Cross-species network analysis uncovers nitrogen-regulated modeules in rice

OBERTELLO M; SHRIVASTAVA, STUTI; KATARI, MANPREET; JAUME, DAIANA FLORENCIA; MUSCHIETTI, JORGE; CORUZZI, GLORIA

Foz de Iguazu

Congreso; International Plant Molecular Biology Congress; 2015

International Plant Molecular Biology Congress

Nitrogen (N) is both a rate-limiting element for plant growth and a nutrient signal that regulates gene expression. Our goal is to understand the regulation of N-signal to improve plant N-use efficiency, which will contribute to sustainable agricultural practices by diminishing the use of N fertilizers. Identifying transcription factors regulated by N, which modulate the expression of other genes in the genome (targets), is a key process to understand N regulation in plants. With that purpose, we performed an exhaustive study identified a conserved N regulated gene network conserved across a model dicot (Arabidopsis thaliana) and a monocot crop (rice, Oryza sativa). A transcription factor list regulated by nitrogen was ranked based on their number of connections (transcription factors ?targets interactions), on statistical correlation and presence of, at least, one binding site for a TF in the promoter sequence of their target. We are currently investigating the role of selected TFs on nitrogen regulation using rice over-expression lines. The results will uncover the conservation and divergence of nitrogen regulatory networks in the context of monocot and dicot transcriptomes.