PICKLE is a CHD subfamily II ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling factor

PICKLE and HISTONE DEACETYLASE6 coordinately regulate genes and transposable elements in Arabidopsis

Chromatin dynamics play essential roles in transcriptional regulation. The chromodomain helicase DNA-binding domain 3 chromatin remodeler PICKLE (PKL) and HISTONE DEACETYLASE6 (HDA6) are required for transcriptional gene silencing, but their coordinated function in gene repression requires further study. Through a genetic suppressor screen, we found that a point mutation at PKL could partially restore the developmental defects of a weak Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) mutant (ring1a-2 ring1b-3), in which RING1A expression is suppressed by a T-DNA insertion at the promoter. Compared to ring1a-2 ring1b-3, the expression of RING1A is increased, nucleosome occupancy is reduced, and the histone 3 lysine 9 acetylation (H3K9ac) level is increased at the RING1A locus in the pkl ring1a-2 ring1b-3 triple mutant. HDA6 interacts with PKL and represses RING1A expression similarly to PKL genetically and molecularly in the ring1a-2 ring1b-3 background. Furthermore, we show that PKL and HDA6 suppress the expression of a set of genes and transposable elements (TEs) by increasing nucleosome density and reducing H3K9ac. Genome-wide analysis indicated they possibly coordinately maintain DNA methylation as well. Our findings suggest that PKL and HDA6 function together to reduce H3K9ac and increase nucleosome occupancy, thereby facilitating gene/TE regulation in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana).

The LOB domain protein, a novel transcription factor with multiple functions: A review

The LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES DOMAIN (LBD) protein, named for its LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES (LOB) domain, is a member of a class of specific transcription factors commonly found in plants and is absent from all other groups of organisms. LBD TFs have been systematically identified in about 35 plant species and are involved in regulating various aspects of plant growth and development. However, research on the signaling network and regulatory functions of LBD TFs is insufficient, and only a few members have been studied. Moreover, a comprehensive review of these existing studies is lacking. In this review, the structure, regulatory mechanism and function of LBD TFs in recent years were reviewed in order to better understand the role of LBD TFs in plant growth and development, and to provide a new perspective for the follow-up study of LBD TFs.

Paramutation at the maize pl1 locus is associated with RdDM activity at distal tandem repeats

Exceptions to Mendelian inheritance often highlight novel chromosomal behaviors. The maize Pl1-Rhoades allele conferring plant pigmentation can display inheritance patterns deviating from Mendelian expectations in a behavior known as paramutation. However, the chromosome features mediating such exceptions remain unknown. Here we show that small RNA production reflecting RNA polymerase IV function within a distal downstream set of five tandem repeats is coincident with meiotically-heritable repression of the Pl1-Rhoades transcription unit. A related pl1 haplotype with three, but not one with two, repeat units also displays the trans-homolog silencing typifying paramutations. 4C interactions, CHD3a-dependent small RNA profiles, nuclease sensitivity, and polyadenylated RNA levels highlight a repeat subregion having regulatory potential. Our comparative and mutant analyses show that transcriptional repression of Pl1-Rhoades correlates with 24-nucleotide RNA production and cytosine methylation at this subregion indicating the action of a specific DNA-dependent RNA polymerase complex. These findings support a working model in which pl1 paramutation depends on trans-chromosomal RNA-directed DNA methylation operating at a discrete cis-linked and copy-number-dependent transcriptional regulatory element.

Mind the gap: Epigenetic regulation of chromatin accessibility in plants

Chromatin plays a crucial role in genome compaction and is fundamental for regulating multiple nuclear processes. Nucleosomes, the basic building blocks of chromatin, are central in regulating these processes, determining chromatin accessibility by limiting access to DNA for various proteins and acting as important signaling hubs. The association of histones with DNA in nucleosomes and the folding of chromatin into higher-order structures are strongly influenced by a variety of epigenetic marks, including DNA methylation, histone variants, and histone post-translational modifications. Additionally, a wide array of chaperones and ATP-dependent remodelers regulate various aspects of nucleosome biology, including assembly, deposition, and positioning. This review provides an overview of recent advances in our mechanistic understanding of how nucleosomes and chromatin organization are regulated by epigenetic marks and remodelers in plants. Furthermore, we present current technologies for profiling chromatin accessibility and organization.

Epigenetic regulation and epigenetic memory resetting during plant rejuvenation

Reversal of plant developmental status from the mature to the juvenile phase, thus leading to the restoration of the developmental potential, is referred to as plant rejuvenation. It involves multilayer regulation, including resetting gene expression patterns, chromatin remodeling, and histone modifications, eventually resulting in the restoration of juvenile characteristics. Although plants can be successfully rejuvenated using some forestry practices to restore juvenile morphology, physiology, and reproductive capabilities, studies on the epigenetic mechanisms underlying this process are in the nascent stage. This review provides an overview of the plant rejuvenation process and discusses the key epigenetic mechanisms involved in DNA methylation, histone modification, and chromatin remodeling in the process of rejuvenation, as well as the roles of small RNAs in this process. Additionally, we present new inquiries regarding the epigenetic regulation of plant rejuvenation, aiming to advance our understanding of rejuvenation in sexually and asexually propagated plants. Overall, we highlight the importance of epigenetic mechanisms in the regulation of plant rejuvenation, providing valuable insights into the complexity of this process.

Temporal regulation of vegetative phase change in plants

During their vegetative growth, plants reiteratively produce leaves, buds, and internodes at the apical end of the shoot. The identity of these organs changes as the shoot develops. Some traits change gradually, but others change in a coordinated fashion, allowing shoot development to be divided into discrete juvenile and adult phases. The transition between these phases is called vegetative phase change. Historically, vegetative phase change has been studied because it is thought to be associated with an increase in reproductive competence. However, this is not true for all species; indeed, heterochronic variation in the timing of vegetative phase change and flowering has made important contributions to plant evolution. In this review, we describe the molecular mechanism of vegetative phase change, how the timing of this process is controlled by endogenous and environmental factors, and its ecological and evolutionary significance.

Epigenetic regulation of photoperiodic flowering in plants

In response to changeable season, plants precisely control the initiation of flowering in appropriate time of the year to ensure reproductive success. Day length (photoperiod) acts as the most important external cue to determine flowering time. Epigenetics regulates many major developmental stages in plant life, and emerging molecular genetics and genomics researches reveal their essential roles in floral transition. Here, we summarize the recent advances in epigenetic regulation of photoperiod-mediated flowering in Arabidopsis and rice, and discuss the potential of epigenetic regulation in crops improvement, and give the brief prospect for future study trends.

