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 Concept Videos

Epigenetic Regulation01:37

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...
Epigenetic Regulation01:46

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
Epigenetic Regulation01:46

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
Riboswitches01:56

Riboswitches

Riboswitches are non-coding mRNA domains that regulate the transcription and translation of downstream genes without the help of proteins. Riboswitches bind directly to a metabolite and can form unique stem-loop or hairpin structures in response to the amount of the metabolite present. They have two distinct regions – a metabolite-binding aptamer and an expression platform.
The aptamer has high specificity for a particular metabolite which allows riboswitches to specifically regulate...
Experimental RNAi02:15

Experimental RNAi

RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular mechanism that inhibits gene expression by suppressing its transcription or activating the RNA degradation process. The mechanism was discovered by Andrew Fire and Craig Mello in 1998 in plants. Today, it is observed in almost all eukaryotes, including protozoa, flies, nematodes, insects, parasites, and mammals. This precise cellular mechanism of gene silencing has been developed into a technique that provides an efficient way to identify and determine the...
RNA Interference01:23

RNA Interference

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

A multi-omics approach to maize (Zea mays) tassel development.

BMC plant biology·2026
Same author

A long-distance signaling loop promotes soybean nodulation and productivity.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Stage-Specific RNA Turnover Drives Small RNA Dynamics in <i>Arabidopsis</i>-<i>Colletotrichum</i> Interactions.

Plant direct·2026
Same author

The annotated blueprint: integrated functional genomic resources for a model tetraploid wheat Triticum turgidum cv Kronos.

The New phytologist·2026
Same author

Reproductive phasiRNAs are the piRNAs of plants.

Trends in genetics : TIG·2026
Same author

Long-distance transport of siRNAs with functional roles in pollen development.

Nature plants·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 6, 2026

RNA Blot Analysis for the Detection and Quantification of Plant MicroRNAs
14:41

RNA Blot Analysis for the Detection and Quantification of Plant MicroRNAs

Published on: July 11, 2020

Small RNA-mediated epigenetic modifications in plants.

Stacey A Simon1, Blake C Meyers

  • 1Department of Plant and Soil Sciences & Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19711, USA.

Current Opinion in Plant Biology
|December 17, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Small RNAs (sRNAs) orchestrate plant epigenetics through DNA methylation and chromatin changes. Understanding these sRNA pathways reveals key mechanisms of gene regulation and epigenetic reprogramming in plants.

More Related Videos

Methylated RNA Immunoprecipitation Assay to Study m5C Modification in Arabidopsis
08:50

Methylated RNA Immunoprecipitation Assay to Study m5C Modification in Arabidopsis

Published on: May 14, 2020

Detection of Histone Modifications in Plant Leaves
07:08

Detection of Histone Modifications in Plant Leaves

Published on: September 23, 2011

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 6, 2026

RNA Blot Analysis for the Detection and Quantification of Plant MicroRNAs
14:41

RNA Blot Analysis for the Detection and Quantification of Plant MicroRNAs

Published on: July 11, 2020

Methylated RNA Immunoprecipitation Assay to Study m5C Modification in Arabidopsis
08:50

Methylated RNA Immunoprecipitation Assay to Study m5C Modification in Arabidopsis

Published on: May 14, 2020

Detection of Histone Modifications in Plant Leaves
07:08

Detection of Histone Modifications in Plant Leaves

Published on: September 23, 2011

Area of Science:

  • Plant molecular biology
  • Epigenetics
  • Genomics

Background:

  • Small RNAs (sRNAs) are crucial regulators of gene expression in plants.
  • Epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation and histone alterations, play vital roles in controlling transcription.
  • A complex network links sRNAs to epigenetic modifications, influencing various genetic phenomena.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the role of small RNAs in directing epigenetic modifications in plants.
  • To elucidate the intricate network of sRNA-mediated transcriptional control.
  • To understand the functional significance of siRNA-directed DNA methylation pathways.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing next-generation sequencing technologies to analyze the plant epigenome.
  • Functional characterization of components involved in sRNA-directed DNA methylation.
  • Investigating epigenetic pathways such as heterochromatin formation and gene silencing.

Main Results:

  • Discovered that sRNAs mediate a wide range of epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation and histone alterations.
  • Identified key components of the siRNA-directed DNA methylation pathway.
  • Established a basic blueprint of the plant epigenome using advanced sequencing techniques.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenetic regulation in plants is a multi-layered process significantly influenced by small RNAs.
  • The study provides comprehensive insights into chromatin-based gene silencing, paramutation, imprinting, and epigenetic reprogramming.
  • A deeper understanding of epigenetic marks and states in plants has been achieved through dissecting these regulatory layers.