An RNA polymerase II-and AGO4-associated protein acts in RNA-directed DNA methylation

Zhihuan Gao, Hai-Liang Liu, Lucia Daxinger, Olga Pontes, Xinjian He, Weiqiang Qian, Huixin Lin, Mingtang Xie, Zdravko J. Lorkovic, ShouDong Zhang, Daisuke Miki, Xiangqiang Zhan, Dominique Pontier, Thierry Lagrange, Hailing Jin, Antonius J. Matzke, Marjori Matzke, Craig S. Pikaard, Jian-Kang Zhu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

220 Scopus citations

Abstract

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mark in many eukaryotes. In plants, 24-nucleotide small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) bound to the effector protein, Argonaute 4 (AGO4), can direct de novo DNA methylation by the methyltransferase DRM2 (refs 2, 4-6). Here we report a new regulator of RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) in Arabidopsis: RDM1. Loss-of-function mutations in the RDM1 gene impair the accumulation of 24-nucleotide siRNAs, reduce DNA methylation, and release transcriptional gene silencing at RdDM target loci. RDM1 encodes a small protein that seems to bind single-stranded methyl DNA, and associates and co-localizes with RNA polymerase II (Pol II, also known as NRPB), AGO4 and DRM2 in the nucleus. Our results indicate that RDM1 is a component of the RdDM effector complex and may have a role in linking siRNA production with pre-existing or de novo cytosine methylation. Our results also indicate that, although RDM1 and Pol V (also known as NRPE) may function together at some RdDM target sites in the peri-nucleolar siRNA processing centre, Pol II rather than Pol V is associated with the RdDM effector complex at target sites in the nucleoplasm. © 2010 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)106-109
Number of pages4
JournalNature
Volume465
Issue number7294
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 21 2010

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'An RNA polymerase II-and AGO4-associated protein acts in RNA-directed DNA methylation'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this