Project description:We used flower bud transcriptomes from Collinsia rattanii and its predominantly outcrossing sister species, C. linearis, to explore the genomic basis of mating system and phenotypic evolution in Collinsia, a self-compatible genus. Transcriptional regulation of enzymes involved in pollen formation may influence floral traits that distinguish selfing and outcrossing Collinsia species through pleiotropic functions. These patterns provide clues about parallel evolution in selfing plants.
Project description:Nosema is a diverse fungal genus of microsporidian unicellular, obligate symbionts of insects and other arthropods. We performed a comparative genomic analysis of N. muscidifuracis, a Nosema species infecting parasitoid wasp genus Muscidifurax, with six other genome-sequenced Nosema species. A sequence motif containing at least three consecutive Cs was significantly enriched immediately upstream of the start codon in all seven Nosema genomes. Interestingly, this motif is present in ~90% of highly expressed genes, compared to ~20% in lowly expressed genes N. muscidifuracis, which may function as a cis-regulatory element for gene expression control and regulation. Our study provides new insights into the gene regulation evolution in Nosema.
Project description:The Zygnematophyceae are the closest algal relatives of land plants and hence interesting to understand land plant evolution. Species of the genus Serritaenia have an aerophytic lifestyle and form colorful, mucilaginous capsules, which surround the cells and block harmful solar radiation. Under laboratory conditions the production of this “sunscreen mucilage” can be induced by ultraviolet B radiation. The present dataset reveals insights into the cellular reaction of this alga to UV radiation (a major stressor in terrestrial habitats) and allows for comparisons with other algae and land plants to draw evolutionary conclusions.
