Dataset Information

Differential DNA Methylation Patterns Are Related to Phellogen Origin and Quality of Quercus suber Cork.

ABSTRACT: DNA methylation is thought to influence Quercus suber cork quality, which is the main constraint for its economic valorisation. However, a deep knowledge of the cytosine methylation patterns disclosing the epigenetic variability of trees with different cork quality types is totally missing. This study investigates the hypothesis that variations in DNA methylation contribute to differences in cork cellular characteristics directly related to original or traumatic phellogen activity. We used MSAPs (Methylation Sensitive Amplified Polymorphism) to assess DNA methylation patterns of cork and leaf tissues of Q. suber adult trees growing in three cork oak stands. The relationship between the detected polymorphisms and the diversity of cork quality traits was explored by a marker-trait analysis focusing on the most relevant quality characteristics. Populations differed widely in cork quality, but only slightly in degree of epigenetic differentiation. Four MSAP markers (1.3% of the total) were significantly associated with the most noteworthy quality traits: wood inclusions (nails) and porosity. This evidence supports the potential role of cytosine methylation in the modulation of differential phellogen activity either involved in localized cell death or in pore production, resulting in different cork qualities. Although, the underlying basis of the methylation polymorphism of loci affecting cork quality traits remain unclear, the disclosure of markers statistically associated with cork quality strengthens the potential role of DNA methylation in the regulation of these traits, namely at the phellogen level.

SUBMITTER: Inacio V

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5207400 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Differential DNA Methylation Patterns Are Related to Phellogen Origin and Quality of Quercus suber Cork.

Inácio Vera V Barros Pedro M PM Costa Augusta A Roussado Cristóvão C Gonçalves Elsa E Costa Rita R Graça José J Oliveira M Margarida MM Morais-Cecílio Leonor L

PloS one 20170103 1

DNA methylation is thought to influence Quercus suber cork quality, which is the main constraint for its economic valorisation. However, a deep knowledge of the cytosine methylation patterns disclosing the epigenetic variability of trees with different cork quality types is totally missing. This study investigates the hypothesis that variations in DNA methylation contribute to differences in cork cellular characteristics directly related to original or traumatic phellogen activity. We used MSAPs ...[more]

PMID: 28045988

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Project description:BACKGROUND: Cork oak (Quercus suber) is one of the rare trees with the ability to produce cork, a material widely used to make wine bottle stoppers, flooring and insulation materials, among many other uses. The molecular mechanisms of cork formation are still poorly understood, in great part due to the difficulty in studying a species with a long life-cycle and for which there is scarce molecular/genomic information. Cork oak forests are of great ecological importance and represent a major economic and social resource in Southern Europe and Northern Africa. However, global warming is threatening the cork oak forests by imposing thermal, hydric and many types of novel biotic stresses. Despite the economic and social value of the Q. suber species, few genomic resources have been developed, useful for biotechnological applications and improved forest management. RESULTS: We generated in excess of 7 million sequence reads, by pyrosequencing 21 normalized cDNA libraries derived from multiple Q. suber tissues and organs, developmental stages and physiological conditions. We deployed a stringent sequence processing and assembly pipeline that resulted in the identification of ~159,000 unigenes. These were annotated according to their similarity to known plant genes, to known Interpro domains, GO classes and E.C. numbers. The phylogenetic extent of this ESTs set was investigated, and we found that cork oak revealed a significant new gene space that is not covered by other model species or EST sequencing projects. The raw data, as well as the full annotated assembly, are now available to the community in a dedicated web portal at http://www.corkoakdb.org. CONCLUSIONS: This genomic resource represents the first trancriptome study in a cork producing species. It can be explored to develop new tools and approaches to understand stress responses and developmental processes in forest trees, as well as the molecular cascades underlying cork differentiation and disease response.

Project description:Purpose:Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors are used to treat Alzheimer's patients because they enhance cholinergic neurotransmission. It is urgent to find new and efficient inhibitors from natural sources, highly bioavailable with low or no toxicity. The plant kingdom is extremely rich in a variety of compounds that are potent AChE inhibitors: flavonoids and other phenolic compounds have been recognized as promising Alzheimer's treatment agents. In this study, in vitro acetylcholinesterase inhibition, antioxidant activities, and total flavonoid and phenolic contents of ethanol-water extracts from Quercus suber cork and corkback were evaluated. Methods:The acetylcholinesterase activity was determined by a colorimetric assay based on Ellman's methodology. The Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric method was used for total phenolic content determination and the aluminium chloride method for the determination of total flavonoid content. Antioxidant activity assays were performed using the DPPH and FRAP assays. Results:The acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity from Q. suber cork and corkback ethanol-water extracts was as follows: 62% inhibition with corkback extracts over 0.5?mg/mL and around 49% inhibition in cork extracts over 1.0?mg/mL extracts' concentration. Regarding the DPPH radical scavenging activity, the concentrations of cork and corkback ethanol-water extracts required for 50% DPPH inhibition (IC50) were 3.2??g/mL and 4.0-5.2??g/mL. Corkback extracts are less effective than Trolox standard (3.2??g/mL) but cork extracts showed the same free radical scavenging activity compared to Trolox. Cork and corkback extracts have antioxidant power of 750.9-775.4?mg TEAC/g extract and 1051.2-2052.4?mg TEAC/g extract, respectively, which are significantly higher than the ones obtained with Trolox: 19.6-21.0?mg TEAC/g extract (cork assays) and 57.4-66.3?mg TEAC/g extract (corkback assays). The amounts of total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid (TFC) compounds were 8.7-32.3?mg GAE/g and 4.8-10.7?mg CE/g dry mass for cork and 5.4-5.7?mg GAE/g and 42.5?mg CE/g dry mass for corkback extracts, respectively, using catechin (CE) and GAE (gallic acid) as standards. Conclusion:These findings demonstrate the remarkable potential of these extracts as valuable source of antioxidants with interesting acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity.

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Differential DNA Methylation Patterns Are Related to Phellogen Origin and Quality of Quercus suber Cork.

Publications

Differential DNA Methylation Patterns Are Related to Phellogen Origin and Quality of Quercus suber Cork.

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