Project description:Petunia is an excellent model system, especially for genetic, physiological and molecular studies. Thus far, however, genome-wide expression analysis has been rarely applied because of the lack of sequence information. We applied next-generation sequencing to generate, through de novo read assembly, a large catalogue of transcripts for Petunia axillaris and Petunia inflata. On the basis of the transcriptome of each species, comprehensive microarray chips for gene expression analysis were established and used for the analysis of global- and organ-specific gene expression in both species. In addition, microarray analysis was applied to explore the molecular basis of the seed coat defects in Petunia hybrida mutants, homozygous for a null allele of the AN11 gene, encoding a WDR transcription regulator. Among the transcripts differentially expressed in an11 seeds compared to wild type, many expected targets of AN11 were found but also several interesting new candidates that might play a role in morphogenesis of the seed coat. Our results validate the combination of next-generation sequencing with microarray analyses strategies to identify the transcriptome of two petunia species without previous knowledge of their genome, and to develop comprehensive chips as useful tools for the analysis of gene expression in P. axillaris, P. inflata and P. hybrida.
Project description:One of the primary objectives of plant biotechnology is to increase resistance to abiotic stresses, such as salinity. Salinity is a major abiotic stress and increasing crop resistant to salt continues to the present day as a major challenge. Salt stress disturbs cellular environment leading to protein misfolding, affecting normal plant growth and causing agricultural losses worldwide. The advent of state-of-the-art technologies such as high throughput mRNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) has revolutionized whole-transcriptome analysis by allowing, with high precision, to measure changes in gene expression. In this work, we used tissue-specific RNA-Seq to gain insight into the Petunia hybrida transcriptional responses under sodium chloride (NaCl) stress using a controlled hydroponic system. Roots and leaves samples were taken from a continuum of 48 hours of acute 150 mM NaCl. This analysis revealed a set of tissue- and- time point specific differentially expressed genes, such as genes related to transport, signal transduction, ion homeostasis as well as novel and undescribed genes, such as Peaxi162Scf00003g04130 and Peaxi162Scf00589g00323 expressed only in roots under salt stress. In this work, we identified early and late expressed genes in response to salt stress while providing a core of differentially express genes across all time points and tissues, including the trehalose-6-phosphate synthase 1 (TPS1), a glycosyltransferase reported in salt tolerance in other species. To test the function of the novel petunia TPS1 allele, we cloned and showed that TPS1 is a functional plant gene capable of complementing the trehalose biosynthesis pathway in mutants (tps1) yeast. The list of candidate genes to enhance salt tolerance provided in this work constitutes a major effort to better understand the detrimental effects of salinity in petunia with direct implications for other economically important Solanaceous species
Project description:Petunia is an excellent model system, especially for genetic, physiological and molecular studies. Thus far, however, genome-wide expression analysis has been rarely applied because of the lack of sequence information. We applied next-generation sequencing to generate, through de novo read assembly, a large catalogue of transcripts for Petunia axillaris and Petunia inflata. On the basis of the transcriptome of each species, comprehensive microarray chips for gene expression analysis were established and used for the analysis of global- and organ-specific gene expression in both species. In addition, microarray analysis was applied to explore the molecular basis of the seed coat defects in Petunia hybrida mutants, homozygous for a null allele of the AN11 gene, encoding a WDR transcription regulator. Among the transcripts differentially expressed in an11 seeds compared to wild type, many expected targets of AN11 were found but also several interesting new candidates that might play a role in morphogenesis of the seed coat. Our results validate the combination of next-generation sequencing with microarray analyses strategies to identify the transcriptome of two petunia species without previous knowledge of their genome, and to develop comprehensive chips as useful tools for the analysis of gene expression in P. axillaris, P. inflata and P. hybrida. The manuscript describes the creation by next generation sequencing of a large catalogue of the transcriptome of the two Petunia species, that are considered to represent the natural material from which the breeders selected their varieties. This submission represents the transcriptome component of study. The high throughput sequencing data were submitted to SRA (accession numbers: SRA027293, SRP004866.1, SRX036999.2, SRX036998.2).
Project description:Deoxyhypusine synthase (DHS) is encoded by a nuclear gene and is the key enzyme involved in the post-translational activation of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor eIF5A. DHS plays important roles in plant growth and development. To gain a better understanding of DHS, the petunia (Petunia hybrida) PhDHS gene was isolated, and the role of PhDHS in plant growth was analysed. PhDHS protein was localized to the nucleus and cytoplasm. Virus-mediated PhDHS silencing caused a sectored chlorotic leaf phenotype. The chlorophyll levels was reducted and the development of chloroplasts was abnormal in PhDHS-silenced leaves These features were not observed in DHS-suppressed Arabidopsis thaliana and Solanum lycopersicum. These results indicated that PhDHS is required for development in petunia. A proteome assay showed that 308 proteins are up-regulated and 266 proteins are down-regulated in PhDHS-silenced plants compared with control. Among them, 20 proteins in photosystem I and photosystem II and 11 thylakoid proteins were down-regulated in PhDHS-silenced leaves, further supporting the involvement of PhDHS in photosynthesis in petunia.