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Related Concept Videos

Position-effect Variegation02:32

Position-effect Variegation

In 1928, a German botanist Emil Heitz observed the moss nuclei with a DNA binding dye. He observed that while some chromatin regions decondense and spread out in the interphase nucleus, others do not. He termed them euchromatin and heterochromatin, respectively. He proposed that the heterochromatin regions reflect a functionally inactive state of the genome. It was later confirmed that heterochromatin is transcriptionally repressed, and euchromatin is transcriptionally active chromatin.
Overview of Transposition and Recombination02:13

Overview of Transposition and Recombination

Transposons make up a significant part of genomes of various organisms. Therefore, it is believed that transposition played a major evolutionary role in speciation by changing genome sizes and modifying gene expression patterns. For example, in bacteria, transposition can lead to conferring antibiotic resistance. Movement of transposable elements within the genetic pool of pathogenic bacteria can aid in transfer of antibiotic-resistant genetic elements. In eukaryotes, transposons can carry out...
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Epistasis

In addition to multiple alleles at the same locus influencing traits, numerous genes or alleles at different locations may interact and influence phenotypes in a phenomenon called epistasis. For example, rabbit fur can be black or brown depending on whether the animal is homozygous dominant or heterozygous at a TYRP1 locus. However, if the rabbit is also homozygous recessive at a locus on the tyrosinase gene (TYR), it will have an unshaded coat that appears white, regardless of its TYRP1...
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Other than maintaining genome stability via DNA repair, homologous recombination plays an important role in diversifying the genome. In fact, the recombination of sequences forms the molecular basis of genomic evolution. Random and non-random permutations of genomic sequences create a library of new amalgamated sequences. These newly formed genomes can determine the fitness and survival of cells. In bacteria, homologous and non-homologous types of recombination lead to the evolution of new...
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Gene Conversion

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Transposons

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

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Paramutation at the maize pl1 locus is associated with RdDM activity at distal tandem repeats.

PLoS genetics·2024
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Locus-specific paramutation in Zea mays is maintained by a PICKLE-like chromodomain helicase DNA-binding 3 protein controlling development and male gametophyte function.

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Paramutation and related phenomena in diverse species.

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Paramutation in maize and related behaviors in metazoans.

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Nascent transcription affected by RNA polymerase IV in Zea mays.

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Paramutation: a trans-homolog interaction affecting heritable gene regulation.

Jay B Hollick1

  • 1Department of Molecular Genetics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. hollick.3@osu.edu

Current Opinion in Plant Biology
|September 29, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Paramutation involves heritable gene regulation changes via chromosome interactions. While RNA is implicated, plant paramutations may be an emergent property of genome dynamics, not solely RNA-directed.

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Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Paramutation is a phenomenon of trans-sensing between chromosomes causing heritable changes in gene regulation.
  • RNA molecules are known to mediate similar events in various organisms like maize, mouse, and Drosophila.
  • Changes in small RNA profiles and cytosine methylation in Arabidopsis hybrids suggest a potential molecular parallel to paramutation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying paramutation-like events in plants.
  • To explore the role of RNA molecules versus plant-specific proteins in paramutation.
  • To determine if paramutation is a solely RNA-directed process or an emergent genomic property.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of small RNA profiles and cytosine methylation patterns in Arabidopsis hybrids.
  • Review of existing literature on paramutation in maize, considering plant-specific proteins.
  • Examination of recent findings on transposon interactions with RNA polymerase II in plant genomes.

Main Results:

  • Arabidopsis hybrids exhibit changes in small RNA profiles and cytosine methylation, suggesting a paramutation-like mechanism.
  • Paramutation in maize requires plant-specific proteins and does not solely rely on RNA-mediated effects.
  • Transposons near genes can influence RNA polymerase II, hinting at complex regulatory interactions.

Conclusions:

  • Paramutation in plants may not be exclusively RNA-directed.
  • Paramutation might represent an emergent property of transcriptional dynamics within plant genomes.
  • The interplay between repetitive genomic features and nearby genes is crucial for understanding paramutation.