Identification of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in soils of the North Caucasus based on Illumina MiSeq data for ITS1 and ITS2 regions

The objective of our research was to analyze the efficiency of identification of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) for 2 regions: ITS1 and ITS2 regions of AMF DNA isolated from the soils of the North Caucasus (Karachay-Cherkessia). For the first time the necessity of different AMF species identification using both ITS regions was revealed, but not one region. The research demonstrated: 1) the set of taxa is different using ITS1- and ITS2-based identification; 2) analysis of the ITS1 region reveals a greater number of operational taxonomic units; 3) ITS2 allows identification of AMF at the species level more often. Sample preparation for Illumina MiSeq analysis was optimized. Obligatory stages in the sample preparation were the purification of DNA in the agarose gel in Silica after isolation, as well as separate amplification of ITS1 and ITS2 followed by combining and joint sequencing for each sample. The results showed the highest AMF biodiversity for the 176Te sample from the ecosystem of the subalpine meadow of the southeastern slope of Malaya Hatipara mountain (43°25′48.0″N 41°42′31.0″E; 2401 m above sea level), in which 8 species of AMF were identified (Archaeospora spainiae, Claroideoglomus claroideum, Diversispora versiformis, Entrophpora infrequens, Funneliformis mosseae, Glomus indicum, Paraglomus laccatum, Rhizophagus irregularis)

Mycorrhiza-Induced Alterations in Metabolome of <i>Medicago lupulina</i> Leaves during Symbiosis Development

The present study is aimed at disclosing metabolic profile alterations in the leaves of the Medicago lupulina MlS-1 line that result from high-efficiency arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) symbiosis formed with Rhizophagus irregularis under condition of a low phosphorus level in the substrate. A highly effective AM symbiosis was established in the period from the stooling to the shoot branching initiation stage (the efficiency in stem height exceeded 200%). Mycorrhization led to a more intensive accumulation of phosphates (glycerophosphoglycerol and inorganic phosphate) in M. lupulina leaves. Metabolic spectra were detected with GS-MS analysis. The application of complex mathematical analyses made it possible to identify the clustering of various groups of 320 metabolites and thus demonstrate the central importance of the carbohydrate and carboxylate-amino acid clusters. The results obtained indicate a delay in the metabolic development of mycorrhized plants. Thus, AM not only accelerates the transition between plant developmental stages but delays biochemical “maturation” mainly in the form of a lag of sugar accumulation in comparison with non-mycorrhized plants. Several methods of statistical modeling proved that, at least with respect to determining the metabolic status of host-plant leaves, stages of phenological development have priority over calendar age

DNA methylation networks underlying mammalian traits

Using DNA methylation profiles ( = 15,456) from 348 mammalian species, we constructed phyloepigenetic trees that bear marked similarities to traditional phylogenetic ones. Using unsupervised clustering across all samples, we identified 55 distinct cytosine modules, of which 30 are related to traits such as maximum life span, adult weight, age, sex, and human mortality risk. Maximum life span is associated with methylation levels in subclass homeobox genes and developmental processes and is potentially regulated by pluripotency transcription factors. The methylation state of some modules responds to perturbations such as caloric restriction, ablation of growth hormone receptors, consumption of high-fat diets, and expression of Yamanaka factors. This study reveals an intertwined evolution of the genome and epigenome that mediates the biological characteristics and traits of different mammalian species