scholarly journals Auxin-driven ecophysiological diversification of leaves in domesticated tomato

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliene dos Reis Moreira ◽  
Bruno Luan Rosa ◽  
Bruno S. Lira ◽  
Joni E. Lima ◽  
Ludmila N. Souza ◽  
...  

The study of crop diversification has focussed mainly on the genetic changes underlying traits favoured by humans. However, the passage from natural habitats to agronomic settings probably operated changes beyond those comprising the classical domestication syndrome. A deeper understanding of these traits and their genetic signature would be valuable to inform conventional crop breeding and de novo domestication of crop wild relatives. Heterobaric leaves have bundle sheath extensions (BSEs) that compartmentalise the sub-stomatal cavity whereas homobaric leaves do not; BSE development is known to be controlled by the OBSCURAVENOSA (OBV) locus and the obv mutant lacks BSEs whereas leaves carrying the wild type allele have BSEs. Here we identify a non-synonymous amino acid change in the OBV gene that exists as a rare balanced polymorphism in the natural range of wild tomatoes, but has increased in frequency in domesticated tomatoes, suggesting that the latter diversified into heterobaric and homobaric leaf types. The mutation disrupts a C2H2 zinc finger motif in the OBV protein, resulting in the absence of BSEs in leaves and here we show that this and other pleiotropic effects, including changes in leaf insertion angle, leaf margin serration, minor vein density and fruit shape, are controlled by OBV via changes in auxin signalling. Loss of function of the transcriptional regulator AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR (ARF4) also results in defective BSE development, revealing an additional component of a novel genetic module controlling aspects of leaf development important for ecological adaptation and subject to breeding selections.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuehui Zhao ◽  
Jason Wan ◽  
Shweta Biliya ◽  
Shannon C. Brady ◽  
Daehan Lee ◽  
...  

Gene duplication is a major source of genetic novelty and evolutionary adaptation, providing a molecular substrate that can generate biological complexity and diversity (Ohno 1967, Taylor and Raes 2004). Despite an abundance of genomic evidence from extant organisms suggesting the importance of gene duplication, consensus about how they arise and functionally diversify is lacking (Innan and Kondrashov 2010). In the process of studying the adaptation of laboratory strains of C. elegans to new food sources, we identified a recombinant inbred line (RIL) with higher relative fitness and hyperactive exploration behavior compared to either parental strain. Using bulk-segregant analysis and short-read resequencing, we identified a de novo beneficial, complex rearrangement of the rcan-1 gene, which we resolved into five new unique tandem inversion/duplications using Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing. rcan-1 encodes an ortholog to human RCAN1/DSCR1, which has been implicated as a causal gene for Down syndrome (Fuentes, Genesca et al. 2000). The genomic rearrangement in rcan-1 causes two complete and two truncated versions of the rcan-1 coding region, with a variety of modified promoter and 3’ regions, which ultimately reduce whole-body gene expression. This rearrangement does not phenocopy a loss-of-function allele, which indicates that the rearrangement was necessary for the observed fitness gains. Our results demonstrate that adaptation can occur through unexpectedly complex genetic changes that can simultaneously duplicate and diversify a gene, providing the molecular substrate for future evolutionary change.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan L Absalom ◽  
Vivian W Y Liao ◽  
Kavitha Kothur ◽  
Dinesh C Indurthi ◽  
Bruce Bennetts ◽  
...  

Abstract Variants in the GABRB3 gene encoding the β3-subunit of the γ-aminobutyric acid type A ( receptor are associated with various developmental and epileptic encephalopathies. Typically, these variants cause a loss-of-function molecular phenotype whereby γ-aminobutyric acid has reduced inhibitory effectiveness leading to seizures. Drugs that potentiate inhibitory GABAergic activity, such as nitrazepam, phenobarbital or vigabatrin, are expected to compensate for this and thereby reduce seizure frequency. However, vigabatrin, a drug that inhibits γ-aminobutyric acid transaminase to increase tonic γ-aminobutyric acid currents, has mixed success in treating seizures in patients with GABRB3 variants: some patients experience seizure cessation, but there is hypersensitivity in some patients associated with hypotonia, sedation and respiratory suppression. A GABRB3 variant that responds well to vigabatrin involves a truncation variant (p.Arg194*) resulting in a clear loss-of-function. We hypothesized that patients with a hypersensitive response to vigabatrin may exhibit a different γ-aminobutyric acid A receptor phenotype. To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the phenotype of de novo variants in GABRB3 (p.Glu77Lys and p.Thr287Ile) associated with patients who are clinically hypersensitive to vigabatrin. We introduced the GABRB3 p.Glu77Lys and p.Thr287Ile variants into a concatenated synaptic and extrasynaptic γ-aminobutyric acid A receptor construct, to resemble the γ-aminobutyric acid A receptor expression by a patient heterozygous for the GABRB3 variant. The mRNA of these constructs was injected into Xenopus oocytes and activation properties of each receptor measured by two-electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology. Results showed an atypical gain-of-function molecular phenotype in the GABRB3 p.Glu77Lys and p.Thr287Ile variants characterized by increased potency of γ-aminobutyric acid A without change to the estimated maximum open channel probability, deactivation kinetics or absolute currents. Modelling of the activation properties of the receptors indicated that either variant caused increased chloride flux in response to low concentrations of γ-aminobutyric acid that mediate tonic currents. We therefore propose that the hypersensitivity reaction to vigabatrin is a result of GABRB3 variants that exacerbate GABAergic tonic currents and caution is required when prescribing vigabatrin. In contrast, drug strategies increasing tonic currents in loss-of-function variants are likely to be a safe and effective therapy. This study demonstrates that functional genomics can explain beneficial and adverse anti-epileptic drug effects, and propose that vigabatrin should be considered in patients with clear loss-of-function GABRB3 variants.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria A. Gandini ◽  
Ivana A. Souza ◽  
Laurent Ferron ◽  
A. Micheil Innes ◽  
Gerald W. Zamponi

