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Updated: Jan 1, 2026

Determination of DNA Methylation of Imprinted Genes in Arabidopsis Endosperm
Published on: January 28, 2011
RNA-directed DNA Methylation and sexual reproduction: expanding beyond the seed
Hiu Tung Chow1, Tania Chakraborty1, Rebecca A Mosher1
1The School of Plant Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, United States.
Abstract:
Two trends are changing our understanding of RNA-directed DNA methylation. In model systems like Arabidopsis, tissue-specific analysis of DNA methylation is uncovering dynamic changes in methylation during sexual reproduction and unraveling the contribution of maternal and paternal epigenomes to the developing embryo. These studies indicate that RNA-directed DNA Methylation might be important for mediating balance between maternal and paternal contributions to the endosperm. At the same time, researchers are moving beyond Arabidopsis to illuminate the ancestral role of RdDM in non-flowering plants that lack an endosperm, suggesting that RdDM might play a broader role in sexual reproduction.
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