Analysis of the chromatin binding affinity of retrotransposases reveals novel roles in diploid and tetraploid cotton. Issue 1 (20th January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lin, Jing; Cai, Ying; Huang, Gai; Yang, Yan; Li, Yang; Wang, Kun; Wu, Zhiguo
• Other Names: Zhu Yuxian guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of integrative plant biology. Volume 61:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 32
• Page End: 44
• Publication Date: 2019-01-20
• Subjects: Plants -- Periodicals; Plants -- China -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 580.5
• DOI: 10.1111/jipb.12740
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1672-9072

Abstract

Abstract: LTR‐retrotransposable elements are major components of diploid ( Gossypium arboreum ) and tetraploid ( Gossypium hirsutum ) cotton genomes that have undergone dramatic increases in copy number during the course of evolution. However, little is known about the biological functions of LTR‐retrotransposable elements in cotton. Here, we show that a copia ‐like LTR‐retrotransposable element has maintained considerable activity in both G. arboreum and G. hirsutum . We identified two functional domains of the retrotransposon and analyzed their expression levels in various cotton tissues, including leaves, ovules, and germinating seeds. ChIP‐qPCR (chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by quantitative PCR), using a copia ‐specific antibody, established that copia ‐like proteins primarily bind to the first exons of several protein‐coding genes in cotton cells. This finding suggests that retrotransposons play a novel, important role in regulating the transcriptional activities of protein‐coding genes with various biological activities. Abstract : Retrotransposons are one of the main contents of cotton genome. Here we found the cotton active LTR/copia TEs have chromatin binding affinity in living cells, indicating TE could regulate gene expression in cotton.