scholarly journals RNA Pol IV has antagonistic parent-of-origin effects on Arabidopsis endosperm

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.R. V. Satyaki ◽  
Mary Gehring
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Small Interfering Rnas ◽  
Pol Iv ◽  
Gene Regulatory System ◽  
Rna Polymerase Iv ◽  
Parent Of Origin ◽  
Origin Effects ◽  
Maternal Resources

Gene expression in endosperm, a seed tissue that mediates transfer of maternal resources to offspring, is under complex epigenetic control. We show here that plant-specific RNA Polymerase IV mediates parental control of endosperm gene expression. Pol IV is required for the production of small interfering RNAs that typically direct DNA methylation. We compared small RNAs, DNA methylation, and mRNAs in A. thaliana endosperm from reciprocal heterozygotes produced by crossing wildtype plants to Pol IV mutants. We find that maternally and paternally acting Pol IV have divergent effects on endosperm with loss of maternal and paternal Pol IV impacting sRNAs and DNA methylation at different genomic sites. Strikingly, maternally and paternally-acting Pol IV have antagonistic impacts on gene expression at some loci, divergently promoting or repressing endosperm gene expression. Antagonistic parent-of13 origin effects have only rarely been described and are consistent with a gene regulatory system evolving under parental conflict.

scholarly journals Arabidopsis RNA Polymerase IV generates 21-22 nucleotide small RNAs that can participate in RNA-directed DNA methylation and may regulate genes

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaushik Panda ◽  
Andrea D. McCue ◽  
R. Keith Slotkin
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Transposable Elements ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Transcript Abundance ◽  
Gene Transcript ◽  
Small Interfering Rnas ◽  
Pol Iv ◽  
Rna Polymerase Iv ◽  
Plant Life Cycle ◽  
And Function

AbstractThe plant-specific RNA Polymerase IV (Pol IV) transcribes heterochromatic regions, including many transposable elements, with the well-described role of generating 24 nucleotide (nt) small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). These siRNAs target DNA methylation back to transposable elements to reinforce the boundary between heterochromatin and euchromatin. In the male gametophytic phase of the plant life cycle, pollen, Pol IV switches to generating primarily 21-22 nt siRNAs, but the biogenesis and function of these siRNAs has been enigmatic. In contrast to being pollen-specific, we identified that Pol IV generates these 21-22 nt siRNAs in sporophytic tissues, likely from the same transcripts that are processed into the more abundant 24 nt siRNAs. The 21-22 nt forms are specifically generated by the combined activities of DICER proteins DCL2/DCL4 and can participate in RNA-directed DNA methylation. These 21-22 nt siRNAs are also loaded into ARGONAUTE1, which is known to function in post-transcriptional regulation. Like other plant siRNAs and microRNAs incorporated into AGO1, we find a signature of genic mRNA cleavage at the predicted target site of these siRNAs, suggesting that Pol IV-generated 21-22 nt siRNAs may function to regulate gene transcript abundance. Our data provides support for the existing model that in pollen Pol IV functions in gene regulation.

scholarly journals Parent-of-Origin Effects on Gene Expression and DNA Methylation in the Maize Endosperm

2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (12) ◽  
pp. 4221-4233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda J. Waters ◽  
Irina Makarevitch ◽  
Steve R. Eichten ◽  
Ruth A. Swanson-Wagner ◽  
Cheng-Ting Yeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Maize Endosperm ◽  
Parent Of Origin ◽  
Origin Effects

scholarly journals Arabidopsis RNA Polymerase IV generates 21–22 nucleotide small RNAs that can participate in RNA-directed DNA methylation and may regulate genes

2020 ◽  
Vol 375 (1795) ◽  
pp. 20190417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaushik Panda ◽  
Andrea D. McCue ◽  
R. Keith Slotkin
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Gene Regulation ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Transcript Abundance ◽  
Gene Transcript ◽  
Small Interfering Rnas ◽  
Pol Iv ◽  
Rna Polymerase Iv ◽  
Plant Life Cycle ◽  
And Function

The plant-specific RNA Polymerase IV (Pol IV) transcribes heterochromatic regions, including many transposable elements (TEs), with the well-described role of generating 24 nucleotide (nt) small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). These siRNAs target DNA methylation back to TEs to reinforce the boundary between heterochromatin and euchromatin. In the male gametophytic phase of the plant life cycle, pollen, Pol IV switches to generating primarily 21–22 nt siRNAs, but the biogenesis and function of these siRNAs have been enigmatic. In contrast to being pollen-specific, we identified that Pol IV generates these 21–22 nt siRNAs in sporophytic tissues, likely from the same transcripts that are processed into the more abundant 24 nt siRNAs. The 21–22 nt forms are specifically generated by the combined activities of DICER proteins DCL2/DCL4 and can participate in RNA-directed DNA methylation. These 21–22 nt siRNAs are also loaded into ARGONAUTE1 (AGO1), which is known to function in post-transcriptional gene regulation. Like other plant siRNAs and microRNAs incorporated into AGO1, we find a signature of genic mRNA cleavage at the predicted target site of these siRNAs, suggesting that Pol IV-generated 21–22 nt siRNAs may function to regulate gene transcript abundance. Our data provide support for the existing model that in pollen Pol IV functions in gene regulation. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Crossroads between transposons and gene regulation’.

scholarly journals Identification of Pol IV and RDR2-dependent precursors of 24 nt siRNAs guiding de novo DNA methylation in Arabidopsis

eLife ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Todd Blevins ◽  
Ram Podicheti ◽  
Vibhor Mishra ◽  
Michelle Marasco ◽  
Jing Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Cytosine Methylation ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Transferase Activity ◽  
Small Interfering Rnas ◽  
Pol Iv ◽  
Nuclear Rna ◽  
Rna Polymerase Iv ◽  
Nuclear Rna Polymerase

In Arabidopsis thaliana, abundant 24 nucleotide small interfering RNAs (24 nt siRNA) guide the cytosine methylation and silencing of transposons and a subset of genes. 24 nt siRNA biogenesis requires nuclear RNA polymerase IV (Pol IV), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 2 (RDR2) and DICER-like 3 (DCL3). However, siRNA precursors are mostly undefined. We identified Pol IV and RDR2-dependent RNAs (P4R2 RNAs) that accumulate in dcl3 mutants and are diced into 24 nt RNAs by DCL3 in vitro. P4R2 RNAs are mostly 26-45 nt and initiate with a purine adjacent to a pyrimidine, characteristics shared by Pol IV transcripts generated in vitro. RDR2 terminal transferase activity, also demonstrated in vitro, may account for occasional non-templated nucleotides at P4R2 RNA 3’ termini. The 24 nt siRNAs primarily correspond to the 5’ or 3’ ends of P4R2 RNAs, suggesting a model whereby siRNAs are generated from either end of P4R2 duplexes by single dicing events.

Polymorphism and parent-of-origin effects on gene expression of CAST, leptin and DGAT1 in cattle

Meat Science ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 507-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simone Cristina Méo Niciura ◽  
Adriana Mércia Guaratini Ibelli ◽  
Gisele Veneroni Gouveia ◽  
Juliana Gracielle Gonzaga Gromboni ◽  
Marina Ibelli Pereira Rocha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Parent Of Origin ◽  
Origin Effects

scholarly journals Reaction mechanisms of Pol IV, RDR2 and DCL3 drive RNA channeling in the siRNA-directed DNA methylation pathway

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasleen Singh ◽  
Vibhor Mishra ◽  
Feng Wang ◽  
Hsiao-Yun Huang ◽  
Craig S. Pikaard
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Dna Transcription ◽  
Pol Iv ◽  
Methylation Pathway ◽  
Terminal Nucleotide ◽  
Passenger Strand ◽  
Rna Polymerase Iv ◽  
Rna Pathways ◽  
Template Dna

