressive patterns appeared to be dominant, especially repression patterns. Maternal expression dominance was observed specifically for down-regulated genes. Many methylase and methyltransferase genes showed differential expression between the hybrid and parents and between the allopolyploid and parents. Our data indicate that hybridization may be a major factor affecting genomic and transcriptomic changes in newly formed allopolyploids. The formation of allopolyploids may not simply be the sum of hybridization and polyploidization changes but also may be influenced by the interaction between these processes.

Genome-wide identification and expression analyses of the homeobox transcription factor family during ovule development in seedless and seeded grapes

Seedless grapes are of considerable importance for the raisin and table grape industries. Previous transcriptome analyses of seed development in grape revealed that genes encoding homeobox transcription factors were differentially regulated in seedless compared with seeded grape during seed development. In the present study, we identified a total of 73 homeobox-like genes in the grapevine genome and analyzed the genomic content and expression profiles of these genes. Based on domain architecture and phylogenetic analyses grape homeobox genes can be classified into eleven subfamilies. An analysis of the exon-intron structures and conserved motifs provided further insight into the evolutionary relationships between these genes. Evaluation of synteny indicated that segmental and tandem duplications have contributed greatly to the expansion of the grape homeobox gene superfamily. Synteny analysis between the grape and Arabidopsis genomes provided a potential functional relevance for these genes. The tissue-specific expression patterns of homeobox genes suggested roles in both vegetative and reproductive tissues. Expression profiling of these genes during the course of ovule development in seeded and seedless cultivars suggested a potential role in ovule abortion associated with seedlessness. This study will facilitate the functional analysis of these genes and provide new resources for molecular breeding of seedless grapes.

Polyploidy: Pitfalls and paths to a paradigm

Investigators have long searched for a polyploidy paradigm-rules or principles that might be common following polyploidization (whole-genome duplication, WGD). Here we attempt to integrate what is known across the more thoroughly investigated polyploid systems on topics ranging from genetics to ecology. We found that while certain rules may govern gene retention and loss, systems vary in the prevalence of gene silencing vs. homeolog loss, chromosomal change, the presence of a dominant genome (in allopolyploids), and the relative importance of hybridization vs. genome doubling per se. In some lineages, aspects of polyploidization are repeated across multiple origins, but in other species multiple origins behave more stochastically in terms of genetic and phenotypic change. Our investigation also reveals that the path to synthesis is hindered by numerous gaps in our knowledge of even the best-known systems. Particularly concerning is the absence of linkage between genotype and phenotype. Moreover, most recent studies have focused on the genetic and genomic attributes of polyploidy, but rarely is there an ecological or physiological context. To promote a path to a polyploidy paradigm (or paradigms), we propose a major community goal over the next 10-20 yr to fill the gaps in our knowledge of well-studied polyploids. Before a meaningful synthesis is possible, more complete data sets are needed for comparison-systems that include comparable genetic, genomic, chromosomal, proteomic, as well as morphological, physiological, and ecological data. Also needed are more natural evolutionary model systems, as most of what we know about polyploidy continues to come from a few crop and genetic models, systems that often lack the ecological context inherent in natural systems and necessary for understanding the drivers of biodiversity.

Whole genome duplication in coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and its implications for explaining the rarity of polyploidy in conifers

Polyploidy is common and an important evolutionary factor in most land plant lineages, but it is rare in gymnosperms. Coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) is one of just two polyploid conifer species and the only hexaploid. Evidence from fossil guard cell size suggests that polyploidy in Sequoia dates to the Eocene. Numerous hypotheses about the mechanism of polyploidy and parental genome donors have been proposed, based primarily on morphological and cytological data, but it remains unclear how Sequoia became polyploid and why this lineage overcame an apparent gymnosperm barrier to whole-genome duplication (WGD). We sequenced transcriptomes and used phylogenetic inference, Bayesian concordance analysis and paralog age distributions to resolve relationships among gene copies in hexaploid coast redwood and close relatives. Our data show that hexaploidy in coast redwood is best explained by autopolyploidy or, if there was allopolyploidy, it happened within the Californian redwood clade. We found that duplicate genes have more similar sequences than expected, given the age of the inferred polyploidization. Conflict between molecular and fossil estimates of WGD can be explained if diploidization occurred very slowly following polyploidization. We extrapolate from this to suggest that the rarity of polyploidy in gymnosperms may be due to slow diploidization in this clade.

