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- Ma, Wei, et al.
(författare)
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Rye B chromosomes encode a functional Argonaute-like proteinwith in vitro slicer activities similar to its A chromosome paralog
- 2017
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Ingår i: New Phytologist. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0028-646X .- 1469-8137. ; 213:2, s. 904-916
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- B chromosomes (Bs) are supernumerary, dispensable parts of the nuclear genome, whichappear in many different species of eukaryote. So far, Bs have been considered to be geneti-cally inert elements without any functional genes.Our comparative transcriptome analysis and the detection of active RNA polymerase II(RNAPII) in the proximity of B chromatin demonstrate that the Bs of rye (Secale cereale) con-tribute to the transcriptome. In total, 1954 and 1218 B-derived transcripts with an open read-ing frame were expressed in generative and vegetative tissues, respectively. In addition to B-derived transposable element transcripts, a high percentage of short transcripts withoutdetectable similarity to known proteins and gene fragments from A chromosomes (As) werefound, suggesting an ongoing gene erosion process.In vitro analysis of the A- and B-encoded AGO4B protein variants demonstrated that bothpossess RNA slicer activity. These data demonstrate unambiguously the presence of a func-tional AGO4B gene on Bs and that these Bs carry both functional protein coding genes andpseudogene copies.Thus, B-encoded genes may provide an additional level of gene control and complexity incombination with their related A-located genes. Hence, physiological effects, associated withthe presence of Bs, may partly be explained by the activity of B-located (pseudo)genes.
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