Vernalization requires epigenetic silencing of FLC by histone methylation

Bastow, R., Mylne, J. S., Lister, C., Lippman, Z., Martienssen, R. A., Dean, C. (January 2004) Vernalization requires epigenetic silencing of FLC by histone methylation. Nature, 427 (6970). pp. 164-7. ISSN 1476-4687 (Electronic)0028-0836 (Linking)

URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14712277
DOI: 10.1038/nature02269

Abstract

To ensure flowering in favourable conditions, many plants flower only after an extended period of cold, namely winter. In Arabidopsis, the acceleration of flowering by prolonged cold, a process called vernalization, involves downregulation of the protein FLC, which would otherwise prevent flowering. This lowered FLC expression is maintained through subsequent development by the activity of VERNALIZATION (VRN) genes. VRN1 encodes a DNA-binding protein whereas VRN2 encodes a homologue of one of the Polycomb group proteins, which maintain the silencing of genes during animal development. Here we show that vernalization causes changes in histone methylation in discrete domains within the FLC locus, increasing dimethylation of lysines 9 and 27 on histone H3. Such modifications identify silenced chromatin states in Drosophila and human cells. Dimethylation of H3 K27 was lost only in vrn2 mutants, but dimethylation of H3 K9 was absent from both vrn1 and vrn2, consistent with VRN1 functioning downstream of VRN2. The epigenetic memory of winter is thus mediated by a 'histone code' that specifies a silent chromatin state conserved between animals and plants.

Item Type: Paper
Uncontrolled Keywords: Arabidopsis genetics growth & development Arabidopsis Proteins genetics metabolism Carrier Proteins chemistry genetics metabolism Chromatin genetics metabolism Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly Cold Temperature DNA-Binding Proteins genetics metabolism Flowers genetics growth & development Gene Expression Regulation Plant Gene Silencing Genes Plant genetics Histones metabolism MADS Domain Proteins genetics Methylation Mutation genetics Nuclear Proteins chemistry genetics metabolism Repressor Proteins Seasons Zinc Fingers
Subjects: bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > protein structure, function, modification
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > epigenetics
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification > epigenetics
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification > genes, structure and function > gene silencing
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification > genes, structure and function
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > protein structure, function, modification > protein methylation > histone methylation
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > protein structure, function, modification > protein methylation
CSHL Authors:
Communities: CSHL labs > Lippman lab
CSHL labs > Martienssen lab
School of Biological Sciences > Publications
Depositing User: Matt Covey
Date: 8 January 2004
Date Deposited: 04 Mar 2013 22:21
Last Modified: 19 Sep 2014 14:50
Related URLs:
URI: https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/27690

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