Project description:Brassinosteroids (BRs) are endogenous plant hormones and essential for normal plant growth and development. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) of Arabidopsis thaliana are involved in mediating cell proliferation in leaves, stress tolerance, and root development. The specifics of BRs mechanisms involving miRNAs are unknown. To explore the role of miRNAs in BR-mediated pathways, we analyzed differences in miRNA profiles between control (mock solution) and 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) treatments from customized miRNA microarrays.
Project description:Brassinosteroids (BRs) are endogenous plant hormones and essential for normal plant growth and development. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) of Arabidopsis thaliana are involved in mediating cell proliferation in leaves, stress tolerance, and root development. The specifics of BRs mechanisms involving miRNAs are unknown. To explore the role of miRNAs in BR-mediated pathways, we analyzed differences in miRNA profiles between control (mock solution) and 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) treatments from customized miRNA microarrays. Seedlings were separately cultured under exogenous 10 nM EBR treatments for 30 (EBR30) or 180 (EBR180) minutes, and total RNAs of all seedlings were extracted after seven days of growth. Two independent experiments were performed at each time (30 or 180 minutes).
Project description:Cuscuta campestris is an obligate stem parasite which uses an organ called the haustoria to divert water and photosynthates from the host. Previously, we have identified that at the haustorial interface between Cuscuta campestris and Arabidopsis thaliana, miRNAs generated by the parasite are able to move into the host and regulate host gene expression. This study identifies how long after attachment does trans-species miRNA transcription begin in Arabidopsis thaliana and Solanum lycopersicum, as well as identifying which stage of haustoria development they become detectable. A time course was performed by harvesting interfaces every 24 hours post attachment, and samples were subjected to RNA extraction and sRNA sequencing. We have identified that in Arabidopsis thaliana, trans-species miRNAs become detectable two days post attachment. In S. lycopersicum, some trans-species miRNAs are detectable one day post attachment, but all become detectable by day 2. Secondary siRNA accumulation was detected four days post attachment in both hosts. In order to determine which stage of haustoria development trans-species miRNAs become detectable, vibratome sectioning was performed on the haustorial interfaces of both hosts. By looking at the morphology of the developing haustoria, it was determined that trans-species miRNAs become detectable during the adhesive phase. This suggests that trans-species miRNA production is one of the first steps of haustoria development, as the parasite tissue has not started to invade host tissue before they become detectable.
Project description:The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of autotetraploidy on gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana by comparing diploid versus tetraploid transcriptomes. In particular, this included the comparison of the transcriptome of different tetraploid A. thaliana ecotypes (Col-0 vs. Ler-0). The study was extended to address further aspects. One was the comparison of the transcriptomes in subsequent generations. This intended to obtain information on the genome wide stability of autotetraploid gene expression. Another line of work compared the transcriptomes of different diploid vs. tetraploid tissues. This aimed to investigate whether particular gene groups are specifically affected during the development of A. thaliana autotetraploids. Samples 1-8: Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0 tetraploid transcriptome. Transcriptional profiling and comparison of diploid vs. tetraploid Col-0 seedlings. The experiment was carried out with pedigree of independently generated and assessed tetraploid Col-0 lines. Samples 9-12: Arabidopsis thaliana Ler-0 tetraploid transcriptome. Transcriptional profiling and comparison of diploid vs. tetraploid Ler-0 seedlings. The experiment was carried out with pedigree of independently generated and assessed tetraploid Ler-0 lines. Samples 13-24: Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0 tetraploid transcriptome. Transcriptional profiling and comparison of diploid vs. tetraploid Col-0 leaves (6th - 8th). The experiment was carried out with pedigree of independently generated and assessed tetraploid Col-0 lines. Samples 25-32: Arabidopsis thaliana Ler-0 tetraploid transcriptome. Transcriptional profiling and comparison of diploid vs. tetraploid Ler-0 leaves (6th - 8th). The experiment was carried out with pedigree of independently generated and assessed tetraploid Ler-0 lines. Samples 33-36: Arabidopsis thaliana Ler-0 tetraploid transcriptome. Transcriptional profiling and comparison of tetraploid vs. tetraploid Ler-0 seedlings from the second (F2) and third (F3) generation after induction, respectively. The experiment was carried out with pedigree of independently generated and assessed tetraploid Ler-0 lines. Samples 37-40: Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0 tetraploid transcriptome. Transcriptional profiling and comparison of tetraploid vs. tetraploid Col-0 seedlings from the second (F2) and third (F3) generation after induction, respectively. The experiment was carried out with pedigree of independently generated and assessed tetraploid Col-0 lines. Samples 41-44: Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0/Ler-0 diploid transcriptome. Transcriptional profiling and comparison of diploid Col-0 vs. diploid Ler-0 seedlings. The experiment was carried out with pedigree of esrablished lines. Samples 45-48: Arabidopsis thaliana Col-0/Ler-0 tetraploid transcriptome. Transcriptional profiling and comparison of tetraploid Col-0 vs tetraploid Ler-0 seedlings. The experiment was carried out with pedigree of independently generated and assessed tetraploid Col-0 and Ler-0 lines.
Project description:Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a class of class of phytohormones with important roles in regulating physiological and developmental processes. Small RNAs, including small interfering RNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs), are non-protein coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. However, the roles of small RNAs in BR response have not been studied well. In this study, we aimed to identify BR-responsive small RNA clusters and miRNAs in Arabidopsis. In addition, the effect of BR-responsive small RNAs on their transcripts and target genes were examined. Small RNA libraries were constructed from control and epibrassinolide-treated seedlings. After sequencing the small RNA libraries, differentially expressed small RNA clusters were identified by examining the expression levels of small RNAs in 100-nt bins of Arabidopsis genome. To identify the BR-responsive miRNAs, the expression levels of all the annotated mature miRNAs, registered in miRBase, were analyzed. Previously published RNA-seq data were utilized to monitor the BR-responsive expression patterns of differentially expressed small RNA clusters and miRNA target genes. In results, 38 BR-responsive small RNA clusters, including 30 down-regulated and eight up-regulated clusters, were identified. These differentially expressed small RNA clusters were from miRNA loci, transposons, protein-coding genes, pseudo genes and others. Of these, a transgene, BRI1, accumulates small RNAs, which are not found in the wild type. Small RNAs in this transgene are up-regulated by BRs while BRI1 mRNA is down-regulated by BRs. By analyzing the expression patterns of mature miRNAs, we have identified BR-repressed miR398a-5p and BR-induced miR156g. Although miR398a-5p is down-regulated by BRs, its predicted targets were not responsive to BRs. However, SPL3, a target of BR-inducible miR156g, is down-regulated by BRs. BR-responsive small RNAs and miRNAs identified in this study will provide an insight into the role of small RNAs in BR responses in plants. Especially, we suggest that miR156g/SPL3 module might play a role in BR-mediated growth and development in Arabidopsis.