title: Genomic imprinting in plants: the epigenetic version of an Oedipus complex.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Daphné
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Autran
authors.forename: Wilson
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huanca-Mamani
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vielle-Calzada
mesh_terms: D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D018745:Genome, Plant; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000235:genetics*