PICKLE RELATED 2 is a Neofunctionalized Gene Duplicate Under Positive Selection With Antagonistic Effects to the Ancestral PICKLE Gene on the Seed Transcriptome

The evolution and diversification of proteins capable of remodeling domains has been critical for transcriptional reprogramming during cell fate determination in multicellular eukaryotes. Chromatin remodeling proteins of the CHD3 family have been shown to have important and antagonistic impacts on seed development in the model plant, Arabidopsis thaliana, yet the basis of this functional divergence remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that genes encoding the CHD3 proteins PICKLE (PKL) and PICKLE-RELATED 2 (PKR2) originated from a duplication event during the diversification of crown Brassicaceae, and that these homologs have undergone distinct evolutionary trajectories since this duplication, with PKR2 fast evolving under positive selection, while PKL is subject to purifying selection. We find that the rapid evolution of PKR2 under positive selection reduces the encoded protein's intrinsic disorder, possibly suggesting a tertiary structure configuration which differs from that of PKL. Our whole genome transcriptome analysis in seeds of pkr2 and pkl mutants reveals that they act antagonistically on the expression of specific sets of genes, providing a basis for their differing roles in seed development. Our results provide insights into how gene duplication and neofunctionalization can lead to differing and antagonistic selective pressures on transcriptomes during plant reproduction, as well as on the evolutionary diversification of the CHD3 family within seed plants.

PKL is stabilized by MMS21 to negatively regulate Arabidopsis drought tolerance through directly repressing AFL1 transcription

Drought stress causes substantial losses in crop production per year worldwide, threatening global food security. Identification of the genetic components underlying drought tolerance in plants is of great importance. In this study, we report that loss-of-function of the chromatin-remodeling factor PICKLE (PKL), which is involved in repression of transcription, enhances drought tolerance of Arabidopsis. At first, we find that PKL interacts with ABI5 to regulate seed germination, but PKL regulates drought tolerance independently of ABI5. Then, we find that PKL is necessary for repressing the drought-tolerant gene AFL1, which is responsible for the drought-tolerant phenotype of pkl mutant. Genetic complementation tests demonstrate that the Chromo domain and ATPase domain but not the PHD domain are required for the function of PKL in regulating drought tolerance. Interestingly, we find that the DNA-binding domain (DBD) is essential for the protein stability of PKL. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the SUMO E3 ligase MMS21 interacts with and enhances the protein stability of PKL. Genetic interaction analysis shows that MMS21 and PKL additively regulate plant drought tolerance. Collectively, our findings uncover a MMS21-PKL-AFL1 module in regulating plant drought tolerance and offer insights into a novel strategy to improve crop drought tolerance.

Warm temperature-triggered developmental reprogramming requires VIL1-mediated, genome-wide H3K27me3 accumulation in Arabidopsis

Changes in ambient temperature immensely affect developmental programs in many species. Plants adapt to high ambient growth temperature in part by vegetative and reproductive developmental reprogramming, known as thermo-morphogenesis. Thermo-morphogenesis is accompanied by massive changes in the transcriptome upon temperature change. Here, we show that transcriptome changes induced by warm ambient temperature require VERNALIZATION INSENSITIVE 3-LIKE 1 (VIL1), a facultative component of the Polycomb repressive complex PRC2, in Arabidopsis. Warm growth temperature elicits genome-wide accumulation of H3K27me3 and VIL1 is necessary for the warm temperature-mediated accumulation of H3K27me3. Consistent with its role as a mediator of thermo-morphogenesis, loss of function of VIL1 results in hypo-responsiveness to warm ambient temperature. Our results show that VIL1 is a major chromatin regulator in responses to high ambient temperature.

A Green Light to Switch on Genes: Revisiting Trithorax on Plants

The Trithorax Group (TrxG) is a highly conserved multiprotein activation complex, initially defined by its antagonistic activity with the PcG repressor complex. TrxG regulates transcriptional activation by the deposition of H3K4me3 and H3K36me3 marks. According to the function and evolutionary origin, several proteins have been defined as TrxG in plants; nevertheless, little is known about their interactions and if they can form TrxG complexes. Recent evidence suggests the existence of new TrxG components as well as new interactions of some TrxG complexes that may be acting in specific tissues in plants. In this review, we bring together the latest research on the topic, exploring the interactions and roles of TrxG proteins at different developmental stages, required for the fine-tuned transcriptional activation of genes at the right time and place. Shedding light on the molecular mechanism by which TrxG is recruited and regulates transcription.

The transcriptional repressors VAL1 and VAL2 mediate genome-wide recruitment of the CHD3 chromatin remodeler PICKLE in Arabidopsis

PICKLE (PKL) is a chromodomain helicase DNA-binding domain 3 (CHD3) chromatin remodeler that plays essential roles in controlling the gene expression patterns that determine developmental identity in plants, but the molecular mechanisms through which PKL is recruited to its target genes remain elusive. Here, we define a cis-motif and trans-acting factors mechanism that governs the genomic occupancy profile of PKL in Arabidopsis thaliana. We show that two homologous trans-factors VIVIPAROUS1/ABI3-LIKE1 (VAL1) and VAL2 physically interact with PKL in vivo, localize extensively to PKL-occupied regions in the genome, and promote efficient PKL recruitment at thousands of target genes, including those involved in seed maturation. Transcriptome analysis and genetic interaction studies reveal a close cooperation of VAL1/VAL2 and PKL in regulating gene expression and developmental fate. We demonstrate that this recruitment operates at two master regulatory genes, ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3 and AGAMOUS-LIKE 15, to repress the seed maturation program and ensure the seed-to-seedling transition. Together, our work unveils a general rule through which the CHD3 chromatin remodeler PKL binds to its target chromatin in plants.

PICKLE associates with histone deacetylase 9 to mediate vegetative phase change in Arabidopsis

The juvenile-to-adult vegetative phase change in flowering plants is mediated by a decrease in miR156 levels. Downregulation of MIR156A/MIR156C, the two major sources of miR156, is accompanied by a decrease in acetylation of histone 3 lysine 27 (H3K27ac) and an increase in trimethylation of H3K27 (H3K27me3) at MIR156A/MIR156C in Arabidopsis. Here, we show that histone deacetylase 9 (HDA9) is recruited to MIR156A/MIR156C during the juvenile phase and associates with the CHD3 chromatin remodeler PICKLE (PKL) to erase H3K27ac at MIR156A/MIR156C. H2Aub and H3K27me3 become enriched at MIR156A/MIR156C, and the recruitment of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) to MIR156A/MIR156C is partially dependent on the activities of PKL and HDA9. Our results suggest that PKL associates with histone deacetylases to erase H3K27ac and promote PRC1 and PRC2 activities to mediate vegetative phase change and maintain plants in the adult phase after the phase transition.

