Crosstalk between the Circadian Clock and Histone Methylation.

Area of Science:

• Plant molecular biology
• Epigenetics
• Chronobiology

Background:

• The circadian clock and histone modifications may interact in plants.
• Rice heading date is influenced by SDG724 (histone H3K36 methyltransferase) and OsLHY (circadian rhythm transcription factor).
• The crosstalk between these regulators in rice remains unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship and potential crosstalk between the rice circadian clock factor OsLHY and the histone methyltransferase SDG724.
• To understand their roles in regulating gene expression and pathways in rice.

Main Methods:

• Transcriptome analysis of single (oslhy, sdg724) and double (oslhy sdg724) mutants.
• Screening of overlapping differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and KEGG pathways.
• Identification of candidate target genes for OsLHY and SDG724 within the clock pathway.

Main Results:

• OsLHY and SDG724 indirectly control numerous overlapping pathways.
• Three candidate targets of OsLHY (OsGI, OsCCT38, OsPRR95) and one target of SDG724 (OsCRY1a) were identified in the clock pathway.
• A regulatory relationship between OsLHY and SDG724 was established.

Conclusions:

• A regulatory link exists between the rice circadian clock and histone H3K36 methylation.
• This finding provides a foundation for understanding the interaction between the circadian clock and epigenetic modifications in rice.