Three putative DNA methyltransferases of Verticillium dahliae differentially contribute to DNA methylation that is dispensable for growth, development and virulence.

ABSTRACT:

Background

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic control mechanism that in many fungi is restricted to genomic regions containing transposable elements (TEs). Two DNA methyltransferases, Dim2 and Dnmt5, are known to perform methylation at cytosines in fungi. While most ascomycete fungi encode both Dim2 and Dnmt5, only few functional studies have been performed in species containing both.

Methods

In this study, we report functional analysis of both Dim2 and Dnmt5 in the plant pathogenic fungus Verticillium dahliae.

Results

Our results show that Dim2, but not Dnmt5 or the putative sexual-cycle-related DNA methyltransferase Rid, is responsible for the majority of DNA methylation under the tested conditions. Single or double DNA methyltransferase mutants did not show

SUBMITTER: Kramer HM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8091789 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature