title: An AP endonuclease functions in active DNA demethylation and gene imprinting in Arabidopsis [corrected].
abstract: Active DNA demethylation in plants occurs through base excision repair, beginning with removal of methylated cytosine by the ROS1/DME subfamily of 5-methylcytosine DNA glycosylases. Active DNA demethylation in animals requires the DNA glycosylase TDG or MBD4, which functions after oxidation or deamination of 5-methylcytosine, respectively. However, little is known about the steps following DNA glycosylase action in the active DNA demethylation pathways in plants and animals. We show here that the Arabidopsis APE1L protein has apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease activities and functions downstream of ROS1 and DME. APE1L and ROS1 interact in vitro and co-localize in vivo. Whole genome bisulfite sequencing of ape1l mutant plants revealed widespread alterations in DNA methylation. We show that the ape1l/zdp double mutant displays embryonic lethality. Notably, the ape1l+/-zdp-/- mutant shows a maternal-effect lethality phenotype. APE1L and the DNA phosphatase ZDP are required for FWA and MEA gene imprinting in the endosperm and are important for seed development. Thus, APE1L is a new component of the active DNA demethylation pathway and, together with ZDP, regulates gene imprinting in Arabidopsis.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences and Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Science, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, University of Córdoba/Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research of Cordoba (IMIBIC)/Reina Sofía University Hospital, Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Córdoba-Cañero
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences and Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Science, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Weiqiang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America.
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Huiming
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, University of Córdoba/Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research of Cordoba (IMIBIC)/Reina Sofía University Hospital, Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: Rafael R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Ariza
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, University of Córdoba/Maimonides Institute for Biomedical Research of Cordoba (IMIBIC)/Reina Sofía University Hospital, Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Roldán-Arjona
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jian-Kang
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics*; D004720:Endonucleases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D056625:Endosperm / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D020868:Gene Silencing; D018745:Genome, Plant; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012639:Seeds / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C416366:FWA protein, Arabidopsis; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C111712:MEA protein, Arabidopsis; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C471271:ROS1 protein, Arabidopsis; D014157:Transcription Factors; C540281:Ape1L protein, Arabidopsis; D004720:Endonucleases