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RNA‐directed DNA methylation and plant development require an IWR1‐type transcription factor
Author(s) -
Kanno Tatsuo,
Bucher Etienne,
Daxinger Lucia,
Huettel Bruno,
Kreil David P,
Breinig Frank,
Lind Marc,
Schmitt Manfred J,
Simon Stacey A,
Gurazada Sai Guna Ranjan,
Meyers Blake C,
Lorkovic Zdravko J,
Matzke Antonius J M,
Matzke Marjori
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
embo reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.584
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1469-3178
pISSN - 1469-221X
DOI - 10.1038/embor.2009.246
Subject(s) - dna methylation , biology , genetics , transcription factor , rna , dna , computational biology , gene , gene expression
RNA‐directed DNA methylation (RdDM) in plants requires two RNA polymerase (Pol) II‐related RNA polymerases, namely Pol IV and Pol V. A genetic screen designed to reveal factors that are important for RdDM in a developmental context in Arabidopsis identified DEFECTIVE IN MERISTEM SILENCING 4 (DMS4). Unlike other mutants defective in RdDM, dms4 mutants have a pleiotropic developmental phenotype. The DMS4 protein is similar to yeast IWR1 (interacts with RNA polymerase II), a conserved putative transcription factor that interacts with Pol II subunits. The DMS4 complementary DNA partly complements the K1 killer toxin hypersensitivity of a yeast iwr1 mutant, suggesting some functional conservation. In the transgenic system studied, mutations in DMS4 directly or indirectly affect Pol IV‐dependent secondary short interfering RNAs, Pol V‐mediated RdDM, Pol V‐dependent synthesis of intergenic non‐coding RNA and expression of many Pol II‐driven genes. These data suggest that DMS4 might be a regulatory factor for several RNA polymerases, thus explaining its diverse roles in the plant.