title: Gene expression plasticity resulting from parental leaf damage in Mimulus guttatus.
abstract: Leaf trichome density in Mimulus guttatus can be altered by the parental environment. In this study, we compared global gene expression patterns in progeny of damaged and control plants. Significant differences in gene expression probably explain the observed trichome response, and identify additional responsive pathways. Using whole transcriptome RNA sequencing, we estimated differential gene expression between isogenic seedlings whose parents had, or had not, been subject to leaf damage. We identified over 900 genes that were differentially expressed in response to parental wounding. These genes clustered into groups involved in cell wall and cell membrane development, stress response pathways, and secondary metabolism. Gene expression is modified as a consequence of the parental environment in a targeted way that probably alters multiple developmental pathways, and may increase progeny fitness if they experience environments similar to that of their parents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA.
authors.forename: Jack M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Colicchio
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Monnahan
authors.forename: John K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Lena C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Hileman
mesh_terms: D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D063990:Gene Ontology; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000235:genetics; D032241:Mimulus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D036226:Seedlings / Q000235:genetics
keywords: Mimulus guttatus; RNA-seq; epigenetics; plant stress response; transcriptome; transgenerational plasticity; trichomes