Project description:Background: The oomycete Phytophthora infestans possesses active RNA silencing pathways, which presumably enable this plant pathogen to control the large numbers of transposable elements present in its 240 Mb genome. Small RNAs (sRNAs), central molecules in RNA silencing, are known to also play key roles in this organism, notably in regulation of critical effector genes needed for infection of its potato host. Results: In order to identify additional classes of sRNAs in oomycetes, we mapped deep sequencing reads to transfer RNAs (tRNAs) thereby revealing the presence of 19-40 nt tRNA-derived RNA fragments (tRFs). Northern blot analysis identified abundant tRFs corresponding to half tRNA molecules. Some tRFs accumulated differentially during infection, as seen by examining sRNAs sequenced from P. infestans-potato interaction libraries. The putative connection between tRF biogenesis and the canonical RNA silencing pathways was investigated by employing hairpin RNA-mediated RNAi to silence the genes encoding P. infestans Argonaute (PiAgo) and Dicer (PiDcl) endoribonucleases. By sRNA sequencing we show that tRF accumulation is PiDcl1-independent, while Northern hybridizations detected reduced levels of specific tRNA-derived species in the PiAgo1 knockdown line. Conclusions: Our findings extend the sRNA diversity in oomycetes to include fragments derived from non-protein-coding RNA transcripts and identify tRFs whose levels are elevated during infection of P. infestans on potato. Small RNA sequence data from two Phytophthora infestans isolates. Four life-cycle stages from each isolate. No replicates. Total number of samples: 8.
Project description:Much of the pathogenic success of Phytophthora infestans, the potato and tomato late blight agent, relies on its ability to generate from mycelia large amounts of sporangia, which release zoospores that encyst and form infection structures. To better understand these critical stages, Affymetrix GeneChips based on 15,650 unigenes were designed and used to profile the life cycle, through an analysis of RNA from hyphae, sporangia, cleaving sporangia, motile zoospores, and germinated zoospore cysts. Keywords: Developmental study
Project description:Much of the pathogenic success of Phytophthora infestans, the potato and tomato late blight agent, relies on its ability to generate from mycelia large amounts of sporangia, which release zoospores that encyst and form infection structures. To better understand these critical stages, Affymetrix GeneChips based on 15,650 unigenes were designed and used to profile the life cycle, through an analysis of RNA from hyphae, sporangia, cleaving sporangia, motile zoospores, and germinated zoospore cysts. Keywords: Developmental study Gene expression in non-sporulating hyphae, asexual sporangia, sporangia undergoing cleavage, swimming zoospores, and germinated cysts containing appressoria were characterized using isolate 88069. Several strategies controlled for experimental error. Firstly, two replicate hybridizations were used for each tissue type. Secondly, RNAs for the two replicates were prepared by research groups in North America and/or Europe. Thirdly, RNA for each hybridization was pooled from two or three independent cultures made by that group. Finally, before using an RNA sample in an experiment the expression of selected well-characterized genes was measured to ensure that the tissue was properly prepared.
Project description:Background: The oomycete Phytophthora infestans possesses active RNA silencing pathways, which presumably enable this plant pathogen to control the large numbers of transposable elements present in its 240 Mb genome. Small RNAs (sRNAs), central molecules in RNA silencing, are known to also play key roles in this organism, notably in regulation of critical effector genes needed for infection of its potato host. Results: To identify additional classes of sRNAs in oomycetes, we mapped deep sequencing reads to transfer RNAs (tRNAs) thereby revealing the presence of 19-40 nt tRNA-derived RNA fragments (tRFs). Northern blot analysis identified abundant tRFs corresponding to half tRNA molecules. Some tRFs accumulated differentially during infection, as seen by examining sRNAs sequenced from P. infestans-potato interaction libraries. The putative connection between tRF biogenesis and the canonical RNA silencing pathways was investigated by employing hairpin RNA-mediated RNAi to silence the genes encoding P. infestans Argonaute (PiAgo) and Dicer (PiDcl) endoribonucleases. By sRNA sequencing we show that tRF accumulation is PiDcl1-independent, while Northern hybridizations detected reduced levels of specific tRNA-derived species in the PiAgo1 knockdown line. Conclusions: Our findings extend the sRNA diversity in oomycetes to include fragments derived from non-protein-coding RNA transcripts and identify tRFs with elevated levels during infection of potato by P. infestans. Small RNA sequence data from Phytophthora infestans-infected potato leaf tissue and P. infestans mycelium tissue. Three infection stage time-points. Two P. infestans lines: 88089 (wild-type) and PiDcl1 (transformant PiDcl1 knock-down). No replicates. Total number of samples: 8.
Project description:Transcriptional changes during asexual sporangia formation by the late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans were identified using microarrays representing 15,650 genes and RNA from sporulation time-courses, purified spores, and sporulation-defective strains. Results were confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses of sporulation on artificial media and infected tomato. During sporulation, about 12% of genes were found to be up-regulated and 5% down-regulated. The most prevalent induced genes had functions in signal transduction, flagella assembly, cellular organization, metabolism, and molecular or vesicular transport. Distinct patterns of expression were discerned based on the kinetics of mRNA induction and their persistence in sporangia. For example, most flagella-associated transcripts were induced very early in sporulation and maintained in sporangia, while many participants in metabolism or small molecule transport were also induced early but had low levels in sporangia. Data from this study are a resource for understanding sporogenesis, which is critical to the pathogenic success of P. infestans and other oomycetes.
Project description:Deep sequencing of small RNAs from three Phytophthora species, P. infestans, P. ramorum and P. sojae, was done to systematically analyze small RNA-generating components of Phytophthora genomes. We found that each species produces two distinct small RNA populations that are predominantly 21- or 25-nucleotides long. We present evidence that 25-nucleotide small RNAs are short-interfering RNAs that silence repetitive genetic elements. In contrast, 21-nucleotide small RNAs are associated with inverted repeats, including a novel microRNA family, and may function at the post-transcriptional level. Phytophthora infestans mycelium small RNAs were sequenced and aligned to the P. infestans genome for analysis.