Understanding plant stress memory response for abiotic stress resilience: Molecular insights and prospects

As sessile species and without the possibility of escape, plants constantly face numerous environmental stresses. To adapt in the external environmental cues, plants adjust themselves against such stresses by regulating their physiological, metabolic and developmental responses to external environmental cues. Certain environmental stresses rarely occur during plant life, while others, such as heat, drought, salinity, and cold are repetitive. Abiotic stresses are among the foremost environmental variables that have hindered agricultural production globally. Through distinct mechanisms, these stresses induce various morphological, biochemical, physiological, and metabolic changes in plants, directly impacting their growth, development, and productivity. Subsequently, plant's physiological, metabolic, and genetic adjustments to the stress occurrence provide necessary competencies to adapt, survive and nurture a condition known as "memory." This review emphasizes the advancements in various epigenetic-related chromatin modifications, DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling, phytohormones, and microRNAs associated with abiotic stress memory. Plants have the ability to respond quickly to stressful situations and can also improve their defense systems by retaining and sustaining stressful memories, allowing for stronger or faster responses to repeated stressful situations. Although there are relatively few examples of such memories, and no clear understanding of their duration, taking into consideration plenty of stresses in nature. Understanding these mechanisms in depth could aid in the development of genetic tools to improve breeding techniques, resulting in higher agricultural yield and quality under changing environmental conditions.

CHD chromatin remodeling protein diversification yields novel clades and domains absent in classic model organisms

Chromatin remodelers play a fundamental role in the assembly of chromatin, regulation of transcription, and DNA repair. Biochemical and functional characterizations of the CHD family of chromatin remodelers from a variety of model organisms have shown that these remodelers participate in a wide range of activities. However, because the evolutionary history of CHD homologs is unclear, it is difficult to predict which of these activities are broadly conserved and which have evolved more recently in individual eukaryotic lineages. Here, we performed a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of 8,042 CHD homologs from 1,894 species to create a model for the evolution of this family across eukaryotes with a particular focus on the timing of duplications that gave rise to the diverse copies observed in plants, animals, and fungi. Our analysis confirms that the three major subfamilies of CHD remodelers originated in the eukaryotic last common ancestor, and subsequent losses occurred independently in different lineages. Improved taxon sampling identified several subfamilies of CHD remodelers in plants that were absent or highly divergent in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Whereas the timing of CHD subfamily expansions in vertebrates corresponds to whole genome duplication events, the mechanisms underlying CHD diversification in land plants appear more complicated. Analysis of protein domains reveals that CHD remodeler diversification has been accompanied by distinct transitions in domain architecture, contributing to the functional differences observed between these remodelers. This study demonstrates the importance of proper taxon sampling when studying ancient evolutionary events to prevent misinterpretation of subsequent lineage-specific changes and provides an evolutionary framework for functional and comparative analysis of this critical chromatin remodeler family across eukaryotes.

Transition from Seeds to Seedlings: Hormonal and Epigenetic Aspects

Transition from seed to seedling is one of the critical developmental steps, dramatically affecting plant growth and viability. Before plants enter the vegetative phase of their ontogenesis, massive rearrangements of signaling pathways and switching of gene expression programs are required. This results in suppression of the genes controlling seed maturation and activation of those involved in regulation of vegetative growth. At the level of hormonal regulation, these events are controlled by the balance of abscisic acid and gibberellins, although ethylene, auxins, brassinosteroids, cytokinins, and jasmonates are also involved. The key players include the members of the LAFL network-the transcription factors LEAFY COTYLEDON1 and 2 (LEC 1 and 2), ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3 (ABI3), and FUSCA3 (FUS3), as well as DELAY OF GERMINATION1 (DOG1). They are the negative regulators of seed germination and need to be suppressed before seedling development can be initiated. This repressive signal is mediated by chromatin remodeling complexes-POLYCOMB REPRESSIVE COMPLEX 1 and 2 (PRC1 and PRC2), as well as PICKLE (PKL) and PICKLE-RELATED2 (PKR2) proteins. Finally, epigenetic methylation of cytosine residues in DNA, histone post-translational modifications, and post-transcriptional downregulation of seed maturation genes with miRNA are discussed. Here, we summarize recent updates in the study of hormonal and epigenetic switches involved in regulation of the transition from seed germination to the post-germination stage.

Pickle Recruits Retinoblastoma Related 1 to Control Lateral Root Formation in Arabidopsis

Lateral root (LR) formation is an example of a plant post-embryonic organogenesis event. LRs are issued from non-dividing cells entering consecutive steps of formative divisions, proliferation and elongation. The chromatin remodeling protein PICKLE (PKL) negatively regulates auxin-mediated LR formation through a mechanism that is not yet known. Here we show that PKL interacts with RETINOBLASTOMA-RELATED 1 (RBR1) to repress the LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES-DOMAIN 16 (LBD16) promoter activity. Since LBD16 function is required for the formative division of LR founder cells, repression mediated by the PKL–RBR1 complex negatively regulates formative division and LR formation. Inhibition of LR formation by PKL–RBR1 is counteracted by auxin, indicating that, in addition to auxin-mediated transcriptional responses, the fine-tuned process of LR formation is also controlled at the chromatin level in an auxin-signaling dependent manner.

The SNL-HDA19 histone deacetylase complex antagonizes HY5 activity to repress photomorphogenesis in Arabidopsis

Reprogramming of the transcriptome during photomorphogenesis requires dynamic changes in chromatin and distribution of histone modifications. However, the chromatin-based regulation of this process remains to be elucidated. Here, we identify the conserved SWI-INDEPENDENT3 LIKE (SNL)-HISTONE DEACETYLASE19 (HDA19) deacetylase complex, including HDA19 and SNL1-SNL6, as a negative regulator of the light signaling pathway. Light-repression of HDA19 and SNLs expression is mediated by photoreceptors. HDA19 and SNLs are required for histone deacetylation and chromatin inactivation of PHYA gene. We further examined the interaction between SNL-HDA19 complex and ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL5 (HY5), and their antagonistic regulation on the expressions of target genes. The HDA19 deacetylase complex is recruited by HY5 to the chromatin regions of two positive light signaling genes, HY5 and B-BOX CONTAINING PROTEIN 22 (BBX22), thereby reduces the accessibility and histone acetylation and represses their expression. HDA19, SNL1, and HY5 associate with the same regulatory regions of HY5 and BBX22, and HY5 binding to these loci is enhanced upon SNL-HDA19 dysfunction. Our study reveals a crucial role for the HDA19 deacetylase complex in light signaling and demonstrates that the functional interplay between chromatin regulators and transcription factors regulates photomorphogenetic responses to the changing light environments.

The Rice CHD3/Mi-2 Chromatin Remodeling Factor Rolled Fine Striped Promotes Flowering Independent of Photoperiod

Genetic studies have revealed that chromatin modifications affect flowering time, but the underlying mechanisms by which chromatin remodeling factors alter flowering remain largely unknown in rice (Oryza sativa). Here, we show that Rolled Fine Striped (RFS), a chromodomain helicase DNA-binding 3 (CHD3)/Mi-2 subfamily ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling factor, promotes flowering in rice. Diurnal expression of RFS peaked at night under short-day (SD) conditions and at dawn under long-day (LD) conditions. The rfs-1 and rfs-2 mutants (derived from different genetic backgrounds) displayed a late-flowering phenotype under SD and LD conditions. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analysis revealed that among the flowering time-related genes, the expression of the major floral repressor Grain number and heading date 7 (Ghd7) was mainly upregulated in rfs mutants, resulting in downregulation of its downstream floral inducers, including Early heading date 1 (Ehd1), Heading date 3a (Hd3a), and Rice FLOWERING LOCUS T 1 (RFT1). The rfs mutation had pleiotropic negative effects on rice grain yield and yield components, such as plant height and fertility. Taking these observations together, we propose that RFS participates in multiple aspects of rice development, including the promotion of flowering independent of photoperiod.

