LHP1, the Arabidopsis homologue of HETEROCHROMATIN PROTEIN1, is required for epigenetic silencing of FLC.

ABSTRACT: Vernalization is the acceleration of flowering by prolonged cold that aligns the onset of reproductive development with spring conditions. A key step of vernalization in Arabidopsis is the epigenetic silencing of FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), which encodes a repressor of flowering. The vernalization-induced epigenetic silencing of FLC is associated with histone deacetylation and H3K27me2 and H3K9me2 methylation mediated by VRN/VIN proteins. We have analyzed whether different histone methyltransferases and the chromodomain protein LIKE HETEROCHROMATIN PROTEIN (LHP)1 might play a role in vernalization. No single loss-of-function mutation in the histone methyltransferases studied disrupted the vernalization response; however, lhp1 mutants revealed a role for LHP1 in maintaining epigenetic silencin

SUBMITTER: Mylne JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1458786 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature