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Dynamics and function of DNA methylation in plants

Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology volume 19, pages 489–506 (2018)Cite this article

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Abstract

DNA methylation is a conserved epigenetic modification that is important for gene regulation and genome stability. Aberrant patterns of DNA methylation can lead to plant developmental abnormalities. A specific DNA methylation state is an outcome of dynamic regulation by de novo methylation, maintenance of methylation and active demethylation, which are catalysed by various enzymes that are targeted by distinct regulatory pathways. In this Review, we discuss DNA methylation in plants, including methylating and demethylating enzymes and regulatory factors, and the coordination of methylation and demethylation activities by a so-called methylstat mechanism; the functions of DNA methylation in regulating transposon silencing, gene expression and chromosome interactions; the roles of DNA methylation in plant development; and the involvement of DNA methylation in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stress conditions.

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Fig. 1: RNA-directed DNA methylation pathways in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Fig. 2: Dynamic regulation of DNA methylation in plants.
Fig. 3: ROS1-mediated active DNA demethylation in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Fig. 4: Cellular functions of DNA methylation in plants.
Fig. 5: Roles of DNA methylation in plant growth and development.
Fig. 6: Stress-responsive changes in epigenetic modifications and possible stress memory.

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Acknowledgements

The authors apologize to those colleagues whose work is not cited owing to space constraints. The work of the authors has been supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

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Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology thanks F. Berger, V. Colot and X. Zhong for their contribution to the peer review of this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China

    Huiming Zhang, Zhaobo Lang & Jian-Kang Zhu

  2. CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China

    Huiming Zhang, Zhaobo Lang & Jian-Kang Zhu

  3. Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA

    Jian-Kang Zhu

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  1. Huiming Zhang
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  2. Zhaobo Lang
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Contributions

H.Z. and J.-K.Z. researched data for the article, provided substantial contributions to the discussion of content and wrote the article. H.Z., Z.L. and J.-K.Z. reviewed and edited the manuscript before submission.

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Correspondence to Huiming Zhang or Jian-Kang Zhu.

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Zhang, H., Lang, Z. & Zhu, JK. Dynamics and function of DNA methylation in plants. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 19, 489–506 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41580-018-0016-z

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