title: Restriction accessibility in isolated nuclei reveals light-induced chromatin reorganization at the PEPC promoter in maize.
abstract: Expression of genes necessary to perform C4 photosynthesis in maize is activated by light. It is not known how this activation is regulated on the chromatin level in vivo. We analysed alterations in the chromatin structure of the promoter of the C4-specific isoform of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) after illumination of seedlings. A protocol was established that facilitates the preparation of nuclei from maize leaves with intact chromatin structure and resistance to DNA degradation during prolonged incubation at high temperatures. The presence of non-spliced transcripts from the C4-PEPC gene in the nuclei was demonstrated by RT-PCR. The chromatin was partially digested with restriction endonucleases. Quantitative PCR analyses revealed a clear increase in the accessibility of the promoter chromatin to restriction dependent on illumination of the seedlings. The data indicate chromatin reorganization at the C4-PEPC promoter during activation.
authors.affiliation: Aachen University, Institute for Biology I, 52056 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kalamajka
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hahnen
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cavalar
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Töpsch
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weier
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peterhänsel
mesh_terms: D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific / Q000378:metabolism*; D008027:Light; D010730:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase / Q000235:genetics*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D018744:DNA, Plant; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific; C024403:GGCC-specific type II deoxyribonucleases; D010730:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase