RNA-Seq profiling reveals the plant hormones and molecular mechanisms stimulating the early ripening in apple

Fruit cracking is a disorder of fruit development in response to internal or external cues, which causes a loss in the economic value of fruit. Therefore, exploring the mechanism underlying fruit cracking is of great significance to increase the economic yield of fruit trees. However, the molecular mechanism underlying fruit cracking is still poorly understood. Litchi, as an important tropical and subtropical fruit crop, contributes significantly to the gross agricultural product in Southeast Asia. One important agricultural concern in the litchi industry is that some famous varieties with high economic value such as ‘Nuomici’ are susceptible to fruit cracking. Here, the cracking-susceptible cultivar ‘Nuomici’ and cracking-resistant cultivar ‘Huaizhi’ were selected, and the samples including pericarp and aril during fruit development and cracking were collected for RNA-Seq analysis. Based on weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and the “ball-skin versus bladder effect” theory (fruit cracking occurs upon the aril expanding pressure exceeds the pericarp strength), it was found that seven co-expression modules genes (1733 candidate genes) were closely associated with fruit cracking in ‘Nuomici’. Importantly, we propose that the low expression level of genes related to plant hormones (Auxin, Gibberellins, Ethylene), transcription factors, calcium transport and signaling, and lipid synthesis might decrease the mechanical strength of pericarp in ‘Nuomici’, while high expression level of genes associated with plant hormones (Auxin and abscisic acid), transcription factors, starch/sucrose metabolism, and sugar/water transport might increase the aril expanding pressure, thereby resulting in fruit cracking in ‘Nuomici’. In conclusion, our results provide comprehensive molecular events involved in the “ball-skin versus bladder effect” on fruit cracking in litchi.

Download Full-text

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Sex-Based Differences during the Development of the Adult Parasitic Wasp Cotesia vestalis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Genes ◽

10.3390/genes12060896 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 896

Author(s):

Yuenan Zhou ◽

Pei Yang ◽

Shuang Xie ◽

Min Shi ◽

Jianhua Huang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alternative Splicing ◽

Adult Development ◽

Sexual Development ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Parasitic Wasp ◽

Differentially Expressed Gene ◽

Regulation Mechanism ◽

Rna Seq ◽

Male And Female ◽

Cotesia Vestalis

The endoparasitic wasp Cotesia vestalis is an important biological agent for controlling the population of Plutella xylostella, a major pest of cruciferous crops worldwide. Though the genome of C. vestalis has recently been reported, molecular mechanisms associated with sexual development have not been comprehensively studied. Here, we combined PacBio Iso-Seq and Illumina RNA-Seq to perform genome-wide profiling of pharate adult and adult development of male and female C. vestalis. Taking advantage of Iso-Seq full-length reads, we identified 14,466 novel transcripts as well as 8770 lncRNAs, with many lncRNAs showing a sex- and stage-specific expression pattern. The differentially expressed gene (DEG) analyses showed 2125 stage-specific and 326 sex-specific expressed genes. We also found that 4819 genes showed 11,856 alternative splicing events through combining the Iso-Seq and RNA-Seq data. The results of comparative analyses showed that most genes were alternatively spliced across developmental stages, and alternative splicing (AS) events were more prevalent in females than in males. Furthermore, we identified six sex-determining genes in this parasitic wasp and verified their sex-specific alternative splicing profiles. Specifically, the characterization of feminizer and doublesex splicing between male and female implies a conserved regulation mechanism of sexual development in parasitic wasps.

Download Full-text

Analysis of saponins detoxification genes in Ilyonectria mors-panacis G3B inducing root rot of Panax notoginseng by RNA-Seq

Archives of Microbiology ◽

10.1007/s00203-021-02502-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Guohong Zeng ◽

Jin Li ◽

Yuxiu Ma ◽

Qian Pu ◽

Tian Xiao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Root Rot ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Panax Notoginseng ◽

