The MADS-box transcription factor PHERES1 controls imprinting in the endosperm by binding to domesticated transposons.

Batista RA, Moreno-Romero J, Qiu Y, van Boven J, Santos-González J, Figueiredo DD, Köhler C

Elife 8 (-) - [2019-12-02; online 2019-12-02]

MADS-box transcription factors (TFs) are ubiquitous in eukaryotic organisms and play major roles during plant development. Nevertheless, their function in seed development remains largely unknown. Here, we show that the imprinted Arabidopsis thaliana MADS-box TF PHERES1 (PHE1) is a master regulator of paternally expressed imprinted genes, as well as of non-imprinted key regulators of endosperm development. PHE1 binding sites show distinct epigenetic modifications on maternal and paternal alleles, correlating with parental-specific transcriptional activity. Importantly, we show that the CArG-box-like DNA-binding motifs that are bound by PHE1 have been distributed by RC/Helitron transposable elements. Our data provide an example of the molecular domestication of these elements which, by distributing PHE1 binding sites throughout the genome, have facilitated the recruitment of crucial endosperm regulators into a single transcriptional network.

NGI Uppsala (SNP&SEQ Technology Platform) [Service]

National Genomics Infrastructure [Service]

PubMed 31789592

DOI 10.7554/eLife.50541

Crossref 10.7554/eLife.50541

pii: 50541
pmc: PMC6914339
GEO: GSE129744
GEO: GSE66585
GEO: GSE84122
GEO: GSE53642
GEO: GSE119915
GEO: GSE12404