title: The zinc-finger protein SPT4 interacts with SPT5L/KTF1 and modulates transcriptional silencing in Arabidopsis.
abstract: The Arabidopsis multidomain protein SPT5L/KTF1 (which has similarity to the transcript elongation factor SPT5) associates with RNA polymerase V (RNAPV) and is an accessory factor in RNA-directed DNA methylation. The zinc-finger protein SPT4 was found to interact with SPT5L (and SPT5) both in vivo and in vitro. Here, we show that plants depleted of SPT4 relative to wild type display reduced DNA methylation and the locus specificity is shared with SPT5L, suggesting a cooperation of SPT4 and SPT5L. Unlike observed for SPT5, no reduced protein level of SPT5L is determined in SPT4-deficient plants. These experiments demonstrate that in addition to the RNA polymerase II-associated SPT4/SPT5 that is generally conserved in eukaryotes, flowering plants have SPT4/SPT5L that is involved in RNAPV-mediated transcriptional silencing.
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology & Plant Biochemistry, Biochemie-Zentrum Regensburg, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstr. 31, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Köllen
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology & Plant Biochemistry, Biochemie-Zentrum Regensburg, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstr. 31, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dietz
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Génome et Développement des Plantes, Université de Perpignan, 52 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Natacha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bies-Etheve
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Génome et Développement des Plantes, Université de Perpignan, 52 Avenue Paul Alduy, 66860 Perpignan Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lagrange
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology & Plant Biochemistry, Biochemie-Zentrum Regensburg, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstr. 31, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany. Electronic address: Marion.Grasser@ur.de.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grasser
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology & Plant Biochemistry, Biochemie-Zentrum Regensburg, University of Regensburg, Universitätsstr. 31, D-93053 Regensburg, Germany. Electronic address: Klaus.Grasser@ur.de.
authors.forename: Klaus D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Grasser
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D020868:Gene Silencing; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D035602:Transcriptional Elongation Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D016335:Zinc Fingers
chemical_list: D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; C542552:KTF1 protein, Arabidopsis; C000605773:SPT4 protein, Arabidopsis; D014157:Transcription Factors; D035602:Transcriptional Elongation Factors; D012319:RNA Polymerase II; C538841:RNA polymerase V, Arabidopsis; D012321:DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases
keywords: Chromatin; Gene expression; RNA polymerase V; RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM); SPT4/SPT5L