title: Conserved Epigenetic Mechanisms Could Play a Key Role in Regulation of Photosynthesis and Development-Related Genes during Needle Development of Pinus radiata.
abstract: Needle maturation is a complex process that involves cell growth, differentiation and tissue remodelling towards the acquisition of full physiological competence. Leaf induction mechanisms are well known; however, those underlying the acquisition of physiological competence are still poorly understood, especially in conifers. We studied the specific epigenetic regulation of genes defining organ function (PrRBCS and PrRBCA) and competence and stress response (PrCSDP2 and PrSHMT4) during three stages of needle development and one de-differentiated control. Gene-specific changes in DNA methylation and histone were analysed by bisulfite sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). The expression of PrRBCA and PrRBCS increased during needle maturation and was associated with the progressive loss of H3K9me3, H3K27me3 and the increase in AcH4. The maturation-related silencing of PrSHMT4 was correlated with increased H3K9me3 levels, and the repression of PrCSDP2, to the interplay between AcH4, H3K27me3, H3K9me3 and specific DNA methylation. The employ of HAT and HDAC inhibitors led to a further determination of the role of histone acetylation in the regulation of our target genes. The integration of these results with high-throughput analyses in Arabidopsis thaliana and Populus trichocarpa suggests that the specific epigenetic mechanisms that regulate photosynthetic genes are conserved between the analysed species.
authors.affiliation: Plant Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Oviedo, Cat. Rodrígo Uría s/n, E-33071, Oviedo, Spain; Department of Biology and CESAM, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitario de Santiago, P-3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Valledor
authors.affiliation: Plant Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Oviedo, Cat. Rodrígo Uría s/n, E-33071, Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pascual
authors.affiliation: Regional Institute for Research and Agro-Food Development (SERIDA), Finca Experimental La Mata s/n, E-33825, Grado, Spain.
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meijón
authors.affiliation: Plant Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Oviedo, Cat. Rodrígo Uría s/n, E-33071, Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Escandón
authors.affiliation: Plant Physiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Oviedo, Cat. Rodrígo Uría s/n, E-33071, Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: María Jesús
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Cañal
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D017343:Genes, Plant; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D010788:Photosynthesis; D028223:Pinus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D006657:Histones