Identification of KIL1 targets via RNA-Seq in Zea mays

To understand how the NAC transcription factor KIL1 regulates age-induced senescence and cell death in maize silks, we need to get a genome-wide view on its downstream targets. We propose to compare the transcriptome profiles of GOF and LOF transgenic silk tissue with the profile of wild-type B104 silk. 1 cm of basal part of silk from rings 6-10 from plants harboring the dominant-negative repressor proSILK1:KIL1-SRDX, proSILK1:KIL1 overexpressing line, and wild type B104 will be harvested at 11 DASE. This will allow to compare and contrast the expression profiles of KIL1 LOF and GOF mutants with transcriptome data derived from wild type senescent silk.