Genomics and transcriptomics of Utricularia reniformis (Lentibulariaceae): an evolutive and functional approach

• Grant number: 13/25164-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: April 01, 2014 - September 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Plant Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Alessandro de Mello Varani
• Grantee: Alessandro de Mello Varani
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Vitor Fernandes Oliveira de Miranda

Abstract

The Lentibulariaceae belongs to the richest carnivorous plants families and therefore grouped into 320 species arranged in three genres: Pinguicula, Genlisea and Utricularia. Recent phylogenetic and comparative studies indicated that the Lentibulariaceae are positioned at the Lamiales order, but their relationships within different families are still under discussion. The family is monophyletic, whereas the clade Genlisea-Utricularia considered a sister-group of Pinguicula. Amid these three genera, Utricularia is the richest, showing high morphological differences. Among all species of carnivorous syndrome, Utricularia match about 35% of the taxa. Moreover, several species have dubious circumscription, and there are few studies for neotropical species. Indeed studies involving the molecular genetics of this group are limited. Recently, in the middle of 2013, the complete genome sequences of the worldwide endemic specie U. gibba were sequenced, and this study determined that this specie has one of the smallest known plant genome (80Mb). Therefore, the purpose of this project is to study the U. reniformis, which is endemic to Brazil, through an genomic, functional and evolutionary approaches. To achieve this objective, four main goals are presented: (i) Whole genome sequencing and annotation of the brazilian endemic specie U. reniformis; (ii) Perform a comparative genomics studies against the species U. gibba with ecological and systematic approaches, since U. reniformis is terrestrial and U. gibba is aquatic; (iii) Whole transcriptome sequencing of the carnivory related tissue (utricles) with and without the presence of the preys, in order to investigate transcripts/genes related to the digestive process; (iv) Evaluate the evolution and morphogenesis by comparatice approaches of different tissues through the transcriptome sequencing of leaves and utricules. This project presents great importance to the understanding of genomic, evolutive and functional aspects of U. reniformis, which may, with the next-generation sequencing and computational biology approaches shed light to a better understanding not only for the biology and evolution of Utricularia genus, but also for other genera and lineages of the Lentibulariaceae family. (AU)

Scientific publications

(6)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SILVA, SAURA R.; PINHEIRO, DANIEL G.; PENHA, HELEN A.; PLACHNO, BARTOSZ J.; MICHAEL, TODD P.; MEER, ELLIOTT J.; MIRANDA, VITOR F. O.; VARANI, ALESSANDRO M.. Intraspecific Variation within the Utricularia amethystina Species Morphotypes Based on Chloroplast Genomes. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES, v. 20, n. 24, DEC 2019. (13/25164-6, 18/02285-6, 13/05144-0)

SILVA, SAURA R.; MORAES, ANA PAULA; PENHA, HELEN A.; JULIAO, MARIA H. M.; DOMINGUES, DOUGLAS S.; MICHAEL, TODD P.; MIRANDA, VITOR F. O.; VARANI, ALESSANDRO M.. The Terrestrial Carnivorous Plant Utricularia reniformis Sheds Light on Environmental and Life-Form Genome Plasticity. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES, v. 21, n. 1, JAN 1 2020. (13/25164-6, 18/02285-6, 13/05144-0, 11/22215-3)

JULIAO, MARIA H. M.; SILVA, SAURA R.; FERRO, JESUS A.; VARANI, ALESSANDRO M.. A Genomic and Transcriptomic Overview of MATE, ABC, and MFS Transporters in Citrus sinensis Interaction with Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri. PLANTS-BASEL, v. 9, n. 6, JUN 2020. (13/25164-6, 18/02285-6)

SILVA, SAURA R.; DIAZ, YANI C. A.; PENHA, HELEN ALVES; PINHEIRO, DANIEL G.; FERNANDES, CAMILA C.; MIRANDA, VITOR F. O.; MICHAEL, TODD P.; VARANI, ALESSANDRO M.. The Chloroplast Genome of Utricularia reniformis Sheds Light on the Evolution of the ndh Gene Complex of Terrestrial Carnivorous Plants from the Lentibulariaceae Family. PLoS One, v. 11, n. 10, OCT 20 2016. (13/25164-6)

SILVA, SAURA R.; MICHAEL, TODD P.; MEER, ELLIOTT J.; PINHEIRO, DANIEL G.; VARANI, ALESSANDRO M.; MIRANDA, VITOR F. O.. Comparative genomic analysis of &ITGenlisea&IT (corkscrew plants-Lentibulariaceae) chloroplast genomes reveals an increasing loss of the &ITndh&IT genes. PLoS One, v. 13, n. 1, JAN 2 2018. (13/05144-0, 13/25164-6)

SILVA, SAURA R.; ALVARENGA, DANILLO O.; ARANGUREN, YANI; PENHA, HELEN A.; FERNANDES, CAMILA C.; PINHEIRO, DANIEL G.; OLIVEIRA, MARCOS T.; MICHAEL, TODD P.; MIRANDA, VITOR F. O.; VARANI, ALESSANDRO M.. The mitochondrial genome of the terrestrial carnivorous plant Utricularia reniformis (Lentibulariaceae): Structure, comparative analysis and evolutionary landmarks. PLoS One, v. 12, n. 7, JUL 19 2017. (13/25164-6)