RNA-directed DNA methylation in plants

Ali Movahedi; Weibu Sun; Jiaxin Zhang; Xiaolong Wu; Mohaddesseh Mousavi; Kourosh Mohammadi; Tongming Yin; Qiang Zhuge

doi:10.1007/s00299-015-1839-0

RNA-directed DNA methylation in plants

Plant Cell Rep. 2015 Nov;34(11):1857-62. doi: 10.1007/s00299-015-1839-0. Epub 2015 Jul 17.

Authors

Ali Movahedi¹, Weibu Sun¹, Jiaxin Zhang¹, Xiaolong Wu¹, Mohaddesseh Mousavi¹, Kourosh Mohammadi¹, Tongming Yin¹, Qiang Zhuge²

Affiliations

¹ Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China.
² Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, China. qzhuge@njfu.edu.cn.

PMID: 26183954
DOI: 10.1007/s00299-015-1839-0

Abstract

In plants, many small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) direct de novo methylation by DNA methyltransferase. DNA methylation typically occurs by RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM), which directs transcriptional gene silencing of transposons and endogenous transgenes. RdDM is driven by non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) produced by DNA-dependent RNA polymerases IV and V (PolIV and PolV). The production of siRNAs is initiated by PolIV and ncRNAs produced by PolIV are precursors of 24-nucleotide siRNAs. In contrast, ncRNAs produced by PolV are involved in scaffolding RNAs. In this review, we summarize recent studies of RdDM. In particular, we focus on the mechanisms involved in chromatin remodeling by PolIV and PolV.

Keywords: DNA methylation; DRM; PolIV; PolV; RDM; RdDM; siRNAs.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

DNA Methylation / genetics*
DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / genetics
DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases / metabolism
RNA, Plant / genetics
RNA, Plant / metabolism*
RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
RNA, Untranslated / genetics

Substances

RNA, Plant
RNA, Small Interfering
RNA, Untranslated
DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases