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Kumar S, Singh A, Bist CMS, Sharma M. Advancements in genetic techniques and functional genomics for enhancing crop traits and agricultural sustainability. Brief Funct Genomics 2024:elae017. [PMID: 38679487 DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elae017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetic variability is essential for the development of new crop varieties with economically beneficial traits. The traits can be inherited from wild relatives or induced through mutagenesis. Novel genetic elements can then be identified and new gene functions can be predicted. In this study, forward and reverse genetics approaches were described, in addition to their applications in modern crop improvement programs and functional genomics. By using heritable phenotypes and linked genetic markers, forward genetics searches for genes by using traditional genetic mapping and allele frequency estimation. Despite recent advances in sequencing technology, omics and computation, genetic redundancy remains a major challenge in forward genetics. By analyzing close-related genes, we will be able to dissect their functional redundancy and predict possible traits and gene activity patterns. In addition to these predictions, sophisticated reverse gene editing tools can be used to verify them, including TILLING, targeted insertional mutagenesis, gene silencing, gene targeting and genome editing. By using gene knock-down, knock-up and knock-out strategies, these tools are able to detect genetic changes in cells. In addition, epigenome analysis and editing enable the development of novel traits in existing crop cultivars without affecting their genetic makeup by increasing epiallelic variants. Our understanding of gene functions and molecular dynamics of various biological phenomena has been revised by all of these findings. The study also identifies novel genetic targets in crop species to improve yields and stress tolerances through conventional and non-conventional methods. In this article, genetic techniques and functional genomics are specifically discussed and assessed for their potential in crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surender Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Horticulture, Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan-173230, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Anupama Singh
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Horticulture, Dr. Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan-173230, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Chander Mohan Singh Bist
- Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)-Central Potato Research Institute, Shimla-171001, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Munish Sharma
- Department of Plant Sciences, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Dharamshala-176215, Himachal Pradesh, India
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2
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Kornienko AE, Nizhynska V, Molla Morales A, Pisupati R, Nordborg M. Population-level annotation of lncRNAs in Arabidopsis reveals extensive expression variation associated with transposable element-like silencing. Plant Cell 2023; 36:85-111. [PMID: 37683092 PMCID: PMC10734619 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are understudied and underannotated in plants. In mammals, lncRNA loci are nearly as ubiquitous as protein-coding genes, and their expression is highly variable between individuals of the same species. Using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model, we aimed to elucidate the true scope of lncRNA transcription across plants from different regions and study its natural variation. We used transcriptome deep sequencing data sets spanning hundreds of natural accessions and several developmental stages to create a population-wide annotation of lncRNAs, revealing thousands of previously unannotated lncRNA loci. While lncRNA transcription is ubiquitous in the genome, most loci appear to be actively silenced and their expression is extremely variable between natural accessions. This high expression variability is largely caused by the high variability of repressive chromatin levels at lncRNA loci. High variability was particularly common for intergenic lncRNAs (lincRNAs), where pieces of transposable elements (TEs) present in 50% of these lincRNA loci are associated with increased silencing and variation, and such lncRNAs tend to be targeted by the TE silencing machinery. We created a population-wide lncRNA annotation in Arabidopsis and improve our understanding of plant lncRNA genome biology, raising fundamental questions about what causes transcription and silencing across the genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra E Kornienko
- Gregor Mendel Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, Dr. Bohr-gasse 3, Vienna 1030, Austria
| | - Viktoria Nizhynska
- Gregor Mendel Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, Dr. Bohr-gasse 3, Vienna 1030, Austria
| | - Almudena Molla Morales
- Gregor Mendel Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, Dr. Bohr-gasse 3, Vienna 1030, Austria
| | - Rahul Pisupati
- Gregor Mendel Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, Dr. Bohr-gasse 3, Vienna 1030, Austria
| | - Magnus Nordborg
- Gregor Mendel Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, Dr. Bohr-gasse 3, Vienna 1030, Austria
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3
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Zhang J, Fang Z, Song C. Molecular characteristics and clinical implications of serine/arginine-rich splicing factors in human cancer. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:13287-13311. [PMID: 38015716 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
As critical splicing regulators, serine/arginine-rich splicing factors (SRSFs) play pivotal roles in carcinogenesis. As dysregulation of SRSFs may confer potential cancer risks, targeting SRSFs could provide important insights into cancer therapy. However, a global and comprehensive pattern to elaborate the molecular characteristics, mechanisms, and clinical links of SRSFs in a wide variety of human cancer is still lacking. In this study, a systematic analysis was conducted to reveal the molecular characteristics and clinical implications of SRSFs covering more than 10000 tumour samples of 33 human cancer types. We found that SRSFs experienced prevalent genomic alterations and expression perturbations in multiple cancer types. The DNA methylation, m6A modification, and miRNA regulation of SRSFs were all cancer context-dependent. Importantly, we found that SRSFs were strongly associated with cancer immunity, and were capable of predicting response to immunotherapy. And SRSFs had colossal potential for predicting survival in multiple cancer types, including those that have received immunotherapy. Moreover, we also found that SRSFs could indicate the drug sensitivity of targeted therapy and chemotherapy. Our research highlights the significance of SRSFs in cancer occurrence and development, and provides sufficient resources for understanding the biological characteristics of SRSFs, offering a new and unique perspective for developing cancer therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinjin Zhang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Zhicheng Fang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Congkuan Song
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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4
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Baduel P, Sasaki E. The genetic basis of epigenetic variation and its consequences for adaptation. Curr Opin Plant Biol 2023; 75:102409. [PMID: 37451221 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2023.102409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Recent population genomic studies in plants have shed new light on natural epigenetic variation by identifying key genetic determinants, "trans modifiers," that influence epigenetic states genome-wide and their interplay with environmental factors. Here, we review this progress by focusing on the epigenetic control of transposition and life-cycle transitions to highlight the ecological consequences of this genetic architecture and its evolutionary significance. This knowledge provides new opportunities to address long-standing questions about the establishment of environment-associated epigenetic variation and its relevance in adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Baduel
- Institut de Biologie de l'École Normale Supérieure (IBENS), ENS, PSL University, CNRS, 46 rue d'Ulm, Paris 75005, France
| | - Eriko Sasaki
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan.
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5
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Yao N, Zhang Z, Yu L, Hazarika R, Yu C, Jang H, Smith LM, Ton J, Liu L, Stachowicz JJ, Reusch TBH, Schmitz RJ, Johannes F. An evolutionary epigenetic clock in plants. Science 2023; 381:1440-1445. [PMID: 37769069 DOI: 10.1126/science.adh9443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Molecular clocks are the basis for dating the divergence between lineages over macroevolutionary timescales (~105 to 108 years). However, classical DNA-based clocks tick too slowly to inform us about the recent past. Here, we demonstrate that stochastic DNA methylation changes at a subset of cytosines in plant genomes display a clocklike behavior. This "epimutation clock" is orders of magnitude faster than DNA-based clocks and enables phylogenetic explorations on a scale of years to centuries. We show experimentally that epimutation clocks recapitulate known topologies and branching times of intraspecies phylogenetic trees in the self-fertilizing plant Arabidopsis thaliana and the clonal seagrass Zostera marina, which represent two major modes of plant reproduction. This discovery will open new possibilities for high-resolution temporal studies of plant biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Yao
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Z Zhang
- Plant Epigenomics, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - L Yu
- Marine Evolutionary Ecology, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - R Hazarika
- Plant Epigenomics, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - C Yu
- Plant Epigenomics, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - H Jang
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - L M Smith
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - J Ton
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - L Liu
- Department of Statistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - J J Stachowicz
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - T B H Reusch
- Marine Evolutionary Ecology, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - R J Schmitz
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - F Johannes
- Plant Epigenomics, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
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6
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Cao S, Chen K, Lu K, Chen S, Zhang X, Shen C, Zhu S, Niu Y, Fan L, Chen ZJ, Xu J, Song Q. Asymmetric variation in DNA methylation during domestication and de-domestication of rice. Plant Cell 2023; 35:3429-3443. [PMID: 37279583 PMCID: PMC10473196 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Hundreds of plant species have been domesticated to feed human civilization, while some crops have undergone de-domestication into agricultural weeds, threatening global food security. To understand the genetic and epigenetic basis of crop domestication and de-domestication, we generated DNA methylomes from 95 accessions of wild rice (Oryza rufipogon L.), cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) and weedy rice (O. sativa f. spontanea). We detected a significant decrease in DNA methylation over the course of rice domestication but observed an unexpected increase in DNA methylation through de-domestication. Notably, DNA methylation changes occurred in distinct genomic regions for these 2 opposite stages. Variation in DNA methylation altered the expression of nearby and distal genes through affecting chromatin accessibility, histone modifications, transcription factor binding, and the formation of chromatin loops, which may contribute to morphological changes during domestication and de-domestication of rice. These insights into population epigenomics underlying rice domestication and de-domestication provide resources and tools for epigenetic breeding and sustainable agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
- Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117604, Singapore
| | - Kai Chen
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518120, China
| | - Kening Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Shiting Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Xiyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | - Congcong Shen
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518120, China
| | - Shuangbin Zhu
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518120, China
| | - Yanan Niu
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Longjiang Fan
- Institute of Crop Science & Institute of Bioinformatics, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Z Jeffrey Chen
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Jianlong Xu
- National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Qingxin Song
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
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Guo H, Cao P, Wang C, Lai J, Deng Y, Li C, Hao Y, Wu Z, Chen R, Qiang Q, Fernie AR, Yang J, Wang S. Population analysis reveals the roles of DNA methylation in tomato domestication and metabolic diversity. Sci China Life Sci 2023; 66:1888-1902. [PMID: 36971992 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-022-2299-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
DNA methylation is an important epigenetic marker, yet its diversity and consequences in tomato breeding at the population level are largely unknown. We performed whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS), RNA sequencing, and metabolic profiling on a population comprising wild tomatoes, landraces, and cultivars. A total of 8,375 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified, with methylation levels progressively decreasing from domestication to improvement. We found that over 20% of DMRs overlapped with selective sweeps. Moreover, more than 80% of DMRs in tomato were not significantly associated with single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and DMRs had strong linkages with adjacent SNPs. We additionally profiled 339 metabolites from 364 diverse accessions and further performed a metabolic association study based on SNPs and DMRs. We detected 971 and 711 large-effect loci via SNP and DMR markers, respectively. Combined with multi-omics, we identified 13 candidate genes and updated the polyphenol biosynthetic pathway. Our results showed that DNA methylation variants could complement SNP profiling of metabolite diversity. Our study thus provides a DNA methylome map across diverse accessions and suggests that DNA methylation variation can be the genetic basis of metabolic diversity in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Guo
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute of Hainan University, Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya, 572025, China
- College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, 572208, China
| | - Peng Cao
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute of Hainan University, Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya, 572025, China
- College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, 572208, China
| | - Chao Wang
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute of Hainan University, Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya, 572025, China
- College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, 572208, China
| | - Jun Lai
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute of Hainan University, Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya, 572025, China
- College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, 572208, China
| | - Yuan Deng
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute of Hainan University, Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya, 572025, China
- College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, 572208, China
| | - Chun Li
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute of Hainan University, Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya, 572025, China
- College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, 572208, China
| | - Yingchen Hao
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute of Hainan University, Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya, 572025, China
- College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, 572208, China
| | - Zeyong Wu
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute of Hainan University, Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya, 572025, China
- College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, 572208, China
| | - Ridong Chen
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute of Hainan University, Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya, 572025, China
- College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, 572208, China
| | - Qi Qiang
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute of Hainan University, Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya, 572025, China
- College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, 572208, China
| | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Potsdam-Golm, 144776, Germany
| | - Jun Yang
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute of Hainan University, Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya, 572025, China
- College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, 572208, China
| | - Shouchuang Wang
- Sanya Nanfan Research Institute of Hainan University, Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya, 572025, China.
