TitleTranscriptional regulatory networks in Arabidopsis thaliana during single and combined stresses.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2016
AuthorsBarah P, N MNaika B, Jayavelu NDoni, Sowdhamini R, Shameer K, Bones AM
JournalNucleic Acids Res
Volume44
Issue7
Pagination3147-64
Date Published2016 Apr 20
ISSN1362-4962
Abstract

Differentially evolved responses to various stress conditions in plants are controlled by complex regulatory circuits of transcriptional activators, and repressors, such as transcription factors (TFs). To understand the general and condition-specific activities of the TFs and their regulatory relationships with the target genes (TGs), we have used a homogeneous stress gene expression dataset generated on ten natural ecotypes of the model plantArabidopsis thaliana, during five single and six combined stress conditions. Knowledge-based profiles of binding sites for 25 stress-responsive TF families (187 TFs) were generated and tested for their enrichment in the regulatory regions of the associated TGs. Condition-dependent regulatory sub-networks have shed light on the differential utilization of the underlying network topology, by stress-specific regulators and multifunctional regulators. The multifunctional regulators maintain the core stress response processes while the transient regulators confer the specificity to certain conditions. Clustering patterns of transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) have reflected the combinatorial nature of transcriptional regulation, and suggested the putative role of the homotypic clusters of TFBS towards maintaining transcriptional robustness againstcis-regulatory mutations to facilitate the preservation of stress response processes. The Gene Ontology enrichment analysis of the TGs reflected sequential regulation of stress response mechanisms in plants.

DOI10.1093/nar/gkv1463
Alternate JournalNucleic Acids Res.
PubMed ID26681689
PubMed Central IDPMC4838348