title: A potential role for CHH DNA methylation in cotton fiber growth patterns.
abstract: DNA methylation controls many aspects of plant growth and development. Here, we report a novel annual growth potential change that may correlate with changes in levels of the major DNA demethylases and methyltransferases in cotton ovules harvested at different times of the year. The abundances of DNA demethylases, at both the mRNA and protein levels, increased significantly from February to August and decreased during the remainder of the 12-month period, with the opposite pattern observed for DNA methyltransferases. Over the course of one year, substantial changes in methylcytosine content was observed at certain CHH sites (H = A, C, or T) in the promoter regions of the ETHYLENE RESPONSIVE FACTOR 6 (ERF6), SUPPRESSION OF RVS 161 DELTA 4 (SUR4) and 3-KETOACYL-COA SYNTHASE 13 (KCS13), which regulate cotton fiber growth. Three independent techniques were used to confirm the annual fluctuations in DNA methylation. Furthermore, in homozygous RNAi lines specifically targeting REPRESSOR OF SILENCING 1 (ROS1, a conserved DNA demethylase domain), promotion of DNA methylation significantly reduced fiber growth during August.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: Fangxing
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Guanghui
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yuxian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D032561:Cotton Fiber; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant / Q000235:genetics; D003368:Gossypium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D056771:Ovule / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D034622:RNA Interference; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA