Cellular differentiation-in the development of multicellular organisms invariably involves changes-in patterns of gene expression. In many developmental programs, certain key changes in patterns of gene expression are epigenetic in nature; that is, such changes in gene expression remain stable through subsequent cell divisions in the absence of the original signal that induced the changes. In animals, epigenetic switches often """"""""lock in"""""""" developmental fates such as occurs in establishment of the body plan during embryogenesis. In many plants, a comparable epigenetic switch resulting from vernalization is used to govern reproductive competence. Vernalization is the process by which plants measure the duration of exposure to winter's cold and, after perceiving a sufficient duration of cold, acquire competence to flower the following spring. Competence to flower results from the epigenetic silencing of a flowering repressor, FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), via a series of modifications to histones of FLC chromatin. We will combine studies of natural variation, mutant screens, protein interaction screens, and genome-wide gene expression patterns to identify constitutive elements of the vernalization network. We will define the specific changes in FLC chromatin that accompany the acquisition of competence. We will then address the roles and interaction of the genes product involved in vernalization. A long-term goal of our work is to understand how genetic regulatory networks operate. The regulatory network that we propose to study has similarities to those involved in body plan and organ formation in animals. Moreover, the epigenetic switch that we are studying is reset during meiosis which is also a feature of genomic imprinting in mammals. Improper regulation of epigenetic processes can underlie abnormal developmental events and some disease states such as cancer. A general understanding of epigenetic regulation in a range of multi-cellular organisms should ultimately contribute to the development of strategies to treat disease states. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01GM079525-01
Application #
7186012
Study Section
Genetic Variation and Evolution Study Section (GVE)
Program Officer
Anderson, James J
Project Start
2007-03-01
Project End
2011-02-28
Budget Start
2007-03-01
Budget End
2008-02-29
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$273,585
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Wisconsin Madison
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Earth Sciences/Natur
DUNS #
161202122
City
Madison
State
WI
Country
United States
Zip Code
53715
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Lee, Joohyun; Amasino, Richard M (2013) Two FLX family members are non-redundantly required to establish the vernalization requirement in Arabidopsis. Nat Commun 4:2186
Cho, Jung-Nam; Ryu, Jee-Youn; Jeong, Young-Min et al. (2012) Control of seed germination by light-induced histone arginine demethylation activity. Dev Cell 22:736-48
Yun, Jae-Young; Tamada, Yosuke; Kang, Ye Eun et al. (2012) Arabidopsis trithorax-related3/SET domain GROUP2 is required for the winter-annual habit of Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Cell Physiol 53:834-46
Wollenberg, Amanda C; Amasino, Richard M (2012) Natural variation in the temperature range permissive for vernalization in accessions of Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Cell Environ 35:2181-91
Farrona, Sara; Hurtado, Lidia; March-Diaz, Rosana et al. (2011) Brahma is required for proper expression of the floral repressor FLC in Arabidopsis. PLoS One 6:e17997
Doyle, Mark R; Amasino, Richard M (2009) A single amino acid change in the enhancer of zeste ortholog CURLY LEAF results in vernalization-independent, rapid flowering in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiol 151:1688-97
Tamada, Yosuke; Yun, Jae-Young; Woo, Seung Chul et al. (2009) ARABIDOPSIS TRITHORAX-RELATED7 is required for methylation of lysine 4 of histone H3 and for transcriptional activation of FLOWERING LOCUS C. Plant Cell 21:3257-69
Choi, Jean; Hyun, Youbong; Kang, Min-Jeong et al. (2009) Resetting and regulation of Flowering Locus C expression during Arabidopsis reproductive development. Plant J 57:918-31
Schmitz, Robert Jeffrey; Tamada, Yosuke; Doyle, Mark Robert et al. (2009) Histone H2B deubiquitination is required for transcriptional activation of FLOWERING LOCUS C and for proper control of flowering in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiol 149:1196-204

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