Cooperation of multiple chromatin modifications can generate unanticipated stability of epigenetic States in Arabidopsis.
Epigenetic changes of gene expression can potentially be reversed by developmental programs, genetic manipulation, or pharmacological interference. However, a case of transcriptional gene silencing, originally observed in tetraploid Arabidopsis thaliana plants, created an epiallele resistant to many mutations or inhibitor treatments that activate many other suppressed genes. This raised the question about the molecular basis of this extreme stability. A combination of forward and reverse genetics and drug application provides evidence for an epigenetic double lock that is only alleviated upon the simultaneous removal of both DNA methylation and histone methylation. Therefore, the cooperation of multiple chromatin modifications can generate unanticipated stability of epigenetic states and contributes to heritable diversity of gene expression patterns.
Baubec
Tuncay
T
Gregor Mendel Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1030 Viena, Austria.
Dinh
Huy Q
HQ
Pecinka
Ales
A
Rakic
Branislava
B
Rozhon
Wilfried
W
Wohlrab
Bonnie
B
von Haeseler
Arndt
A
Mittelsten Scheid
Ortrun
O
D043383:Adenosylhomocysteinase / Q000235:genetics; D000483:Alleles; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D009154:Mutation; D011123:Polyploidy; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D002843:Chromatin; C118957:DDM1 protein, Arabidopsis; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D018744:DNA, Plant; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D006657:Histones; C036483:T-DNA; D014157:Transcription Factors; D043383:Adenosylhomocysteinase; C505419:HOG1 protein, Arabidopsis