Genome duplication is an important speciation mechanism for all eukaryotes, especially animals and plants. On one hand, genome duplication provides additional genetic material for adaptive evolution and natural variation; on the other, genome duplication results in chromosome imbalance and intrinsic instability of polyploids and aneuploids. Moreover, increased gene and genome dosage may cause abnormal cell cycle control and disease syndromes. Thus, to take advantage of novel variation and fitness but avoid deleterious effects, polyploid cells must establish a new relationship between alien cytoplasm and nuclei and reprogram expression patterns of orthologous and paralogous genes derived from their progenitors. Some duplicate genes must be silenced, whereas others may be instantly expressed or spatially and temporally regulated. Indeed, our recent studies indicate that genetic and epigenetic regulation is involved in reprogramming genome stability and gene expression in polyploids. Here we test hypotheses concerning fundamental biological and genetic consequences of genome duplication. We will determine how genome stability is maintained in newly formed polyploids. We will test if gene activation and silencing is stable or stochastic in natural and new polyploids. Changes in chromatin and DNA methylation status of candidate genes will be monitored when the silenced genes are reactivated. The hypothesis that orthologous genes are controlled independently of chromosomal location will be tested by determining if transgenes at ectopic locations are silenced. By silencing active orthologous genes, we will determine if silencing decisions are randomly made. We will test if RNA interference is involved in silencing endogenous redundant genes as it is in silencing transgenes and developmentally regulated genes. Furthermore, we will explore the role of alien cytoplasmic and nuclear compatibility in the evolutionary success of polyploids. Elucidating the molecular basis of genome stability and gene expression in recent and established polyploids will provide fundamental knowledge needed to understand mechanisms for natural variation and epigenetic phenomena important in medicine, such as X-chromosome inactivation, gametic imprinting, and disease syndromes.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01GM067015-06
Application #
7320657
Study Section
Genetics Study Section (GEN)
Program Officer
Carter, Anthony D
Project Start
2003-08-01
Project End
2010-11-30
Budget Start
2007-12-01
Budget End
2010-11-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2008
Total Cost
$238,941
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas Austin
Department
Biology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
170230239
City
Austin
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
78712
Song, Qingxin; Chen, Z Jeffrey (2015) Epigenetic and developmental regulation in plant polyploids. Curr Opin Plant Biol 24:101-9
Chen, Z Jeffrey (2013) Genomic and epigenetic insights into the molecular bases of heterosis. Nat Rev Genet 14:471-82
Kim, Eun-Deok; Chen, Z Jeffery (2011) Unstable transcripts in Arabidopsis allotetraploids are associated with nonadditive gene expression in response to abiotic and biotic stresses. PLoS One 6:e24251
Mayfield, Dustin; Chen, Z Jeffrey; Pires, J Chris (2011) Epigenetic regulation of flowering time in polyploids. Curr Opin Plant Biol 14:174-8
Ha, Misook; Ng, Danny W-K; Li, Wen-Hsiung et al. (2011) Coordinated histone modifications are associated with gene expression variation within and between species. Genome Res 21:590-8
Lackey, Erika; Ng, Danny W-K; Chen, Z Jeffrey (2010) RNAi-mediated down-regulation of DCL1 and AGO1 induces developmental changes in resynthesized Arabidopsis allotetraploids. New Phytol 186:207-15
Jackson, Scott; Chen, Z Jeffrey (2010) Genomic and expression plasticity of polyploidy. Curr Opin Plant Biol 13:153-9
Chen, Z Jeffrey (2010) Molecular mechanisms of polyploidy and hybrid vigor. Trends Plant Sci 15:57-71
Ha, Misook; Kim, Eun-Deok; Chen, Z Jeffrey (2009) Duplicate genes increase expression diversity in closely related species and allopolyploids. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 106:2295-300
Ni, Zhongfu; Kim, Eun-Deok; Ha, Misook et al. (2009) Altered circadian rhythms regulate growth vigour in hybrids and allopolyploids. Nature 457:327-31

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