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Self-incompatibility: Smi silences through a novel sRNA pathway
E Jean Finnegan1, Dacheng Liang, Ming-Bo Wang
1CSIRO Plant Industry, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia. jean.finnegan@csiro.au
Trends in Plant Science
|February 11, 2011
Summary
Monoallelic silencing of pollen gene SP11 in Brassicaceae is regulated by a small RNA (Smi). Smi initiates a novel cis-acting siRNA pathway, directing promoter methylation for monoallelic SP11 expression.
Area of Science:
- Plant reproductive biology
- Molecular genetics
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Self-incompatibility in Brassicaceae relies on S-Locus Protein 11 (SP11) and S-receptor kinase (SRK) interactions.
- Monoallelic expression of SP11 alleles in pollen heterozygotes is achieved through promoter methylation and silencing of one allele (SP11(R)).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanism of monoallelic SP11 silencing in Brassicaceae.
- To elucidate the role of Smi small RNA in directing promoter methylation for SP11(R) silencing.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Smi small RNA function.
- Investigating cis-acting small interfering RNA (siRNA) pathways.
- Assessing DNA methylation patterns in SP11 promoters.
Main Results:
- A 24-nucleotide small RNA (Smi) derived from a non-coding gene within the dominant S-haplotype was identified.
- Smi acts as the initial step in a novel cis-acting siRNA pathway.
- This pathway directs widespread monoallelic methylation of the SP11(R) promoter.
Conclusions:
- Smi-mediated cis-acting siRNA pathway is responsible for monoallelic SP11 promoter methylation.
- This mechanism ensures regulated pollen gene expression crucial for self-incompatibility in Brassicaceae.
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