Cracking the Code: Unveiling How Plants Pass on Genetic Memories
Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have discovered how plants pass along chemical markers, known as epigenetic inheritance, that control the activation of transposons or "jumping genes." The researchers identified the protein DDM1, which helps place regulatory marks on DNA strands to keep transposons inactive. They found that DDM1 displaces specific histones, which are packing proteins that wrap around DNA, to expose sites needing methylation. The study also revealed that a histone found only in pollen acts as a placeholder during cell division, preserving epigenetic controls across generations. This research may have implications for agriculture, food supplies, and understanding how similar proteins maintain DNA methylation in humans.
