Adaptomics of neofunctionalization: analysis of GORDITA-like genes in Brassicaceae

该项目研究单一发育控制基因Gordita(GOA)的起源如何通过基因复制和序列差异对十字花科植物的适合性和适应性做出贡献。虽然祖先的姐妹基因(ABS-型基因)参与了胚珠的发育，但衍生的GoA-型基因获得了一个新的表达结构域和在果实发育中的功能。通过对不同油菜种的GoA型和ABS型基因的综合比较分析，我们将调查导致现存GoA型基因的谱系何时起源，以及这些基因在果实发育过程中获得其独特的表达模式、结构域结构和功能的分子机制。为了更好地了解果阿的祖先是如何逃脱‘Ohno困境’的，我们将分析在Brassicales的系统发育过程中，采用电子方法的B姐妹基因不同分支的分子进化。通过蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用的研究，我们将通过与ABS的比较来研究蛋白质结构的变化如何改变GOA的蛋白质相互作用网络。为了评估GOA型基因的起源如何有助于十字花科物种的适应，我们将使用转基因敲除植株来确定温室条件下植物适合度的替代指标，并将为未来使用非转基因突变体确定自然生长条件下的植物适合度做准备工作。

The project investigates how the origin of a single developmental control gene, GORDITA (GOA), by gene duplication and sequence divergence contributed to plant fitness and adaptation in the Brassicaceae. While the ancestral Bsister genes (ABS-type genes) are involved in ovule development, the derived GOA-type genes acquired a new expression domain and function in fruit development. By comprehensive comparative analyses involving GOA-type and ABS-type genes from diverse Brassicales species we will investigate when the lineage that led to extant GOA-type genes originated, and by which molecular mechanisms these genes acquired their unique expression patterns, domain structures, and function during fruit development. To better understand how the ancestors of GOA escaped ‘Ohno’s dilemma’ we will analyze the molecular evolution in the different branches of Bsister genes during the phylogeny of Brassicales employing in silico methods. Using protein-protein interaction studies we will investigate how changes in the protein structure changed the protein interaction network of GOA in comparison of ABS. To assess how the origin of GOA-type genes contributed to the adaptation of Brassicaceae species we will determine proxies of plant fitness under greenhouse conditions using transgenic knock-out plants, and will do preparative work for future determination of plant fitness under natural growth conditions using non-transgenic mutants.