[Reciprocity between active transcription and histone methylation]

Area of Science:

• Epigenetics
• Molecular Biology
• Plant Science

Background:

• Chromatin states, governed by histone post-translational modifications like methylation, are crucial for genome function, especially transcription.
• Numerous factors regulating histone methylation have been identified, impacting plant development and stress responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• This review focuses on histone methylation as a mark of active transcription.
• It aims to highlight the links between histone methylation and gene expression based on recent findings.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent findings on histone methylation regulators.
• Analysis of mechanisms integrating chromatin states and transcriptional machinery.

Main Results:

• Histone methylation plays fundamental roles in plant developmental processes (floral transition, cell differentiation, gametogenesis).
• It is integral to plant adaptation to environmental stresses.

Conclusions:

• Histone methylation dynamics are closely linked to gene expression regulation.
• Mechanisms integrating chromatin states and the RNA polymerase II transcriptional machinery are discussed.