Why do we need so many mechanisms?

July 30, 2024

Elucidation of multilayered control mechanisms for genomic imprinting

A joint research group of researchers from Yokohama City University, the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, the National Institute of Genetics, the RIKEN CSRS, the University of California, Davis, and Iwate University found that mechanisms of genome imprinting differ according to the developmental stages and cell types of rice (Oryza sativa) endosperm.

In this study, the research group conducted a time-course multiomics analysis in rice endosperm to identify many imprinted genes during the developmental stages and uncovered two types of imprinted genes: one that is persistent throughout all the stages and the other that is stage-specific. In addition, single-cell analysis successfully yielded results suggesting that imprinted genes are regulated differently in different cell types. The findings of this study are expected to fully elucidate the mechanism of the highly complex control of genome imprinting and to advance research that will help reveal the functions of imprinted genes during seed formation in plants.

Original article

Nature Plants doi: 10.1038/s41477-024-01754-4

K. Tonosaki, D. Susaki, H. Morinaka, A. Ono, H. Nagata, H. Furuumi, K. Nonomura, Y. Sato, K. Sugimoto, L. Comai, K. Hatakeyama, T. Kawakatsu, T. Kinoshita,

"Multi-layered epigenetic control of persistent and stage-specific imprinted genes in rice endosperm".

Contact

Keiko Sugimoto
Team Leader
Cell Function Research Team