Convergent evolution of genomic imprinting in plants and mammals.
Parental genomic imprinting is characterized by the expression of a selected panel of genes from one of the two parental alleles. Recent evidence shows that DNA methylation and histone modifications are responsible for this parent-of-origin-dependent expression of imprinted genes. Because similar epigenetic marks have been recruited independently in plants and mammals, the only organisms in which imprinted gene loci have been identified so far, this phenomenon represents a case for convergent evolution. Here we discuss the emerging parallels in imprinting in both taxa. We also describe the significance of imprinting for reproduction and discuss potential models for its evolution.
Feil
Robert
R
Institute of Molecular Genetics, CNRS UMR-5535 and University of Montpellier, 1919 route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier, France. robert.feil@igmm.cnrs.fr
Berger
Frédéric
F
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D008322:Mammals / Q000235:genetics*; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics*