Project description:Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form mutualistic relationships with most land plant species. AM fungi have long been considered as ancient asexuals. Long-term clonal evolution would be remarkable for a eukaryotic lineage and suggests the importance of alternative mechanisms to promote genetic variability facilitating adaptation. Here, we assessed the potential of transposable elements (TEs) for generating genomic diversity. The dynamic expression of TEs during Rhizophagus irregularis spore development suggests ongoing TE activity. We find Mutator-like elements located near genes belonging to highly expanded gene families. Characterising the epigenomic status of R. irregularis provides evidence of DNA methylation and small RNA production occurring at TE loci. Our results support a potential role for TEs in shaping the genome, and roles for DNA methylation and small RNA-mediated silencing in regulating TEs. A well-controlled balance between TE activity and repression may therefore contribute to genome evolution in AM fungi.
2022-02-17 | PXD025245 | Pride
Project description:E. superba long-term temperature experiment
Project description:Loss-of-function variants in CCM3/PDCD10 predispose to cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) that are vascular lesion of the central nervous system. Using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing and RNA sequencing, we have shown that long-term inactivation of CCM3 in human endothelial cells dysregulates fibronectin expression and thus impairs the assembly of a functional fibronectin matrix by endothelial cells.
