WGBS of Arabidopsis thaliana COM-edm2 mutant
Here we address that a mutation of EDM2 (Enhanced Downy Mildew 2), which is regarded as regulator of genome DNA methylation patterns, displays abnormal cotyledon number and shorted root length. Further, in early embryogenesis, edm2 shows embryonic developmental abnormalities, including the appearance of asymmetric embryos at the heart stage and unclear boundary between the spherical proembryo and suspensor cells. In addition, dysfunction of EDM2 alters the level of the auxin transporter PINs (PIN-FORMEDs), consistent with disordered distribution of auxin, which maybe the reason for developmental defect. Interestingly, analysis of high-throughput sequencing data show that the loss-of-function EDM2 exhibits the decreased expression of auxin polar transport-related gene PLT1 (PLETHORA 1), while methylation level and H3K9me2 enrichment in gene body are slightly higher than that in wide type. These results advance our understanding of EDM2 in establishment of auxin gradients through epigenetic modification and elucidate the roles of EDM2 in early embryogenesis. Overall design: BS-seq of COM-edm2