Identification of the candidate genes regulated by RNA-directed DNA methylation in Arabidopsis

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2008 Nov 21;376(3):553-7. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.09.046. Epub 2008 Sep 19.

Abstract

RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) is a process in which 24 nucleotide (nt) small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) guide de novo cytosine methylation in the homologous genomic DNA region. Of several factors involving 24 nt siRNA accumulation, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 2 (RDR2) is a key component, because accumulation of 24 nt siRNA disappears in the Arabidopsis rdr2 mutant. Here, we compared expression profiles among wild-type, rdr2-1 and ddc (drm1drm2cmt3), DNA methyltransferase triple mutant, using a whole genome tiling array to identify the candidate genes directly downregulated by RdDM-related 24 nt siRNAs. Of the transcripts upregulated in the mutants, we searched for those whose coding regions or flanking regions have siRNA-generating loci. We found upregulated expression of 18 transcripts with AGI codes and 19 predicted transcriptional units (TUs) with siRNA loci in both rdr2-1 and ddc. Our study provided important information for understanding the relationship between RdDM and the identified candidate genes.

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / genetics*
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics
  • DNA Methylation*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Cytosine Methylases / genetics
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant*
  • Methyltransferases / genetics
  • RNA, Plant / metabolism*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism*
  • RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • DDM1 protein, Arabidopsis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • RNA, Plant
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Transcription Factors
  • DNA-Cytosine Methylases
  • Methyltransferases
  • CMT3 protein, Arabidopsis
  • DRM2 protein, Arabidopsis
  • RDR2 protein, Arabidopsis
  • RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase