Genomic imprinting in plants: the epigenetic version of an Oedipus complex.
Genomic imprinting is a mitotically stable epigenetic modification that results in the functional non-equivalency of both parental genomes following fertilization. In flowering plants, studies of parent-of-origin effects have mostly identified genes that are only transcribed from a maternally inherited allele. In Arabidopsis, the Polycomb group protein MEDEA regulates seed development through the expression of the MADS-box gene PHERES1. Activation of the maternal MEDEA allele requires the function of DEMETER, a plant DNA glycosylase that also controls the transcriptional activity of the maternally inherited allele of the late-flowering gene FWA. Current studies of parent-of-origin effects have mostly identified genes that are only transcribed from a maternally inherited allele. Our current understanding of parent-of-origin effects could represent a new form of an Oedipus complex in which flowering plants prefer to rely transcriptionally on their maternal rather than their paternal chromosomes to ensure normal initiation of seed development.
Autran
Daphné
D
Laboratory of Reproductive Development and Apomixis, Department of Genetic Engineering, CINVESTAV--Unidad Irapuato, Apartado Postal 629, CP 36 500, Irapuato, Gto. México. Autran@mpl.ird.fr
Huanca-Mamani
Wilson
W
Vielle-Calzada
Jean-Philippe
JP
D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D018745:Genome, Plant; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000235:genetics*