A G(enomic)P(ositioning)S(ystem) for Plant RNAPII Transcription

Xueyuan Leng, Quentin Thomas, Simon Horskjær Rasmussen, Sebastian Marquardt*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReviewResearchpeer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)
43 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of histone residues shape the landscape of gene expression by modulating the dynamic process of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) transcription. The contribution of particular histone modifications to the definition of distinct RNAPII transcription stages remains poorly characterized in plants. Chromatin immunoprecipitation combined with next-generation sequencing (ChIP-seq) resolves the genomic distribution of histone modifications. Here, we review histone PTM ChIP-seq data in Arabidopsis thaliana and find support for a Genomic Positioning System (GPS) that guides RNAPII transcription. We review the roles of histone PTM ‘readers’, ‘writers’, and ‘erasers’, with a focus on the regulation of gene expression and biological functions in plants. The distinct functions of RNAPII transcription during the plant transcription cycle may rely, in part, on the characteristic histone PTM profiles that distinguish transcription stages.
Original languageEnglish
JournalTrends in Plant Science
Volume25
Issue number8
Pages (from-to)744-764
ISSN1360-1385
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

Cite this