Polyploidy and the proteome

Although major advances have been made during the past 20 years in our understanding of the genetic and genomic consequences of polyploidy, our knowledge of polyploidy and the proteome is in its infancy. One of our goals is to stimulate additional study, particularly broad-scale proteomic analyses of polyploids and their progenitors. Although it may be too early to generalize regarding the extent to which transcriptomic data are predictive of the proteome of polyploids, it is clear that the proteome does not always reflect the transcriptome. Despite limited data, important observations on the proteomes of polyploids are emerging. In some cases, proteomic profiles show qualitatively and/or quantitatively non-additive patterns, and proteomic novelty has been observed. Allopolyploids generally combine the parental contributions, but there is evidence of parental dominance of one contributing genome in some allopolyploids. Autopolyploids are typically qualitatively identical to but quantitatively different from their parents. There is also evidence of parental legacy at the proteomic level. Proteomes clearly provide insights into the consequences of genomic merger and doubling beyond what is obtained from genomic and/or transcriptomic data. Translating proteomic changes in polyploids to differences in morphology and physiology remains the holy grail of polyploidy--this daunting task of linking genotype to proteome to phenotype should emerge as a focus of polyploidy research in the next decade. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Plant Proteomics--a bridge between fundamental processes and crop production, edited by Dr. Hans-Peter Mock.

RNA Interference for Functional Genomics and Improvement of Cotton (Gossypium sp.)

RNA interference (RNAi), is a powerful new technology in the discovery of genetic sequence functions, and has become a valuable tool for functional genomics of cotton (Gossypium sp.). The rapid adoption of RNAi has replaced previous antisense technology. RNAi has aided in the discovery of function and biological roles of many key cotton genes involved in fiber development, fertility and somatic embryogenesis, resistance to important biotic and abiotic stresses, and oil and seed quality improvements as well as the key agronomic traits including yield and maturity. Here, we have comparatively reviewed seminal research efforts in previously used antisense approaches and currently applied breakthrough RNAi studies in cotton, analyzing developed RNAi methodologies, achievements, limitations, and future needs in functional characterizations of cotton genes. We also highlighted needed efforts in the development of RNAi-based cotton cultivars, and their safety and risk assessment, small and large-scale field trials, and commercialization.

Sequence and gene expression evolution of paralogous genes in willows

Whole genome duplications (WGD) have had strong impacts on species diversification by triggering evolutionary novelties, however, relatively little is known about the balance between gene loss and forces involved in the retention of duplicated genes originating from a WGD. We analyzed putative Salicoid duplicates in willows, originating from the Salicoid WGD, which took place more than 45 Mya. Contigs were constructed by de novo assembly of RNA-seq data derived from leaves and roots from two genotypes. Among the 48,508 contigs, 3,778 pairs were, based on fourfold synonymous third-codon transversion rates and syntenic positions, predicted to be Salicoid duplicates. Both copies were in most cases expressed in both tissues and 74% were significantly differentially expressed. Mean Ka/Ks was 0.23, suggesting that the Salicoid duplicates are evolving by purifying selection. Gene Ontology enrichment analyses showed that functions related to DNA- and nucleic acid binding were over-represented among the non-differentially expressed Salicoid duplicates, while functions related to biosynthesis and metabolism were over-represented among the differentially expressed Salicoid duplicates. We propose that the differentially expressed Salicoid duplicates are regulatory neo- and/or subfunctionalized, while the non-differentially expressed are dose sensitive, hence, functionally conserved. Multiple evolutionary processes, thus drive the retention of Salicoid duplicates in willows.

