Chromatin dynamics during the plant cell cycle

Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2008 Dec;19(6):537-46. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2008.07.014. Epub 2008 Jul 30.

Abstract

Cell cycle progression depends on a highly regulated series of events of which transcriptional control plays a major role. In addition, during the S-phase not only DNA but chromatin as a whole needs to be faithfully duplicated. Therefore, both nucleosome dynamics as well as local changes in chromatin organization, including introduction and/or removal of covalent DNA and histone modifications, at genes with a key role in cell proliferation, are of primary relevance. Chromatin duplication during the S-phase and the chromosome segregation during mitosis are cell cycle stages critical for maintenance of epigenetic marks or for allowing the daughter products to acquire a distinct epigenetic landscape and, consequently, a unique cell fate decision. These aspects of chromatin dynamics together with the strict coupling of cell proliferation, cell differentiation and post-embryonic organogenesis have a profound impact on plant growth, development and response to external signals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle / physiology*
  • Chromatin / metabolism*
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Plant Cells
  • Plants* / genetics

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • Histones