- College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, 572208, China.
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8
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Huang B, Wang P, Jin L, Yv X, Wen M, Wu S, Liu F, Xu J. Methylome and transcriptome analysis of flowering branches building of Citrus plants induced by drought stress. Gene 2023:147595. [PMID: 37385391 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Citrus plants exhibit positive floral response under water stress conditions, however, the mechanistic understanding of floral induction remains largely unexplored in water deficit. In this study, DNA methylomic and transcriptomic analyses were integrated to explore the flowering bud formation as well as branches building after light drought stress. While comparing with the conventional watering group (CK), the light drought group treated with five months (LD) showed a significant increase in the flowering branches, whereas an apparent decrease in vegetative branches. Global DNA methylation analysis showed that the LD Group acquired DNA methylation in more than 70090 genomic regions and lost DNA methylation in about 18421 genomic regions compared with normal watering group, this indicates that water deficiency leads to a global increase in the expression of DNA methylation in citrus. In the same time, we verified that the increase of DNA methylation level in LD group was correlated with the decrease of DNA demethylase related gene expression. Interestingly, in transcription analysis, it was found that the promoting flower genes of the LD group did not increase but decreased similarly with repressing genes, which is contrary to the intended result. Thus, we thought the lower expression of suppressors FLC and BFT were the key influencing factor to stimulate the flowering branches formation after LD treatment. Moreover, there was a strong negative correlation between the genes expression level and methylation level of the flowering induction/flower development genes. In general, we thought high global DNA methylation level induced by water deficit regulate the flowering branches building by reducing FLC and BFT genes expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bei Huang
- Institute of Citrus Research, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Taizhou 318026, China
| | - Peng Wang
- Institute of Citrus Research, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Taizhou 318026, China
| | - Longfei Jin
- Institute of Citrus Research, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Taizhou 318026, China
| | - Xiaofeng Yv
- College of Horticulture and Gardening, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434025, China
| | - Mingxia Wen
- Institute of Citrus Research, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Taizhou 318026, China
| | - Shaohui Wu
- Institute of Citrus Research, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Taizhou 318026, China
| | - Feng Liu
- Institute of Citrus Research, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Taizhou 318026, China
| | - Jianguo Xu
- Institute of Citrus Research, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Taizhou 318026, China; National Center for Citrus Variety Improvement, Zhejiang Branches, Taizhou 318026, China
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9
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Bogan SN, Strader ME, Hofmann GE. Associations between DNA methylation and gene regulation depend on chromatin accessibility during transgenerational plasticity. BMC Biol 2023; 21:149. [PMID: 37365578 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01645-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epigenetic processes are proposed to be a mechanism regulating gene expression during phenotypic plasticity. However, environmentally induced changes in DNA methylation exhibit little-to-no association with differential gene expression in metazoans at a transcriptome-wide level. It remains unexplored whether associations between environmentally induced differential methylation and expression are contingent upon other epigenomic processes such as chromatin accessibility. We quantified methylation and gene expression in larvae of the purple sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus exposed to different ecologically relevant conditions during gametogenesis (maternal conditioning) and modeled changes in gene expression and splicing resulting from maternal conditioning as functions of differential methylation, incorporating covariates for genomic features and chromatin accessibility. We detected significant interactions between differential methylation, chromatin accessibility, and genic feature type associated with differential expression and splicing. RESULTS Differential gene body methylation had significantly stronger effects on expression among genes with poorly accessible transcriptional start sites while baseline transcript abundance influenced the direction of this effect. Transcriptional responses to maternal conditioning were 4-13 × more likely when accounting for interactions between methylation and chromatin accessibility, demonstrating that the relationship between differential methylation and gene regulation is partially explained by chromatin state. CONCLUSIONS DNA methylation likely possesses multiple associations with gene regulation during transgenerational plasticity in S. purpuratus and potentially other metazoans, but its effects are dependent on chromatin accessibility and underlying genic features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel N Bogan
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, USA.
| | - Marie E Strader
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, USA
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA
| | - Gretchen E Hofmann
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, USA
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Agius DR, Kapazoglou A, Avramidou E, Baranek M, Carneros E, Caro E, Castiglione S, Cicatelli A, Radanovic A, Ebejer JP, Gackowski D, Guarino F, Gulyás A, Hidvégi N, Hoenicka H, Inácio V, Johannes F, Karalija E, Lieberman-Lazarovich M, Martinelli F, Maury S, Mladenov V, Morais-Cecílio L, Pecinka A, Tani E, Testillano PS, Todorov D, Valledor L, Vassileva V. Exploring the crop epigenome: a comparison of DNA methylation profiling techniques. Front Plant Sci 2023; 14:1181039. [PMID: 37389288 PMCID: PMC10306282 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1181039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications play a vital role in the preservation of genome integrity and in the regulation of gene expression. DNA methylation, one of the key mechanisms of epigenetic control, impacts growth, development, stress response and adaptability of all organisms, including plants. The detection of DNA methylation marks is crucial for understanding the mechanisms underlying these processes and for developing strategies to improve productivity and stress resistance of crop plants. There are different methods for detecting plant DNA methylation, such as bisulfite sequencing, methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism, genome-wide DNA methylation analysis, methylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing, reduced representation bisulfite sequencing, MS and immuno-based techniques. These profiling approaches vary in many aspects, including DNA input, resolution, genomic region coverage, and bioinformatics analysis. Selecting an appropriate methylation screening approach requires an understanding of all these techniques. This review provides an overview of DNA methylation profiling methods in crop plants, along with comparisons of the efficacy of these techniques between model and crop plants. The strengths and limitations of each methodological approach are outlined, and the importance of considering both technical and biological factors are highlighted. Additionally, methods for modulating DNA methylation in model and crop species are presented. Overall, this review will assist scientists in making informed decisions when selecting an appropriate DNA methylation profiling method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dolores Rita Agius
- Centre of Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
- Biology Department, Ġ.F.Abela Junior College, Msida, Malta
| | - Aliki Kapazoglou
- Department of Vitis, Institute of Olive Tree, Subtropical Crops and Viticulture (IOSV), Hellenic Agricultural Organization-DIMITRA (ELGO-DIMITRA), Athens, Greece
| | - Evangelia Avramidou
- Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Biotechnology, Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems, Hellenic Agricultural Organization-DIMITRA (ELGO-DIMITRA), Athens, Greece
| | - Miroslav Baranek
- Mendeleum-Insitute of Genetics, Faculty of Horticulture, Mendel University in Brno, Lednice, Czechia
| | - Elena Carneros
- Center for Biological Research (CIB) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Caro
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Stefano Castiglione
- Department of Chemistry and Biology ‘A. Zambelli’, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy
| | - Angela Cicatelli
- Department of Chemistry and Biology ‘A. Zambelli’, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy
| | - Aleksandra Radanovic
- Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, National Institute of Republic of Serbia, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Jean-Paul Ebejer
- Centre of Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | - Daniel Gackowski
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Francesco Guarino
- Department of Chemistry and Biology ‘A. Zambelli’, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy
| | - Andrea Gulyás
- Centre for Agricultural Genomics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, Nyíregyháza, Hungary
| | - Norbert Hidvégi
- Centre for Agricultural Genomics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, Nyíregyháza, Hungary
| | - Hans Hoenicka
- Genomic Research Department, Thünen Institute of Forest Genetics, Grosshansdorf, Germany
| | - Vera Inácio
- BioISI – BioSystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Frank Johannes
- Plant Epigenomics, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Freising, Germany
| | - Erna Karalija
- Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Michal Lieberman-Lazarovich
- Department of Vegetables and Field Crops, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Institute of Plant Sciences, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | | | - Stéphane Maury
- Laboratoire de Biologie des Ligneux et des Grandes Cultures EA1207 USC1328, INRAE, Université d’Orléans, Orléans, France
| | - Velimir Mladenov
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Leonor Morais-Cecílio
- Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food (LEAF), Institute of Agronomy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ales Pecinka
- Centre of Plant Structural and Functional Genomics, Institute of Experimental Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Olomouc, Czechia
| | - Eleni Tani
- Laboratory of Plant Breeding and Biometry, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Pilar S. Testillano
- Center for Biological Research (CIB) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Dimitar Todorov
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Luis Valledor
- Plant Physiology, Department of Organisms and Systems Biology and University Institute of Biotechnology of Asturias, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Valya Vassileva
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
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11
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Yoosefzadeh Najafabadi M, Hesami M, Rajcan I. Unveiling the Mysteries of Non-Mendelian Heredity in Plant Breeding. Plants (Basel) 2023; 12:1956. [PMID: 37653871 PMCID: PMC10221147 DOI: 10.3390/plants12101956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Mendelian heredity is the cornerstone of plant breeding and has been used to develop new varieties of plants since the 19th century. However, there are several breeding cases, such as cytoplasmic inheritance, methylation, epigenetics, hybrid vigor, and loss of heterozygosity (LOH), where Mendelian heredity is not applicable, known as non-Mendelian heredity. This type of inheritance can be influenced by several factors besides the genetic architecture of the plant and its breeding potential. Therefore, exploring various non-Mendelian heredity mechanisms, their prevalence in plants, and the implications for plant breeding is of paramount importance to accelerate the pace of crop improvement. In this review, we examine the current understanding of non-Mendelian heredity in plants, including the mechanisms, inheritance patterns, and applications in plant breeding, provide an overview of the various forms of non-Mendelian inheritance (including epigenetic inheritance, cytoplasmic inheritance, hybrid vigor, and LOH), explore insight into the implications of non-Mendelian heredity in plant breeding, and the potential it holds for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Istvan Rajcan
- Department of Plant Agriculture, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada; (M.Y.N.); (M.H.)
