(Title)

Genetics of epigenetics on Arabidopsis

 

Tetsuji Kakutani

Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Tokyo

 

(Abstract)

To understand epigenetic control of genes and transposable elements (TEs), we are taking genetic approaches using a flowering plant Arabidopsis. Arabidopsis mutants defective in genomic DNA methylation exhibit various types of developmental defects. Some of the defects are due to insertion mutations of TEs and others are due to heritable changes in expression of genes near TEs. Thus, DNA methylation is important not only for “genome defense” against proliferation of TE but also for generating appropriate epi-genotypes of genes near TEs. In this seminar, some of the following topics will be presented with additional unpublished results of ongoing projects.

1. How are specific modifications of TEs established? [ref 1-2]
2. Evolution of centromeres and TEs [ref 3-5]
3. Sequence-specific anti-defense by TEs [ref 6-8]
4. Control of genes and TEs by histone demethylases [ref 9-12]

 

(References)

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