Project description:Eukaryotic DNA methylation is found in silent transposable elements and active genes. Nucleosome remodelers of the DDM1/Lsh family are thought to be specifically required to maintain transposon methylation, but the reason for this is unknown. Here, we find that a chromatin gradient that extends from the most heterochromatic transposons to euchromatic genes determines the requirement of DDM1 for methylation maintenance in all sequence contexts. We also show that small RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) is inhibited by heterochromatin and absolutely requires the nucleosome remodeler DRD1. DDM1 and RdDM independently mediate nearly all transposon methylation, which is catalyzed by the methyltransferases MET1 (CG), CMT3 (CHG), DRM2 (CHH) and CMT2 (CHH), and collaborate to repress transposition and regulate the methylation and expression of genes. Our results indicate that the Arabidopsis genome is defined by a heterochromatic continuum that governs the access of DNA methyltransferases and potentially all DNA binding proteins. Examination of DNA methylation, transcription and nucleosomes in Arabidopsis wild-type and/or ddm1, RdDM and DNA methylase mutants.
Project description:Eukaryotic DNA methylation is found in silent transposable elements and active genes. Nucleosome remodelers of the DDM1/Lsh family are thought to be specifically required to maintain transposon methylation, but the reason for this is unknown. Here, we find that a chromatin gradient that extends from the most heterochromatic transposons to euchromatic genes determines the requirement of DDM1 for methylation maintenance in all sequence contexts. We also show that small RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) is inhibited by heterochromatin and absolutely requires the nucleosome remodeler DRD1. DDM1 and RdDM independently mediate nearly all transposon methylation, which is catalyzed by the methyltransferases MET1 (CG), CMT3 (CHG), DRM2 (CHH) and CMT2 (CHH), and collaborate to repress transposition and regulate the methylation and expression of genes. Our results indicate that the Arabidopsis genome is defined by a heterochromatic continuum that governs the access of DNA methyltransferases and potentially all DNA binding proteins.
Project description:The diversity of small RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) mechanisms have been underestimated due to the nearly complete transcriptional silencing of transposable elements (TEs) in the wt Col ecotype of Arabidopsis thaliana. In plants mutant for the SWI/SNF2 histone remodeler DDM1, TEs are globally activated due to loss of genome wide heterochromatin condensation. Activated TEs go through additional non-canonical forms of RdDM. However, the global targets of the non-canonical RdDM pathway are unidentified. In an attempt to identify and contrast the targets of canonical and non-canonical RdDM, we sequenced small RNAs from several RdDM mutants in either the TE-silent or the TE-active (ddm1) contexts.
Project description:The diversity of small RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) mechanisms have been underestimated due to the nearly complete transcriptional silencing of transposable elements (TEs) in the wt Col ecotype of Arabidopsis thaliana. In plants mutant for the SWI/SNF2 histone remodeler DDM1, TEs are globally activated due to loss of genome wide heterochromatin condensation. Activated TEs go through additional non-canonical forms of RdDM. However, the global targets of the non-canonical RdDM pathway are unidentified. In an attempt to identify and contrast the targets of canonical and non-canonical RdDM, we sequenced small RNAs from several RdDM mutants in either the TE-silent or the TE-active (ddm1) contexts. Examination of unopened flower bud small RNAs from wild type and various single or double mutant combinations, many of which have biological replicates. Small RNA sequences from wt Col, controls and other mutants shown in the study are available at GSE41755 and GSE57191.
