RNA-directed DNA methylation: An epigenetic pathway of increasing complexity

Marjori A. Matzke, Rebecca A. Mosher

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

1141 Scopus citations

Abstract

RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) is the major small RNA-mediated epigenetic pathway in plants. RdDM requires a specialized transcriptional machinery that comprises two plant-specific RNA polymerases-Pol IV and Pol V-and a growing number of accessory proteins, the functions of which in the RdDM mechanism are only partially understood. Recent work has revealed variations in the canonical RdDM pathway and identified factors that recruit Pol IV and Pol V to specific target sequences. RdDM, which transcriptionally represses a subset of transposons and genes, is implicated in pathogen defence, stress responses and reproduction, as well as in interallelic and intercellular communication.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)394-408
Number of pages15
JournalNature Reviews Genetics
Volume15
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Genetics(clinical)

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