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An Arabidopsis Natural Epiallele Maintained by a Feed-Forward Silencing Loop between Histone and DNA.
- Source :
-
PLoS genetics [PLoS Genet] 2017 Jan 06; Vol. 13 (1), pp. e1006551. Date of Electronic Publication: 2017 Jan 06 (Print Publication: 2017). - Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- The extent of epigenetic variation is currently well documented, but the number of natural epialleles described so far remains very limited. Determining the relevance of epigenetic changes for natural variation is an important question of research that we investigate by isolating natural epialleles segregating in Arabidopsis recombinant populations. We previously described a genetic incompatibility among Arabidopsis strains based on the silencing of a gene involved in fitness. Here, we isolated a new epiallele resulting from the silencing of a transfer-RNA editing gene in an Arabidopsis accession from the Netherlands (Nok-1). Crosses with the reference accession Col-0 show a complete incompatibility between this epiallele and another locus localized on a different chromosome. We demonstrate that conversion of an unmethylated version of this allele occurs in hybrids, associated with modifications of small RNA populations. These epialleles can also spontaneously revert within the population. Furthermore, we bring evidence that neither METHYLTRANSFERASE 1, maintaining methylation at CGs, nor components of RNA-directed DNA methylation, are key factors for the transmission of the epiallele over generations. This depends only on the self-reinforcing loop between CHROMOMETHYLASE 3 and KRYPTONITE, involving DNA methylated in the CHG context and histone H3 lysine 9 methylation. Our findings reveal a predominant role of this loop in maintaining a natural epiallele.<br />Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
- Subjects :
- Alleles
Arabidopsis Proteins genetics
Arabidopsis Proteins metabolism
DNA, Plant genetics
Histones genetics
Methyltransferases genetics
Methyltransferases metabolism
Protein Processing, Post-Translational
Arabidopsis genetics
DNA Methylation
Epigenesis, Genetic
Feedback, Physiological
Gene Silencing
Histones metabolism
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1553-7404
- Volume :
- 13
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- PLoS genetics
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 28060933
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1006551