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PremiseApocynaceae is the 10th largest flowering plant family and a focus for study of plant–insect interactions, especially as mediated by secondary metabolites. However, it has few genomic resources relative to its size. Target capture sequencing is a powerful approach for genome reduction that facilitates studies requiring data from the nuclear genome in non‐model taxa, such as Apocynaceae. MethodsTranscriptomes were used to design probes for targeted sequencing of putatively single‐copy nuclear genes across Apocynaceae. The sequences obtained were used to assess the success of the probe design, the intrageneric and intraspecific variation in the targeted genes, and the utility of the genes for inferring phylogeny. ResultsFrom 853 candidate nuclear genes, 835 were consistently recovered in single copy and were variable enough for phylogenomics. The inferred gene trees were useful for coalescent‐based species tree analysis, which showed all subfamilies of Apocynaceae as monophyletic, while also resolving relationships among species within the genusApocynum. Intraspecific comparison ofElytropus chilensisindividuals revealed numerous single‐nucleotide polymorphisms with potential for use in population‐level studies. DiscussionCommunity use of this Hyb‐Seq probe set will facilitate and promote progress in the study of Apocynaceae across scales from population genomics to phylogenomics.
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This content will become publicly available on February 1, 2026
The promising role of proteomes and metabolomes in defining the single‐cell landscapes of plants
Summary The plant community has a strong track record of RNA sequencing technology deployment, which combined with the recent advent of spatial platforms (e.g. 10× genomics) has resulted in an explosion of single‐cell and nuclei datasets that can be positioned in anin situcontext within tissues (e.g. a cell atlas). In the genomics era, application of proteomics technologies in the plant sciences has always trailed behind that of RNA sequencing technologies, largely due in part to upfront cost, ease‐of‐use, and access to expertise. Conversely, the use of early analytical tools for characterizing small molecules (metabolites) from plant systems predates nucleic acid sequencing and proteomics analysis, as the search for plant‐based natural products has played a significant role in improving human health throughout history. As the plant sciences field now aims to fully define cell states, cell‐specific regulatory networks, metabolic asymmetry and phenotypes, the measurement of proteins and metabolites at the single‐cell level will be paramount. As a result of these efforts, the plant community will unlock exciting opportunities to accelerate discovery and drive toward meaningful translational outcomes.
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- Award ID(s):
- 2420360
- PAR ID:
- 10588529
- Publisher / Repository:
- Wiley
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- New Phytologist
- Volume:
- 245
- Issue:
- 3
- ISSN:
- 0028-646X
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 945 to 948
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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