Structure and expression of dna methyltransferase genes from apomictic and sexual Boechera species


Taskin K. M., ÖZBİLEN A., SEZER F., HURKAN K., GUNES S.

COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY, vol.67, pp.15-21, 2017 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 67
  • Publication Date: 2017
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2016.12.002
  • Journal Name: COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.15-21
  • Keywords: DNA methylation, DNA methyltransferases, Boechera, Apomixis, Seed development, AUTONOMOUS ENDOSPERM DEVELOPMENT, REPRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT, POLYCOMB GENE, METHYLATION, APOMIXIS, ARABIDOPSIS, MET1, MAINTENANCE, HOLBOELLII, MEDEA
  • Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

In this study, we determined the structure of DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) genes in apomict and sexual Boechera species and investigated the expression levels during seed development. Protein and DNA sequences of diploid sexual Boechera stricta DNMT genes obtained from Phytozome 10.3 were used to identify the homologues in apomicts, Boechera holboellii and Boechera divaricaipa. Geneious R8 software was used to map the short -paired reads library of B. holboellii whole genome or B. divaricarpa transcriptome reads to the reference gene sequences. We determined three DNMT genes; for Boechera spp. METHYLTRANSFERASEI (MET I), CHROMOMETHYLASE 3 (CMT3) and DOMAINS REARRANGED METHYLTRANSFERASE 1/2 (DRM2). We examined the structure of these genes with bioinformatic tools and compared with other DNMT genes in plants. We also examined the levels of expression in silique tissues after fertilization by semi -quantitative PCR. The structure of DNMT proteins in apomict and sexual Boechera species share common features. However, the expression levels of DNMTgenes were different in apomict and sexual Boechera species. We found that DRM2 was upregulated in apomicticBoechera species after fertilization, Phylogenetic trees showed that three genes are conserved among green algae, monocotyledons and dicotyledons. Our results indicated a deregulation of DNA methylation machinery during seed development in apomicts. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.