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12
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Orantes-Bonilla M, Wang H, Lee HT, Golicz AA, Hu D, Li W, Zou J, Snowdon RJ. Transgressive and parental dominant gene expression and cytosine methylation during seed development in Brassica napus hybrids. Theor Appl Genet 2023; 136:113. [PMID: 37071201 PMCID: PMC10113308 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-023-04345-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
KEY MESSAGE Transcriptomic and epigenomic profiling of gene expression and small RNAs during seed and seedling development reveals expression and methylation dominance levels with implications on early stage heterosis in oilseed rape. The enhanced performance of hybrids through heterosis remains a key aspect in plant breeding; however, the underlying mechanisms are still not fully elucidated. To investigate the potential role of transcriptomic and epigenomic patterns in early expression of hybrid vigor, we investigated gene expression, small RNA abundance and genome-wide methylation in hybrids from two distant Brassica napus ecotypes during seed and seedling developmental stages using next-generation sequencing. A total of 31117, 344, 36229 and 7399 differentially expressed genes, microRNAs, small interfering RNAs and differentially methylated regions were identified, respectively. Approximately 70% of the differentially expressed or methylated features displayed parental dominance levels where the hybrid followed the same patterns as the parents. Via gene ontology enrichment and microRNA-target association analyses during seed development, we found copies of reproductive, developmental and meiotic genes with transgressive and paternal dominance patterns. Interestingly, maternal dominance was more prominent in hypermethylated and downregulated features during seed formation, contrasting to the general maternal gamete demethylation reported during gametogenesis in angiosperms. Associations between methylation and gene expression allowed identification of putative epialleles with diverse pivotal biological functions during seed formation. Furthermore, most differentially methylated regions, differentially expressed siRNAs and transposable elements were in regions that flanked genes without differential expression. This suggests that differential expression and methylation of epigenomic features may help maintain expression of pivotal genes in a hybrid context. Differential expression and methylation patterns during seed formation in an F1 hybrid provide novel insights into genes and mechanisms with potential roles in early heterosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mauricio Orantes-Bonilla
- Department of Plant Breeding, Land Use and Nutrition, IFZ Research Centre for Biosystems, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Hao Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Huey Tyng Lee
- Department of Plant Breeding, Land Use and Nutrition, IFZ Research Centre for Biosystems, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Agnieszka A Golicz
- Department of Plant Breeding, Land Use and Nutrition, IFZ Research Centre for Biosystems, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Dandan Hu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenwen Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Zou
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Rod J Snowdon
- Department of Plant Breeding, Land Use and Nutrition, IFZ Research Centre for Biosystems, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany.
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13
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Jeynes-Cupper K, Catoni M. Long distance signalling and epigenetic changes in crop grafting. Front Plant Sci 2023; 14:1121704. [PMID: 37021313 PMCID: PMC10067726 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1121704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Humans have used grafting for more than 4000 years to improve plant production, through physically joining two different plants, which can continue to grow as a single organism. Today, grafting is becoming increasingly more popular as a technique to increase the production of herbaceous horticultural crops, where rootstocks can introduce traits such as resistance to several pathogens and/or improving the plant vigour. Research in model plants have documented how long-distance signalling mechanisms across the graft junction, together with epigenetic regulation, can produce molecular and phenotypic changes in grafted plants. Yet, most of the studied examples rely on proof-of-concept experiments or on limited specific cases. This review explores the link between research findings in model plants and crop species. We analyse studies investigating the movement of signalling molecules across the graft junction and their implications on epigenetic regulation. The improvement of genomics analyses and the increased availability of genetic resources has allowed to collect more information on potential benefits of grafting in horticultural crop models. Ultimately, further research into this topic will enhance our ability to use the grafting technique to exploit genetic and epigenetic variation in crops, as an alternative to traditional breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marco Catoni
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council of Italy, Torino, Italy
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14
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Vogt G. Environmental Adaptation of Genetically Uniform Organisms with the Help of Epigenetic Mechanisms-An Insightful Perspective on Ecoepigenetics. Epigenomes 2022; 7:1. [PMID: 36648862 PMCID: PMC9844400 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes7010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Organisms adapt to different environments by selection of the most suitable phenotypes from the standing genetic variation or by phenotypic plasticity, the ability of single genotypes to produce different phenotypes in different environments. Because of near genetic identity, asexually reproducing populations are particularly suitable for the investigation of the potential and molecular underpinning of the latter alternative in depth. Recent analyses on the whole-genome scale of differently adapted clonal animals and plants demonstrated that epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications and non-coding RNAs are among the molecular pathways supporting phenotypic plasticity and that epigenetic variation is used to stably adapt to different environments. Case studies revealed habitat-specific epigenetic fingerprints that were maintained over subsequent years pointing at the existence of epigenetic ecotypes. Environmentally induced epimutations and corresponding gene expression changes provide an ideal means for fast and directional adaptation to changing or new conditions, because they can synchronously alter phenotypes in many population members. Because microorganisms inclusive of human pathogens also exploit epigenetically mediated phenotypic variation for environmental adaptation, this phenomenon is considered a universal biological principle. The production of different phenotypes from the same DNA sequence in response to environmental cues by epigenetic mechanisms also provides a mechanistic explanation for the "general-purpose genotype hypothesis" and the "genetic paradox of invasions".
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Affiliation(s)
- Günter Vogt
- Faculty of Biosciences, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 234, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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15
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Liu N, Wu B, Pandey MK, Huang L, Luo H, Chen Y, Zhou X, Chen W, Huai D, Yu B, Chen H, Guo J, Lei Y, Liao B, Varshney RK, Jiang H. Gene expression and DNA methylation altering lead to the high oil content in wild allotetraploid peanut ( A. monticola). Front Plant Sci 2022; 13:1065267. [PMID: 36589096 PMCID: PMC9802669 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1065267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The wild allotetraploid peanut Arachis monticola contains a higher oil content than the cultivated allotetraploid Arachis hypogaea. Besides the fact that increasing oil content is the most important peanut breeding objective, a proper understanding of its molecular mechanism controlling oil accumulation is still lacking. METHODS We investigated this aspect by performing comparative transcriptomics from developing seeds between three wild and five cultivated peanut varieties. RESULTS The analyses not only showed species-specific grouping transcriptional profiles but also detected two gene clusters with divergent expression patterns between two species enriched in lipid metabolism. Further analysis revealed that expression alteration of lipid metabolic genes with co-expressed transcription factors in wild peanut led to enhanced activity of oil biogenesis and retarded the rate of lipid degradation. In addition, bisulfite sequencing was conducted to characterize the variation of DNA methylation between wild allotetraploid (245, WH 10025) and cultivated allotetraploid (Z16, Zhh 7720) genotypes. CG and CHG context methylation was found to antagonistically correlate with gene expression during seed development. Differentially methylated region analysis and transgenic assay further illustrated that variations of DNA methylation between wild and cultivated peanuts could affect the oil content via altering the expression of peroxisomal acyl transporter protein (Araip.H6S1B). DISCUSSION From the results, we deduced that DNA methylation may negatively regulate lipid metabolic genes and transcription factors to subtly affect oil accumulation divergence between wild and cultivated peanuts. Our work provided the first glimpse on the regulatory mechanism of gene expression altering for oil accumulation in wild peanut and gene resources for future breeding applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nian Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Bei Wu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Manish K. Pandey
- Center of Excellence in Genomics and Systems Biology (CEGSB), International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, India
| | - Li Huang
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Huaiyong Luo
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuning Chen
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaojing Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Weigang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Dongxin Huai
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Bolun Yu
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Institute of Crop Sciences, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jianbin Guo
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yong Lei
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Boshou Liao
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Rajeev K. Varshney
- Center of Excellence in Genomics and Systems Biology (CEGSB), International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, India
| | - Huifang Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan, China
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Mahmood U, Li X, Fan Y, Chang W, Niu Y, Li J, Qu C, Lu K. Multi-omics revolution to promote plant breeding efficiency. Front Plant Sci 2022; 13:1062952. [PMID: 36570904 PMCID: PMC9773847 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1062952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Crop production is the primary goal of agricultural activities, which is always taken into consideration. However, global agricultural systems are coming under increasing pressure from the rising food demand of the rapidly growing world population and changing climate. To address these issues, improving high-yield and climate-resilient related-traits in crop breeding is an effective strategy. In recent years, advances in omics techniques, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, paved the way for accelerating plant/crop breeding to cope with the changing climate and enhance food production. Optimized omics and phenotypic plasticity platform integration, exploited by evolving machine learning algorithms will aid in the development of biological interpretations for complex crop traits. The precise and progressive assembly of desire alleles using precise genome editing approaches and enhanced breeding strategies would enable future crops to excel in combating the changing climates. Furthermore, plant breeding and genetic engineering ensures an exclusive approach to developing nutrient sufficient and climate-resilient crops, the productivity of which can sustainably and adequately meet the world's food, nutrition, and energy needs. This review provides an overview of how the integration of omics approaches could be exploited to select crop varieties with desired traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umer Mahmood
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City and Southwest University, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaodong Li
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City and Southwest University, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yonghai Fan
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City and Southwest University, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wei Chang
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City and Southwest University, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yue Niu
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City and Southwest University, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jiana Li
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City and Southwest University, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Cunmin Qu
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City and Southwest University, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
| | - Kun Lu
- Integrative Science Center of Germplasm Creation in Western China (Chongqing) Science City and Southwest University, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Engineering Research Center of South Upland Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Chongqing, China
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17
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Varotto S, Krugman T, Aiese Cigliano R, Kashkush K, Kondić-Špika A, Aravanopoulos FA, Pradillo M, Consiglio F, Aversano R, Pecinka A, Miladinović D. Exploitation of epigenetic variation of crop wild relatives for crop improvement and agrobiodiversity preservation. Theor Appl Genet 2022; 135:3987-4003. [PMID: 35678824 PMCID: PMC9729329 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-022-04122-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Crop wild relatives (CWRs) are recognized as the best potential source of traits for crop improvement. However, successful crop improvement using CWR relies on identifying variation in genes controlling desired traits in plant germplasms and subsequently incorporating them into cultivars. Epigenetic diversity may provide an additional layer of variation within CWR and can contribute novel epialleles for key traits for crop improvement. There is emerging evidence that epigenetic variants of functional and/or agronomic importance exist in CWR gene pools. This provides a rationale for the conservation of epigenotypes of interest, thus contributing to agrobiodiversity preservation through conservation and (epi)genetic monitoring. Concepts and techniques of classical and modern breeding should consider integrating recent progress in epigenetics, initially by identifying their association with phenotypic variations and then by assessing their heritability and stability in subsequent generations. New tools available for epigenomic analysis offer the opportunity to capture epigenetic variation and integrate it into advanced (epi)breeding programmes. Advances in -omics have provided new insights into the sources and inheritance of epigenetic variation and enabled the efficient introduction of epi-traits from CWR into crops using epigenetic molecular markers, such as epiQTLs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Varotto
- Department of Agronomy Animal Food Natural Resources and Environment, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università, 16 35020, Legnaro, Italy.
| | - Tamar Krugman
- Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Abba Khoushy Ave 199, 3498838, Haifa, Israel
| | | | - Khalil Kashkush
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University, Beersheba, 84105, Israel
| | - Ankica Kondić-Špika
- Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Maksima Gorkog 30, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Fillipos A Aravanopoulos
- Faculty of Agriculture, Forest Science & Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GR54006, Greece
| | - Monica Pradillo
- Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Federica Consiglio
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council (CNR), Via Università 133, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Riccardo Aversano
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Università 100, 80055, Portici, Italy
| | - Ales Pecinka
- Institute of Experimental Botany, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Czech Acad Sci, Šlechtitelů 31, 779 00, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Dragana Miladinović
- Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Maksima Gorkog 30, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia
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Rajpal VR, Rathore P, Mehta S, Wadhwa N, Yadav P, Berry E, Goel S, Bhat V, Raina SN. Epigenetic variation: A major player in facilitating plant fitness under changing environmental conditions. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1020958. [PMID: 36340045 PMCID: PMC9628676 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1020958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent research in plant epigenetics has increased our understanding of how epigenetic variability can contribute to adaptive phenotypic plasticity in natural populations. Studies show that environmental changes induce epigenetic switches either independently or in complementation with the genetic variation. Although most of the induced epigenetic variability gets reset between generations and is short-lived, some variation becomes transgenerational and results in heritable phenotypic traits. The short-term epigenetic responses provide the first tier of transient plasticity required for local adaptations while transgenerational epigenetic changes contribute to stress memory and help the plants respond better to recurring or long-term stresses. These transgenerational epigenetic variations translate into an additional tier of diversity which results in stable epialleles. In recent years, studies have been conducted on epigenetic variation in natural populations related to various biological processes, ecological factors, communities, and habitats. With the advent of advanced NGS-based technologies, epigenetic studies targeting plants in diverse environments have increased manifold to enhance our understanding of epigenetic responses to environmental stimuli in facilitating plant fitness. Taking all points together in a frame, the present review is a compilation of present-day knowledge and understanding of the role of epigenetics and its fitness benefits in diverse ecological systems in natural populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijay Rani Rajpal
- Department of Botany, Hansraj College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
- *Correspondence: Vijay Rani Rajpal, , ; Shailendra Goel, ; Vishnu Bhat, ; Soom Nath Raina,
| | | | - Sahil Mehta
- School of Agricultural Sciences, K.R. Mangalam University, Gurugram, Haryana, India
| | - Nikita Wadhwa
- University School of Biotechnology, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Eapsa Berry
- Maharishi Kanad Bhawan, Delhi School of Climate Change and Sustainability, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Shailendra Goel
- Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
- *Correspondence: Vijay Rani Rajpal, , ; Shailendra Goel, ; Vishnu Bhat, ; Soom Nath Raina,
| | - Vishnu Bhat
- Department of Botany, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
- *Correspondence: Vijay Rani Rajpal, , ; Shailendra Goel, ; Vishnu Bhat, ; Soom Nath Raina,
| | - Soom Nath Raina
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
- *Correspondence: Vijay Rani Rajpal, , ; Shailendra Goel, ; Vishnu Bhat, ; Soom Nath Raina,
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19
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Tonosaki K, Fujimoto R, Dennis ES, Raboy V, Osabe K. Will epigenetics be a key player in crop breeding? Front Plant Sci 2022; 13:958350. [PMID: 36247549 PMCID: PMC9562705 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.958350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
If food and feed production are to keep up with world demand in the face of climate change, continued progress in understanding and utilizing both genetic and epigenetic sources of crop variation is necessary. Progress in plant breeding has traditionally been thought to be due to selection for spontaneous DNA sequence mutations that impart desirable phenotypes. These spontaneous mutations can expand phenotypic diversity, from which breeders can select agronomically useful traits. However, it has become clear that phenotypic diversity can be generated even when the genome sequence is unaltered. Epigenetic gene regulation is a mechanism by which genome expression is regulated without altering the DNA sequence. With the development of high throughput DNA sequencers, it has become possible to analyze the epigenetic state of the whole genome, which is termed the epigenome. These techniques enable us to identify spontaneous epigenetic mutations (epimutations) with high throughput and identify the epimutations that lead to increased phenotypic diversity. These epimutations can create new phenotypes and the causative epimutations can be inherited over generations. There is evidence of selected agronomic traits being conditioned by heritable epimutations, and breeders may have historically selected for epiallele-conditioned agronomic traits. These results imply that not only DNA sequence diversity, but the diversity of epigenetic states can contribute to increased phenotypic diversity. However, since the modes of induction and transmission of epialleles and their stability differ from that of genetic alleles, the importance of inheritance as classically defined also differs. For example, there may be a difference between the types of epigenetic inheritance important to crop breeding and crop production. The former may depend more on longer-term inheritance whereas the latter may simply take advantage of shorter-term phenomena. With the advances in our understanding of epigenetics, epigenetics may bring new perspectives for crop improvement, such as the use of epigenetic variation or epigenome editing in breeding. In this review, we will introduce the role of epigenetic variation in plant breeding, largely focusing on DNA methylation, and conclude by asking to what extent new knowledge of epigenetics in crop breeding has led to documented cases of its successful use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaoru Tonosaki
- Kihara Institute for Biological Research, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Ryo Fujimoto
- Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan
| | - Elizabeth S. Dennis
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Agriculture and Food, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Victor Raboy
- Independent Researcher Portland, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Kenji Osabe
- Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (SANKEN), Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
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20
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Zeng T, Yin J, Feng P, Han F, Tian Y, Wang Y, Gu T, Xu Y, Liu Y, Li G, Qu L, Chen L, Gu L, Xu W, Xue Q, Wei Q, Cao Y, Li P, Zhang H, Li G, Liu L, Zhou C, Tao Z, Shen J, Han W, Lu L. Analysis of genome and methylation changes in Chinese indigenous chickens over time provides insight into species conservation. Commun Biol 2022; 5. [PMID: 36097156 PMCID: PMC9467985 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03907-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Conservation of natural resources is a vital and challenging task. Numerous animal genetic resources have been effectively conserved worldwide. However, the effectiveness of conservation programmes and the variation information of species have rarely been evaluated. Here, we performed whole-genome and whole-genome bisulfite sequencing of 90 Chinese indigenous chickens, which belonged to the Tibetan, Wenchang and Bian chicken breeds, and have been conserved under different conservation programmes. We observed that low genetic diversity and high DNA methylation variation occurs during ex situ in vivo conservation, while higher genetic diversity and differentiation occurs during in situ conservation. Further analyses revealed that most DNA methylation signatures are unique within ex situ in vivo conservation. Moreover, a high proportion of differentially methylated regions is found in genomic selection regions, suggesting a link between the effects of genomic variation and DNA methylation. Altogether our findings provide valuable information about genetic and DNA methylation variations during different conservation programmes, and hold practical relevance for species conservation. Comparisons of genomic and methylomic changes during the conservation of indigenous chicken breeds in China provide insight into conservation programmes for these breeds and their adaptations to unique environments.
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21
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Gui S, Wei W, Jiang C, Luo J, Chen L, Wu S, Li W, Wang Y, Li S, Yang N, Li Q, Fernie AR, Yan J. A pan-Zea genome map for enhancing maize improvement. Genome Biol 2022; 23:178. [PMID: 35999561 PMCID: PMC9396798 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-022-02742-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Maize (Zea mays L.) is at the vanguard facing the upcoming breeding challenges. However, both a super pan-genome for the Zea genus and a comprehensive genetic variation map for maize breeding are still lacking. Results Here, we construct an approximately 6.71-Gb pan-Zea genome that contains around 4.57-Gb non-B73 reference sequences from fragmented de novo assemblies of 721 pan-Zea individuals. We annotate a total of 58,944 pan-Zea genes and find around 44.34% of them are dispensable in the pan-Zea population. Moreover, 255,821 common structural variations are identified and genotyped in a maize association mapping panel. Further analyses reveal gene presence/absence variants and their potential roles during domestication of maize. Combining genetic analyses with multi-omics data, we demonstrate how structural variants are associated with complex agronomic traits. Conclusions Our results highlight the underexplored role of the pan-Zea genome and structural variations to further understand domestication of maize and explore their potential utilization in crop improvement. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13059-022-02742-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songtao Gui
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Wenjie Wei
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Chenglin Jiang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Jingyun Luo
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Lu Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Shenshen Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Wenqiang Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Yuebin Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Shuyan Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Ning Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.,Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Qing Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.,Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Department of Molecular Physiology, Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476, Potsdam, Golm, Germany
| | - Jianbing Yan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China. .,Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070, China.
