Biology subjects

Rogowsky, P.

Publications and source records attributed to Rogowsky, P..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

How to be dispensable: genomic and transcriptomic determinants in maize genes

BackgroundPlant genomes harbour a substantial proportion of dispensable genes - present only in a subset of individuals - that differ from ubiquitously shared core genes in multiple genomic and expression features. While these differences have been repeatedly documented, the factors shaping gene dispensability remain poorly understood. ResultsWe assembled a pan-gene set from eight maize inbred lines from American and European germplasms, together with their transcriptomic profile across 22 tissues/conditions, revealing the genomic and transcriptomic determinants of maize gene dispensability. Multivariate analysis demonstrates that gene expression level and purifying selection - rather than gene size - are the primary factors distinguishing core from dispensable genes. Dispensable genes overlap Helitrons at 4.6 times the rate of core genes, implicating Helitron-mediated gene capture as a major mechanism of dispensable gene formation. Classifying genes into stably expressed, variably expressed, and on-off categories shows that all three classes contain dispensable genes, though in different proportions than for core genes. Contrary to previous assumptions, we show that dispensable genes can participate in basal biological functions just as core genes, and that gene duplication likely provides only a partial mechanism for functional complementation of accessory genes absence. ConclusionsOur results provide novel insights into the molecular and evolutionary factors distinguishing core from dispensable genes and into the biological mechanisms shaping gene dispensability in maize, and demonstrate that classifying genes by transcriptional patterns provides a powerful framework for understanding the biological functions and evolutionary dynamics of both core and dispensable genes.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2026

ZmSWEET Sucrose transporters expressed in the endosperm adjacent to the maize embryo are necessary for carbon partitioning and embryo growth

In cereals such as maize, the kernel accumulates large quantities of storage compounds, including carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins, a process that requires tight regulation of nutrient transport. Seeds are composed of distinct tissues: the embryo, the endosperm, and maternal tissues that are symplastically isolated (not connected through plasmodesmata), necessitating specialized nutrient transfer mechanisms. In maize, nutrient transfer from maternal tissues to the endosperm via specialized basal endosperm transfer layer (BETL) cells is well characterized. However, nutrient transfer at the endosperm/embryo interface remains poorly understood. Consequently, the routes by which maternal carbon-derived sugars support embryo growth are still unclear. Our previous transcriptomic profiling uncovered a novel Endosperm domain Adjacent to the embryo Scutellum (EAS) with strong enrichment for transporter genes. Notably, genes encoding three sugar transporters from the SWEET (Sugars Will Eventually be Exported Transporters) family are highly and preferentially expressed in the EAS, suggesting the existence of a specialized sugar transfer mechanism at this interface. We show that the ZmSWEET proteins encoded by these genes are membrane-localized sucrose transporters and are functionally important for kernel development. A gene-edited triple zmsweet14a/14b/15a knock-out mutant exhibits reduced kernel weight and embryo size, significantly decreased embryo oil accumulation at maturity, and altered carbon partitioning within the kernel. In addition to these defects, mutant kernels display a significant reduction in primary root length during germination, indicating either lasting physiological consequences of disrupted sucrose transport during seed development or an additional role for these SWEET transporters during germination. Together, our findings demonstrate that sucrose transport at the endosperm/embryo interface is critical for proper carbon allocation, embryo development, and seed vigor, and identify the EAS as a key functional domain and potential target for improving seed composition.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2020

Lipid anchoring and electrostatic interactions target the phospholipase NOT-LIKE-DAD to pollen endo-plasma membrane

Phospholipases are ubiquitous enzymes that cleave phospholipids, one major constituent of membranes. They are thus essential for many developmental processes, including male gamete development. In flowering plants, mutation of phospholipase NOT-LIKE-DAD (NLD) leads to peculiar defects in sexual reproduction. Indeed, pollination of a wild-type female with mutant pollen generates haploid embryos containing solely maternal genetic information. Contrary to previous reports NLD does not localize to cytosol and plasma membrane (PM) of sperm cells but to the pollen endo-plasma membrane (endo-PM), a specific membrane derived from the PM of the pollen vegetative cell that encircles the two sperm cells. Pharmacological approaches coupled with targeted mutagenesis revealed that lipid anchoring together with electrostatic interactions between membrane and NLD are involved in the attachment of NLD to this atypical endo-PM. Membrane surface-charge and anionic lipid bio-sensors indicated that phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(4,5)P2) is enriched in the endo-PM as compared to the PM. Our results uncover a unique example of how membrane electrostatic properties can specify a unique polar domain (i.e. endo-PM), which is critical for plant reproduction and gamete formation.

plant biology↗