Locus-specific paramutation in Zea mays is maintained by a PICKLE-like chromodomain helicase DNA-binding 3 protein controlling development and male gametophyte function

Paramutations represent directed and meiotically-heritable changes in gene regulation leading to apparent violations of Mendelian inheritance. Although the mechanism and evolutionary importance of paramutation behaviors remain largely unknown, genetic screens in maize (Zea mays) identify five components affecting 24 nucleotide RNA biogenesis as required to maintain repression of a paramutant purple plant1 (pl1) allele. Currently, the RNA polymerase IV largest subunit represents the only component also specifying proper development. Here we identify a chromodomain helicase DNA-binding 3 (CHD3) protein orthologous to Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) PICKLE as another component maintaining both pl1 paramutation and normal somatic development but without affecting overall small RNA biogenesis. In addition, genetic tests show this protein contributes to proper male gametophyte function. The similar mutant phenotypes documented in Arabidopsis and maize implicate some evolutionarily-conserved gene regulation while developmental defects associated with the two paramutation mutants are largely distinct. Our results show that a CHD3 protein responsible for normal plant ontogeny and sperm transmission also helps maintain meiotically-heritable epigenetic regulatory variation for specific alleles. This finding implicates an intersection of RNA polymerase IV function and nucleosome positioning in the paramutation process.

Genes are switched “on” and “off” during normal development by regulating DNA accessibility within the chromosomes. How certain gene variants permanently maintain “off” states from one generation to the next remains unclear, but studies in multiple eukaryotes implicate roles for specific types of small RNAs, some of which define cytosine methylation patterns. In corn, these RNAs come from at least two RNA polymerase II-derived complexes sharing a common catalytic subunit (RPD1). Although RPD1 both controls the normal developmental switching of many genes and permanently maintains some of these “off” states across generations, how RPD1 function defines heritable DNA accessibility is unknown. We discovered that a protein (CHD3a) belonging to a group known to alter nucleosome positioning is also required to help maintain a heritable “off” state for one particular corn gene variant controlling both plant and flower color. We also found CHD3a necessary for normal plant development and sperm transmission consistent with the idea that proper nucleosome positioning defines evolutionarily-important gene expression patterns. Because both CHD3a and RPD1 maintain the heritable “off” state of a specific gene variant, their functions appear to be mechanistically linked.

Chromatin regulation of somatic abiotic stress memory

In nature, plants are often subjected to periods of recurrent environmental stress that can strongly affect their development and productivity. To cope with these conditions, plants can remember a previous stress, which allows them to respond more efficiently to a subsequent stress, a phenomenon known as priming. This ability can be maintained at the somatic level for a few days or weeks after the stress is perceived, suggesting that plants can store information of a past stress during this recovery phase. While the immediate responses to a single stress event have been extensively studied, knowledge on priming effects and how stress memory is stored is still scarce. At the molecular level, memory of a past condition often involves changes in chromatin structure and organization, which may be maintained independently from transcription. In this review, we will summarize the most recent developments in the field and discuss how different levels of chromatin regulation contribute to priming and plant abiotic stress memory.

Light in the transcription landscape: chromatin, RNA polymerase II and splicing throughout Arabidopsis thaliana's life cycle

Plants have a high level of developmental plasticity that allows them to respond and adapt to changes in the environment. Among the environmental cues, light controls almost every aspect of A. thaliana's life cycle, including seed maturation, seed germination, seedling de-etiolation and flowering time. Light signals induce massive reprogramming of gene expression, producing changes in RNA polymerase II transcription, alternative splicing, and chromatin state. Since splicing reactions occur mainly while transcription takes place, the regulation of RNAPII transcription has repercussions in the splicing outcomes. This cotranscriptional nature allows a functional coupling between transcription and splicing, in which properties of the splicing reactions are affected by the transcriptional process. Chromatin landscapes influence both transcription and splicing. In this review, we highlight, summarize and discuss recent progress in the field to gain a comprehensive insight on the cross-regulation between chromatin state, RNAPII transcription and splicing decisions in plants, with a special focus on light-triggered responses. We also introduce several examples of transcription and splicing factors that could be acting as coupling factors in plants. Unravelling how these connected regulatory networks operate, can help in the design of better crops with higher productivity and tolerance.

Transcriptional regulatory network of the light signaling pathways

The developmental program by which plants respond is tightly controlled by a complex cascade in which photoreceptors perceive and transduce the light signals that drive signaling processes and direct the transcriptional reprogramming, yielding specific cellular responses. The molecular mechanisms involved in the transcriptional regulation include light-regulated nuclear localization (the phytochromes and UVR8) and nuclear accumulation (the cryptochrome, cry2) of photoreceptors. This regulatory cascade also includes master regulatory transcription factors (TFs) that bridge photoreceptor activation with chromatin remodeling and regulate the expression of numerous light-responsive genes. Light signaling-related TFs often function as signal convergence points in concert with TFs in other signaling pathways to integrate complex endogenous and environmental cues that help the plant adapt to the surrounding environment. Increasing evidence suggests that chromatin modifications play a critical role in regulating light-responsive gene expression and provide an additional layer of light signaling regulation. Here, we provide an overview of our current knowledge of the transcriptional regulatory network involved in the light response, particularly the roles of TFs and chromatin in regulating light-responsive gene expression.

A Chromodomain-Helicase-DNA-Binding Factor Functions in Chromatin Modification and Gene Regulation

Proteins in the Chromodomain-Helicase/ATPase-DNA-binding domain (CHD) family are divided into three groups. The function of group I CHD proteins in nucleosome positioning is well established, while that of group II members (represented by CHD3/Mi2) remains unclear. Using high-throughput approaches, we investigated the function of the group II rice (Oryza sativa) CHD protein CHR729 in nucleosome positioning, gene expression, histone methylation, and binding. Our data revealed that the chr729 mutation led to increased nucleosome occupancy in the rice genome and altered the expression and histone H3K4me3 modification of many, mainly underexpressed, genes. Further analysis showed that the mutation affected both the deposition and depletion of H3K4me3 in distinct chromatin regions, with concomitant changes in H3K27me3 modification. Genetic and genomic analyses revealed that CHR729 and JMJ703, an H3K4 demethylase, had agonistic, antagonistic, and independent functions in modulating H3K4me3 and the expression of subsets of genes. In addition, CHR729 binding was enriched in H3K4me3-marked genic and H3K27me3-marked intergenic regions. The results indicate that CHR729 has distinct functions in regulating H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 modifications and gene expression at different chromatin domains and provide insight into chromatin regulation of bivalent genes marked by both H3K4me3 and H3K27me3.

Polycomb Repression without Bristles: Facultative Heterochromatin and Genome Stability in Fungi

Genome integrity is essential to maintain cellular function and viability. Consequently, genome instability is frequently associated with dysfunction in cells and associated with plant, animal, and human diseases. One consequence of relaxed genome maintenance that may be less appreciated is an increased potential for rapid adaptation to changing environments in all organisms. Here, we discuss evidence for the control and function of facultative heterochromatin, which is delineated by methylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me) in many fungi. Aside from its relatively well understood role in transcriptional repression, accumulating evidence suggests that H3K27 methylation has an important role in controlling the balance between maintenance and generation of novelty in fungal genomes. We present a working model for a minimal repressive network mediated by H3K27 methylation in fungi and outline challenges for future research.

The Evening Complex and the Chromatin-Remodeling Factor PICKLE Coordinately Control Seed Dormancy by Directly Repressing DOG1 in Arabidopsis

Primary seed dormancy is acquired during seed development and maturation, which is important for plant fitness and survival. DELAY OF GERMINATION1 (DOG1) plays a critical role in inducing seed dormancy. DOG1 expression increases rapidly during seed development, but the precise mechanism underlying this process remains elusive. In this study, we showed that mutants with a loss or reduced function of the chromatin-remodeling factor PICKLE (PKL) exhibit increased seed dormancy. PKL associates with DOG1 chromatin and inhibits its transcription. We found that PKL physically interacts with LUX ARRHYTHMO (LUX), a member of the evening complex (EC) of the circadian clock. Furthermore, LUX directly binds to a specific coding sequence of DOG1, and DOG1 acts genetically downstream of PKL and LUX. Mutations in either LUX or EARLY FLOWERING3 (ELF3) encoding another member of the EC led to increased DOG1 expression and enhanced seed dormancy. Surprisingly, these phenotypes were abolished when the parent plants were grown under continuous light. In addition, we observed that loss of function of either PKL or LUX decreased H3K27me3 levels at the DOG1 locus. Taken together, our study reveals a regulatory mechanism in which EC proteins coordinate with PKL to transmit circadian signals for directly regulating DOG1 expression and seed dormancy during seed development.

Redox Components: Key Regulators of Epigenetic Modifications in Plants

Epigenetic modifications including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and chromatin remodeling are crucial regulators of chromatin architecture and gene expression in plants. Their dynamics are significantly influenced by oxidants, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO), and antioxidants, like pyridine nucleotides and glutathione in plants. These redox intermediates regulate the activities and expression of many enzymes involved in DNA methylation, histone methylation and acetylation, and chromatin remodeling, consequently controlling plant growth and development, and responses to diverse environmental stresses. In recent years, much progress has been made in understanding the functional mechanisms of epigenetic modifications and the roles of redox mediators in controlling gene expression in plants. However, the integrated view of the mechanisms for redox regulation of the epigenetic marks is limited. In this review, we summarize recent advances on the roles and mechanisms of redox components in regulating multiple epigenetic modifications, with a focus of the functions of ROS, NO, and multiple antioxidants in plants.

Activities of Chromatin Remodeling Factors and Histone Chaperones and Their Effects in Root Apical Meristem Development

Eukaryotic genes are packaged into dynamic but stable chromatin structures to deal with transcriptional reprogramming and inheritance during development. Chromatin remodeling factors and histone chaperones are epigenetic factors that target nucleosomes and/or histones to establish and maintain proper chromatin structures during critical physiological processes such as DNA replication and transcriptional modulation. Root apical meristems are vital for plant root development. Regarding the well-characterized transcription factors involved in stem cell proliferation and differentiation, there is increasing evidence of the functional implications of epigenetic regulation in root apical meristem development. In this review, we focus on the activities of chromatin remodeling factors and histone chaperones in the root apical meristems of the model plant species Arabidopsis and rice.

A Role for PICKLE in the Regulation of Cold and Salt Stress Tolerance in Arabidopsis

Arabidopsis PICKLE (PKL) is a putative CHD3-type chromatin remodeling factor with important roles in regulating plant growth and development as well as RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM). The role of PKL protein in plant abiotic stress response is still poorly understood. Here, we report that PKL is important for cold stress response in Arabidopsis. Loss-of-function mutations in the PKL gene lead to a chlorotic phenotype in seedlings under cold stress, which is caused by the alterations in the transcript levels of some chlorophyll metabolism-related genes. The pkl mutant also exhibits increased electrolyte leakage after freezing treatment. These results suggest that PKL is required for proper chilling and freezing tolerance in plants. Gene expression analysis shows that CBF3, encoding a key transcription factor involved in the regulation of cold-responsive genes, exhibits an altered transcript level in the pkl mutant under cold stress. Transcriptome data also show that PKL regulates the expression of a number of cold-responsive genes, including RD29A, COR15A, and COR15B, possibly through its effect on the expression of CBF3 gene. Mutation in PKL gene also results in decreased cotyledon greening rate and reduced primary root elongation under high salinity. Together, our results suggest that PKL regulates plant responses to cold and salt stress.

Maintaining Genome Integrity during Seed Development in Phaseolus vulgaris L.: Evidence from a Transcriptomic Profiling Study

The maintenance of genome integrity is crucial in seeds, due to the constant challenge of several endogenous and exogenous factors. The knowledge concerning DNA damage response and chromatin remodeling during seed development is still scarce, especially in Phaseolus vulgaris L. A transcriptomic profiling of the expression of genes related to DNA damage response/chromatin remodeling mechanisms was performed in P. vulgaris seeds at four distinct developmental stages, spanning from late embryogenesis to seed desiccation. Of the 14,001 expressed genes identified using massive analysis of cDNA ends, 301 belong to the DNA MapMan category. In late embryogenesis, a high expression of genes related to DNA damage sensing and repair suggests there is a tight control of DNA integrity. At the end of filling and the onset of seed dehydration, the upregulation of genes implicated in sensing of DNA double-strand breaks suggests that genome integrity is challenged. The expression of chromatin remodelers seems to imply a concomitant action of chromatin remodeling with DNA repair machinery, maintaining genome stability. The expression of genes related to nucleotide excision repair and chromatin structure is evidenced during the desiccation stage. An overview of the genes involved in DNA damage response and chromatin remodeling during P. vulgaris seed development is presented, providing insights into the mechanisms used by developing seeds to cope with DNA damage.

Molecular and epigenetic regulations and functions of the LAFL transcriptional regulators that control seed development

The LAFL (i.e. LEC1, ABI3, FUS3, and LEC2) master transcriptional regulators interact to form different complexes that induce embryo development and maturation, and inhibit seed germination and vegetative growth in Arabidopsis. Orthologous genes involved in similar regulatory processes have been described in various angiosperms including important crop species. Consistent with a prominent role of the LAFL regulators in triggering and maintaining embryonic cell fate, their expression appears finely tuned in different tissues during seed development and tightly repressed in vegetative tissues by a surprisingly high number of genetic and epigenetic factors. Partial functional redundancies and intricate feedback regulations of the LAFL have hampered the elucidation of the underpinning molecular mechanisms. Nevertheless, genetic, genomic, cellular, molecular, and biochemical analyses implemented during the last years have greatly improved our knowledge of the LALF network. Here we summarize and discuss recent progress, together with current issues required to gain a comprehensive insight into the network, including the emerging function of LEC1 and possibly LEC2 as pioneer transcription factors.

The Chromatin Remodelers PKL and PIE1 Act in an Epigenetic Pathway That Determines H3K27me3 Homeostasis in Arabidopsis

Selective, tissue-specific gene expression is facilitated by the epigenetic modification H3K27me3 (trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone H3) in plants and animals. Much remains to be learned about how H3K27me3-enriched chromatin states are constructed and maintained. Here, we identify a genetic interaction in Arabidopsis thaliana between the chromodomain helicase DNA binding chromatin remodeler PICKLE (PKL), which promotes H3K27me3 enrichment, and the SWR1-family remodeler PHOTOPERIOD INDEPENDENT EARLY FLOWERING1 (PIE1), which incorporates the histone variant H2A.Z. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing and RNA-sequencing reveal that PKL, PIE1, and the H3K27 methyltransferase CURLY LEAF act in a common gene expression pathway and are required for H3K27me3 levels genome-wide. Additionally, H3K27me3-enriched genes are largely a subset of H2A.Z-enriched genes, further supporting the functional linkage between these marks. We also found that recombinant PKL acts as a prenucleosome maturation factor, indicating that it promotes retention of H3K27me3. These data support the existence of an epigenetic pathway in which PIE1 promotes H2A.Z, which in turn promotes H3K27me3 deposition. After deposition, PKL promotes retention of H3K27me3 after DNA replication and/or transcription. Our analyses thus reveal roles for H2A.Z and ATP-dependent remodelers in construction and maintenance of H3K27me3-enriched chromatin in plants.

Epigenetic Regulation of Juvenile-to-Adult Transition in Plants

Epigenetic regulation is referred to as changes in gene function that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence, it is usually accomplished by DNA methylation, histone modifications (repressive marks such as H3K9me, H3K27me, H2Aub, or active marks such as H3K4me, H3K36me, H3Ac), and chromatin remodeling (nucleosome composition, occupancy, and location). In plants, the shoot apex produces different lateral organs during development to give rise to distinguishable phases of a juvenile, an adult and a reproductive phase after embryogenesis. The juvenile-to-adult transition is a key developmental event in plant life cycle, and it is regulated by a decrease in the expression of a conserved microRNA-miR156/157, and a corresponding increase in the expression of its target genes encoding a set of plant specific SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE (SPL) proteins. Recent work has revealed that the miR156/157-SPL pathway is the master regulator of juvenile-to-adult transition in plants, and genes in this pathway are subjected to epigenetic regulation, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and chromatin remodeling. In this review, we summarized the recent progress in understanding the epigenetic regulation of the miR156/157-SPL pathway during juvenile-to-adult transition and bring forward some perspectives of future research in this field.

CHD3 and CHD4 form distinct NuRD complexes with different yet overlapping functionality

CHD3 and CHD4 (Chromodomain Helicase DNA binding protein), two highly similar representatives of the Mi-2 subfamily of SF2 helicases, are coexpressed in many cell lines and tissues and have been reported to act as the motor subunit of the NuRD complex (nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase activities). Besides CHD proteins, NuRD contains several repressors like HDAC1/2, MTA2/3 and MBD2/3, arguing for a role as a transcriptional repressor. However, the subunit composition varies among cell- and tissue types and physiological conditions. In particular, it is unclear if CHD3 and CHD4 coexist in the same NuRD complex or whether they form distinct NuRD complexes with specific functions. We mapped the CHD composition of NuRD complexes in mammalian cells and discovered that they are isoform-specific, containing either the monomeric CHD3 or CHD4 ATPase. Both types of complexes exhibit similar intranuclear mobility, interact with HP1 and rapidly accumulate at UV-induced DNA repair sites. But, CHD3 and CHD4 exhibit distinct nuclear localization patterns in unperturbed cells, revealing a subset of specific target genes. Furthermore, CHD3 and CHD4 differ in their nucleosome remodeling and positioning behaviour in vitro. The proteins form distinct CHD3- and CHD4-NuRD complexes that do not only repress, but can just as well activate gene transcription of overlapping and specific target genes.

PICKLE chromatin-remodeling factor controls thermosensory hypocotyl growth of Arabidopsis

Temperature is a major signal that governs plant distribution and shapes plant growth. High ambient temperature promotes plant thermomorphogenesis without significant induction of heat-stress responses. Although much progress of warm temperature-mediated plant growth has been made during recent years, the thermomorphogenic signalling pathway is not well understood. We previously revealed that PICKLE (PKL), an ATP-dependent chromatin remodelling factor, negatively controls photomorphogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana. Here, we show that mutations in PKL lead to reduced sensitivity in hypocotyl elongation to warm temperature (28 °C). We demonstrate that CIRCADIAN CLOCK-ASSOCIATED 1 (CCA1) directly binds to the specific promoter regions of PKL and its expression is reduced in the cca1 mutants. We find that the cca1 seedlings are also less sensitive to temperature-mediated growth than the wild-type plants. Furthermore, PKL affects the level of trimethylation of histone H3 Lys 27 associated with INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID INDUCIBLE 19 (IAA19) and IAA29 and regulates their expression. We also identify 6 additional transcription factors as the upstream regulators of PKL. Our study thus reveals PKL and CCA1 as 2 novel factors in controlling plant growth in response to the elevated temperature environment and provides new insight into the integration of light and temperature signals through chromatin regulation.

The Arabidopsis SWI/SNF protein BAF60 mediates seedling growth control by modulating DNA accessibility

BACKGROUND

Plant adaptive responses to changing environments involve complex molecular interplays between intrinsic and external signals. Whilst much is known on the signaling components mediating diurnal, light, and temperature controls on plant development, their influence on chromatin-based transcriptional controls remains poorly explored.

RESULTS

In this study we show that a SWI/SNF chromatin remodeler subunit, BAF60, represses seedling growth by modulating DNA accessibility of hypocotyl cell size regulatory genes. BAF60 binds nucleosome-free regions of multiple G box-containing genes, opposing in cis the promoting effect of the photomorphogenic and thermomorphogenic regulator Phytochrome Interacting Factor 4 (PIF4) on hypocotyl elongation. Furthermore, BAF60 expression level is regulated in response to light and daily rhythms.

CONCLUSIONS

These results unveil a short path between a chromatin remodeler and a signaling component to fine-tune plant morphogenesis in response to environmental conditions.

The developmental regulator PKL is required to maintain correct DNA methylation patterns at RNA-directed DNA methylation loci

Background

The chromodomain helicase DNA-binding family of ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling factors play essential roles during eukaryote growth and development. They are recruited by specific transcription factors and regulate the expression of developmentally important genes. Here, we describe an unexpected role in non-coding RNA-directed DNA methylation in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Results

Through forward genetic screens we identified PKL, a gene required for developmental regulation in plants, as a factor promoting transcriptional silencing at the transgenic RD29A promoter. Mutation of PKL results in DNA methylation changes at more than half of the loci that are targeted by RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM). A small number of transposable elements and genes had reduced DNA methylation correlated with derepression in the pkl mutant, though for the majority, decreases in DNA methylation are not sufficient to cause release of silencing. The changes in DNA methylation in the pkl mutant are positively correlated with changes in 24-nt siRNA levels. In addition, PKL is required for the accumulation of Pol V-dependent transcripts and for the positioning of Pol V-stabilized nucleosomes at several tested loci, indicating that RNA polymerase V-related functions are impaired in the pkl mutant.

Conclusions

PKL is required for transcriptional silencing and has significant effects on RdDM in plants. The changes in DNA methylation in the pkl mutant are correlated with changes in the non-coding RNAs produced by Pol IV and Pol V. We propose that at RdDM target regions, PKL may be required to create a chromatin environment that influences non-coding RNA production, DNA methylation, and transcriptional silencing.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13059-017-1226-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Gibberellin Signaling Requires Chromatin Remodeler PICKLE to Promote Vegetative Growth and Phase Transitions

PICKLE (PKL) is an ATP-dependent chromodomain-helicase-DNA-binding domain (CHD3) chromatin remodeling enzyme in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Previous studies showed that PKL promotes embryonic-to-vegetative transition by inhibiting expression of seed-specific genes during seed germination. The pkl mutants display a low penetrance of the "pickle root" phenotype, with a thick and green primary root that retains embryonic characteristics. The penetrance of this pickle root phenotype in pkl is dramatically increased in gibberellin (GA)-deficient conditions. At adult stages, the pkl mutants are semidwarfs with delayed flowering time, which resemble reduced GA-signaling mutants. These findings suggest that PKL may play a positive role in regulating GA signaling. A recent biochemical analysis further showed that PKL and GA signaling repressors DELLAs antagonistically regulate hypocotyl cell elongation genes by direct protein-protein interaction. To elucidate further the role of PKL in GA signaling and plant development, we studied the genetic interaction between PKL and DELLAs using the hextuple mutant containing pkl and della pentuple (dP) mutations. Here, we show that PKL is required for most of GA-promoted developmental processes, including vegetative growth such as hypocotyl, leaf, and inflorescence stem elongation, and phase transitions such as juvenile-to-adult leaf and vegetative-to-reproductive phase. The removal of all DELLA functions (in the dP background) cannot rescue these phenotypes in pkl RNA-sequencing analysis using the ga1 (a GA-deficient mutant), pkl, and the ga1 pkl double mutant further shows that expression of 80% of GA-responsive genes in seedlings is PKL dependent, including genes that function in cell elongation, cell division, and phase transitions. These results indicate that the CHD3 chromatin remodeler PKL is required for regulating gene expression during most of GA-regulated developmental processes.

Structure and function of histone methylation-binding proteins in plants

Post-translational modifications of histones play important roles in modulating many essential biological processes in both animals and plants. These covalent modifications, including methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination, SUMOylation and so on, are laid out and erased by histone-modifying enzymes and read out by effector proteins. Recent studies have revealed that a number of developmental processes in plants are under the control of histone post-translational modifications, such as floral transition, seed germination, organogenesis and morphogenesis. Therefore, it is critical to identify those protein domains, which could specifically recognize these post-translational modifications to modulate chromatin structure and regulate gene expression. In the present review, we discuss the recent progress in understanding the structure and function of the histone methylation readers in plants, by focusing on Arabidopsis thaliana proteins.

Epigenetic Regulation of Vegetative Phase Change in Arabidopsis

Vegetative phase change in flowering plants is regulated by a decrease in the level of miR156. The molecular mechanism of this temporally regulated decrease in miR156 expression is still unknown. Most of the miR156 in Arabidopsis thaliana shoots is produced by MIR156A and MIR156C. We found that the downregulation of these genes during vegetative phase change is associated with an increase in their level of histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) and requires this chromatin modification. The increase in H3K27me3 at MIR156A/MIR156C is associated with an increase in the binding of PRC2 to these genes and is mediated redundantly by the E(z) homologs SWINGER and CURLY LEAF. The CHD3 chromatin remodeler PICKLE (PKL) promotes the addition of H3K27me3 to MIR156A/MIR156C but is not responsible for the temporal increase in this chromatin mark. PKL is bound to the promoters of MIR156A/MIR156C, where it promotes low levels of H3K27ac early in shoot development and stabilizes the nucleosome at the +1 position. These results suggest a molecular mechanism for the initiation and maintenance of vegetative phase change in plants.

The impact of Polycomb group (PcG) and Trithorax group (TrxG) epigenetic factors in plant plasticity

Current advances indicate that epigenetic mechanisms play important roles in the regulatory networks involved in plant developmental responses to environmental conditions. Hence, understanding the role of such components becomes crucial to understanding the mechanisms underlying the plasticity and variability of plant traits, and thus the ecology and evolution of plant development. We now know that important components of phenotypic variation may result from heritable and reversible epigenetic mechanisms without genetic alterations. The epigenetic factors Polycomb group (PcG) and Trithorax group (TrxG) are involved in developmental processes that respond to environmental signals, playing important roles in plant plasticity. In this review, we discuss current knowledge of TrxG and PcG functions in different developmental processes in response to internal and environmental cues and we also integrate the emerging evidence concerning their function in plant plasticity. Many such plastic responses rely on meristematic cell behavior, including stem cell niche maintenance, cellular reprogramming, flowering and dormancy as well as stress memory. This information will help to determine how to integrate the role of epigenetic regulation into models of gene regulatory networks, which have mostly included transcriptional interactions underlying various aspects of plant development and its plastic response to environmental conditions.

Roles and activities of chromatin remodeling ATPases in plants

Chromatin remodeling ATPases and their associated complexes can alter the accessibility of the genome in the context of chromatin by using energy derived from the hydrolysis of ATP to change the positioning, occupancy and composition of nucleosomes. In animals and plants, these remodelers have been implicated in diverse processes ranging from stem cell maintenance and differentiation to developmental phase transitions and stress responses. Detailed investigation of their roles in individual processes has suggested a higher level of selectivity of chromatin remodeling ATPase activity than previously anticipated, and diverse mechanisms have been uncovered that can contribute to the selectivity. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the roles and activities of chromatin remodeling ATPases in plants.

The chromatin remodeler chd5 is necessary for proper head development during embryogenesis of Danio rerio

The chromatin remodeler CHD5 plays a critical role in tumor suppression and neurogenesis in mammals. CHD5 contributes to gene expression during neurogenesis, but there is still much to learn regarding how this class of remodelers contributes to differentiation and development. CHD5 remodelers are vertebrate-specific, raising the prospect that CHD5 plays one or more conserved roles in this phylum. Expression of chd5 in adult fish closely mirrors expression of CHD5 in adult mammals. Knockdown of Chd5 during embryogenesis suggests new roles for CHD5 remodelers based on resulting defects in craniofacial development including reduced head and eye size as well as reduced cartilage formation in the head. In addition, knockdown of Chd5 results in altered expression of neural markers in the developing brain and eye as well as a profound defect in differentiation of dopaminergic amacrine cells. Recombinant zebrafish Chd5 protein exhibits nucleosome remodeling activity in vitro, suggesting that it is the loss of this activity that contributes to the observed phenotypes. Our studies indicate that zebrafish is an appropriate model for functional characterization of CHD5 remodelers in vertebrates and highlight the potential of this model for generating novel insights into the role of this vital class of remodelers.

Immediate chromatin immunoprecipitation and on-bead quantitative PCR analysis: a versatile and rapid ChIP procedure

Genome-wide chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) studies have brought significant insight into the genomic localization of chromatin-associated proteins and histone modifications. The large amount of data generated by these analyses, however, require approaches that enable rapid validation and analysis of biological relevance. Furthermore, there are still protein and modification targets that are difficult to detect using standard ChIP methods. To address these issues, we developed an immediate chromatin immunoprecipitation procedure which we call ZipChip. ZipChip significantly reduces the time and increases sensitivity allowing for rapid screening of multiple loci. Here we describe how ZipChIP enables detection of histone modifications (H3K4 mono- and trimethylation) and two yeast histone demethylases, Jhd2 and Rph1, which were previously difficult to detect using standard methods. Furthermore, we demonstrate the versatility of ZipChIP by analyzing the enrichment of the histone deacetylase Sir2 at heterochromatin in yeast and enrichment of the chromatin remodeler, PICKLE, at euchromatin in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Somatic embryogenesis - Stress-induced remodeling of plant cell fate

Plants as sessile organisms have remarkable developmental plasticity ensuring heir continuous adaptation to the environment. An extreme example is somatic embryogenesis, the initiation of autonomous embryo development in somatic cells in response to exogenous and/or endogenous signals. In this review I briefly overview the various pathways that can lead to embryo development in plants in addition to the fertilization of the egg cell and highlight the importance of the interaction of stress- and hormone-regulated pathways during the induction of somatic embryogenesis. Somatic embryogenesis can be initiated in planta or in vitro, directly or indirectly, and the requirement for dedifferentiation as well as the way to achieve developmental totipotency in the various systems is discussed in light of our present knowledge. The initiation of all forms of the stress/hormone-induced in vitro as well as the genetically provoked in planta somatic embryogenesis requires extensive and coordinated genetic reprogramming that has to take place at the chromatin level, as the embryogenic program is under strong epigenetic repression in vegetative plant cells. Our present knowledge on chromatin-based mechanisms potentially involved in the somatic-to-embryogenic developmental transition is summarized emphasizing the potential role of the chromatin to integrate stress, hormonal, and developmental pathways leading to the activation of the embryogenic program. The role of stress-related chromatin reorganization in the genetic instability of in vitro cultures is also discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Stress as a fundamental theme in cell plasticity.

Role of chromatin in water stress responses in plants

As sessile organisms, plants are exposed to environmental stresses throughout their life. They have developed survival strategies such as developmental and morphological adaptations, as well as physiological responses, to protect themselves from adverse environments. In addition, stress sensing triggers large-scale transcriptional reprogramming directed at minimizing the deleterious effect of water stress on plant cells. Here, we review recent findings that reveal a role of chromatin in water stress responses. In addition, we discuss data in support of the idea that chromatin remodelling and modifying enzymes may be direct targets of stress signalling pathways. Modulation of chromatin regulator activity by these signaling pathways may be critical in minimizing potential trade-offs between growth and stress responses. Alterations in the chromatin organization and/or in the activity of chromatin remodelling and modifying enzymes may furthermore contribute to stress memory. Mechanistic insight into these phenomena derived from studies in model plant systems should allow future engineering of broadly drought-tolerant crop plants that do not incur unnecessary losses in yield or growth.

Transcription regulation by CHD proteins to control plant development

Chromodomain-Helicase-DNA (CHD)-binding proteins have been characterized in various species as important transcription regulators by their chromatin remodeling activity. However, in plant the function of these proteins has hardly been analyzed before except that Arabidopsis PIKLE and rice CHR729 are identified to play critical roles in the regulation of series of genes involved in developmental or stress responding process. In this review we focus on how plant CHD proteins regulate gene expression and the role of these proteins in controlling plant development and stress response.

Remodelling chromatin to shape development of plants

Establishment and dynamic regulation of a higher order chromatin structure is an essential component of development. Chromatin remodelling complexes such as the SWI2/SNF2 family of ATP-dependent chromatin remodellers can alter chromatin architecture by changing nucleosome positioning or substituting histones with histone variants. These remodellers often act in concert with chromatin modifiers such as the polycomb group proteins which confer repressive states through modification of histone tails. These mechanisms are highly conserved across the eukaryotic kingdom although in plants, owing to the maintenance of dedifferentiated cell states that allow for post-embyronic changes in development, strict control of chromatin remodelling is even more paramount. Recent and ongoing studies in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana have found that while the major families of the SWI2/SNF2 ATPase chromatin remodellers are represented, a number of redundancies and divergent functions have emerged that show a break from the roles of their metazoan counterparts. This review focusses on the SNF2 and CHD families of ATP-dependent remodellers and their roles in plant development.

Arabidopsis chromatin remodeling factor PICKLE interacts with transcription factor HY5 to regulate hypocotyl cell elongation

Photomorphogenesis is a critical plant developmental process that involves light-mediated transcriptome changes, histone modifications, and inhibition of hypocotyl growth. However, the chromatin-based regulatory mechanism underlying this process remains largely unknown. Here, we identify ENHANCED PHOTOMORPHOGENIC1 (EPP1), previously known as PICKLE (PKL), an ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling factor of the chromodomain/helicase/DNA binding family, as a repressor of photomorphogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana. We show that PKL/EPP1 expression is repressed by light in the hypocotyls in a photoreceptor-dependent manner. Furthermore, we reveal that the transcription factor ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL5 (HY5) binds to the promoters of cell elongation-related genes and recruits PKL/EPP1 through their physical interaction. PKL/EPP1 in turn negatively regulates HY5 by repressing trimethylation of histone H3 Lys 27 at the target loci, thereby regulating the expression of these genes and, thus, hypocotyl elongation. We also show that HY5 possesses transcriptional repression activity. Our study reveals a crucial role for a chromatin remodeling factor in repressing photomorphogenesis and demonstrates that transcription factor-mediated recruitment of chromatin-remodeling machinery is important for plant development in response to changing light environments.