Small RNAs mediate transgenerational inheritance of genome-wide trans-acting epialleles in maize.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hybridization and backcrossing are commonly used in animal and plant breeding to induce heritable variation including epigenetic changes such as paramutation. However, the molecular basis for hybrid-induced epigenetic memory remains elusive.

Results

Here, we report that hybridization between the inbred parents B73 and Mo17 induces trans-acting hypermethylation and hypomethylation at thousands of loci; several hundreds (~ 3%) are transmitted through six backcrossing and three selfing generations. Notably, many transgenerational methylation patterns resemble epialleles of the nonrecurrent parent, despite > 99% of overall genomic loci are converted to the recurrent parent. These epialleles depend on 24-nt siRNAs, which are eliminated in the isogenic hybrid Mo17xB73:m

SUBMITTER: Cao S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8827192 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature