Abstract
An important challenge of crop improvement strategies is assigning function to paralogs in polyploid crops. Here, we describe the circadian transcriptome in the polyploid crop Brassica rapa. Strikingly, almost three quarters of expressed genes exhibited circadian rhythmicity. Genetic redundancy resulting from whole genome duplication is thought to facilitate evolutionary change through sub-and neo-functionalization among paralogous gene pairs. We observed genome-wide expansion of circadian expression phase among retained paralogous pairs. Using gene regulatory network models, we compared transcription factor targets between B. rapa and Arabidopsis circadian networks to reveal evidence for divergence between B. rapa paralogs that may be driven in part by variation in conserved non-coding sequences (CNS). Additionally, differential drought response among retained paralogous pairs suggests further functional diversification. These findings support the rapid expansion and divergence of the transcriptional network in a polyploid crop and offer a new approach for assessing paralog activity at the transcript level.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | e58993 |
Pages (from-to) | 1-68 |
Number of pages | 68 |
Journal | eLife |
Volume | 9 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 2020 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:We thank three anonymous reviewers for their helpful suggestions. This work was supported by National Science Foundation grants IOS-1202779 to KG, IOS-1711662 to RCS, IOS-1547796 to CRM, and by the Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea Next Generation BioGreen 21, grant number SSAC PJ01327306 to CRM.
Funding Information:
Arabidopsis-like TF ortholog was supported by the presence of conserved noncoding sequences
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, eLife Sciences Publications Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords
- Circadian clock
- Diversification
- Gene regulatory network
- Polyploidy
- Transcriptome