Project description:Root exudates contain specialised metabolites that affect the plant’s root microbiome. How host-specific microbes cope with these bioactive compounds, and how this ability shapes root microbiomes, remains largely unknown. We investigated how maize root bacteria metabolise benzoxazinoids, the main specialised metabolites of maize. Diverse and abundant bacteria metabolised the major compound in the maize rhizosphere MBOA and formed AMPO. AMPO forming bacteria are enriched in the rhizosphere of benzoxazinoid-producing maize and can use MBOA as carbon source. We identified a novel gene cluster associated with AMPO formation in microbacteria. The first gene in this cluster, bxdA encodes a lactonase that converts MBOA to AMPO in vitro. A deletion mutant of the homologous bxdA genes in the genus Sphingobium, does not form AMPO nor is it able to use MBOA as a carbon source. BxdA was identified in different genera of maize root bacteria. Here we show that plant-specialised metabolites select for metabolisation-competent root bacteria. BxdA represents a novel benzoxazinoid metabolisation gene whose carriers successfully colonize the maize rhizosphere and thereby shape the plant’s chemical environmental footprint
Project description:In this study we used a maize multiparental advanced generation intercross (MAGIC) population, originating from nine parental lines (A632, B73, B96, F7, H99, HP301, Mo17, W153R and CML91) followed by 6 generations of self-pollination. A subset of 94 lines was chosen randomly from the set of 529 lines that was genotyped and phenotyped in the field (Dell'Aqua et al (2015) Genome Biology, 16:167) and sampled for RNA seq of proliferative tissue of growing leaf.
Project description:ngs2015_12_zeawall2-zeawall2-Address the hypothesis that allelic variation at a major QTL for cell wall related traits gives rise to coordinated changes in gene expression in maize-Two pairs of BC2S2 maize lines carrying F271 or F288 alleles in an 18-20 Mb interval of chromosome 6 in an otherwise F271 genetic background were grown in the field at Mauguio (Hérault, France) in 2015 with two row replicates. Irrigation was applied during the summer to prevent water stress. The bottom third of upstream-ear internodes (without nodes) of three representative plants in each of the two replicates were harvested two days before silking. All samples were immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -80°C.
Project description:We explore whether a low-energy diet intervention for Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) improves liver disease by means of modulating the gut microbiome. 16 individuals were given a low-energy diet (880 kcal, consisting of bars, soups, and shakes) for 12 weeks, followed by a stepped re-introduction to whole for an additional 12 weeks. Stool samples were obtained at 0, 12, and 24 weeks for microbiome analysis. Fecal microbiome were measured using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Positive control (Zymo DNA standard D6305) and negative control (PBS extraction) were included in the sequencing. We found that low-energy diet improved MASH disease without lasting alterations to the gut microbiome.