Construction of male and female PAC genomic libraries suitable for identification of Y-chromosome-specific clones from the liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha

Unlike higher plants, the dioecious liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha, has uniquely small sex chromosomes, with X chromosomes present only in female gametophytes and Y chromosomes only in male gametophytes. We have constructed respective genomic libraries for male and female plantlets using a P1-derived artificial chromosome (pCYPAC2). With an average insert size of approximately 90 kb, each PAC library is estimated to cover the entire genome with a probability of more than 99.9%. Male-specific PAC clones were screened for by differential hybridization using male and female genomic DNAs as separate probes. Seventy male-specific PAC clones were identified. The male specificity of one of the clones, pMM4G7, was verified by Southern hybridization and PCR analysis. This clone was indeed located on the Y chromosome as verified by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). This result shows that the Y chromosome contains unique sequences that are not present either on the X chromosome or any of the autosomes. Thus, the respective male and female libraries for M. polymorpha offer an opportunity to identify key genes involved in the process of sex differentiation and this unique system of sex determination.     

Migration of prospindle before the first asymmetric division in germinating spore of Marchantia polymorpha

The development of the plant body starts with spore germination in bryophytes. In many cases, the first division of the spore occurs after germination and cell elongation of the spore. In Marchantia polymorpha, asymmetric division occurs upon spore germination to generate two daughter cells: the larger one retains the ability to divide and develops into the thallus via sporeling or protonema, while the smaller one maintains tip growth and differentiates into the first rhizoid, providing a scaffold for initial development. Although spore germination of M. polymorpha was described in the 19th century, the intracellular processes of the first asymmetric division of the spore have not been well characterized. In this study, we used live-cell imaging analyses to elucidate microtubule dynamics during the first asymmetric division concomitantly with germination. In particular, we demonstrated that the preprophase band was not formed in the spore and that the bipolar prospindle, which is a microtubule structure surrounding the nucleus during prophase, migrated from the center to the periphery in the spore, suggesting that it was the earliest visible sign of cell polarity. We also showed that the occurrence of asymmetric division depended on actin filaments. Our findings regarding the first division of the spore in M. polymorpha will lead to a better model for cell-autonomous asymmetric division in plants.     

Production of the macrocyclic bis-bibenzyls in axenically farmed and wild liverwort Marchantia polymorpha L. subsp. ruderalis Bischl. et Boisselier

Over 60 macrocyclic bis-bibenzyls have been isolated from hepatics. They possess various biological activities such as antimicrobial, antifungal, muscle relaxant and antitumor activities, as well as inhibitory activity against DNA polymerase β and HIV. To explore the feasibility of obtaining novel bis-bibenzyls through laboratory culture, in this study, we compare the qualitative and quantitative contents of axenically farmed and field-collected specimens of Marchantia polymorpha subsp. ruderalis (Mpr). We analyzed methanol extracts of Mpr by LC–MS, and confirmed the identity of isolable compounds by NMR. We found that extracts from natural populations of Mpr contained the known bis-bibenzyl marchantin A as a major component, while the minor components do not correspond to other known bis-bibenzyls. In contrast, the chromatograms of axenically farmed Mpr extracts were highly complex, containing numerous UV active compounds. The only similarity between natural and farmed populations of Mpr was the presence of marchantin A. In the farmed Mpr production of marchantin E, G and/or C, and dehydromarchantin A is suggested. Thus, the axenically farmed liverworts produce numerous metabolites not seen in natural populations, opening up the possibility of directing biosynthesis to either increase production of known compounds or generate new compounds through non-natural precursor feeding.     

地钱生殖托形态结构新观察及其对有性生殖的适应

用显微观察技术对苔类植物地钱（Marchantia polymorpha）生殖托的形态结构进行了研究,本研究的新观察包括：（1）生殖托具有明显的背腹分化,被认为是叶状体为适应有性生殖而高度特化的直立枝;（2）雌托盘的9～11个指状裂瓣中边缘两个稍不同,除了两个边缘裂瓣外的其他裂瓣间具雌苞。托柄具有背腹之分,雌托柄背面具光合组织,并向两侧扩展形成纵沟,雌托柄的腹面具2条被鳞片重叠覆盖相互平行的纵沟,内具假根;（3）与雌托柄不同,雄托柄外观平滑,背面无光合组织及纵沟。观察发现,伞状的雌托能滞留水分,并沿雌托柄的纵沟缓慢释放连续的水流,游动精子沿着纵沟内的水流到达雌托下面的颈卵器。上述观察表明地钱生殖托的结构是对有性生殖的一种适应,这有助于我们理解地钱受精作用的机理。     

Direct transformation and plant regeneration of the haploid liverwort Marchantia polymorpha L.

Thalli of the haploid liverwort Marchantia polymorpha were successfully used for direct particle bombardment with plasmid pMT, which carries a hygromycin phosphotransferase gene (hpt) controlled by the CaMV 35S promoter and the NOS polyadenylation region. Hygromycin-resistant cell masses arose from the thallus surface and developed directly into hygromycin-resistant thalli. Southern blot analyses indicated that these thalli carried at least 1–4 copies of the hpt gene, which were stably transmitted to their asexual thallus progenies via gemma propagation for three generations. This transformation and direct plant regeneration protocol is expected to be a valuable tool for the molecular analysis of this lower land plant.     

镉胁迫下地钱转录组的性别特异性响应机制

地钱(Marchantiapolymorpha)作为雌雄异株的苔纲植物,具有对重金属胁迫敏感的特性,且种群中雌雄比例差异较大,是研究重金属环境下植物性二态的理想对象之一。为探究雌雄地钱转录组对重金属镉的响应机制差异,利用高通量测序和加权基因共表达网络分析(WGCNA),鉴定了在镉胁迫条件下与不同性别地钱有关的模块和基因。结果表明,镉胁迫响应转录因子雌雄差异主要集中于bHLH、 ERF和MYB家族。关键差异响应基因包括MARPO＿0147s0038、MARPO＿1326s0001和MARPO＿0015s0058。差异响应通路雌性主要集中在信号转导通路,雄性则集中于类黄酮生物合成。研究结果有助于揭示雌雄异株地钱对镉胁迫的反应过程和响应机制,可为理解雌雄异株植物对重金属胁迫的性别特异性响应机制提供参考。     

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated disruption of ALLENE OXIDE SYNTHASE results in defective 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid accumulation and reduced defense against spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) in liverwort (Marchantia polymorpha)

Allene oxide synthase (AOS) is a key enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of 12-oxo-phytodienoic acid (OPDA) and jasmonic acid and plays an important role in plant defense against herbivore attacks. In the liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha, we previously identified cytosol-type MpAOS1 and chloroplast-type MpAOS2 that show AOS activities. However, there is no direct evidence to show the subcellular localization of MpAOSs and their contribution to plant defense via OPDA production in M. polymorpha. In this study, we generated M. polymorpha mutants, with the MpAOS1 and MpAOS2 genes disrupted via CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing; the loss of OPDA production was analyzed in double-knockout mutants. On AOS mutants, the survival rate and oviposition of spider mites (Tetranychus urticae) increased relative to those on wild-type plants. Overall, these findings suggest that defense systems via OPDA-signaling pathways in response to spider mites have been established in M. polymorpha.     

Asymmetric hydrolyses of 1,2- and 1,3-diacetoxycyclohexanes with the cultured suspension cells of Marchantia polymorpha

Very high enantioselectivities were observed in the hydrolysis of racemic 1,2- and 1,3-diacetoxycyclohexanes and their derivatives by cultured cells of Marchantia polymorpha in suspension. Asymmetry was also induced in the hydrolyses of meso-1,2- and 1,3-diacetates to the corresponding monoacetates. These findings indicate that these cultured cells hydrolyze the acetoxyl groups enantioselectively at the stereogenic center of R-configuration. Chirality 9:250–253, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Identification of a novel nifH-like (frxC) protein in chloroplasts of the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha

The frxC gene, one of the unidentified open reading frames present in liverwort chloroplast DNA, shows significant homology with the nifH genes coding for the Fe protein, a component of the nitrogenase complex (Ohyama et al., 1986, Nature 322: 572–574). A truncated form of the frxC gene was designed to be over-expressed in Escherichia coli and an antibody against this protein was prepared using the purified product as an antigen. This antibody reacted with a protein in the soluble fraction of liverwort chloroplasts, which had an apparent molecular weight of 31 000, as revealed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, in good agreement with a putative molecular weight of 31945 deduced from the DNA sequence of the frxC gene. In a competitive inhibition experiment, the antigenicity of this protein was indicated to be similar to that of the over-expressed protein in E. coli. Therefore, we concluded that the frxC gene was expressed in liverwort chloroplasts and that its product existed in a soluble form. The molecular weight of the frxC protein was approximately 67 000, as estimated by gel filtration chromatography, indicating that the frxC protein may exist as a dimer of two identical polypeptides analogous to the Fe protein of nitrogenase. The results obtained from affinity chromatography supported the possibility that the frxC protein, which possesses a ATP-binding sequence in its N-terminal region that is conserved among various other ATP-binding proteins, has the ability to bind ATP.     

Isolation of mitochondrial and plastid ftsZ genes and analysis of the organelle targeting sequence in the diatom Chaetoceros neogracile (Diatoms,Bacillariophyceae)

Mitochondria and plastids multiply by division in eukaryotic cells. Recently, the eukaryotic homolog of the bacterial cell division protein FtsZ was identified and shown to play an important role in the organelle division process inside the inner membrane. To explore the evolution of FtsZ proteins, and to accumulate data on the protein import system in mitochondria and plastids of the red algal lineage, one mitochondrial and three plastid ftsZ genes were isolated from the diatom Chaetoceros neogracile, whose plastids were acquired by secondary endosymbiotic uptake of a red alga. Protein import into organelles depends on the N‐terminal organelle targeting sequences. N‐terminal bipartite presequences consisting of an endoplasmic reticulum signal peptide and a plastid transit peptide are required for protein import into diatom plastids. To characterize the organelle targeting peptides of C. neogracile, we observed the localization of each green fluorescent protein‐tagged predicted organelle targeting peptide in cultured tobacco cells and diatom cells. Our data suggested that each targeting sequences functioned both in tobacco cultured cells and diatom cells.     

A uniquely high number of ftsZ genes in the moss Physcomitrella patens

Plant FtsZ proteins are encoded by two small nuclear gene families (FtsZ1 and FtsZ2) and are involved in chloroplast division. From the moss Physcomitrella patens , four FtsZ proteins, two in each nuclear gene family, have been characterised and described so far. In the recently sequenced P. patens genome, we have now found a fifth fts Z gene. This novel gene has a genomic structure similar to Pp fts Z1-1. According to phylogenetic analysis, the encoded protein is a member of the FtsZ1 family, while PpFtsZ1-2, together with an orthologue from Selaginella moellendorffii , forms a separate clade. Further, this new gene is expressed in different gametophytic tissues and the encoded protein forms filamentous networks in chloroplasts, is found in stromules, and acts in plastid division. Based on all these results, we have renamed the PpFtsZ proteins of family 1 and suggest the existence of a third FtsZ family. No species is known to encode more FtsZ proteins per haploid genome than P. patens .     

木薯ftsZ基因分离及在原核生物中功能初步鉴定

ftsZ基因是控制细胞分裂的关键基因,其蛋白能够在分裂位点形成一个环状结构而影响细胞分裂.为了研究木薯质体分裂与木薯淀粉品质形成的关系,根据木薯基因组数据库上的预测序列,设计引物,从木薯基因组中分离了与质体分裂相关的ftsZ家族3个新基因(ftsZ1,ftsZ2,ftsZ3).分别将它们与荧光蛋白基因(GFP)融合,构建了3个原核表达载体pET-fisZ1-GFP、pET-fisZ2-GFP、pET-fisZ3-GFP,并转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3).通过荧光显微镜观察菌体的表型和分裂,初步鉴定了木薯质体分裂相关基因ftsZ家族对细胞分裂的作用.结果显示:尽管木薯与大肠杆菌的亲缘关系较远,ftsZ基因的同源性较低,但是两者表现出相似的功能,木薯ftsZ基因的表达能严重影响大肠杆菌细胞分裂.这一结果为进一步研究木薯ftsZ家族基因的功能奠定了基础.     

Identification of plastid genotypes in Oenothera subsect. Munzia by restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs)

 Five discrete plastid genotypes (plastomes), designated I–V and typified by Oenothera Hookeri, biennis, Lamarckiana, parviflora and argillicola respectively, have been previously characterized within the European subsect. Euoenothera. The evolutionarily more-derived plastome types (I, II and V) are generally less tolerant of new hybridization events than the ancestral types (III and IV), and were first identified based on their incompatibility reactions with standard hybrid nuclei. Restriction maps for all five plastomes are available for the enzymes PvuII, SalI, KpnI and PstI (Gordon et al. 1982). The present study employs PvuII and KpnI restriction digests to compare 28 of the 45 species of subsect. Munzia with Euoenothera plastomes I–V. The results of plastome RFLP fingerprinting show uniform divergence of the South American taxa from their European congeners; all share the previously documented 45-kb inversion in the large single-copy region reported by Hachtel et al. (1991). However, at least six new plastome types have evolved within subsect. Munzia, giving rise to small-fragment size differences of 0.1–0.7 kb. In two of these cases (Oe. featherstonei and Oe. longiflora) unique fragments occurred. For Oe. featherstonei the unique KpnI fragment resulted from a novel 2.2 kb insertion, whereas in Oe. longiflora an additional PvuII restriction site has been created. Received: 2 June 1998 / Accepted: 14 July 1998     

Composition and physiological function of the chloroplast NADH dehydrogenase‐like complex in Marchantia polymorpha

The chloroplast NADH dehydrogenase‐like (NDH) complex mediates cyclic electron transport and chloro‐respiration and consists of five sub‐omplexes, which in angiosperms further associate with photosystem I (PSI) to form a super‐complex. In Marchantia polymorpha, 11 plastid‐encoded subunits and all the nuclear‐encoded subunits of the A, B, membrane and ferredoxin‐binding sub‐complexes are conserved. However, it is unlikely that the genome of this liverwort encodes Lhca5 and Lhca6, both of which mediate NDH–PSI super‐complex formation. It is also unlikely that the subunits of the lumen sub‐complex, PnsL1–L4, are encoded by the genome. Consistent with this in silico prediction, the results of blue‐native gel electrophoresis showed that NDH subunits were detected in a protein complex with lower molecular mass in Marchantia than the NDH–PSI super‐complex in Arabidopsis. Using the plastid transformation technique, we knocked out the ndhB gene in Marchantia. Although the wild‐type genome copies were completely segregated out, the ΔndhB lines grew like the wild‐type photoautotrophically. A post‐illumination transient increase in chlorophyll fluorescence, which reflects NDH activity in vivo in angiosperms, was absent in the thalli of the ΔndhB lines. In ruptured chloroplasts, antimycin A‐insensitive, and ferredoxin‐dependent plastoquinone reduction was impaired, suggesting that chloroplast NDH mediates similar electron transport in Marchantia and Arabidopsis, despite its possible difference in structure. As in angiosperms, linear electron transport was not strongly affected in the ΔndhB lines. However, the plastoquinone pool was slightly more reduced at low light intensity, suggesting that chloroplast NDH functions in redox balancing of the inter system, especially under low light conditions.     

