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SUMMARY:Can Argonautes provide demethylation specificity in Arabidopsis th
 aliana? - Laura Taylor
DTSTART:20110609T153000Z
DTEND:20110609T160000Z
UID:TALK30697@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Suzy Stoodley
DESCRIPTION:Small RNAs are able to guide DNA methylation at target loci th
 rough Argonaute-mediated recruitment of chromatin remodelling factors.  DN
 A methylation can be actively removed by DNA glycosylases\, which target s
 pecific regions of the genome for demethylation.  However\, it is unknown 
 what factors provide targeting specificity for DNA glycosylases. It has be
 en hypothesized that small RNAs could provide the required specificity.\n\
 nI am currently investigating a locus which is targeted for demethylation 
 by DNA glycosylases and also requires Argonautes in order to remain demeth
 ylated.  Demethylation at this locus is also required for the regulation o
 f an adjacent gene which may itself be involved in DNA demethylation itsel
 f.\n\nIn the future\, I will directly test the hypothesis that small RNAs 
 can function through Argonaute proteins in order to provide a specificity 
 factor for directing DNA demethylation. This research will improve our und
 erstanding of how genes are targeted for DNA demethylation in plants as we
 ll as insight into the interaction between RNA silencing and DNA demethyla
 tion.
LOCATION:Department of Plant Sciences\, Large Lecture Theatre
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