Project description:MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of 21 nt non-coding small RNAs (sRNAs) produced from endogenously expressed MIR genes. MiRNAs are mostly involved in development and disease resistance. To know the involvement of miRNAs during domestication of rice, sRNA sequencing of two wild species (O. nivara and O. rufipogon), one landrace (O. sativa chomala) and one cultivated species of rice (O. sativa indica Pusa Basmati-1) was carried out. Analysis of sRNA datasets revealed a surprisingly higher abundance of 22nt sRNAs originating from a loci on Chromosome 2 in wild rice species. This locus codes for a 22 nt miRNA named as miR397. Studies in Arabidopsis and O. sativa japonica nipponbare have shown that miR397 targets a group of proteins called laccases, which are involved in secondary metabolite (lignin) production. The expression of these targets also differs across the species shown through RNA-Seq analysis. Although a functional significance of this interaction between the miRNA and laccase has not been understood. In the current study we attempt to explain the functional relevance of the miRNA in domestication of rice.
Project description:MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of 21 nt non-coding small RNAs (sRNAs) produced from endogenously expressed MIR genes. MiRNAs are mostly involved in development and disease resistance. To know the involvement of miRNAs during domestication of rice, sRNA sequencing of two wild species (O. nivara and O. rufipogon), one landrace (O. sativa chomala) and one cultivated species of rice (O. sativa indica Pusa Basmati-1) was carried out. Analysis of sRNA datasets revealed a surprisingly higher abundance of 22nt sRNAs originating from a loci on Chromosome 2 in wild rice species. This locus codes for a 22 nt miRNA named as miR397. Studies in Arabidopsis and O. sativa japonica nipponbare have shown that miR397 targets a group of proteins called laccases, which are involved in secondary metabolite (lignin) production. The expression of these targets also differs across the species shown through RNA-Seq analysis. Although a functional significance of this interaction between the miRNA and laccase has not been understood. In the current study we attempt to explain the functional relevance of the miRNA in domestication of rice.
Project description:MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of 21 nt non-coding small RNAs (sRNAs) produced from endogenously expressed MIR genes. MiRNAs are mostly involved in development and disease resistance. To know the involvement of miRNAs during domestication of rice, sRNA sequencing of two wild species (O. nivara and O. rufipogon), one landrace (O. sativa chomala) and one cultivated species of rice (O. sativa indica Pusa Basmati-1) was carried out. Analysis of sRNA datasets revealed a surprisingly higher abundance of 22nt sRNAs originating from a loci on Chromosome 2 in wild rice species. This locus codes for a 22 nt miRNA named as miR397. Studies in Arabidopsis and O. sativa japonica nipponbare have shown that miR397 targets a group of proteins called laccases, which are involved in secondary metabolite (lignin) production. The expression of these targets also differs across the species shown through RNA-Seq analysis. Although a functional significance of this interaction between the miRNA and laccase has not been understood. In the current study we attempt to explain the functional relevance of the miRNA in domestication of rice.
Project description:Plant laccase genes belong to a multigene family, play key roles in lignin polymerization, and participate in the resistance of plants to biotic and abiotic stresses. Switchgrass is an important resource for forage and bioenergy production, yet information about the switchgrass laccase gene family is scarce. Using bioinformatic approaches, a genome-wide analysis of the laccase multigene family in switchgrass was carried out in this study. In total, 49 laccase genes (PvLac1 to PvLac49) were identified; these can be divided into five subclades, and 20 of them were identified as targets of miR397. The tandem and segmental duplication of laccase genes on Chr05 and Chr08 contributed to the expansion of the laccase family. The laccase proteins shared conserved signature sequences but displayed relatively low sequence similarity, indicating the potential functional diversity of switchgrass laccases. Switchgrass laccases exhibited distinct tissue/organ expression patterns, revealing that some laccases might be involved in the lignification process during stem development. All five of the laccase isoforms selected from different subclades responded to heavy metal. The immediate response of lignin-related laccases, as well as the delayed response of low-abundance laccases, to heavy-metal treatment shed light on the multiple roles of laccase isoforms in response to heavy-metal stress.
Project description:Laccase is a key enzyme in plant lignin biosynthesis as it catalyzes the final step of monolignols polymerization. Sweet sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is considered as an ideal feedstock for ethanol production, but lignin greatly limits the production efficiency. No comprehensive analysis on laccase has ever been conducted in S. bicolor, although it appears as the most promising target for engineering lignocellulosic feedstock. The aim of our work is to systematically characterize S. bicolor laccase gene family and to identify the lignin-specific candidates. A total of twenty-seven laccase candidates (SbLAC1-SbLAC27) were identified in S. bicolor. All SbLACs comprised the equivalent L1-L4 signature sequences and three typical Cu-oxidase domains, but exhibited diverse intron-exon patterns and relatively low sequence identity. They were divided into six groups by phylogenetic clustering, revealing potential distinct functions, while SbLAC5 was considered as the closest lignin-specific candidate. qRT-PCR analysis deciphered that SbLAC genes were expressed preferentially in roots and young internodes of sweet sorghum, and SbLAC5 showed high expression, adding the evidence that SbLAC5 was bona fide involved in lignin biosynthesis. Besides, high abundance of SbLAC6 transcripts was detected, correlating it a potential role in lignin biosynthesis. Diverse cis regulatory elements were recognized in SbLACs promoters, indicating putative interaction with transcription factors. Seven SbLACs were found to be potential targets of sbi-miRNAs. Moreover, putative phosphorylation sites in SbLAC sequences were identified. Our research adds to the knowledge for lignin profile modification in sweet sorghum.
Project description:ZmPGP1, involved in the polar auxin transport, has been shown to be associated with plant height, leaf angle, yield traits, and root development in maize. To explore natural variation and domestication selection of ZmPGP1, we re-sequenced the ZmPGP1 gene in 349 inbred lines, 68 landraces, and 32 teosintes. Sequence polymorphisms, nucleotide diversity, and neutral tests revealed that ZmPGP1 might be selected during domestication and improvement processes. Marker-trait association analysis in inbred lines identified 11 variants significantly associated with 4 plant architecture and 5 ear traits. SNP1473 was the most significant variant for kernel length and ear grain weight. The frequency of an increased allele T was 40.6% in teosintes, and it was enriched to 60.3% and 89.1% during maize domestication and improvement. This result revealed that ZmPGP1 may be selected in the domestication and improvement process, and significant variants could be used to develop functional markers to improve plant architecture and ear traits in maize.