Biology subjects

Qi, X.

Publications and source records attributed to Qi, X..

108 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

bioRxiv2020

Prefrontal and Parietal Attractor Networks Mediate Working Memory Judgments

The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex plays a critical role in spatial working memory and its activity predicts behavioral responses in delayed response tasks. Here we addressed whether this predictive ability extends to categorical judgments based on information retained in working memory, and is present in other brain areas. We trained monkeys in a novel, Match-Stay, Nonmatch-Go task, which required them to observe two stimuli presented in sequence with an intervening delay period between them. If the two stimuli were different, the monkeys had to saccade to the location of the second stimulus; if they were the same, they held fixation. Neurophysiological recordings were performed in areas 8a and 46 of the dlPFC and 7a and lateral intraparietal cortex (LIP) of the PPC. We hypothesized that random drifts causing the peak activity of the network to move away from the first stimulus location and towards the location of the second stimulus would result in categorical errors. Indeed, for both areas, when the first stimulus appeared in a neurons preferred location, the neuron showed significantly higher firing rates in correct than in error trials. When the first stimulus appeared at a nonpreferred location and the second stimulus at a preferred, activity in error trials was higher than in correct. The results indicate that the activity of both dlPFC and PPC neurons is predictive of categorical judgments of information maintained in working memory, and the magnitude of neuronal firing rate deviations is revealing of the contents of working memory as it determines performance. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe neural basis of working memory and the areas mediating this function is a topic of controversy. Persistent activity in the prefrontal cortex has traditionally been thought to be the neural correlate of working memory, however recent studies have proposed alternative mechanisms and brain areas. Here we show that persistent activity in both the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and posterior parietal cortex predicts behavior in a working memory task that requires a categorical judgement. Our results offer support to the idea that a network of neurons in both areas act as an attractor network that maintains information in working memory, which informs behavior.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Identification of PDE6D as a potential target of sorafenib via PROTAC technology

The identification of unknown target of a multi-kinase inhibitor sorafenib is important to better understand the mechanism of action of this drug in anti-cancer and anti-fibrotic treatments. Here, we report the combination of PROTAC technique with quantitative proteomic analysis to identify the unknown cellular targets of sorafenib. Sorafenib-based PROTAC can strongly degrade a non-kinase target PDE{delta} in different types of cells. We also confirmed the direct binding interaction of PDE{delta} with sorafenib by CETSA and SPR assays. Together, our research suggests that PDE{delta} is a new potential target of sorafenib, and PROTAC technology may be a promising approach for cellular target identification of bioactive compounds of interest.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2019

Enhancing Intracellular Concentration and Target Engagement of PROTACs with Reversible Covalent Chemistry

Current efforts in the proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) field mostly focus on choosing an appropriate E3 ligase for the target protein, improving the binding affinities towards the target protein and the E3 ligase, and optimizing the PROTAC linker. However, due to the large molecular weights of PROTACs, their cellular uptake remains an issue. Through comparing how different warhead chemistry, reversible noncovalent (RNC), reversible covalent (RC), and irreversible covalent (IRC) binders, affects the degradation of Brutons Tyrosine Kinase (BTK), we serendipitously discover that cyano-acrylamide-based reversible covalent chemistry can significantly enhance the intracellular accumulation and target engagement of PROTACs and develop RC-1 as a reversible covalent BTK PROTAC with a high target occupancy as its corresponding kinase inhibitor and effectiveness as a dual functional inhibitor and degrader, a different mechanism-of-action for PROTACs. Importantly, this reversible covalent strategy is generalizable to improve other PROTACs, opening a path to enhance PROTAC efficacy.

pharmacology and toxicology↗

bioRxiv2019

Genes derived from ancient polyploidy have higher genetic diversity and are associated with domestication in Brassica rapa

