title: Endosperm gene imprinting and seed development.
abstract: Imprinting occurs in the endosperm of flowering plants. Endosperm, produced by fertilization of the central cell in the female gametophyte, is essential for embryo and seed development. Several imprinted genes play an important role in endosperm development. The mechanism of gene imprinting involves DNA methylation and histone modification. DNA methylation is actively removed at the imprinted alleles to be activated. Histone methylation mediated by the Polycomb group complex provides another layer of epigenetic regulation at the silenced alleles. Endosperm gene imprinting can be uncoupled from seed development when fertilization of the central cell is prevented. Imprinting may be a mechanism to ensure fertilization of the central cell thereby preventing parthenogenic development of the endosperm.
authors.affiliation: University of California at Berkeley, Plant & Microbial Biology Department, Berkeley, CA 94720-3102, USA.
authors.forename: Jin Hoe
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Tzung-Fu
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fischer
mesh_terms: D019175:DNA Methylation; D020868:Gene Silencing; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D008957:Models, Genetic; D063245:Plant Development; D010944:Plants / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D006657:Histones; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins