Plant Physiology Preview
Published on August 6, 2004; 10.1104/pp.103.037960
Received ,
Accepted ,
Coordinated Genetic Regulation of Growth and Lignin Revealed by Quantitative Trait Locus Analysis of cDNA Microarray Data in an Interspecific Backcross of Eucalyptus
Matias Kirst *, Alexander A. Myburg , José P.G. De León , Mariana E. Kirst , Jay Scott , and Ronald Sederoff
Forest Biotechnology Group (M.K., R.S.), Functional Genomics and Genetics Graduate Program (M.K.), Botany Department (M.E.K.), and Department of Wood and Paper Sciences (J.S.), North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695; Department of Genetics, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria, 0002, South Africa (A.A.M.); and Cía. Forestal Oriental S.A., Paysandú, 60000, Uruguay (J.P.G.D.L.)
* Corresponding author; email: mkirst{at}unity.ncsu.edu.
Phenotypic, genotypic, and transcript level (microarray) data from an interspecific backcross population of Eucalyptus grandis and Eucalyptus globulus were integrated to dissect the genetic and metabolic network underlying growth variation. Transcript abundance, measured for 2,608 genes in the differentiating xylem of a 91 (E. grandis x E. globulus) x E. grandis backcross progeny was correlated with diameter variation, revealing coordinated down-regulation of genes encoding enzymes of the lignin biosynthesis and associated methylation pathways in fast growing individuals. Lignin analysis of wood samples confirmed the content and quality predicted by the transcript levels measured on the microarrays. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis of transcript levels of lignin-related genes showed that their mRNA abundance is regulated by two genetic loci, demonstrating coordinated genetic control over lignin biosynthesis. These two loci colocalize with QTLs for growth, suggesting that the same genomic regions are regulating growth, and lignin content and composition in the progeny. Genetic mapping of the lignin genes revealed that most of the key biosynthetic genes do not colocalize with growth and transcript level QTLs, with the exception of the locus encoding the enzyme S-adenosylmethionine synthase. This study illustrates the power of integrating quantitative analysis of gene expression data and genetic map information to discover genetic and metabolic networks regulating complex biological traits.
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
|
|
 
P. Schliekelman
Statistical Power of Expression Quantitative Trait Loci for Mapping of Complex Trait Loci in Natural Populations
Genetics,
April 1, 2008;
178(4):
2201 - 2216.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. A. Cogburn, T. E. Porter, M. J. Duclos, J. Simon, S. C. Burgess, J. J. Zhu, H. H. Cheng, J. B. Dodgson, and J. Burnside
Functional Genomics of the Chicken A Model Organism
Poult. Sci.,
October 1, 2007;
86(10):
2059 - 2094.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Soler, O. Serra, M. Molinas, G. Huguet, S. Fluch, and M. Figueras
A Genomic Approach to Suberin Biosynthesis and Cork Differentiation
Plant Physiology,
May 1, 2007;
144(1):
419 - 431.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. A. L. West, K. Kim, D. J. Kliebenstein, H. van Leeuwen, R. W. Michelmore, R. W. Doerge, and D. A. St. Clair
Global eQTL Mapping Reveals the Complex Genetic Architecture of Transcript-Level Variation in Arabidopsis
Genetics,
March 1, 2007;
175(3):
1441 - 1450.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. Li, H. Chen, L. Bao, K. F. Manly, E. J. Chesler, L. Lu, J. Wang, M. Zhou, R. W. Williams, and Y. Cui
Integrative genetic analysis of transcription modules: towards filling the gap between genetic loci and inherited traits
Hum. Mol. Genet.,
February 1, 2006;
15(3):
481 - 492.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Kirst, C. J. Basten, A. A. Myburg, Z.-B. Zeng, and R. R. Sederoff
Genetic Architecture of Transcript-Level Variation in Differentiating Xylem of a Eucalyptus Hybrid
Genetics,
April 1, 2005;
169(4):
2295 - 2303.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
