Analysis of Brassica napus dehydrins and their Co-Expression regulatory networks in relation to cold stress

Publication date: Available online 6 November 2018

Source: Gene Expression Patterns

Author(s): Khazar Edrisi Maryan, Habibollah Samizadeh Lahiji, Naser Farrokhi, Hassan Hasani Komeleh

Abstract

Dehydrins (DHNs) are plant specific cold and drought stress-responsive proteins that belong to late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) protein families. B. napus DHNs (BnDHNs) were computationally analyzed to establish gene regulatory- and protein-protein interaction networks. Promoter analyses suggested functionality of phytohormones in BnDHNs gene network. The relative expressions of some BnDHNs were analyzed using qRT-PCR in seedling leaves of both cold-tolerant (Zarfam) and -sensitive (Sari Gul) canola treated/untreated by cold. Our expression data were indicative of the importance of BnDHNs in cold tolerance in Zarfam. BnDHNs were classified into three classes according to the expression pattern. Moreover, expression of three BnDHN types, SK_n (BnLEA10 and BnLEA18), Y_nK_n (BnLEA90) and Y_nSK_n (BnLEA104) were significantly high in the tolerant cultivar at 12 h of cold treatment. Our findings put forward the possibility of considering these genes as screening biomarker to determine cold-tolerant breeding lines; something that needs to be further corroborated. Furthermore, these genes may have some implications in developing such tolerant lines via transgenesis.

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Retrospective and perspective of plant epigenetics in China

Publication date: Available online 6 November 2018

Source: Journal of Genetics and Genomics

Author(s): Cheng-Guo Duan, Jian-Kang Zhu, Xiao-Feng Cao

Abstract

Epigenetics refer to the study of heritable changes in gene function that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence. Such effects on cellular and physiological phenotypic traits may result from external or environmental factors or be part of normal developmental program. In eukaryotes, DNA wraps on a histone octamer (two copies of H2A, H2B, H3 and H4) to form nucleosome, the fundamental unit of chromatin. The structure of chromatin is subjected to a dynamic regulation through multiple epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation, histone posttranslational modifications (PTMs), chromatin remodeling and noncoding RNAs. As conserved regulatory mechanisms in gene expression, epigenetic mechanisms participate in almost all the important biological processes ranging from basal development to environmental response. Importantly, all of the major epigenetic mechanisms in mammalians also occur in plants. Plant studies have provided numerous important contributions to the epigenetic research. For example, gene imprinting, a mechanism of parental allele-specific gene expression, was firstly observed in maize; evidence of paramutation, an epigenetic phenomenon that one allele acts in a single locus to induce a heritable change in the other allele, was firstly reported in maize and tomato. Moreover, some unique epigenetic mechanisms have been evolved in plants. For example, the 24-nt siRNA-involved RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathway is plant-specific because of the involvements of two plant-specific DNA-dependent RNA polymerases, Pol IV and Pol V. A thorough study of epigenetic mechanisms is of great significance to improve crop agronomic traits and environmental adaptability. In this review, we make a brief summary of important progresses achieved in plant epigenetics field in China over the past several decades and give a brief outlook on future research prospects. We focus our review on DNA methylation and histone PTMs, the two most important aspects of epigenetic mechanisms.

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Conservation genetics and genomics of threatened vertebrates in China

Publication date: Available online 5 November 2018

Source: Journal of Genetics and Genomics

Author(s): Huizhong Fan, Yibo Hu, Qi Wu, Yonggang Nie, Li Yan, Fuwen Wei

Abstract

Conservation genetics and genomics are two independent disciplines that focus on using new techniques in genetics and genomics to solve problems in conservation biology. During the past two decades, conservation genetics and genomics have experienced rapid progress. Here, we summarize the research advances in the conservation genetics and genomics of threatened vertebrates (e.g., carnivoran, primates, ungulates, cetaceans, avians, amphibians and reptiles) in China. First, we introduce the concepts of conservation genetics and genomics and their development. Second, we review the recent advances in conservation genetics research, including noninvasive genetics and landscape genetics. Third, we summarize the progress in conservation genomics research, which mainly focuses on resolving genetic problems relevant to conservation such as genetic diversity, genetic structure, demographic history, and genomic evolution and adaptation. Finally, we discuss the future directions of conservation genetics and genomics.

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The molecular and evolutionary basis of reproductive isolation in plants

Publication date: Available online 5 November 2018

Source: Journal of Genetics and Genomics

Author(s): Yidan Ouyang, Qifa Zhang

ABSTRACT

Reproductive isolation is defined as processes that prevent individuals of different populations from mating, survival or producing fertile offspring. Reproductive isolation is critical for driving speciation and maintaining species identity, which has been a fundamental concern in evolutionary biology. In plants, reproductive isolation can be divided into prezygotic reproductive barriers and postzygotic reproductive barriers, according to its occurrence at different developmental stages. Postzygotic reproductive isolation that caused by reduced fitness in hybrids is frequently observed in plants, which hinders gene flow between divergent populations and has substantial effects on genetic differentiation and speciation, and thus is a major obstacle for utilization of heterosis in hybrid crops. During the past decade, China had made tremendous progress in molecular and evolutionary basis of prezygotic and postzygotic reproductive barriers in plants. Present understandings in reproductive isolation especially with new data in the last several years well support three evolutionary genetic models, which represent a general mechanism underlying genomic differentiation and speciation. The updated understanding will offer new approaches for the development of wide-compatibility or neutral varieties, which facilitate breeding of hybrid rice as well as other hybrid crops.

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Exaggerated systemic oxidative‐nitrosative‐inflammatory stress in chronic mountain sickness is associated with cognitive decline and depression

The Journal of Physiology, Volume 0, Issue ja, -Not available-.


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Modulating Survivin as a Radioresistant Factor, Caspase-3, and Apoptosis by Omega-3 Docosahexaenoic Acid Sensitizes Mutant-p53 Colorectal Cancer Cells to γ-Irradiation

Cancer Biotherapy and Radiopharmaceuticals, Volume 33, Issue 9, Page 387-395, November 2018.


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Modulating Survivin as a Radioresistant Factor, Caspase-3, and Apoptosis by Omega-3 Docosahexaenoic Acid Sensitizes Mutant-p53 Colorectal Cancer Cells to γ-Irradiation

Cancer Biotherapy and Radiopharmaceuticals, Volume 33, Issue 9, Page 387-395, November 2018.


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