title: Transcriptomic basis of functional difference and coordination between seeds and the silique wall of Brassica napus during the seed-filling stage.
abstract: The silique of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) is a composite organ including seeds and the silique wall (SW) that possesses distinctly physiological, biochemical and functional differentiations. Yet, the molecular events controlling such differences between the SW and seeds, as well as their coordination during silique development at transcriptional level are largely unknown. Here, we identified large sets of differentially expressed genes in the SW and seeds of siliques at 21-22 days after flowering with a Brassica 95K EST microarray. At this particular stage, there were 3278 SW preferentially expressed genes and 2425 seed preferentially expressed genes. Using the MapMan visualization software, genes differentially regulated in various metabolic pathways and sub-pathways between the SW and seeds were revealed. Photosynthesis and transport-related genes were more actively transcripted in the SW, while those involved in lipid metabolism were more active in seeds during the seed filling stage. On the other hand, genes involved in secondary metabolisms were selectively regulated in the SW and seeds. Large numbers of transcription factors were identified to be differentially expressed between the SW and seeds, suggesting a complex pattern of transcriptional control in these two organs. Furthermore, most genes discussed in categories or pathways showed a similar expression pattern through 21 DAF to 42 DAF. Our results thus provide insights into the coordination of seeds and the SW in the developing silique at the transcriptional levels, which will facilitate the functional studies of important genes for improving B. napus seed productivity and quality.
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors.forename: Qingyong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China. Electronic address: fanchuchuan@mail.hzau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Chuchuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoqin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
authors.forename: Xuemin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China. Electronic address: ymzhou@mail.hzau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yongming
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D029688:Brassica napus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000254:growth & development*; D059467:Transcriptome
chemical_list: D010940:Plant Proteins
keywords: Brassica napus; Gene expression; Photosynthesis; Seeds; Silique walls; Transport