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PMID: 12242246 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

The control of natural variation in cytosine methylation in Arabidopsis.

Genetics ·Vol. 162 ·No. 1 ·2002-09-00 ·Pages 355-63

Riddle NC, Richards EJ

Abstract

We explore the extent and sources of epigenetic variation in cytosine methylation in natural accessions of the flowering plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, by focusing on the methylation of the major rRNA gene repeats at the two nucleolus organizer regions (NOR). Our findings indicate that natural variation in NOR methylation results from a combination of genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. Genetic variation in rRNA gene copy number and trans-acting modifier loci account for some of the natural variation in NOR methylation. Our results also suggest that divergence and inheritance of epigenetic information, independent of changes in underlying nucleotide sequence, may play an important role in maintaining natural variation in cytosine methylation.

MeSH Terms
Arabidopsis/genetics Blotting, Southern Cytosine/metabolism DNA Methylation Genetic Variation Quantitative Trait Loci RNA, Ribosomal/genetics
Chemicals
RNA, Ribosomal Cytosine
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Riddle Nicole C
Department of Biology, Washington University, Saint Louis, Missouri 63130, USA.
Richards Eric J
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Article Info
Journal
Genetics
Abbr.
Genetics
ISSN
0016-6731
DOI
10.1093/genetics/162.1.355
Published
2002-09-00
Pages
355-63
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
0374636
PMCID
PMC1462236
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1093/genetics/162.1.355 PMC Full Text View journal details
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