title: Comparative analyses reveal potential uses of Brachypodium distachyon as a model for cold stress responses in temperate grasses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about the potential of Brachypodium distachyon as a model for low temperature stress responses in Pooideae. The ice recrystallization inhibition protein (IRIP) genes, fructosyltransferase (FST) genes, and many C-repeat binding factor (CBF) genes are Pooideae specific and important in low temperature responses. Here we used comparative analyses to study conservation and evolution of these gene families in B. distachyon to better understand its potential as a model species for agriculturally important temperate grasses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Brachypodium distachyon contains cold responsive IRIP genes which have evolved through Brachypodium specific gene family expansions. A large cold responsive CBF3 subfamily was identified in B. distachyon, while CBF4 homologs are absent from the genome. No B. distachyon FST gene homologs encode typical core Pooideae FST-motifs and low temperature induced fructan accumulation was dramatically different in B. distachyon compared to core Pooideae species.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that B. distachyon can serve as an interesting model for specific molecular mechanisms involved in low temperature responses in core Pooideae species. However, the evolutionary history of key genes involved in low temperature responses has been different in Brachypodium and core Pooideae species. These differences limit the use of B. distachyon as a model for holistic studies relevant for agricultural core Pooideae species.
authors.affiliation: Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, China.
authors.forename: Chuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rudi
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Stockinger
authors.forename: Hongmei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Moju
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Samuel E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Todd C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Mockler
authors.forename: Bjørge
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Westereng
authors.forename: Siri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fjellheim
authors.forename: Odd Arne
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Rognli
authors.forename: Simen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Sandve
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D058431:Brachypodium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D003080:Cold Temperature; D058639:Cold-Shock Response; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005630:Fructans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017343:Genes, Plant; D008954:Models, Biological; D005810:Multigene Family; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010802:Phylogeny; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012621:Seasons; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D013045:Species Specificity; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D005630:Fructans; D010940:Plant Proteins