Evolutionary Transcriptomics of Floral Transition

这个跨学科的项目采用了进化转录组学的方法来研究开花植物从营养阶段到生殖阶段的转变。与SPP 1530内的四个合作伙伴合作，我们将基于拟南芥、辣椒、甘蓝型油菜、甜菜、葡萄和大麦花过渡之前、期间和之后的RNA种群的下一代测序，生成高分辨率的时间序列转录本。基于这些数据，我们的目标是(I)通过比较转录组学识别新的潜在的花转换调控因子；(Ii)揭示可能存在的进化上保守的花转换的系统转录模式。通过比较转录组学的方法，我们将构建基因调控网络，(I)在进化水平上理解已知的花转换网络，(Ii)寻找新的潜在的花转换调控因子，我们将用反向遗传学对其进行功能评估。通过结合系统发育和全转录组信息的系统转录组学方法，我们将评估特定的个体发育阶段在花过渡之前、期间或之后是进化上保守的，还是进化上可变的；后者指向适应潜力。这两种方法的结合将使我们能够从进化的角度来看待发展阶段的变化。此外，我们将开发一个基于网络的图形用户界面，使系统转录学可用于SPP 1530的所有成员和世界各地的其他研究小组。

This interdisciplinary project takes an evolutionary transcriptomics approach on the transition from the vegetative to the reproductive phase in flowering plants. In collaboration with four partners within SPP 1530, we will generate high-resolution time series of transcriptomes based on next generation sequencing of RNA populations before, during, and after floral transition in Arabidopsis thaliana, Capsella rubella, Brassica napus, Beta vulgaris, Vitis vinifera, and Hordeum vulgare. Based on these data, we aim (i) at identifying novel potential regulators of floral transition by comparative transcriptomics and (ii) at uncovering the possible presence of an evolutionarily conserved phylotranscriptomic pattern of floral transition. By the comparative transcriptomics approach we will construct gene regulatory networks (i) to understand the known floral transition network on an evolutionary level and (ii) to identify novel potential regulators of floral transition, which we will functionally evaluate by reverse genetics. By the phylotranscriptomics approach, which combines phylogenetic and whole-transcriptome information, we will assess whether specific ontogenetic stages before, during, or after floral transition are evolutionarily conserved or, alternatively, evolutionarily variable; the latter pointing to adaptational potential. The combination of both approaches will allow us to view developmental phase change from an evolutionary perspective. Furthermore, we will develop a graphical web-based user interface to make phylotranscriptomics available and applicable to all members of the SPP 1530 and other research groups worldwide.