Paired-end analysis of transcription start sites in Arabidopsis reveals plant-specific promoter signatures.

TitlePaired-end analysis of transcription start sites in Arabidopsis reveals plant-specific promoter signatures.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsMorton, T, Petricka, J, Corcoran, DL, Li, S, Winter, CM, Carda, A, Benfey, PN, Ohler, U, Megraw, M
JournalPlant Cell
Volume26
Issue7
Pagination2746-60
Date Published2014 Jul
ISSN1532-298X
KeywordsArabidopsis, Arabidopsis Proteins, Binding Sites, Cluster Analysis, DNA, Plant, Gene Expression Regulation, Plant, Genome, Plant, Models, Genetic, Nucleotide Motifs, Plant Roots, Promoter Regions, Genetic, RNA, Messenger, RNA, Plant, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Species Specificity, TATA Box, Transcription Factors, Transcription Initiation Site
Abstract

Understanding plant gene promoter architecture has long been a challenge due to the lack of relevant large-scale data sets and analysis methods. Here, we present a publicly available, large-scale transcription start site (TSS) data set in plants using a high-resolution method for analysis of 5' ends of mRNA transcripts. Our data set is produced using the paired-end analysis of transcription start sites (PEAT) protocol, providing millions of TSS locations from wild-type Columbia-0 Arabidopsis thaliana whole root samples. Using this data set, we grouped TSS reads into "TSS tag clusters" and categorized clusters into three spatial initiation patterns: narrow peak, broad with peak, and weak peak. We then designed a machine learning model that predicts the presence of TSS tag clusters with outstanding sensitivity and specificity for all three initiation patterns. We used this model to analyze the transcription factor binding site content of promoters exhibiting these initiation patterns. In contrast to the canonical notions of TATA-containing and more broad "TATA-less" promoters, the model shows that, in plants, the vast majority of transcription start sites are TATA free and are defined by a large compendium of known DNA sequence binding elements. We present results on the usage of these elements and provide our Plant PEAT Peaks (3PEAT) model that predicts the presence of TSSs directly from sequence.

[Link to Additional Data and Supplementary Materials]

DOI10.1105/tpc.114.125617
Alternate JournalPlant Cell
PubMed ID25035402
PubMed Central IDPMC4145111
Grant ListF32GM086976 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
GM097188 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
R00 GM097188 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States