Project description:Epigenetic modification plays important roles in plant and animal development. DNA methylation can impact the transposable element (TE) silencing, gene imprinting and regulate gene expression.Through a genome-wide analysis, DNA methylation peaks were respectively characterized and mapped in maize embryo and endosperm genome. Distinct methylation level across maize embryo and endosperm was observed. The maize embryo genome contained more DNA methylation peaks than endosperm. However, the endosperm chloroplast genome contained more DNA methylation peaks to compare with the embryo chloroplast genome. DNA methylation regions were characterized and mapped in genome. More CG island (CGI) shore are methylated than CGI in maize suggested that DNA methylation level is not positively correlated with CpG density. The DNA methylation occurred more frequently in the promoter sequence and transcriptional termination region (TTR) than other regions of the genes. The result showed that 99% TEs we characterized are methylated in maize embryo, but some (34.8%) of them are not methylated in endosperm. Maize embryo and endosperm exhibit distinct pattern/level of methylation. The most differentially methylated two regions between embryo and endosperm are High CpG content promoters (HCPs) and high CpG content TTRs (HCTTRs). DNA methylation peaks distinction of mitochondria and chloroplast DNA were less than the nucleus DNA. Our results indicated that DNA methylation is associated with the gene silencing or gene activation in maize endosperm and embryo. Many genes involved in embryogenesis and seed development were found differentially methylated in embryo and endosperm. We found 17 endosperm-specific expressed imprinting genes were hypomethylated in endosperm and were hypermethylated in embryo. The expression of a maize DEMETER -like (DME-like) gene and MBD101 gene (MBD4 homolog) which direct bulk genome DNA demethylation were higher in endosperm than in embryo. These two genes may be associated with the distinct methylation level across maize embryo and endosperm.The methylomes of maize embryo and endosperm was obtained by MeDIP-seq method. The global mapping of maize embryo and endosperm methylation in this study broadened our knowledge of DNA methylation patterns in maize genome, and provided useful information for future studies on maize seed development and regulation of metabolic pathways in different seed tissues. Examination of DNA methylated modifications in 2 maize tissues.
Project description:KNOTTED1(KN1)-like homeobox (KNOX) transcription factors function in plant meristems, self-renewing structures consisting of stem cells and their immediate daughters. Despite their importance for plant development, the genomic network targeted by KNOX proteins is poorly understood. Using ChIP-seq, we defined the KN1 cistrome in maize inflorescences and found that KN1 binds to several thousand loci. To understand how these binding occupancies correlate with changes in transcriptional regulation, we performed RNA-seq on immature ears and tassels, and compared expression profiles between normal and loss-of-function kn1 plants, in addition to immature leaves from normal and gain-of-function Kn1 plants. We found that 643 of the KN1 targets were modulated in one or multiple tissues, with a strong enrichment for transcription factors (including other homeobox genes) and genes participating in several hormonal pathways, most significantly auxin, implicating KN1 at the crossroads of plant hormone signaling. The loss-of-function kn1 phenotype is reminiscent of auxin mutants and kn1 mis-expression in leaves correlates with increased auxin signaling. Our results demonstrate that KN1 plays a key role in orchestrating the upper levels of a hierarchical gene regulatory network that impacts plant meristem identity and function. For loss-of-function mutant, kn1-e1 homozygote were compared to heterozygote or wild-type siblings (ears, tassels and shoot apical meristem). For gain-of-function mutant, Kn1-N homozygote were compared to wild-type siblings.Kn1-N heterozygote were compared to wild-type siblings. For each genotype and tissue, 2 biological replicates were sequenced, except for tassels (3 biological replicates). The whole data set thus includes a total of 20 samples/libraries.
Project description:De novo centromeres originate occasionally from non-centromeric regions of chromosomes, providing an excellent model system to study centromeric chromatin. The maize mini-chromosome Derivative 3-3 contains a de novo centromere, which was derived from a euchromatic site on the short arm of chromosome 9 that lacks traditional centromeric repeat sequences. Our previous study found that the CENH3 binding domain of this de novo centromere is only 288 kb with a high-density gene distribution with low-density of transposons. Here we applied next generation sequencing technology to analyze gene transcription, DNA methylation for this region. Our RNA-seq data revealed that active chromatin is not a barrier for de novo centromere formation. Bisulfite-ChIP-seq results indicate a slightly increased DNA methylation level after de novo centromere formation, reaching the level of a native centromere. These results provide insight into the mechanism of de novo centromere formation and subsequent consequences. RNA-seq was carried out using material from seedling and young leaves between control and Derivative 3-3. Bisulfite-ChIP-seq was carried out with anti-CENH3 antibodies using material from young leaves in Derivative 3-3.
