Skip to main content
bioRxiv
  • Home
  • About
  • Submit
  • ALERTS / RSS
Advanced Search
New Results

Evidence for a unique DNA-dependent RNA polymerase in cereal crops

View ORCID ProfileJoshua T. Trujillo, View ORCID ProfileArun S. Seetharam, View ORCID ProfileMatthew B. Hufford, View ORCID ProfileMark A. Beilstein, View ORCID ProfileRebecca A. Mosher
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/272708
Joshua T. Trujillo
1Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Joshua T. Trujillo
Arun S. Seetharam
2Genome Informatics Facility, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Arun S. Seetharam
Matthew B. Hufford
3Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Matthew B. Hufford
Mark A. Beilstein
1Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
4The School of Plant Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Mark A. Beilstein
Rebecca A. Mosher
1Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
4The School of Plant Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Rebecca A. Mosher
  • For correspondence: rmosher@email.arizona.edu
  • Abstract
  • Full Text
  • Info/History
  • Metrics
  • Supplementary material
  • Preview PDF
Loading

Abstract

Gene duplication is an important driver for the evolution of new genes and protein functions. Duplication of DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (Pol) II subunits within plants led to the emergence of RNA Pol IV and V complexes, each of which possess unique functions necessary for RNA-directed DNA Methylation. Comprehensive identification of Pol V subunit orthologs across the monocot radiation revealed a duplication of the largest two subunits within the grasses (Poaceae), including critical cereal crops. These paralogous Pol subunits display sequence conservation within catalytic domains, but their carboxy terminal domains differ in length and character of the Ago-binding platform, suggesting unique functional interactions. Phylogenetic analysis of the catalytic region indicates positive selection on one paralog following duplication, consistent with retention via neofunctionalization. Positive selection on residue pairs that are predicted to interact between subunits suggests that paralogous subunits have evolved specific assembly partners. Additional Pol subunits as well as Pol-interacting proteins also possess grass-specific paralogs, supporting the hypothesis that a novel Pol complex with distinct function has evolved in the grass family, Poaceae.

Figure
  • Download figure
  • Open in new tab
Graphical Abstract

Significance statement The grass family is critically important for humans, as this group contains cereal grains such as rice, wheat, and corn that form the bulk of the human diet. Here we provide evidence that grasses have evolved a unique polymerase complex of unknown function, suggesting a novel mechanism of gene regulation in the grass lineage. In addition to implications for the biology of grasses, this system offers an opportunity to understand how evolution shapes multi-subunit complexes through duplication of individual components.

Copyright 
The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under a CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.
Back to top
PreviousNext
Posted February 28, 2018.
Download PDF

Supplementary Material

Email

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word about bioRxiv.

NOTE: Your email address is requested solely to identify you as the sender of this article.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Evidence for a unique DNA-dependent RNA polymerase in cereal crops
(Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from bioRxiv
(Your Name) thought you would like to see this page from the bioRxiv website.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Share
Evidence for a unique DNA-dependent RNA polymerase in cereal crops
Joshua T. Trujillo, Arun S. Seetharam, Matthew B. Hufford, Mark A. Beilstein, Rebecca A. Mosher
bioRxiv 272708; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/272708
Reddit logo Twitter logo Facebook logo LinkedIn logo Mendeley logo
Citation Tools
Evidence for a unique DNA-dependent RNA polymerase in cereal crops
Joshua T. Trujillo, Arun S. Seetharam, Matthew B. Hufford, Mark A. Beilstein, Rebecca A. Mosher
bioRxiv 272708; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/272708

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Subject Area

  • Plant Biology
Subject Areas
All Articles
  • Animal Behavior and Cognition (4399)
  • Biochemistry (9634)
  • Bioengineering (7127)
  • Bioinformatics (24958)
  • Biophysics (12676)
  • Cancer Biology (10002)
  • Cell Biology (14406)
  • Clinical Trials (138)
  • Developmental Biology (7991)
  • Ecology (12151)
  • Epidemiology (2067)
  • Evolutionary Biology (16029)
  • Genetics (10955)
  • Genomics (14782)
  • Immunology (9911)
  • Microbiology (23748)
  • Molecular Biology (9514)
  • Neuroscience (51100)
  • Paleontology (370)
  • Pathology (1545)
  • Pharmacology and Toxicology (2694)
  • Physiology (4038)
  • Plant Biology (8700)
  • Scientific Communication and Education (1512)
  • Synthetic Biology (2406)
  • Systems Biology (6461)
  • Zoology (1350)