O_LIMany crops are polyploid or have a polyploid ancestry. Recent phylogenetic analyses have found that polyploidy often preceded the domestication of crop plants. One explanation for this observation is that increased genetic diversity following polyploidy may have been important during the strong artificial selection that occurs during domestication. C_LIO_LITo test the connection between domestication and polyploidy, we identified and examined candidate genes associated with the domestication of the diverse crop varieties of Brassica rapa. Like all "diploid" flowering plants, B. rapa has a diploidized paleopolyploid genome and experienced many rounds of whole genome duplication (WGD). We analyzed transcriptome data of more than 100 cultivated B. rapa accessions. C_LIO_LIUsing a combination of approaches, we identified more than 3,000 candidate genes associated with the domestication of four major B. rapa crop varieties. Consistent with our expectation, we found that the candidate genes were significantly enriched with genes derived from the Brassiceae mesohexaploidy. We also observed that paleologs were significantly more diverse than non-paleologs. C_LIO_LIOur analyses find evidence for that genetic diversity derived from ancient polyploidy played a key role in the domestication of B. rapa and provide support for its importance in the success of modern agriculture. C_LI

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2019

The Manifold Actions of Signaling Peptides on Subcellular Dynamics of a Receptor Specify Stomatal Cell Fate

Receptor endocytosis is important for signal activation and transduction. However, how a receptor interprets conflicting signals to adjust cellular output is not clearly understood. During plant development, the family of EPIDERMAL PATTERNING FACTOR (EPF) peptides fine-tunes stomatal patterning through ERECTA-family receptor kinases. Using genetic, cell biological, and pharmacological approaches, we report here that ERECTA-LIKE1 (ERL1), the major receptor restricting stomatal differentiation, undergoes dynamic subcellular behaviors in response to different signal inputs. ERL1 is constitutively recycled, whereas its activation by EPF1 peptide induces rapid internalization to multivesicular bodies (MVB). In contrast, the dominant-negative ERL1 resides predominantly in plasma membrane. The co-receptor, TOO MANY MOUTHS (TMM), is essential for EPF1-induced ERL1 internalization but dispensable for EPFL6-induced ERL1 internalization. The peptide antagonist of EPF1, Stomagen/EPFL9, triggers retention of ERL1 in the endoplasmic reticulum. Our study elucidates that multiple related yet unique peptides specify cell fate by deploying the differential subcellular dynamics of a single receptor.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Host fruit as a suitable bacteria growth substrate that promotes larval development of Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae)

The ability of a host plant to act as a substrate or media for larval development may depend on how good it is at offering suitable nutrients for bacterial growth. In this study, we hypothesized that the suitability of a fruit type for fruit fly larval development is positively correlated with the ability of that fruit to act as a substrate/media for fruit fly symbiotic bacterial growth. We allowed a single female fruit fly to lay eggs on five different host fruits, then we monitored the larval development parameters across five generations and analyzed the bacterial community structure of larvae developing in 2 of these hosts (apple and banana) at the first and fifth generations. Results indicate that the larval length and dry weight did not vary significantly across experimental generations, but were greatly affected by fruit types and larval stages. The larval development time was extended considerably in apple and tomato but shortened in banana and mango. There was a significant shift in bacterial community structure and composition across fruits and generations. The bacterial community of larvae within the same fruit (apple and banana) clustered and was similar to the parental female (with the predominance of Proteobacteria), but there was a shift at the fifth generation (dominance of Firmicutes). Banana offered a suitable better development and growth to larvae and bacteria, respectively, compared to apple in which reduced larval development and bacterial growth were recorded. Although additional experiments are needed to adequately show that the differences in microbiome seen in fruit fly larval guts are the actual driver of different developmental outcomes of larvae on the different fruits, at the very least, our study has provided intriguing data suggesting interaction between the diets and gut microbial communities on insect development.\n\nImportance and Significance of the studyTephritid fruit flies entertain complex interactions with gut bacteria. These bacteria are known to provide nutritional benefits to their hosts, by supplementing missing nutrients from the host diets and regulating energy balance. Foraging for food is a risky exercise for the insect which is exposed to ecological adversities, including predators. Therefore, making beneficial choice among available food substrates is a question of survival for the flies and bacteria as well. Our study demonstrates interactions between the host fly and its intestinal bacteria in sustaining the larval development while foraging optimally on different fruit types. These findings add a novel step into our understanding of the interactions between the gut microbial communities and B. dorsalis and provide avenues for developing control strategies to limit the devastative incidence of the fly.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2019

De novo assembly of a Tibetan genome and identification of novel structural variants associated with high altitude adaptation

Structural variants (SVs) may play important roles in human adaption to extreme environments such as high altitude but have been under-investigated. Here, combining long-read sequencing with multiple scaffolding techniques, we assembled a high-quality Tibetan genome (ZF1), with a contig N50 length of 24.57 mega-base pairs (Mb) and a scaffold N50 length of 58.80 Mb. The ZF1 assembly filled 80 remaining N-gaps (0.25 Mb in total length) in the reference human genome (GRCh38). Markedly, we detected 17,900 SVs, among which the ZF1-specific SVs are enriched in GTPase activity that is required for activation of the hypoxic pathway. Further population analysis uncovered a 163-bp intronic deletion in the MKL1 gene showing large divergence between highland Tibetans and lowland Han Chinese. This deletion is significantly associated with lower systolic pulmonary arterial pressure, one of the key adaptive physiological traits in Tibetans. Moreover, with the use of the high quality de novo assembly, we observed a much higher rate of genome-wide archaic hominid (Altai Neanderthal and Denisovan) shared non-reference sequences in ZF1 (1.32%-1.53%) compared to other East Asian genomes (0.70%-0.98%), reflecting a unique genomic composition of Tibetans. One such archaic-hominid shared sequence, a 662-bp intronic insertion in the SCUBE2 gene, is enriched and associated with better lung function (the FEV1/FVC ratio) in Tibetans. Collectively, we generated the first high-resolution Tibetan reference genome, and the identified SVs may serve as valuable resources for future evolutionary and medical studies.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2019

Long-read assembly of the Chinese rhesus macaque genome and identification of ape-specific structural variants

Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) is a widely-studied nonhuman primate. Here we present a high-quality de novo genome assembly of the Chinese rhesus macaque (rheMacS) using long-read sequencing and multiplatform scaffolding approaches. Compared to the current Indian rhesus macaque reference genome (rheMac8), the rheMacS genome assembly improves sequence contiguity by 75-fold, closing 21,940 of the remaining assembly gaps (60.8 Mbp). To improve gene annotation, we generated more than two million full-length transcripts from ten different tissues by long-read RNA sequencing. We sequence resolve 53,916 structural variants (96% novel) and identify 17,000 ape-specific structural variants (ASSVs) based on comparison to the long-read assembly of ape genomes. We show that many ASSVs map within ChIP-seq predicted enhancer regions where apes and macaque show diverged enhancer activity and gene expression. We further characterize a set of candidate ASSVs that may contribute to ape- or great-ape-specific phenotypic traits, including taillessness, brain volume expansion, improved manual dexterity, and large body size. This improved rheMacS genome assembly serves as an ideal reference for future biomedical and evolutionary studies.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2019

STK11 is required for the normal program of ciliated cell differentiation in airways

The functional properties of mucosal surfaces are dependent on establishing the correct proportions of specialized epithelial cell types. Multiciliated cells (also known as ciliated cells) are evolutionarily conserved and functionally indispensable epithelial cells, as suggested by the link between ciliated cell dysfunction and chronic human disease. Ciliated cell differentiation is an ordered process that involves initial cell fate determination and multiciliogenesis. STK11, a serine/threonine kinase, has been reported to be down-regulated in human diseases associated with ciliopathies and functions as a tumor suppressor. Here, we show that STK11 is a physiological factor for the normal program of ciliated cell differentiation by phosphorylating MARK3, which directly suppresses ERK1/2 mediated pRB inactivation. Loss of Stk11 in airway progenitors impairs the differentiation of ciliated cells in both embryonic and adult airways. Our study establishes that STK11/MARK3/ERK1/2 signaling cascade is a key regulator to integrate ciliated cell fate commitment and the subsequent process of multiciliogenesis.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Extension of the in vivo haploid induction system from diploid maize to hexaploid wheat

Doubled haploid breeding technology has been one of the most important techniques for accelerating crop breeding. In compare to in vivo haploid induction in maize, which is efficient and background independent, wheat haploid production by interspecific hybridization pollinated with maize is influenced by genetic background and requires rescue of young embryos. Here, we analyzed the homologues of maize haploid induction gene MTL/ZmPLA1/NLD in several crop species systematically, the homologues are highly conserved in sorghum, millet and wheat etc. Since wheat is a very important polyploidy crop, as a proof of concept, we demonstrated that the in vivo haploid induction method could be extended from diploid maize to hexaploid wheat by knocking out the wheat homologues (TaPLAs). Result showed that double knock-out mutation could trigger wheat haploid induction at ~ 2%-3%, accompanied by 30% - 60% seed setting rate. The performance of haploid wheat individual showed shorter plant, narrower leaves and male sterile. Our results also revealed that knockout of TaPLA-A and TaPLA-D do not affect pollen viability. This study not only confirmed the function of the induction gene and explored a new approach for haploid production in wheat, but also provided an example that the in vivo haploid induction could be applied in more crop species with different ploidy levels. Furthermore, by combining with gene editing, it would be a fast and powerful platform for traits improvement in polyploidy crops breeding.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Circular RNA profiling in the oocyte and cumulus cells reveals that circARMC4 is essential for porcine oocyte maturation

Thousands of circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been recently discovered in cumulus cells and oocytes from several species. However, the expression and function of circRNA during porcine oocyte meiotic maturation have been never examined. Here, we separately identified 7,067 and 637 circRNAs in both the cumulus cell and the oocyte via deep sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. Further analysis revealed that a faction of circRNAs is differentially expressed (DE) in a developmental stage-specific manner. The host genes of DE circRNAs are markedly enriched to multiple signaling pathways associated with cumulus cell function and oocyte maturation. Additionally, most DE circRNAs harbor several miRNA targets, suggesting that these DE circRNAs potentially act as miRNA sponge. Importantly, we found that maternal circARMC4 knockdown by siRNA microinjection caused a severely impaired chromosome alignment, and significantly inhibited first polar body extrusion and early embryo development. Taken together, these results demonstrate for the first time that circRNAs are abundantly and dynamically expressed in a developmental stage-specific manner in cumulus cells and oocytes, and maternally expressed circARMC4 is essential for porcine oocyte meiotic maturation and early embryo development.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2019

Direct synthesis of EM-visible gold nanoparticles on genetically encoded tags for single-molecule visualization in cells

Single-molecule visualization in cells with genetically encoded tags for electron microscopy (EM) has been a long-awaited but unimplemented tool for cell biologists. Here, we report an approach for directly synthesizing EM-visible gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on cysteine-rich tags for single-molecule visualization in cells. We first uncovered an auto-nucleation suppression mechanism that allows specific synthesis of AuNPs on isolated cysteine-rich tags. We next exploited this mechanism to develop an approach for single-molecule detection of proteins in prokaryotic cells and achieved an unprecedented labeling efficiency. We then expanded it to more complicated eukaryotic cells and successfully detected the proteins targeted to various organelles, including the membranes of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and nuclear envelope, ER lumen, nuclear pores, spindle pole bodies, and mitochondrial matrix. Thus, our implementation of genetically encoded tags for EM should allow cell biologists to address an enormous range of biological questions at single-molecule level in diverse cellular ultrastructural contexts without using antibodies.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2019

Integrative methylome and transcriptome analysis of Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) skeletal muscle during development

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic modification in vertebrate and is essential for epigenetic gene regulation in skeletal muscle development. We showed the genome-wide DNA methylation profile in skeletal muscle tissue of larval 7dph (JP1), juvenile 90dph (JP2), adult female 24 months (JP3) and adult male 24 months (JP4) Japanese flounder. The distribution and levels of methylated DNA within genomic features (1stexons, gene body, introns, TSS200, TSS1500 and intergenic) show different developmental landscapes. We also successfully identified differentially methylated regions (DMRs) and different methylated genes (DMGs) through a comparative analysis, indicating that DMR in gene body, intron and intergenic regions were more compared to other regions of all DNA elements. A gene ontology analysis indicated that the DMGs were mainly related to regulation of skeletal muscle fiber development process, Axon guidance, Adherens junction, and some ATPase activity. Methylome and transcriptome clearly revealed a exhibit a negative correlation. And integration analysis revealed a total of 425, 398 and 429 negatively correlated genes with methylation in the JP2_VS_JP1, JP3_VS_JP1 and JP4_VS_JP1 comparison groups, respectively. And these genes were functionally associated with pathways including Adherens junction, Axon guidance, Focal adhesion, cell junctions, Actin cytoskeleton and Wnt signaling pathways. In addition, we validated the MethylRAD results by bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP) in some of the differentially methylated skeletal muscle growth-related genes (Myod1, Six1 and Ctnnb1). In this study, we have generated the genome-wide profile of methylome and transcriptome in Japanese flounder for the first time, and our results bring new insights into the epigenetic regulation of developmental processes in Japanese flounder. This study contributes to the knowledge on epigenetics in vertebrates.\n\nAuthor summaryEpigenetic mechanisms like DNA methylation have recently reported as vital regulators of some species skeletal muscle development through the control of genes related to growth. To date, although genome-wide DNA methylation profiles of many organisms have been reported and the Japanese flounder reference genome and whole transcriptome data are publically available, the methylation pattern of Japanese flounder skeletal muscle tissue remains minimally studied and the global DNA methylation data are yet to be known. Here we investigated the genome-wide DNA methylation patterns in Japanese flounder, throughout its development. These findings help to enrich research in molecular and developmental biology in vertebrates.

epidemiology↗

bioRxiv2018

Comprehensive analysis of immune evasion in breast cancer by single-cell RNA-seq

The tumor microenvironment is composed of numerous cell types, including tumor, immune and stromal cells. Cancer cells interact with the tumor microenvironment to suppress anticancer immunity. In this study, we molecularly dissected the tumor microenvironment of breast cancer by single-cell RNA-seq. We profiled the breast cancer tumor microenvironment by analyzing the single-cell transcriptomes of 52,163 cells from the tumor tissues of 15 breast cancer patients. The tumor cells and immune cells from individual patients were analyzed simultaneously at the single-cell level. This study explores the diversity of the cell types in the tumor microenvironment and provides information on the mechanisms of escape from clearance by immune cells in breast cancer.\n\nOne Sentence SummaryLandscape of tumor cells and immune cells in breast cancer by single cell RNA-seq

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2018

Single tube bead-based DNA co-barcoding for cost effective and accurate sequencing, haplotyping, and assembly

Obtaining accurate sequences from long DNA molecules is very important for genome assembly and other applications. Here we describe single tube long fragment read (stLFR), a technology that enables this a low cost. It is based on adding the same barcode sequence to sub-fragments of the original long DNA molecule (DNA co-barcoding). To achieve this efficiently, stLFR uses the surface of microbeads to create millions of miniaturized barcoding reactions in a single tube. Using a combinatorial process up to 3.6 billion unique barcode sequences were generated on beads, enabling practically non-redundant co-barcoding with 50 million barcodes per sample. Using stLFR, we demonstrate efficient unique co-barcoding of over 8 million 20-300 kb genomic DNA fragments. Analysis of the genome of the human genome NA12878 with stLFR demonstrated high quality variant calling and phasing into contigs up to N50 34 Mb. We also demonstrate detection of complex structural variants and complete diploid de novo assembly of NA12878. These analyses were all performed using single stLFR libraries and their construction did not significantly add to the time or cost of whole genome sequencing (WGS) library preparation. stLFR represents an easily automatable solution that enables high quality sequencing, phasing, SV detection, scaffolding, cost-effective diploid de novo genome assembly, and other long DNA sequencing applications.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2018

Disruption of The Psychiatric Risk Gene Ankyrin 3 Enhances Microtubule Dynamics Through GSK3/CRMP2 Signaling

The ankyrin 3 gene (ANK3) is a well-established risk gene for psychiatric illness, but the mechanisms underlying its pathophysiology remain elusive. We examined the molecular effects of disrupting brain-specific Ank3 isoforms in mouse and neuronal model systems. RNA sequencing of hippocampus from Ank3+/- and Ank3+/+ mice identified altered expression of 282 genes that were enriched for microtubule-related functions. Results were supported by increased expression of microtubule end-binding protein 3 (EB3), an indicator of microtubule dynamics, in Ank3+/- mouse hippocampus. Live-cell imaging of EB3 movement in primary neurons from Ank3+/- mice revealed impaired elongation of microtubules. Using a CRISPR-dCas9-KRAB transcriptional repressor in mouse neuro-2a cells, we determined that repression of brain-specific Ank3 increased EB3 expression, decreased tubulin acetylation, and increased the soluble:polymerized tubulin ratio, indicating enhanced microtubule dynamics. These changes were rescued by inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) with lithium or CHIR99021, a highly selective GSK3 inhibitor. Brain-specific Ank3 repression in neuro-2a cells increased GSK3 activity (reduced inhibitory phosphorylation) and elevated collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) phosphorylation, a known GSK3 substrate and microtubule-binding protein. Pharmacological inhibition of CRMP2 activity attenuated the rescue of EB3 expression and tubulin polymerization in Ank3 repressed cells by lithium or CHIR99021, suggesting microtubule instability induced by Ank3 repression is dependent on CRMP2 activity. Taken together, our data indicate that aNK3 functions in neuronal microtubule dynamics through GSK3 and its downstream substrate CRMP2. These findings reveal cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying brain-specific ANK3 disruption that may be related to its role in psychiatric illness.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2018

MUTE Directly Orchestrates Cell State Switch and the Single Symmetric Division to Create Stomata

Precise cell division control is critical for developmental patterning. For the differentiation of a functional stoma, a cellular valve for efficient gas exchange, the single symmetric division of an immediate precursor is absolutely essential. Yet, the mechanism governing the single division event remains unclear. Here we report the complete inventories of gene expression by the Arabidopsis bHLH protein MUTE, a potent inducer of stomatal differentiation. MUTE switches the gene expression program initiated by its sister bHLH, SPEECHLESS. MUTE directly induces a suite of cell-cycle genes, including CYCD5;1, and their transcriptional repressors, FAMA and FOUR LIPS. The architecture of the regulatory network initiated by MUTE represents an Incoherent Type 1 Feed-Forward Loop. Our mathematical modeling and experimental perturbations support a notion that MUTE orchestrates a transcriptional cascade leading to the tightly-restricted, robust pulse of cell-cycle gene expression, thereby ensuring the single cell division to create functional stomata.\n\nHighlightsO_LIComplete inventories of gene expression in stomatal differentiation state are elucidated\nC_LIO_LIMUTE switches stomatal patterning program initiated by its sister bHLH, SPEECHLESS\nC_LIO_LIMUTE directly induces cell-cycle genes and their direct transcriptional repressors\nC_LIO_LIIncoherent feed-forward loop by MUTE ensures the single division of a stomatal precursor\nC_LI

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2017

Genomic inferences of domestication events are corroborated by written records in Brassica rapa

Demographic modeling is often used with population genomic data to infer the relationships and ages among populations. However, relatively few analyses are able to validate these inferences with independent data. Here, we leverage written records that describe distinct Brassica rapa crops to corroborate demographic models of domestication. Brassica rapa crops are renowned for their outstanding morphological diversity, but the relationships and order of domestication remains unclear. We generated genome-wide SNPs from 126 accessions collected globally using high-throughput transcriptome data. Analyses of more than 31,000 SNPs across the B. rapa genome revealed evidence for five distinct genetic groups and supported a European-Central Asian origin of B. rapa crops. Our results supported the traditionally recognized South Asian and East Asian B. rapa groups with evidence that pak choi, Chinese cabbage, and yellow sarson are likely monophyletic groups. In contrast, the oil-type B. rapa subsp. oleifera and brown sarson were polyphyletic. We also found no evidence to support the contention that rapini is the wild type or the earliest domesticated subspecies of B. rapa. Demographic analyses suggested that B. rapa was introduced to Asia 2400-4100 years ago, and that Chinese cabbage originated 1200-2100 years ago via admixture of pak choi and European-Central Asian B. rapa. We also inferred significantly different levels of founder effect among the B. rapa subspecies. Written records from antiquity that document these crops are consistent with these inferences. The concordance between our age estimates of domestication events with historical records provides unique support for our demographic inferences.

genetics↗