Project description:In higher plants, the outer surface of the aerial parts is covered by the cuticle, a complex lipid layer that constitutes a barrier against damages caused by environmental factors and provides protection against non-stomatal water loss. We show in this study that cuticle deposition, during the juvenile phase of in maize (Zea mays) plant development, and cuticle-dependent leaf permeability are controlled by the MYB transcription factor ZmMYB94/FUSED LEAVES1(ZmFDL1). Transcriptome analysis allowed the identification of a set of maize candidate genes involved in lipid metabolism and the definition of a proposed pathway for cuticle biosynthesis in maize. Lack of ZmFDL1 affects the expression activities of genes located in different modules of the pathway and correspondence between gene transcriptional variations and biochemical defects will be discussed.
Project description:Small RNAs (sRNAs) are hypothesized to contribute to hybrid vigor because they maintain genome integrity, contribute to genetic diversity, and control gene expression. We used Illumina sequencing to assess how sRNA populations vary between two maize inbred lines (B73, Mo17) and their hybrid. We sampled sRNAs from the seedling shoot apex and the developing ear, two rapidly growing tissues that program the greater growth of maize hybrids. We found that parental differences in siRNAs primarily originate from repeat regions. Although the maize genome contains greater number and complexity of repeats compared to Arabidopsis or rice, we confirmed that like these simpler plant genomes, 24-nt siRNAs whose abundance differs between maize parents also show a trend of downregulation following hybridization. Surprisingly, hybrid vigor is fully maintained when 24-nt siRNAs are globally reduced by mutation of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase2 (RDR2) encoded by modifier of paramutation1 (mop1). We also discovered that 21-22nt siRNAs derived from a number of distinct retrotransposon families differentially accumulate between B73 and Mo17 as well as their hybrid. Thus, maize possesses a novel source of genetic variation for regulating both transposons and genes at a genomic scale, which may contribute to its high degree of observed heterosis.
Project description:The goals of this study are to study the regulatory network of the two maize endosperm-specific transcription factors O2 and PBF by 16-DAP endosperm transcriptome profiling (RNA-seq) of their mutants and wild type. The results utilize the expression pattern of global genes regulated by PBF and O2 to elucidate their control for storage compounds synthesis in maize kernels.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of Yellow stripe 1 (ys1) and ys3 mutants. ys1 and ys3 are recessive mutants of maize (Zea mays L.) that result in symptoms typical of Fe deficiency, i.e., interveinal chlorosis of the leaves. The objective of the present work was to identify the genes involved in the ys1 and ys3 phenotypes, so as to extend our understanding of Fe homeostasis in maize.
Project description:qPCR gene expression profiling of Yellow stripe 1 (ys1) and ys3 mutants. ys1 and ys3 are recessive mutants of maize (Zea mays L.) that result in symptoms typical of Fe deficiency, i.e., interveinal chlorosis of the leaves. The objective of the present work was to identify the genes involved in the ys1 and ys3 phenotypes, so as to extend our understanding of Fe homeostasis in maize.
Project description:Maize anthers, the male reproductive floral organs, express two classes of phased, small interfering RNAs (phasiRNAs). RNA profiling from ten sequential cohorts of staged maize anthers plus mature pollen revealed that 21-nt phased siRNAs (21-phasiRNAs) from 463 loci appear abruptly after germinal and initial somatic cell fate specification and then diminish, while 24-nt phased siRNAs (24-phasiRNAs) from 176 loci coordinately accumulate during meiosis and persist as haploid gametophytes differentiate into pollen. RNA sequencing of anther developmental mutants, together with in situ RNA hybridization detection of phasiRNA biogenesis factors, demonstrated that 21-phasiRNAs and 24-phasiRNAs are independently regulated. Furthermore, 21-phasiRNAs require epidermal cells while 24-phasiRNAs require functional tapetal cells. Maize phasiRNAs and mammalian PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) illustrate convergent evolution of small RNAs to support male reproduction.
Project description:Maize anthers, the male reproductive floral organs, express two classes of phased, small interfering RNAs (phasiRNAs). RNA profiling from ten sequential cohorts of staged maize anthers plus mature pollen revealed that 21-nt phased siRNAs (21-phasiRNAs) from 463 loci appear abruptly after germinal and initial somatic cell fate specification and then diminish, while 24-nt phased siRNAs (24-phasiRNAs) from 176 loci coordinately accumulate during meiosis and persist as haploid gametophytes differentiate into pollen. RNA sequencing of anther developmental mutants, together with in situ RNA hybridization detection of phasiRNA biogenesis factors, demonstrated that 21-phasiRNAs and 24-phasiRNAs are independently regulated. Furthermore, 21-phasiRNAs require epidermal cells while 24-phasiRNAs require functional tapetal cells. Maize phasiRNAs and mammalian PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) illustrate convergent evolution of small RNAs to support male reproduction.
Project description:We report the use of high-throughput single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to analyze gene expression in Mesophyll cells from Maize. We using the 10x genomics platform to generate several millions of RNA-seq reads and enable transcriptional profiling of all genes of maize in a single-cell resolution. Tsne methods was used to perform dimension reduction analysis to visualize cells in a two-dimension axis.