Biology subjects

Pribylova, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Pribylova, A..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Imprinted regulatory networks reveal the molecular cross-talk between paternal and maternal genomes in the endosperm of Arabidopsis arenosa

Summary paragraphImprinted genes do not act alone to shape seed development, but as a complex network -- just like any other gene. Yet, the molecular context in which they are embedded, i.e. their gene network, remains largely understudied. To address this knowledge gap, we characterized the imprintome of Arabidopsis arenosa at the species-level and used gene regulatory network analyses. We show that genomic imprinting preferentially affects only a few pathways, offering candidates for dosage sensitive processes and the molecular arena of parental conflict. In these pathways, some imprinted genes act as hub genes, among which NRPE1, highlighting the importance of epigenetics in endosperm development. The interaction between parental genomes was rather one-sided: paternally expressed regulators preferentially targeted PEGs, while maternally expressed regulators targeted both PEGs and MEGs indiscriminately. This aligns with a self-promoting paternal influence and a maternal buffer under a parental conflict scenario. Shared paternal and maternal regulation of downstream targets was nevertheless common, and we reveal novel molecular interactions between imprinted regulators. Overall, our work shows how genomic imprinting may act as a molecular means for parental conflict, but also highlights the importance of parental molecular coordination in endosperm development.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2026

5' Complementarity-Mediated End Joining (5'CMEJ) DNA repair

How cells choose among competing DNA double-strand break repair pathways, and whether the choice differs across the tree of life, remains poorly understood, limiting prediction of CRISPR editing outcomes, particularly in plants. Through a meta-analysis of 2,098 SpCas9 target sites across plants, animals, and an alga, we show that deletion patterns reflect cell-division status rather than taxonomic origin: dividing cells favour polymerase Theta-Mediated End Joining (TMEJ), whereas non-dividing cells employ a largely overlooked pathway, 5 Complementarity-Mediated End Joining (5CMEJ). Unlike the known resection-dependent pathways, which use 3 overhangs, 5CMEJ exploits the 5 overhangs generated by staggered SpCas9 cleavage.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2026

CRISPR-Cas9 Induced Knockout of BEL5 in Tetraploid Potato: Optimized Methodology via Repeated de novo Regeneration and Impact on Tuberization

CRISPR-Cas9 has emerged as a powerful tool for targeted genome editing in plants; however, its application in tetraploid potato (Solanum tuberosum ssp. tuberosum) remains challenging due to its vegetative propagation and complex highly heterozygous genome. Availability of whole-genome sequence data for the specific genotype is crucial to ensure complete knockout of all alleles of target genes while minimizing off-target mutations. In this study, using the tetraploid potato cultivar Desiree, we report, a complete CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knockout of the BEL5 gene, encoding a transcription factor, known as one of the key regulators driving tuber formation. We employed Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and demonstrated that repeated de novo regeneration could improve editing efficiency by promoting emergence of new mutations. BEL5 knockout plants exhibited a delayed onset of tuberization under inductive short-day conditions in hydroponics; however, their overall tuber yields were comparable to wild type plants. Based on our results, we propose a regulatory role of BEL5 in the timing of tuber onset but, unexpectedly, its dispensability for tuber development in modern cultivated potato. Besides providing functional insight into the BEL5 role in potato, this study includes a methodological approach for efficient CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in this vegetatively propagated polyploid crop, along with strategies for detecting mutations in genes that lack clear phenotypic manifestation.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2026

Transcriptomic insights into triploid seed failure in Arabidopsis arenosa natural populations

O_LIPolyploidy is a key evolutionary force in plants; among its many consequences, hybridization between diploids and polyploids is restricted due to the "triploid block". While the molecular mechanisms of this postzygotic barrier are extensively studied in the model species Arabidopsis thaliana, our understanding of the triploid block in natural systems remains limited. C_LIO_LIHere, we investigated the transcriptome of failing triploid seeds in Arabidopsis arenosa, a close relative of A. thaliana with diploid and autotetraploid populations meeting in nature. We also identified A. arenosa imprinted genes. C_LIO_LITriploid seeds showed preferential misregulation of imprinted genes, which parallels the parent-of-origin features of the triploid block. Tissue-specific transcriptomic analyses revealed pathogen defense-like response being recurrently affected in the endosperm and seed coat. This pathway is commonly misregulated in all species with triploid seed transcriptomes studied to date. The associated genes however are likely more involved in cell-cell signaling rather than pathogen defense per se. C_LIO_LIAltogether, this study depicts a thorough molecular landscape of the triploid block for the first time in natural systems. Combining data on the understudied maternal excess transcriptome, a new imprintome, a tissue-specific focus, and a cross-species comparison, this study also advances our understanding of the triploid block and seed development. C_LI

evolutionary biology↗