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22
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Guo Y, Chen Y, Zhang J, Li J, Fan K, Chen R, Liu Y, Zheng J, Fu J, Gu R, Wang G, Cui Y, Du X, Wang J. Epigenetic Mutation in a Tubulin-Folding Cofactor B (ZmTFCB) Gene Arrests Kernel Development in Maize. Plant Cell Physiol 2022; 63:1156-1167. [PMID: 35771678 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcac092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Epialleles, the heritable epigenetic variants that are not caused by changes in DNA sequences, can broaden genetic and phenotypic diversity and benefit to crop breeding, but very few epialleles related to agricultural traits have been identified in maize. Here, we cloned a small kernel mutant, smk-wl10, from maize, which encoded a tubulin-folding cofactor B (ZmTFCB) protein. Expression of the ZmTFCB gene decreased in the smk-wl10 mutant, which arrested embryo, endosperm and basal endosperm transfer layer developments. Overexpression of ZmTFCB could complement the defective phenotype of smk-wl10. No nucleotide sequence variation in ZmTFCB could be found between smk-wl10 and wild type (WT). Instead, we detected hypermethylation of nucleotide CHG (where H is A, C or T nucleotide) sequence contexts and increased level of histone H3K9me2 methylation in the upstream sequence of ZmTFCB in smk-wl10 compared with WT, which might respond to the attenuating transcription of ZmTFCB. In addition, yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays identified a strong interaction between ZmTFCB and its homolog ZmTFCE. Thus, our work identifies a novel epiallele of the maize ZmTFCB gene, which might represent a common phenomenon in the epigenetic regulation of important traits such as kernel development in maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingmei Guo
- Beijing Innovation Center for Crop Seed Technology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
- Hainan Yazhou Bay Seed Laboratory, Sanya 572025, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Beijing Innovation Center for Crop Seed Technology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jiankun Li
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Kaijian Fan
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Rongrong Chen
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yunjun Liu
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Jun Zheng
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Junjie Fu
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Riliang Gu
- Beijing Innovation Center for Crop Seed Technology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Guoying Wang
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yu Cui
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
- Beijing Innovation Center for Crop Seed Technology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xuemei Du
- Beijing Innovation Center for Crop Seed Technology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jianhua Wang
- Beijing Innovation Center for Crop Seed Technology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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23
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De Kort H, Toivainen T, Van Nieuwerburgh F, Andrés J, Hytönen TP, Honnay O. Signatures of polygenic adaptation align with genome-wide methylation patterns in wild strawberry plants. New Phytol 2022; 235:1501-1514. [PMID: 35575945 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic inheritance can drive adaptive evolution independently of DNA sequence variation. However, to what extent epigenetic variation represents an autonomous evolutionary force remains largely elusive. Through gene ontology and comparative analyses of genomic and epigenomic variation of wild strawberry plants raised in distinct drought settings, we characterised genome-wide covariation between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and differentially methylated cytosines (DMCs). Covariation between SNPs and DMCs was independent of genomic proximity, but instead associated with fitness-related processes such as stress responses, genome regulation and reproduction. We expected this functional SNP-DMC covariation to be driven by adaptive evolution canalising SNP and DMC variation, but instead observed significantly lower covariation with DMCs for adaptive rather than for neutral SNPs. Drought-induced DMCs frequently co-varied with tens of SNPs, suggesting high genomic redundancy as a broad potential basis for polygenic adaptation of gene expression. Our findings suggest that stress-responsive DMCs initially co-vary with many SNPs under increased environmental stress, and that natural selection acting upon several of these SNPs subsequently reduces standing covariation with stress-responsive DMCs. Our study supports DNA methylation profiles that represent complex quantitative traits rather than autonomous evolutionary forces. We provide a conceptual framework for polygenic regulation and adaptation shaping genome-wide methylation patterns in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanne De Kort
- Plant Conservation and Population Biology, University of Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31-2435, BE-3001, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tuomas Toivainen
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, Latokartanonkaari 7, 00790, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Javier Andrés
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, Latokartanonkaari 7, 00790, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Timo P Hytönen
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, Latokartanonkaari 7, 00790, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Olivier Honnay
- Plant Conservation and Population Biology, University of Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31-2435, BE-3001, Leuven, Belgium
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24
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Kumari P, Khan S, Wani IA, Gupta R, Verma S, Alam P, Alaklabi A. Unravelling the Role of Epigenetic Modifications in Development and Reproduction of Angiosperms: A Critical Appraisal. Front Genet 2022; 13:819941. [PMID: 35664328 PMCID: PMC9157814 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.819941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetics are the heritable changes in gene expression patterns which occur without altering DNA sequence. These changes are reversible and do not change the sequence of the DNA but can alter the way in which the DNA sequences are read. Epigenetic modifications are induced by DNA methylation, histone modification, and RNA-mediated mechanisms which alter the gene expression, primarily at the transcriptional level. Such alterations do control genome activity through transcriptional silencing of transposable elements thereby contributing toward genome stability. Plants being sessile in nature are highly susceptible to the extremes of changing environmental conditions. This increases the likelihood of epigenetic modifications within the composite network of genes that affect the developmental changes of a plant species. Genetic and epigenetic reprogramming enhances the growth and development, imparts phenotypic plasticity, and also ensures flowering under stress conditions without changing the genotype for several generations. Epigenetic modifications hold an immense significance during the development of male and female gametophytes, fertilization, embryogenesis, fruit formation, and seed germination. In this review, we focus on the mechanism of epigenetic modifications and their dynamic role in maintaining the genomic integrity during plant development and reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Kumari
- Conservation and Molecular Biology Lab., Department of Botany, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri, India
| | - Sajid Khan
- Conservation and Molecular Biology Lab., Department of Botany, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri, India
| | - Ishfaq Ahmad Wani
- Conservation and Molecular Biology Lab., Department of Botany, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri, India
| | - Renu Gupta
- Division of Soil Sciences & Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture Sher e Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Chatha, India
| | - Susheel Verma
- Department of Botany, University of Jammu, Jammu, India
- *Correspondence: Susheel Verma,
| | - Pravej Alam
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Humanities, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University (PSAU), Alkharj, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah Alaklabi
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Bisha, Bisha, Saudi Arabia
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25
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Haleem A, Klees S, Schmitt AO, Gültas M. Deciphering Pleiotropic Signatures of Regulatory SNPs in Zea mays L. Using Multi-Omics Data and Machine Learning Algorithms. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:5121. [PMID: 35563516 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23095121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Maize is one of the most widely grown cereals in the world. However, to address the challenges in maize breeding arising from climatic anomalies, there is a need for developing novel strategies to harness the power of multi-omics technologies. In this regard, pleiotropy is an important genetic phenomenon that can be utilized to simultaneously enhance multiple agronomic phenotypes in maize. In addition to pleiotropy, another aspect is the consideration of the regulatory SNPs (rSNPs) that are likely to have causal effects in phenotypic development. By incorporating both aspects in our study, we performed a systematic analysis based on multi-omics data to reveal the novel pleiotropic signatures of rSNPs in a global maize population. For this purpose, we first applied Random Forests and then Markov clustering algorithms to decipher the pleiotropic signatures of rSNPs, based on which hierarchical network models are constructed to elucidate the complex interplay among transcription factors, rSNPs, and phenotypes. The results obtained in our study could help to understand the genetic programs orchestrating multiple phenotypes and thus could provide novel breeding targets for the simultaneous improvement of several agronomic traits.
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26
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Xu Q, Wu L, Luo Z, Zhang M, Lai J, Li L, Springer NM, Li Q. DNA demethylation affects imprinted gene expression in maize endosperm. Genome Biol 2022; 23:77. [PMID: 35264226 PMCID: PMC8905802 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-022-02641-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background DNA demethylation occurs in many species and is involved in diverse biological processes. However, the occurrence and role of DNA demethylation in maize remain unknown. Results We analyze loss-of-function mutants of two major genes encoding DNA demethylases. No significant change in DNA methylation has been detected in these mutants. However, we detect increased DNA methylation levels in the mutants around genes and some transposons. The increase in DNA methylation is accompanied by alteration in gene expression, with a tendency to show downregulation, especially for the genes that are preferentially expressed in endosperm. Imprinted expression of both maternally and paternally expressed genes changes in F1 hybrid with the mutant as female and the wild-type as male parental line, but not in the reciprocal hybrid. This alteration in gene expression is accompanied by allele-specific DNA methylation differences, suggesting that removal of DNA methylation of the maternal allele is required for the proper expression of these imprinted genes. Finally, we demonstrate that hypermethylation in the double mutant is associated with reduced binding of transcription factor to its target, and altered gene expression. Conclusions Our results suggest that active removal of DNA methylation is important for transcription factor binding and proper gene expression in maize endosperm.
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13059-022-02641-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Xu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Leiming Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Zhixiang Luo
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Mei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Physiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanxincun 20, Fragrant Hill, Beijing, 100093, China
| | - Jinsheng Lai
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry and National Maize Improvement Center, Department of Plant Genetics and Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100094, China
| | - Lin Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Nathan M Springer
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Qing Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China. .,Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, 430070, China.
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27
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Abstract
Climate-resilient crops with improved adaptation to the changing climate are urgently needed to feed the growing population. Hence, developing high-yielding crop varieties with better agronomic traits is one of the most critical issues in agricultural research. These are vital to enhancing yield as well as resistance to harsh conditions, both of which help farmers over time. The majority of agronomic traits are quantitative and are subject to intricate genetic control, thereby obstructing crop improvement. Plant epibreeding is the utilisation of epigenetic variation for crop development, and has a wide range of applications in the field of crop improvement. Epigenetics refers to changes in gene expression that are heritable and induced by methylation of DNA, post-translational modifications of histones or RNA interference rather than an alteration in the underlying sequence of DNA. The epigenetic modifications influence gene expression by changing the state of chromatin, which underpins plant growth and dictates phenotypic responsiveness for extrinsic and intrinsic inputs. Epigenetic modifications, in addition to DNA sequence variation, improve breeding by giving useful markers. Also, it takes epigenome diversity into account to predict plant performance and increase crop production. In this review, emphasis has been given for summarising the role of epigenetic changes in epibreeding for crop improvement.
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28
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Liu S, Qin F. Genome-Wide Association Analyses to Identify SNPs Related to Drought Tolerance. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2462:201-219. [PMID: 35152391 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2156-1_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Drought stress is a serious agronomic problem resulting in significant yield losses globally. Breeding cultivars with drought tolerance is an important strategy that can be used to address this problem. Drought tolerance, however, is a complex multigenic trait, making advancements with conventional breeding approaches very challenging. This emphasizes the importance of dissecting the genetics of this trait and the identification and cloning of genes responsible for drought tolerance. With the rapid development of sequencing technologies and analytic methodologies, genome-wide association study (GWAS) has become an important tool for detecting natural variations underlying complex traits in crops. Identified loci can serve as targets for genomic selection or precise editing that enables the molecular design of new cultivars. This chapter describes the pipeline of statistical methods used in GWAS analysis, and covers field design, quality control, population structure control, association tests, and visualization of data. GWAS methodology used to dissect the genetic basis of drought tolerance is presented, and perspectives for optimizing the design and analysis of GWAS are discussed. The provided information serves as a valuable resource for researchers interested in GWAS technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengxue Liu
- College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Feng Qin
- College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
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29
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Zhang J, Zhang D, Fan Y, Li C, Xu P, Li W, Sun Q, Huang X, Zhang C, Wu L, Yang H, Wang S, Su X, Li X, Song Y, Wu ME, Lian X, Li Y. The identification of grain size genes by RapMap reveals directional selection during rice domestication. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5673. [PMID: 34584089 PMCID: PMC8478914 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25961-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Cloning quantitative trait locus (QTL) is time consuming and laborious, which hinders the understanding of natural variation and genetic diversity. Here, we introduce RapMap, a method for rapid multi-QTL mapping by employing F2 gradient populations (F2GPs) constructed by minor-phenotypic-difference accessions. The co-segregation standard of the single-locus genetic models ensures simultaneous integration of a three-in-one framework in RapMap i.e. detecting a real QTL, confirming its effect, and obtaining its near-isogenic line-like line (NIL-LL). We demonstrate the feasibility of RapMap by cloning eight rice grain-size genes using 15 F2GPs in three years. These genes explain a total of 75% of grain shape variation. Allele frequency analysis of these genes using a large germplasm collection reveals directional selection of the slender and long grains in indica rice domestication. In addition, major grain-size genes have been strongly selected during rice domestication. We think application of RapMap in crops will accelerate gene discovery and genomic breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juncheng Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Dejian Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Yawei Fan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Cuicui Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Pengkun Xu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Qi Sun
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaodong Huang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Chunyu Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Linyue Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Huaizhou Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Shiyu Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaomin Su
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Xingxing Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Yingying Song
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Meng-En Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
| | - Xingming Lian
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yibo Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and National Centre of Plant Gene Research (Wuhan), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China.
