title: Extra views on RNA-dependent DNA methylation and MBD6-dependent heterochromatin formation in nucleolar dominance.
abstract: Nucleolar dominance is a widespread epigenetic phenomenon, describing the preferential silencing of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes inherited from one progenitor of an interspecific hybrid, independent of maternal or paternal effects. In the allotetraploid hybrid plant species Arabidopsis suecica, A. thaliana-derived rRNA genes are silenced whereas the A. arenosa-derived rRNA genes are transcribed. We reported previously on an RNAi-based screen of DNA methyltransferases, methylcytosine binding proteins and RNA-dependent DNA methylation pathway proteins that identified specific activities required for the establishment or enforcement of nucleolar dominance. Here we present additional molecular and cell biological evidence that siRNA-directed cytosine methylation and the methylcytosine binding protein MBD6 bring about large-scale chromosomal effects on rRNA gene loci subjected to nucleolar dominance in A. suecica.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA. pcostanunes@biology2.wustl.edu
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Costa-Nunes
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pontes
authors.forename: Sasha B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Preuss
authors.forename: Craig S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Pikaard
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002466:Cell Nucleolus / Q000378:metabolism*; D003596:Cytosine / Q000378:metabolism; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D008780:Methyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D018749:RNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006570:Heterochromatin; C519565:MBD6 protein, Arabidopsis; D018749:RNA, Plant; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D003596:Cytosine; D008780:Methyltransferases; C470732:DRM2 protein, Arabidopsis