Genetic dissection of mutagenic repair and T-DNA capture at CRISPR-induced DNA breaks in .

A practical and powerful approach for genome editing in plants is delivery of CRISPR reagents via transformation. The double-strand break (DSB)-inducing enzyme is expressed from a transferred segment of bacterial DNA, the T-DNA, which upon transformation integrates at random locations into the host genome or is captured at the self-inflicted DSB site. To develop efficient strategies for precise genome editing, it is thus important to define the mechanisms that repair CRISPR-induced DSBs, as well as those that govern random and targeted integration of T-DNA.

Molecular analysis of the role of polymerase theta in gene targeting in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Precise genetic modification can be achieved via a sequence homology-mediated process known as gene targeting (GT). Whilst established for genome engineering purposes, the application of GT in plants still suffers from a low efficiency for which an explanation is currently lacking. Recently reported reduced rates of GT in A.

Distinct mechanisms for genomic attachment of the 5' and 3' ends of Agrobacterium T-DNA in plants.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a pathogenic bacterium capable of transforming plants through horizontal gene transfer, is nowadays the preferred vector for plant genetic engineering. The vehicle for transfer is the T-strand, a single-stranded DNA molecule bound by the bacterial protein VirD2, which guides the T-DNA into the plant's nucleus where it integrates. How VirD2 is removed from T-DNA, and which mechanism acts to attach the liberated end to the plant genome is currently unknown.

Removal of H2Aub1 by ubiquitin-specific proteases 12 and 13 is required for stable Polycomb-mediated gene repression in Arabidopsis.

Background: Stable gene repression is essential for normal growth and development. Polycomb repressive complexes 1 and 2 (PRC1&2) are involved in this process by establishing monoubiquitination of histone 2A (H2Aub1) and subsequent trimethylation of lysine 27 of histone 3 (H3K27me3). Previous work proposed that H2Aub1 removal by the ubiquitin-specific proteases 12 and 13 (UBP12 and UBP13) is part of the repressive PRC1&2 system, but its functional role remains elusive.

North European invasion by common ragweed is associated with early flowering and dominant changes in FT/TFL1 expression.

During the last two centuries, the North American common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.) invaded a large part of the globe. Local adaptation of this species was revealed by a common garden experiment, demonstrating that the distribution of the species in Europe could extend considerably to the North.

The WD40 Domain Protein MSI1 Functions in a Histone Deacetylase Complex to Fine-Tune Abscisic Acid Signaling.

MSI1 belongs to a family of histone binding WD40-repeat proteins. Arabidopsis thaliana contains five genes encoding MSI1-like proteins, but their functions in diverse chromatin-associated complexes are poorly understood. Here, we show that MSI1 is part of a histone deacetylase complex.