Abstract
Microrchidia (MORC) proteins have been described as epigenetic regulators and plant immune mediators in Arabidopsis. Typically, plant and animal MORC proteins contain a hallmark GHKL-type (Gyrase, Hsp90, Histidine kinase, MutL) ATPase domain in their N-terminus. Here, 356 and 83 MORC orthologues were identified in 60 plant and 27 animal genomes. Large-scale MORC sequence analyses revealed the presence of a highly conserved motif composition that defined as the MORC domain. The MORC domain was present in both plants and animals, indicating that it originated in the common ancestor before the divergence of plants and animals. Phylogenetic analyses showed that MORC genes in both plant and animal lineages were clearly classified into two major groups, named Plants-Group I, Plants-Group II and Animals-Group I, Animals-Group II, respectively. Further analyses of MORC genes in green plants uncovered that Group I can be subdivided into Group I-1 and Group I-2. Group I-1 only contains seed plant genes, suggesting that Group I-1 and I-2 divergence occurred at least before the emergence of spermatophytes. Group I-2 and Group II have undergone several gene duplications, resulting in the expansion of MORC gene family in angiosperms. Additionally, MORC gene expression analyses in Arabidopsis, soybean, and rice revealed a higher expression level in reproductive tissues compared with other organs, and showed divergent expression patterns for several paralogous gene pairs. Our studies offered new insights into the origins, phylogenetic relationships, and expressional patterns of MORC family members in green plants, which would help to further reveal their functions as plant epigenetic regulators.
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Claims 9
Claim · model-written summary
The analysis identified 356 MORC orthologues in 60 plant genomes.
Verbatim
e0“356 and 83 MORC orthologues were identified in 60 plant and 27 animal genomes”
Claim · model-written summary
Sequence analyses found a conserved motif composition defining the MORC domain.
- Taxon
- Green PlantsViridiplantaet0
- Gene
- MORCe0
- Outcome
- highly conserved motif compositione0
Verbatim
e0“Large-scale MORC sequence analyses revealed the presence of a highly conserved motif composition that defined as the MORC domain”
t0“Green Plants”
Claim · model-written summary
The MORC domain was found in plants and animals, consistent with origin before their divergence.
- Taxon
- plantsViridiplantaee0
- Gene
- MORCe0
- Outcome
- present in both plants and animalse0
Verbatim
e0“The MORC domain was present in both plants and animals, indicating that it originated in the common ancestor before the divergence of plants and animals”
Claim · model-written summary
Plant MORC genes separated into two major phylogenetic groups.
Verbatim
e0“MORC genes in both plant and animal lineages were clearly classified into two major groups, named Plants-Group I, Plants-Group II and Animals-Group I, Animals-Group II, respectively”
Claim · model-written summary
Green plant Group I MORC genes were further divided into Group I-1 and Group I-2.
- Taxon
- green plantsViridiplantaee0
- Gene
- MORCe0
- Outcome
- Group I can be subdivided into Group I-1 and Group I-2e0
Verbatim
e0“MORC genes in green plants uncovered that Group I can be subdivided into Group I-1 and Group I-2”
Claim · model-written summary
Group I-1 contained only seed plant genes, suggesting divergence before spermatophytes emerged.
Verbatim
e0“Group I-1 only contains seed plant genes, suggesting that Group I-1 and I-2 divergence occurred at least before the emergence of spermatophytes”
Claim · model-written summary
Duplications of MORC Groups I-2 and II contributed to family expansion in angiosperms.
- Taxon
- angiospermsMagnoliopsidae0
- Gene
- MORCe0
- Outcome
- expansion of MORC gene familye0
- Qualifier
- several gene duplicationse0
Verbatim
e0“Group I-2 and Group II have undergone several gene duplications, resulting in the expansion of MORC gene family in angiosperms”
Claim · model-written summary
MORC expression was higher in reproductive tissues than other organs in Arabidopsis, soybean and rice.
- Taxon
- Arabidopsis, soybean, and rice
Arabidopsis
Glycine max
Oryza sativae0 - Organ / stage
- reproductive tissuese0
- Gene
- MORCe0
- Outcome
- expression levele0
- Direction
- highere0
- Comparator
- other organse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“MORC gene expression analyses in Arabidopsis, soybean, and rice revealed a higher expression level in reproductive tissues compared with other organs”
Claim · model-written summary
Several MORC paralogous gene pairs had divergent expression patterns in Arabidopsis, soybean and rice.
- Taxon
- Arabidopsis, soybean, and riceArabidopsisGlycine maxOryza sativae0
- Gene
- MORCe0
- Outcome
- divergent expression patternse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“MORC gene expression analyses in Arabidopsis, soybean, and rice revealed a higher expression level in reproductive tissues compared with other organs, and showed divergent expression patterns for several paralogous gene pairs”