Repression of CHROMOMETHYLASE 3 prevents epigenetic collateral damage in Arabidopsis.

ABSTRACT: DNA methylation has evolved to silence mutagenic transposable elements (TEs) while typically avoiding the targeting of endogenous genes. Mechanisms that prevent DNA methyltransferases from ectopically methylating genes are expected to be of prime importance during periods of dynamic cell cycle activities including plant embryogenesis. However, virtually nothing is known regarding how DNA methyltransferase activities are precisely regulated during embryogenesis to prevent the induction of potentially deleterious and mitotically stable genic epimutations. Here, we report that microRNA-mediated repression of CHROMOMETHYLASE 3 (CMT3) and the chromatin features that CMT3 prefers help prevent ectopic methylation of thousands of genes during embryogenesis that can persist for weeks afterwards. Ou

SUBMITTER: Papareddy RK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8352596 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature