Project description:Nutural rubber (NR) production, latex is harvested by periodical tapping of the trunk bark. Ethylene enhances and prolongs latex flow and latex regeneration. Ethephon, which is an ethylene-releasing compound, applied to the trunk before tapping usually results in a 1.5- to 2-fold increase in latex yield. We investigated gene expression in response to ethephon treatment using Pará rubber tree seedlings as a model system. After ethephon treatment, 3,270 genes showed significant differences in expression compared with the mock treatment. Genes associated with carotenoids, flavonoids, and abscisic acid biosynthesis were significantly upregulated by ethephon treatment, which might contribute to an increase in latex flow. Genes associated with secondary cell wall formation were downregulated, which might be because of the reduced sugar supply. Given that sucrose is an important molecule for NR production, a trade-off may arise between NR production and cell wall formation for plant growth and for wound healing at the tapping panel.
Project description:Bitter pit is the most important physiological disorder affecting apples. In order to ascertain the genetic bases of its incidence in apple fruit, a mapping population of ‘Braeburn’ (susceptible to bitter pit) × ‘Cameo’ (resistant to bitter pit) cultivars was used to map the trait over two growing seasons. RNA-Seq on pools of RNA extracted from fruits of three resistant and three susceptible to bitter pit progenies at post-fertilization and full maturity stages, permitted us to identify a number of candidate genes underlying genetic resistance/susceptibility to bitter pit.
Project description:T2R bitter receptors, encoded by Tas2r genes, are not only critical for bitter taste signal transduction but also important for defense against bacteria and parasites. However, little is known about whether and how Tas2r gene expression are regulated. Here, using single-cell assays for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing (scATAC-seq), we found that the chromatin accessibility of Tas2rs was highly cell type specific and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation increased the accessibility of many Tas2rs. scATAC-seq also revealed substantial chromatin remodeling in immune response genes in taste tissue stem cells, suggesting potential long-term effects. Together, our results suggest an epigenetic mechanism connecting inflammation, Tas2r gene regulation, and altered bitter taste, which may explain heightened bitter taste that can occur with infections and cancer treatments.
Project description:In this study, Solexa sequencing technology has been used to discover small RNA populations of self-grafted watermelon and grafted watermelon (bottle gourd and squash were used as rootstocks). A total of 11,458,476, 11,614,094 and 9,339,089 raw reads representing 2,957,751, 2,880,328 and 2,964,990 unique sequences were obtained from the scions of self-grafted watermelon and watermelon grafted on-to bottle gourd and squash at two true-leaf stage, respectively. 39 known miRNAs belonging to 30 miRNA families and 80 novel miRNAs were identified in our small RNA dataset. Compared with self-grafted watermelon, 20 (5 known and 15 novel miRNAs) and 51 (21 known miRNAs and 30 novel miRNAs) miRNAs were expressed significantly different with higher abundance or lower abundance in watermelon grafted on to bottle gourd and squash, respectively. The differentially expressed miRNA target various transcriptional factors and other genes which involved in a wide range of biological processes. This study was firstly conducted to identify and compare miRNAs on genome-wide scale in watermelon grafting system. The miRNAs expressed differentially when watermelon was grafted onto different rootstocks suggesting that miRNAs might play an important role in diverse biological and metabolic processes in watermelon and grafting may possibly by changing miRNAs expression to regulate plant growth and response to stresses. The small RNA transcriptomes obtained in this study provided insights into molecular basis of miRNA regulation of genes expressed in self-grafted and grafted watermelon.
Project description:Purpose: de novo sequencing and comparative analysis of the bark transciptomes of Hevea brasiliensis induced without ethephon (C), with ethephon for 8 hours (E8) and 24 hours (E24) to identify the genes and pathways related to the stimulation of rubber production by ethylene. The goals of this study are to reveal the molecular mechanism behind the stimulation of rubber production by ethylene. Methods: Bark RNA was extracted using the TRIzol® Reagent (Invitrogen) and two cDNA libraries, H (healthy rubber trees) and T (TPD-affected trees), were prepared using the mRNA-Seq 8 sample prep Kit (Illumina). The libraries were deep sequenced using Illumina HiSeqTM 2000 (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA, USA). Raw reads produced from sequencing machines were resorted to de novo assembly and gene annotation. Results: De novo sequencing and assembly of the bark transciptomes of Hevea brasiliensis induced with ethephon for 8 hours (E8) and 24 hours (E24) were performed. 51,965,770, 52,303,714 and 53,177,976 high-quality clean reads from E8, E24 and C (control) samples were assembled into 81,335, 80,048 and 80,800 unigenes respectively, with a total of 84,425 unigenes and an average length of 1,101 bp generated. 10,216 and 9,374 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in E8 and E24 compared with C were respectively detected. The expression of several enzymes in crucial points of regulation in glycolysis were up-regulated and DEGs were not significantly enriched in isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) biosynthesis pathway. In addition, up-regulated genes of great regulatory importance in carbon fixation (Calvin cycle) were identified. Conclusions: The rapid acceleration of glycolytic pathway supplying precursors for the biosynthesis of IPP and natural rubber, instead of rubber biosynthesis per se, may be responsible for ethylene stimulation of latex yield in rubber tree. The elevated rate of flux throughout the Calvin cycle may account for some durability of ethylene-induced stimulation. Our finding lays the foundations for molecular diagnostic and genetic engineering for high-yielding improvement of rubber tree. De novo sequencing of the transcriptomes of C (bark without ethephon application), E8 (bark with 1.5%-ethephon treatment for 8 hours) and E24 (bark with 1.5%-ethephon treatment for 24 hours) rubber trees was conducted using Illumina HiSeq 2000.
Project description:Comparison of transcriptomes from bark, developing xylem and xylem of P. radiata saplings exposed to 0 or 1mg of Ethephon in lanolin for 1 or 8 weeks We developed an oligonucleotide microarray using sequences (mostly from Pinus taeda) from public sequence databases. These sequences were reconstituted into a non-redundant database by CAP3 assembly and used as templates for automated design of 60-mer oligonucleotide probes through eArray, AgilentM-bM-^@M-^Ys online facility. The microarray slides, manufactured by Agilent, were used to monitor gene expression in an Ethephon-induction experiment. Ethephon was dispersed in lanolin paste and applied in a 3 cm band near the base of the stem of 2-year old Pinus radiata saplings. RNA was extracted from bark, cambial region, also known as M-bM-^@M-^\developing xylemM-bM-^@M-^], and xylem tissues exposed for 1 or 8 weeks to Ethephon. The transcriptomes from these extracts were compared by hybridization onto the All-Pinus microarray slides. Statistically significant differentially expressed genes identified by limma (Linear Models for Microarray Data) were subsequently analysed by singular enrichment analysis through the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) portal. Results revealed that bark, cambial region and xylem generate mostly mutually exclusive cohorts of genes and Gene Ontology (GO) classes. Ethephon induction led to the upregulation of xylem genes related to the metabolism of phenylpropanoids and flavonoids and to defence responses, specifically, fungal/insect attack and oxidative stress. Independent validation of the microarray data for five genes was obtained by quantitative RT-PCR. The results are also interpreted in reference to gross and microscopic morphological changes. These results confirm the utility of the All-Pinus microarray for transcriptomic research in P. radiata. Series of 2-color, 2 condition experiments in 12 180k arrays. Main comparison is within tissues exposed to 0 [control] or 1 mg Ethephon. 2nd level of comparison is between tissues [bark, xylem scraping, xylem]. Third level of comparison is between time [1 or 8 week exposure]. One slide is hybridized with cRNA generated from control and treated tissues with the same duration of exposure to Ethephon. Two biological replicates [each biological rep is a 2 y old cutting propagated clone] for treated plants whilst control consists of RNA pooled, in equal proportions [estimated by UV absorbance], from 2 untreated biological replicates.]. Dyes used for each sample are indicated in sample description.