AbstractCACNA1A pathogenic variants have been linked to several neurological disorders including familial hemiplegic migraine and cerebellar conditions. More recently, de novo variants have been associated with severe early onset developmental encephalopathies. CACNA1A is highly expressed in the central nervous system and encodes the pore-forming CaVα1 subunit of P/Q-type (Cav2.1) calcium channels. We have previously identified a patient with a de novo missense mutation in CACNA1A (p.Y1384C), characterized by hemiplegic migraine, cerebellar atrophy and developmental delay. The mutation is located at the transmembrane S5 segment of the third domain. Functional analysis in two predominant splice variants of the neuronal Cav2.1 channel showed a significant loss of function in current density and changes in gating properties. Moreover, Y1384 variants exhibit differential splice variant-specific effects on recovery from inactivation. Finally, structural analysis revealed structural damage caused by the tyrosine substitution and changes in electrostatic potentials.


Author(s):  
Yuri A. Zarate ◽  
Tomoko Uehara ◽  
Kota Abe ◽  
Masayuki Oginuma ◽  
Sora Harako ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (35) ◽  
pp. E7341-E7347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew T. Timberlake ◽  
Charuta G. Furey ◽  
Jungmin Choi ◽  
Carol Nelson-Williams ◽  
Erin Loring ◽  
...  

Non-syndromic craniosynostosis (NSC) is a frequent congenital malformation in which one or more cranial sutures fuse prematurely. Mutations causing rare syndromic craniosynostoses in humans and engineered mouse models commonly increase signaling of the Wnt, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), or Ras/ERK pathways, converging on shared nuclear targets that promote bone formation. In contrast, the genetics of NSC is largely unexplored. More than 95% of NSC is sporadic, suggesting a role for de novo mutations. Exome sequencing of 291 parent–offspring trios with midline NSC revealed 15 probands with heterozygous damaging de novo mutations in 12 negative regulators of Wnt, BMP, and Ras/ERK signaling (10.9-fold enrichment, P = 2.4 × 10−11). SMAD6 had 4 de novo and 14 transmitted mutations; no other gene had more than 1. Four familial NSC kindreds had mutations in genes previously implicated in syndromic disease. Collectively, these mutations contribute to 10% of probands. Mutations are predominantly loss-of-function, implicating haploinsufficiency as a frequent mechanism. A common risk variant near BMP2 increased the penetrance of SMAD6 mutations and was overtransmitted to patients with de novo mutations in other genes in these pathways, supporting a frequent two-locus pathogenesis. These findings implicate new genes in NSC and demonstrate related pathophysiology of common non-syndromic and rare syndromic craniosynostoses. These findings have implications for diagnosis, risk of recurrence, and risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Finally, the use of pathways identified in rare syndromic disease to find genes accounting for non-syndromic cases may prove broadly relevant to understanding other congenital disorders featuring high locus heterogeneity.


