Corn researchers discover novel gene shut-off ...(s plants with nonfunctional versions of ...)
s plants with nonfunctional versions of a gene known as RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 2 (RDR2). Without an active copy of this gene, the plants were unable to produce a major class of small RNAs, which act to stabilize and protect genes on the chromosomes.
In that prior work, Meyers and Green took advantage of the nonfunctional gene to study microRNAs, an interesting type of small RNA that is usually "masked" by the major class of small RNAs produced by RDR2.
Independently of the UD groups, Chandler and her team at the University of Arizona had identified from corn an orthologous gene--a gene that has the same function in different organisms. In corn, this gene, which the Chandler lab found, is called the mediator of paramutation (MOP1). Its equivalent in Arabidopsis is the RDR2 gene.
Because the RDR2 and MOP1 genes should both produce the "protective" set of small RNAs, the research groups decided to collaborate to see if the small RNAs in corn behave the same way they do in Arabidopsis. The hypothesis was that the result would be the same in the two plant species, and the lab groups could use the MOP1 corn plants to focus their studies on the harder-to-examine microRNAs, as they had done previously in Arabidopsis.
"Yet we found something that had not been observed before in this plant--an odd class of small RNAs," Meyers said. "I think it's pretty neat to work in a more complex system like corn and see things that Arabidopsis hadn't shown us," he noted.
Using a technique known as sequencing by synthesis (SBS), provided by Illumina in Hayward, Calif., coupled with state-of-the-art bioinformatics in Meyers' lab, the research team found that the MOP1 and RDR2 genes are not fully equivalent based on an assessment of small RNA complexity.
The researchers found that there are lots more RNAs of an unusual class known as "small interfering RNAs" in corn than there are in Arabidopsis.
"This class of RNAs mainly
'/>"/>
| Contact: Tracey Bryant tbryant@udel.edu 302-831-8185 University of Delaware Source:Eurekalert |
Related biology news :
1. Researchers at UH explore patient preferences for personalized medicine
2. UC Davis researchers discover a key to aggressive breast cancer
3. Caltech-led researchers find negative cues from appearance alone matter for real elections
4. ASU researchers receive NIH awards for studies of malaria and emergent disease
5. Stanford researchers: Global warming is killing frogs and salamanders in Yellowstone Park
6. Syracuse University researchers discover new way to attack some forms of leukemia
7. Researchers apply systems biology and glycomics to study human inflammatory diseases
8. Researchers at UH explore use of fat cells as heart attack therapy
9. GUMC researchers hone in on new strategy to treat common infection
10. Ben-Gurion University of the Negev researchers help find that hypnosis can induce synesthesia
11. National Jewish Health researchers evaluating treatment to help emphysema sufferers breathe easier
 Corn researchers discover novel gene shut-off mechanisms |
| Copyright © 2003-2009 Bio-Medicine. All rights reserved. ABOUT | CONTACT US | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS |  |