title: Gene Expression Analysis of Pak Choi in Response to Vernalization.
abstract: Pak choi is a seed vernalization-type plant whose vernalization mechanism is currently unclear. Therefore, it is critical to discover genes related to vernalization and research its functions during vernalization in pak choi. Here, the gene expression profiles in the shoot apex were analyzed after low temperature treatment using high-throughput RNA sequencing technology. The results showed that there are 1,664 and 1,192 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in pak choi in cold treatment ending and before flower bud differentiation, respectively, including 42 genes that exhibited similar expression trend at both stages. Detailed annotation revealed that the proteins encoded by the DEGs are located in the extracellular region, cell junction and extracellular matrix. These proteins exhibit activity such as antioxidant activity and binding protein/transcription factor activity, and they are involved in signal transduction and the immune system/biological processes. Among the DEGs, Bra014527 was up-regulated in low temperature treatment ending, Bra024097 was up-regulated before flower bud differentiation and Bra035940 was down-regulated at both stages in low temperature-treated shoot apices. Homologues of these genes in A. thaliana, AT3G59790, AT4G30200 and AT5G61150, are involved in flowering and vernalization, suggesting that they take part in the vernalization process in pak choi. Further pathway enrichment analysis revealed that most genes were enriched in the tryptophan metabolism and glucosinolate biosynthesis pathways. However, the functions of tryptophan and glucosinolate in vernalization are not yet clear and require further analysis.
authors.affiliation: College of Horticulture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China.
authors.forename: Mengxia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: College of Horticulture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China.
authors.forename: Xianhui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: College of Horticulture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China.
authors.forename: Leiping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: College of Horticulture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Quality Improvement of Agricultural Products of Zhejiang Province/College of Agricultural and Food Science, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Zhujun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: College of Horticulture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China.
authors.forename: Meilan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D029741:Brassica rapa / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism / Q000235:genetics; D003080:Cold Temperature; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D035264:Flowers / Q000254:growth & development; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D015723:Gene Library; D017343:Genes, Plant; D005961:Glucosinolates / Q000378:metabolism; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways / Q000235:genetics; D058977:Molecular Sequence Annotation; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000378:metabolism; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013045:Species Specificity; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D018744:DNA, Plant; D005961:Glucosinolates; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014364:Tryptophan