title: Analysis of gene expression and histone modification between C4 and non-C4 homologous genes of PPDK and PCK in maize.
abstract: More efficient photosynthesis has allowed C4 plants to adapt to more diverse ecosystems (such as hot and arid conditions) than C3 plants. To better understand C4 photosynthesis, we investigated the expression patterns of C4 genes (C4PPDK and PCK1) and their non-C4 homologous genes (CyPPDK1, CyPPDK2, and PCK2) in the different organs of maize (Zea mays). Both C4 genes and non-C4 genes showed organ-dependent expression patterns. The mRNA levels of C4 genes were more abundant in leaf organ than in seeds at 25 days after pollination (DAP), while non-C4 genes were mainly expressed in developing seeds. Further, acetylation of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9ac) positively correlates with mRNA levels of C4 genes (C4PPDK and PCK1) in roots, stems, leaves, and seeds at 25 DAP, acetylation of histone H4 lysine 5 (H4K5ac) in the promoter regions of both C4 (C4PPDK and PCK1) and non-C4 genes (CyPPDK1, CyPPDK2, and PCK2) correlated well with their transcripts abundance in stems. In photosynthetic organs (stems and leaves), dimethylation of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9me2) negatively correlated with mRNA levels of both C4 and non-C4 genes. Taken together, our data suggest that histone modification was involved in the transcription regulation of both C4 genes and non-C4 genes, which might provide a clue of the functional evolution of C4 genes.
authors.affiliation: Photosynthesis Research Center, Key Laboratory of Photobiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.20 Nanxincun, Xiangshan, Beijing, 100093, China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100093, China.
authors.forename: Xiu-Mei
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, Heilongjiang, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Photosynthesis Research Center, Key Laboratory of Photobiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.20 Nanxincun, Xiangshan, Beijing, 100093, China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chao
authors.affiliation: Photosynthesis Research Center, Key Laboratory of Photobiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.20 Nanxincun, Xiangshan, Beijing, 100093, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Crop Cultivation and Farming, Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin, 150086, Heilongjiang, China.
authors.forename: Xiu-Jie
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Photosynthesis Research Center, Key Laboratory of Photobiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.20 Nanxincun, Xiangshan, Beijing, 100093, China.
authors.forename: Biligen-Gaowa
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Photosynthesis Research Center, Key Laboratory of Photobiology, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No.20 Nanxincun, Xiangshan, Beijing, 100093, China. wangbc@ibcas.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Bai-Chen
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D042421:Histone Code / Q000235:genetics*; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000235:genetics; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D006657:Histones; D010940:Plant Proteins
keywords: C4 genes; Gene expression; Histone modification; Non-C4 homologous genes; PCK; PPDK