Homoeologous copy-specific expression patterns of MADS-box genes for floral formation in allopolyploid wheat

The consensus model for floral organ formation in higher plants, the so-called ABCDE model, proposes that floral whorl-specific combinations of class A, B, C, D, and E genes specify floral organ identity. Class A, B, C, D and E genes encode MADS-box transcription factors; the single exception being the class A gene APETALA2. Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) is a hexaploid species with a genome constitution AABBDD; the hexaploid originated from a cross between tetraploid T. turgidum (AABB) and diploid Aegilops tauschii (DD). Tetraploid wheat is thought to have originated from a cross between the diploid species T. urartu (AA) and Ae. speltoides (BB). Consequently, the hexaploid wheat genome contains triplicated homoeologous copies (homoeologs) of each gene derived from the different ancestral diploid species. In this study, we examined the expression patterns of homoeologs of class B, C and D MADS-box genes during floral development. For the class B gene wheat PISTILLATA2 (WPI2), the homoeologs from the A and D genomes were expressed, while expression of the B genome homoeolog was suppressed. For the class C gene wheat AGAMOUS1 (WAG1), the homoeologs on the A and B genomes were expressed, while expression of the D genome homoeolog was suppressed. For the class D gene wheat SEEDSTICK (WSTK), the B genome homoeolog was preferentially expressed. These differential patterns of homoeolog expression were consistently observed among different hexaploid wheat varieties and synthetic hexaploid wheat lines developed by artificial crosses between tetraploid wheat and Ae. tauschii. These results suggest that homoeolog-specific regulation of the floral MADS-box genes occurs in allopolyploid wheat.

Nonadditive gene expression in polyploids

Allopolyploidy involves hybridization and duplication of divergent parental genomes and provides new avenues for gene expression. The expression levels of duplicated genes in polyploids can show deviation from parental additivity (the arithmetic average of the parental expression levels). Nonadditive expression has been widely observed in diverse polyploids and comprises at least three possible scenarios: (a) The total gene expression level in a polyploid is similar to that of one of its parents (expression-level dominance); (b) total gene expression is lower or higher than in both parents (transgressive expression); and (c) the relative contribution of the parental copies (homeologs) to the total gene expression is unequal (homeolog expression bias). Several factors may result in expression nonadditivity in polyploids, including maternal-paternal influence, gene dosage balance, cis- and/or trans-regulatory networks, and epigenetic regulation. As our understanding of nonadditive gene expression in polyploids remains limited, a new generation of investigators should explore additional phenomena (i.e., alternative splicing) and use other high-throughput "omics" technologies to measure the impact of nonadditive expression on phenotype, proteome, and metabolome.

The Basic/Helix-Loop-Helix Protein Family in Gossypium: Reference Genes and Their Evolution during Tetraploidization

Basic/helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins comprise one of the largest transcription factor families and play important roles in diverse cellular and molecular processes. Comprehensive analyses of the composition and evolution of the bHLH family in cotton are essential to elucidate their functions and the molecular basis of cotton development. By searching bHLH homologous genes in sequenced diploid cotton genomes (Gossypium raimondii and G. arboreum), a set of cotton bHLH reference genes containing 289 paralogs were identified and named as GobHLH001-289. Based on their phylogenetic relationships, these cotton bHLH proteins were clustered into 27 subfamilies. Compared to those in Arabidopsis and cacao, cotton bHLH proteins generally increased in number, but unevenly in different subfamilies. To further uncover evolutionary changes of bHLH genes during tetraploidization of cotton, all genes of S5a and S5b subfamilies in upland cotton and its diploid progenitors were cloned and compared, and their transcript profiles were determined in upland cotton. A total of 10 genes of S5a and S5b subfamilies (doubled from A- and D-genome progenitors) maintained in tetraploid cottons. The major sequence changes in upland cotton included a 15-bp in-frame deletion in GhbHLH130D and a long terminal repeat retrotransposon inserted in GhbHLH062A, which eliminated GhbHLH062A expression in various tissues. The S5a and S5b bHLH genes of A and D genomes (except GobHLH062) showed similar transcription patterns in various tissues including roots, stems, leaves, petals, ovules, and fibers, while the A- and D-genome genes of GobHLH110 and GobHLH130 displayed clearly different transcript profiles during fiber development. In total, this study represented a genome-wide analysis of cotton bHLH family, and revealed significant changes in sequence and expression of these genes in tetraploid cottons, which paved the way for further functional analyses of bHLH genes in the cotton genus.

