Abstract
The Arabidopsis FWA gene was initially identified from late-flowering epigenetic mutants that show ectopic FWA expression associated with heritable hypomethylation of repeats around transcription starting sites. Here, we show that wild-type FWA displays imprinted (maternal origin-specific) expression in endosperm. The FWA imprint depends on the maintenance DNA methyltransferase MET1, as is the case in mammals. Unlike mammals, however, the FWA imprint is not established by allele-specific de novo methylation. It is established by maternal gametophyte-specific gene activation, which depends on a DNA glycosylase gene, DEMETER. Because endosperm does not contribute to the next generation, the activated FWA gene need not be silenced again. Double fertilization enables plants to use such "one-way" control of imprinting and DNA methylation in endosperm.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Alleles
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Arabidopsis / genetics*
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Arabidopsis / growth & development
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Arabidopsis / metabolism
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Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics*
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Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism
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DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / metabolism
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DNA Methylation*
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DNA, Plant / genetics
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DNA, Plant / metabolism
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DNA-Cytosine Methylases / genetics
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DNA-Cytosine Methylases / metabolism
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Gene Expression Regulation, Plant*
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Gene Silencing
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Genomic Imprinting*
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Homeodomain Proteins / genetics*
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Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
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Methyltransferases / genetics
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Methyltransferases / metabolism
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Mutation
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N-Glycosyl Hydrolases / genetics
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N-Glycosyl Hydrolases / metabolism
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Pollen
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
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Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid
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Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Seeds / genetics*
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Seeds / metabolism
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Trans-Activators / genetics
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Trans-Activators / metabolism
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Transcription Factors / genetics*
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Transcription Factors / metabolism
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Transcription, Genetic
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Transcriptional Activation
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Transgenes
Substances
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Arabidopsis Proteins
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DNA, Plant
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FWA protein, Arabidopsis
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Homeodomain Proteins
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Recombinant Fusion Proteins
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Trans-Activators
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Transcription Factors
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DNA-Cytosine Methylases
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MET1 protein, Arabidopsis
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Methyltransferases
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CMT3 protein, Arabidopsis
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DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases
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DEMETER protein, Arabidopsis
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N-Glycosyl Hydrolases