title: Transposon-mediated epigenetic regulation contributes to phenotypic diversity and environmental adaptation in rice.
abstract: Transposable elements (TEs) have long been regarded as 'selfish DNA', and are generally silenced by epigenetic mechanisms. However, work in the past decade has identified positive roles for TEs in generating genomic novelty and diversity in plants. In particular, recent studies suggested that TE-induced epigenetic alterations and modification of gene expression contribute to phenotypic variation and adaptation to geography or stress. These findings have led many to regard TEs, not as junk DNA, but as sources of control elements and genomic diversity. As a staple food crop and model system for genomic research on monocot plants, rice (Oryza sativa) has a modest-sized genome that harbors massive numbers of DNA transposons (class II transposable elements) scattered across the genome, which may make TE regulation of genes more prevalent. In this review, we summarize recent progress in research on the functions of rice TEs in modulating gene expression and creating new genes. We also examine the contributions of TEs to phenotypic diversity and adaptation to environmental conditions.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics and National Center for Plant Gene Research, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Xianwei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics and National Center for Plant Gene Research, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China. Electronic address: xfcao@genetics.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D000220:Adaptation, Biological; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D018506:Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; D018745:Genome, Plant; D012275:Oryza / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype
chemical_list: D004251:DNA Transposable Elements