Project description:Glandular trichomes (GT) are specialized cell factories that have the capacity to produce large amounts of metabolites which can amount to over 10% of the leaf dry weight. The specific expression of secondary metabolite pathways in glandular trichomes has facilitated their elucidation. However, little is known about the connection between central carbon and specialized metabolism in these cells. To address this question, we used the type VI glandular trichomes from a cultivated (Solanum lycopersicum LA4024) and a wild tomato accession (Solanum habrochaites LA1777) as a model. Our study is based on metabolomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and 13C-labeling datasets of trichome and leaves samples. This comparative analysis allowed us to identify specific features of trichomes in comparison to leaves. Here, the transcript raw and RMA-normalized data is hosted.
Project description:In this study, we have performed Illumina based RNA sequencing to characterize the transcriptome and expression profiles of genes expressed in 3 tissues of L. officinale. RNA sequencing and de novo transcriptome assembly of L. officinale resulted in a total of 77,047 unigenes with N50 value as 1524 bps. KEGG pathway and GO enrichment analysis using highly expressed unigenes across three tissues showed active secondary metabolic processes specifically enriched to the root of L. officinale. Expression of identified candidate unigenes for specialized metabolites biosynthesis were consistent with previous reports on accumulation of metabolites across different tissues of L. officinale.
Project description:The small RNA, ArcZ (previously RyhA/SraH), was discovered in several genome-wide screens in Escherichia coli and Salmonella. Its high degree of genomic conservation, its frequent recovery by shotgun sequencing, and its association with the RNA chaperone, Hfq, identified ArcZ as an abundant enterobacterial “core” small RNA of unknown function. Here, we report that ArcZ acts as a post-transcriptional regulator in Salmonella, repressing the mRNAs of the widely distributed sdaCB (serine uptake) and tpx (oxidative stress) genes, and of STM3216, a horizontally acquired methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein (MCP). Both sdaCB and STM3216 are regulated by sequestration of the ribosome binding site. In contrast, the tpx mRNA is targeted in the coding sequence (CDS), arguing that CDS targeting is more common than appreciated. Transcriptomic analysis of an arcZ deletion strain further argued for the existence of a distinct set of Salmonella loci specifically regulated by ArcZ. In contrast, increased expression of the sRNA altered the steady-state levels of >16% (≥750) of all Salmonella mRNAs, and rendered the bacteria non-motile. Deep sequencing detected a dramatically changed profile of Hfq-bound sRNAs and mRNAs suggesting that the unprecedented degree of pleiotropic regulation might in part be caused by titration of Hfq binding by ArcZ.
Project description:Root exudates contain specialised metabolites that affect the plant’s root microbiome. How host-specific microbes cope with these bioactive compounds, and how this ability shapes root microbiomes, remains largely unknown. We investigated how maize root bacteria metabolise benzoxazinoids, the main specialised metabolites of maize. Diverse and abundant bacteria metabolised the major compound in the maize rhizosphere MBOA and formed AMPO. AMPO forming bacteria are enriched in the rhizosphere of benzoxazinoid-producing maize and can use MBOA as carbon source. We identified a novel gene cluster associated with AMPO formation in microbacteria. The first gene in this cluster, bxdA encodes a lactonase that converts MBOA to AMPO in vitro. A deletion mutant of the homologous bxdA genes in the genus Sphingobium, does not form AMPO nor is it able to use MBOA as a carbon source. BxdA was identified in different genera of maize root bacteria. Here we show that plant-specialised metabolites select for metabolisation-competent root bacteria. BxdA represents a novel benzoxazinoid metabolisation gene whose carriers successfully colonize the maize rhizosphere and thereby shape the plant’s chemical environmental footprint
Project description:The small RNA, ArcZ (previously RyhA/SraH), was discovered in several genome-wide screens in Escherichia coli and Salmonella. Its high degree of genomic conservation, its frequent recovery by shotgun sequencing, and its association with the RNA chaperone, Hfq, identified ArcZ as an abundant enterobacterial âcoreâ small RNA of unknown function. Here, we report that ArcZ acts as a post-transcriptional regulator in Salmonella, repressing the mRNAs of the widely distributed sdaCB (serine uptake) and tpx (oxidative stress) genes, and of STM3216, a horizontally acquired methyl-accepting chemotaxis protein (MCP). Both sdaCB and STM3216 are regulated by sequestration of the ribosome binding site. In contrast, the tpx mRNA is targeted in the coding sequence (CDS), arguing that CDS targeting is more common than appreciated. Transcriptomic analysis of an arcZ deletion strain further argued for the existence of a distinct set of Salmonella loci specifically regulated by ArcZ. In contrast, increased expression of the sRNA altered the steady-state levels of >16% (â¥750) of all Salmonella mRNAs, and rendered the bacteria non-motile. Deep sequencing detected a dramatically changed profile of Hfq-bound sRNAs and mRNAs suggesting that the unprecedented degree of pleiotropic regulation might in part be caused by titration of Hfq binding by ArcZ. This study used three different approaches to identify target genes and biological role of the small RNA ArcZ in Salmonella Typhimurium. Transcriptomic analysis of ArcZ overexpression: Strain JVS-0082 (ÎarcZ) was transformed with plasmids pJV300 (control) and pKP48-1 (parcZ), and grown in liquid culture (LB broth) inoculated 1:100 from an overnight culture for 6h after cells had reached an OD600=2.0 to attain late stationary phase. Transcriptomic analysis of arcZ mutant strain: Strains JVS-007 (WT) and JVS-0082 (ÎarcZ) were transformed with plasmid pJV300 (control) and grown in liquid culture (LB broth) inoculated 1:100 from an overnight culture for 6h after cells had reached an OD600=2.0 to attain late stationary phase. Transcriptional effects of ArcZ pulse expression: Strain SL1344 was transformed with plasmids pKP8-35 (pBAD-control) and pKP4-13 (pBAD-ArcZ), and grown in liquid culture (LB broth) inoculated 1:100 from an overnight culture to an OD600 of 1.5. Expression of the insert was induced with L-arabinose (0.2% final concentrations) for 10 min. Three biological replicates were performed for each strain/condition.
