Unraveling the role of epigenetic regulation in asymmetric cell division during plant development.

Asymmetric cell divisions are essential to generate different cellular lineages. In plants, asymmetric cell divisions regulate the correct formation of the embryo, stomatal cells, apical and root meristems, and lateral roots. Current knowledge of regulation of asymmetric cell divisions suggests that, in addition to the function of key transcription factor networks, epigenetic mechanisms play crucial roles.

The intervening domain is required for DNA-binding and functional identity of plant MADS transcription factors.

The MADS transcription factors (TF) are an ancient eukaryotic protein family. In plants, the family is divided into two main lineages. Here, we demonstrate that DNA binding in both lineages absolutely requires a short amino acid sequence C-terminal to the MADS domain (M domain) called the Intervening domain (I domain) that was previously defined only in type II lineage MADS.

ULTRAPETALA1 maintains Arabidopsis root stem cell niche independently of ARABIDOPSIS TRITHORAX1.

During plant development, morphogenetic processes rely on the activity of meristems. Meristem homeostasis depends on a complex regulatory network constituted by different factors and hormone signaling that regulate gene expression to coordinate the correct balance between cell proliferation and differentiation. ULTRAPETALA1, a transcriptional regulatory protein described as an Arabidopsis Trithorax group factor, has been characterized as a regulator of the shoot and floral meristems activity.

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.