Diversification in the genetic architecture of gene expression and transcriptional networks in organ differentiation of Populus

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0914709107
• Publication Date: 2010-04-20T03:40:15Z
• Authors: Derek R. Drost; Catherine I. Bene...; Arthur Berg; Evandro Novaes; Carolina R. D. B....; Qibin Yu; Christopher Dervinis; Jessica M. Maia; John Yap; Brianna Miles; Matias Kirst
• Keywords: Plant Leaves; 0301 basic medicine; 03 medical and health sciences; Populus; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Xylem; Quantitative Trait Loci; Gene Regulatory Networks; Plant Roots; Genome-Wide Association Study

A fundamental goal of systems biology is to identify genetic elements that contribute complex phenotypes and understand how they interact in networks predictive system response variation. Few studies plants have developed such networks, none examined their conservation among functionally specialized organs. Here we used genetical genomics an interspecific hybrid population the model hardwood plant Populus uncover transcriptional xylem, leaves, roots. Pleiotropic eQTL hotspots were detected construct coexpression a posteriori, for which regulators predicted based on cis-acting expression regulation. Networks shown be enriched groups genes function biologically coherent processes promoter motifs with known roles regulating common genes. When contrasted roots, frequently conserved composition, but almost invariably regulated by different loci. Similarly, architecture gene regulation highly diversified organs, less than one-third two organs being same locus. However, colocalization position increases 50% when are all three suggesting ubiquitous expression. Genes primarily cis (approximately 92%), whereas only one organ largely trans regulated. Trans-acting may therefore primary driver differentiation between