Glycoside Hydrolases ◽

Rna Seq ◽

Host Interaction ◽

Excellent Starting Point ◽

Starting Point ◽

Genes Encoding

AbstractSaponins are kinds of antifungal compounds produced by Panax notoginseng to resist invasion by pathogens. Ilyonectria mors-panacis G3B was the dominant pathogen inducing root rot of P. notoginseng, and the abilities to detoxify saponins were the key to infect P. notoginseng successfully. To research the molecular mechanisms of detoxifying saponins in I. mors-panacis G3B, we used high-throughput RNA-Seq to identify 557 and 1519 differential expression genes (DEGs) in I. mors-panacis G3B with saponins treatments for 4H (Hours) and 12H (Hours) compared with no saponins treatments, respectively. Among these DEGs, we found 93 genes which were simultaneously highly expressed in I. mors-panacis G3B with saponins treatments for 4H and 12H, they mainly belong to genes encoding transporters, glycoside hydrolases, oxidation–reduction enzymes, transcription factors and so on. In addition, there were 21 putative PHI (Pathogen–Host Interaction) genes out of those 93 up-regulated genes. In this report, we analyzed virulence-associated genes in I. mors-panacis G3B which may be related to detoxifying saponins to infect P. notoginseng successfully. They provided an excellent starting point for in-depth study on pathogenicity of I. mors-panacis G3B and developed appropriate root rot disease management strategies in the future.

Download Full-text

Non-Coding RNA Signatures of B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22052683 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (5) ◽

pp. 2683

Author(s):

Princess D. Rodriguez ◽

Hana Paculova ◽

Sophie Kogut ◽

Jessica Heath ◽

Hilde Schjerven ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽

B Cell ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽

Transcriptome Profiling ◽

Rna Seq ◽

Protein Coding ◽

Non Coding Rna ◽

Technological Developments ◽

Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) comprise a diverse class of non-protein coding transcripts that regulate critical cellular processes associated with cancer. Advances in RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) have led to the characterization of non-coding RNA expression across different types of human cancers. Through comprehensive RNA-Seq profiling, a growing number of studies demonstrate that ncRNAs, including long non-coding RNA (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNA), play central roles in progenitor B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) pathogenesis. Furthermore, due to their central roles in cellular homeostasis and their potential as biomarkers, the study of ncRNAs continues to provide new insight into the molecular mechanisms of B-ALL. This article reviews the ncRNA signatures reported for all B-ALL subtypes, focusing on technological developments in transcriptome profiling and recently discovered examples of ncRNAs with biologic and therapeutic relevance in B-ALL.

Download Full-text

Molecular Responses during Plant Grafting and Its Regulation by Auxins, Cytokinins, and Gibberellins

Biomolecules ◽

10.3390/biom9090397 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 397 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Anket Sharma ◽

Bingsong Zheng

Keyword(s):

Plant Hormones ◽

Growth And Development ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Main Process ◽

Graft Union ◽

Physiological Processes ◽

Current Review ◽

Postharvest Life ◽

Successful Production

Plant grafting is an important horticulture technique used to produce a new plant after joining rootstock and scion. This is one of the most used techniques by horticulturists to enhance the quality and production of various crops. Grafting helps in improving the health of plants, their yield, and the quality of plant products, along with the enhancement of their postharvest life. The main process responsible for successful production of grafted plants is the connection of vascular tissues. This step determines the success rate of grafts and hence needs to be studied in detail. There are many factors that regulate the connection of scion and stock, and plant hormones are of special interest for researchers in the recent times. These phytohormones act as signaling molecules and have the capability of translocation across the graft union. Plant hormones, mainly auxins, cytokinins, and gibberellins, play a major role in the regulation of various key physiological processes occurring at the grafting site. In the current review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms of graft development and the phytohormone-mediated regulation of the growth and development of graft union.

