Researchers have created a comprehensive multi-omics atlas of common wheat, detailing thousands of transcripts, proteins, and their post-translational modifications (PTMs). This groundbreaking work, aimed at elucidation of gene regulation and disease resistance, reveals novel insights for crop improvement.
Wheat is one of the most important staple crops globally, and enhancing its yield, quality, and resistance to diseases is increasingly urgent amid growing environmental challenges. To address this, scientists have employed multi-omics approaches—integrative analyses of transcriptomes, proteomes, and modifications like phosphorylation and acetylation—to gain systematic insights.
Led by researchers from various institutions, the team compiled data from 20 different developmental stages of the wheat variety Yunong 268. The resulting atlas includes detailed profiles for 132,570 transcripts, 44,473 proteins, 19,970 phosphoproteins, and 12,427 acetylproteins.
This multi-omics framework was built using high-throughput RNA sequencing and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, allowing for groundbreaking analyses of gene expression and modification patterns associated with wheat development and responses to environmental stressors.
One significant discovery is the role of the protein TaP5CS1, which regulates wheat's resistance to Fusarium crown rot (FCR), one of the major diseases threatening wheat production. The study found strong evidence for TaP5CS1's importance by demonstrating its expression patterns and modifications during FCR infection. This protein is involved in synthesizing proline, which increases stress tolerance.
Alongside TaP5CS1, the interaction between this protein and the histone deacetylase TaHDA9 was investigated. Researchers discovered how TaHDA9 deacetylates TaP5CS1, thereby reducing its effectiveness at promoting disease resistance. This regulatory mechanism opens new avenues for enhancing wheat's defense capabilities through breeding strategies.
Previous studies have emphasized the complexity of polygenic traits and the impact of PTMs on wheat development. By integrating multi-omics data, the researchers were able to elucidate how transcriptional regulation and PTMs contribute to protein abundance and function.
The comprehensive nature of this atlas is expected to serve as a valuable resource for both molecular biology research and wheat breeding. The available datasets, along with insights from the study, will have significant implications for developing new strategies for crop improvement and enabling enhanced food security amid global challenges.
All findings are made available through the WheatPro database, allowing researchers worldwide to access and apply this atlas for future studies on wheat and related crops.