Abstract
DNA methylation is essential for silencing transposable elements and some genes in higher eukaryotes, which suggests that this modification must be tightly controlled. However, accidental changes in DNA methylation can be transmitted through mitosis (as in cancer) or meiosis, leading to epiallelic variation. We demonstrated the existence of an efficient mechanism that protects against transgenerational loss of DNA methylation in Arabidopsis. Remethylation is specific to the subset of heavily methylated repeats that are targeted by the RNA interference (RNAi) machinery. This process does not spread into flanking regions, is usually progressive over several generations, and faithfully restores wild-type methylation over target sequences in an RNAi-dependent manner. Our findings suggest an important role for RNAi in protecting genomes against long-term epigenetic defects.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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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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Crosses, Genetic
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DNA Methylation*
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DNA Transposable Elements
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DNA, Plant / genetics
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DNA, Plant / metabolism
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
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DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
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Genome, Plant
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Mutation
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RNA Interference*
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RNA, Plant / genetics
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RNA, Plant / metabolism
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RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
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RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
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RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / genetics
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RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / metabolism
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Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid
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Transcription Factors / genetics
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Transcription Factors / metabolism
Substances
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Arabidopsis Proteins
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DDM1 protein, Arabidopsis
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DNA Transposable Elements
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DNA, Plant
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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RNA, Plant
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RNA, Small Interfering
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Transcription Factors
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RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase