Abstract
Using alleles of the maize purple plant locus (pl), which encodes a transcriptional regulator of anthocyanin pigment synthesis, we describe a case of single-locus heterosis, or overdominance, where the heterozygote displays a phenotype that is greater than either homozygote. The Pl-Rhoades (Pl-Rh) allele is subject to epigenetic changes in gene expression, resulting in quantitatively distinct expression states. Allelic states with low-expression levels, designated Pl'-mahogany (Pl'-mah), are dominant to the high-expression state of Pl-Rh. Pl'-mah states retain low-expression levels in subsequent generations when homozygous or heterozygous with Pl-Rh. However, Pl'-mah alleles frequently exhibit higher expression levels when heterozygous with other pl alleles; illustrating an overdominant allelic relationship. Higher expression levels are also observed when Pl'-mah is hemizygous. These results suggest that persistent allelic interactions between Pl'-mah and Pl-Rh are required to maintain the low-expression state and that other pl alleles are missing sequences required for this interaction. The Pl-Rh state can be sexually transmitted from Pl'-mah/pl heterozygotes, but not from Pl'-mah hemizygotes, suggesting that fixation of the high-expression state may involve synapsis. The existence of such allele-dependent regulatory mechanisms implicates a novel importance of allele polymorphisms in the genesis and maintenance of genetic variation.
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Claims 11
Claim · model-written summary
The pl heterozygote exceeded either homozygote in phenotype.
Zea maysOrganisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“the heterozygote displays a phenotype that is greater than either homozygote”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Pl-Rh underwent epigenetic changes resulting in distinct expression states.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The Pl-Rhoades (Pl-Rh) allele is subject to epigenetic changes in gene expression, resulting in quantitatively distinct expression states.”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Low-expression Pl-mah states dominated high-expression Pl-Rh.
- Gene
- Pl'-mahogany (Pl'-mah)e0
- Outcome
- low-expression levelse0
- Direction
- low-expressione0
- Comparator
- Pl-Rhe0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Allelic states with low-expression levels, designated Pl'-mahogany (Pl'-mah), are dominant to the high-expression state of Pl-Rh.”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Pl-mah states retained low expression across generations when homozygous or paired with Pl-Rh.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Pl'-mah states retain low-expression levels in subsequent generations when homozygous or heterozygous with Pl-Rh.”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Pl-mah often had higher expression with other pl alleles.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Pl'-mah alleles frequently exhibit higher expression levels when heterozygous with other pl alleles”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Hemizygous Pl-mah had higher expression.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Higher expression levels are also observed when Pl'-mah is hemizygous.”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Authors suggest persistent Pl-mah and Pl-Rh interactions maintain low expression.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“persistent allelic interactions between Pl'-mah and Pl-Rh are required to maintain the low-expression state”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Authors suggest other pl alleles lack sequences required for that interaction.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“other pl alleles are missing sequences required for this interaction”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Pl-Rh state transmitted sexually from Pl-mah/pl heterozygotes.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The Pl-Rh state can be sexually transmitted from Pl'-mah/pl heterozygotes, but not from Pl'-mah hemizygotes”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Pl-Rh state did not transmit sexually from Pl-mah hemizygotes.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The Pl-Rh state can be sexually transmitted from Pl'-mah/pl heterozygotes, but not from Pl'-mah hemizygotes”
t0“Maize”
Claim · model-written summary
Authors suggest high-expression state fixation may involve synapsis.
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“fixation of the high-expression state may involve synapsis”
t0“Maize”