Project description:Rapid modulation of gene expression is a key feature for the success of bacteria, particularly for those that rapidly have to adapt to different niches. The lifecycles of Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus involve a mutualistic association with nematodes as well as an entomopathogenic phase1,2, both of which rely on the production of numerous specialized metabolites (SMs) 3,4. Several regulators have been previously implicated in the regulation of SM production in these genera3,4. However, the molecular underpinnings regulating SM production and the role of small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) in this process are unknown. Here we describe the mechanism underlying RNA-mediated control of SM synthesis. We show that the Hfq-dependent sRNA, ArcZ, is an essential requirement for SM production. We discovered that ArcZ directly base-pairs with the mRNA encoding HexA, a key repressor of SM genes. We further demonstrate that the ArcZ regulon is not restricted to SM production, but rather modulates up to ~15% of the transcriptional output in both Photorhabdus and Xenorhabdus. Together, our study shows that sRNAs are crucial for SM production in these species, reveals previously unknown targets for biosynthetic pathway manipulations, and offers a new tool for the (over)production, isolation and identification of unknown natural products.
Project description:Activation of cryptic biosynthesis gene clusters for specialized metabolites in Streptomyces argillaceus using nutritional and genetic approaches
Project description:Genetic and molecular evidence to support the hypothesis that fungal secondary metabolites play a significant role in protecting the fungi against fungivory is scarce. We investigated the impact of fungal secondary metabolites on transcript regulation of stress related expressed sequence tags (ESTs) of the Collembola Folsomia candida feeding on mixed vs. single diets. Aspergillus nidulans wildtype (WT; Ascomycota) able to produce secondary metabolites including sterigmatocystin (ST) and a knockout mutant with reduced secondary metabolism (A. nidulans ?LaeA) were combined with the high quality fungus Cladosporium cladosporioides as mixed diets or offered as single diets. We hypothesized that (i) A. nidulans WT triggers more genes associated with stress responses compared to the A. nidulans ?laeA strain with suppressed secondary metabolism, (ii) C. cladosporioides causes significantly different transcript regulation than the A. nidulans strains ?laeA and WT, and (iii) mixed diets will cause significantly different transcript expression levels than single diets. All three hypotheses are generally supported despite the fact that many functions of the affected ESTs are unknown. The results bring molecular evidence for the existence of a link between fungal secondary metabolites and responses in springtails supporting the hypothesis that fungal secondary metabolites act as a shield against fungivory. Twenty-three day old Folsomia candida were fed ad libitum for five days to fungal cuts respectively Cladosporium cladosporoides, Aspergillus nidulans WT, Aspergillus nidulans ?LaeA and two mixed diets of C.cladosporoides/A. nidulans WT (mix 1) and C. cladosporoides/A. nudlans ?LaeA (mix2) respectively. Four biological replicates were used for every treatment and a dye swap was used with the Cy3/Cy5 labels. This resulted in 20 samples which were analysed in 10 hybridisations executed in an interwoven loop design. The C. cladosporoides diet was used as the reference in the data analysis.
Project description:Genetic and molecular evidence to support the hypothesis that fungal secondary metabolites play a significant role in protecting the fungi against fungivory is scarce. We investigated the impact of fungal secondary metabolites on transcript regulation of stress related expressed sequence tags (ESTs) of the Collembola Folsomia candida feeding on mixed vs. single diets. Aspergillus nidulans wildtype (WT; Ascomycota) able to produce secondary metabolites including sterigmatocystin (ST) and a knockout mutant with reduced secondary metabolism (A. nidulans ΔLaeA) were combined with the high quality fungus Cladosporium cladosporioides as mixed diets or offered as single diets. We hypothesized that (i) A. nidulans WT triggers more genes associated with stress responses compared to the A. nidulans ΔlaeA strain with suppressed secondary metabolism, (ii) C. cladosporioides causes significantly different transcript regulation than the A. nidulans strains ΔlaeA and WT, and (iii) mixed diets will cause significantly different transcript expression levels than single diets. All three hypotheses are generally supported despite the fact that many functions of the affected ESTs are unknown. The results bring molecular evidence for the existence of a link between fungal secondary metabolites and responses in springtails supporting the hypothesis that fungal secondary metabolites act as a shield against fungivory.