This study provides evidence that DNA methylation is a part of the immune response that plants mount against bacterial pathogens. Studying infection of Arabidopsis thaliana by Pseudomonas syringae and responses to a bacterial peptide, the authors found demethylation and transcriptional activation of some transposable elements and immune-response genes as a part of the antibacterial response. The demethylaton limits bacterial infection in leaves and seems to result from a combination of repression of transcriptional gene silencing factors and active demethylation.
ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER
Yu, A. et al. Dynamics and biological relevance of DNA demethylation in Arabidopsis antibacterial defense. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 18 Jan 2013 (doi:10.1073/pnas.1211757110)
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Muers, M. Plant immune system uses demethylation. Nat Rev Genet 14, 155 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg3441
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg3441