Project description:The ability of centromeres to alternate between active and inactive states indicates significant epigenetic elements controlling centromere assembly and centromere function. In maize (Zea mays), misdivision of the B chromosome centromere on a translocation with the short arm of chromosome 9 (TB-9Sb) can produce many variants with varying centromere sizes and centromeric DNA sequences. In derivatives of TB-9Sb, we found a de novo centromere on chromosome telo-3-3, which has no canonical centromeric repeat sequences. This centromere is derived from a 288-kb region on the short arm of chromosome 9, and is 19 megabases (Mb) removed from the translocation breakpoint of chromosome 9 in TB-9Sb. This centromere is much smaller than normal ones but can be maintained through meiosis. The functional B centromere in progenitor telo2-2 is deleted from telo3-3 but some B-repeat sequences remain. The de novo centromere of telo3-3 becomes inactive in three further derivatives with new centromeres being formed elsewhere on the chromosomes. One such de novo centromere contains only 200-kb CENH3 binding domain. This 200-kb centromere is located 3 Mb removed from the translocation breakpoint in a new location. The deleted B centromere in telo3-3 is activated in two derivatives. Our results suggest that de novo centromere formation is more common than previously thought and can persist on chromosomal fragments without a canonical centromere providing implications for karyotype evolution. ChIP-seq was carried out with anti-CENH3 antibodies using material from young leaves with control, telo3-3 and its derivate.
Project description:To determine which of the genes differentially expressed between P1-rr and P1-ww pericarps were immediate (direct) targets of P1, we conducted chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with high-throughput sequencing (ChIP-Seq) using P1 polyclonal antibodies (alphaP1344) that recognize the non-conserved C-terminal region of P1 (Falcone Ferreyra et al., 2010), on pericarp chromatin. Comparison of pericarp chromatin inmunoprecipitated material P-rr_14DAP (P1 expressed) vs P-ww_14DAP (P1 not expressed) to determine P1 direct targets
Project description:Compare gene expression between maize genotype resistant (Pa405) and susceptible (Oh28) to maize dwarf mosaic virus (MDMV) infection 4 days post-inoculation using microarrays.
Project description:We found that primary root (PR) is more resistant to salt stress compared with crown roots (CR) and seminal roots (SR). To understand better salt stress responses in maize roots, six RNA libraries were generated and sequenced from primary root (PR), primary roots under salt stress (PR-salt) , seminal roots (SR), seminal roots under salt stress (SR-salt), crown roots (CR), and crown roots under salt stress (CR-salt). Through integrative analysis, we identified 444 genes regulated by salt stress in maize roots, and found that the expression patterns of some genes and enzymes involved in important pathway under salt stress, such as reactive oxygen species scavenging, plant hormone signal perception and transduction, and compatible solutes synthesis differed dramatically in different maize roots. 16 of differentially expressed genes were selected for further validation with quantitative real time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR).We demonstrate that the expression patterns of differentially expressed genes are highly diversified in different maize roots. The differentially expressed genes are correlated with the differential growth responses to salt stress in maize roots. Our studies provide deeper insight into the molecular mechanisms about the differential growth responses of different root types in response to environmental stimuli in planta. Examination of three root types of maize under salt treatment for understanding the different responding mechenism to salt stress.
Project description:Modification of cis regulatory elements to produce differences in gene expression level, localization, and timing is an important mechanism by which organisms evolve divergent adaptations. To examine gene regulatory change during the domestication of maize from its wild progenitor, teosinte, we assessed allele-specific expression in a collection of maize and teosinte inbreds and their F1 hybrids using three tissues from different developmental stages. Our use of F1 hybrids represents the first study in a domesticated crop and wild progenitor that dissects cis and trans regulatory effects to examine characteristics of genes under various cis and trans regulatory regimes. We find evidence for consistent cis regulatory divergence that differentiates maize from teosinte in approximately 4% of genes. These genes are significantly correlated with genes under selection during domestication and crop improvement, suggesting an important role for cis regulatory elements in maize evolution. We assayed genome-wide cis and trans regulatory differences between maize and its wild progenitor, teosinte, using deep RNA sequencing in F1 hybrid and parent inbred lines for three tissue types (ear, leaf and stem) followed by assessment of allele-specific gene expression.
Project description:Four sRNA libraries were generated and sequenced from the early developmental stage of primary roots (PRY), the later developmental stage of maize primary roots (PRO), seminal roots (SR), and crown roots (CR). Through integrative analysis, we identified 501 miRNAs (246 conserved and 255 novel ones) and found that the expression patterns of miRNAs differed dramatically in different maize roots. we generated and sequenced four maize small RNA libraries from the early developmental stage of primary roots (PRY), the later developmental stage of maize primary roots (PRO), seminal roots (SR), and crown roots (CR) using Solexa high-throughput sequencing technology
Project description:we determine genome-wide binding profiles of a maize CCA1 homolog, ZmCCA1b, in maize inbreds and F1 hybrids at different times of the day. ZmCCA1b is characterized as a central clock regulator gene with evolutionarily conserved molecular and circadian functions and nonadditively expressed in F1 hybrid seedlings. ZmCCA1b binds to over 4,300 target genes in the maize genomes, of which annotation confirms energy metabolic pathways as the main output. We report that an altered temporal binding activity of ZmCCA1b in the hybrid seedlings, which increases expression of carbon fixation genes, increases carbon fixation rates and biomass, demonstrating a novel example of how circadian-regulatory networks directly contribute to growth vigor in maize hybrids. These results collectively offer new insights into clock-mediated regulation of growth vigor in hybrid plants and crops. Profiling genome-wide binding events of ZmCCA1b in the maize inbreds and F1 hybrids at ZT3, ZT9 and ZT15 using chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by deep sequencing (ChIP-seq). 2 biological replicates for each sample were used. Input DNA sample corresponding to each ChIP sample was also sequenced in parallel. We have developed a native antibody for the protein (GRMZM2G014902; epitope: residues 11-77) for the ChIP-seq study.