RNA-directed DNA Methylation and sexual reproduction: expanding beyond the seed

Hiu Tung Chow; Tania Chakraborty; Rebecca A Mosher

doi:10.1016/j.pbi.2019.11.006

RNA-directed DNA Methylation and sexual reproduction: expanding beyond the seed

Curr Opin Plant Biol. 2020 Apr:54:11-17. doi: 10.1016/j.pbi.2019.11.006. Epub 2019 Dec 24.

Authors

Hiu Tung Chow¹, Tania Chakraborty¹, Rebecca A Mosher²

Affiliations

¹ The School of Plant Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States.
² The School of Plant Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States. Electronic address: rmosher@email.arizona.edu.

PMID: 31881293
DOI: 10.1016/j.pbi.2019.11.006

Abstract

Two trends are changing our understanding of RNA-directed DNA methylation. In model systems like Arabidopsis, tissue-specific analysis of DNA methylation is uncovering dynamic changes in methylation during sexual reproduction and unraveling the contribution of maternal and paternal epigenomes to the developing embryo. These studies indicate that RNA-directed DNA Methylation might be important for mediating balance between maternal and paternal contributions to the endosperm. At the same time, researchers are moving beyond Arabidopsis to illuminate the ancestral role of RdDM in non-flowering plants that lack an endosperm, suggesting that RdDM might play a broader role in sexual reproduction.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Arabidopsis / genetics*
Arabidopsis Proteins*
DNA Methylation
Endosperm
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
RNA
Seeds

Substances

Arabidopsis Proteins
RNA