Identification and characterization of rye genes not expressed in allohexaploid triticale

Background

One of the most important evolutionary processes in plants is polyploidization. The combination of two or more genomes in one organism often initially leads to changes in gene expression and extensive genomic reorganization, compared to the parental species. Hexaploid triticale (x Triticosecale) is a synthetic hybrid crop species generated by crosses between T. turgidum and Secale cereale. Because triticale is a recent synthetic polyploid it is an important model for studying genome evolution following polyploidization. Molecular studies have demonstrated that genomic sequence changes, consisting of sequence elimination or loss of expression of genes from the rye genome, are common in triticale. High-throughput DNA sequencing allows a large number of genes to be surveyed, and transcripts from the different homeologous copies of the genes that have high sequence similarity can be better distinguished than hybridization methods previously employed.

Results

The expression levels of 23,503 rye cDNA reference contigs were analyzed in 454-cDNA libraries obtained from anther, root and stem from both triticale and rye, as well as in five 454-cDNA data sets created from triticale seedling shoot, ovary, stigma, pollen and seed tissues to identify the classes of rye genes silenced or absent in the recent synthetic hexaploid triticale. Comparisons between diploid rye and hexaploid triticale detected 112 rye cDNA contigs (~0.5%) that were totally undetected by expression analysis in all triticale tissues, although their expression was relatively high in rye tissues. Non-expressed rye genes were found to be strikingly less similar to their closest BLASTN matches in the wheat genome or in the other Triticum genomes than a test set of 200 random rye genes. Genes that were not detected in the RNA-seq data were further characterized by testing for their presence in the triticale genome by PCR using genomic DNA as a template.

Conclusion

Genes with low similarity between rye sequences and their closest matches in the Triticum genome have a higher probability to be repressed or absent in the allopolyploid genome.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-1480-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Transcriptomic analysis reveals differential gene expressions for cell growth and functional secondary metabolites in induced autotetraploid of Chinese woad (Isatis indigotica Fort.)

The giant organs and enhanced concentrations of secondary metabolites realized by autopolyploidy are attractive for breeding the respective medicinal and agricultural plants and studying the genetic mechanisms. The traditional medicinal plant Chinese woad (Isatis indigotica Fort., 2n = 2x = 14) is now still largely used for the diseases caused by bacteria and viruses in China. In this study, its autopolyploids (3x, 4x) were produced and characterized together with the 2x donor for their phenotype and transcriptomic alterations by using high-throughput RNA sequencing. With the increase of genome dosage, the giantism in cells and organs was obvious and the photosynthetic rate was higher. The 4x plants showed predominantly the normal meiotic chromosome pairing (bivalents and quadrivalents) and equal segregation and then produced the majority of 4x progeny. The total 70136 All-unigenes were de novo assembled, and 56,482 (80.53%) unigenes were annotated based on BLASTx searches of the public databases. From pair-wise comparisons between transcriptomic data of 2x, 3x, 4x plants, 1856 (2.65%)(2x vs 4x), 693(0.98%)(2x vs 3x), 1045(1.48%)(3x vs 4x) unigenes were detected to differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including both up- and down-regulated ones. These DEGs were mainly involved in cell growth (synthesis of expansin and pectin), cell wall organization, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, response to stress and photosynthetic pathways. The up-regulation of some DEGs for metabolic pathways of functional compounds in the induced autotetraploids substantiates the promising new type of this medicinal plant with the increased biomass and targeted metabolites.

