Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026

Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Assay for the Identification of Arabidopsis Protein-DNA Interactions In Vivo
Published on: January 14, 2016
Flowering time control: another window to the connection between antisense RNA and chromatin
Robert Ietswaart1, Zhe Wu, Caroline Dean
1Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, John Innes Centre, Norwich NR4 7UH, UK.
Abstract:
A high proportion of all eukaryotic genes express antisense RNA (asRNA), which accumulates to varying degrees at different loci. Whether there is a general function for asRNA is unknown, but its widespread occurrence and frequent regulation by stress suggest an important role. The best-characterized plant gene exhibiting a complex antisense transcript pattern is the Arabidopsis floral regulator FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC). Changes occur in the accumulation, splicing, and polyadenylation of this antisense transcript, termed COOLAIR, in different environments and genotypes. These changes are associated with altered chromatin regulation and differential FLC expression, provoking mechanistic comparisons with many well-studied loci in yeast and mammals. Detailed analysis of these specific examples may shed light on the complex interplay between asRNA and chromatin modifications in different genomes.
Related Concept Videos
Chromatin Structure Regulates pre-mRNA Processing
The chromatin structure, especially...
Inheritance of Chromatin Structures
Chromatin Structure and RNA Splicing
The chromatin structure, especially...
RNA Polymerase II Accessory Proteins
Biological Clocks and Seasonal Responses
Combinatorial Gene Control
The expression of more than 30,000 genes is controlled by approximately 2000-3000 transcription factors. This is possible because a single transcription factor can recognize more than one regulatory sequence. The specificity in gene...

