Intronic heterochromatin prevents cryptic transcription initiation in Arabidopsis.
- Resource Type
- Article
- Authors
- Zhou, Jincong; Liu, Liangyu; Li, Qin; Xu, Wei; Li, Kuan; Wang, Zhi‐Wei; Sun, Qianwen
- Source
- Plant Journal. Mar2020, Vol. 101 Issue 5, p1185-1197. 13p.
- Subject
- *HETEROCHROMATIN
*HETEROCHROMATIC genes
*EUKARYOTIC genomes
*PLANT genomes
*PLANT genes
*RNA polymerases
*INTRONS
- Language
- ISSN
- 0960-7412
Summary: Intronic transposable elements (TEs) comprise a large proportion in eukaryotic genomes, but how they regulate the host genes remains to be explored. Our forward genetic screen disclosed the plant‐specific RNA polymerases IV and V in suppressing intronic TE‐mediated cryptic transcription initiation of a chimeric transcripts at FLC (FLCTE). Initiation of FLCTE transcription is blocked by the locally formed intronic heterochromatin, which is directly associated with RNA Pol V to inhibit the entry of RNA Pol II and the occupancy of H3K4 methylation. Genome‐wide Pol II Ser5p native elongation transcription sequencing revealed that a significant number of intronic heterochromatin‐containing genes undergo this mechanism. This study sheds light on deeply understanding the function of intronic heterochromatin on host genes expression in eukaryotic genome. Significance Statement: Transposable elements (TEs) are abundantly present in various locations in the plant genome. In this study, we have uncovered the regulatory mechanism of the intron‐located TEs in suppressing the aberrant transcription initiation in their host genes in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]