The Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Maize in Arid Area of Northwest Region, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China.
Maize Engineering Technology Research Centre of Shaanxi Province, Yangling, 712100, Shaanxi, China.
Mol Genet Genomics. 2021 May;296(3):615-629. doi: 10.1007/s00438-021-01761-6. Epub 2021 Feb 25.
Light is the most important environmental cue signaling the transition from skotomorphogenesis to photomorphogenesis, thus affecting plant development and metabolic activity. How the light response mechanisms of maize seedlings respond to fluctuations in the light environment has not been well characterized to date. In this study, we built a gene coexpression network from a dynamic transcriptomic map of maize seedlings exposed to different light environments. Coexpression analysis identified ten modules and multiple genes that closely correlate with photosynthesis and characterized hub genes associated with regulatory networks, duplication events, domestication and improvement. In addition, we identified that 38% of hub genes underwent duplication events, 74% of which are related to photosynthesis. Moreover, we captured the dynamic expression atlas of gene sets involved in the chloroplast photosynthetic apparatus and photosynthetic carbon assimilation in different light environments, which should help to elucidate the key mechanisms and regulatory networks that underlie photosynthesis in maize. Insights from this study provide a valuable resource to better understand the genetic mechanisms of the response to fluctuations in the light environment in maize.
光是最重要的环境线索，指示着从暗形态建成到光形态建成的转变，从而影响植物的发育和代谢活动。目前，我们还没有很好地描述玉米幼苗的光响应机制如何响应光照环境的波动。在这项研究中，我们构建了一个基因共表达网络，该网络来自于不同光照环境下暴露的玉米幼苗的动态转录组图谱。共表达分析鉴定了十个模块和多个与光合作用密切相关的基因，并描述了与调控网络、复制事件、驯化和改良相关的枢纽基因。此外，我们发现 38%的枢纽基因发生了复制事件，其中 74%与光合作用有关。此外，我们还捕捉到了不同光照环境下参与叶绿体光合作用器和光合碳同化的基因集的动态表达图谱，这有助于阐明玉米光合作用的关键机制和调控网络。本研究的结果为更好地理解玉米对光照环境波动的响应的遗传机制提供了有价值的资源。
