Chromatin accessibility and transcriptome analyses reveal stress-responsive regulatory elements in Zygophyllum...

Area of Science:

• Plant Biology
• Epigenetics
• Genomics

Background:

• Xerophytes adapt to arid environments through evolutionarily conserved cis-regulatory elements (CREs).
• Key CREs and conserved noncoding sequences (CNSs) in plant stress responses are largely unknown.
• Understanding epigenetic regulation in xerophytes is crucial for improving crop resilience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate epigenetic regulation in Zygophyllum xanthoxylum under abiotic stress.
• To identify conserved noncoding sequences (CNSs) involved in stress adaptation across xerophyte species.
• To provide resources for enhancing stress tolerance in crops.

Main Methods:

• Integrated multi-omics approach including ATAC-seq and RNA-seq.
• Genome-wide chromatin accessibility profiling under heat, salt, and drought stress.
• Comparative genomics across five xerophyte species.

Main Results:

• Identified 2,423 to 77,497 accessible chromatin regions (ACRs) in Z. xanthoxylum.
• Observed distinct chromatin remodeling: opening under salt/drought, closing under heat.
• Discovered a ZxNF-YC10-ZxAPK1 regulatory module impacting gene expression.
• Identified 165,896 cross-species CNSs enriched in ACRs, particularly in roots.

Conclusions:

• Z. xanthoxylum exhibits stress-specific chromatin remodeling strategies.
• Identified CNSs represent crucial CREs for adaptation to adverse environments.
• Study provides valuable resources for developing stress-tolerant crops.