Multiple gene control of plastome-genome incompatibility and plastid DNA inheritance in interspecific hybrids of Zantedeschia

From interspecific hybridisation in the genus Zantedeschia, we have previously produced albino, variegated and virescent hybrids. The inhibition of chloroplast development in these hybrids is due to plastome-genome incompatibility. The albino hybrids did not develop prolamellar bodies in their etioplasts in darkness and formed only distended membranes, but no grana in light. This indicates that the block to chloroplast development occurs before or during the development of etioplasts. In albino leaf sectors of variegated hybrids, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents were only 2–4% of those in green plants. The mRNA levels for five plastid-development-related genes were also severely reduced, but they were still readily detectable using Northern hybridisation techniques. In the green sectors of variegated hybrids, chlorophyll content and mRNA levels of the fives genes were slightly reduced. We have earlier shown that F₁ hybrids between Z. aethiopica and Z. odorata were albino when Z. odorata plastids were present but virescent when Z. aethiopica plastids were present. When the F₁ hybrids with Z. aethiopica plastids were backcrossed to Z. odorata, the progeny were albino, virescent or green. Z. odorata plastids were inherited only from maternal parents in the F₁ progenies but inherited from either maternal or paternal parents in the backcross. The increased compatibility with, and inheritance of Z. odorata plastids in the backcross suggests that multiple genes play a major role in the plastome-genome incompatibility. An increase in the number of genes from the parent contributing the plastids improves chloroplast development in the hybrids of the genus Zantedeschia. Received: 29 November 1999 / Accepted: 2 December 1999     

Two orthodenticle-related genes in the short-germ beetle Tribolium castaneum

 To investigate the molecular basis of head evolution, we searched for genes related to the Drosophila orthodenticle (otd) homeobox gene in the short-germ beetle Tribolium castaneum. Unexpectedly, we found that there are two otd-related genes in Tribolium, with predicted homeodomains highly similar to that of the single Drosophila gene. One of the two genes (Tc otd-1) is more related in both amino acid sequence and expression pattern to fruitfly otd. Tc otd-1 is expressed in a broad anterior stripe in the blastoderm embryo, suggesting a role in early head segmentation similar to that of the Drosophila gene. The second gene (Tc otd-2) is more similar in sequence to the otd-related genes isolated from different vertebrate species (the Otx gene family). Tc otd-2 is not transcribed in the blastoderm, but is expressed later in more limited subsets of cells in the anterior brain. Both Tribolium genes and the Drosophila gene are, unlike the vertebrate genes, also expressed at the developing ventral midline of the embryo. Our results are consistent with the idea that an otd/Otx gene specified anterior head structures in the last ancestor common to arthropods and vertebrates. Within the arthropod lineage, we propose that this gene acquired a function in cells at the developing midline prior to the duplication that generated the two Tribolium genes. Received: 16 February 1996 / Accepted: 1 March 1996 Edited by C. Desplan     

Identification of the sex-determining factor in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha reveals unique evolution of sex chromosomes in a haploid system

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Cytological evidence for preservation of mitochondrial and plastid DNA in the mature generative cells of Chlorophytum spp. (Liliaceae)

Summary.  Following 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining of mature pollen grains of Chlorophytum comosum, fluorescence microscopy confirmed that cytoplasmic nucleoids (DNA aggregates) were present in the generative cells, which indicated the possibility of biparental cytoplasmic inheritance. Electron and immuno-electron microscopy showed that both plastids and mitochondria were present in the generative cells, and both organelles contained DNA. These results indicate that mitochondria and plastids of C. comosum have the potential for biparental inheritance. Similar results were obtained with mature pollen grains of C. chinense. Therefore, we conclude the coincident biparental inheritance for mitochondria and plastids in the members of the genus Chlorophytum. Received June 28, 2002; accepted September 26, 2002; published online April 2, 2003 RID="*" ID="*" Correspondence and reprints: College of Life Science, Peking University, Bejing 100871, People's Republic of China.