Natural variation in cross-talk between glucosinolates and onset of flowering in Arabidopsis

Abstract

Naturally variable regulatory networks control different biological processes including reproduction and defense. This variation within regulatory networks enables plants to optimize defense and reproduction in different environments. In this study we investigate the ability of two enzyme-encoding genes in the glucosinolate pathway, AOP2 and AOP3, to affect glucosinolate accumulation and flowering time. We have introduced the two highly similar enzymes into two different AOPnull accessions, Col-0 and Cph-0, and found that the genes differ in their ability to affect glucosinolate levels and flowering time across the accessions. This indicated that the different glucosinolates produced by AOP2 and AOP3 serve specific regulatory roles in controlling these phenotypes. While the changes in glucosinolate levels were similar in both accessions, the effect on flowering time was dependent on the genetic background pointing to natural variation in cross-talk between defense chemistry and onset of flowering. This variation likely reflects an adaptation to survival in different environments.

An RNA-Seq Bioinformatics Pipeline for Data Processing of Arabidopsis Thaliana Datasets

“…This supports the hypothesis that the gene 525 should be highly expressed during the flowering transition phase. Similarly, CDKB1;1 has also 526 been found to be highly expressed in shoot meristem in A. thaliana (Skylar, leads to production of C3 glucosinolates (Jensen et al, 2015). Results from the PPI network 537 analysis clearly show that MAM1 regulates several other genes in glucosinolates and displays a 538 high expression profile correlation of 0.75 to FLC which supports the hypothesis of glucosinolate 539 production and protection during flowering phase.…”

“…Results from the PPI network 537 analysis clearly show that MAM1 regulates several other genes in glucosinolates and displays a 538 high expression profile correlation of 0.75 to FLC which supports the hypothesis of glucosinolate 539 production and protection during flowering phase. Glucosinolates are sulphur and nitrogen-rich 540 chemical compounds in plants that provide defense against pathogens and herbivores by forming 541 a toxic compound upon herbivore attack when the cell wall is ruptured (Jensen et al, 2015;542 Mohammadin et al, 2017). Glucosinolates play a crucial role in flowering time regulation during 543 transition from vegetative to reproductive phase and also provide protection from herbivores and 544 pathogens for the plant's vegetative and generative tissues during the transition phase.…”

AraQTL – workbench and archive for systems genetics in Arabidopsis thaliana

“…If the same eQTL is found for several genes, a so‐called ‘hot‐spot’, this locus is likely to harbour a master regulator (Breitling et al ., ). Additionally, as the differences in gene expression underlie many phenotypic and physiological differences between genotypes, QTLs can be shared between genes and other quantitative traits (Fu et al ., ; van Zanten et al ., ; Burow et al ., ; Kerwin et al ., , ; Joosen et al ., ; He et al ., ; Jimenez‐Gomez, ; Jensen et al ., ,b). Moreover when gene expression is measured in multiple populations, plant stages, tissues or environments, the variation in these traits can be placed in a gene‐by‐environment context.…”

From species to trait evolution in Aethionema (Brassicaceae)

“…arabicum likely indicates a link between GS biosynthesis and development. Jensen et al (2015) showed that the introduction of the GS-AOP genes in AOP-0 lines does not change the GS levels, but influences flowering time. This effect depended on the genetic background and could vary between an increase and decrease of flowering time (Jensen et al 2015).…”

“…Hence, shifts between plant development and plant defence traits can be critical to plant fitness. Jensen et al (2015) found a link between the GS pathway and the flowering-time. They incorporated the aliphatic side-chain modifiers, GS-AOP genes, in a AOP-0 background and found that they changed the flowering time of A. thaliana.…”