Analyse des Ursprungs, der Funktion und der Regulation B-Chromosomen-spezifischer Gene

• Antragsteller: Privatdozent Dr. Andreas Houben
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Genetik und Genomik der Pflanzen
• Förderung: Förderung von 2012 bis 2015
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 221477818

B chromosomes (Bs) are generally considered to be non-functional and without any essential genes. Therefore, our previous discovery that rye Bs are rich in gene fragments that represent copies of A chromosome genes was highly unexpected. The aim of the project is to analyse the origin, function and regulation of B-located genic fragments. To work out the intactness and origin of B-located genes we wish to increase the sequence coverage of B chromosome sequences and to identify B-located genic sequences. The analyses of B-gene border regions will give clues about mechanism of how B-located genic sequences were accumulated. To identify B-specific transcripts (genic and small RNA) and their possible regulatory effects on A chromosome transcripts, it is intended to compare the transcription profiles by RNAseq of rye in presence and absence of Bs. The project will provide new explanations for dosage dependent phenotypes which have been observed in presence of different numbers of Bs. Our work will challenge the prevalent view of selfishness nature of Bs and will increase our understanding about gene regulation in presence of extra copies of genes in situation similar to aneuploidy.

• DFG-Verfahren: Sachbeihilfen
• Beteiligte Person: Dr. Ali M. Banaei-Moghaddam