Deeply altered genome architecture in the endoparasitic flowering plant sapria himalayana griff. (rafflesiaceae)

Cai, Liming and Arnold, Brian J. and Xi, Zhenxiang and Khost, Danielle E. and Patel, Niki and Hartmann, Claire B. and Manickam, Sugumaran and Sasirat, Sawitree and Nikolov, Lachezar A. and Mathews, Sarah and Sackton, Timothy B. and Davis, Charles C. (2021) Deeply altered genome architecture in the endoparasitic flowering plant sapria himalayana griff. (rafflesiaceae). Current Biology, 31 (5). ISSN 0960-9822, DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.12.045.

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

Despite more than 2,000-fold variation in genome size, key features of genome architecture are largely conserved across angiosperms. Parasitic plants have elucidated the many ways in which genomes can be modified, yet we still lack comprehensive genome data for species that represent the most extreme form of parasitism. Here, we present the highly modified genome of the iconic endophytic parasite Sapria himalayana Griff. (Rafflesiaceae), which lacks a typical plant body. First, 44% of the genes conserved in eurosids are lost in Sapria, dwarfing previously reported levels of gene loss in vascular plants. These losses demonstrate remarkable functional convergence with other parasitic plants, suggesting a common genetic road map underlying the evolution of plant parasitism. Second, we identified extreme disparity in intron size among retained genes. This includes a category of genes with introns longer than any so far observed in angiosperms, nearing 100 kb in some cases, and a second category of genes with exceptionally short or absent introns. Finally, at least 1.2% of the Sapria genome, including both genic and intergenic content, is inferred to be derived from host-to-parasite horizontal gene transfers (HGTs) and includes genes potentially adaptive for parasitism. Focused phylogenomic reconstruction of HGTs reveals a hidden history of former host-parasite associations involving close relatives of Sapria's modern hosts in the grapevine family. Our findings offer a unique perspective into how deeply angiosperm genomes can be altered to fit an extreme form of plant parasitism and demonstrate the value of HGTs as DNA fossils to investigate extinct symbioses.

Item Type: Article
Funders: National Science Foundation (NSF)[DEB0622764], National Science Foundation (NSF)[DEB1120243], Harvard University
Uncontrolled Keywords: Parasitic plants;Horizontal gene-transfer;Codon usage;Sequence;RNA;Evolution;Biosynthesis;Prediction;Selection;Package;Host
Subjects: Q Science > QK Botany
S Agriculture > SB Plant culture
Divisions: Faculty of Science
Depositing User: Ms Zaharah Ramly
Date Deposited: 13 Jun 2022 07:02
Last Modified: 13 Jun 2022 07:02
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/34491

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item