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30
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Jiang H, Guo D, Ye J, Gao Y, Liu H, Wang Y, Xue M, Yan Q, Chen J, Duan L, Li G, Li X, Xie L. Genome-wide analysis of genomic imprinting in the endosperm and allelic variation in flax. Plant J 2021; 107:1697-1710. [PMID: 34228847 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic phenomenon that causes biased expression of maternally and paternally inherited alleles. In flowering plants, genomic imprinting predominantly occurs in the triploid endosperm and plays a vital role in seed development. In this study, we identified 248 candidate imprinted genes including 114 maternally expressed imprinted genes (MEGs) and 134 paternally expressed imprinted genes (PEGs) in flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) endosperm using deep RNA sequencing. These imprinted genes were neither clustered in specific chromosomal regions nor well conserved among flax and other plant species. MEGs tended to be expressed specifically in the endosperm, whereas the expression of PEGs was not tissue-specific. Imprinted single nucleotide polymorphisms differentiated 200 flax cultivars into the oil flax, oil-fiber dual purpose flax and fiber flax subgroups, suggesting that genomic imprinting contributed to intraspecific variation in flax. The nucleotide diversity of imprinted genes in the oil flax subgroup was significantly higher than that in the fiber flax subgroup, indicating that some imprinted genes underwent positive selection during flax domestication from oil flax to fiber flax. Moreover, imprinted genes that underwent positive selection were related to flax functions. Thirteen imprinted genes related to flax seed size and weight were identified using a candidate gene-based association study. Therefore, our study provides information for further exploration of the function and genomic variation of imprinted genes in the flax population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haixia Jiang
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Dongliang Guo
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Jiali Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yanfang Gao
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Huiqing Liu
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Yue Wang
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Min Xue
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Qingcheng Yan
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Jiaxun Chen
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Lepeng Duan
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Gongze Li
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Xiao Li
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Liqiong Xie
- Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
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31
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Lindner M, Gawehns F, Te Molder S, Visser ME, van Oers K, Laine VN. Performance of methods to detect genetic variants from bisulphite sequencing data in a non-model species. Mol Ecol Resour 2021; 22:834-846. [PMID: 34435438 PMCID: PMC9290141 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The profiling of epigenetic marks like DNA methylation has become a central aspect of studies in evolution and ecology. Bisulphite sequencing is commonly used for assessing genome‐wide DNA methylation at single nucleotide resolution but these data can also provide information on genetic variants like single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). However, bisulphite conversion causes unmethylated cytosines to appear as thymines, complicating the alignment and subsequent SNP calling. Several tools have been developed to overcome this challenge, but there is no independent evaluation of such tools for non‐model species, which often lack genomic references. Here, we used whole‐genome bisulphite sequencing (WGBS) data from four female great tits (Parus major) to evaluate the performance of seven tools for SNP calling from bisulphite sequencing data. We used SNPs from whole‐genome resequencing data of the same samples as baseline SNPs to assess common performance metrics like sensitivity, precision, and the number of true positive, false positive, and false negative SNPs for the full range of variant and genotype quality values. We found clear differences between the tools in either optimizing precision (bis‐snp), sensitivity (biscuit), or a compromise between both (all other tools). Overall, the choice of SNP caller strongly depends on which performance parameter should be maximized and whether ascertainment bias should be minimized to optimize downstream analysis, highlighting the need for studies that assess such differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Lindner
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Fleur Gawehns
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Sebastiaan Te Molder
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marcel E Visser
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Chronobiology Unit, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kees van Oers
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Veronika N Laine
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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32
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Kakoulidou I, Avramidou EV, Baránek M, Brunel-Muguet S, Farrona S, Johannes F, Kaiserli E, Lieberman-Lazarovich M, Martinelli F, Mladenov V, Testillano PS, Vassileva V, Maury S. Epigenetics for Crop Improvement in Times of Global Change. Biology (Basel) 2021; 10:766. [PMID: 34439998 PMCID: PMC8389687 DOI: 10.3390/biology10080766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetics has emerged as an important research field for crop improvement under the on-going climatic changes. Heritable epigenetic changes can arise independently of DNA sequence alterations and have been associated with altered gene expression and transmitted phenotypic variation. By modulating plant development and physiological responses to environmental conditions, epigenetic diversity-naturally, genetically, chemically, or environmentally induced-can help optimise crop traits in an era challenged by global climate change. Beyond DNA sequence variation, the epigenetic modifications may contribute to breeding by providing useful markers and allowing the use of epigenome diversity to predict plant performance and increase final crop production. Given the difficulties in transferring the knowledge of the epigenetic mechanisms from model plants to crops, various strategies have emerged. Among those strategies are modelling frameworks dedicated to predicting epigenetically controlled-adaptive traits, the use of epigenetics for in vitro regeneration to accelerate crop breeding, and changes of specific epigenetic marks that modulate gene expression of traits of interest. The key challenge that agriculture faces in the 21st century is to increase crop production by speeding up the breeding of resilient crop species. Therefore, epigenetics provides fundamental molecular information with potential direct applications in crop enhancement, tolerance, and adaptation within the context of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna Kakoulidou
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Liesel-Beckmann-Str. 2, 85354 Freising, Germany; (I.K.); (F.J.)
| | - Evangelia V. Avramidou
- Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Biotechnology, Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems, Hellenic Agricultural Organization-Dimitra (ELGO-DIMITRA), 11528 Athens, Greece;
| | - Miroslav Baránek
- Faculty of Horticulture, Mendeleum—Institute of Genetics, Mendel University in Brno, Valtická 334, 69144 Lednice, Czech Republic;
| | - Sophie Brunel-Muguet
- UMR 950 Ecophysiologie Végétale, Agronomie et Nutritions N, C, S, UNICAEN, INRAE, Normandie Université, CEDEX, F-14032 Caen, France;
| | - Sara Farrona
- Plant and AgriBiosciences Centre, Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland;
| | - Frank Johannes
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Liesel-Beckmann-Str. 2, 85354 Freising, Germany; (I.K.); (F.J.)
- Institute for Advanced Study, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenberg Str. 2a, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Eirini Kaiserli
- Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Bower Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK;
| | - Michal Lieberman-Lazarovich
- Institute of Plant Sciences, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel;
| | - Federico Martinelli
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy;
| | - Velimir Mladenov
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad, Sq. Dositeja Obradovića 8, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia;
| | - Pilar S. Testillano
- Pollen Biotechnology of Crop Plants Group, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas-(CIB-CSIC), Ramiro Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Valya Vassileva
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. Georgi Bonchev Str., Bldg. 21, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria;
| | - Stéphane Maury
- Laboratoire de Biologie des Ligneux et des Grandes Cultures, INRAE, EA1207 USC1328, Université d’Orléans, F-45067 Orléans, France
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33
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Srikant T, Tri Wibowo A. The Underlying Nature of Epigenetic Variation: Origin, Establishment, and Regulatory Function of Plant Epialleles. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:8618. [PMID: 34445323 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In plants, the gene expression and associated phenotypes can be modulated by dynamic changes in DNA methylation, occasionally being fixed in certain genomic loci and inherited stably as epialleles. Epiallelic variations in a population can occur as methylation changes at an individual cytosine position, methylation changes within a stretch of genomic regions, and chromatin changes in certain loci. Here, we focus on methylated regions, since it is unclear whether variations at individual methylated cytosines can serve any regulatory function, and the evidence for heritable chromatin changes independent of genetic changes is limited. While DNA methylation is known to affect and regulate wide arrays of plant phenotypes, most epialleles in the form of methylated regions have not been assigned any biological function. Here, we review how epialleles can be established in plants, serve a regulatory function, and are involved in adaptive processes. Recent studies suggest that most epialleles occur as byproducts of genetic variations, mainly from structural variants and Transposable Element (TE) activation. Nevertheless, epialleles that occur spontaneously independent of any genetic variations have also been described across different plant species. Here, we discuss how epialleles that are dependent and independent of genetic architecture are stabilized in the plant genome and how methylation can regulate a transcription relative to its genomic location.
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34
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Noshay JM, Liang Z, Zhou P, Crisp PA, Marand AP, Hirsch CN, Schmitz RJ, Springer NM. Stability of DNA methylation and chromatin accessibility in structurally diverse maize genomes. G3 (Bethesda) 2021; 11:6288454. [PMID: 34849810 PMCID: PMC8496265 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Accessible chromatin and unmethylated DNA are associated with many genes and cis-regulatory elements. Attempts to understand natural variation for accessible chromatin regions (ACRs) and unmethylated regions (UMRs) often rely upon alignments to a single reference genome. This limits the ability to assess regions that are absent in the reference genome assembly and monitor how nearby structural variants influence variation in chromatin state. In this study, de novo genome assemblies for four maize inbreds (B73, Mo17, Oh43, and W22) are utilized to assess chromatin accessibility and DNA methylation patterns in a pan-genome context. A more complete set of UMRs and ACRs can be identified when chromatin data are aligned to the matched genome rather than a single reference genome. While there are UMRs and ACRs present within genomic regions that are not shared between genotypes, these features are 6- to 12-fold enriched within regions between genomes. Characterization of UMRs present within shared genomic regions reveals that most UMRs maintain the unmethylated state in other genotypes with only ∼5% being polymorphic between genotypes. However, the majority (71%) of UMRs that are shared between genotypes only exhibit partial overlaps suggesting that the boundaries between methylated and unmethylated DNA are dynamic. This instability is not solely due to sequence variation as these partially overlapping UMRs are frequently found within genomic regions that lack sequence variation. The ability to compare chromatin properties among individuals with structural variation enables pan-epigenome analyses to study the sources of variation for accessible chromatin and unmethylated DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn M Noshay
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Zhikai Liang
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Peng Zhou
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Peter A Crisp
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | | | - Candice N Hirsch
- Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Robert J Schmitz
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Nathan M Springer
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
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35
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Crisp PA, Bhatnagar-Mathur P, Hundleby P, Godwin ID, Waterhouse PM, Hickey LT. Beyond the gene: epigenetic and cis-regulatory targets offer new breeding potential for the future. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2021; 73:88-94. [PMID: 34348216 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2021.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
For millennia, natural and artificial selection has combined favourable alleles for desirable traits in crop species. While modern plant breeding has achieved steady increases in crop yields over the last century, on the current trajectory we will simply not meet demand by 2045. Novel breeding strategies and sources of genetic variation will be required to sustainably fill predicted yield gaps and meet new consumer preferences. Here, we highlight that stepping up to meet this grand challenge will increasingly require thinking 'beyond the gene'. Significant progress has been made in understanding the contributions of both epigenetic variation and cis-regulatory variation to plant traits. This non-genic variation has great potential in future breeding, synthetic biology and biotechnology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter A Crisp
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Pooja Bhatnagar-Mathur
- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Patancheru, Hyderabad, 502 324, India
| | - Penny Hundleby
- Crop Transformation Group, Department of Crop Genetics, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UH, UK
| | - Ian D Godwin
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Peter M Waterhouse
- Centre for Agriculture and the Bioeconomy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia; Centre of Excellence for Plant Success in Nature and Agriculture, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia
| | - Lee T Hickey
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
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36
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Wang Q, Xu J, Pu X, Lv H, Liu Y, Ma H, Wu F, Wang Q, Feng X, Liu T, Tang Q, Liu Y, Lu Y. Maize DNA Methylation in Response to Drought Stress Is Involved in Target Gene Expression and Alternative Splicing. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:8285. [PMID: 34361051 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation is important for plant growth, development, and stress response. To understand DNA methylation dynamics in maize roots under water stress (WS), we reanalyzed DNA methylation sequencing data to profile DNA methylation and the gene expression landscape of two inbred lines with different drought sensitivities, as well as two of their derived recombination inbred lines (RILs). Combined with genotyping-by-sequencing, we found that the inheritance pattern of DNA methylation between RILs and parental lines was sequence-dependent. Increased DNA methylation levels were observed under WS and the methylome of drought-tolerant inbred lines were much more stable than that of the drought-sensitive inbred lines. Distinctive differentially methylated genes were found among diverse genetic backgrounds, suggesting that inbred lines with different drought sensitivities may have responded to stress in varying ways. Gene body DNA methylation showed a negative correlation with gene expression but a positive correlation with exon splicing events. Furthermore, a positive correlation of a varying extent was observed between small interfering RNA (siRNA) and DNA methylation, which at different genic regions. The response of siRNAs under WS was consistent with the differential DNA methylation. Taken together, our data can be useful in deciphering the roles of DNA methylation in plant drought-tolerance variations and in emphasizing its function in alternative splicing.
