9306266 Richards Post-replicative methylation is the most common DNA modification present in eukaryotic cells. Although DNA methylation has been the subject of intense study, many questions remain about the function of this form of DNA modification in eukaryotes. The proposal outlines a genetic approach to the study of DNA methylation using the flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana as a model. We have isolated A. thaliana mutants that contain reduced levels of cytosine methylation. Plans for further characterization of these hypomethylation mutants and strategies for isolating new methylation mutants are proposed. %%% It is anticipated that the A. thaliana mutants will provide a new system for studying eukaryotic DNA methylation. ***
