title: Temporal patterns of gene expression in developing maize endosperm identified through transcriptome sequencing.
abstract: Endosperm is a filial structure resulting from a second fertilization event in angiosperms. As an absorptive storage organ, endosperm plays an essential role in support of embryo development and seedling germination. The accumulation of carbohydrate and protein storage products in cereal endosperm provides humanity with a major portion of its food, feed, and renewable resources. Little is known regarding the regulatory gene networks controlling endosperm proliferation and differentiation. As a first step toward understanding these networks, we profiled all mRNAs in the maize kernel and endosperm at eight successive stages during the first 12 d after pollination. Analysis of these gene sets identified temporal programs of gene expression, including hundreds of transcription-factor genes. We found a close correlation of the sequentially expressed gene sets with distinct cellular and metabolic programs in distinct compartments of the developing endosperm. The results constitute a preliminary atlas of spatiotemporal patterns of endosperm gene expression in support of future efforts for understanding the underlying mechanisms that control seed yield and quality.
authors.affiliation: School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721;
authors.forename: Guosheng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721;
authors.forename: Dongfang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721;
authors.forename: Ruolin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112;
authors.forename: Kyle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Logan
authors.affiliation: School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721;
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721;
authors.forename: Shanshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721;
authors.forename: Megan I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Skaggs
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112;
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112;
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Burnett
authors.affiliation: School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721;
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Laurie
authors.affiliation: School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721;
authors.forename: Brenda G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI 48859; and.
authors.forename: Joanne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dannenhoffer
authors.affiliation: School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721;School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588 blarkins2@unl.edu xwang1@cals.arizona.edu yadegari@email.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: Brian A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Larkins
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112;
authors.forename: Gary N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Drews
authors.affiliation: School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721; blarkins2@unl.edu xwang1@cals.arizona.edu yadegari@email.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: Xiangfeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Plant Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721; blarkins2@unl.edu xwang1@cals.arizona.edu yadegari@email.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: Ramin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yadegari
mesh_terms: D019295:Computational Biology; D056625:Endosperm / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017423:Sequence Analysis, RNA; D013997:Time Factors; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
keywords: mRNA localization; time series