A complex network of interactions governs DNA methylation at telomeric regions

Abstract DNA methylation modulates telomere function. In Arabidopsis thaliana, telomeric regions have a bimodal chromatin organization with unmethylated telomeres and methylated subtelomeres. To gain insight into this organization we have generated TAIR10-Tel, a modified version of the Arabidopsis r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nucleic acids research 2022-02, Vol.50 (3), p.1449-1464
Main Authors: Farrell, Colin, Vaquero-Sedas, María I, Cubiles, María D, Thompson, Michael, Vega-Vaquero, Alejandro, Pellegrini, Matteo, Vega-Palas, Miguel A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arabidopsis - genetics
DNA Methylation
Epigenesis, Genetic
Gene regulation, Chromatin and Epigenetics
Methyltransferases - genetics
Telomere - genetics
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Summary:Abstract DNA methylation modulates telomere function. In Arabidopsis thaliana, telomeric regions have a bimodal chromatin organization with unmethylated telomeres and methylated subtelomeres. To gain insight into this organization we have generated TAIR10-Tel, a modified version of the Arabidopsis reference genome with additional sequences at most chromosome ends. TAIR10-Tel has allowed us to analyse DNA methylation at nucleotide resolution level in telomeric regions. We have analysed the wild-type strain and mutants that encode inactive versions of all currently known relevant methyltransferases involved in cytosine methylation. These analyses have revealed that subtelomeric DNA methylation extends 1 to 2 kbp from Interstitial Telomeric Sequences (ITSs) that abut or are very near to telomeres. However, DNA methylation drops at the telomeric side of the telomere-subtelomere boundaries and disappears at the inner part of telomeres. We present a comprehensive and integrative model for subtelomeric DNA methylation that should help to decipher the mechanisms that govern the epigenetic regulation of telomeres. This model involves a complex network of interactions between methyltransferases and subtelomeric DNA sequences.
ISSN:0305-1048
1362-4962
DOI:10.1093/nar/gkac012