SummaryIn eukaryotes with multiple small RNA pathways the mechanisms that channel RNAs within specific pathways are unclear. Here, we reveal the reactions that account for channeling in the siRNA biogenesis phase of the Arabidopsis RNA-directed DNA methylation pathway. The process begins with template DNA transcription by NUCLEAR RNA POLYMERASE IV (Pol IV) whose atypical termination mechanism, induced by nontemplate DNA basepairing, channels transcripts to the associated RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, RDR2. RDR2 converts Pol IV transcripts into double-stranded RNAs then typically adds an extra untemplated 3’ terminal nucleotide to the second strands. The dicer endonuclease, DCL3 cuts resulting duplexes to generate 24 and 23nt siRNAs. The 23nt RNAs bear the untemplated terminal nucleotide of the RDR2 strand and are underrepresented among ARGONAUTE4-associated siRNAs. Collectively, our results provide mechanistic insights into Pol IV termination, Pol IV-RDR2 coupling and RNA channeling from template DNA transcription to siRNA guide strand/passenger strand discrimination.

scholarly journals Parent-of-origin effects, allele-specific expression, genomic imprinting and paternal manipulation in social insects

2021 ◽  
Vol 376 (1826) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin P. Oldroyd ◽  
Boris Yagound
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Genomic Imprinting ◽  
Social Insects ◽  
Social Insect ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Specific Expression ◽  
Rna Molecules ◽  
Parent Of Origin ◽  
Origin Effects ◽  
Gene Expression Studies

Haplo-diploidy and the relatedness asymmetries it generates mean that social insects are prime candidates for the evolution of genomic imprinting. In single-mating social insect species, some genes may be selected to evolve genomic mechanisms that enhance reproduction by workers when they are inherited from a female. This situation reverses in multiple mating species, where genes inherited from fathers can be under selection to enhance the reproductive success of daughters. Reciprocal crosses between subspecies of honeybees have shown strong parent-of-origin effects on worker reproductive phenotypes, and this could be evidence of such genomic imprinting affecting genes related to worker reproduction. It is also possible that social insect fathers directly affect gene expression in their daughters, for example, by placing small interfering RNA molecules in semen. Gene expression studies have repeatedly found evidence of parent-specific gene expression in social insects, but it is unclear at this time whether this arises from genomic imprinting, paternal manipulation, an artefact of cyto-nuclear interactions, or all of these. This article is part of the theme issue ‘How does epigenetics influence the course of evolution?’

scholarly journals Parent-of-origin effects on seed development in Arabidopsis thaliana require DNA methylation

Development ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 127 (11) ◽  
pp. 2493-2502 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Adams ◽  
R. Vinkenoog ◽  
M. Spielman ◽  
H.G. Dickinson ◽  
R.J. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Seed Development ◽  
High Weight ◽  
Transgenic Arabidopsis ◽  
Parental Genome ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Low Weight ◽  
Parental Imprinting ◽  
Parent Of Origin ◽  
Origin Effects

Some genes in mammals and flowering plants are subject to parental imprinting, a process by which differential epigenetic marks are imposed on male and female gametes so that one set of alleles is silenced on chromosomes contributed by the mother while another is silenced on paternal chromosomes. Therefore, each genome contributes a different set of active alleles to the offspring, which develop abnormally if the parental genome balance is disturbed. In Arabidopsis, seeds inheriting extra maternal genomes show distinctive phenotypes such as low weight and inhibition of mitosis in the endosperm, while extra paternal genomes result in reciprocal phenotypes such as high weight and endosperm overproliferation. DNA methylation is known to be an essential component of the parental imprinting mechanism in mammals, but there is less evidence for this in plants. For the present study, seed development was examined in crosses using a transgenic Arabidopsis line with reduced DNA methylation. Crosses between hypomethylated and wild-type diploid plants produced similar seed phenotypes to crosses between plants with normal methylation but different ploidies. This is consistent with a model in which hypomethylation of one parental genome prevents silencing of alleles that would normally be active only when inherited from the other parent - thus phenocopying the effects of extra genomes. These results suggest an important role for methylation in parent-of-origin effects, and by inference parental imprinting, in plants. The phenotype of biparentally hypomethylated seeds is less extreme than the reciprocal phenotypes of uniparentally hypomethylated seeds. The observation that development is less severely affected if gametes of both sexes (rather than just one) are ‘neutralized’ with respect to parent-of-origin effects supports the hypothesis that parental imprinting is not necessary to regulate development.

