biologia plantarum

Biologia plantarum 2015, 59:671-676 | DOI: 10.1007/s10535-015-0535-9

Possible involvement of DNA methylation in regulating ZmGRP3 tissue-specific expression in maize

Y. -G. Song¹, W. Dong^1,*

¹ School of Life Science, Qufu Normal University, Qufu, Shandong, P.R. China

Cytosine methylation (C meth) is a ubiquitous regulator of gene transcription. The maize gene ZmGRP3 is a notable marker for root initiation, but how its root-specific transcription is regulated is not understood. Here, bisulfite sequencing and a C meth sensitive Southern blot assay were used to show that the transcription of ZmGRP3 was promoted by a reduction in the extent of C meth both in its promoter and in the vicinity of its translation start site. The result was validated by revealing the effect of 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine on the C meth status in various seedling organs. An analysis of methylation patterns indicates that the C meth of cytosine-guanine dinucleotides was the most important determinant of transcription, however, the C meth of CHG or CHH trinucleotides had little influence.

Keywords: cytosine methylation; gene expression; root initiation; Zea mays

Subjects: DNA methylation; gene expression; root iniciation; Southern blot; maize

Species: Zea mays

Received: September 9, 2014; Revised: February 21, 2015; Accepted: March 30, 2015; Published: December 1, 2015Show citation