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Ali R, Chaluvadi SR, Wang X, Hazzouri KM, Sudalaimuthuasari N, Rafi M, Al-Nuaimi M, Sasi S, Antepenko E, Bennetzen JL, Amiri KMA. Microbiome properties in the root nodules of Prosopis cineraria, a leguminous desert tree. Microbiol Spectr 2024:e0361723. [PMID: 38624222 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.03617-23] [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: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the total microbiome and transcriptionally active microbiome communities in the roots and root nodules of Prosopis cineraria, an important leguminous tree in arid regions of many Asian countries. Mature P. cineraria trees growing in the desert did not exhibit any detected root nodules. However, we observed root nodules on the roots of P. cineraria growing on a desert farm and on young plants growing in a growth chamber, when inoculated with rhizosphere soil, including with rhizosphere soil from near desert tree roots that had no nodules. Compared to nearby soil, non-nodulated roots were enriched with Actinobacteria (e.g., Actinophytocola sp.), whereas root nodules sampled from the desert farm and growth chamber had abundant Alphaproteobacteria (e.g., Ensifer sp.). These nodules yielded many microbes in addition to such nitrogen-fixing bacteria as Ensifer and Sinorhizobium species. Significant differences exist in the composition and abundance of microbial isolates between the nodule surface and the nodule endosphere. Shotgun metagenome analysis of nodule endospheres revealed that the root nodules comprised over 90% bacterial DNA, whereas metatranscriptome analysis showed that the plant produces vastly more transcripts than the microbes in these nodules. Control inoculations demonstrated that four out of six Rhizobium, Agrobacterium, or Ensifer isolates purified from P. cineraria nodules produced nodules in the roots of P. cineraria seedlings under greenhouse conditions. The best nodulation was achieved when seedlings were inoculated with a mixture of those bacterial strains. Though root nodulation could be achieved under water stress conditions, nodule number and nodule biomass increased with copious water availability. .IMPORTANCEMicrobial communities were investigated in roots and root nodules of Prosopis cineraria, a leguminous tree species in arid Asian regions that is responsible for exceptionally important contributions to soil fertility in these dramatically dry locations. Soil removed from regions near nodule-free roots on these mature plants contained an abundance of bacteria with the genetic ability to generate nodules and fix nitrogen but did not normally nodulate in their native rhizosphere environment, suggesting a very different co-evolved relationship than that observed for herbaceous legumes. The relative over-expression of the low-gene-density plant DNA compared to the bacterial DNA in the nodules was also unexpected, indicating a very powerful induction of host genetic contributions within the nodule. Finally, the water dependence of nodulation in inoculated seedlings suggested a possible link between early seedling growth (before a deep root system can be developed) and the early development of nitrogen-fixing capability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashid Ali
- Mitrix Bio., Inc., Farmington, Connecticut, USA
| | | | - Xuewen Wang
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Khaled M Hazzouri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, UAE
| | | | - Mohammed Rafi
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, UAE
| | - Mariam Al-Nuaimi
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, UAE
| | - Shina Sasi
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, UAE
| | - Eric Antepenko
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | | | - Khaled M A Amiri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, UAE
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, UAE
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Hakeem MK, Elangovan S, Rafi M, George S, Shah I, Amiri KMA. Advancing Antibiotic Residue Analysis: LC-MS/MS Methodology for Ticarcillin Degradation Products in Tomato Leaves. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:133. [PMID: 38391519 PMCID: PMC10886401 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13020133] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The indiscriminate use of antibiotics in agriculture has raised concerns about antibiotic residues in food products, necessitating robust analytical methods for detection and quantification. In this study, our primary aim was to develop a robust and advanced liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) methodology specifically designed for the accurate quantification of ticarcillin degradation products in tomato leaves. The choice of ticarcillin as the target analyte stems from its frequent use in agriculture and the potential formation of degradation products, which can pose a threat to food safety. The use of tomatoes as the target sample matrix in this study is justified by their significance in human diets, their widespread cultivation, and their suitability as a model for assessing antibiotic residue dynamics in diverse agricultural environments. By optimizing the MS/MS parameters, the study successfully demonstrates the practicality and reliability of the employed LC-MS/MS method in accurately assessing ticarcillin degradation product (Thiophene-2-Acetic acid and Thiophene-3-Acetic acid) levels. The chromatographic separation was achieved using a specialized column, ensuring high resolution and sensitivity in detecting analytes. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) data acquisition was employed to enhance the selectivity and accuracy of the analysis. The developed method exhibited excellent linearity and precision, meeting the stringent requirements for antibiotic residue analysis in complex matrices. Key outcomes of this study include the successful identification and quantification of ticarcillin and its degradation products in tomato leaves, providing crucial insights into the fate of this antibiotic in agricultural settings. The methodology's applicability was further demonstrated by analyzing real-world samples, highlighting its potential for routine monitoring and ensuring food safety compliance. In summary, our study constitutes a noteworthy advancement in the domain of antibiotic residue analysis, offering a reliable method for quantifying ticarcillin degradation products in tomato leaves. The optimized parameters and MRM-based LC-MS/MS approach enhance the precision and sensitivity of the analysis, opening up opportunities for further studies in the assessment of antibiotic residues in agricultural ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad K Hakeem
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sampathkumar Elangovan
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohammed Rafi
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Suja George
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Iltaf Shah
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Khaled M A Amiri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
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Sudalaimuthuasari N, Kundu B, Hazzouri KM, Amiri KMA. Near-chromosomal-level genome of the red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus), a potential resource for genome-based pest control. Sci Data 2024; 11:45. [PMID: 38184710 PMCID: PMC10771492 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-02910-3] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The red palm weevil (RPW) is a highly destructive pest that mainly affects palms, particularly date palms (Phoenix dactylifera), in the Arabian Gulf region. In this study, we present a near-chromosomal-level genome assembly of the RPW using a combination of PacBio HiFi and Dovetail Omini-C reads. The final genome assembly is around 779 Mb in size, with an N50 of ~43 Mb, consistent with our previous flow cytometry estimates. The completeness of the genome was confirmed through BUSCO analysis, which indicates the presence of 99.5% of BUSCO single copy orthologous genes. The genome annotation identified a total of 29,666 protein-coding, 1,091 tRNA and 543 rRNA genes. Overall, the proposed genome assembly is significantly superior to existing assemblies in terms of contiguity, integrity, and genome completeness.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Biduth Kundu
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, UAE
| | - Khaled M Hazzouri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, UAE.
| | - Khaled M A Amiri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, UAE.
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, UAE.
