Project description:We wanted to understand at what level BTS acts, i.e. how upstream BTS acts and if BTS misregulation affets only a subset or multiple subsets of Fe regulated genes. We studied WT and bts-3 mutant roots. Using microarray analysis, we demonstrated that bts-3 has a consitutitive expression of Fe deficiency response in root.
Project description:Stem cells need to balance self-renewal and differentiation for correct tissue development and homeostasis. Defects in this balance can lead to developmental defects or tumor formation. In recent years, mRNA splicing has emerged as one important mechanism regulating cell fate decisions. Here we address the role of the evolutionary conserved splicing co-factor Barricade (Barc)/CUS2/Tat-SF1 in Drosophila neural stem cell (neuroblast) lineage formation. We show that Barc is required for the generation of neurons during Drosophila brain development by ensuring correct neural progenitor proliferation and differentiation. Barc associates with components of the U2 small nuclear ribonucleic proteins (snRNP), and its depletion causes alternative splicing in form of intron retention in a subset of genes. Using bioinformatics analysis and a cell culture based splicing assay, we found that Barc dependent introns share three major traits: they are short, GC rich and have weak 3’ splice sites. Our results show that Barc, t...
Project description:E3 ligase BRUTUS (BTS), a putative iron sensor, is expressed in both root and shoot tissues in seedlings of Arabidopsis thaliana. The role of BTS in root tissues has been well established. However, its role in shoot tissues has been scarcely studied. Comparative transcriptome analysis with shoot and root tissues revealed that BTS is involved in regulating energy metabolism by modulating expression of mitochondrial and chloroplast genes in shoot tissues. Moreover, in shoot tissues of bts-1 plants, levels of ADP and ATP and the ratio of ADP/ATP were greatly increased with a concomitant decrease in levels of soluble sugar and starch. The decreased starch level inbts-1 shoot tissues was restored to the level of shoot tissues of wild-type plants upon vanadate treatment. Through this study, we expand the role of BTS to regulation of energy metabolism in the shoot in addition to its role of iron deficiency response in roots.
Project description:Stem cells need to balance self-renewal and differentiation for correct tissue development and homeostasis. Defects in this balance can lead to developmental defects or tumor formation. In recent years, mRNA splicing has emerged as one important mechanism regulating cell fate decisions. Here we address the role of the evolutionary conserved splicing co-factor Barricade (Barc)/CUS2/Tat-SF1 in Drosophila neural stem cell (neuroblast) lineage formation. We show that Barc is required for the generation of neurons during Drosophila brain development by ensuring correct neural progenitor proliferation and differentiation. Barc associates with components of the U2 small nuclear ribonucleic proteins (snRNP), and its depletion causes alternative splicing in form of intron retention in a subset of genes. Using bioinformatics analysis and a cell culture based splicing assay, we found that Barc dependent introns share three major traits: they are short, GC rich and have weak 3’ splice sites. Our results show that Barc, together with the U2snRNP, plays an important role in regulating neural stem cell lineage progression during brain development and facilitates correct splicing of a subset of introns.
Project description:We sequenced polyA-selected RNA from bone marrow derived cells from 47 bone samples collected from 16 captive, adult female Damaraland mole-rats (Fukomys damarensis). The 16 females were experimentally manipulated to either remain as nonbreeders (either as helpers or solitaires) or become breeders, and breeding status was maintained for over 1 year prior to tissue collection and cell culture. A subset of cultured cells were treated for 24 hours with 10 nM estradiol prior to sample collection.
Project description:To dissect differences in gene expression profile of soybean roots inoculated with wild-type and type III secretion mutant rhizobia, we have employed microarray analysis. Seeds of soybean (Glycine max L. cv. BARC-2 (Rj4/Rj4)) were surface-sterilized and germinated at 25 °C for 2 days and were transferred to the seed pack (Seed Pack; Daiki rika Kogyo Co., Ltd., Shiga, Japan) watered with B&D nitrogen-free medium (Broughton and Dilworth 1971). One day after transplant, each seedling was inoculated with Bradyrhizobium elkanii USDA61 or its type III secretion mutant BErhcJ. Plants were cultivated in a growth chamber at 25°C and 70% humidity with a daytime of 16 h followed by a nighttime of 8 h. To determine the gene expression, RNA was extracted from the roots 2 and 4 days after inoculation.
Project description:Transcriptional profile of whole roots of wild-type and pye-1 mutants exposed to 24 hours -Fe were generated Global population increases and climate change underscore the need for better comprehension of how plants acquire and process nutrients such as iron. A systems biology approach was taken to elucidate novel regulatory mechanisms involved in plant responses to iron deficiency (-Fe). Using cell-type specific transcriptional profiling we identified a pericycle-specific iron deficiency response, and a previously uncharacterized transcription factor, POPEYE (PYE), that plays an important role in this response. Functional analysis of PYE suggests that it positively regulates growth and development under iron deficient conditions. ChIP-on-chip analysis and transcriptional profiling reveal that PYE helps maintain iron homeostasis by directly and indirectly regulating the expression of ferric reductases, metal ion transporters, iron storage proteins, and other key iron homeostasis genes. In addition to PYE, we also identified a second protein BRUTUS (BTS), which appears to negatively regulate the response to iron deficiency. BTS is a unique putative E3 ligase protein, with metal ion binding and DNA binding domains. PYE and BTS are tightly co-regulated and physically interact with PYE paralogs, one of which is thought to positively regulate expression of genes involved in iron homeostasis. We propose that iron content is sensed within the pericycle where PYE, perhaps in conjunction with BTS and other regulatory proteins, is then activated to control a regulatory network involved in maintaining proper iron distribution in plants. Keywords: Expression analysis
Project description:Hybridization between native and non-native species is an ongoing global conservation threat. Hybrids that exhibit traits and tolerances that surpass parental values are of particular concern, given their potential to outperform native species. Effective management of hybrid populations requires an understanding of both physiological performance and the underlying mechanisms that drive transgressive hybrid traits. Here, we explore several aspects of the hybridization between the endangered California tiger salamander (Ambystoma californiense; CTS) and the introduced barred tiger salamander (Ambystoma mavortium; BTS). We assayed critical thermal maximum (CTMax) to compare the ability of CTS, BTS and F1 hybrids to tolerate acute thermal stress, and found that hybrids exhibit a wide range of CTMax values, with 33% (4/12) able to tolerate temperatures greater than either parent. We then quantified the genomic response, measured at the RNA transcript level, of each salamander, to explore the mechanisms underlying thermal tolerance strategies. We found that CTS and BTS have strikingly different values and tissue-specific patterns of overall gene expression, with hybrids expressing intermediate values. F1 hybrids display abundant and variable degrees of allele specific expression (ASE), likely arising from extensive compensatory evolution in gene regulatory mechanisms between CTS and BTS. We found evidence that the proportion of genes with allelic imbalance in individual hybrids correlates with their CTMax, suggesting a link between ASE and expanded thermal tolerance that may contribute to the success of hybrid salamanders in California. Future climate change may further complicate management of CTS if hybrid salamanders are better equipped to deal with rising temperatures.