DNA demethylation activates genes in seed maternal integument development in rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Yifeng Wang+, Haiyan Lin+, Xiaohong Tong, Yuxuan Hou, Yuxiao Chang and Jian Zhang*
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
, 2017,120:169-178.
10.1016/j.plaphy.2017.09.018
Abstract
DNA methylation is an important epigenetic modification that regulates various plant developmental processes. Rice seed integument determines the seed size. However, the role of DNA methylation in itsdevelopment remains largely unknown. Here, we report the first dynamic DNA methylomic profiling ofrice maternal integument before and after pollination by using a whole-genome bisulfite deepsequencing approach. Analysis of DNA methylation patterns identified 4238 differentially methylatedregions underpin 4112 differentially methylated genes, including GW2, DEP1, RGB1 and numerous otherregulators participated in maternal integument development. Bisulfite sanger sequencing and qRT-PCRof six differentially methylated genes revealed extensive occurrence of DNA hypomethylation triggeredby double fertilization at IAP compared with IBP, suggesting that DNA demethylation might be akey mechanism to activate numerous maternal controlling genes. These results presented here not onlygreatly expanded the rice methylome dataset, but also shed novel insight into the regulatory roles of DNAmethylation in rice seed maternal integument development.