Project description:Cytosine methylation of DNA is an important epigenetic gene silencing mechanism in plants, fungi, and animals. In the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa, nearly all known DNA methylations occur in transposon relics and repetitive sequences, and DNA methylation does not depend on the canonical RNAi pathway. disiRNAs are Dicer-independent small non-coding RNAs that arise from gene-rich part of the Neurospora genome. Here we describe a new type of DNA methylation that is associated with the disiRNA loci. Unlike the known DNA methylation in Neurospora, disiRNA loci DNA methylation (DLDM) is highly dynamic and is regulated by an on/off mechanism. Surprisingly, some of the DLDM is independent of the known DNA methyltransferase. At least in disi47, disiRNA production appears to rely on pol II directed transcription. Importantly, DLDM is triggered by convergent transcription and enriched in promoter regions. Together, our results establish a new mechanism that triggers DNA methylation.
Project description:Cytosine methylation of DNA is an important epigenetic gene silencing mechanism in plants, fungi, and animals. In the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa, nearly all known DNA methylations occur in transposon relics and repetitive sequences, and DNA methylation does not depend on the canonical RNAi pathway. disiRNAs are Dicer-independent small non-coding RNAs that arise from gene-rich part of the Neurospora genome. Here we describe a new type of DNA methylation that is associated with the disiRNA loci. Unlike the known DNA methylation in Neurospora, disiRNA loci DNA methylation (DLDM) is highly dynamic and is regulated by an on/off mechanism. Surprisingly, some of the DLDM is independent of the known DNA methyltransferase. At least in disi47, disiRNA production appears to rely on pol II directed transcription. Importantly, DLDM is triggered by convergent transcription and enriched in promoter regions. Together, our results establish a new mechanism that triggers DNA methylation. Two small RNA library were generated from Neurospora wild type (FGSC4200) and wc-2 KO mutant
Project description:RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) functions in de novo methylation in CG, CHG, and CHH contexts. Here, we performed map-based cloning of OsNRPE1, which encodes the largest subunit of Pol V, a key regulator of gene silencing and reproductive development in rice. We found that rice Pol V is required for CHH methylation on RdDM loci by transcribing long non-coding RNAs. Pol V influences the accumulation of 24-nt siRNAs in a locus-specific manner. Biosynthesis of 24-nt siRNAs on loci with high CHH methylation levels and low CG and CHG methylation levels tends to depend on Pol V. In contrast, low methylation levels in the CHH context and high methylation levels in CG and CHG contexts predisposes 24-nt siRNA accumulation to be independent of Pol V. H3K9me1 and H3K9me2 tend to be enriched on Pol V-independent 24-nt siRNA loci, whereas various active histone modifications are enriched on Pol V-dependent 24-nt siRNA loci. DNA methylation is required for 24-nt siRNAs biosynthesis on Pol V-dependent loci but not on Pol V-independent loci. Our results reveal the function of rice Pol V for long non-coding RNA production, DNA methylation, 24-nt siRNA accumulation, and reproductive development.
Project description:RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) functions in de novo methylation in CG, CHG, and CHH contexts. Here, we performed map-based cloning of OsNRPE1, which encodes the largest subunit of Pol V, a key regulator of gene silencing and reproductive development in rice. We found that rice Pol V is required for CHH methylation on RdDM loci by transcribing long non-coding RNAs. Pol V influences the accumulation of 24-nt siRNAs in a locus-specific manner. Biosynthesis of 24-nt siRNAs on loci with high CHH methylation levels and low CG and CHG methylation levels tends to depend on Pol V. In contrast, low methylation levels in the CHH context and high methylation levels in CG and CHG contexts predisposes 24-nt siRNA accumulation to be independent of Pol V. H3K9me1 and H3K9me2 tend to be enriched on Pol V-independent 24-nt siRNA loci, whereas various active histone modifications are enriched on Pol V-dependent 24-nt siRNA loci. DNA methylation is required for 24-nt siRNAs biosynthesis on Pol V-dependent loci but not on Pol V-independent loci. Our results reveal the function of rice Pol V for long non-coding RNA production, DNA methylation, 24-nt siRNA accumulation, and reproductive development. This SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
Project description:DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mark in many eukaryotic organisms. De novo DNA methylation in plants can be achieved by the RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathway, where the plant-specific DNA-dependent RNA polymerase Pol IV transcribes target sequences to initiate 24-nt siRNA production and action. The Arabidopsis DTF1/SHH1 has been shown to associate with Pol IV and is required for 24-nt siRNA accumulation and transcriptional silencing at several RdDM target loci. However, the extent and mechanism of DTF1 function in RdDM is unclear. We show here that DTF1 is necessary for the accumulation of the majority of Pol IV-dependent 24-nt siRNAs. It is also required for a large proportion of Pol IV-dependent de novo DNA methylation. Interestingly, there is a group of RdDM target loci where 24-nt siRNA accumulation but not DNA methylation is dependent on DTF1. Taken together, our results show that DTF1 is a core component of the RdDM pathway. Our results also suggest the involvement of DTF1 in an important negative feedback mechanism for DNA methylation at some RdDM target loci. Examination of whole-genome DNA methylation and small RNA in 12-day-old Col-0, dtf1-2, nrpd1-3 and nrpe1-11 seedlings
Project description:RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) functions in de novo methylation in CG, CHG, and CHH contexts. Here, we performed map-based cloning of OsNRPE1, which encodes the largest subunit of Pol V, a key regulator of gene silencing and reproductive development in rice. We found that rice Pol V is required for CHH methylation on RdDM loci by transcribing long non-coding RNAs. Pol V influences the accumulation of 24-nt siRNAs in a locus-specific manner. Biosynthesis of 24-nt siRNAs on loci with high CHH methylation levels and low CG and CHG methylation levels tends to depend on Pol V. In contrast, low methylation levels in the CHH context and high methylation levels in CG and CHG contexts predisposes 24-nt siRNA accumulation to be independent of Pol V. H3K9me1 and H3K9me2 tend to be enriched on Pol V-independent 24-nt siRNA loci, whereas various active histone modifications are enriched on Pol V-dependent 24-nt siRNA loci. DNA methylation is required for 24-nt siRNAs biosynthesis on Pol V-dependent loci but not on Pol V-independent loci. Our results reveal the function of rice Pol V for long non-coding RNA production, DNA methylation, 24-nt siRNA accumulation, and reproductive development.
Project description:DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mark in many eukaryotic organisms. De novo DNA methylation in plants can be achieved by the RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathway, where the plant-specific DNA-dependent RNA polymerase Pol IV transcribes target sequences to initiate 24-nt siRNA production and action. The Arabidopsis DTF1/SHH1 has been shown to associate with Pol IV and is required for 24-nt siRNA accumulation and transcriptional silencing at several RdDM target loci. However, the extent and mechanism of DTF1 function in RdDM is unclear. We show here that DTF1 is necessary for the accumulation of the majority of Pol IV-dependent 24-nt siRNAs. It is also required for a large proportion of Pol IV-dependent de novo DNA methylation. Interestingly, there is a group of RdDM target loci where 24-nt siRNA accumulation but not DNA methylation is dependent on DTF1. Taken together, our results show that DTF1 is a core component of the RdDM pathway. Our results also suggest the involvement of DTF1 in an important negative feedback mechanism for DNA methylation at some RdDM target loci.
Project description:In plants, RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription of inverted DNA repeats produces hairpin RNAs that are processed by several DICER-LIKE enzymes into siRNAs that are 21-24-nt in length. When targeted to transcriptional regulatory regions, the 24-nt size class can induce RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) and transcriptional gene silencing (TGS). In a forward genetic screen to identify mutants defective in RdDM of a target enhancer leading to TGS of a downstream GFP reporter gene in Arabidopsis thaliana, we recovered a structurally mutated silencer locus, named SM-NM-^T35S, in which the 35S promoter driving transcription of an inverted repeat of target enhancer sequences had been specifically deleted. Although Pol II-dependent, hairpin-derived 21-24-nt siRNAs were no longer generated at the newly created SM-NM-^T35S locus, the GFP reporter gene was nevertheless still partially silenced. Silencing was associated with methylation in a short tandem repeat in the upstream target enhancer and with low levels of 24-nt tandem repeat siRNAs. Introducing an nrpd1 mutation into the SM-NM-^T35S line fully released GFP silencing and eliminated both the tandem repeat methylation and associated 24-nt siRNAs, demonstrating their dependence on Pol IV. Deletion of the 35S promoter thus revealed a Pol IV-dependent pathway of 24-nt siRNA biogenesis that was previously inhibited or masked by the Pol II-dependent pathway in wild-type plants. Both Pol II- and Pol IV-dependent siRNAs accrued predominantly from cytosine (C)-containing segments of the tandem repeat monomer, suggesting that the local base composition influenced siRNA accumulation. Preferential accumulation of siRNAs at C-containing sequences was also observed at an endogenous tandem repeat comprising discrete C-rich and AT-rich sections. Our studies illuminate the potential complexity of siRNA generation at repeat-containing loci and show that Pol IV can act in siRNA biogenesis in the absence of a conventional Pol II promoter. Examination of whole-genome DNA methylation status in transgenic T+S Arabidopsis plant
Project description:DNA methylation of C5-cytosine (5mC) in the mammalian genome is a key epigenetic event that is critical for various cellular processes. However, how the genome-wide 5mC pattern is dynamically regulated remains a fundamental question in epigenetic biology. The TET family of 5mC hydroxylases, which convert 5mC to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), have provided a new potential mechanism for the dynamic regulation of DNA methylation. The extent to which individual Tet family members contribute to the genome-wide 5mC and 5hmC patterns and associated gene network remains largely unknown. Here we report genome-wide mapping of Tet1 and 5hmC in mESCs and reveal a mechanism of action by which Tet1 controls 5hmC and 5mC levels in mESCs. In combination with microarray and mRNA-seq expression profiling, we identify a comprehensive yet intricate gene network influenced by Tet1. We propose a model whereby Tet1 controls DNA methylation both by binding to CpG-rich regions to prevent unwanted DNA methyltransferase activity, and by converting the existing 5mC to 5hmC through its enzymatic activity. This Tet1-mediated antagonism of CpG methylation imparts differential maintenance of DNA methylation status at Tet1 target loci, thereby providing a new regulatory mechanism for establishing the epigenetic landscape of mESCs, which ultimately contributes to mESC differentiation and the onset of embryonic development. To determine the genome-wide DNA methylation changes caused by Tet1 depletion in mouse ES cells. Tet1 protein was depleted by specific siRNA treatment. The DNA methylation levels in control and Tet1 siRNA-transfected ES cells were determined by targeted bisulfite sequencing.