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CURLY LEAF Regulates Gene Sets Coordinating Seed Size and Lipid Biosynthesis
Jun Liu1, Shulin Deng1, Huan Wang1
1Laboratory of Plant Molecular Biology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065;National Key Facility for Crop Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China; andTemasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 1 Research Link, National University of Singapore, 117604 Singapore.
The CURLY LEAF (CLF) protein, a key regulator in Arabidopsis, silences gene expression during embryonic development. Loss of CLF function leads to larger seeds with altered oil content, revealing its crucial role in plant growth.
Area of Science:
- Plant Molecular Biology
- Epigenetics
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- CURLY LEAF (CLF) is a histone methyltransferase in Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2), responsible for H3K27me3.
- CLF is known to negatively regulate postgermination growth in Arabidopsis thaliana.
- The precise transcriptional repression roles of PRC2 on H3K27me3-marked regions are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genome-wide transcriptional repression activities of CLF in Arabidopsis.
- To determine the role of CLF in embryonic development and seed characteristics.
- To elucidate the relationship between H3K27me3 marks and CLF-mediated gene silencing.
Main Methods:
- Transcriptome profiling analysis of Arabidopsis organs and developmental stages.
- Analysis of 118 public transcriptome datasets.
- Verification of histone modification and transcriptional repression by CLF on regulatory genes.
Main Results:
- CLF represses approximately 11.6% of Arabidopsis genes, with 54% preferentially repressed in siliques.
- CLF mediates large-scale H3K27me3 programming during embryonic development, affecting genes expressed in mature-green embryos.
- Mutants (clf-28) exhibit larger, heavier seeds with increased oil content and altered fatty acid composition.
Conclusions:
- CLF silences specific gene expression modules involved in physiological functions during embryo development.
- CLF plays a significant role in regulating seed development and composition.
- Understanding CLF's function provides insights into epigenetic regulation of plant development.
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