LAQV/REQUIMTE, Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre s/n, Porto, 4169-007, Portugal.
School of Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal.
BMC Plant Biol. 2024 Aug 13;24(1):771. doi: 10.1186/s12870-024-05489-4.
In Angiosperms, the continuation of plant species is intricately dependent on the funiculus multifaceted role in nutrient transport, mechanical support, and dehiscence of seeds. SEEDSTICK (STK) is a MADS-box transcription factor involved in seed size and abscission, and one of the few genes identified as affecting funiculus growth. Given the importance of the funiculus to a correct seed development, allied with previous phenotypic observations of stk mutants, we performed a transcriptomic analysis of stk funiculi from floral stage 17, using RNA-sequencing, to infer on the deregulated networks of genes.
The generated dataset of differentially expressed genes was enriched with cell wall biogenesis, cell cycle, sugar metabolism and transport terms, all in accordance with stk phenotype observed in funiculi from floral stage 17. We selected eight differentially expressed genes for transcriptome validation using qPCR and/or promoter reporter lines. Those genes were involved with abscission, seed development or novel functions in stk funiculus, such as hormones/secondary metabolites transport.
Overall, the analysis performed in this study allowed delving into the STK-network established in Arabidopsis funiculus, fulfilling a literature gap. Simultaneously, our findings reinforced the reliability of the transcriptome, making it a valuable resource for candidate genes selection for functional genetic studies in the funiculus. This will enhance our understanding on the regulatory network controlled by STK, on the role of the funiculus and how seed development may be affected by them.
在被子植物中，植物物种的延续错综复杂地依赖于珠柄在营养物质运输、机械支撑和种子开裂中的多方面作用。SEEDSTICK（STK）是一个参与种子大小和离层的 MADS 框转录因子，也是少数几个被认为影响珠柄生长的基因之一。鉴于珠柄对正确种子发育的重要性，以及 stk 突变体的先前表型观察，我们对来自花 17 期的 stk 珠柄进行了转录组分析，使用 RNA-seq 推断基因失调的网络。
差异表达基因的生成数据集富含细胞壁生物发生、细胞周期、糖代谢和运输术语，所有这些都与 stk 在花 17 期珠柄中观察到的表型一致。我们选择了八个差异表达基因进行 qPCR 和/或启动子报告基因系的转录组验证。这些基因涉及离层、种子发育或 stk 珠柄中的新功能，例如激素/次生代谢物运输。
总的来说，本研究中的分析深入探讨了在拟南芥珠柄中建立的 STK 网络，填补了文献空白。同时，我们的发现增强了转录组的可靠性，使其成为珠柄功能遗传研究中候选基因选择的有价值资源。这将增强我们对 STK 控制的调控网络、珠柄的作用以及种子发育如何受到它们影响的理解。
