scholarly journals Identification of key genes and regulators associated with carotenoid metabolism in apricot (Prunus armeniaca) fruit using weighted gene coexpression network analysis

BMC Genomics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lina Zhang ◽  
Qiuyun Zhang ◽  
Wenhui Li ◽  
Shikui Zhang ◽  
Wanpeng Xi

Abstract Background Carotenoids are a class of terpenoid pigments that contribute to the color and nutritional value of many fruits. Their biosynthetic pathways have been well established in a number of plant species; however, many details of the regulatory mechanism controlling carotenoid metabolism remain to be elucidated. Apricot is one of the most carotenoid-rich fruits, making it a valuable system for investigating carotenoid metabolism. The purpose of this study was to identify key genes and regulators associated with carotenoid metabolism in apricot fruit based on transcriptome sequencing. Results During fruit ripening in the apricot cultivar ‘Luntaixiaobaixing’ (LT), the total carotenoid content of the fruit decreased significantly, as did the levels of the carotenoids β-carotene, lutein and violaxanthin (p < 0.01). RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis of the fruit resulted in the identification of 44,754 unigenes and 6916 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during ripening. Among these genes, 33,498 unigenes were annotated using public protein databases. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) showed that two of the 13 identified modules (‘blue’ and ‘turquoise’) were highly correlated with carotenoid metabolism, and 33 structural genes from the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway were identified. Network visualization revealed 35 intramodular hub genes that putatively control carotenoid metabolism. The expression levels of these candidate genes were determined by quantitative real-time PCR analysis, which showed ripening-associated carotenoid accumulation. This analysis revealed that a range of genes (NCED1, CCD1/4, PIF3/4, HY5, ERF003/5/12, RAP2–12, AP2, AP2-like, BZR1, MADS14, NAC2/25, MYB1R1/44, GLK1/2 and WRKY6/31/69) potentially affect apricot carotenoid metabolism during ripening. Based on deciphering the molecular mechanism involved in ripening, a network model of carotenoid metabolism in apricot fruit was proposed. Conclusions Overall, our work provides new insights into the carotenoid metabolism of apricot and other species, which will facilitate future apricot functional studies and quality breeding through molecular design.

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Yan Wang ◽  
Xiangyang Zhang ◽  
Min Duan ◽  
Chenguang Zhang ◽  
Ke Wang ◽  
...  

Background. In the general population, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) represents a significant cause of mortality. This study is aimed at identifying novel diagnostic biomarkers to aid in treating and diagnosing AMI. Methods. The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was explored to extract two microarray datasets, GSE66360 and GSE48060, which were subsequently merged into a single cohort. Both AMI and control samples were analyzed for differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were subsequently subjected to weighed gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify the most significant module. Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway analyses subsequently carried out the most significant gene modules along with construction of a protein-protein interaction network (PPI). Cytoscape plugin cytoHubba allowed for the prediction of the top 4 key genes according to the network maximal clique centrality (MCC) algorithm. The expression levels and diagnostic value of the four key genes were additionally verified in the GSE62646 dataset. Results. A WCGNA analysis revealed 878 DEGs which were clustered into 6 modules. The module with the most significance in AMI was colored blue. Subsequent GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis on blue module genes revealed that they were primarily enriched in the inflammation-related pathways. These findings, in combination with PPI and coexpression networks, resulted in the identification of the top four genes by cytoHubba, which included leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor B2 (LILRB2), toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), neutrophil cytosolic factor 2 (NCF2), and S100A9. Among them, LILRB2, NCF2, and S100A9 were validated in the GSE62646 dataset. Conclusions. The results suggested that LILRB2, NCF2, and S100A9 could be potential gene biomarkers for AMI.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Yun Liu ◽  
Peigen Chen ◽  
Mengxiong Li ◽  
Hui Fei ◽  
Jinfeng Huang ◽  
...  

Background. Cancer stem cells play an important role in endometrial cancer (EC). It is closely related to self-renewal and therapeutic resistance of EC. Methods. In this study, WGCNA (weighted gene coexpression network analysis) was used to analyze the relationship between genes and clinical features. We also performed immune cell infiltration analysis of a key module by using ImmuCellAI (Immune Cell Abundance Identifier). Then, key genes were verified in the GEO database. Finally, causal relationship analysis and protein-protein interaction analysis were performed in DisNor tool and STRING. Result. The mRNA expression-based stemness index (mRNAsi) is significantly lower in normal tissues and is significantly higher in individuals with stage IV or high-grade cancer and those who are obese or postmenopausal. Nineteen key genes (ORC6, C1orf112, RAD54L, SGO2, BUB1, PLK4, KIF18B, BUB1B, TTK, NCAPG, XRCC2, CENPF, KIF15, RACGAP1, ARHGAP11A, TPX2, KIF14, KIF4A, and NCAPH) that were enriched mainly in terms related to the cell cycle and DNA replication were selected by weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA). Based on the key modules, the numbers of NKT cells, NK cells, and neutrophils in the normal group were significantly higher than those in the cancer group. PLK1, CDK1, and MAD2L1, which were correlated with upstream genes, may be an regulated upstream of key genes. Conclusion. PLK1, CDK1, and MAD2L1 which were strongly correlated with upstream genes may be a regulated upstream of key genes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (10) ◽  
pp. 1195-1206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aiping Tian ◽  
Ke Pu ◽  
Boxuan Li ◽  
Min Li ◽  
Xiaoguang Liu ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Baiyang Yu ◽  
Jianbin Liu ◽  
Di Wu ◽  
Ying Liu ◽  
Weijian Cen ◽  
...  

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Li ◽  
Xiao_nan He ◽  
Chao Li ◽  
Ling Gong ◽  
Min Liu

Background. Identification of potential molecular targets of acute myocardial infarction is crucial to our comprehensive understanding of the disease mechanism. However, studies of gene coexpression analysis via jointing multiple microarray data of acute myocardial infarction still remain restricted. Methods. Microarray data of acute myocardial infarction (GSE48060, GSE66360, GSE97320, and GSE19339) were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus database. Three data sets without heterogeneity (GSE48060, GSE66360, and GSE97320) were subjected to differential expression analysis using MetaDE package. Differentially expressed genes having upper 25% variation across samples were imported in weighted gene coexpression network analysis. Functional and pathway enrichment analyses were conducted for genes in the most significant module using DAVID. The predicted microRNAs to regulate target genes in the most significant module were identified using TargetScan. Moreover, subpathway analyses using iSubpathwayMiner package and GenCLiP 2.0 were performed on hub genes with high connective weight in the most significant module. Results. A total of 1027 differentially expressed genes and 33 specific modules were screened out between acute myocardial infarction patients and control samples. Ficolin (collagen/fibrinogen domain containing) 1 (FCN1), CD14 molecule (CD14), S100 calcium binding protein A9 (S100A9), and mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) were identified as critical target molecules; hsa-let-7d, hsa-let-7b, hsa-miR-124-3, and hsa-miR-9-1 were identified as potential regulators of the expression of the key genes in the two biggest modules. Conclusions. FCN1, CD14, S100A9, ALDH2, hsa-let-7d, hsa-let-7b, hsa-miR-124-3, and hsa-miR-9-1 were identified as potential candidate regulators in acute myocardial infarction. These findings might provide new comprehension into the underlying molecular mechanism of disease.


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