Title: A methyltransferase required for proper timing of the vernalization response in Arabidopsis

Abstract

Prolonged exposure to winter cold enables flowering in many plant species through a process called vernalization. In Arabidopsis, vernalization results from the epigenetic silencing of the floral repressor FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC) via a Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2)-mediated increase in the density of the epigenetic silencing mark H3K27me3 at FLC chromatin. During cold exposure, a gene encoding a unique, cold-specific PRC2 component, VERNALIZATION INSENSITIVE 3 (VIN3), which is necessary for PRC2-mediated silencing of FLC, is induced. In this paper, we show that SET DOMAIN GROUP 7 (SDG7) is required for proper timing of VIN3 induction and of the vernalization process. Loss of SDG7 results in a vernalization-hypersensitive phenotype, as well as more rapid cold-mediated up-regulation of VIN3. In the absence of cold, loss of SDG7 results in elevated levels of long noncoding RNAs, which are thought to participate in epigenetic repression of FLC. Furthermore, loss of SDG7 results in increased H3K27me3 deposition on FLC chromatin in the absence of cold exposure and enhanced H3K27me3 spreading during cold treatment. In conclusion, SDG7 is a negative regulator of vernalization, and loss of SDG7 creates a partially vernalized state without cold exposure.

Authors:

Lee, Joohyun ^[1]; Yun, Jae-Young ^[1]; Zhao, Wei ^[2]; Shen, Wen-Hui ^[2]; Amasino, Richard M. ^[1]

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI 53706, and
2. Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes du CNRS, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg 67084, France

Publication Date:

Tue Jan 20 00:00:00 EST 2015

Research Org.:

Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

OSTI Identifier:

1761223

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1349032

Grant/Contract Number:  

DOE BER office of Science DE-FCO2-07ER64494; FC02-07ER64494

Resource Type:

Published Article

Journal Name:

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Journal Volume: 112 Journal Issue: 7; Journal ID: ISSN 0027-8424

Publisher:

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; vernalization; flowering time; SET DOMAIN GROUP 7