Project description:To examine the difference of the endometrial conditions in the cows between on summer and autumn seasons, gene expression profiles were compared. The expressions of 268 genes were significantly higher in the endometrium collected on summer than those on autumn, whereas 369 genes were lower (P<0.05 or lower). Transcripts of GP2 and NTS were more abundant in the endometrium of summer than those of autumn (P<0.05). In contrast, the mRNA expressions of CDH1 and HSPH1 were lower in the endometrium of summer seasons (P<0.1). Collectively, the different gene expression profiles may contribute to functional differences of endometrium between the summer and autumn seasons, and GP2 and NTS may have a relevance to endometrial deficiency that cause infertility of cows on summer seasons.
Project description:Investigation of transcriptome dynamics of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) in winter (Dec. 22-23, 2011) and summer (July 30-31, 2012). We investigated seasonal and diurnal transcriptome dynamics of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) by analyzing shoot samples collected at four-hour interval for two days in winter and summer, respectively. We first collected sequence data of expressed genes from shoots to designed microarray probes. Microarray analysis revealed the significant difference of transcripts between summer and winter, and the diurnal transcriptome dynamic in summer.Statistical analysis indicated that about 7.7 % of unique genes showed diurnal rhythms with more than two-fold of peak-to-trough amplitude in summer.
Project description:Investigation of transcriptome dynamics of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) in winter (Dec. 22-23, 2011) and summer (July 30-31, 2012). We investigated seasonal and diurnal transcriptome dynamics of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) by analyzing shoot samples collected at four-hour interval for two days in winter and summer, respectively. We first collected sequence data of expressed genes from shoots to designed microarray probes. Microarray analysis revealed the significant difference of transcripts between summer and winter, and the diurnal transcriptome dynamic in summer.Statistical analysis indicated that about 7.7 % of unique genes showed diurnal rhythms with more than two-fold of peak-to-trough amplitude in summer. Summer samples were collected at four-hour interval for two days (12 time points) from three different cuttings as biological repeats (total 36 samples). Winter samples were collected at 4:00/8:00/12:00/16:00/20:00/24:00 on Dec 22 and 12:00/24:00 on Dec 23 (total eight samples).
Project description:Apis mellifera workers in temperate climates display two castes; short lived summer bees that engage in nursing, hive maintenance and foraging, and long lived winter bees (diutinus bees) which remain within the hive and are essential for thermoregulation. Label free quantitative proteomic analysis was conducted on A. mellifera workers sampled in June and December to compare the proteomes of summer and winter bees. Proteomic analysis was completed on head, abdominal and venom sac samples which revealed an elevated level of protein abundance in summer bees but and a decrease in protein abundance in winter bees. Head and abdominal samples displayed an increase in cuticular proteins in summer samples whereas an increase in xenobiotic proteins was observed in winter samples. Several carbohydrate metabolism pathways which have been linked to energy production and longevity in insects were observed to be increased in abundance in winter samples in comparison to summer samples. Proteomic analysis of the venom sacs an increased abundance and expression of bee venom associated proteins in comparison to winter workers. These data provides an insight into the adaptions of A. mellifera workers in summer and winter and may aid in future treatment and disease studies on honeybee colonies.
Project description:Apis mellifera workers in temperate climates display two castes; short lived summer bees that engage in nursing, hive maintenance and foraging, and long lived winter bees (diutinus bees) which remain within the hive and are essential for thermoregulation. Label free quantitative proteomic analysis was conducted on A. mellifera workers sampled in June and December to compare the proteomes of summer and winter bees. Proteomic analysis was completed on head, abdominal and venom sac samples which revealed an elevated level of protein abundance in summer bees but and a decrease in protein abundance in winter bees. Head and abdominal samples displayed an increase in cuticular proteins in summer samples whereas an increase in xenobiotic proteins was observed in winter samples. Several carbohydrate metabolism pathways which have been linked to energy production and longevity in insects were observed to be increased in abundance in winter samples in comparison to summer samples. Proteomic analysis of the venom sacs an increased abundance and expression of bee venom associated proteins in comparison to winter workers. These data provides an insight into the adaptions of A. mellifera workers in summer and winter and may aid in future treatment and disease studies on honeybee colonies.