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Krishnan S, Sasi S, Kodakkattumannil P, Al Senaani S, Lekshmi G, Kottackal M, Amiri KMA. Cationic and anionic detergent buffers in sequence yield high-quality genomic DNA from diverse plant species. Anal Biochem 2024; 684:115372. [PMID: 37940013 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2023.115372] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Because of the heterogeneity among seedlings of outbreeding species, the use of seedling tissues as a source of DNA is unsuitable for the genomic characterization of elite germplasms. High-quality DNA, free of RNA, proteins, polysaccharides, secondary metabolites, and shearing, is mandatory for downstream molecular biology applications, especially for next-generation genome sequencing and pangenome analysis aiming to capture the complete genetic diversity within a species. The study aimed to accomplish an efficient protocol for the extraction of high-quality DNA suitable for diverse plant species/tissues. We describe a reliable, and consistent protocol suitable for the extraction of DNA from 42 difficult-to-extract plant species belonging to 33 angiosperm (monocot and dicot) families, including tissues such as seeds, roots, endosperm, and flower/fruit tissues. The protocol was first optimized for the outbreeding recalcitrant trees viz., Prosopis cineraria, Conocarpus erectus, and Phoenix dactylifera, which are rich in proteins, polysaccharides, and secondary metabolites, and the quality of the extracted DNA was confirmed by downstream applications. Nine procedures were attempted to extract high-quality, impurities-free DNA from these three plant species. Extraction of the ethanol-precipitated DNA from cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) protocol using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) buffer, i.e., the extraction using a cationic (CTAB) detergent followed by an anionic (SDS) detergent was the key for high yield and high purity (1.75-1.85 against A260/280 and an A260/230 ratio of >2) DNA. A vice versa extraction procedure, i.e., SDS buffer followed by CTAB buffer, and also CTAB buffer followed by CTAB, did not yield good-quality DNA. PCR (using different primers) and restriction endonuclease digestion of the DNA extracted from these three plants validated the protocol. The accomplishment of the genome of P. cineraria using the DNA extracted using the modified protocol confirmed its applicability to genomic studies. The optimized protocol successful in extracting high-quality DNA from diverse plant species/tissues extends its applicability and is useful for accomplishing genome sequences of elite germplasm of recalcitrant plant species with quality reads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saranya Krishnan
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Affiliated with United Arab Emirates University, The Presidential Court, United Arab Emirates
| | - Shina Sasi
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Affiliated with United Arab Emirates University, The Presidential Court, United Arab Emirates
| | - Preshobha Kodakkattumannil
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Affiliated with United Arab Emirates University, The Presidential Court, United Arab Emirates
| | - Salima Al Senaani
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Affiliated with United Arab Emirates University, The Presidential Court, United Arab Emirates
| | - Geetha Lekshmi
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Affiliated with United Arab Emirates University, The Presidential Court, United Arab Emirates
| | - Martin Kottackal
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Affiliated with United Arab Emirates University, The Presidential Court, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Khaled M A Amiri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Affiliated with United Arab Emirates University, The Presidential Court, United Arab Emirates; Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates.
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George S, Rafi M, Aldarmaki M, ElSiddig M, Nuaimi MA, Sudalaimuthuasari N, Nath VS, Mishra AK, Hazzouri KM, Shah I, Amiri KMA. Ticarcillin degradation product thiophene acetic acid is a novel auxin analog that promotes organogenesis in tomato. Front Plant Sci 2023; 14:1182074. [PMID: 37731982 PMCID: PMC10507259 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1182074] [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: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Efficient regeneration of transgenic plants from explants after transformation is one of the crucial steps in developing genetically modified plants with desirable traits. Identification of novel plant growth regulators and developmental regulators will assist to enhance organogenesis in culture. In this study, we observed enhanced shoot regeneration from tomato cotyledon explants in culture media containing timentin, an antibiotic frequently used to prevent Agrobacterium overgrowth after transformation. Comparative transcriptome analysis of explants grown in the presence and absence of timentin revealed several genes previously reported to play important roles in plant growth and development, including Auxin Response Factors (ARFs), GRF Interacting Factors (GIFs), Flowering Locus T (SP5G), Small auxin up-regulated RNAs (SAUR) etc. Some of the differentially expressed genes were validated by quantitative real-time PCR. We showed that ticarcillin, the main component of timentin, degrades into thiophene acetic acid (TAA) over time. TAA was detected in plant tissue grown in media containing timentin. Our results showed that TAA is indeed a plant growth regulator that promotes root organogenesis from tomato cotyledons in a manner similar to the well-known auxins, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). In combination with the cytokinin 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), TAA was shown to promote shoot organogenesis from tomato cotyledon in a concentration-dependent manner. To the best of our knowledge, the present study reports for the first time demonstrating the function of TAA as a growth regulator in a plant species. Our work will pave the way for future studies involving different combinations of TAA with other plant hormones which may play an important role in in vitro organogenesis of recalcitrant species. Moreover, the differentially expressed genes and long noncoding RNAs identified in our transcriptome studies may serve as contender genes for studying molecular mechanisms of shoot organogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suja George
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohammed Rafi
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Maitha Aldarmaki
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohamed ElSiddig
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mariam Al Nuaimi
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Vishnu Sukumari Nath
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ajay Kumar Mishra
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Khaled Michel Hazzouri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Iltaf Shah
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Khaled M. A. Amiri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
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Sasi S, Krishnan S, Kodackattumannil P, Shamisi AA, Aldarmaki M, Lekshmi G, Kottackal M, Amiri KMA. DNA-free high-quality RNA extraction from 39 difficult-to-extract plant species (representing seasonal tissues and tissue types) of 32 families, and its validation for downstream molecular applications. Plant Methods 2023; 19:84. [PMID: 37568159 PMCID: PMC10416385 DOI: 10.1186/s13007-023-01063-5] [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] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND High-purity RNA serves as the basic requirement for downstream molecular analysis of plant species, especially the differential expression of genes to various biotic and abiotic stimuli. But, the extraction of high-quality RNA is usually difficult from plants rich in polysaccharides and polyphenols, and their presence usually interferes with the downstream applications. The aim of the study is to optimize the extraction of high-quality RNA from diverse plant species/tissues useful for downstream molecular applications. RESULTS Extraction of RNA using commercially available RNA extraction kits and routine hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) methods did not yield good quality DNA-free RNA from Prosopis cineraria, Conocarpus erectus, and Phoenix dactylifera. A reliable protocol for the extraction of high-quality RNA from mature leaves of these difficult-to-extract trees was optimized after screening nine different methods. The DNase I-, and proteinase K treatment-free modified method, consisting of extraction with CTAB method followed by TRIzol, yielded high-quality DNA-free RNA with an A260/A280 and A260/A230 ratios > 2.0. Extraction of RNA from Conocarpus, the most difficult one, was successful by avoiding the heat incubation of ground tissue in a buffer at 65 oC. Pre-warming of the buffer for 5-10 min was sufficient to extract good-quality RNA. RNA integrity number of the extracted RNA samples ranged between 7 and 9.1, and the gel electrophoresis displayed intact bands of 28S and 18S RNA. A cDNA library constructed from the RNA of P. cineraria was used for the downstream applications. Real-time qPCR analysis using the cDNA from P. cineraria RNA confirmed the quality. The extraction of good quality RNA from samples of the desert-growing P. cineraria (> 20-years-old) collected in alternate months of the year 2021 (January to December covering winter, spring, autumn, and the very dry and hot summer) proved the efficacy of the protocol. The protocol's broad applicability was further validated by extracting good-quality RNA from 36 difficult-to-extract plant species, including tissues such as roots, flowers, floral organs, fruits, and seeds. CONCLUSIONS The modified DNase I and Proteinase K treatment-free protocol enables to extract DNA-free, high-quality, intact RNA from a total of 39 difficult-to-extract plant species belonging to 32 angiosperm families is useful to extract good-quality RNA from dicots and monocots irrespective of tissue types and growing seasons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shina Sasi
