title: AIP1 is a novel Agenet/Tudor domain protein from Arabidopsis that interacts with regulators of DNA replication, transcription and chromatin remodeling.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  DNA replication and transcription are dynamic processes regulating plant development that are dependent on the chromatin accessibility. Proteins belonging to the Agenet/Tudor domain family are known as histone modification "readers" and classified as chromatin remodeling proteins. Histone modifications and chromatin remodeling have profound effects on gene expression as well as on DNA replication, but how these processes are integrated has not been completely elucidated. It is clear that members of the Agenet/Tudor family are important regulators of development playing roles not well known in plants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bioinformatics and phylogenetic analyses of the Agenet/Tudor Family domain in the plant kingdom were carried out with sequences from available complete genomes databases. 3D structure predictions of Agenet/Tudor domains were calculated by I-TASSER server. Protein interactions were tested in two-hybrid, GST pulldown, semi-in vivo pulldown and Tandem Affinity Purification assays. Gene function was studied in a T-DNA insertion GABI-line.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the present work we analyzed the family of Agenet/Tudor domain proteins in the plant kingdom and we mapped the organization of this family throughout plant evolution. Furthermore, we characterized a member from Arabidopsis thaliana named AIP1 that harbors Agenet/Tudor and DUF724 domains. AIP1 interacts with ABAP1, a plant regulator of DNA replication licensing and gene transcription, with a plant histone modification "reader" (LHP1) and with non modified histones. AIP1 is expressed in reproductive tissues and its down-regulation delays flower development timing. Also, expression of ABAP1 and LHP1 target genes were repressed in flower buds of plants with reduced levels of AIP1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AIP1 is a novel Agenet/Tudor domain protein in plants that could act as a link between DNA replication, transcription and chromatin remodeling during flower development.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. brasiljn@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Juliana Nogueira
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Brasil
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. luizmors@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Luiz Mors
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Systems Biology, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), Ghent, Belgium. nuelo@psb.vib-ugent.be.
authors.forename: Nubia B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Eloy
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. lumferraz@gmail.com.|Programa de Biologia Celular, Instituto Nacional de Câncer, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. lumferraz@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Luiza M F
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Primo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. itoliberato@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ito Liberato
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Barroso-Neto
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. lele2405@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Letícia P Perdigão
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Grangeiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Systems Biology, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), Ghent, Belgium. nagon@psb.vib-ugent.be.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Systems Biology, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), Ghent, Belgium. dirk.inze@psb.vib-ugent.be.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Inzé
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. paulof@bioqmed.ufrj.br.
authors.forename: Paulo C G
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. hemerly@bioqmed.ufrj.br.
authors.forename: Adriana S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Hemerly
mesh_terms: D017360:Arabidopsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051186:Armadillo Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004261:DNA Replication; D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000378:metabolism; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: C000607372:ABAP1 protein, Arabidopsis; C408685:AIP1 protein, Arabidopsis; D029681:Arabidopsis Proteins; D051186:Armadillo Domain Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D002843:Chromatin; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D018744:DNA, Plant; C443901:like heterochromatin protein 1