Mutator transposon activity alters the transcriptome and proteome of developing maize anthers

MuDR/Mu are a highly active transposon family moving by either cut only (or cut-and-paste) in strictly somatic tissues or net replicative transposition (absence of excision alleles) in reproductive tissues. Aside from the MuDR-encoded MURA and MURB proteins, other factors required for Mu transposition, particularly those contributing to the developmentally specific behavior, have yet to be identified. To address this question and assess the impact of a highly active transposon on the transcriptome, RNA was extracted from anthers at three developmental stages in Mu-active and -inactive stocks and compared on a 44,000 element oligonucleotide array. We found that approximately 30,000 unique genes are expressed at each stage. Of the ~10% (ca. 3000) differentially regulated transcripts per stage, there was approximately equal representation by the active or inactive individuals. Keywords: anther development, maize, Mu, transposon Dye swap design with 4 replicates comparing Mu-active to -inactive lines at 3 anther stages. Spike-in controls were included.

MuDR/Mu是一类高度活跃的转座子家族，可在严格体细胞组织中以仅切割（或称切割-粘贴）方式转座，或在生殖组织中进行净复制转座（无切除等位基因）。除MuDR编码的MURA与MURB蛋白外，其余参与Mu转座过程的必需因子，尤其是那些介导转座发育特异性行为的因子，目前仍未被鉴定。为解答这一科学问题并评估高度活跃转座子对转录组的影响，研究人员从Mu活性与非活性遗传株系的三个发育阶段的花药中提取RNA，并借助44000探针的寡核苷酸微阵列芯片开展对比分析。研究结果显示，每个发育阶段约有30000个独特基因得以表达。在每个阶段约10%（约3000个）差异调控转录本中，活性与非活性个体的占比大致相当。关键词：花药发育、玉米、Mu、转座子。实验采用染料交换设计，设置4次重复，在三个花药发育阶段对比Mu活性与非活性株系的转录组差异。实验中加入了spike-in对照（spike-in controls）。