Deep sequencing of RNA from ancient maize kernels

PLoS One. 2013;8(1):e50961. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050961. Epub 2013 Jan 11.

Abstract

The characterization of biomolecules from ancient samples can shed otherwise unobtainable insights into the past. Despite the fundamental role of transcriptomal change in evolution, the potential of ancient RNA remains unexploited - perhaps due to dogma associated with the fragility of RNA. We hypothesize that seeds offer a plausible refuge for long-term RNA survival, due to the fundamental role of RNA during seed germination. Using RNA-Seq on cDNA synthesized from nucleic acid extracts, we validate this hypothesis through demonstration of partial transcriptomal recovery from two sources of ancient maize kernels. The results suggest that ancient seed transcriptomics may offer a powerful new tool with which to study plant domestication.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA, Complementary / chemistry
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Germination / genetics
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing / methods*
  • RNA, Plant / genetics*
  • Seeds / genetics*
  • Seeds / growth & development
  • Time Factors
  • Transcriptome
  • Zea mays / genetics*
  • Zea mays / growth & development

Substances

  • DNA, Complementary
  • RNA, Plant

Grants and funding

The authors thank the Danish Natural Science Research Council and Danish National Research Foundations for financial support. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.