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37
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Abstract
Crops feed the world's population and shape human civilization. The improvement of crop productivity has been ongoing for almost 10,000 years and has evolved from an experience-based to a knowledge-driven practice over the past three decades. Natural alleles and their reshuffling are long-standing genetic changes that affect how crops respond to various environmental conditions and agricultural practices. Decoding the genetic basis of natural variation is central to understanding crop evolution and, in turn, improving crop breeding. Here, we review current advances in the approaches used to map the causal alleles of natural variation, provide refined insights into the genetics and evolution of natural variation, and outline how this knowledge promises to drive the development of sustainable agriculture under the dome of emerging technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yameng Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, National Maize Improvement Center, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize (MOA), Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; ,
| | - Hai-Jun Liu
- Gregor Mendel Institute, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna BioCenter, 1030 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Jianbing Yan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China;
| | - Feng Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, National Maize Improvement Center, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize (MOA), Beijing Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; ,
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38
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Noshay JM, Springer NM. Stories that can't be told by SNPs; DNA methylation variation in plant populations. Curr Opin Plant Biol 2021; 61:101989. [PMID: 33445144 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2020.101989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic variation has been observed in many plant populations. This variation can influence qualitative and quantitative traits. A key question is whether there is novel information in the epigenome that is not captured by SNP-based genetic markers. The answer likely varies depending on the sources and stability of epigenetic variation as well as the type of population being studied. We consider the epigenetic variation in several plant systems and how this relates to potential for hidden information that could increase our understanding of phenotypic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn M Noshay
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Nathan M Springer
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA.
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39
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Li H, Yang X, Wang Q, Chen J, Shi T. Distinct methylome patterns contribute to ecotypic differentiation in the growth of the storage organ of a flowering plant (sacred lotus). Mol Ecol 2021; 30:2831-2845. [PMID: 33899994 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification involved in phenotypic diversity, plant development, and environmental responses. However, the mechanisms of DNA methylation underpinning the adaption of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) ecotypes to high and low latitudes remain unsolved, especially adaptive evolution of their storage organs. Tropical and temperate lotus ecotypes have thin and enlarged rhizomes which are adapted to low and high latitudes, respectively. Here, we investigated the DNA methylomes and transcriptomes of rhizomes of the temperate and tropical lotus to address this issue. Compared with that of the tropical lotus, the DNA of the temperate lotus was significantly more hypermethylated, indicating an increase in global DNA methylation in the lotus, with rhizome enlargement. Meanwhile, genes associated with differentially methylated regions in their promoters tended to be differentially expressed between the two ecotypes. Interestingly, the genes with their expression negatively correlated with methylation levels in their promoters and genomic regions displayed significantly higher transposon coverage, while the genes showing a significant positive correlation between expression and methylation showed lesser transposon coverage. Further, we identified that DNA methylation, especially in the promoter region, was significantly correlated with the expression of many starch-biosynthetic, gibberellin-, and brassinosteroid-signalling genes associated with rhizome differentiation. Overall, our study unveiled that distinct global and local methylation patterns between the two lotus ecotypes contribute to their expression differences and adaptive phenotypic divergence of their storage organs, highlighting the role of DNA methylation in shaping the ecotypic differentiation of lotus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.,Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xingyu Yang
- Wuhan Institute of Landscape Architecture, Wuhan, China
| | - Qingfeng Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.,Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.,Sino-African Joint Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Jinming Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.,Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Tao Shi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China.,Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
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40
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Pandey J, Scheuring DC, Koym JW, Coombs J, Novy RG, Thompson AL, Holm DG, Douches DS, Miller JC, Vales MI. Genetic diversity and population structure of advanced clones selected over forty years by a potato breeding program in the USA. Sci Rep 2021; 11:8344. [PMID: 33863959 PMCID: PMC8052460 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-87284-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Knowledge regarding genetic diversity and population structure of breeding materials is essential for crop improvement. The Texas A&M University Potato Breeding Program has a collection of advanced clones selected and maintained in-vitro over a 40-year period. Little is known about its genetic makeup and usefulness for the current breeding program. In this study, 214 potato clones were genotyped with the Infinium Illumina 22 K V3 Potato Array. After filtering, a total of 10,106 single nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) markers were used for analysis. Heterozygosity varied by SNP, with an overall average of 0.59. Three groups of tetraploid clones primarily based on potato market classes, were detected using STRUCTURE software and confirmed by discriminant analysis of principal components.
The highest coefficient of differentiation observed between the groups was 0.14. Signatures of selection were uncovered in genes controlling potato flesh and skin color, length of plant cycle and tuberization, and carbohydrate metabolism. A core set of 43 clones was obtained using Core Hunter 3 to develop a sub-collection that retains similar genetic diversity as the whole population, minimize redundancies, and facilitates long-term conservation of genetic resources. The comprehensive molecular characterization of our breeding clone bank collection contributes to understanding the genetic diversity of existing potato resources. This analysis could be applied to other breeding programs and assist in the selection of parents, fingerprinting, protection, and management of the breeding collections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeewan Pandey
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-2133, USA
| | - Douglas C Scheuring
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-2133, USA
| | - Jeffrey W Koym
- Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, Lubbock, TX, 79403, USA
| | - Joseph Coombs
- Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Richard G Novy
- USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Small Grains and Potato Germplasm Research, Aberdeen, ID, 83210, USA
| | - Asunta L Thompson
- Department of Plant Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, 58108, USA
| | - David G Holm
- San Luis Valley Research Center, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Colorado State University, Center, CO, 81125, USA
| | - David S Douches
- Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - J Creighton Miller
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-2133, USA
| | - M Isabel Vales
- Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-2133, USA.
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41
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Yang N, Yan J. New genomic approaches for enhancing maize genetic improvement. Curr Opin Plant Biol 2021; 60:101977. [PMID: 33418269 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2020.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Revised: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Maize (Zea mays) is one of the most widely grown crops in the world, with an annual global production of over 1147 million tons. Genomics approaches are thought to be the best solution for accelerating yield improvement to meet the challenges of a growing population and global climate change. Here, we review current approaches to the exploration of novel genetic variation in genomes, DNA modifications, and transcription levels of cultivated maize, landraces, and wild relatives. We discuss applications of genetic engineering to maize yield improvement and highlight future directions for maize genomics studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
| | - Jianbing Yan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
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42
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Wu J, Lin D, Jiu L, Liu Q, Gu Z, Luo J, Zhao Y. Exploring epigenetic biomarkers of universal specificities and commonalities among pan-cancer cohorts in The Cancer Genome Atlas. Epigenomics 2021; 13:599-612. [PMID: 33787302 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2021-0050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To explore the mechanism of cancer by employing a comprehensive analysis of DNA methylation patterns and variations among pan-cancer cohorts. Materials & methods: This research focused on the discovery of universally specific or common biomarkers by mathematical statistics and machine learning methods in The Cancer Genome Atlas. Results: We found 138 differently methylated CpGs (DMCs) with a common methylation trend and eight common differently methylated regions in different cancer cohorts. Additionally, we found 99 DMCs to distinguish 32 different cancer cohorts in random forest analysis because of the specificity mechanism, but each DMC still had high instability. Conclusion: Our results could facilitate the development of biomarkers that are universally specific and common features across pan-cancer cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.,Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.,Department of Nutrition and Health, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition & Human Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Deng Lin
- Department of Nutrition and Health, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition & Human Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Liandi Jiu
- Department of Nutrition and Health, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition & Human Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Qi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.,Department of Nutrition and Health, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition & Human Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Zhenglong Gu
- Department of Nutrition and Health, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition & Human Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.,Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Junjie Luo
- Department of Nutrition and Health, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition & Human Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Yiqiang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.,Department of Nutrition and Health, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Food Nutrition & Human Health, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
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43
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Lindner M, Laine VN, Verhagen I, Viitaniemi HM, Visser ME, van Oers K, Husby A. Rapid changes in DNA methylation associated with the initiation of reproduction in a small songbird. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:3645-3659. [PMID: 33453134 PMCID: PMC8359384 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Revised: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Species with a circannual life cycle need to match the timing of their life history events to the environment to maximize fitness. However, our understanding of how circannual traits such as timing of reproduction are regulated on a molecular level remains limited. Recent studies have implicated that epigenetic mechanisms can be an important part in the processes that regulate circannual traits. Here, we explore the role of DNA methylation in mediating reproductive timing in a seasonally breeding bird species, the great tit (Parus major), using genome‐wide DNA methylation data from individual females that were blood sampled repeatedly throughout the breeding season. We demonstrate rapid and directional changes in DNA methylation within the promoter region of several genes, including a key transcription factor (NR5A1) known from earlier studies to be involved in the initiation of timing of reproduction. Interestingly, the observed changes in DNA methylation at NR5A1 identified here are in line with earlier gene expression studies of reproduction in chicken, indicating that the observed shifts in DNA methylation at this gene can have a regulatory role. Our findings provide an important step towards elucidating the genomic mechanism that mediates seasonal timing of a key life history traits and provide support for the idea that epigenetic mechanisms may play an important role in circannual traits. see also the Perspective by Melanie J. Heckwolf and Britta S. Meyer
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Lindner
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Chronobiology Unit, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Veronika N Laine
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Finnish Museum of Natural History, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Irene Verhagen
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Heidi M Viitaniemi
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme (OEB), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Marcel E Visser
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Chronobiology Unit, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES), University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kees van Oers
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Arild Husby
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme (OEB), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway.,Evolutionary Biology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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44
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Wu L, Han L, Li Q, Wang G, Zhang H, Li L. Using Interactome Big Data to Crack Genetic Mysteries and Enhance Future Crop Breeding. Mol Plant 2021; 14:77-94. [PMID: 33340690 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2020.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The functional genes underlying phenotypic variation and their interactions represent "genetic mysteries". Understanding and utilizing these genetic mysteries are key solutions for mitigating the current threats to agriculture posed by population growth and individual food preferences. Due to advances in high-throughput multi-omics technologies, we are stepping into an Interactome Big Data era that is certain to revolutionize genetic research. In this article, we provide a brief overview of current strategies to explore genetic mysteries. We then introduce the methods for constructing and analyzing the Interactome Big Data and summarize currently available interactome resources. Next, we discuss how Interactome Big Data can be used as a versatile tool to dissect genetic mysteries. We propose an integrated strategy that could revolutionize genetic research by combining Interactome Big Data with machine learning, which involves mining information hidden in Big Data to identify the genetic models or networks that control various traits, and also provide a detailed procedure for systematic dissection of genetic mysteries,. Finally, we discuss three promising future breeding strategies utilizing the Interactome Big Data to improve crop yields and quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leiming Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Linqian Han
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Qing Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Guoying Wang
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Hongwei Zhang
- Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China.
| | - Lin Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
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45
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
| | - Jianbing Yan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
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46
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Gui S, Yang L, Li J, Luo J, Xu X, Yuan J, Chen L, Li W, Yang X, Wu S, Li S, Wang Y, Zhu Y, Gao Q, Yang N, Yan J. ZEAMAP, a Comprehensive Database Adapted to the Maize Multi-Omics Era. iScience 2020; 23:101241. [PMID: 32629608 PMCID: PMC7306594 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
As one of the most extensively cultivated crops, maize (Zea mays L.) has been extensively studied by researchers and breeders for over a century. With advances in high-throughput detection of various omics data, a wealth of multi-dimensional and multi-omics information has been accumulated for maize and its wild relative, teosinte. Integration of this information has the potential to accelerate genetic research and generate improvements in maize agronomic traits. To this end, we constructed ZEAMAP, a comprehensive database incorporating multiple reference genomes, annotations, comparative genomics, transcriptomes, open chromatin regions, chromatin interactions, high-quality genetic variants, phenotypes, metabolomics, genetic maps, genetic mapping loci, population structures, and populational DNA methylation signals within maize inbred lines. ZEAMAP is user friendly, with the ability to interactively integrate, visualize, and cross-reference multiple different omics datasets. Functional annotations and comparative genomics of maize and teosinte genomes Multi-omics data generated from the same maize inbred lines panel Interactive tools to query, cross-refer, and visualize the omics data
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Affiliation(s)
- Songtao Gui
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Linfeng Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Jianbo Li
- BGI Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Jingyun Luo
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xiaokai Xu
- BGI Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Jianyu Yuan
- BGI Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Lu Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Wenqiang Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xin Yang
- BGI Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Shenshen Wu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Shuyan Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yuebin Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yabing Zhu
- BGI Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Qiang Gao
- BGI Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Ning Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
| | - Jianbing Yan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
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Abstract
Purpose: Studying the relationship between epigenetic variability with different individual radiosensitivity and adaptive capacity.Material and method: Using a simple and convenient experimental model - maize seedlings with different germination terms and epigenetic patterns - the hypothesis was tested that homogeneous genetically but epigenetic different organisms have different radiosensitivity and radioadaptive capacity. Differences in the DNA methylation profiles of individual subpopulations of seedlings were used as a marker of epigenetic differences and the yield of chromosomal aberration was used as an indicator of DNA vulnerability and its changes under different UV-C irradiation modes. In two series of experiments involving а UV-C acute single and exposure according to the scheme 'adaptive - challenging', the investigation of possible biological importance of epigenetic polymorphism has been performed. The study used a cytogenetic analysis of the yield of chromosomal aberrations and restriction analysis followed by ITS-ISSR- PCR.Results: Significant differences have been established in chromosome aberration yield and DNA methylation profile in control and under UV-C exposure for seedlings of subpopulations differing in time of germination. The differences in the DNA methylation profiles and the yield of chromosomal aberrations in the control subpopulations of seedlings of different germination term indicate the influence of the DNA methylation profile on DNA damage by regular metabolic factors, such as thermal vibrations or reactive oxygen species (ROS). This phenomenon can be explained with different chromatin conformation determining structural or 'passive' resistance, which provides different DNA availability to damage. Methylation switching into de novo under different mode radiation exposure could become a marker of gene expression changes due to induced repair and protecting.Conclusions: The obtained data indicate the importance of epigenetic factors in determining the radio-resistance and adaptive capacity of organisms. It points out that the epigenetic mechanisms that determine the choice of the metabolic pattern also contribute to the individual radiosensitivity and adaptive capacity of the organisms. This contribution is determined by two ways. First, the DNA methylation profile affects the initial damage processes and secondly, the type of methylation switching into de novo is associated with the further development of protection and repair processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra P Kravets
- Department of Biophysics and Radiobiology, Institute of Cell Biology and Genetic Engineering, National Academy of Science of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine
| | - Daryna A Sokolova
- Department of Biophysics and Radiobiology, Institute of Cell Biology and Genetic Engineering, National Academy of Science of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine
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Yu J, Xu F, Wei Z, Zhang X, Chen T, Pu L. Epigenomic landscape and epigenetic regulation in maize. Theor Appl Genet 2020; 133:1467-1489. [PMID: 31965233 DOI: 10.1007/s00122-020-03549-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation has been implicated in the control of multiple agronomic traits in maize. Here, we review current advances in our understanding of epigenetic regulation, which has great potential for improving agronomic traits and the environmental adaptability of crops. Epigenetic regulation plays vital role in the control of complex agronomic traits. Epigenetic variation could contribute to phenotypic diversity and can be used to improve the quality and productivity of crops. Maize (Zea mays L.), one of the most widely cultivated crops for human food, animal feed, and ethanol biofuel, is a model plant for genetic studies. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing technology have made possible the study of epigenetic regulation in maize on a genome-wide scale. In this review, we discuss recent epigenetic studies in maize many achieved by Chinese research groups. These studies have explored the roles of DNA methylation, posttranslational modifications of histones, chromatin remodeling, and noncoding RNAs in the regulation of gene expression in plant development and environment response. We also provide our future prospects for manipulating epigenetic regulation to improve crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Yu
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fan Xu
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ziwei Wei
- School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Xiangxiang Zhang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Chen
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Li Pu
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
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49
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Fan X, Chen J, Wu Y, Teo C, Xu G, Fan X. Genetic and Global Epigenetic Modification, Which Determines the Phenotype of Transgenic Rice? Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E1819. [PMID: 32155767 PMCID: PMC7084647 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21051819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Transgenic technologies have been applied to a wide range of biological research. However, information on the potential epigenetic effects of transgenic technology is still lacking. Here, we show that the transgenic process can simultaneously induce both genetic and epigenetic changes in rice. We analyzed genetic, epigenetic, and phenotypic changes in plants subjected to tissue culture regeneration, using transgenic lines expressing the same coding sequence from two different promoters in transgenic lines of two rice cultivars: Wuyunjing7 (WYJ7) and Nipponbare (NP). We determined the expression of OsNAR2.1 in two overexpression lines generated from the two cultivars, and in the RNA interference (RNAi) OsNAR2.1 line in NP. DNA methylation analyses were performed on wild-type cultivars (WYJ7 and NP), regenerated lines (CK, T0 plants), segregation-derived wild-type from pOsNAR2.1-OsNAR2.1 (SDWT), pOsNAR2.1-OsNAR2.1, pUbi-OsNAR2.1, and RNAi lines. Interestingly, we observed global methylation decreased in the T0 regenerated line of WYJ7 (CK-WJY7) and pOsNAR2.1-OsNAR2.1 lines but increased in pUbi-OsNAR2.1 and RNAi lines of NP. Furthermore, the methylation pattern in SDWT returned to the WYJ7 level after four generations. Phenotypic changes were detected in all the generated lines except for SDWT. Global methylation was found to decrease by 13% in pOsNAR2.1-OsNAR2.1 with an increase in plant height of 4.69% compared with WYJ7, and increased by 18% in pUbi-OsNAR2.1 with an increase of 17.36% in plant height compared with NP. This suggests an absence of a necessary link between global methylation and the phenotype of transgenic plants with OsNAR2.1 gene over-expression. However, epigenetic changes can influence phenotype during tissue culture, as seen in the massive methylation in CK-WYJ7, T0 regenerated lines, resulting in decreased plant height compared with the wild-type, in the absence of a transformed gene. We conclude that in the transgenic lines the phenotype is mainly determined by the nature and function of the transgene after four generations of transformation, while the global epigenetic modification is dependent on the genetic background. Our research suggests an innovative insight in explaining the reason behind the occurrence of transgenic plants with random and undesirable phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoru Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, MOA Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilization in Low-Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (X.F.); (J.C.); (G.X.)
| | - Jingguang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, MOA Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilization in Low-Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (X.F.); (J.C.); (G.X.)
- CAAS-IRRI Joint Laboratory for Genomics-Assisted Germplasm Enhancement, Agricultural Genomics Institute in Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518116, China
| | - Yufeng Wu
- Bioinformatics Center, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China;
| | - CheeHow Teo
- Centre of Research in Biotechnology for Agriculture (CEBAR), University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;
| | - Guohua Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, MOA Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilization in Low-Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (X.F.); (J.C.); (G.X.)
| | - Xiaorong Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Genetics and Germplasm Enhancement, MOA Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and Fertilization in Low-Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China; (X.F.); (J.C.); (G.X.)
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50
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Xu J, Chen G, Hermanson PJ, Xu Q, Sun C, Chen W, Kan Q, Li M, Crisp PA, Yan J, Li L, Springer NM, Li Q. Population-level analysis reveals the widespread occurrence and phenotypic consequence of DNA methylation variation not tagged by genetic variation in maize. Genome Biol 2019; 20:243. [PMID: 31744513 PMCID: PMC6862797 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-019-1859-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND DNA methylation can provide a source of heritable information that is sometimes entirely uncoupled from genetic variation. However, the extent of this uncoupling and the roles of DNA methylation in shaping diversity of both gene expression and phenotypes are hotly debated. Here, we investigate the genetic basis and biological functions of DNA methylation at a population scale in maize. RESULTS We perform targeted DNA methylation profiling for a diverse panel of 263 maize inbred genotypes. All genotypes show similar levels of DNA methylation globally, highlighting the importance of DNA methylation in maize development. Nevertheless, we identify more than 16,000 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) that are distributed across the 10 maize chromosomes. Genome-wide association analysis with high-density genetic markers reveals that over 60% of the DMRs are not tagged by SNPs, suggesting the presence of unique information in DMRs. Strong associations between DMRs and the expression of many genes are identified in both the leaf and kernel tissues, pointing to the biological significance of methylation variation. Association analysis with 986 metabolic traits suggests that DNA methylation is associated with phenotypic variation of 156 traits. There are some traits that only show significant associations with DMRs and not with SNPs. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that DNA methylation can provide unique information to explain phenotypic variation in maize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Xu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 China
| | - Guo Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 China
- Institute of Nuclear and Biological Technology, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi, 830091 China
| | - Peter J. Hermanson
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108 USA
| | - Qiang Xu
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 China
| | - Changshuo Sun
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 China
| | - Wenqing Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 China
| | - Qiuxin Kan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 China
| | - Minqi Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 China
| | - Peter A. Crisp
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108 USA
| | - Jianbing Yan
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 China
| | - Lin Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 China
| | - Nathan M. Springer
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108 USA
| | - Qing Li
- National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070 China
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