Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

DNA METHYLATION IN PLANTS.

E. J. Finnegan1, R. K. Genger, W. J. Peacock

  • 11Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Plant Industry, P.O. Box 1600, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia, Cooperative Research Centre for Plant Science, P.O. Box 475, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia; e-mail: jean.finnegan@pican.pi.csiro.au, 2Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia

Annual Review of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology
|March 12, 2004
PubMed
Summary

DNA methylation in Arabidopsis regulates gene expression and defends against foreign DNA. Reduced DNA methylation disrupts normal plant development, highlighting its crucial role.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same journal

THEMES IN PLANT DEVELOPMENT.

Annual review of plant physiology and plant molecular biology·2004
Same journal

FROM VACUOLAR GS-X PUMPS TO MULTISPECIFIC ABC TRANSPORTERS.

Annual review of plant physiology and plant molecular biology·2004
Same journal

CALMODULIN AND CALMODULIN-BINDING PROTEINS IN PLANTS.

Annual review of plant physiology and plant molecular biology·2004
Same journal

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF CATION TRANSPORT IN PLANTS.

Annual review of plant physiology and plant molecular biology·2004
Same journal

PHYTOREMEDIATION.

Annual review of plant physiology and plant molecular biology·2004
Same journal

DESATURATION AND RELATED MODIFICATIONS OF FATTY ACIDS1.

Annual review of plant physiology and plant molecular biology·2004

Area of Science:

  • Plant Molecular Biology
  • Epigenetics
  • Genetics

Background:

  • DNA methylation is a key epigenetic mechanism for gene control in eukaryotes.
  • Arabidopsis possesses two distinct classes of DNA methyltransferases, one resembling mammalian enzymes and another less conserved type.
  • Methylcytosine is found at various DNA sites, but stable inheritance of methylation patterns is primarily associated with CpG and CpNpG sequences.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role and mechanisms of DNA methylation in gene regulation and genome defense in Arabidopsis.
  • To characterize the different classes of DNA methyltransferases present in Arabidopsis.
  • To understand the phenotypic consequences of altered DNA methylation levels in plants.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of DNA methyltransferase structures in Arabidopsis and mammals.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Identification of methylated cytosine residues and sequence contexts (CpG, CpNpG).
  • Assessment of plant development and phenotypes in response to reduced DNA methylation.

    • Main Results:

    • Two classes of DNA methyltransferases identified in Arabidopsis, with varying domain structures.
    • Methylcytosine occurs broadly, but clonal transmission is linked to symmetrical sequences.
    • While initially thought to have no effect, reduced DNA methylation demonstrably impairs normal plant development.

    Conclusions:

    • DNA methylation in Arabidopsis serves crucial roles in both gene regulation and defense against mobile genetic elements.
    • The distinct methyltransferase classes suggest specialized functions in establishing and maintaining methylation patterns.
    • Disruption of DNA methylation has significant, observable negative impacts on plant development, underscoring its essential nature.