DNA METHYLTRANSFERASE1-mediated shoot regeneration is regulated by cytokinin-induced cell cycle in Arabidopsis

Corresponding author: Xian Sheng Zhang (张宪省)

• DNA methylation plays a critical role in diverse biological processes of plants. Arabidopsis DNA METHYLTRANSFERASE1 (MET1; 甲基转移酶) represses shoot regeneration by inhibiting WUSCHEL (WUS) expression, which is essential for shoot initiation. However, the upstream signals regulating MET1 expression during this process are unclear.

• We analyzed the signals regulating MET1 expression using a number of established strategies, such as genetic analysis, confocal microscopy (共聚焦显微镜), quantitative real-time PCR and chromatin immunoprecipitation (染色质免疫沉淀).

• MET1 expression patterns underwent dynamic changes with the initiation of WUS during shoot regeneration. The cell cycle regulator E2FA was characterized as an upstream factor directly promoting MET1 expression. Moreover, cytokinin (细胞分裂素) promoted MET1 expression partially by enhancing CYCD3 expression.

• Our findings reveal that MET1-mediated shoot regeneration is regulated by the cytokinin-induced cell cycle, and provide new insights into the regulation of DNA methylation in shoot regeneration.

DNA甲基化在植物多种生物过程中扮演着重要作用。拟南芥的DNA甲基转移酶MET1会通过抑制对于芽起始有必要作用的WUS基因的表达从而抑制不定芽再生。然而，该过程调控MET1表达的上游还未知晓。

通讯：张宪省 (http://life.sdau.edu.cn/s/46/t/2027/f6/2c/info63020.htm)

个人简介：张宪省，博士、教授、博士生导师，山东农业大学校长，作物生物学国家重点实验室主任。担任中国植物学会植物细胞生物学专业委员会副主任，中国遗传学会理事，山东省遗传学会理事长，山东省植物学会副理事长，美国植物生物学会会员。《Plant Cell Reports》副主编，《植物学报》和《遗传》编委。

doi: 10.1111/nph.14814