title: Extensive natural epigenetic variation at a de novo originated gene.
abstract: Epigenetic variation, such as heritable changes of DNA methylation, can affect gene expression and thus phenotypes, but examples of natural epimutations are few and little is known about their stability and frequency in nature. Here, we report that the gene Qua-Quine Starch (QQS) of Arabidopsis thaliana, which is involved in starch metabolism and that originated de novo recently, is subject to frequent epigenetic variation in nature. Specifically, we show that expression of this gene varies considerably among natural accessions as well as within populations directly sampled from the wild, and we demonstrate that this variation correlates negatively with the DNA methylation level of repeated sequences located within the 5'end of the gene. Furthermore, we provide extensive evidence that DNA methylation and expression variants can be inherited for several generations and are not linked to DNA sequence changes. Taken together, these observations provide a first indication that de novo originated genes might be particularly prone to epigenetic variation in their initial stages of formation.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Cidade Universitária "Zeferino Vaz," Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Amanda Bortolini
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trontin
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cortijo
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barau
authors.forename: Luiz Eduardo Vieira
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Del Bem
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Loudet
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Colot
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vincentz
mesh_terms: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D014644:Genetic Variation; D010641:Phenotype; D013213:Starch / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D013213:Starch