title: Widespread role for the flowering-time regulators FCA and FPA in RNA-mediated chromatin silencing.
abstract: The RRM-domain proteins FCA and FPA have previously been characterized as flowering-time regulators in Arabidopsis. We show that they are required for RNA-mediated chromatin silencing of a range of loci in the genome. At some target loci, FCA and FPA promote asymmetric DNA methylation, whereas at others they function in parallel to DNA methylation. Female gametophytic development and early embryonic development are particularly susceptible to malfunctions in FCA and FPA. We propose that FCA and FPA regulate chromatin silencing of single and low-copy genes and interact in a locus-dependent manner with the canonical small interfering RNA-directed DNA methylation pathway to regulate common targets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK. isabel.baurle@bbsrc.ac.uk
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bäurle
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Baulcombe
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dean
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000378:metabolism; D035264:Flowers / Q000254:growth & development; D009154:Mutation; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics; D034622:RNA Interference; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018626:Retroelements; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D002843:Chromatin; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D018744:DNA, Plant; C432432:FPA protein, Arabidopsis; C106535:Flowering time control protein FCA, Arabidopsis; D018749:RNA, Plant; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D018626:Retroelements; D010088:Oxidoreductases; C022398:phytoene dehydrogenase