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Saranya Krishnan
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Preshobha Kodackattumannil
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Aysha Al Shamisi
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Maitha Aldarmaki
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Geetha Lekshmi
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Martin Kottackal
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Khaled M A Amiri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
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Kodackattumannil P, Sasi S, Krishnan S, Lekshmi G, Kottackal M, Amiri KMA. Protocol for the High-quality Plasmid Isolation from Different Recalcitrant Bacterial Species: Agrobacterium spp. , Rhizobium sp., and Bacillus thuringiensis. Bio Protoc 2023; 13:e4788. [PMID: 37575390 PMCID: PMC10415192 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.4788] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
High yield of good quality plasmid DNA from gram -ve bacteria (Agrobacterium tumefaciens, A. rhizogenes, and Rhizobium sp.) and gram +ve bacterium (Bacillus thuringiensis) is difficult. The widely used plasmid extraction kits for Escherichia coli yield a low quantity of poor-quality plasmid DNA from these species. We have optimized an in-house modification of the QIAprep Spin Miniprep kit protocol of Qiagen, consisting of two extraction steps. In the first, the centrifugation after adding neutralization buffer is followed by ethanol (absolute) precipitation of plasmid DNA. In the second extraction step, the precipitated DNA is dissolved in Tris-EDTA (TE) buffer, followed by an addition of 0.5 volumes of 5 M sodium chloride and 0.1 volumes of 20% (w/v) sodium dodecyl sulfate. After incubation at 65 °C for 15 min, the plasmid DNA is extracted with an equal volume of chloroform:isoamyl alcohol (CIA). RNase (20 mg/mL) is added to the upper phase retrieved after centrifugation and is incubated at 37 °C for 15 min. The extraction of the plasmid DNA with an equal volume of CIA is followed by centrifugation and is precipitated from the retrieved upper phase by adding an equal volume of absolute ethanol. The pellet obtained after centrifugation is washed twice with 70% (v/v) ethanol, air dried, dissolved in TE buffer, and quantified. This easy-to-perform protocol is free from phenol extraction, density gradient steps, and DNA binding columns, and yields high-quality plasmid DNA. The protocol opens an easy scale up to yield a large amount of high-quality plasmid DNA, useful for high-throughput downstream applications. Key features The protocol is free from density gradient steps and use of phenol. The protocol is an extension of the QIAprep Spin Miniprep kit (Qiagen) and is applicable for plasmid DNA isolation from difficult-to-extract bacterial species. The protocol facilitates the direct transformation of the ligation product into Agrobacterium by skipping the step of E. coli transformation. The plasmids isolated are of sequencing grade and the method is useful for extracting plasmids for metagenomic studies. Graphical overview Overview of the plasmid isolation protocol (modified QIAprep Spin Miniprep kit) of the present study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preshobha Kodackattumannil
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Shina Sasi
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Saranya Krishnan
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Geetha Lekshmi
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Martin Kottackal
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Khaled M. A. Amiri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
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Kodackattumannil P, Lekshmi G, Kottackal M, Sasi S, Krishnan S, Al Senaani S, Amiri KMA. Hidden pleiotropy of agronomic traits uncovered by CRISPR-Cas9 mutagenesis of the tyrosinase CuA-binding domain of the polyphenol oxidase 2 of eggplant. Plant Cell Rep 2023; 42:825-828. [PMID: 36732423 PMCID: PMC10119049 DOI: 10.1007/s00299-023-02987-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Preshobha Kodackattumannil
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box. 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Geetha Lekshmi
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box. 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Martin Kottackal
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box. 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Shina Sasi
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box. 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Saranya Krishnan
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box. 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Salima Al Senaani
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box. 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Khaled M A Amiri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box. 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
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Mishra AK, Kocábek T, Nath VS, Khan A, Matoušek J, Hazzouri KM, Sudalaimuthuasari N, Krofta K, Ludwig-Müller J, Amiri KMA. The multifaceted roles of R2R3 transcription factor HlMYB7 in the regulation of flavonoid and bitter acids biosynthesis, development and biotic stress tolerance in hop (Humulus lupulus L.). Plant Physiol Biochem 2023; 197:107636. [PMID: 36958151 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2023.03.013] [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: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Hop (Humulus lupulus) biosynthesizes the highly economically valuable secondary metabolites, which include flavonoids, bitter acids, polyphenols and essential oils. These compounds have important pharmacological properties and are widely implicated in the brewing industry owing to bittering flavor, floral aroma and preservative activity. Our previous studies documented that ternary MYB-bHLH-WD40 (MBW) and binary WRKY1-WD40 (WW) protein complexes transcriptionally regulate the accumulation of bitter acid (BA) and prenylflavonoids (PF). In the present study, we investigated the regulatory functions of the R2R3-MYB repressor HlMYB7 transcription factor, which contains a conserved N-terminal domain along with the repressive motif EAR, in regulating the PF- and BA-biosynthetic pathway and their accumulation in hop. Constitutive expression of HlMYB7 resulted in transcriptional repression of structural genes involved in the terminal steps of biosynthesis of PF and BA, as well as stunted growth, delayed flowering, and reduced tolerance to viroid infection in hop. Furthermore, yeast two-hybrid and transient reporter assays revealed that HlMYB7 targets both PF and BA pathway genes and suppresses MBW and WW protein complexes. Heterologous expression of HlMYB7 leads to down-regulation of structural genes of flavonoid pathway in Arabidopsis thaliana, including a decrease in anthocyanin content in Nicotiana tabacum. The combined results from functional and transcriptomic analyses highlight the important role of HlMYB7 in fine-tuning and balancing the accumulation of secondary metabolites at the transcriptional level, thus offer a plausible target for metabolic engineering in hop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay Kumar Mishra
- Khalifa Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Tomáš Kocábek
- Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Vishnu Sukumari Nath
- Khalifa Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ahamed Khan
- Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Matoušek
- Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, Branišovská 31, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Khaled M Hazzouri
- Khalifa Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Naganeeswaran Sudalaimuthuasari
- Khalifa Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Karel Krofta
- Hop Research Institute, Co. Ltd, Kadaňská 2525, 438 46, Žatec, Czech Republic
| | | | - Khaled M A Amiri
- Khalifa Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates.
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10
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Palakkott AR, Alneyadi A, Muhammad K, Eid AH, Amiri KMA, Akli Ayoub M, Iratni R. The SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Activates the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Mediated Signaling. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:768. [PMID: 37112680 PMCID: PMC10141239 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11040768] [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: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). At the molecular and cellular levels, the SARS-CoV-2 uses its envelope glycoprotein, the spike S protein, to infect the target cells in the lungs via binding with their transmembrane receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Here, we wanted to investigate if other molecular targets and pathways may be used by SARS-CoV-2. We investigated the possibility of the spike 1 S protein and its receptor-binding domain (RBD) to target the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its downstream signaling pathway in vitro using the lung cancer cell line (A549 cells). Protein expression and phosphorylation were examined upon cell treatment with the recombinant full spike 1 S protein or RBD. We demonstrate for the first time the activation of EGFR by the Spike 1 protein associated with the phosphorylation of the canonical Extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) and AKT kinases and an increase in survivin expression controlling the survival pathway. Our study suggests the putative implication of EGFR and its related signaling pathways in SARS-CoV-2 infectivity and COVID-19 pathology. This may open new perspectives in the treatment of COVID-19 patients by targeting EGFR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Rasheed Palakkott
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Aysha Alneyadi
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Khalid Muhammad
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ali Hussein Eid
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - Khaled M. A. Amiri
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Khalifa Center for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohammed Akli Ayoub
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Rabah Iratni
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
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11
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Hamza W, Hazzouri KM, Sudalaimuthuasari N, Amiri KMA, Neretina AN, Al Neyadi SES, Kotov AA. Genome Assembly of a Relict Arabian Species of Daphnia O. F. Müller (Crustacea: Cladocera) Adapted to the Desert Life. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24010889. [PMID: 36614331 PMCID: PMC9820869 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010889] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The water flea Daphnia O.F. Müller 1776 (Crustacea: Cladocera) is an important model of recent evolutionary biology. Here, we report a complete genome of Daphnia (Ctenodaphnia) arabica (Crustacea: Cladocera), recently described species endemic to deserts of the United Arab Emirates. In this study, genome analysis of D. arabica was carried out to investigate its genomic differences, complexity as well as its historical origins within the subgenus Daphnia (Ctenodaphnia). Hybrid genome assembly of D. arabica resulted in ~116 Mb of the assembled genome, with an N50 of ~1.13 Mb (BUSCO score of 99.2%). From the assembled genome, in total protein coding, 5374 tRNA and 643 rRNA genes were annotated. We found that the D. arabica complete genome differed from those of other Daphnia species deposited in the NCBI database but was close to that of D. cf. similoides. However, its divergence time estimate sets D. arabica in the Mesozoic, and our demographic analysis showed a great reduction in its genetic diversity compared to other Daphnia species. Interestingly, the population expansion in its diversity occurred during the megadrought climate around 100 Ka ago, reflecting the adaptive feature of the species to arid and drought-affected environments. Moreover, the PFAM comparative analysis highlights the presence of the important domain SOSS complex subunit C in D. arabica, which is missing in all other studied species of Daphnia. This complex consists of a few subunits (A, B, C) working together to maintain the genome stability (i.e., promoting the reparation of DNA under stress). We propose that this domain could play a role in maintaining the fitness and survival of this species in the desert environment. The present study will pave the way for future research to identify the genes that were gained or lost in this species and identify which of these were key factors to its adaptation to the harsh desert environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waleed Hamza
- Biology Department, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Correspondence: (W.H.); (A.A.K.)
| | - Khaled M. Hazzouri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Naganeeswaran Sudalaimuthuasari
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Khaled M. A. Amiri
- Biology Department, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Anna N. Neretina
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
| | - Shamma E. S. Al Neyadi
- Biology Department, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Alexey A. Kotov
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia
- Correspondence: (W.H.); (A.A.K.)
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12
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Procter M, Kundu B, Sudalaimuthuasari N, AlMaskari RS, Saeed EE, Hazzouri KM, Amiri KMA. Microbiome of Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. Reveals a Potential Association with Non-Photosynthetic Cyanobacteria. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10102083. [PMID: 36296358 PMCID: PMC9607294 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10102083] [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: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Citrullus colocynthis grows in the sandy desert soil of the Arabian Peninsula with limited access to water, aside from occasional precipitation or dew. Understanding its ability to produce water-filled fruit and nutrient-rich seeds despite the harsh environment, can be useful for agricultural applications. However, information regarding the microbiome of C. colocynthis is lacking. We hypothesized that C. colocynthis associates with bacteria that aid its survival, like what has been observed in other desert plants. Here, we used 16S rRNA gene data to gain insight into the microbiome of C. colocynthis to identify its associated bacteria. In total, 9818 and 6983 OTUs were generated from root, soil, and leaf samples combined. Overall, bulk soils had the highest alpha diversity, followed by rhizosphere and root zone soils. Furthermore, C. colocynthis is associated with known plant-growth-promoting bacteria (including Acidobacteria, Bacterioidetes, and Actinobacteria), and interestingly a class of non-photosynthetic Cyanobacteria (Melainabacteria) that is more abundant on the inside and outside of the root surface than control samples, suggesting its involvement in the rhizophagy process. This study will provide a foundation for functional studies to further understand how C. colocynthis-microbes interactions help them grow in the desert, paving the path for possible agricultural applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miranda Procter
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Biduth Kundu
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Naganeeswaran Sudalaimuthuasari
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Raja S. AlMaskari
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Esam E. Saeed
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Khaled M. Hazzouri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Correspondence: (K.M.H.); (K.M.A.A.)
| | - Khaled M. A. Amiri
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Correspondence: (K.M.H.); (K.M.A.A.)
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13
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Mishra AK, Sudalaimuthuasari N, Hazzouri KM, Saeed EE, Shah I, Amiri KMA. Tapping into Plant-Microbiome Interactions through the Lens of Multi-Omics Techniques. Cells 2022; 11:3254. [PMID: 36291121 PMCID: PMC9600287 DOI: 10.3390/cells11203254] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
This review highlights the pivotal role of root exudates in the rhizosphere, especially the interactions between plants and microbes and between plants and plants. Root exudates determine soil nutrient mobilization, plant nutritional status, and the communication of plant roots with microbes. Root exudates contain diverse specialized signaling metabolites (primary and secondary). The spatial behavior of these metabolites around the root zone strongly influences rhizosphere microorganisms through an intimate compatible interaction, thereby regulating complex biological and ecological mechanisms. In this context, we reviewed the current understanding of the biological phenomenon of allelopathy, which is mediated by phytotoxic compounds (called allelochemicals) released by plants into the soil that affect the growth, survival, development, ecological infestation, and intensification of other plant species and microbes in natural communities or agricultural systems. Advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS), such as metagenomics and metatranscriptomics, have opened the possibility of better understanding the effects of secreted metabolites on the composition and activity of root-associated microbial communities. Nevertheless, understanding the role of secretory metabolites in microbiome manipulation can assist in designing next-generation microbial inoculants for targeted disease mitigation and improved plant growth using the synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) tool. Besides a discussion on different approaches, we highlighted the advantages of conjugation of metabolomic approaches with genetic design (metabolite-based genome-wide association studies) in dissecting metabolome diversity and understanding the genetic components of metabolite accumulation. Recent advances in the field of metabolomics have expedited comprehensive and rapid profiling and discovery of novel bioactive compounds in root exudates. In this context, we discussed the expanding array of metabolomics platforms for metabolome profiling and their integration with multivariate data analysis, which is crucial to explore the biosynthesis pathway, as well as the regulation of associated pathways at the gene, transcript, and protein levels, and finally their role in determining and shaping the rhizomicrobiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajay Kumar Mishra
- Khalifa Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Naganeeswaran Sudalaimuthuasari
- Khalifa Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Khaled M. Hazzouri
- Khalifa Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Esam Eldin Saeed
- Khalifa Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Iltaf Shah
- Department of Chemistry (Biochemistry), College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Khaled M. A. Amiri
- Khalifa Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
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14
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George S, Rafi M, Aldarmaki M, ElSiddig M, Al Nuaimi M, Amiri KMA. tRNA derived small RNAs—Small players with big roles. Front Genet 2022; 13:997780. [PMID: 36199575 PMCID: PMC9527309 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.997780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 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: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In the past 2 decades, small non-coding RNAs derived from tRNA (tsRNAs or tRNA derived fragments; tRFs) have emerged as new powerful players in the field of small RNA mediated regulation of gene expression, translation, and epigenetic control. tRFs have been identified from evolutionarily divergent organisms from Archaea, the higher plants, to humans. Recent studies have confirmed their roles in cancers and other metabolic disorders in humans and experimental models. They have been implicated in biotic and abiotic stress responses in plants as well. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on tRFs including types of tRFs, their biogenesis, and mechanisms of action. The review also highlights recent studies involving differential expression profiling of tRFs and elucidation of specific functions of individual tRFs from various species. We also discuss potential considerations while designing experiments involving tRFs identification and characterization and list the available bioinformatics tools for this purpose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suja George
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohammed Rafi
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Maitha Aldarmaki
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohamed ElSiddig
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mariam Al Nuaimi
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Khaled M. A. Amiri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- *Correspondence: Khaled M. A. Amiri,
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15
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Sudalaimuthuasari N, Ali R, Kottackal M, Rafi M, Al Nuaimi M, Kundu B, Al-Maskari RS, Wang X, Mishra AK, Balan J, Chaluvadi SR, Al Ansari F, Bennetzen JL, Purugganan MD, Hazzouri KM, Amiri KMA. The Genome of the Mimosoid Legume Prosopis cineraria, a Desert Tree. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158503. [PMID: 35955640 PMCID: PMC9369113 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158503] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The mimosoid legumes are a clade of ~40 genera in the Caesalpinioideae subfamily of the Fabaceae that grow in tropical and subtropical regions. Unlike the better studied Papilionoideae, there are few genomic resources within this legume group. The tree Prosopis cineraria is native to the Near East and Indian subcontinent, where it thrives in very hot desert environments. To develop a tool to better understand desert plant adaptation mechanisms, we sequenced the P. cineraria genome to near-chromosomal assembly, with a total sequence length of ~691 Mb. We predicted 77,579 gene models (76,554 CDS, 361 rRNAs and 664 tRNAs) from the assembled genome, among them 55,325 (~72%) protein-coding genes that were functionally annotated. This genome was found to consist of over 58% repeat sequences, primarily long terminal repeats (LTR-)-retrotransposons. We find an expansion of terpenoid metabolism genes in P. cineraria and its relative Prosopis alba, but not in other legumes. We also observed an amplification of NBS-LRR disease-resistance genes correlated with LTR-associated retrotransposition, and identified 410 retrogenes with an active burst of chimeric retrogene creation that approximately occurred at the same time of divergence of P. cineraria from a common lineage with P. alba~23 Mya. These retrogenes include many biotic defense responses and abiotic stress stimulus responses, as well as the early Nodulin 93 gene. Nodulin 93 gene amplification is consistent with an adaptive response of the species to the low nitrogen in arid desert soil. Consistent with these results, our differentially expressed genes show a tissue specific expression of isoprenoid pathways in shoots, but not in roots, as well as important genes involved in abiotic salt stress in both tissues. Overall, the genome sequence of P. cineraria enriches our understanding of the genomic mechanisms of its disease resistance and abiotic stress tolerance. Thus, it is a very important step in crop and legume improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naganeeswaran Sudalaimuthuasari
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates; (N.S.); (R.A.); (M.K.); (M.R.); (M.A.N.); (A.K.M.); (J.B.)
| | - Rashid Ali
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates; (N.S.); (R.A.); (M.K.); (M.R.); (M.A.N.); (A.K.M.); (J.B.)
- Mitrix Bio., 400 Farmington Ave., Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Martin Kottackal
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates; (N.S.); (R.A.); (M.K.); (M.R.); (M.A.N.); (A.K.M.); (J.B.)
| | - Mohammed Rafi
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates; (N.S.); (R.A.); (M.K.); (M.R.); (M.A.N.); (A.K.M.); (J.B.)
| | - Mariam Al Nuaimi
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates; (N.S.); (R.A.); (M.K.); (M.R.); (M.A.N.); (A.K.M.); (J.B.)
| | - Biduth Kundu
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates; (B.K.); (R.S.A.-M.); (F.A.A.)
| | - Raja Saeed Al-Maskari
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates; (B.K.); (R.S.A.-M.); (F.A.A.)
| | - Xuewen Wang
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (X.W.); (S.R.C.); (J.L.B.)
| | - Ajay Kumar Mishra
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates; (N.S.); (R.A.); (M.K.); (M.R.); (M.A.N.); (A.K.M.); (J.B.)
| | - Jithin Balan
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates; (N.S.); (R.A.); (M.K.); (M.R.); (M.A.N.); (A.K.M.); (J.B.)
| | - Srinivasa R. Chaluvadi
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (X.W.); (S.R.C.); (J.L.B.)
| | - Fatima Al Ansari
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates; (B.K.); (R.S.A.-M.); (F.A.A.)
| | - Jeffrey L. Bennetzen
- Department of Genetics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (X.W.); (S.R.C.); (J.L.B.)
| | - Michael D. Purugganan
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box. 129188, United Arab Emirates;
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Khaled M. Hazzouri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates; (N.S.); (R.A.); (M.K.); (M.R.); (M.A.N.); (A.K.M.); (J.B.)
- Correspondence: (K.M.H.); (K.M.A.A.); Tel.: +971-37135624 (K.M.A.A.)
| | - Khaled M. A. Amiri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates; (N.S.); (R.A.); (M.K.); (M.R.); (M.A.N.); (A.K.M.); (J.B.)
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates; (B.K.); (R.S.A.-M.); (F.A.A.)
- Correspondence: (K.M.H.); (K.M.A.A.); Tel.: +971-37135624 (K.M.A.A.)