Download Full-text

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Regulatory Networks during the Maize Ear Shank Elongation Process

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22137029 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (13) ◽

pp. 7029

Author(s):

Cai-Yun Xiong ◽

Qing-You Gong ◽

Hu Pei ◽

Chang-Jian Liao ◽

Rui-Chun Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Regulatory Networks ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Developmental Stages ◽

Rna Seq ◽

Short Branch ◽

Transcriptional Dynamics ◽

New Varieties ◽

Elongation Process ◽

Temporal Expression Pattern ◽

Maize Ear

In maize, the ear shank is a short branch that connects the ear to the stalk. The length of the ear shank mainly affects the transportation of photosynthetic products to the ear, and also influences the dehydration of the grain by adjusting the tightness of the husks. However, the molecular mechanisms of maize shank elongation have rarely been described. It has been reported that the maize ear shank length is a quantitative trait, but its genetic basis is still unclear. In this study, RNA-seq was performed to explore the transcriptional dynamics and determine the key genes involved in maize shank elongation at four different developmental stages. A total of 8145 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 729 transcription factors (TFs). Some important genes which participate in shank elongation were detected via function annotation and temporal expression pattern analyses, including genes related to signal transduction hormones (auxin, brassinosteroids, gibberellin, etc.), xyloglucan and xyloglucan xyloglucosyl transferase, and transcription factor families. The results provide insights into the genetic architecture of maize ear shanks and developing new varieties with ideal ear shank lengths, enabling adjustments for mechanized harvesting in the future.

Download Full-text

Transcriptome Analyses Reveal Differential Transcriptional Profiles in Early- and Late-Dividing Porcine Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Embryos

Genes ◽

10.3390/genes11121499 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. 1499

Author(s):

Zhiguo Liu ◽

Guangming Xiang ◽

Kui Xu ◽

Jingjing Che ◽

Changjiang Xu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell ◽

Rna Processing ◽

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer ◽

Nuclear Transfer ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Differentially Expressed Gene ◽

Blastocyst Stage ◽

Developmental Competence ◽

Rna Seq ◽

Transcriptional Profiles

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is not only a valuable tool for understanding nuclear reprogramming, but it also facilitates the generation of genetically modified animals. However, the development of SCNT embryos has remained an uncontrollable process. It was reported that the SCNT embryos that complete the first cell division sooner are more likely to develop to the blastocyst stage, suggesting their better developmental competence. Therefore, to better understand the underlying molecular mechanisms, RNA-seq of pig SCNT embryos that were early-dividing (24 h postactivation) and late-dividing (36 h postactivation) was performed. Our analysis revealed that early- and late-dividing embryos have distinct RNA profiles, and, in all, 3077 genes were differentially expressed. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses revealed that early-dividing embryos exhibited higher expression in genes that participated in the meiotic cell cycle, while enrichment of RNA processing- and translation-related genes was found in late-dividing embryos. There are also fewer somatic memory genes such as FLRT2, ADAMTS1, and FOXR1, which are abnormally activated or suppressed in early-dividing cloned embryos. These results show that early-dividing SCNT embryos have different transcriptional profiles than late-dividing embryos. Early division of SCNT embryos may be associated with their better reprogramming capacity, and somatic memory genes may act as a reprogramming barrier in pig SCNT reprogramming.

Download Full-text

Comparative RNA-Seq Analyses of Solenopsis japonica (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Reveal Gene in Response to Cold Stress

Genes ◽

10.3390/genes12101610 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

pp. 1610

Author(s):

Mohammad Vatanparast ◽

Youngjin Park

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Cold Stress ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Predatory Behavior ◽

P Value ◽

Molecular Response ◽

Rna Seq ◽

Protein Database ◽

Brood Chamber

Solenopsis japonica, as a fire ant species, shows some predatory behavior towards earthworms and woodlice, and preys on the larvae of other ant species by tunneling into a neighboring colony’s brood chamber. This study focused on the molecular response process and gene expression profiles of S. japonica to low (9 °C)-temperature stress in comparison with normal temperature (25 °C) conditions. A total of 89,657 unigenes (the clustered non-redundant transcripts that are filtered from the longest assembled contigs) were obtained, of which 32,782 were annotated in the NR (nonredundant protein) database with gene ontology (GO) terms, gene descriptions, and metabolic pathways. The results were 81 GO subgroups and 18 EggNOG (evolutionary genealogy of genes: Non-supervised Orthologous Groups) keywords. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with log2fold change (FC) > 1 and log2FC < −1 with p-value ≤ 0.05 were screened for cold stress temperature. We found 215 unigenes up-regulated and 115 unigenes down-regulated. Comparing transcriptome profiles for differential gene expression resulted in various DE proteins and genes, including fatty acid synthases and lipid metabolism, which have previously been reported to be involved in cold resistance. We verified the RNA-seq data by qPCR on 20 up- and down-regulated DEGs. These findings facilitate the basis for the future understanding of the adaptation mechanisms of S. japonica and the molecular mechanisms underlying the response to low temperatures.

