scholarly journals Somatic DNA demethylation generates tissue-specific methylation states and impacts flowering time

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben P Williams ◽  
Linsdey A Bechen ◽  
Deborah A Pohlmann ◽  
Mary Gehring
Keyword(s):  
Cytosine Methylation ◽  
Epigenetic Modification ◽  
Dna Demethylation ◽  
Dna Glycosylases ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Gene Body Methylation ◽  
Tissue Specific ◽  
Coding Regions ◽  
Active Dna Demethylation ◽  
Somatic Tissues

Cytosine methylation is a reversible epigenetic modification to DNA. In plants, removal of cytosine methylation is accomplished by the four members of the DME family of 5-methylcytosine DNA glycosylases. Demethylation by DME is critical for seed development. Consequently, determining the function of the entire gene family in somatic tissues by mutant analysis has not been possible. Here, we bypassed the reproductive defects of dme mutants to create somatic quadruple homozygous mutants of the entire DME family. dme; ros1; dml2; dml3 (drdd) leaves exhibit hypermethylated genomes compared to both wild-type plants and rdd triple mutants, indicating functional redundancy among all four demethylases. Targets of demethylation include regions co-targeted by RNA-directed DNA methylation and, surprisingly, CG gene body methylation, indicating dynamic methylation at these little-understood sites. Additionally, many tissue-specific methylation differences are absent in drdd, suggesting a role for active demethylation in generating divergent epigenetic states across wild-type tissues. Furthermore, drdd plants display a striking early flowering phenotype, which is associated with 5′ hypermethylation and transcriptional down-regulation of FLOWERING LOCUS C. Active DNA demethylation is therefore required for proper methylation patterning across somatic tissues and defines the epigenetic landscape of both intergenic and coding regions.

scholarly journals Active DNA Demethylation in Plants

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (19) ◽  
pp. 4683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jara Teresa Parrilla-Doblas ◽  
Teresa Roldán-Arjona ◽  
Rafael R. Ariza ◽  
Dolores Córdoba-Cañero
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Excision Repair ◽  
Epigenetic Modification ◽  
Dna Demethylation ◽  
Plant Responses ◽  
Dna Glycosylases ◽  
Active Dna Demethylation ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Base Excision

Methylation of cytosine (5-meC) is a critical epigenetic modification in many eukaryotes, and genomic DNA methylation landscapes are dynamically regulated by opposed methylation and demethylation processes. Plants are unique in possessing a mechanism for active DNA demethylation involving DNA glycosylases that excise 5-meC and initiate its replacement with unmodified C through a base excision repair (BER) pathway. Plant BER-mediated DNA demethylation is a complex process involving numerous proteins, as well as additional regulatory factors that avoid accumulation of potentially harmful intermediates and coordinate demethylation and methylation to maintain balanced yet flexible DNA methylation patterns. Active DNA demethylation counteracts excessive methylation at transposable elements (TEs), mainly in euchromatic regions, and one of its major functions is to avoid methylation spreading to nearby genes. It is also involved in transcriptional activation of TEs and TE-derived sequences in companion cells of male and female gametophytes, which reinforces transposon silencing in gametes and also contributes to gene imprinting in the endosperm. Plant 5-meC DNA glycosylases are additionally involved in many other physiological processes, including seed development and germination, fruit ripening, and plant responses to a variety of biotic and abiotic environmental stimuli.

scholarly journals Tet1 and Tet2 Protect DNA Methylation Canyons against Hypermethylation

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 452-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Wiehle ◽  
Günter Raddatz ◽  
Tanja Musch ◽  
Meelad M. Dawlaty ◽  
Rudolf Jaenisch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Cell Fate ◽  
Epigenetic Modification ◽  
Regulation Of Gene Expression ◽  
Mechanistic Explanation ◽  
Dna Demethylation ◽  
Double Knockout ◽  
Developmental Defects ◽  
Active Dna Demethylation ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