scholarly journals A DCL3 dicing code within Pol IV-RDR2 transcripts diversifies the siRNA pool guiding RNA-directed DNA methylation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Loffer ◽  
Jasleen Singh ◽  
Akihito Fukudome ◽  
Vibhor Mishra ◽  
Feng Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Rna Polymerase ◽  
Transferase Activity ◽  
Rna Dependent Rna Polymerase ◽  
Dna Viruses ◽  
Selfish Genetic Elements ◽  
Pol Iv ◽  
Nuclear Rna ◽  
Rna Polymerase Iv ◽  
Nuclear Rna Polymerase

In plants, selfish genetic elements including retrotransposons and DNA viruses are transcriptionally silenced by RNA-directed DNA methylation. Guiding the process are short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) cut by DICER-LIKE 3 (DCL3) from double-stranded precursors of ~30 bp synthesized by NUCLEAR RNA POLYMERASE IV (Pol IV) and RNA-DEPENDENT RNA POLYMERASE 2 (RDR2). We show that Pol IV initiating nucleotide choice, RDR2 initiation 1-2 nt internal to Pol IV transcript ends and RDR2 terminal transferase activity collectively yield a code that influences which end of the precursor is diced and whether 24 or 23 nt siRNAs are generated from the Pol IV or RDR2-transcribed strands. By diversifying the size, sequence, and strand polarity of siRNAs derived from a given precursor, alternative patterns of DCL3 dicing allow maximal siRNA coverage at methylated target loci.

scholarly journals Functional role of Polymerase IV during pollen development in Capsella

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenxing Wang ◽  
Nicolas Butel ◽  
Juan Santos-González ◽  
Filipe Borges ◽  
Jun Yi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arabidopsis Thaliana ◽  
Pollen Development ◽  
Functional Role ◽  
Small Interfering Rnas ◽  
Guide Rna ◽  
Pol Iv ◽  
Capsella Rubella ◽  
Rna Polymerase Iv ◽  
Microspore Stage

AbstractIn Arabidopsis thaliana, the DNA-dependent RNA polymerase IV (Pol IV) is required for the formation of transposable element (TE)-derived small RNA (sRNA) transcripts. These transcripts are processed by DICER-LIKE 3 into 24-nt small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) that guide RNA-dependent DNA methylation. In the pollen grain, Pol IV is also required for the accumulation of 21/22-nt epigenetically-activated siRNAs (easiRNAs) that likely silence TEs by post-transcriptional mechanisms. Despite this proposed functional role, loss of Pol IV function in Arabidopsis does not cause a discernable pollen defect. Here, we show that loss of NRPD1, encoding the largest subunit of Pol IV in the Brassicaceae Capsella rubella, causes post-meiotic arrest of pollen development at the microspore stage. As in Arabidopsis, all TE-derived siRNAs were depleted in Capsella nrpd1 microspores. In wild-type background, we found that the same TEs produced 21/22-nt and 24-nt siRNAs, leading us to propose that Pol IV is generating the direct precursors for 21-24-nt siRNAs, which are targeted by different DICERs. Arrest of Capsella nrpd1 microspores was accompanied by deregulation of genes targeted by Pol IV-dependent siRNAs. The distance of TEs to genes was much closer in Capsella rubella compared to Arabidopsis thaliana, providing a possible explanation for the essential role of Pol IV for pollen development in Capsella. Our study in Capsella uncovers a functional requirement of Pol IV in microspores, emphasizing the relevance of investigating different plant models.One-sentence summaryLoss of Polymerase IV function in Capsella rubella causes microspore arrest, revealing an important functional role of Polymerase IV during pollen development.The author responsible for distribution of materials integral to the findings presented in this article in accordance with the policy described in the Instructions for Authors (www.plantcell.org) is: Claudia Kohler ([email protected])

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document