title: The CHD3 chromatin remodeler PICKLE and polycomb group proteins antagonistically regulate meristem activity in the Arabidopsis root.
abstract: The chromatin modifying Polycomb group (PcG) and trithorax group (trxG) proteins are central regulators of cell identity that maintain a tightly controlled balance between cell proliferation and cell differentiation. The opposing activities of PcG and trxG proteins ensure the correct expression of specific transcriptional programs at defined developmental stages. Here, we report that the chromatin remodeling factor PICKLE (PKL) and the PcG protein CURLY LEAF (CLF) antagonistically determine root meristem activity. Whereas loss of PKL function caused a decrease in meristematic activity, loss of CLF function increased meristematic activity. Alterations of meristematic activity in pkl and clf mutants were not connected with changes in auxin concentration but correlated with decreased or increased expression of root stem cell and meristem marker genes, respectively. Root stem cell and meristem marker genes are modified by the PcG-mediated trimethylation of histone H3 on lysine 27 (H3K27me3). Decreased expression levels of root stem cell and meristem marker genes in pkl correlated with increased levels of H3K27me3, indicating that root meristem activity is largely controlled by the antagonistic activity of PcG proteins and PKL.
authors: Department of Biology and Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, ETH Centre, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Ernst
authors: E
authors: Aichinger
authors: Corina B R
authors: CB
authors: Villar
authors: Riccardo
authors: R
authors: Di Mambro
authors: Sabrina
authors: S
authors: Sabatini
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Köhler
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; D004265:DNA Helicases; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018519:Meristem / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D008745:Methylation; D009154:Mutation; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C104597:CURLY LEAF protein, Arabidopsis; D006657:Histones; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C402442:AT2G25170 protein, Arabidopsis; D004265:DNA Helicases