DNA Methylation Variation Is Identified in Monozygotic Twins Discordant for Congenital Heart Diseases

Aims:Multiple genes and environmental factors are known to be involved in congenital heart disease(CHD),but epigenetic variation has received little attention.Monozygotic(MZ)twins with CHD provide a unique model for exploring this phenomenon.In order to investigate the potential role of Deoxyribonucleic Acid(DNA)methyla-tion in CHD pathogenesis,the present study examined DNA methylation variation in MZ twins discordant for CHD,especially ventricular septal defect(VSD).Methods and Results:Using genome-wide DNA methylation profiles,we identified 4004 differentially methylated regions(DMRs)in 18 MZ twin pairs discordant for CHD,and 2826 genes were identified.Gene Ontology(GO)and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)analysis revealed a list of CHD-associated pathways.To further investigate the role of DNA methylation in VSD,data from 7 pairs of MZ twins with VSD were analyzed.We identified 1614 DMRs corresponding to 1443 genes associated with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy,cyclic guanosine monopho-sphate-protein kinase G(cGMP-PKG)signaling pathway by KEGG analysis,and cell-cell adhesion,calcium ion transmembrane transport by GO analysis.A proportion of DMR-associated genes were involved in calcium signaling pathways.The methylation changes of calcium signaling genes might be related to VSD pathogenesis.Conclusion:CHD is associated with differential DNA methylation in MZ twins.CHD may be etiologically linked to DNA methylation,and methylation of calcium signaling genes may be involved in the development of VSD.

A Nicotiana benthamiana receptor-like kinase regulates Phytophthora resistance by coupling with BAK1 to enhance elicitin-triggered immunity

Cell-surface-localized leucine-rich-repeat receptorlike kinases(LRR-RLKs)are crucial for plant immunity.Most LRR-RLKs that act as receptors directly recognize ligands via a large extracellular domain(ECD),whereas LRR-RLK that serve as regulators are relatively small and contain fewer LRRs.Here,we identified LRR-RLK regulators using high-throughput tobacco rattle virus(TRV)-based gene silencing in the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana.We used the cell-death phenotype caused by INF1,an oomycete elicitin that induces pattern-triggered immunity,as an indicator.By screening 33 small LRR-RLKs(≤6 LRRs)of unknown function,we identified ELICITIN INSENSITIVE RLK 1(NbEIR1)as a positive regulator of INF1-induced immunity and oomycete resistance.Nicotiana benthamiana mutants of eir1 generated by CRISPR/Cas9-editing showed significantly compromised immune responses to INF1 and were more vulnerable to the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora capsici.NbEIR1 associates with BRI1-ASSOCIATED RECEPTOR KINASE 1(NbBAK1)and a downstream component,BRASSINOSTEROIDSIGNALING KINASE 1(NbBSK1).NbBSK1 also contributes to INF1-induced defense and P.capsici resistance.Upon INF1 treatment,NbEIR1 was released from NbBAK1 and NbBSK1 in vivo.Moreover,the silencing of NbBSK1 compromised the association of NbEIR1 with NbBAK1.We also showed that NbEIR1 regulates flg22-induced immunity and associates with its receptor,FLAGELLIN SENSING 2(NbFLS2).Collectively,our results suggest that NbEIR1 is a novel regulatory element for BAK1-dependent immunity.NbBSK1-NbEIR1 association is required for maintaining the NbEIR1/NbBAK1 complex in the resting state.

Nicotiana benthamiana LRR-RLP Nb EIX2 mediates the perception of an EIX-like protein from Verticillium dahliae

Verticillium wilt diseases caused by the soil-borne fungus Verticillium dahliae result in devastating yield losses in many economically important crops annually. Here, we identified a novel ethyleneinducing xylanase(EIX)-like protein, VdEIX3, from V. dahliae, which exhibits immunity-inducing activity in Nicotiana benthamiana. In vitro-purified VdEIX3 can induce strong oxidative burst, activate the expression of defense-related genes, and increase resistance against oomycete and fungal pathogens in N. benthamiana. VdEIX3 orthologs of other Verticillium pathogens also induce cell death in N. benthamiana, which form a new type of EIX protein family that is distinct from the known EIX proteins. A leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein, NbEIX2, regulates the perception of VdEIX3 in N. benthamiana. Our results demonstrate that VdEIX3 is a novel EIX-like protein that can be recognized by N. benthamiana NbEIX2, and also suggest that NbEIX2 is a promising receptor-like protein that is potentially applicable to transgenic breeding for improving resistance to Verticillium wilt diseases.

A G-type lectin receptor-like kinase regulates the perception of oomycete apoplastic expansin-like proteins

Phytophthora capsici is one of the most harmful pathogens in agriculture, which threatens the safe production of multiple crops and causes serious economic losses worldwide. Here, we identified a P. capsici expansin-like protein, Pc EXLX1, by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry from Nicotiana benthamiana apoplastic fluid infected with P. capsici. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/crispr associated protein9(CRISPR/Cas9)-mediated Pc EXLX1 knockout mutants exhibited significantly enhanced virulence,while the overexpression of Pc EXLX1 impaired the virulence. Prokaryotically expressed Pc EXLX1 activated multiple plant immune responses, which were BRI1-associated kinase 1(BAK1)-and suppressor of BIR1-1(SOBIR1)-dependent. Furthermore, overexpression of Pc EXLX1 homologs in N. benthamiana could also increase plant resistance to P. capsici. A G-type lectin receptor-like kinase from N. benthamiana, expansin-regulating kinase 1(ERK1), was shown to regulate the perception of Pc EXLX1 and positively mediate the plant resistance to P. capsici. These results reveal that the expansin-like protein, Pc EXLX1, is a novel apoplastic effector with plant immunity-inducing activity of oomycetes, perception of which is regulated by the receptor-like kinase, ERK1.