Convergent and/or parallel evolution of RNA-binding proteins in angiosperms after polyploidization

Area of Science:

• Plant evolutionary biology
• Genomics
• Molecular genetics

Background:

• Whole-genome duplications (WGDs) are linked to plant adaptation via biased retention of transcription factors (TFs).
• The role of posttranscriptional regulators, specifically RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), following WGDs remains largely unexplored.
• Understanding RBP evolution is crucial for explaining plant adaptation to environmental changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the evolutionary trajectories and adaptive roles of RBPs in angiosperms after WGDs.
• To explore the connection between WGD-derived RBPs and plant responses to environmental challenges, particularly cold stress.
• To elucidate the mechanisms by which RBPs contribute to rewiring regulatory networks during global cooling.

Main Methods:

• Genomic and transcriptomic data analysis across 21 angiosperm species.
• Integration of regulatomic and paleotemperature datasets.
• Identification and analysis of orthogroups, duplicate gene retention, and functional enrichment of RBPs.

Main Results:

• Thousands of RBPs were identified, with functional enrichment in stress responses.
• Convergent retention of RBP genes across diverse angiosperms post-WGDs, correlating with global cooling periods.
• Identification of cold-induced WGD-derived RBP duplicates, including the GRP7/8 orthogroup and associated TFs, involved in rewiring circadian and cold-regulatory networks.

Conclusions:

• RBPs play a significant adaptive role in angiosperms following WGDs, particularly in response to cold stress.
• The co-retention of specific RBP and TF duplicates suggests coordinated network evolution under environmental pressure.
• This study enhances understanding of plant adaptation mechanisms during periods of global environmental change.