DNA methylation is a dynamic epigenetic modification with an important role in cell fate specification and reprogramming. The Ten eleven translocation (Tet) family of enzymes converts 5-methylcytosine to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, which promotes passive DNA demethylation and functions as an intermediate in an active DNA demethylation process. Tet1/Tet2 double-knockout mice are characterized by developmental defects and epigenetic instability, suggesting a requirement for Tet-mediated DNA demethylation for the proper regulation of gene expression during differentiation. Here, we used whole-genome bisulfite and transcriptome sequencing to characterize the underlying mechanisms. Our results uncover the hypermethylation of DNA methylation canyons as the genomic key feature of Tet1/Tet2 double-knockout mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Canyon hypermethylation coincided with disturbed regulation of associated genes, suggesting a mechanistic explanation for the observed Tet-dependent differentiation defects. Based on these results, we propose an important regulatory role of Tet-dependent DNA demethylation for the maintenance of DNA methylation canyons, which prevents invasive DNA methylation and allows functional regulation of canyon-associated genes.

scholarly journals SIZ1-mediated SUMOylation of ROS1 Enhances Its Stability and Positively Regulates Active DNA Demethylation in Arabidopsis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiangfeng Kong ◽  
Yechun Hong ◽  
Yi-Feng Hsu ◽  
Huan Huang ◽  
Xue Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Dna Demethylation ◽  
Dna Glycosylase ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Dna Hypermethylation ◽  
Post Translational Modifications ◽  
Active Dna Demethylation ◽  
Short Summary ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Genomic Regions

AbstractThe 5-methylcytosine DNA glycosylase/lyase REPRESSOR OF SILENCING 1 (ROS1)-mediated active DNA demethylation is critical for shaping the genomic DNA methylation landscape in Arabidopsis. Whether and how the stability of ROS1 may be regulated by post-translational modifications is unknown. Using a methylation-sensitive PCR (CHOP-PCR)-based forward genetic screen for Arabidopsis DNA hypermethylation mutants, we identified the SUMO E3 ligase SIZ1 as a critical regulator of active DNA demethylation. Dysfunction of SIZ1 leads to hyper-methylation at approximately one thousand genomic regions. SIZ1 physically interacts with ROS1 and mediates the SUMOylation of ROS1. The SUMOylation of ROS1 is reduced in siz1 mutant plants. Compared to that in wild type plants, the protein level of ROS1 is significantly decreased, even though there is an increased level of ROS1 transcripts in siz1 mutant plants. Our results suggest that SIZ1 positively regulates active DNA demethylation by promoting the stability of ROS1 protein through SUMOylation.Short SummaryThe 5-methylcytosine DNA glycosylase/lyase REPRESSOR OF SILENCING 1 (ROS1) is indispensable for proper DNA methylation landscape in Arabidopsis. Whether and how the stability of ROS1 may be regulated by post-translational modifications is unknown. Here, we show that SIZ1-mediated SUMOylation of ROS1 enhances its stability and positively regulates active DNA demethylation.

scholarly journals Direct decarboxylation of Ten-eleven translocation-produced 5-carboxylcytosine in mammalian genomes forms a new mechanism for active DNA demethylation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Feng ◽  
Juan-Juan Chen ◽  
Neng-Bin Xie ◽  
Jiang-Hui Ding ◽  
Xue-Jiao You ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cytosine Methylation ◽  
Dna Demethylation ◽  
Epigenetic Mark ◽  
Active Dna Demethylation ◽  
Mammalian Genomes ◽  
Higher Eukaryotes ◽  
Dna Cytosine Methylation

DNA cytosine methylation (5-methylcytosine, 5mC) is the most important epigenetic mark in higher eukaryotes. 5mC in genomes is dynamically controlled by the writers and erasers. DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferases (DNMTs) are responsible...

scholarly journals DNA demethylation is initiated in the central cells of Arabidopsis and rice

2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (52) ◽  
pp. 15138-15143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyunghyuk Park ◽  
M. Yvonne Kim ◽  
Martin Vickers ◽  
Jin-Sup Park ◽  
Youbong Hyun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Dna Methyltransferase ◽  
Cytosine Methylation ◽  
Dna Demethylation ◽  
Central Cell ◽  
Dna Modification ◽  
Active Dna Demethylation ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Regulatory Functions ◽  
Global Reduction

Cytosine methylation is a DNA modification with important regulatory functions in eukaryotes. In flowering plants, sexual reproduction is accompanied by extensive DNA demethylation, which is required for proper gene expression in the endosperm, a nutritive extraembryonic seed tissue. Endosperm arises from a fusion of a sperm cell carried in the pollen and a female central cell. Endosperm DNA demethylation is observed specifically on the chromosomes inherited from the central cell in Arabidopsis thaliana, rice, and maize, and requires the DEMETER DNA demethylase in Arabidopsis. DEMETER is expressed in the central cell before fertilization, suggesting that endosperm demethylation patterns are inherited from the central cell. Down-regulation of the MET1 DNA methyltransferase has also been proposed to contribute to central cell demethylation. However, with the exception of three maize genes, central cell DNA methylation has not been directly measured, leaving the origin and mechanism of endosperm demethylation uncertain. Here, we report genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation in the central cells of Arabidopsis and rice—species that diverged 150 million years ago—as well as in rice egg cells. We find that DNA demethylation in both species is initiated in central cells, which requires DEMETER in Arabidopsis. However, we do not observe a global reduction of CG methylation that would be indicative of lowered MET1 activity; on the contrary, CG methylation efficiency is elevated in female gametes compared with nonsexual tissues. Our results demonstrate that locus-specific, active DNA demethylation in the central cell is the origin of maternal chromosome hypomethylation in the endosperm.

scholarly journals Male fertility in Arabidopsis requires active DNA demethylation of genes that control pollen tube function

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Souraya Khouider ◽  
Filipe Borges ◽  
Chantal LeBlanc ◽  
Alexander Ungru ◽  
Arp Schnittger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pollen Tube ◽  
Male Fertility ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Dna Demethylation ◽  
Dna Glycosylases ◽  
Active Dna Demethylation ◽  
Molecular Determinants ◽  
Tube Function ◽  
Mutant Pollen

AbstractActive DNA demethylation is required for sexual reproduction in plants but the molecular determinants underlying this epigenetic control are not known. Here, we show in Arabidopsis thaliana that the DNA glycosylases DEMETER (DME) and REPRESSOR OF SILENCING 1 (ROS1) act semi-redundantly in the vegetative cell of pollen to demethylate DNA and ensure proper pollen tube progression. Moreover, we identify six pollen-specific genes with increased DNA methylation as well as reduced expression in dme and dme;ros1. We further show that for four of these genes, reinstalling their expression individually in mutant pollen is sufficient to improve male fertility. Our findings demonstrate an essential role of active DNA demethylation in regulating genes involved in pollen function.

scholarly journals Active DNA demethylation regulates tracheary element differentiation in Arabidopsis

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (26) ◽  
pp. eaaz2963
Author(s):  
Wei Lin ◽  
Linhua Sun ◽  
Run-Zhou Huang ◽  
Wenjie Liang ◽  
Xinyu Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Tracheary Element ◽  
Dna Demethylation ◽  
Epigenetic Mechanism ◽  
Dna Glycosylases ◽  
Tracheary Element Differentiation ◽  
Xylem Development ◽  
Active Dna Demethylation ◽  
Genomic Regions

DNA demethylation is important for the erasure of DNA methylation. The role of DNA demethylation in plant development remains poorly understood. Here, we found extensive DNA demethylation in the CHH context around pericentromeric regions and DNA demethylation in the CG, CHG, and CHH contexts at discrete genomic regions during ectopic xylem tracheary element (TE) differentiation. While loss of pericentromeric methylation occurs passively, DNA demethylation at a subset of regions relies on active DNA demethylation initiated by DNA glycosylases ROS1, DML2, and DML3. The ros1 and rdd mutations impair ectopic TE differentiation and xylem development in the young roots of Arabidopsis seedlings. Active DNA demethylation targets and regulates many genes for TE differentiation. The defect of xylem development in rdd is proposed to be caused by dysregulation of multiple genes. Our study identifies a role of active DNA demethylation in vascular development and reveals an epigenetic mechanism for TE differentiation.

