Epigenetic regulation of ecotype-specific expression of the heat-activated transposon ONSEN.

ABSTRACT: Transposable elements are present in a wide variety of organisms; however, our understanding of the diversity of mechanisms involved in their activation is incomplete. In this study, we analyzed the transcriptional activation of the ONSEN retrotransposon, which is activated by high-temperature stress in Arabidopsis thaliana. We found that its transcription is significantly higher in the Japanese ecotype Kyoto. Considering that transposons are epigenetically regulated, DNA methylation levels were analyzed, revealing that CHH methylation was reduced in Kyoto compared to the standard ecotype, Col-0. A mutation was also detected in the Kyoto CMT2 gene, encoding a CHH methyltransferase, suggesting that it may be responsible for increased expression of ONSEN. CHH meth

SUBMITTER: Nozawa K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9340270 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature