Cis-regulatory diversity and adaptive divergence in the Arabidopsis genus
Project code: ME 2742/3-1
Phenotypic changes are inherently resulting from changes in the dynamics of genetic networks. Understanding how networks change is crucial for elucidating the micro-evolutionary processes governing phenotypic evolution and genetic adaptation. Here, we propose to draw the distribution of cis-regulatory differences arisen since divergence of the two sister-species A. halleri and A. lyrata in various environmental conditions reflecting the ecological differences between these species. The experimental design allows examining whether selection has shaped changes in specific portions of a regulatory network since speciation. We will analyse cis-regulatory divergence in response to drought, cold and heavy-metal. To identify the mutational sources of cis-regulatory differences, we will characterize the distribution of selected epigenetic marks in each species. Predictions will subsequently be tested by monitoring the effect of specific networks on plant performance in ecologically relevant conditions.
Publications related to the project
- Falke KC, Glander S, He F, Hu JY, de Meaux J, Schmitz G. (2013) The spectrum of mutations controlling complex traits and the genetics of fitness in plants. Curr Opin Genet Dev. 2013 Dec;23(6):665-71.
- Dong X, Reimer J, Göbel U, Engelhorn J, He F, Schoof H and Turck F. (2012) Natural variation of H3K27me3 distribution between two Arabidopsis accessions and its association with flanking transposable elements. Genome Biol. 2012 Dec 19;13(12):R117. [Epub ahead of print]
- de Meaux J, Pecinka A. (2012) The Arabidopsis genus: An emerging model to elucidate the molecular basis of interspecific differences in transposable element activity. Mob Genet Elements. 2012 May 1;2(3):142-144.
- **He F, Zhang X, Hu J, Turck F, Dong X, Goebel U, Borevitz J, de Meaux J. (2012) Genome-wide analysis of cis-regulatory divergence between species in the Arabidopsis genus. Mol Biol Evol. 2012 Nov;29(11):3385-95.
- Vetter MM, Kronholm I, He F, Häweker H, Reymond M, Bergelson J, Robatzek S, de Meaux J. (2012) Flagellin perception varies quantitatively in Arabidopsis thaliana and its relatives. Mol Biol Evol. 2012 Jun;29(6):1655-67.
- He F, Zhang X, Hu JY, Turck F, Dong X, Goebel U, Borevitz JO, de Meaux J. (2012) Widespread interspecific divergence in cis-regulation of transposable elements in the Arabidopsis genus. Mol Biol Evol. 2012 Mar;29(3):1081-91.
** Publication highlighted by peers in F1000.