Molecular evolution and transcriptional regulation of the oilseed rape proline dehydrogenase genes suggest distinct roles of proline catabolism during development

Six BnaProDH1 and two BnaProDH2 genes were identified in Brassica napus genome. The BnaProDH1 genes are mainly expressed in pollen and roots' organs while BnaProDH2 gene expression is associated with leaf vascular tissues at senescence. Proline dehydrogenase (ProDH) catalyzes the first step in the catabolism of proline. The ProDH gene family in oilseed rape (Brassica napus) was characterized and compared to other Brassicaceae ProDH sequences to establish the phylogenetic relationships between genes. Six BnaProDH1 genes and two BnaProDH2 genes were identified in the B. napus genome. Expression of the three paralogous pairs of BnaProDH1 genes and the two homoeologous BnaProDH2 genes was measured by real-time quantitative RT-PCR in plants at vegetative and reproductive stages. The BnaProDH2 genes are specifically expressed in vasculature in an age-dependent manner, while BnaProDH1 genes are strongly expressed in pollen grains and roots. Compared to the abundant expression of BnaProDH1, the overall expression of BnaProDH2 is low except in roots and senescent leaves. The BnaProDH1 paralogs showed different levels of expression with BnaA&C.ProDH1.a the most strongly expressed and BnaA&C.ProDH1.c the least. The promoters of two BnaProDH1 and two BnaProDH2 genes were fused with uidA reporter gene (GUS) to characterize organ and tissue expression profiles in transformed B. napus plants. The transformants with promoters from different genes showed contrasting patterns of GUS activity, which corresponded to the spatial expression of their respective transcripts. ProDHs probably have non-redundant functions in different organs and at different phenological stages. In terms of molecular evolution, all BnaProDH sequences appear to have undergone strong purifying selection and some copies are becoming subfunctionalized. This detailed description of oilseed rape ProDH genes provides new elements to investigate the function of proline metabolism in plant development.

Persistence of subgenomes in paleopolyploid cotton after 60 my of evolution

The importance of whole-genome multiplication (WGM) in plant evolution has long been recognized. In flowering plants, WGM is both ubiquitous and in many lineages cyclical, each round followed by substantial gene loss (fractionation). This process may be biased with respect to duplicated chromosomes, often with overexpression of genes in less fractionated relative to more fractionated regions. This bias is hypothesized to arise through downregulation of gene expression through silencing of local transposable elements (TEs). We assess differences in gene expression between duplicated regions of the paleopolyploid cotton genome and demonstrate that the rate of fractionation is negatively correlated with gene expression. We examine recent hypotheses regarding the source of fractionation bias and show that TE-mediated, positional downregulation is absent in the modern cotton genome, seemingly excluding this phenomenon as the primary driver of biased gene loss. Nevertheless, the paleo subgenomes of diploid cotton are still distinguishable with respect to TE content, targeting of 24-nt-small interfering RNAs and GC content, despite approximately 60 My of evolution. We propose that repeat content per se and differential recombination rates may drive biased fractionation following WGM. These data highlight the likely importance of ancient genomic fractionation biases in shaping modern crop genomes.

CenH3 evolution in diploids and polyploids of three angiosperm genera

BACKGROUND

Centromeric DNA sequences alone are neither necessary nor sufficient for centromere specification. The centromere specific histone, CenH3, evolves rapidly in many species, perhaps as a coevolutionary response to rapidly evolving centromeric DNA. To gain insight into CenH3 evolution, we characterized patterns of nucleotide and protein diversity among diploids and allopolyploids within three diverse angiosperm genera, Brassica, Oryza, and Gossypium (cotton), with a focus on evidence for diversifying selection in the various domains of the CenH3 gene. In addition, we compare expression profiles and alternative splicing patterns for CenH3 in representatives of each genus.

RESULTS

All three genera retain both duplicated CenH3 copies, while Brassica and Gossypium exhibit pronounced homoeologous expression level bias. Comparisons among genera reveal shared and unique aspects of CenH3 evolution, variable levels of diversifying selection in different CenH3 domains, and that alternative splicing contributes significantly to CenH3 diversity.

