Biology 2017, 6(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology6010003
Concerted Flexibility of Chromatin Structure, Methylome, and Histone Modifications along with Plant Stress Responses
Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Genomics of Plant Stress Unit. Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
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These authors contributed equally to this work.
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Academic Editor: Chris O’Callaghan
Received: 17 November 2016 / Revised: 5 January 2017 / Accepted: 10 January 2017 / Published: 16 January 2017
Abstract
The spatial organization of chromosome structure within the interphase nucleus, as well as the patterns of methylome and histone modifications, represent intersecting layers that influence genome accessibility and function. This review is focused on the plastic nature of chromatin structure and epigenetic marks in association to stress situations. The use of chemical compounds (epigenetic drugs) or T-DNA-mediated mutagenesis affecting epigenetic regulators (epi-mutants) are discussed as being important tools for studying the impact of deregulated epigenetic backgrounds on gene function and phenotype. The inheritability of epigenetic marks and chromatin configurations along successive generations are interpreted as a way for plants to “communicate” past experiences of stress sensing. A mechanistic understanding of chromatin and epigenetics plasticity in plant response to stress, including tissue- and genotype-specific epigenetic patterns, may help to reveal the epigenetics contributions for genome and phenotype regulation. View Full-TextKeywords:
chromatin structure; epigenetics; DNA methylation; histone modifications; epi-drugs; epi-mutations
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Santos, A.P.; Ferreira, L.J.; Oliveira, M.M. Concerted Flexibility of Chromatin Structure, Methylome, and Histone Modifications along with Plant Stress Responses. Biology 2017, 6, 3.
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