Genome-wide analyses reveal the coordination between alternative splicing and DNA methylation for light response in plants

In this study, we investigated the possibility that light regulates alternative splicing (AS) through modulating DNA methylation of specific gene loci. The bisulfite sequencing data were extensively evaluated with AS pattern from mRNA sequencing of samples with the same light treatment. One-week-old Arabidopsis seedlings were transferred to the dark for 3 days, and then irradiated under red or blue light for 1 and 4 hours. Genomic DNA of the seedlings were isolated and subjected for bisulfite treatment and library preparation. The resulting libraries were sequenced with Illumina sequencing technology.

本研究探究了光通过调控特定基因位点的DNA甲基化，进而调控可变剪接（alternative splicing, AS）的可能性。本研究通过结合相同光照处理样本的mRNA测序所得的可变剪接图谱，对亚硫酸氢盐测序（bisulfite sequencing）数据进行了全面评估。实验中，将生长一周的拟南芥幼苗置于黑暗环境培养3天，随后分别用红光与蓝光照射1小时及4小时。研究人员提取该批幼苗的基因组DNA，进行亚硫酸氢盐处理并完成文库构建，最终采用Illumina测序技术对所得文库进行测序。