Transcriptomics analysis of hulless barley during grain development with a focus on starch biosynthesis

Yawei Tang,Hongjun Yuan,Yulin Wang,Qijun Xu,Lijun Bai,Xingquan Zeng,Tashi Nyima,Zexiu Wei

doi:10.1007/s10142-016-0537-5

Yawei Tang, Hongjun Yuan + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10142-016-0537-5

Copy DOI

Abstract

Hulless barley, with its unique nutritional value and potential health benefits, has increasingly attracted attentions in recent years. However, the transcription dynamics during hulless barley grain development is not well understood. In the present study, we investigated the transcriptome changes during barley grain development using Illumina paired-end RNA-sequencing. Two datasets of the developing grain transcriptomes from two barley landraces with the differential seed starch synthesis traits were generated, and comparative transcriptome approach in both genotypes was performed. The results showed that 38 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found co-modulated in both genotypes during the barley grain development. Of those, the proteins encoded by most of those DGEs were found, such as alpha-amylase-related proteins, lipid-transfer protein, homeodomain leucine zipper (HD-Zip), NUCLEAR FACTOR-Y, subunit B (NF-YBs), as well as MYB transcription factors. More interestingly, two genes Hvulgare_GLEAN_10012370 and Hvulgare_GLEAN_10021199 encoding SuSy, AGPase (Hvulgare_GLEAN_10033640 and Hvulgare_GLEAN_10056301), as well as SBE2b (Hvulgare_GLEAN_10018352) were found to significantly contribute to the regulatory mechanism during grain development in both genotypes. Moreover, six co-expression modules associated with specific biological processes or pathways (M1 to M6) were identified by consensus co-expression network. Significantly enriched pathways of those module genes showed difference in both genotypes. These results will expand our understanding of the complex molecular mechanism of starch synthesis during barley grain development.

Highlights

Seed starch, as a primary source of carbohydrate for the human and animal diet, is the major storage compound accumulated in the cereal endosperm and has been applied in numerous industrial
To develop the better hulless barley cultivars with desirable dietary characteristics, it is significantly necessary to the exploitation of hulless barley germplasm resources and to reveal the molecular mechanism of grain development in hulless barley, especially seed starch biosynthesis (Akpinar et al 2015)
103 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 93 DEGs with great alteration were identified associated with dynamics hulless barley grain development in Zangqing 2000 (Q) and 08-1127 (C2), respectively

Summary

Introduction

As a primary source of carbohydrate for the human and animal diet, is the major storage compound accumulated in the cereal endosperm and has been applied in numerous industrial. Recent data has highlighted a number of transcription factors that are involved in the process of seed development, including B3, MYB, bHLH, and AP2 (Sreenivasulu and Wobus 2013). Several studies have provided evidence of the concerted action of a complex regulatory network triggering the seed development process (Gutierrez et al 2007, Weber et al 2005) In recent years, these mechanisms have been widely studied in the model plants M. truncatula (Benedito et al 2008, Gallardo et al 2007) and soybean (Dhaubhadel et al 2007, Jones and Vodkin 2013, Severin et al 2010). There has been limited research regarding gene expression patterns related to starch biosynthesis during barley grain development

Methods

Results

Conclusion