Research Molecular Biologist USDA-ARS Cold Spring Harbor, New York
Body of Abstract: Identifying non-coding regions that control gene expression has become an essential aspect of understanding gene regulatory networks that can play a role in crop improvements such as crop manipulation, stress response, and plant evolution. Using Transcription factor (TF)-binding approaches such as ChIP-seq or DAP-seq can provide additional valuable insight and targets for reverse genetic approaches such as EMS-induced or natural SNP variant screens or CRISPR editing techniques (e.g. promoter bashing). Here, we present the first ever DAP-seq profiles of three GRAS family TFs (SHR, SCL23, and SLC3) in the crop Sorghum bicolor. The binding behavior of the three GRAS TFs display unique and shared gene targets and categories of previously-characterized DNA-binding motifs as well as novel sequences that could potentially be GRAS family-specific recognition motifs. Target genes include those associated with gametogenesis, floral development, light signaling, hormone signaling, and root development. These results provide unique insight into the GRAS family of TFs and novel regulatory targets for further molecular characterization. This project was funded by the USDA-ARS award number 8062-21000-044-000D.