Comparative analysis of JmjC domain-containing proteins reveals the potential histone demethylases in Arabidopsis and rice

J Integr Plant Biol. 2008 Jul;50(7):886-96. doi: 10.1111/j.1744-7909.2008.00692.x.

Abstract

Histone methylation homeostasis is achieved by controlling the balance between methylation and demethylation to maintain chromatin function and developmental regulation. In animals, a conserved Jumonji C (JmjC) domain was found in a large group of histone demethylases. However, it is still unclear whether plants also contain the JmjC domain-containing active histone demethylases. Here we performed genome-wide screen and phylogenetic analysis of JmjC domain-containing proteins in the dicot plant, Arabidopsis, and monocot plant rice, and found 21 and 20 JmjC domain-containing, respectively. We also examined the expression of JmjC domain-containing proteins and compared them to human JmjC counterparts for potential enzymatic activity. The spatial expression patterns of the Arabidopsis JmjC domain-containing genes revealed that they are all actively transcribed genes. These active plant JmjC domain-containing genes could possibly function in epigenetic regulation to antagonize the activity of the large number of putative SET domain-containing histone methyltransferase activity to dynamically regulate histone methylation homeostasis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Arabidopsis / enzymology*
  • Arabidopsis / genetics
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Genes, Plant
  • Histones
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oryza / enzymology*
  • Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating / chemistry*
  • Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating / genetics
  • Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating / metabolism*
  • Phylogeny
  • Plant Proteins / chemistry*
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary

Substances

  • Histones
  • Plant Proteins
  • Oxidoreductases, N-Demethylating