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Angiosperm Flora of India

Cell Type-Specific Chromatin Decondensation of a Metabolic Gene Cluster in Oats

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2009
Authors:Wegel, E, Koumproglou, R, Shaw, P, Osbourn, A
Journal:The Plant Cell
Volume:21
Issue:12
Date Published:2009
ISBN Number:10404651
Keywords:Avena
Abstract:

Transcription-related chromatin decondensation has been studied in mammals for clusters of structurally and/or functionally related genes that are coordinately regulated (e.g., the homeobox locus in mice and the major histocompatability complex locus in humans). Plant genes have generally been considered to be randomly distributed throughout the genome, although several examples of metabolic gene clusters for synthesis of plant defense compounds have recently been discovered. Clustering provides for genetic linkage of genes that together confer a selective advantage and may also facilitate coordinate regulation of gene expression by enabling localized changes in chromatin structure. Here, we use cytological methods to investigate components of a metabolic gene cluster for synthesis of developmentally regulated defense compounds (avenacins) in diploid oat {Avena strigosa). Our experiments reveal that expression of the avenacin gene cluster is associated with cell type-specific chromatin decondensation, providing new insights into regulation of gene clusters in plants. Importantly, chromatin decondensation could be visualized not only at the large-scale level but down to the single gene level. We further show that the avenacin and sterol pathways are likely to be inversely regulated at the level of transcription.

URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/40537560
Short Title:The Plant Cell
Taxonomic name: 
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Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith