Project description:The dataset comprises the most abundant and largest (by stem diameter) tree species in the Barro Colorado Island 50-ha forest dynamics plot in Panama, as well as all local species in 7 of the most species-rich genera in the plot: Eugenia (Myrtaceae), Inga (Moraceae), Miconia/Clidemia (Melastomataceae), Ocotea/Nectandra (Lauraceae), Piper (Piperaceae), Protium (Burseraceae), Psychotria/Palicourea (Rubiaceae). Leaf samples were extracted with 90:10 methanol:water pH 5 and analyzed using methods described in Sedio et al. 2017 Applications in Plant Sciences (doi:10.1002/aps3.1033).
Project description:The goal of this experiment is to evaluate the potential for utilising this oligonucleotide microarray in other species and genera of the Pinaceae family by using comparative RNA hybridizations in four different spruces (Picea spp), two pines (Pinus spp.) and a larch (Larix laricina), across two tissues, xylem and phelloderm.
Project description:Our results provide a foundation for comparative gene expression studies between eudicots and basal angiosperms. We identified whorl-specific gene expression patterns in Eschscholzia, and examined the floral expression of several gene families, such as MADS-box, bHLH and MYB. Interestingly, most homologs of genes important for flower development, except for MADS-box genes, show different expression patterns between Eschscholzia and Arabidopsis. Our comparative transcriptomics study highlights the unique evolutionary position of Eschscholzia compared with basal angiosperms and core eudicots.
Project description:Our results provide a foundation for comparative gene expression studies between eudicots and basal angiosperms. We identified whorl-specific gene expression patterns in Eschscholzia, and examined the floral expression of several gene families, such as MADS-box, bHLH and MYB. Interestingly, most homologs of genes important for flower development, except for MADS-box genes, show different expression patterns between Eschscholzia and Arabidopsis. Our comparative transcriptomics study highlights the unique evolutionary position of Eschscholzia compared with basal angiosperms and core eudicots. Custom microarrays targeting 6446 Eschscholzia floral unigenes were used to measure expression levels in eight tissues using an interwoven double-loop design for 16 arrays.
Project description:PFGRC has developed a cost effective alternative to complete genome sequencing in order to study the genetic differences between closely related species and/or strains. The comparative genomics approach combines Gene Discovery (GD) and Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) techniques, resulting in the design and production of species microarrays that represent the diversity of a species beyond just the sequenced reference strain(s) used in the initial microarray design. These species arrays may then be used to interrogate hundreds of closely related strains in order to further unravel their evolutionary relationships. The Neissiria are among most deadly pathogens world-wide. The infections and outbreaks caused by this pathogens is quite frequent despite existing diagnostic network and therapeutic means. Therefore, developing reliable diagnostic tools and efficient (broad-spectrum) therapeutics for Neisseria meningitidis remain a public health priority for every country in world today. The comparative genomics study will provide the largest hitherto genomic data sets regarding this pathogen.These large data sets will enable us as well as other members of scientific community to conduct comprehensive data mining in the form of gene association studies with statistical power and significance.
Project description:PFGRC has developed a cost effective alternative to complete genome sequencing in order to study the genetic differences between closely related species and/or strains. The comparative genomics approach combines Gene Discovery (GD) and Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) techniques, resulting in the design and production of species microarrays that represent the diversity of a species beyond just the sequenced reference strain(s) used in the initial microarray design. These species arrays may then be used to interrogate hundreds of closely related strains in order to further unravel their evolutionary relationships. The Pneumococcus are among most deadly pathogens world-wide. The infections and outbreaks caused by this pathogens is quite frequent despite existing diagnostic network and therapeutic means. Therefore, developing reliable diagnostic tools and efficient (broad-spectrum) therapeutics for Streptococcus pneumoniae remain a public health priority for every country in world today. The comparative genomics study will provide the largest hitherto genomic data sets regarding this pathogen.These large data sets will enable us as well as other members of scientific community to conduct comprehensive data mining in the form of gene association studies with statistical power and significance.
Project description:The assembly of the neuronal and other major cell type programs occurred early in animal evolution. We can reconstruct this process by studying non-bilaterians like placozoans. These small disc-shaped animals have only nine morphologically described cell types and no neurons, but show coordinated behaviors triggered by peptide-secreting cells. We investigated the possible neuronal affinities of these peptidergic cells using phylogenetics, chromatin profiling, and comparative single-cell genomics in four placozoans species. We found highly conserved cell type expression programs across placozoans, including populations of transdifferentiating and cycling cells suggestive of active cell type homeostasis. We also uncovered an unexpected diversity of fourteen peptidergic cell types that express neuronal-associated components like the presynaptic scaffold and that derive from progenitor cells with neurogenesis signatures. In contrast, earlier-branching animals like sponges and ctenophores lacked this conserved expression. Our findings indicate that key neuronal developmental and effector gene modules evolved before the advent of cnidarian/bilaterian neurons in the context of paracrine cell signalling.
Project description:Transposon-encoded tnpB and iscB genes encode RNA-guided DNA nucleases that promote their own selfish spread through targeted DNA cleavage and homologous recombination. These widespread gene families were repeatedly domesticated over evolutionary timescales, leading to the emergence of diverse CRISPR-associated nucleases including Cas9 and Cas12. We set out to test the hypothesis that TnpB nucleases may have also been repurposed for novel, unexpected functions other than CRISPR-Cas. Here, using phylogenetics, structural predictions, comparative genomics, and functional assays, we uncover multiple instances of programmable transcription factors that we name TnpB-like nuclease-dead repressors (TldR). These proteins employ naturally occurring guide RNAs to specifically target conserved promoter regions of the genome, leading to potent gene repression in a mechanism akin to CRISPRi technologies invented by humans. Focusing on a TldR clade found broadly in Enterobacteriaceae, we discover that bacteriophages exploit the combined action of TldR and an adjacently encoded phage gene to alter the expression and composition of the host flagellar assembly, a transformation with the potential to impact motility, phage susceptibility, and host immunity. Collectively, this work showcases the diverse molecular innovations that were enabled through repeated exaptation of transposon-encoded genes, and reveals the evolutionary trajectory of diverse RNA-guided transcription factors.