CONCLUSIONS

Since the N terminus is subject to diversifying selection but the DNA binding domains do not appear to be, rapidly evolving centromere sequences are unlikely to be the primary driver of CenH3 sequence diversification. At present, the functional explanation for the diversity generated by both conventional protein evolution in the N terminal domain, as well as alternative splicing, remains unexplained.

A neutrality test for detecting selection on DNA methylation using single methylation polymorphism frequency spectrum

Inheritable epigenetic mutations (epimutations) can contribute to transmittable phenotypic variation. Thus, epimutations can be subject to natural selection and impact the fitness and evolution of organisms. Based on the framework of the modified Tajima’s D test for DNA mutations, we developed a neutrality test with the statistic “D^m” to detect selection forces on DNA methylation mutations using single methylation polymorphisms. With computer simulation and empirical data analysis, we compared the D^m test with the original and modified Tajima’s D tests and demonstrated that the D^m test is suitable for detecting selection on epimutations and outperforms original/modified Tajima’s D tests. Due to the higher resetting rate of epimutations, the interpretation of D^m on epimutations and Tajima’s D test on DNA mutations could be different in inferring natural selection. Analyses using simulated and empirical genome-wide polymorphism data suggested that genes under genetic and epigenetic selections behaved differently. We applied the D^m test to recently originated Arabidopsis and human genes, and showed that newly evolved genes contain higher level of rare epialleles, suggesting that epimutation may play a role in origination and evolution of genes and genomes. Overall, we demonstrate the utility of the D^m test to detect whether the loci are under selection regarding DNA methylation. Our analytical metrics and methodology could contribute to our understanding of evolutionary processes of genes and genomes in the field of epigenetics. The Perl script for the “D^m” test is available at http://fanlab.wayne.edu/ (last accessed December 18, 2014).

Deciphering the molecular bases for drought tolerance in Arabidopsis autotetraploids

Whole genome duplication (autopolyploidy) is common in many plant species and often leads to better adaptation to adverse environmental conditions. However, little is known about the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying these adaptations. Drought is one of the major environmental conditions limiting plant growth and development. Here, we report that, in Arabidopsis thaliana, tetraploidy promotes alterations in cell proliferation and organ size in a tissue-dependent manner. Furthermore, it potentiates plant tolerance to salt and drought stresses and decreases transpiration rate, likely through controlling stomata density and closure, abscisic acid (ABA) signalling and reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis. Our transcriptomic analyses revealed that tetraploidy mainly regulates the expression of genes involved in redox homeostasis and ABA and stress response. Taken together, our data have shed light on the molecular basis associated with stress tolerance in autopolyploid plants.

Doubling down on genomes: polyploidy and crop plants

Polyploidy, or whole genome multiplication, is ubiquitous among angiosperms. Many crop species are relatively recent allopolyploids, resulting from interspecific hybridization and polyploidy. Thus, an appreciation of the evolutionary consequences of (allo)polyploidy is central to our understanding of crop plant domestication, agricultural improvement, and the evolution of angiosperms in general. Indeed, many recent insights into plant biology have been gleaned from polyploid crops, including, but not limited to wheat, tobacco, sugarcane, apple, and cotton. A multitude of evolutionary processes affect polyploid genomes, including rapid and substantial genome reorganization, transgressive gene expression alterations, gene fractionation, gene conversion, genome downsizing, and sub- and neofunctionalization of duplicate genes. Often these genomic changes are accompanied by heterosis, robustness, and the improvement of crop yield, relative to closely related diploids. Historically, however, the genome-wide analysis of polyploid crops has lagged behind those of diploid crops and other model organisms. This lag is partly due to the difficulties in genome assembly, resulting from the genomic complexities induced by combining two or more evolutionarily diverged genomes into a single nucleus and by the significant size of polyploid genomes. In this review, we explore the role of polyploidy in angiosperm evolution, the domestication process and crop improvement. We focus on the potential of modern technologies, particularly next-generation sequencing, to inform us on the patterns and processes governing polyploid crop improvement and phenotypic change subsequent to domestication.

