RNA-directed DNA methylation and plant development require an IWR1-type transcription factor.

Abstract

RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) in plants requires two RNA polymerase (Pol) II-related RNA polymerases, namely Pol IV and Pol V. A genetic screen designed to reveal factors that are important for RdDM in a developmental context in Arabidopsis identified DEFECTIVE IN MERISTEM SILENCING 4 (DMS4). Unlike other mutants defective in RdDM, dms4 mutants have a pleiotropic developmental phenotype. The DMS4 protein is similar to yeast IWR1 (interacts with RNA polymerase II), a conserved putative transcription factor that interacts with Pol II subunits. The DMS4 complementary DNA partly complements the K1 killer toxin hypersensitivity of a yeast iwr1 mutant, suggesting some functional conservation. In the transgenic system studied, mutations in DMS4 directly or indirectly affect Pol IV-dependent secondary short interfering RNAs, Pol V-mediated RdDM, Pol V-dependent synthesis of intergenic non-coding RNA and expression of many Pol II-driven genes. These data suggest that DMS4 might be a regulatory factor for several RNA polymerases, thus explaining its diverse roles in the plant.

• Authors: Tatsuo Kanno, Etienne Bucher, Lucia Daxinger, Bruno Huettel, David P Kreil, Frank Breinig, Marc Lind, Manfred J Schmitt, Stacey A Simon, Sai Guna Ranjan Gurazada, Blake C Meyers, Zdravko J Lorkovic, Antonius J M Matzke, Marjori Matzke
• Journal: EMBO reports (EMBO Rep) Vol. 11 Issue 1 Pg. 65-71 (Jan 2010) ISSN: 1469-3178 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20010803 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Arabidopsis Proteins
• DMS4 protein, Arabidopsis
• DNA, Plant
• RNA, Plant
• RNA, Small Interfering
• RNA, Untranslated
• Transcription Factors
• RNA polymerase IV, Arabidopsis
• RNA polymerase V, Arabidopsis
• DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases

Topics

• Arabidopsis (genetics, growth & development, metabolism)
• Arabidopsis Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• DNA Methylation (genetics, physiology)
• DNA, Plant (genetics, metabolism)
• DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases (metabolism)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Plant (genetics, physiology)
• Gene Silencing (physiology)
• Mutation
• Phenotype
• RNA, Plant (genetics, metabolism)
• RNA, Small Interfering (genetics, metabolism)
• RNA, Untranslated (genetics, metabolism)
• Transcription Factors (genetics, metabolism)