Project description:The great tit is a widely studied passerine bird species in ecology that, in the past decades, has provided important insights into speciation, phenology, behavior and microevolution. After completion of the great tit genome sequence, a customized high density 650k SNP array was developed enabling more detailed genomic studies in this species.
Project description:The exxpression profilling of chilling responsive and growth regulated microRNAs of maize hybrid ADA313 was conducted. Maize seedling were subjected to chilling temperature then meristem, elongation and mature growth zones were sampled. 321 known maize microRNA expression level were determined and compared between meristem, elongation and mature zones. Determining and validating of chilling responsive microRNAs associated with leaf growth of hybrid maize (Zea mays L.) ADA313
Project description:Shrub willow (Salix spp.), a short rotation woody biomass crop, has superior properties as a perennial energy crop for the Northeast and Midwest US. However, the insect pest potato leafhopper Empoasca fabae (Harris) (PLH) can cause serious damage and reduce yield of susceptible genotypes. Currently, the willow cultivars in use display varying levels of susceptibility under PLH infestation. However, genes and markers for resistance to PLH are not yet available for marker-assisted selection in breeding. In this study, transcriptome differences between a resistant genotype 94006 (S. purpurea) and a susceptible cultivar ‘Jorr’ (S. viminalis), and their hybrid progeny were determined. Over 600 million RNA-Seq reads were generated and mapped to the Salix purpurea reference transcriptome. Gene expression analyses revealed the unique defense mechanism in resistant genotype 94006 that involves PLH-induced secondary cell wall modification. In the susceptible genotypes, genes involved in programed cell death were highly expressed, explaining the necrosis symptoms after potato leafhopper feeding. Overall, the discovery of resistance genes and defense mechanisms provides new resources for shrub willow breeding and research in the future.
Project description:European sculpins (Cottus) harbor an example of a recent hybrid speciation event, which entails the invasion of a new habitat by the hybrid species. We compare the transcriptomes of both parental species and the hybrid species to understand how they differ. F2 crosses between the parent species are compared to the hybrid species and its parent species to identify unique patterns of the hybrid species due to the initial hybridization process or respectively to other processes. See the accompanying publication (Czypionka et al. 2011.Transcriptome changes after genome wide admixture in invasive sculpins Molecular Ecology no doi yet) for more information.
Project description:European sculpins (Cottus) harbor an example of a recent hybrid speciation event, which entails the invasion of a new habitat by the hybrid species. We compare the transcriptomes of both parental species and the hybrid species to understand how they differ. F2 crosses between the parent species are compared to the hybrid species and its parent species to identify unique patterns of the hybrid species due to the initial hybridization process or respectively to other processes. See the accompanying publication (Czypionka et al. 2011.Transcriptome changes after genome wide admixture in invasive sculpins Molecular Ecology no doi yet) for more information. The transcriptome was compared between an invasive hybrid species of Cottus (Sieg population n = 8) and its parent species C.rhenanus and C.perifretum. Expression profiles of both parental populations were assessed by two independent replicate population (C.rhenanus: Broel and Naaf; C.perifretum Laarse Beek and Witte Nete; each population n = 8). The transcriptomes of F2 crosses between the populations of C.rhenanus and C.perifretum were assessed with for independent crosses with 4 biological replicates for each cross (n = 4 x 4 = 16). We used a custom design microarray with probes designed based on transcriptome sequencing. We used a newly developed calibration method to account for differences in individual probe binding behavior and to detect and remove probes unfit for analysis. Data stored as “normalized data” are normalized and quality filtered based on this new calibration method and normalized for interarray comparability by division by the 75%tile signal intensity for each array. Please refer to the accompanying publication (Czypionka et al. 2011.Transcriptome changes after genome wide admixture in invasive sculpins Molecular Ecology; no doi yet) for more information.
Project description:Background: Saprobic fungi are the predominant industrial sources of Carbohydrate Active enZymes (CAZymes) used for the saccharification of lignocellulose during the production of second generation biofuels. The production of more effective enzyme cocktails is a key objective for efficient biofuel production. To achieve this objective, it is crucial to understand the response of fungi to lignocellulose substrates. Our previous study used RNA-seq to identify the genes induced in Aspergillus niger in response to wheat straw, a biofuel feedstock, and showed that the range of genes induced was greater than previously seen with simple inducers [GSE33852]. Results: In this work we used RNA-seq to identify the genes induced in A. niger in response to short rotation coppice willow and compared this with the response to wheat straw from our previous study, at the same time-point. The response to willow showed a large increase in expression of genes encoding CAZymes. Genes encoding the major activities required to saccharify lignocellulose were induced on willow such as endoglucanases, cellobiohydrolases and xylanases. The transcriptome response to willow had many similarities with the response to straw with some significant differences in the expression levels of individual genes which are discussed in relation to differences in substrate composition or other factors. Differences in transcript levels include higher levels on wheat straw from genes encoding enzymes classified as members of GH62 (an arabinofuranosidase) and CE1 (a feruloyl esterase) CAZy families whereas two genes encoding endoglucanases classified as members of the GH5 family had higher transcript levels when exposed to willow. There were changes in the cocktail of enzymes secreted by A. niger when cultured with willow or straw. Assays for particular enzymes as well as saccharification assays were used to compare the enzyme activities of the cocktails. Wheat straw induced an enzyme cocktail that saccharified wheat straw to a greater extent than willow. Genes not encoding CAZymes were also induced on willow such as hydrophobins as well as genes of unknown function. Several genes were identified as promising targets for future study. Conclusions: By comparing this first study of the global transcriptional response of a fungus to willow with the response to straw, we have shown that the inducing lignocellulosic substrate has a marked effect upon the range of transcripts and enzymes expressed by A. niger. The use by industry of complex substrates such as wheat straw or willow could benefit efficient biofuel production.
Project description:Background: Saprobic fungi are the predominant industrial sources of Carbohydrate Active enZymes (CAZymes) used for the saccharification of lignocellulose during the production of second generation biofuels. The production of more effective enzyme cocktails is a key objective for efficient biofuel production. To achieve this objective, it is crucial to understand the response of fungi to lignocellulose substrates. Our previous study used RNA-seq to identify the genes induced in Aspergillus niger in response to wheat straw, a biofuel feedstock, and showed that the range of genes induced was greater than previously seen with simple inducers [GSE33852]. Results: In this work we used RNA-seq to identify the genes induced in A. niger in response to short rotation coppice willow and compared this with the response to wheat straw from our previous study, at the same time-point. The response to willow showed a large increase in expression of genes encoding CAZymes. Genes encoding the major activities required to saccharify lignocellulose were induced on willow such as endoglucanases, cellobiohydrolases and xylanases. The transcriptome response to willow had many similarities with the response to straw with some significant differences in the expression levels of individual genes which are discussed in relation to differences in substrate composition or other factors. Differences in transcript levels include higher levels on wheat straw from genes encoding enzymes classified as members of GH62 (an arabinofuranosidase) and CE1 (a feruloyl esterase) CAZy families whereas two genes encoding endoglucanases classified as members of the GH5 family had higher transcript levels when exposed to willow. There were changes in the cocktail of enzymes secreted by A. niger when cultured with willow or straw. Assays for particular enzymes as well as saccharification assays were used to compare the enzyme activities of the cocktails. Wheat straw induced an enzyme cocktail that saccharified wheat straw to a greater extent than willow. Genes not encoding CAZymes were also induced on willow such as hydrophobins as well as genes of unknown function. Several genes were identified as promising targets for future study. Conclusions: By comparing this first study of the global transcriptional response of a fungus to willow with the response to straw, we have shown that the inducing lignocellulosic substrate has a marked effect upon the range of transcripts and enzymes expressed by A. niger. The use by industry of complex substrates such as wheat straw or willow could benefit efficient biofuel production. Six samples in total consisting of duplicate shake flask Aspergillus niger cultures from three conditions: glucose 48 h, willow 24 h, willow 24 h + glucose 5 h
Project description:We have conducted a season and subspecies comparasion on the two Willow Warbler subspecies Phylloscopus trochilus trochilus and Phylloscopus trochilus acredula. The analysis were performed by hybridizing cDNA from the Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) on a Affymetrix costum array designed for the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata), the Lund-zf array.