Biology subjects

Teng, C.

Publications and source records attributed to Teng, C..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2018

The basis of accumulation differences in plant 21-nt reproductive phasiRNAs, and their cis-directed activity

O_LIPost-transcriptional gene silencing in plants results from independent activities of diverse small RNA types. In anthers of grasses, hundreds of loci yield non-coding RNAs that are processed into 21- and 24-nt phased small interfering RNAs (phasiRNAs); these are triggered by miR2118 and miR2275.\nC_LIO_LIWe characterized these \"reproductive phasiRNAs\" from rice panicles and anthers across seven developmental stages. Our computational analysis identified characteristics of the 21-nt reproductive phasiRNAs that impact their biogenesis, stability, and potential functions.\nC_LIO_LIWe demonstrate that 21-nt reproductive phasiRNAs can function in cis to target their own precursors. We observed evidence of this cis regulatory activity in both rice (Oryza sativa) and maize (Zea mays). We validated this activity with evidence of cleavage and a resulting shift in the pattern of phasiRNA production.\nC_LIO_LIWe characterize biases in phasiRNA biogenesis, demonstrating that the Pol II-derived \"top\" strand phasiRNAs are consistently higher abundance than the bottom strand. The first phasiRNA from each precursor overlaps the miR2118 target site, and this impacts phasiRNA accumulation or stability, evident in the weak accumulation of this phasiRNA position. Additional influences on this first phasiRNA duplex include the sequence composition and length, and we show that these factors impact Argonaute loading.\nC_LI

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2017

Mapping The Malaria Parasite Drug-Able Genome Using In Vitro Evolution And Chemogenomics

Chemogenetic characterization through in vitro evolution combined with whole genome analysis is a powerful tool to discover novel antimalarial drug targets and identify drug resistance genes. Our comprehensive genome analysis of 262 Plasmodium falciparum parasites treated with 37 diverse compounds reveals how the parasite evolves to evade the action of small molecule growth inhibitors. This detailed data set revealed 159 gene amplifications and 148 nonsynonymous changes in 83 genes which developed during resistance acquisition. Using a new algorithm, we show that gene amplifications contribute to 1/3 of drug resistance acquisition events. In addition to confirming known multidrug resistance mechanisms, we discovered novel multidrug resistance genes. Furthermore, we identified promising new drug target-inhibitor pairs to advance the malaria elimination campaign, including: thymidylate synthase and a benzoquinazolinone, farnesyltransferase and a pyrimidinedione, and a dipeptidylpeptidase and an arylurea. This deep exploration of the P. falciparum resistome and drug-able genome will guide future drug discovery and structural biology efforts, while also advancing our understanding of resistance mechanisms of the deadliest malaria parasite.\n\nOne Sentence SummaryWhole genome sequencing reveals how Plasmodium falciparum evolves resistance to diverse compounds and identifies new antimalarial drug targets.

genomics↗