Download Full-text

Integrated Physiological and Transcriptomic Analyses Responses to Altitude Stress in Oat (Avena sativa L.)

Frontiers in Genetics ◽

10.3389/fgene.2021.638683 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Yu Jinqiu ◽

Li Bing ◽

Song Tingting ◽

He Jinglei ◽

KongLing Zelai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Altitude ◽

Avena Sativa ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Rna Seq ◽

High Altitudes ◽

Genome Wide ◽

New Findings ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Transcriptomic Changes ◽

Stressful Environments

Oat is an annual gramineous forage grass with the remarkable ability to survive under various stressful environments. However, understanding the effects of high altitude stresses on oats is poor. Therefore, the physiological and the transcriptomic changes were analyzed at two sites with different altitudes, low (ca. 2,080 m) or high (ca. 2,918 m), respectively. Higher levels of antioxidant enzyme activity, reactive oxygen and major reductions in photosynthesis-related markers were suggested for oats at high altitudes. Furthermore, oat yields were severely suppressed at the high altitude. RNA-seq results showed that 11,639 differentially expressed genes were detected at both the low and the high altitudes in which 5,203 up-regulated and 6,436 down-regulated. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment tests were conducted and a group of major high altitude-responsive pigment metabolism genes, photosynthesis, hormone signaling, and cutin, suberine and wax biosynthesis were excavated. Using quantitative real-time polymerase chain response, we also confirmed expression levels of 20 DEGs (qRT-PCR). In summary, our study generated genome-wide transcript profile and may be useful for understanding the molecular mechanisms of Avena sativa L. in response to high altitude stress. These new findings contribute to our deeper relevant researches on high altitude stresses and further exploring new candidategenes for adapting plateau environment oat molecular breeding.

Download Full-text

Comparative transcriptomics analysis revealing flower trichome development during flower development in two Lonicera Japonica Thunb. cultivars using RNA-seq

10.21203/rs.3.rs-19879/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jianjun Li ◽

Chenglin Ye ◽

Cuifang Chang

Keyword(s):

Signaling Pathways ◽

Plant Hormones ◽

Flower Development ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Differentially Expressed ◽

Molecular Networks ◽

Lonicera Japonica ◽

Rna Seq ◽

Trichome Development ◽

A Genome

Abstract Background: Trichomes comprise specialized multicellular structures that have the capacity to synthesize and secrete secondary metabolites and protect plants from biotic and abiotic stresses. However, little is known about the trichome formation mechanism during flower development in Lonicera Japonica Thunb.Results: Here, we present a genome-wide comparative transcriptome analysis between two L. japonica cultivars, toward the identification of biological processes and functional gene activities that occur during flowering stage trichome development. In this study, the density and average lengths of flower trichomes were at their highest during three green periods. Using the Illumina RNA-Seq method, we obtained 134,304 unigenes, 33,733 of which were differentially expressed. In an analysis of 40 differentially expressed unigenes (DEGs) involved in trichome development, 29 of these were transcription factors. The DEGs analysis of plant hormone signal transduction indicated that plant growth and development may be independent of GA and CTK signaling pathways, and plant stress may be independent of JA and ET signaling pathways. We successfully isolated key genes involved in the floral biosynthesis of odors, tastes, colors, and plant hormones, and proposed biosynthetic pathways for sesquiterpenoid, triterpenoid, monoterpenoid, flavonoid, and plant hormones. Furthermore, 82 DEGs were assigned to cell cycles and 2,616 were predicted as plant resistance genes (PRGs).Conclusions: This study provides a comprehensive characterization of the expression profiles of flower development during the seven developmental stages of L. japonica, thereby offering valuable insights into the molecular networks that underly flower development in L. japonica.

Download Full-text