Distinct roles of H3K27me3 and H3K36me3 in vernalization response, maintenance and resetting in winter wheat

作者：Xuemei Liu, Xuelei Lin, Min Deng, Bingxin Shi, Jinchao Chen, Haoran Li, Shujuan Xu, Xiaomin Bie, Xiansheng Zhang, Kang Chong, Jun Xiao · 发表于：bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · 年份：2023 · DOI：10.1101/2023.12.19.572364 · 被引用次数：2 · 研究领域：Wheat and Barley Genetics and Pathology、Bioenergy crop production and management、Plant Reproductive Biology

Abstract Winter plants rely on vernalization, a vital process for adapting to cold and ensuring successful reproduction. However, understanding the role of histone modifications in guiding the vernalization process in winter wheat is limited. In this study, we investigate the transcriptome and chromatin dynamics in the shoot apex throughout the life cycle of winter wheat in the field. Two core histone modifications, H3K27me3 and H3K36me3, exhibit opposite pattern on the key vernalization gene VERNALIZATION1 ( VRN1 ), correlated with its induction during cold exposure. Additionally, H3K36me3 remains high at VRN1 after cold exposure, maintaining its active state. Mutations in FERTILIZATION-INDEPENDENT ENDOSPERM (TaFIE) and SET DOMAIN GROUP 8 (TaSDG8), writer complex components of H3K27me3 and H3K36me3, respectively, affect flowering time. Interestingly, VRN1 loses its high expression after cold exposure memory in the absence of H3K36me3. During embryo development, VRN1 is silenced with the removal of H3K36me3 in both winter and spring alleles. H3K27me3 is selectively added to the winter allele, influencing the cold exposure requirement for the next generation. Integrating gene expression with H3K27me3 and H3K36me3 patterns identified potential regulators of flowering. This study reveals distinct roles of H3K27me3 and H3K36me3 in controlling vernalization response, maintenance, and resetting in winter wheat. Significance Statement Vernalization, initially observed in cereals, la...