DNA methylation-free Arabidopsis reveals crucial roles of DNA methylation in regulating gene expression and development.

ABSTRACT: A contribution of DNA methylation to defense against invading nucleic acids and maintenance of genome integrity is uncontested; however, our understanding of the extent of involvement of this epigenetic mark in genome-wide gene regulation and plant developmental control is incomplete. Here, we knock out all five known DNA methyltransferases in Arabidopsis, generating DNA methylation-free plants. This quintuple mutant exhibits a suite of developmental defects, unequivocally demonstrating that DNA methylation is essential for multiple aspects of plant development. We show that CG methylation and non-CG methylation are required for a plethora of biological processes, including pavement cell shape, endoreduplication, cell death, flowering, trichome morphology, vasculature and meristem developm

SUBMITTER: He L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8921224 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature