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Genomic imprinting in plants: the epigenetic version of an Oedipus complex
- Source :
-
Current Opinion in Plant Biology . Feb2005, Vol. 8 Issue 1, p19-25. 7p. - Publication Year :
- 2005
-
Abstract
- Genomic imprinting is a mitotically stable epigenetic modification that results in the functional non-equivalency of both parental genomes following fertilization. In flowering plants, studies of parent-of-origin effects have mostly identified genes that are only transcribed from a maternally inherited allele. In Arabidopsis, the Polycomb group protein MEDEA regulates seed development through the expression of the MADS-box gene PHERES1. Activation of the maternal MEDEA allele requires the function of DEMETER, a plant DNA glycosylase that also controls the transcriptional activity of the maternally inherited allele of the late-flowering gene FWA. Current studies of parent-of-origin effects have mostly identified genes that are only transcribed from a maternally inherited allele. Our current understanding of parent-of-origin effects could represent a new form of an Oedipus complex in which flowering plants prefer to rely transcriptionally on their maternal rather than their paternal chromosomes to ensure normal initiation of seed development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 13695266
- Volume :
- 8
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Current Opinion in Plant Biology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 16672610
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2004.11.011