Project description:Cold acclimation in conifers is a complex process, the timing and extent of which reflects local adaptation and varies widely along latitudinal gradients for many temperate and boreal tree species. In spite of their ecological and economic importance, little is known about the global changes in gene expression that accompany autumn cold acclimation in conifers. Using three populations of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) spanning the species range, and a Picea cDNA microarray with 21,840 unique elements, we monitored within and among-population gene expression during the fall. Microarray data were validated for selected genes using real-time PCR. Similar numbers of genes were significantly two-fold upregulated (1,257) and downregulated (967) between late summer and early winter. Among those upregulated were dehydrins, pathogenesis-related/antifreeze genes, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism genes, and genes involved in signal transduction and transcriptional regulation. Among-population microarray hybridizations at early and late autumn time points revealed substantial variation in the autumn transcriptome, some of which may reflect local adaptation. Our results demonstrate the complexity of cold acclimation in conifers, highlight similarities and differences to cold tolerance in annual plants, and provide a solid foundation for functional and genetic studies of this important adaptive process in conifers. Keywords: Time course
Project description:A gene expression analysis of the changes in in popolulus tremula during the autumn sensencece. Leaves were analyzed from late summer and late into autumn. Cytokinins are plant hormones that typically block or delay leaf senescence. We profiled 34 different cytokinins/cytokinin metabolites (including precursors, conjugates and degradation products) in leaves of a free-growing mature aspen (Populus tremula) before and after the initiation of autumnal senescence over three consecutive years. The levels and profiles of individual cytokinin species, or classes/groups, varied greatly between years, despite the fact that the onset of autumn senescence was at the same time each year, and senescence was not associated with depletion of either active or total cytokinin levels. Levels of aromatic cytokinins (topolins) were low and changed little over the autumn period. Diurnal variations and weather-dependent variations in cytokinin content were relatively limited. We also followed the expression patterns of all aspen genes implicated as having roles in cytokinin metabolism or signaling, but neither the pattern of regulation of any group of genes nor the expression of any particular gene supported the notion that decreased cytokinin signaling could explain the onset of senescence. Based on the results from this tree, we therefore suggest that cytokinin depletion is unlikely to explain the onset of autumn leaf senescence in aspen.
Project description:Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is a major grass species used for forage and turf throughout the world, and gains by conventional breeding have reached a plateau. Perennial ryegrass is an outcrossing, self-incompatible diploid (2n = 2x = 14) with a relatively large genome (4067 Mbp/diploid genome; Evans, G.M., Rees, H., Snell, C.L. and Sun, S. (1972). The relation between nuclear DNA amount and the duration of the mitotic cycle. Chrom. Today, 3, 24–31). Using tissues sourced from active pastures during the peak of the autumn, winter, spring and summer seasons, we analysed the ryegrass transcriptome employing a Serial Analysis of Gene Expression (SAGE™) protocol, with the dual goals of understanding the seasonal changes in perennial ryegrass gene expression and enhancing our ability to select genes for genetic manipulation. A total of 159 002 14-mer SAGE™ tags was sequenced and mapped to the perennial ryegrass DNA database, comprising methyl-filtered (GeneThresher®) and expressed sequence tag (EST) sequences. The analysis of 14 559 unique SAGE™ tags, which were present more than once in our SAGE™ library, revealed 964, 1331, 346 and 131 exclusive transcripts to autumn, winter, spring and summer, respectively. Intriguingly, our analysis of the SAGE™ tags revealed season-specific expression profiles for the small subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco), LprbcS. The transcript level for LprbcS was highest in spring, and then decreased gradually between summer and winter. Five different copies of LprbcS were revealed in ryegrass, with one possibly producing splice variant transcripts. Two highly expressed LprbcS genes were reported, one of which was not active in autumn. Another LprbcS gene showed an inverse expression profile to the autumn inactive LprbcS in a manner to compensate the expression level. Keywords: paddock samples, pasture, perennial ryegrass, Serial Analysis of Gene Expression (SAGE™), season specific expression, monocot
Project description:Winter survival and maintenance strategy is crucial in temperate woody plants. Here, we demonstrate novel aspects of the transcriptional regulations adopted by perennial tree species in winter/dormancy, employing a biochemical and whole transcriptome analysis. As expected, genes related to cold hardiness and defense are over-represented. Interestingly, carbohydrate biosynthesis and transport-related genes were very actively expressed in winter/dormancy. Further biochemical analyses verified the dormancy/winter transcription phenotype. Furthermore, dormancy/winter preferential expression of genes involved in the cell wall biosynthesis/modification, circadian rhythm, the indirect transcriptional regulation (RNA metabolism), and chromatin modification/remodeling were identified. Taken together, regulation of gene expression in the winter survival and maintenance may include not only controlled by promoter binding transcription factors but may also be regulated at the post-transcriptional and chromatin levels. In the first step towards the understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying the winter survival and maintenance of perennial trees, we examined the characteristics of transcription phenotype of the dormancy/winter stem compared to the active growth/summer stem by using a whole transcriptome analysis (GeneChip Poplar Genome Array; Affymetrix). Poplar Genome Array has a total of 61,251 probe sets, representing 57,423 poplar gene models, and allows us to interrogate a total of 41,558 unique gene models because of the probe set redundancy. Slight redundancy of the probe sets within a single chip gave us a unique opportunity to have internal comparisons of the particular genes. Very high reproducibility (R2 > 0.97) between the replicated samples was found. Further confirmation of the GeneChip data was made by semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis using several genes showing the summer or winter biased expression. Based on these results, further analysis of winter stem transcriptome against summer stem was performed.