Award details

Dynamic re-programming of the cold transcriptome in Arabidopsis

Reference	BB/P00671X/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Katherine Denby
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	University of York
Department	Biology
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	22,264
Status	Completed
Type	Research Grant
Start date	01/04/2017
End date	31/03/2020
Duration	36 months

Abstract

Our experimental approaches and bioinformatics developments demonstrate that dynamic changes in the transcriptome depend on both transcription and AS and that AS forms an important part of re-programming of the transcriptome. We will continue to use ultra-deep RNA-seq of time-courses of plants treated with low temperatures and exploit our developments in RNA-seq analysis. The dynamic transcript-specific profiles allow network modelling at both the gene (transcriptional) and splicing (AS) levels and, significantly, gives the opportunity to integrate these different layers of regulation. The most up-to-date approaches in network analysis will be applied to existing data and the new data (constant light; first 3 h at 4C) allowing causal inferences in the networks to be predicted. Key hub genes (genes with many connections to other genes) are likely to be important in re-programming the cold transcriptome. Selected genes will be characterised for their physiological (freezing tolerance and acclimation) and molecular phenotypes (validation of network connections - effects on AS target genes of mutants/over-expression lines). Immediate/early effects on AS may be important to priming the plant (transcriptome) for temperature change before establishing the full low temperature response. We will therefore exploit the extensive expertise in phosphoproteomics at Dundee to investigate immediate/early phosphorylation of splicing factors in response to low temperatures and will investigate specific kinases involved in cold signalling. Finally, genes with AS events important in establishing the cold transcriptome and tolerant/acclimation are expected to show an altered phenotype when knocked out. Also, the different transcript isoforms (which may code for different protein isoforms) may be responsible for the phenotype. We will express specific AS isoforms in mutant backgrounds to demonstrate the functionality of specific AS isoforms.

Summary

Genes are the repositories of hereditary information; proteins are the machines that carry out the functions of living cells. Gene expression usually refers to the process by which a gene gives rise to a protein. In eukaryotes, gene expression is complex and when such protein-coding genes are expressed, the DNA sequence is first copied into a precursor messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) by transcription. The pre-mRNA undergoes several processing steps to form the mature messenger RNAs (mRNAs) which direct synthesis of the corresponding protein (translation). In this project we focus on an extremely important RNA processing step called alternative splicing (AS). AS generates different mRNA transcripts from the same gene and thereby can modulate transcript and protein levels and functions. Plants experience continual changes in environmental conditions and have evolved systems to cope with stress-causing conditions and to survive the stress. In this project we are focussed on the response of plants (Arabidopsis) to low temperature and the role of temperature-dependent AS in the plant response to cold. The overall expression of a plant at any particular time is called the transcriptome and it the collection of all of the gene transcripts being expressed. It is determined by 1) transcription (turning genes on or off, up or down) and 2) AS (making >1 transcript from a gene). The high quality of our data allows networks of transcription and AS to be constructed. This will identify key factors which regulate transcriptional and AS responses and the re-programming of the transcriptome when plants are exposed to low temperatures. We will characterise such genes for their effect on sensitivity or tolerance to low temperature thereby identifying candidate genes for improving cold tolerance in crop species. In this research we will address five main objectives by exploiting our expertise in alternative splicing and circadian clock analyses. (1) In the dynamic transcript expression profiles that we have already obtained, we observe changes in the rhythmic expression/AS of many genes at low temperature, including genes that lose or gain rhythmicity. This suggests that the circadian clock may be involved in the regulation of these genes and by analysing the transcriptomes of plants grown at 20C and 4C we will identify those genes whose altered expression/AS is controlled by the clock. (2) We see some AS responses that occur very rapidly after the onset of cooling, suggesting activation of pre-existing splicing factors (SFs) rather than formation of new ones, with phosphorylation as a likely mechanism. We will investigate immediate/early AS and phosphorylation of SFs to identify candidate SFs that may be involved in these rapid responses to cooling. (3) A major part of the research will be the characterisation of novel cold response genes which show significant AS changes in response to low temperature. Mutant, over-expression and complementation lines will be assessed for cold sensitivity/tolerance and acclimation. (4) We are now able to generate high resolution data enabling us to build transcription and splicing factor networks and identify and validate key SFs (and transcription factors) that regulate cold-induced AS. The data also gives the opportunity to integrate transcription and AS networks providing a much better understanding to how the transcriptome is dynamically altered. (5) For future network modelling, knowledge of RNA-binding sites of SFs is essential. We will characterise the RNA-binding sites of key SFs identified here as a first step to developing a splicing code.

Impact Summary

The impact of this work will be the novel information on how gene expression is reprogrammed at the transcript, gene and network levels and how to apply the current technologies to perform such analyses in different plant and crop species. These approaches can be used by plant scientists examining gene function and gene expression of development, responses to external stimuli, metabolic pathways, biotechnology approaches, plant breeding etc. In particular, the approaches will benefit many areas of crop genomics and biology but translation to crops requires an understanding of the potential and action to focus on generation of the transcriptomic resources. As such the main beneficiaries and users are the research sector, both academic and industrial. The main challenge to maximising impact is to raise awareness of its potential and utility with the people who are most likely to use it and benefit their research. This needs to be done in a timely fashion so that other researchers can plan and design RNA-seq experiments with the goal of analysing data using comprehensive RTDs and the best available programmes to quantify transcript levels and establish network models. The main Impact Objectives are to: - Publicise the value of transcript-specific expression and understanding the dynamic transcriptome - Encourage the development of RTDs for other plant/crop species. - Engage with crop scientists and industry To achieve these objectives: 1) The PIs/Co-Is will ensure community awareness by contacting research groups in the plant community with details of the project and how it will benefit them 2) The PIs/Co-Is will present regular updates of progress at national and international conferences and meetings on plant biology and genomics such as SEB, ICAR conferences etc as well as through more focussed meetings on RNA splicing, gene networks and the circadian clock. The PIs/Co-Is will also present their findings at invited seminars. 4) The PI/Co-Is will develop astrategy for interacting with crop scientists developing genomics approaches and engaging with industry. 5) Tools and resources for RNA-seq and network analysis will be released on the most appropriate websites for rapid uptake; a "cold" expression website will be established where users can examine expression profiles of their gene of interest in our time-course series. 6) Results will be published in timely fashion. 6) Public engagement activities. 7) Training and mentoring of the PDRAs.

Committee	Research Committee B (Plants, microbes, food & sustainability)
Research Topics	Plant Science
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

Associated awards:

BB/P006868/1 Dynamic re-programming of the cold transcriptome in Arabidopsis

BB/P009751/1 Dynamic re-programming of the cold transcriptome in Arabidopsis

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