2020 Volume 32 Issue 1 Pages 53-57
Epigenetic priming is one of the potential systems that genes are poised for activation by external signal inputs. Although the priming does not alter the gene expression, it is considered to induce the open structure of chromatin and the poised state for the future transcription. This priming is involved in stem cell differentiation, cancer development and drug action but remains unclear in plant regeneration. Through integrated analysis of genome-wide histone modifications and gene expression profiles, we successfully identified an epigenetic priming by a histone demethylase LYSINE-SPECIFIC DEMETHYLASE 1-LIKE 3 (LDL3) that specifically eliminates H3K4me2 during formation of callus derived from roots of Arabidopsis thaliana. While LDL3-mediated H3K4me2 removal does not immediately affect gene expression, it does facilitate the later activation of genes that act to form shoot progenitors after shoot induction. This finding gives insights into plant regenerative competency with epigenetic priming.
