Postdoctoral Research Associate Michigan State University Glendale, Arizona
Body of Abstract: Understanding the contribution of genetic variation to trait differences is a crucial goal for crop improvement. Despite the extensive utilization of techniques like GWAS and omics analyses, identifying the molecule-to-phenotype impact remains challenging due to a poor understanding of major trans-acting regulators and cis-regulatory DNA elements (CREs). Here, we present a distinct approach that investigates the cis/trans components underlaying the regulatory variation contributing to the diversity in the accumulation of insecticidal compounds (maysin and chlorogenic acid) in maize silks between two widely used maize inbred lines (B73 and A632). By focusing on the R2R3-MYB transcription factor P1, a central regulator for the accumulation of these compounds, and employing allelic-specific TF binding (ASB) and allelic-specific expression (ASE) analyses, we elucidate cases where cis-regulatory variation affects ASB and influence diverse metabolic phenotypes. This approach provides valuable insights into the molecular basis of genetic variation responsible for metabolic diversity, with broader implications for understanding how regulatory variation shapes complex traits.