Polyploidy and novelty: Gottlieb's legacy

Nearly four decades ago, Roose & Gottlieb (Roose & Gottlieb 1976 Evolution 30, 818-830. (doi:10.2307/2407821)) showed that the recently derived allotetraploids Tragopogon mirus and T. miscellus combined the allozyme profiles of their diploid parents (T. dubius and T. porrifolius, and T. dubius and T. pratensis, respectively). This classic paper addressed the link between genotype and biochemical phenotype and documented enzyme additivity in allopolyploids. Perhaps more important than their model of additivity, however, was their demonstration of novelty at the biochemical level. Enzyme multiplicity-the production of novel enzyme forms in the allopolyploids-can provide an extensive array of polymorphism for a polyploid individual and may explain, for example, the expanded ranges of polyploids relative to their diploid progenitors. In this paper, we extend the concept of evolutionary novelty in allopolyploids to a range of genetic and ecological features. We observe that the dynamic nature of polyploid genomes-with alterations in gene content, gene number, gene arrangement, gene expression and transposon activity-may generate sufficient novelty that every individual in a polyploid population or species may be unique. Whereas certain combinations of these features will undoubtedly be maladaptive, some unique combinations of newly generated variation may provide tremendous evolutionary potential and adaptive capabilities.

Differential retention and expansion of the ancestral genes associated with the paleopolyploidies in modern rosid plants, as revealed by analysis of the extensins super-gene family

BACKGROUND

All modern rosids originated from a common hexapolyploid ancestor, and the genomes of some rosids have undergone one or more cycles of paleopolyploidy. After the duplication of the ancient genome, wholesale gene loss and gene subfunctionalization has occurred. Using the extensin super-gene family as an example, we tracked the differential retention and expansion of ancestral extensin genes in four modern rosids, Arabidopsis, Populus, Vitis and Carica, using several analytical methods.

RESULTS

The majority of extensin genes in each of the modern rosids were found to originate from different ancestral genes. In Arabidopsis and Populus, almost half of the extensins were paralogous duplicates within the genome of each species. By contrast, no paralogous extensins were detected in Vitis and Carica, which have only undergone the common γ-triplication event. It was noteworthy that a group of extensins containing the IPR006706 domain had actively duplicated in Arabidopsis, giving rise to a neo-extensin around every 3 million years. However, such extensins were absent from, or rare in, the other three rosids. A detailed examination revealed that this group of extensins had proliferated significantly in the genomes of a number of species in the Brassicaceae. We propose that this group of extensins might play important roles in the biology and in the evolution of the Brassicaceae. Our analyses also revealed that nearly all of the paralogous and orthologous extensin-pairs have been under strong purifying selection, leading to the strong conservation of the function of extensins duplicated from the same ancestral gene.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analyses show that extensins originating from a common ancestor have been differentially retained and expanded among four modern rosids. Our findings suggest that, if Arabidopsis is used as the model plant, we can only learn a limited amount about the functions of a particular gene family. These results also provide an example of how it is essential to learn the origination of a gene when analyzing its function across different plant species.

Differential retention and expansion of the ancestral genes associated with the paleopolyploidies in modern rosid plants, as revealed by analysis of the extensins super-gene family

Background

All modern rosids originated from a common hexapolyploid ancestor, and the genomes of some rosids have undergone one or more cycles of paleopolyploidy. After the duplication of the ancient genome, wholesale gene loss and gene subfunctionalization has occurred. Using the extensin super-gene family as an example, we tracked the differential retention and expansion of ancestral extensin genes in four modern rosids, Arabidopsis, Populus, Vitis and Carica, using several analytical methods.

