Abstract
Vernalization is an environmentally-induced epigenetic switch in which winter cold triggers epigenetic silencing of floral repressors and thus provides competence to flower in spring. In Arabidopsis, winter cold triggers enrichment of tri-methylated histone H3 Lys(27) at chromatin of the floral repressor, FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), and results in epigenetically stable repression of FLC. This epigenetic change is mediated by an evolutionarily conserved repressive complex, polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2). Here, we show that a long intronic noncoding RNA [termed COLD ASSISTED INTRONIC NONCODING RNA (COLDAIR)] is required for the vernalization-mediated epigenetic repression of FLC. COLDAIR physically associates with a component of PRC2 and targets PRC2 to FLC. Our results show that COLDAIR is required for establishing stable repressive chromatin at FLC through its interaction with PRC2.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Arabidopsis / genetics*
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Arabidopsis / growth & development
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Arabidopsis / physiology
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Arabidopsis Proteins / genetics*
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Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism
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Carrier Proteins / metabolism
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Chromatin / metabolism
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Cold Temperature*
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
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DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
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Epigenesis, Genetic*
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Flowers / growth & development
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Gene Expression Regulation, Plant*
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Gene Silencing*
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Genes, Plant
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Histones / metabolism
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Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
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Introns
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MADS Domain Proteins / genetics*
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MADS Domain Proteins / metabolism
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Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
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Plants, Genetically Modified
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Polycomb-Group Proteins
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Promoter Regions, Genetic
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RNA Interference
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RNA Polymerase II / metabolism
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RNA, Antisense / genetics
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RNA, Antisense / metabolism
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RNA, Plant / genetics
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RNA, Plant / metabolism
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RNA, Untranslated / genetics*
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RNA, Untranslated / metabolism
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Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
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Repressor Proteins / metabolism
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Response Elements
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Transcription Factors / genetics
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Transcription Factors / metabolism
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Transcription, Genetic
Substances
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Arabidopsis Proteins
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CURLY LEAF protein, Arabidopsis
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Carrier Proteins
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Chromatin
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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FLF protein, Arabidopsis
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Histones
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Homeodomain Proteins
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MADS Domain Proteins
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Nuclear Proteins
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Polycomb-Group Proteins
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RNA, Antisense
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RNA, Plant
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RNA, Untranslated
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Recombinant Proteins
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Repressor Proteins
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SWINGER protein, Arabidopsis
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Transcription Factors
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VIN3 protein, Arabidopsis
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VRN2 protein, Arabidopsis
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RNA Polymerase II