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SUMMARY:The Evolution of Imprinted Gene Expression in Cultivated Rice - Da
 niel ZIlberman\, Berkeley
DTSTART:20150205T130000Z
DTEND:20150205T140000Z
UID:TALK56933@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:38889
DESCRIPTION:Arabidopsis thaliana endosperm\, a transient tissue that nouri
 shes the embryo\, exhibits extensive localized DNA demethylation on matern
 ally-inherited chromosomes\, which mediates parent-of-origin-specific (imp
 rinted) gene expression. Endosperm DNA in rice and maize is likewise local
 ly hypomethylated. We have shown that localized hypomethylation in rice en
 dosperm occurs solely on the maternal genome\, preferring regions of high 
 DNA accessibility. Maternally expressed imprinted genes are enriched for h
 ypomethylation at putative promoter regions and transcriptional termini\, 
 and paternally expressed genes at promoters and gene bodies\, mirroring ou
 r recent results in A. thaliana. Our data indicate that localized hypometh
 ylation of maternal endosperm DNA is conserved in flowering plants. By exa
 mining divergent rice cultivars\, we also identified genes the imprinting 
 of which has changed in the course of rice evolution. In some cases\, this
  variation is genetic\, with gene expression differences caused by underly
 ing sequence changes\, such as transposon insertions. In other cases\, met
 hylation differences that control gene expression exist in the absence of 
 significant genetic polymorphism. The results suggest that epigenetic vari
 ation contributes to short term plant evolution and may influence traits s
 elected by crop breeders.
LOCATION:Department of Plant Sciences\, Large Lecture Theatre
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