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Flowers JM, Hazzouri KM, Lemansour A, Capote T, Gros-Balthazard M, Ferrand S, Lebrun M, Amiri KMA, Purugganan MD. Patterns of Volatile Diversity Yield Insights Into the Genetics and Biochemistry of the Date Palm Fruit Volatilome. Front Plant Sci 2022; 13:853651. [PMID: 35371149 PMCID: PMC8964304 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.853651] [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] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Volatile organic compounds are key components of the fruit metabolome that contribute to traits such as aroma and taste. Here we report on the diversity of 90 flavor-related fruit traits in date palms (Phoenix dactylifera L.) including 80 volatile organic compounds, which collectively represent the fruit volatilome, as well as 6 organic acids, and 4 sugars in tree-ripened fruits. We characterize these traits in 148 date palms representing 135 varieties using headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography. We discovered new volatile compounds unknown in date palm including 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol, an attractant of the red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier), a key pest that threatens the date palm crop. Associations between volatile composition and sugar and moisture content suggest that differences among fruits in these traits may be characterized by system-wide differences in fruit metabolism. Correlations between volatiles indicate medium chain and long chain fatty acid ester volatiles are regulated independently, possibly reflecting differences in the biochemistry of fatty acid precursors. Finally, we took advantage of date palm clones in our analysis to estimate broad-sense heritabilities of volatiles and demonstrate that at least some of volatile diversity has a genetic basis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan M. Flowers
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Khaled M. Hazzouri
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Alain Lemansour
- Date Palm Research and Development Unit, UAE University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Tiago Capote
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Muriel Gros-Balthazard
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sylvie Ferrand
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Marc Lebrun
- CIRAD, UMR Qualisud, Montpellier, France
- Qualisud, Univ Montpellier, Avignon Université, CIRAD, Institut Agro, IRD, Université de La Réunion, Montpellier, France
| | - Khaled M. A. Amiri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Biology, College of Science, UAE University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Michael D. Purugganan
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, United States
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17
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Thayale Purayil F, Sudalaimuthuasari N, Li L, Aljneibi R, Al Shamsi AMK, David N, Kottackal M, AlZaabi M, Balan J, Kurup SS, Hazzouri KM, Amiri KMA. Transcriptome Profiling and Functional Validation of RING-Type E3 Ligases in Halophyte Sesuvium verrucosum under Salinity Stress. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052821. [PMID: 35269961 PMCID: PMC8911510 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052821] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Owing to their sessile nature, plants have developed a tapestry of molecular and physiological mechanisms to overcome diverse environmental challenges, including abiotic stresses. Adaptive radiation in certain lineages, such as Aizoaceae, enable their success in colonizing arid regions and is driven by evolutionary selection. Sesuvium verrucosum (commonly known as Western sea-purslane) is a highly salt-tolerant succulent halophyte belonging to the Aizoaceae family; thus, it provides us with the model-platform for studying plant adaptation to salt stress. Various transcriptional and translational mechanisms are employed by plants to cope with salt stress. One of the systems, namely, ubiquitin-mediated post-translational modification, plays a vital role in plant tolerance to abiotic stress and other biological process. E3 ligase plays a central role in target recognition and protein specificity in ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation. Here, we characterize E3 ligases in Sesuvium verrucosum from transcriptome analysis of roots in response to salinity stress. Our de novo transcriptome assembly results in 131,454 transcripts, and the completeness of transcriptome was confirmed by BUSCO analysis (99.3% of predicted plant-specific ortholog genes). Positive selection analysis shows 101 gene families under selection; these families are enriched for abiotic stress (e.g., osmotic and salt) responses and proteasomal ubiquitin-dependent protein catabolic processes. In total, 433 E3 ligase transcripts were identified in S. verrucosum; among these transcripts, single RING-type classes were more abundant compared to multi-subunit RING-type E3 ligases. Additionally, we compared the number of single RING-finger E3 ligases with ten different plant species, which confirmed the abundance of single RING-type E3 ligases in different plant species. In addition, differential expression analysis showed significant changes in 13 single RING-type E3 ligases (p-value < 0.05) under salinity stress. Furthermore, the functions of the selected E3 ligases genes (12 genes) were confirmed by yeast assay. Among them, nine genes conferred salt tolerance in transgenic yeast. This functional assay supports the possible involvement of these E3 ligase in salinity stress. Our results lay a foundation for translational research in glycophytes to develop stress tolerant crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fayas Thayale Purayil
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates; (F.T.P.); (N.S.); (L.L.); (R.A.); (A.M.K.A.S.); (M.K.); (M.A.); (J.B.)
- Department of Integrative Agriculture, College of Food and Agriculture, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Naganeeswaran Sudalaimuthuasari
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates; (F.T.P.); (N.S.); (L.L.); (R.A.); (A.M.K.A.S.); (M.K.); (M.A.); (J.B.)
| | - Ling Li
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates; (F.T.P.); (N.S.); (L.L.); (R.A.); (A.M.K.A.S.); (M.K.); (M.A.); (J.B.)
| | - Ruwan Aljneibi
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates; (F.T.P.); (N.S.); (L.L.); (R.A.); (A.M.K.A.S.); (M.K.); (M.A.); (J.B.)
| | - Aysha Mohammed Khamis Al Shamsi
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates; (F.T.P.); (N.S.); (L.L.); (R.A.); (A.M.K.A.S.); (M.K.); (M.A.); (J.B.)
| | - Nelson David
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, Abu-Dhabi P.O. Box 129188, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Martin Kottackal
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates; (F.T.P.); (N.S.); (L.L.); (R.A.); (A.M.K.A.S.); (M.K.); (M.A.); (J.B.)
| | - Mariam AlZaabi
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates; (F.T.P.); (N.S.); (L.L.); (R.A.); (A.M.K.A.S.); (M.K.); (M.A.); (J.B.)
| | - Jithin Balan
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates; (F.T.P.); (N.S.); (L.L.); (R.A.); (A.M.K.A.S.); (M.K.); (M.A.); (J.B.)
| | - Shyam S. Kurup
- Department of Integrative Agriculture, College of Food and Agriculture, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Khaled Michel Hazzouri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates; (F.T.P.); (N.S.); (L.L.); (R.A.); (A.M.K.A.S.); (M.K.); (M.A.); (J.B.)
- Correspondence: (K.M.H.); (K.M.A.A.); Tel.: +971-37135624 (K.M.A.A.)
| | - Khaled M. A. Amiri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates; (F.T.P.); (N.S.); (L.L.); (R.A.); (A.M.K.A.S.); (M.K.); (M.A.); (J.B.)
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Correspondence: (K.M.H.); (K.M.A.A.); Tel.: +971-37135624 (K.M.A.A.)
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Nelson DR, Hazzouri KM, Lauersen KJ, Jaiswal A, Chaiboonchoe A, Mystikou A, Fu W, Daakour S, Dohai B, Alzahmi A, Nobles D, Hurd M, Sexton J, Preston MJ, Blanchette J, Lomas MW, Amiri KMA, Salehi-Ashtiani K. Large-scale genome sequencing reveals the driving forces of viruses in microalgal evolution. Cell Host Microbe 2021; 29:250-266.e8. [PMID: 33434515 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2020.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [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: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Being integral primary producers in diverse ecosystems, microalgal genomes could be mined for ecological insights, but representative genome sequences are lacking for many phyla. We cultured and sequenced 107 microalgae species from 11 different phyla indigenous to varied geographies and climates. This collection was used to resolve genomic differences between saltwater and freshwater microalgae. Freshwater species showed domain-centric ontology enrichment for nuclear and nuclear membrane functions, while saltwater species were enriched in organellar and cellular membrane functions. Further, marine species contained significantly more viral families in their genomes (p = 8e-4). Sequences from Chlorovirus, Coccolithovirus, Pandoravirus, Marseillevirus, Tupanvirus, and other viruses were found integrated into the genomes of algal from marine environments. These viral-origin sequences were found to be expressed and code for a wide variety of functions. Together, this study comprehensively defines the expanse of protein-coding and viral elements in microalgal genomes and posits a unified adaptive strategy for algal halotolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R Nelson
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
| | - Khaled M Hazzouri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (KCGEB), UAE University, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE; Biology Department, College of Science, UAE University, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Kyle J Lauersen
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Ashish Jaiswal
- Division of Science and Math, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | | | - Alexandra Mystikou
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Weiqi Fu
- Division of Science and Math, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Sarah Daakour
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Bushra Dohai
- Division of Science and Math, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Amnah Alzahmi
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - David Nobles
- UTEX Culture Collection of Algae at the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Mark Hurd
- National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota, East Boothbay, ME, USA
| | - Julie Sexton
- National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota, East Boothbay, ME, USA
| | - Michael J Preston
- National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota, East Boothbay, ME, USA
| | - Joan Blanchette
- National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota, East Boothbay, ME, USA
| | - Michael W Lomas
- National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota, East Boothbay, ME, USA
| | - Khaled M A Amiri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (KCGEB), UAE University, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE; Biology Department, College of Science, UAE University, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Kourosh Salehi-Ashtiani
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE; Division of Science and Math, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
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19
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Aljasmi FA, Vijayan R, Sudalaimuthuasari N, Souid AK, Karuvantevida N, Almaskari R, Mohammed Abdul Kader H, Kundu B, Michel Hazzouri K, Amiri KMA. Genomic Landscape of the Mitochondrial Genome in the United Arab Emirates Native Population. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11080876. [PMID: 32752197 PMCID: PMC7464197 DOI: 10.3390/genes11080876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to assess the genomic landscape of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) mitogenome, we sequenced and analyzed the complete genomes of 232 Emirate females mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) within and compared those to Africa. We investigated the prevalence of haplogroups, genetic variation, heteroplasmy, and demography among the UAE native population with diverse ethnicity and relatively high degree of consanguinity. We identified 968 mtDNA variants and high-resolution 15 haplogroups. Our results show that the UAE population received enough gene flow from Africa represented by the haplogroups L, U6, and M1, and that 16.8% of the population has an eastern provenance, depicted by the U haplogroup and the M Indian haplogroup (12%), whereas western Eurasian and Asian haplogroups (R, J, and K) represent 11 to 15%. Interestingly, we found an ancient migration present through the descendant of L (N1 and X) and other sub-haplogroups (L2a1d and L4) and (L3x1b), which is one of the oldest evolutionary histories outside of Africa. Our demographic analysis shows no population structure among populations, with low diversity and no population differentiation. In addition, we show that the transmission of mtDNA in the UAE population is under purifying selection with hints of diversifying selection on ATP8 gene. Last, our results show a population bottleneck, which coincides with the Western European contact (1400 ybp). Our study of the UAE mitogenomes suggest that several maternal lineage migratory episodes liking African–Asian corridors occurred since the first modern human emerges out of Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatma A Aljasmi
- Pediatric Department, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi 15551, UAE
| | - Ranjit Vijayan
- Biology Department, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi 15551, UAE
| | | | - Abdul-Kader Souid
- Pediatric Department, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi 15551, UAE
| | | | - Raja Almaskari
- Biology Department, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi 15551, UAE
| | | | - Biduth Kundu
- Biology Department, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi 15551, UAE
| | - Khaled Michel Hazzouri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi 15551, UAE
| | - Khaled M A Amiri
- Biology Department, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi 15551, UAE
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi 15551, UAE
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20
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Hazzouri KM, Sudalaimuthuasari N, Kundu B, Nelson D, Al-Deeb MA, Le Mansour A, Spencer JJ, Desplan C, Amiri KMA. The genome of pest Rhynchophorus ferrugineus reveals gene families important at the plant-beetle interface. Commun Biol 2020; 3:323. [PMID: 32581279 PMCID: PMC7314810 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-1060-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [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: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, infests palm plantations, leading to large financial losses and soil erosion. Pest-host interactions are poorly understood in R. ferrugineus, but the analysis of genetic diversity and pest origins will help advance efforts to eradicate this pest. We sequenced the genome of R. ferrugineus using a combination of paired-end Illumina sequencing (150 bp), Oxford Nanopore long reads, 10X Genomics and synteny analysis to produce an assembly with a scaffold N50 of ~60 Mb. Structural variations showed duplication of detoxifying and insecticide resistance genes (e.g., glutathione S-transferase, P450, Rdl). Furthermore, the evolution of gene families identified those under positive selection including one glycosyl hydrolase (GH16) gene family, which appears to result from horizontal gene transfer. This genome will be a valuable resource to understand insect evolution and behavior and to allow the genetic modification of key genes that will help control this pest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Michel Hazzouri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, Al Ain, UAE
| | | | - Biduth Kundu
- Department of Biology, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, Al Ain, UAE
| | - David Nelson
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Mohammad Ali Al-Deeb
- Department of Biology, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, Al Ain, UAE
| | - Alain Le Mansour
- Date Palm Tissue Culture, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, Al Ain, UAE
| | - Johnston J Spencer
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, TAMU 2475, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Claude Desplan
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, PO Box 129188, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
| | - Khaled M A Amiri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, Al Ain, UAE.
- Department of Biology, United Arab Emirates University, PO Box 15551, Al Ain, UAE.
