Alternative Splicing Detection and Isoform Characterization in Medicago truncatula Species

Alternative splicing (AS) in eukaryotes, which increases proteomic diversity, has been attributed, among other causes, to the presence of SNPs. Studies have reported correlation between SNPs present in introns and alternative splicing in humans and animals, while plants studies have been limited.  Gene duplication also contributes to proteomic diversity but has been reported to be inversely correlated to AS. The Medicago truncatula genome sequence has supported a whole genome duplication event, resulting in innovations that are associated with nodulation in Papilionoid legumes, which makes this species ideal for the study of AS and duplicated genes. We are associating RNASeq data from Medicago truncatula roots uninfected and infected with Gigaspora gigantea for the comparison and characterization by their intron/exon sequence structure and further correlation with the detected alternative spicing isoforms. Results will be compared with gene duplication patterns of genes affecting myccorhizal interactions.