Project description:The diversity of small RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) mechanisms have been underestimated due to the nearly complete transcriptional silencing of transposable elements (TEs) in the wild-type reference strains of Arabidopsis thaliana. In plants mutant for the SWI/SNF histone remodeler DDM1, TEs are globally activated due to loss of genome wide heterochromatin condensation. Transcriptionally activated TEs go through additional non-canonical forms of RdDM that are dependent on RNA Polymerase II expression. However, the global targets of the non-canonical RdDM pathway have not been explored. In an attempt to identify and contrast the targets of canonical and expression-dependent non-canonical RdDM, we performed MethylC-seq of genome-wide DNA methylation patterns from several RdDM mutants in either the TE-silent or the TE-active (ddm1) contexts. Arabidopsis wildtype and twenty RdDM pathway mutants
Project description:mRNA levels in Wild-type versus ddm1 Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings and bolting plants. Features found to be significantly enriched for DNA methylation were determined. This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE1324: EV23+24 mRNA levels in Wild-type versus ddm1/+ backcross bolting Arabidopsis thaliana plants GSE1325: EV33+34 mRNA levels in Wild-type versus ddm1 Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings GSE1326: VC109+111 mRNA levels in Wild-type versus ddm1 Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings GSE1327: EV39+40 mRNA levels in Wild-type versus ddm1 Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings GSE1328: VC110+112 mRNA levels in Wild-type versus ddm1 bolting Arabidopsis thaliana plants Refer to individual Series
Project description:The Microrchidia (MORC) family of ATPases are required for transposable element (TE) silencing and heterochromatin condensation in plants and animals, and C. elegans MORC-1 has been shown to topologically entrap and condense DNA. In Arabidopsis thaliana, mutation of MORCs has been shown to reactivate silent methylated genes and transposons and to decondense heterochromatic chromocenters, despite only minor changes in the maintenance of DNA methylation. Here we provide the first evidence localizing Arabidopsis MORC proteins to specific regions of chromatin and find that MORC4 and MORC7 are closely co-localized with sites of RNA directed DNA methylation (RdDM). We further show that MORC7, when tethered to DNA by an artificial zinc finger, can facilitate the establishment of RdDM. Finally, we show that MORCs are required for the efficient RdDM mediated establishment of DNA methylation and silencing of a newly integrated FWA transgene, even though morc mutations have no effect on the maintenance of preexisting methylation at the endogenous FWA gene. We propose that MORCs function as a molecular tether in RdDM complexes to reinforce RdDM activity for methylation establishment. These findings have implications for MORC protein function in a variety of other eukaryotic organisms.
Project description:Histone 3 lysine 4 and histone 3 lysine 9 methylation in wild type and ddm1 Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. The purpose of the chromatin immunoprecipitation/microarray (ChIP/chip) experiment is to determine which regions of a genome are enriched for a particular histone modification in a single Arabidopsis thanliana genotype. Chromatin immunoprecipitation with antibodies raised against dimethyl histone-H3 lysine-9 (H3mK9) or dimethyl histone-H3 lysine-4 (H3mK4) is performed on a selected genotype. This purified DNA from each immunoprecipiation (mH3K9, mH3K4, no antibody control) is used for random amplification to increase the quantity of DNA for microarray hybridization. The amplified DNA from each experimental sample is then labeled with Cy5 and hybridized against total input DNA from the corresponding genotype, labeled in Cy3. In a single hybridization, the total input DNA serves as a baseline and is compared to the immunoprecipitated samples. Ratios of normalized signal intensities were calculated to identify enrichment of a particular sequence after immunoprecipitation, in comparison to the total input DNA. Dye swap analysis is carried out to take account of experimental variation by repeating the hybridization with identical samples labeled with Cy3 and Cy5, respectively. This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE1333: EV49+50, Histone 3 Lysine 4 methylation in wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings GSE1334: Histone 3 Lysine 4 methylation in ddm1 Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings GSE1335: EV104+105, Histone 3 Lysine 4 methylation in ddm1 Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings GSE1336: Ev106+107, Histone 3 Lysine 4 methylation in WT Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings GSE1337: EV51+52, Histone 3 Lysine 9 methylation in wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings GSE1338: EV59+60, Histone 3 Lysine 9 methylation in ddm1 Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings GSE1339: Histone 3 Lysine 9 methylation in wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings GSE1340: EV110+111, Histone 3 Lysine 9 methylation in ddm1 Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings Refer to individual Series
Project description:DNA methylation in wild type bolting plants, wild type seedlings, and ddm1 seedlings. The purpose of the McrBC methylation microarray assay is to determine which regions of a genome are methylated versus those that are unmethylated in a single Arabidopsis thanliana genotype. McrBC is a methylation-sensitive enzyme that restricts DNA only at purine-Cmethyl half sites when separated between 50bp and 3kb. A designated amount of DNA from a particular genotype is sheared to a size range of 1kb-10kb using nebulization. We restrict half of the nebulized DNA with McrBC, and the methylated fraction is then removed from the unmethylated fraction through gel purification of DNA fragments greater than 1kb.* The remaining nebulized DNA is subjected to the same gel purification scheme, but with no McrBC treatment. In a single hybridization, the untreated sample is labeled with Cy5 and the McrBC-treated sample with Cy3. Thus, after labeling and microarray hybridization, the ratio of normalized Cy5 to normalized Cy3 represents the relative methylation at the sequence represented by the spot on the microarray. Dye swap analysis is carried out to take account of experimental variation by repeating the hybridization with identical samples labeled with Cy3 and Cy5, respectively. This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE1329: DNA methylation in wild-type bolting Arabidopsis thaliana plants GSE1330: DNA methylation in ddm1 seedling Arabidopsis thaliana plants GSE1331: VC133+137, DNA methylation in ddm1 seedling Arabidopsis thaliana plants GSE1332: VC134+136, DNA methylation in wild-type seedling Arabidopsis thaliana plants Refer to individual Series