Defining the robust behaviour of the plant clock gene circuit with absolute RNA timeseries and open infrastructure

Flis, A. et al. (2015) Defining the robust behaviour of the plant clock gene circuit with absolute RNA timeseries and open infrastructure. Open Biology, 5(10), 150042. (doi: 10.1098/rsob.150042) (PMID:26468131) (PMCID:PMC4632509)

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Abstract

Our understanding of the complex, transcriptional feedback loops in the circadian clock mechanism has depended upon quantitative, timeseries data from disparate sources. We measure clock gene RNA profiles in Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings, grown with or without exogenous sucrose, or in soil-grown plants and in wild-type and mutant backgrounds. The RNA profiles were strikingly robust across the experimental conditions, so current mathematical models are likely to be broadly applicable in leaf tissue. In addition to providing reference data, unexpected behaviours included co-expression of PRR9 and ELF4, and regulation of PRR5 by GI. Absolute RNA quantification revealed low levels of PRR9 transcripts (peak approx. 50 copies cell−1) compared with other clock genes, and threefold higher levels of LHY RNA (more than 1500 copies cell−1) than of its close relative CCA1. The data are disseminated from BioDare, an online repository for focused timeseries data, which is expected to benefit mechanistic modelling. One data subset successfully constrained clock gene expression in a complex model, using publicly available software on parallel computers, without expert tuning or programming. We outline the empirical and mathematical justification for data aggregation in understanding highly interconnected, dynamic networks such as the clock, and the observed design constraints on the resources required to make this approach widely accessible.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Pokhilko, Dr Alexandra
Authors: Flis, A., Fernández, A. P., Zielinski, T., Mengin, V., Sulpice, R., Stratford, K., Hume, A., Pokhilko, A., Southern, M., Seaton, D., McWatters, H., Stitt, M., Halliday, K., and Millar, A.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Molecular Biosciences
Journal Name:Open Biology
Publisher:The Royal Society Publishing
ISSN:2046-2441
ISSN (Online):2046-2441

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
592371TIMET: Linking the clock to metabolismDirk HusmeierEuropean Commission (EC)FP7 245143 TIMEM&S - STATISTICS