Project description:Genes involved in disease resistance are some of the fastest evolving and most diverse components of genomes. Large numbers of nucleotide-binding, leucine-rich repeat receptor genes (NLRs) are found in plant genomes and provide disease resistance. However, NLRs can trigger autoimmunity, disrupt beneficial microbiota or reduce fitness. It is therefore crucial to understand how NLRs are controlled. Here we show that the RNA-binding protein FPA mediates widespread premature cleavage and polyadenylation of NLR transcripts, controlling their functional expression and impacting immunity. Using long-read nanopore direct RNA sequencing we resolved the complexity of NLR transcript processing and gene annotation. Our results uncover a co-transcriptional layer of NLR control with implications for understanding the regulatory and evolutionary dynamics of NLRs in immunity.
Project description:State-of-the-art algorithms for m6A detection and quantification via nanopore direct RNA sequencing have been continuously developed, little is known about their capacities and limitations, which makes a comprehensive assessment in urgent need. Therefore, we performed comprehensive benchmarking of 10 computational tools relying on current-based and base-calling “errors” strategies for m6A detection by nanopore sequencing.
Project description:Iron (Fe) is a trace nutrient required by nearly all organisms. As a result of the demand for Fe and the toxicity of non-chelated cytosolic ionic Fe, regulatory systems have evolved to tightly balance Fe acquisition and usage while limiting overload. In most bacteria, including the mammalian pathogen Staphylococcus aureus, the ferric uptake regulator (Fur) is the primary transcriptional regulator that controls the transcription of genes that code for Fe uptake and utilization proteins. Fpa (formaly YlaN) was demonstrated to be essential in Bacillus subtilis unless excess Fe is added to the growth medium, suggesting a role in Fe homeostasis. Here, we demonstrate that Fpa is expendable in S. aureus; however, Fpa became essential upon Fe deprivation. A null fur allele bypassed the essentiality of Fpa. The absence of Fpa nearly abolished the derepression of Fur-dependent transcription during Fe limitation. Bioinformatic analyses suggest that fpa was recruited to Gram positive bacteria and once acquired was maintained in the genome as it co-evolved with Fur. Consistent with a role for Fpa in influencing Fur-dependent regulation, Fpa and Fur interacted in vivo and Fpa inhibits the DNA binding ability of Fur in vitro. Fpa bound Fe(II) in vitro using oxygen or nitrogen ligands with an association constant that is consistent with a physiological role in Fe sensing and/or buffering. These findings have led to a model wherein Fpa is an Fe(II) binding protein that influences Fur-dependent regulation through direct interaction.