DNA methylation mutants: Generic molecular tools to identify cereal genes controlling gene expression and regulation

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Paul Christou
• Subject Area: Human Genetics
• Term: from 2002 to 2006
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5370057

Cytosine methylation (Cm) in genomic DNA can strongly influence (trans)gene expression in plants, affecting important traits such as flowering time, development and qualitative traits, amongst others. Factors influencing Cm levels include cytosine methyltransferases, S-adenosylmethionine metabolism, chromatin structure and plant stress/defence responses. We will optimise a high-throughput method to determine Cm levels in genomic DNA and then screen an existing population of rice plants carrying the maize Ac transposon for insertional mutants showing abnormal Cm levels. The interrupted genes will be cloned and characterised to study their role in RNA dependent DNA methylation (RdDM).

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1129: Epigenetics