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21
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Hazzouri KM, Flowers JM, Nelson D, Lemansour A, Masmoudi K, Amiri KMA. Prospects for the Study and Improvement of Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Date Palms in the Post-genomics Era. Front Plant Sci 2020; 11:293. [PMID: 32256513 PMCID: PMC7090123 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is a socio-economically important crop in the Middle East and North Africa and a major contributor to food security in arid regions of the world. P. dactylifera is both drought and salt tolerant, but recent water shortages and increases in groundwater and soil salinity have threatened the continued productivity of the crop. Recent studies of date palm have begun to elucidate the physiological mechanisms of abiotic stress tolerance and the genes and biochemical pathways that control the response to these stresses. Here we review recent studies on tolerance of date palm to salinity and drought stress, the role of the soil and root microbiomes in abiotic stress tolerance, and highlight recent findings of omic-type studies. We present a perspective on future research of abiotic stress in date palm that includes improving existing genome resources, application of genetic mapping to determine the genetic basis of variation in tolerances among cultivars, and adoption of gene-editing technologies to the study of abiotic stress in date palms. Development of necessary resources and application of the proposed methods will provide a foundation for future breeders and genetic engineers aiming to develop more stress-tolerant cultivars of date palm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Michel Hazzouri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Jonathan M. Flowers
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology (CGSB), New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - David Nelson
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology (CGSB), New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Khaled Masmoudi
- College of Food and Agriculture, Department of Integrative Agriculture, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Khaled M. A. Amiri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- College of Science, Department of Biology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
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22
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Hazzouri KM, Khraiwesh B, Amiri KMA, Pauli D, Blake T, Shahid M, Mullath SK, Nelson D, Mansour AL, Salehi-Ashtiani K, Purugganan M, Masmoudi K. Mapping of HKT1;5 Gene in Barley Using GWAS Approach and Its Implication in Salt Tolerance Mechanism. Front Plant Sci 2018; 9:156. [PMID: 29515598 PMCID: PMC5826053 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2018.00156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Sodium (Na+) accumulation in the cytosol will result in ion homeostasis imbalance and toxicity of transpiring leaves. Studies of salinity tolerance in the diploid wheat ancestor Triticum monococcum showed that HKT1;5-like gene was a major gene in the QTL for salt tolerance, named Nax2. In the present study, we were interested in investigating the molecular mechanisms underpinning the role of the HKT1;5 gene in salt tolerance in barley (Hordeum vulgare). A USDA mini-core collection of 2,671 barley lines, part of a field trial was screened for salinity tolerance, and a Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) was performed. Our results showed important SNPs that are correlated with salt tolerance that mapped to a region where HKT1;5 ion transporter located on chromosome four. Furthermore, sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) content analysis revealed that tolerant lines accumulate more sodium in roots and leaf sheaths, than in the sensitive ones. In contrast, sodium concentration was reduced in leaf blades of the tolerant lines under salt stress. In the absence of NaCl, the concentration of Na+ and K+ were the same in the roots, leaf sheaths and leaf blades between the tolerant and the sensitive lines. In order to study the molecular mechanism behind that, alleles of the HKT1;5 gene from five tolerant and five sensitive barley lines were cloned and sequenced. Sequence analysis did not show the presence of any polymorphism that distinguishes between the tolerant and sensitive alleles. Our real-time RT-PCR experiments, showed that the expression of HKT1;5 gene in roots of the tolerant line was significantly induced after challenging the plants with salt stress. In contrast, in leaf sheaths the expression was decreased after salt treatment. In sensitive lines, there was no difference in the expression of HKT1;5 gene in leaf sheath under control and saline conditions, while a slight increase in the expression was observed in roots after salt treatment. These results provide stronger evidence that HKT1;5 gene in barley play a key role in withdrawing Na+ from the xylem and therefore reducing its transport to leaves. Given all that, these data support the hypothesis that HKT1;5 gene is responsible for Na+ unloading to the xylem and controlling its distribution in the shoots, which provide new insight into the understanding of this QTL for salinity tolerance in barley.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaled M. Hazzouri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University of Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Khaled M. Hazzouri ;
| | - Basel Khraiwesh
- Laboratory of Algal and Systems Biology, New York University of Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Khaled M. A. Amiri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Duke Pauli
- Plant Breeding and Genetics, School of Integrative Plant Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Tom Blake
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
| | - Mohammad Shahid
- International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sangeeta K. Mullath
- Department of Arid Land Agriculture, College of Food and Agriculture, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - David Nelson
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University of Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Alain L. Mansour
- Date Palm Tissue Culture, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Kourosh Salehi-Ashtiani
- Laboratory of Algal and Systems Biology, New York University of Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Michael Purugganan
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University of Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Khaled Masmoudi
- Department of Arid Land Agriculture, College of Food and Agriculture, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- *Correspondence: Khaled Masmoudi
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Bener A, Uduman SA, Ameen A, Alwash R, Pasha MAH, Usmani MA, AI-Naili SR, Amiri KMA. Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection among low socio-economic workers. J Commun Dis 2002; 34:179-84. [PMID: 14703052] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have shown that the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in a community and occupational health are closely related to lifestyle and socio-economic status. There is little information on H. pylori profile in industrial workers in the literature. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence rate of H. pylori profiles among low socio-economic workers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study was undertaken by determining IgG H. pylori antibody profiles among industrial exposed and referent workers, sera. Presence of anti-H. pylori antibodies in the frozen stored sera was determined by ELISA. Also, data on dietary and lifestyle were obtained. The result was considered positive if IgG anti-H. pylori antibody titers was > 300. People with seropositive levels of IgG antibodies to H. pylori were assumed to be infected with H. pylori. Most of the industrial workers lived in less modern accommodation, were less educated, ate their vegetable products unwashed and did not have drinking water facilities, when compared to referents. H. pylori serology by IgG was positive in 167 industrial workers (78.4%) and 137 in referent workers (64.3%) respectively, (p < 0.002). The sensitivity and specificity of the IgG serology assay were 94.5%, and 97.2% respectively. There was statistically significant difference between the exposed industrial and non-exposed control groups in respect of their H. pylori profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Bener
- Dept. of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, UAE University, Qatar
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Abu-Zeid YA, Alwash R, Shaheen HM, Bin-Othman SA, Lukic ML, Amiri KMA, Charoenvit Y. Seroprevalence of antibodies to repetitive domains of Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite protein in United Arab Emirates children. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2002; 96:560-4. [PMID: 12474490 DOI: 10.1016/s0035-9203(02)90443-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the exposure of child citizens of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Plasmodium vivax, and to elucidate if it was related to place of residence or previous international travel to malaria-endemic areas. Blood samples were collected from 1010 primary schoolchildren resident in 7 out of 9 districts of the UAE during October and November 1999. Plasma samples were tested for antibodies against MAP4 (DGQPAGDR)3P2P30, a multiple antigen peptide containing the repeat amino acid sequences of P. vivax circumsporozoite protein (CSP), conjugated to 2 T-helper epitopes, P2 (QYIKANSKFIGITE) and P30 (FNNFTVSFWLRVPKVSASHLE) from tetanus toxin. For confirmation of P. vivax-specific reactivity, positive samples were further tested against (AGDR)6, a synthetic peptide containing 6 copies of a protective epitope within the CSP, and against a recombinant CSP, designated as NS1(81)V20. Results indicated that 3.3% of the children were seropositive. The seropositivity rates differed significantly in relation to place of residence, whereas travel outside the UAE did not significantly affect the exposure rates to P. vivax.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yousif A Abu-Zeid
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
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