scholarly journals Single-base resolution methylomes of cotton CMS system reveal epigenomic changes in response to high-temperature stress during anther development

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meng Zhang ◽  
Xuexian Zhang ◽  
Liping Guo ◽  
Tingxiang Qi ◽  
Guoyuan Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Temperature ◽  
Transposable Elements ◽  
Cytosine Methylation ◽  
Anther Development ◽  
Dna Demethylation ◽  
Whole Genome ◽  
Gene Body Methylation ◽  
Respiratory Chain Enzyme ◽  
Single Base ◽  
Single Base Resolution

Abstract Here, cytosine methylation at single-base resolution across the whole genome of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) anthers was mapped using the whole-genome bisulfite sequencing technique, and the methylome changes associated with high-temperature (HT) stress were analysed in two cotton lines of the CMS system with contrasting HT stress tolerance. The cotton anther genome was found to display approximately 31.6%, 68.7%, 61.8%, and 21.8% methylation across all sequenced C sites and in the CG, CHG and CHH sequence contexts, respectively. In an integrated global methylome and transcriptome analysis, only promoter-unmethylated genes showed higher expression levels than promoter-methylated genes, whereas gene body methylation presented an obvious positive correlation with gene expression. The methylation profiles of transposable elements in cotton anthers were characterized, and more differentially methylated transposable elements were demethylated under HT stress. HT-induced promoter methylation changes caused upregulated expression of the mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme-associated genes GhNDUS7, GhCOX6A, GhCX5B2, and GhATPBM, ultimately promoting a series of redox processes to form ATP for normal anther development under HT stress. In vitro application of the common DNA methylation inhibitor 5-azacytidine and accelerator methyl trifluoromethanesulfonate demonstrated that DNA demethylation promoted anther development, while increased methylation only partially inhibited anther development under HT stress.

scholarly journals Targeted DNA demethylation of the Arabidopsis genome using the human TET1 catalytic domain

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (9) ◽  
pp. E2125-E2134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Gallego-Bartolomé ◽  
Jason Gardiner ◽  
Wanlu Liu ◽  
Ashot Papikian ◽  
Basudev Ghoshal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Cytosine Methylation ◽  
Catalytic Domain ◽  
Epigenetic Modification ◽  
High Specificity ◽  
Dna Demethylation ◽  
Late Flowering ◽  
Dna Cytosine Methylation ◽  
Activate Gene ◽  
Target Effects

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic modification involved in gene regulation and transposable element silencing. Changes in DNA methylation can be heritable and, thus, can lead to the formation of stable epialleles. A well-characterized example of a stable epiallele in plants is fwa, which consists of the loss of DNA cytosine methylation (5mC) in the promoter of the FLOWERING WAGENINGEN (FWA) gene, causing up-regulation of FWA and a heritable late-flowering phenotype. Here we demonstrate that a fusion between the catalytic domain of the human demethylase TEN-ELEVEN TRANSLOCATION1 (TET1cd) and an artificial zinc finger (ZF) designed to target the FWA promoter can cause highly efficient targeted demethylation, FWA up-regulation, and a heritable late-flowering phenotype. Additional ZF–TET1cd fusions designed to target methylated regions of the CACTA1 transposon also caused targeted demethylation and changes in expression. Finally, we have developed a CRISPR/dCas9-based targeted demethylation system using the TET1cd and a modified SunTag system. Similar to the ZF–TET1cd fusions, the SunTag–TET1cd system is able to target demethylation and activate gene expression when directed to the FWA or CACTA1 loci. Our study provides tools for targeted removal of 5mC at specific loci in the genome with high specificity and minimal off-target effects. These tools provide the opportunity to develop new epialleles for traits of interest, and to reactivate expression of previously silenced genes, transgenes, or transposons.

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