Genomic imprinting is an essential epigenetic process that controls the size of seeds in flowering plants. In Arabidopsis, DEMETER activates the maternal copy of the imprinted MEDEA Polycomb gene. In this issue of Cell, Gehring et al. (2006) demonstrate that this activation involves DNA demethylation of MEDEA by DEMETER. Remarkably, they also find that silencing of the paternal MEDEA allele is independent of DNA methylation and is controlled by maternal expression of MEDEA itself.
MEDEA takes control of its own imprinting
Arnaud, P.; Feil, R.
2006
Cell
2006-02-10 / vol 124 / pages 468-70
Abstract
IGMM team(s) involved in this publication
Robert Feil
Empreinte Génomique et Développement
Étiquettes
Animals; DNA Methylation; *Genomic Imprinting; Epigenesis, Genetic; Models, Genetic; Mammals; Arabidopsis Proteins/*genetics; Arabidopsis/genetics; DNA, Plant/genetics; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Genes, Plant