Genome-Wide Identification of DNA Methylases and Demethylases in Kiwifruit (). Zhang Yaoxin,He Xiaoqing,Zhao Haochen,Xu Wencai,Deng Heng,Wang Huan,Wang Shuyue,Su Dan,Zheng Zhenlei,Yang Bin,Grierson Don,Wu Jun,Liu Mingchun Frontiers in plant science DNA methylation plays an important role in a wide range of developmental and physiological processes in plants. It is primarily catalyzed and regulated by cytosine-5 DNA methyltransferases (C5-MTases) and a group of DNA glycosylases that act as demethylases. To date, no genome-scale analysis of the two kiwifruit () families has been undertaken. In our study, nine C5-MTases and seven DNA demethylase genes were identified in the kiwifruit genome. Through selective evolution analysis, we found that there were gene duplications in C5-MTases and demethylases, which may have arisen during three genome doubling events followed by selection during evolution of kiwifruit. Expression analysis of DNA methylases (C5-MTases) and demethylases identified changes in transcripts of DNA methylation and demethylation genes during both vegetative and reproductive development. Moreover, we found that some members of the two methylase/demethylase families may also be involved in fruit ripening and the regulation of softening. Our results help to better understand the complex roles of methylation/demethylation in plants and provide a foundation for analyzing the role of DNA methylation modification in kiwifruit growth, development and ripening. 10.3389/fpls.2020.514993

Genome-wide identification of MBD gene family members in Eleutherococcus senticosus with their expression motifs under drought stress and DNA demethylation. BMC genomics BACKGROUND:Methyl-binding domain (MBD) is a class of methyl-CpG-binding domain proteins that affects the regulation of gene expression through epigenetic modifications. MBD genes are not only inseparable from DNA methylation but have also been identified and validated in various plants. Although MBD is involved in a group of physiological processes and stress regulation in these plants, MBD genes in Eleutherococcus senticosus remain largely unknown. RESULTS:Twenty EsMBD genes were identified in E. senticosus. Among the 24 chromosomes of E. senticosus, EsMBD genes were unevenly distributed on 12 chromosomes, and only one tandem repeat gene existed. Collinearity analysis showed that the fragment duplication was the main motif for EsMBD gene expansion. As the species of Araliaceae evolved, MBD genes also evolved and gradually exhibited different functional differentiation. Furthermore, cis-acting element analysis showed that there were numerous cis-acting elements in the EsMBD promoter region, among which light response elements and anaerobic induction elements were dominant. The expression motif analysis revealed that 60% of the EsMBDs were up-regulated in the 30% water content group. CONCLUSIONS:By comparing the transcriptome data of different saponin contents of E. senticosus and integrating them with the outcomes of molecular docking analysis, we hypothesized that EsMBD2 and EsMBD5 jointly affect the secondary metabolic processes of E. senticosus saponins by binding to methylated CpG under conditions of drought stress. The results of this study laid the foundation for subsequent research on the E. senticosus and MBD genes. 10.1186/s12864-023-09191-x

Dynamics and function of DNA methylation in plants. Zhang Huiming,Lang Zhaobo,Zhu Jian-Kang Nature reviews. Molecular cell biology 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. 10.1038/s41580-018-0016-z

Advances in DNA methylation and demethylation in medicinal plants: a review. Molecular biology reports DNA methylation and demethylation are widely acknowledged epigenetic phenomena which can cause heritable and phenotypic changes in functional genes without changing the DNA sequence. They can thus affect phenotype formation in medicinal plants. However, a comprehensive review of the literature summarizing current research trends in this field is lacking. Thus, this review aims to provide an up-to-date summary of current methods for the detection of 5-mC DNA methylation, identification and analysis of DNA methyltransferases and demethyltransferases, and regulation of DNA methylation in medicinal plants. The data showed that polyploidy and environmental changes can affect DNA methylation levels in medicinal plants. Changes in DNA methylation can thus regulate plant morphogenesis, growth and development, and formation of secondary metabolites. Future research is required to explore the mechanisms by which DNA methylation regulates the accumulation of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants. 10.1007/s11033-023-08618-8

Harnessing targeted DNA methylation and demethylation using dCas9. Pflueger Christian,Swain Tessa,Lister Ryan Essays in biochemistry DNA methylation is an essential DNA modification that plays a crucial role in genome regulation during differentiation and development, and is disrupted in a range of disease states. The recent development of CRISPR/catalytically dead CRISPR/Cas9 (dCas9)-based targeted DNA methylation editing tools has enabled new insights into the roles and functional relevance of this modification, including its importance at regulatory regions and the role of aberrant methylation in various diseases. However, while these tools are advancing our ability to understand and manipulate this regulatory layer of the genome, they still possess a variety of limitations in efficacy, implementation, and targeting specificity. Effective targeted DNA methylation editing will continue to advance our fundamental understanding of the role of this modification in different genomic and cellular contexts, and further improvements may enable more accurate disease modeling and possible future treatments. In this review, we discuss strategies, considerations, and future directions for targeted DNA methylation editing. 10.1042/EBC20190029