Vernalization-mediated chromatin changes.
Proper flowering time is vital for reproductive fitness in flowering plants. In Arabidopsis, vernalization is mediated primarily through the repression of a MADS box transcription factor, FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC). The induction of a plant homeodomain-containing protein, VERNALIZATION INSENSITIVE 3 (VIN3), by vernalizing cold is required for proper repression of FLC. One of a myriad of changes that occurs after VIN3 is induced is the establishment of FLC chromatin at a mitotically repressed state due to the enrichment of repressive histone modifications. VIN3 induction by cold is the earliest known event during the vernalization response and includes changes in histone modifications at its chromatin. Here, the current understanding of the vernalization-mediated chromatin changes in Arabidopsis is discussed, with a focus on the roles of shared chromatin-modifying machineries in regulating VIN3 and FLC gene family expression during the course of vernalization.
Graduate Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, Section of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin,  Austin, TX 78712, USA.
Brett R
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D000064:Acclimatization / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D063185:Epigenetic Repression / Q000235:genetics*; D035264:Flowers / Q000235:genetics*; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D017440:Photoperiod; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D002843:Chromatin; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C418902:At5g10140 protein, Arabidopsis; D006657:Histones; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C480553:VIN3 protein, Arabidopsis