Project description:The soybean–Bradyrhizobium symbiosis enables symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) within root nodules, reducing reliance on synthetic N fertilizers. However, nitrogen fixation is transient, peaking several weeks after Bradyrhizobium colonization and declining as nodules senesce in coordination with host development. To investigate the regulatory mechanisms governing SNF and senescence, we conducted a temporal transcriptomic analysis of soybean nodules colonized with Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens USDA110. Weekly nodule samples (2 to 10 weeks postinoculation, wpi) were analyzed using RNA and small RNA sequencing, and acetylene reduction assays assessed nitrogenase activity from 4 to 7 wpi. We identified three major nodule developmental phases: early development (2 to 3 wpi), nitrogen fixation (3 to 8 wpi), and senescence (8 to 10 wpi). Soybean showed extensive transcriptional reprogramming during senescence, whereas Bradyrhizobium underwent major transcriptional shifts early in development before stabilizing during nitrogen fixation. We identified seven soybean genes and several microRNAs as candidate biomarkers of nitrogen fixation, including lipoxygenases (Lox), suggesting roles for oxylipin metabolism. Soy hemoglobin-2 (Hb2), previously classified as nonsymbiotic, was upregulated during senescence, implicating oxidative stress responses within aging nodules. Upregulation of the Bradyrhizobium paa operon and rpoH during senescence suggesting metabolic adaptation for survival beyond symbiosis. Additionally, Bradyrhizobium nif gene expression showed stage-specific regulation, with nifK peaking at 2 wpi, nifD and nifA at 2 and 10 wpi, and nifH, nifW, and nifS at 10 wpi. These findings provide insights into SNF regulation and nodule aging, revealing temporal gene expression patterns that could inform breeding or genetic engineering strategies to enhance nitrogen fixation in soybeans and other legume crops.
Project description:Nucleolar ribosomal DNA (rDNA) repeats control ribosome manufacturing. rDNA harbors a ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene and an intergenic spacer (IGS). RNA polymerase (Pol) I transcribes rRNA genes yielding the rRNA components of ribosomes. Pol II at the IGS induces rRNA production by preventing Pol I from excessively synthesizing IGS non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that can disrupt nucleoli. At the IGS, Pol II regulatory processes and whether Pol I function can be beneficial remain unknown. Here, we identify IGS Pol II regulators, uncovering nucleolar optimization via IGS Pol I. Compartment-enriched proximity-dependent biotin identification (compBioID) showed enrichment of the TATA-less promoter-binding TBPL1 and transcription regulator PAF1 with IGS Pol II. TBPL1 localizes to TCT motifs, driving Pol II and Pol I and maintaining its baseline ncRNA levels. PAF1 promotes Pol II elongation, preventing unscheduled R-loops that hyper-restrain IGS Pol I and its ncRNAs. PAF1 or TBPL1 deficiency disrupts nucleolar organization and rRNA biogenesis. In PAF1-deficient cells, repressing unscheduled IGS R-loops rescues nucleolar organization and rRNA production. Depleting IGS Pol I-dependent ncRNAs is sufficient to compromise nucleoli. We present the interactome of nucleolar Pol II and show its control by TBPL1 and PAF1 ensures IGS Pol I ncRNAs maintaining nucleolar structure and operation.
Project description:Introduction: The EORTC22033-26033 clinical trial investigated whether initial temozolomide (TMZ) chemotherapy confers survival advantage compared to radiotherapy (RT) in low grade glioma patients. In this study we performed gene expression profiling on tissues from this trial in order to identify markers associated with progression free survival and treatment response in this well-defined cohort of patients. Methods: Gene expression profiling, performed on 195 samples, was used to assign tumors to one of six intrinsic glioma subtypes (IGS; molecularly similar tumors predefined by unsupervised gene expression analysis) and to extract the cellular composition of immune infiltrates. DNA copy number changes were determined on samples assigned to IGS-16. Results: We confirm that IGS-subtypes are prognostic in EORTC22033-26033 clinical trial samples. Specific genetic changes segregate in distinct IGS subtypes: most samples assigned to IGS-9 have IDH-mutations combined with 1p19q codeletion, samples assigned to IGS-17 have IDH-mutations with intact 1p19q chromosomal arms and samples assigned to other intrinsic subtypes often are IDH-wildtype and 1p19q intact. A trend towards benefit from RT compared to TMZ was observed for samples assigned to IGS-9 (HR for TMZ is 1.90, 95% CI [0.95, 3.80], P=0.065), but not for samples assigned to IGS-17 (HR for TMZ vs RT is 0.87, 95% CI[0.50, 1.51], P=0.62). We did not identify genes significantly associated with progression free survival (PFS) within intrinsic subtypes, though follow-up time is limited. We also show that LGGs and GBMs differ in their immune-infiltrate with LGGs having higher suppressor and lower effector cell populations compared to GBMs. This suggests that LGGs are less amenable to checkpoint inhibitor type immune therapies than GBMs. Gene expression analysis and copy number analysis also identified one patient with a pilocytic astrocytoma (PA). Conclusion: Intrinsic glioma subtypes are prognostic for PFS in EORTC22033-26033 clinical trial samples.
Project description:Legumes and rhizobia establish a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis that involves the formation of a lateral root organ, the nodule, and the infection process that allows intracellular accommodation of rhizobia within nodule cells. This process involves significant gene expression changes regulated at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. We have previously shown that a transcript encoding the subunit 3 of the Superkiller Complex (SKI), which guides mRNAs to the exosome for 3´-to-5´ degradation, is required for nodule formation and bacterial persistence within the nodule, as well as the induction of early nodulation genes (e.g., MtENOD40) during the Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti symbiosis. Here, we reveal through transcript degradome and small RNA sequencing analysis that knockdown of MtSKI3 impairs the miR172-directed endonucleolytic cleavage of the mRNA encoding Nodule Number Control 1 (MtNNC1), an APETALA2 transcription factor that negatively modulates nodulation. Knockdown of MtNNC1 enhances nodule number, bacterial infection, and the induction of MtENOD40 upon inoculation with S. meliloti whereas overexpression of a miR172-resistant form of MtNNC1 significantly reduces nodule formation. This work identifies miR172 cleavage of MtNNC1 and its control by MtSKI3, a component of the 3´-to- 5´mRNA degradation pathway, as a new regulatory hub controlling indeterminate nodulation.