Abstract Detail

Functional Genetics/Genomics

Melton, Anthony [1], Beck, Jim [1], Galla, Stephanie [1], Jenkins, Jerry [2], Handley, Lori [2], Kim, Min [2], Grimwood, Jane [2], Schmutz, Jeremy [2], Richardson, Bryce [3], Serpe, Marcelo [1], Novak, Stephen [1], Buerki, Sven [1].

Reversing the Genome-to-Phenome Research Pipeline: A Draft Genome Provides Hypotheses on Drought Tolerance in A Keystone Plant Species in Western North America Threatened By Climate Change.

Climate change presents distinct ecological and physiological challenges to plants as extreme climate events become more common. Creating efficient, reproducible workflows to generate and test hypotheses for genome-to-phenome research for non-model organisms is crucial to elucidate potential biological pathways for drought adaptation and inform conservation strategies. To aid in genome-to-phenome research, a draft genome was assembled for a diploid individual of Artemisia tridentata subsp. tridentata, a threatened keystone shrub in western North America. Although this taxon has a large genome (1C value of approximately 4Gbp), making it a difficult organism for genomics research, a haploid genome of 4.5Gbp was assembled. Aquaporin (AQP) genes and their promoter sequences were mined from the draft genome to predict mechanisms regulating gene expression and generate hypotheses on key genes underpinning drought response. A rapid, reproducible workflow was assembled to aid in this novel genome-to-phenome research. Fifty-one AQP genes were fully assembled. Promoter and phylogenetic analyses revealed putative duplicates of A. tridentata subsp. tridentata AQPs, which have experienced differentiation in promoter elements, supporting novel biological pathways. Comparison with non-drought-adapted congener supports enrichments of AQP genes in this taxon during adaptation to drought-stress. Differentiation of promoter elements revealed that paralogues of some genes have evolved to function in different pathways, highlighting these genes as potential candidates for future research and providing critical hypotheses for future genome-to-phenome work. These hypotheses will be tested by conducting genotype-by-environments experiments. This work also provides a draft genome and code for draft genome mining to the G2P research community.

1 - Boise State University
2 - Hudson Alpha Genomics Institute
3 - USGS Forest Service

Keywords:
none specified

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: FG, Functional Genetics and Genomics
Location: /
Date: Monday, July 19th, 2021
Time: 10:45 AM(EDT)
Number: FG004
Abstract ID:789
Candidate for Awards:None