Alternative splicing in polyploids and hybrids

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Polyploids, organisms with an extra set of chromosomes, are common among plants and several crop plants are polyploid. Polyploidy can lead to novel morphological and developmental characteristics, larger cell sizes, and new gene functions and expression patterns. The formation of polyploids often involves hybridization (crossing) between two species. The goal of this research is to understand the consequences of polyploidy and cross-species hybridization on gene expression with a focus on patterns of RNA splicing (removal of regions of the RNA during gene expression). I will assay the expression and RNA splicing of genes duplicated by polyploidy in Brassica napus, canola, including genes involved in specifying traits of agronomic importance such as seed oil synthesis and disease resistance. I will detect novel RNA splicing patterns that appear in plant hybrids during the first generation after a cross is made, using new technology to study RNA splicing patterns on a genome-wide scale in a model plant hybrid. The proposed research will provide the first insights into differences in RNA splicing patterns between duplicated genes in polyploid plants, and the first information on the prevalence of novel RNA splicing patterns that occur in hybrid plants and the types of genes that are affected. This research on RNA splicing in polyploids and hybrids is likely to have an impact on the fields of plant molecular biology, plant genomics, and molecular evolution. Some duplicate genes play a role in specifying traits of agronomic significance in plants, and some RNA splicing patterns in duplicated genes may be involved in conferring traits selected for during plant breeding. In particular, polyploid canola is important to Canada's economy and food supply and what is learned from studying RNA splicing in canola may lead to improvement of this crop plant. Understanding how RNA splicing patterns can change gene expression and function may lead to using RNA splicing as a tool for biotechnology applications to design crops with altered expression of genes of interest to create or improve desired characteristics.