2017 ◽  
Vol 173 (10) ◽  
pp. 2680-2689 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magalie S. Leduc ◽  
Hsiao-Tuan Chao ◽  
Chunjing Qu ◽  
Magdalena Walkiewicz ◽  
Rui Xiao ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (18) ◽  
pp. 9874
Author(s):  
Matin Miryeganeh ◽  
Hidetoshi Saze

Their high adaptability to difficult coastal conditions makes mangrove trees a valuable resource and an interesting model system for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying stress tolerance and adaptation of plants to the stressful environmental conditions. In this study, we used RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) for de novo assembling and characterizing the Bruguiera gymnorhiza (L.) Lamk leaf transcriptome. B. gymnorhiza is one of the most widely distributed mangrove species from the biggest family of mangroves; Rhizophoraceae. The de novo assembly was followed by functional annotations and identification of individual transcripts and gene families that are involved in abiotic stress response. We then compared the genome-wide expression profiles between two populations of B. gymnorhiza, growing under different levels of stress, in their natural habitats. One population living in high salinity environment, in the shore of the Pacific Ocean- Japan, and the other population living about one kilometre farther from the ocean, and next to the estuary of a river; in less saline and more brackish condition. Many genes involved in response to salt and osmotic stress, showed elevated expression levels in trees growing next to the ocean in high salinity condition. Validation of these genes may contribute to future salt-resistance research in mangroves and other woody plants. Furthermore, the sequences and transcriptome data provided in this study are valuable scientific resources for future comparative transcriptome research in plants growing under stressful conditions.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Zhang ◽  
Yanyan Nie ◽  
Yu Mu ◽  
Jie Zheng ◽  
Xiaowei Xu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background:The pathogenic variation of CASK gene can cause CASK related mental disorders. The main clinical manifestations are microcephaly with pontine and cerebellar hypoplasia, X-linked mental disorders with or without nystagmus and FG syndrome. The main pathogenic mechanism is the loss of function of related protein caused by mutation. We reported a Chinese male newborn with a de novo variant in CASK gene. Case presentation:We present an 18-day-old baby with intellectual disability and brain hypoplasia. Whole-exome sequencing was performed, which detected a hemizygous missense mutation c.764G>A of CASK gene. The mutation changed the 255th amino acid from Arg to His. Software based bioinformatics analyses were conducted to infer its functional effect.Conclusions:In this paper, a de novo mutation of CASK gene was reported. Moreover, a detailed description of all the cases described in the literature is reported.CASK mutations cause a variety of clinical phenotypes. Its diagnosis is difficult due to the lack of typical clinical symptoms. Genetic testing should be performed as early as possible if this disease is suspected. This case provides an important reference for the diagnosis and treatment of future cases.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Köferle ◽  
Andreas Schlattl ◽  
Alexandra Hörmann ◽  
Fiona Spreitzer ◽  
Alexandra M. Popa ◽  
...  

Genetic networks are characterized by extensive buffering. During tumour evolution, disruption of these functional redundancies can create de novo vulnerabilities that are specific to cancer cells. In this regard, paralog genes are of particular interest, as the loss of one paralog gene can render tumour cells dependent on a remaining paralog. To systematically identify cancer-relevant paralog dependencies, we searched for candidate dependencies using CRISPR screens and publicly available loss-of-function datasets. Our analysis revealed >2,000 potential candidate dependencies, several of which were subsequently experimentally validated. We provide evidence that DNAJC15-DNAJC19, FAM50A-FAM50B and RPP25-RPP25L are novel cancer relevant paralog dependencies. Importantly, our analysis also revealed unexpected redundancies between sex chromosome genes. We show that chrX- and chrY- encoded paralogs, as exemplified by ZFX-ZFY, DDX3X-DDX3Y and EIF1AX-EIF1AY, are functionally linked so that tumour cell lines from male patients with Y-chromosome loss become exquisitely dependent on the chrX-encoded gene. We therefore propose genetic redundancies between chrX- and chrY- encoded paralogs as a general therapeutic strategy for human tumours that have lost the Y-chromosome.


2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (8) ◽  
pp. 030006052110358
Author(s):  
Lin Qiao ◽  
Yuting Yang ◽  
Dongmei Yue

Objective Tuberous sclerosis (TSC) is an autosomal dominant disorder, often detected during childhood. We present the results of genetic testing in a newborn with suspected TSC. Methods A newborn with no specific clinical manifestations of TSC showed evidence of TSC on magnetic resonance imaging and echocardiography. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) and multiple ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) of the TSC1 and TSC2 gene exons were carried out to confirm the diagnosis. Results The results of MLPA were negative, but NGS showed a heterozygous mutation in the TSC1 gene comprising insertion of a T residue at c.2165 (exon 17) to c.2166 (exon 17), indicating a loss of function mutation. These results were verified by Sanger sequencing. This genetic change was present in the newborn but the parental genotypes were wild-type, indicating a de novo mutation. Conclusions In this case, a case of TSC caused by a heterozygous mutation in the TSC1 gene was confirmed by NGS sequencing. This indicates the suitability of genetic testing for the early diagnosis of clinically rare and difficult-to-diagnose diseases, to guide clinical treatment.


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