DNA demethylation in maize endosperm gene regulation

DNA去甲基化在玉米胚乳基因调控中的作用

• 批准号: 2114797
• 负责人: Jonathan Gent
• 金额: $ 93.62万
• 依托单位: University of Georgia Research Foundation Inc
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2021-07-15 至 2025-06-30
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2114797&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DNA; demethylation; maize; endosperm; gene

In addition to embryos, seeds contain endosperm, which is similar to the placenta in that it is a separate product of fertilization that provides nutrition to the embryo. Endosperm is different from other plant organs not only in terms of genetics, but also epigenetics. In particular, genes with identical DNA sequences in endosperm produce different physical traits depending on whether they were inherited maternally or paternally. The goal of this project is to understand how DNA is modified in endosperm to cause genes to be regulated in this way. Endosperm is the major source of calories for human consumption, so understanding how genes are regulated in endosperm is important for agricultural science. While the project will focus on maize (corn), one of the most important food crops in the world, fundamental principles of endosperm gene regulation discovered through this work will also apply to other plants. The project will also include an outreach component to elementary school students and teachers to encourage biology career paths and to educate on scientific methods.In plants, DNA is demethylated by DNA glycosylases. Endosperm is distinguished from other tissues by activity of specific DNA glycosylases at thousands of genomic loci, as evidenced primarily by work in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. This project will build on this foundation, but with research on maize because of its experimental advantages and the agricultural importance of its endosperm. The goals are to use RNA, chromatin, and methylation sequencing methods in glycosylase mutant and wild-type endosperm to determine what genomic features recruit glycosylases and how their demethylation affects chromatin structure and transcription. In addition, the data generated from these experiments will be used to design synthetic gene expression modules for testing the resulting predictions and for controlling gene expression in endosperm.This project is jointly funded by the Genetic Mechanisms program in the Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences and the Plant Genome Research Program in the Division of Integrative Organismal Systems of the Biological Sciences Directorate.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

除了胚，种子还含有胚乳，这与胎盘相似，因为它是受精的单独产物，为胚提供营养。胚乳不仅在遗传学上不同于其他植物器官，而且在表观遗传学上也有很大的不同。特别是，胚乳中具有相同DNA序列的基因产生不同的物理性状，这取决于它们是母系遗传还是父系遗传。该项目的目标是了解DNA是如何在胚乳中被修饰，从而导致基因以这种方式被调节的。胚乳是人类消耗热量的主要来源，因此了解胚乳中的基因是如何调控的对农业科学很重要。虽然该项目将重点关注世界上最重要的粮食作物之一玉米（玉米），但通过这项工作发现的胚乳基因调控的基本原理也将适用于其他植物。该项目还将包括一个面向小学学生和教师的外联部分，以鼓励生物学职业道路和科学方法教育。胚乳与其他组织的区别在于数千个基因组位点上特异性DNA糖基化酶的活性，这主要由模式植物拟南芥中的工作所证明。该项目将建立在这一基础上，但对玉米进行研究，因为玉米具有实验优势及其胚乳的农业重要性。我们的目标是在糖基化酶突变体和野生型胚乳中使用RNA、染色质和甲基化测序方法来确定哪些基因组特征招募糖基化酶以及它们的去甲基化如何影响染色质结构和转录。此外，本发明还提供了一种方法，从这些实验中产生的数据将被用来设计合成基因表达模块，用于测试所得到的预测和控制胚乳中的基因表达。该项目由分子和细胞生物科学部的遗传机制计划和生物科学理事会综合有机系统部的植物基因组研究计划共同资助。该奖项反映了NSF的基金会的使命是履行其法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。