Results

The majority of extensin genes in each of the modern rosids were found to originate from different ancestral genes. In Arabidopsis and Populus, almost half of the extensins were paralogous duplicates within the genome of each species. By contrast, no paralogous extensins were detected in Vitis and Carica, which have only undergone the common γ-triplication event. It was noteworthy that a group of extensins containing the IPR006706 domain had actively duplicated in Arabidopsis, giving rise to a neo-extensin around every 3 million years. However, such extensins were absent from, or rare in, the other three rosids. A detailed examination revealed that this group of extensins had proliferated significantly in the genomes of a number of species in the Brassicaceae. We propose that this group of extensins might play important roles in the biology and in the evolution of the Brassicaceae. Our analyses also revealed that nearly all of the paralogous and orthologous extensin-pairs have been under strong purifying selection, leading to the strong conservation of the function of extensins duplicated from the same ancestral gene.

Conclusions

Our analyses show that extensins originating from a common ancestor have been differentially retained and expanded among four modern rosids. Our findings suggest that, if Arabidopsis is used as the model plant, we can only learn a limited amount about the functions of a particular gene family. These results also provide an example of how it is essential to learn the origination of a gene when analyzing its function across different plant species.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2164-15-612) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Extensive and biased intergenomic nonreciprocal DNA exchanges shaped a nascent polyploid genome, Gossypium (cotton)

Genome duplication is thought to be central to the evolution of morphological complexity, and some polyploids enjoy a variety of capabilities that transgress those of their diploid progenitors. Comparison of genomic sequences from several tetraploid (AtDt) Gossypium species and genotypes with putative diploid A- and D-genome progenitor species revealed that unidirectional DNA exchanges between homeologous chromosomes were the predominant mechanism responsible for allelic differences between the Gossypium tetraploids and their diploid progenitors. Homeologous gene conversion events (HeGCEs) gradually subsided, declining to rates similar to random mutation during radiation of the polyploid into multiple clades and species. Despite occurring in a common nucleus, preservation of HeGCE is asymmetric in the two tetraploid subgenomes. At-to-Dt conversion is far more abundant than the reciprocal, is enriched in heterochromatin, is highly correlated with GC content and transposon distribution, and may silence abundant A-genome-derived retrotransposons. Dt-to-At conversion is abundant in euchromatin and genes, frequently reversing losses of gene function. The long-standing observation that the nonspinnable-fibered D-genome contributes to the superior yield and quality of tetraploid cotton fibers may be explained by accelerated Dt to At conversion during cotton domestication and improvement, increasing dosage of alleles from the spinnable-fibered A-genome. HeGCE may provide an alternative to (rare) reciprocal DNA exchanges between chromosomes in heterochromatin, where genes have approximately five times greater abundance of Dt-to-At conversion than does adjacent intergenic DNA. Spanning exon-to-gene-sized regions, HeGCE is a natural noninvasive means of gene transfer with the precision of transformation, potentially important in genetic improvement of many crop plants.

Comparative Analysis of Miscanthus and Saccharum Reveals a Shared Whole-Genome Duplication but Different Evolutionary Fates

Multiple polyploidizations with divergent consequences in the grass subtribe Saccharinae provide a singular opportunity to study in situ adaptation of a genome to the duplicated state, heretofore known primarily from paleogenomics. We show that allopolyploidy in a common Miscanthus-Saccharum ancestor ∼3.8 to 4.6 million years ago closely coincides in time with their divergence from the Sorghum lineage. Subsequent Saccharum-specific autopolyploidy may have created pseudo-paralogous chromosome groups with random pairing within a group but infrequent pairing between groups. High chromosome number may reduce differentiation among Saccharum pseudo-paralogs by increasing opportunities for recombinations, with the lower chromosome numbers of Miscanthus favoring the return to disomic inheritance. The widespread tendency of plant chromosome numbers to recursively return to a narrow range following genome duplication appears to be occurring now in Saccharum spontaneum based on rich polymorphism for chromosome number among genotypes, with past reductions indicated by condensations of two ancestral chromosomes in Miscanthus (now n = 19) and perhaps as many as 10 in the Narenga-Sclerostachya clade (n = 15).