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Comparative epigenomics: a powerful tool to understand the evolution of DNA methylation
Author(s) -
Zhong Xuehua
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
new phytologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.742
H-Index - 244
eISSN - 1469-8137
pISSN - 0028-646X
DOI - 10.1111/nph.13540
Subject(s) - dna methylation , biology , epigenomics , epigenetics , genetics , computational biology , dna , epigenome , mechanism (biology) , evolutionary biology , gene , gene expression , philosophy , epistemology
Summary Understanding how developmental and functional complexity of organisms evolves is a longstanding challenge in biology. Genetic mutation has long been thought to be the cause of biological complexity. However, increasing evidence indicates that epigenetic variation provides a parallel path for the evolution of biological complexity. Cytosine DNA methylation, the addition of a chemical mark on DNA , is a conserved and essential gene regulatory mechanism. Recent studies have greatly advanced our understanding of the DNA methylation landscapes and key regulatory components across many species. In this review, I summarize recent advances in understanding DNA methylation from an evolutionary perspective. Using comparative approaches, I highlight the conservation and divergence of DNA methylation patterns and regulatory machinery in plants and other eukaryotic organisms.ContentsSummary 76 I. Introduction 76 II. DNA methylation patterns 77 III. Eukaryotic DNA methyltransferases 78 IV. Regulation of DNA methylation 78 V. Perspectives 79Acknowledgements 80References 80