Induction of Promoter DNA Methylation Upon High-Pressure Spraying of Double-Stranded RNA in Plants
Athanasios Dalakouras, Ioannis Ganopoulos
Abstract
Exogenous application of RNA molecules is a potent method to trigger RNA interference (RNAi) in plants in a transgene-free manner. So far, all exogenous RNAi (exo-RNAi) applications have aimed to trigger mRNA degradation of a given target. However, the issue of concomitant epigenetic changes was never addressed. Here, we report for the first time that high-pressure spraying of dsRNAs can trigger de novo methylation of promoter sequences in plants.
Topics & Concepts
RNA interferenceRNAEpigeneticsDNA methylationBiologyTransgeneDNAMethylationRNA silencingMessenger RNACell biologyRNA methylationMolecular biologyGeneticsGeneGene expressionMethyltransferasePlant Virus Research StudiesPlant Molecular Biology ResearchChromosomal and Genetic Variations