DNA methylation is reconfigured at the onset of reproduction in rice shoot apical meristem

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17963-2
• Publication Date: 2020-08-14T12:22:04Z
• Authors: Asuka Higo; Noriko Saihara; Fumihito Miura; Yoko Higashi; Megumi Yamada; Shojiro Tamaki; Tasuku Ito; Yoshiaki Tarutani; Tomoaki Sakamoto; Masayuki Fujiwara; Tetsuya Kurata; Yoichiro Fukao; Satoru Moritoh; Rie Terada; Toshinori Kinoshita; Takashi Ito; Tetsuji Kakutani; Ko Shimamoto; Hiroyuki Tsuji
• Keywords: Epigenomics

Abstract DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification that specifies the basic state of pluripotent stem cells and regulates developmental transition from to various cell types. In flowering plants, shoot apical meristem (SAM) contains a population which generates aerial part plants including germ cells. Under appropriate conditions, SAM undergoes leaf-forming vegetative inflorescence- flower-forming reproductive SAM. While characteristics are largely altered in this transition, complete picture remains elusive. Here, by analyzing whole-genome isolated rice SAMs stages, we show at CHH sites kept high, particularly transposable elements (TEs), relative differentiated leaf, increases via RNA-dependent pathway. We also half TEs were highly methylated gametes had already undergone hypermethylation Our results indicate changes begin long before differentiation protect genome harmful TEs.