The role of epigenetics in the maintenance of plant genome stability
Date
2013
Authors
Bilichak, Andriy
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Biological Sciences
Abstract
Significant alterations in the environmental conditions can have pronounced
effects on plant genome stability. Recent evidence argues for a global involvement of the
components of epigenetic modules in the regulation of genome homeostasis both
immediately after stress exposure and long after environmental cues were acquired. The
last observation is of particular interest as the memory of imposing stress can be
maintained at the molecular level throughout plant ontogenesis and may be faithfully
propagated into the following generation. Our study provides evidence that epigenetic
repercussions exerted by stress exposure of parental plants manifest themselves in
untreated progeny at all three levels of the epigenetic module: DNA methylation, histone
posttranslational modifications and small RNA metabolism. Additionally, the results of
our study shed new light on the engagement of the epigenetic machinery in the
maintenance of plant genome integrity by counteracting the activity of invading nucleic
acids.
Description
xv, 280 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm
Keywords
Epigenetics , Plant genomes -- Research , Plants -- Effect of stress on -- Genetic aspects , Plants -- Effect of stress on -- Research , Arabidopsis thaliana -- Effect of stress on -- Genetic aspects , Arabidopsis thaliana -- Effect of stress on -- Research , Dissertations, Academic