A potential role for CHH DNA methylation in cotton fiber growth patterns

PLoS One. 2013 Apr 12;8(4):e60547. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0060547. Print 2013.

Abstract

DNA methylation controls many aspects of plant growth and development. Here, we report a novel annual growth potential change that may correlate with changes in levels of the major DNA demethylases and methyltransferases in cotton ovules harvested at different times of the year. The abundances of DNA demethylases, at both the mRNA and protein levels, increased significantly from February to August and decreased during the remainder of the 12-month period, with the opposite pattern observed for DNA methyltransferases. Over the course of one year, substantial changes in methylcytosine content was observed at certain CHH sites (H = A, C, or T) in the promoter regions of the ETHYLENE RESPONSIVE FACTOR 6 (ERF6), SUPPRESSION OF RVS 161 DELTA 4 (SUR4) and 3-KETOACYL-COA SYNTHASE 13 (KCS13), which regulate cotton fiber growth. Three independent techniques were used to confirm the annual fluctuations in DNA methylation. Furthermore, in homozygous RNAi lines specifically targeting REPRESSOR OF SILENCING 1 (ROS1, a conserved DNA demethylase domain), promotion of DNA methylation significantly reduced fiber growth during August.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Blotting, Southern
  • Cotton Fiber*
  • DNA Methylation / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Genes, Plant / genetics
  • Gossypium / genetics*
  • Gossypium / growth & development*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Ovule / genetics
  • Ovule / growth & development
  • Phenotype
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • RNA Interference
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Associated data

  • GENBANK/HQ229653
  • GENBANK/HQ229654
  • GENBANK/HQ229655
  • GENBANK/HQ229656
  • GENBANK/HQ229657

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the China National Basic Research Program (Grant number 2010CB126002), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant number 90717009), and the 111 Project funded by the Chinese Ministry of Education. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.