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Spatial and temporal expression of cytosine-5 DNA methyltransferase and DNA demethylase gene families of the Ricinus communis during seed development and drought stress

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A Correction to this article was published on 17 August 2020

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Abstract

Cytosine methylation plays a key role in genome stability and gene expression regulation. The dynamic and reversible nature of cytosine methylation is orchestrated by the coordinated and opposing action of two different gene families: the cytosine-5 DNA methyltransferases (C5-MTases) and the DNA demethylases. Here, we identified and characterized eight C5-MTases and three DNA demethylase family members in Ricinus communis (castor plant), an oilseed species of the Euphorbiaceae family. Bioinformatic analysis of the protein primary structure revealed the presence of conserved functional domains defining each family. The amino acid identities between C5-MTases and DNA demethylases from castor plant and their protein homologues from Jatropha curcas and Manihot esculenta, were 65 and 85%, respectively. Intriguingly, protein localization predictions suggested multiple targeting to nucleus, mitochondria and chloroplasts for some methyltransferases. Tissue and developmental gene expression analysis, with emphasis in seed maturation stages, showed that all family members varied widely in their expression across tissues suggesting distinct biological roles. In silico promoter analysis revealed several cis acting elements associated with drought responses indicating an epigenetic mechanism of regulation for the drought response by means of a methylation/demethylation switch. Consequent quantitative PCR analysis revealed that although C5-MTase genes were differentially expressed under drought stress, all the demethylase genes analyzed in this study (RcDME, RcDML-3 and RcROS1) were significantly upregulated suggesting fine-tuning of DNA methylation and demethylation events. The detection and organization of putative transposable elements (ΤΕs) along promoter regions of most of the genes indicates a possible role in transcriptional control. The current results set the foundation for functional studies of the C5-MTase and DNA demethylase gene families in castor plant.

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  • 17 August 2020

    In the original publication of this article, the complete author names were incorrect. The correct names are provided in this correction.

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge financial support of the JONAH-FUEL by Greece and the European Regional Development Fund within the program ‘Bilateral R&D cooperation between Greece and Israel 2013–2015’.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Applied Biosciences (INAB), CERTH, Thermi, Thessaloniki, 57001, Greece

    Drosou Victoria, Kapazoglou Aliki, Koidou Venetia, Merkouropoulos Georgios & Hilioti Zoe

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  1. Drosou Victoria
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  2. Kapazoglou Aliki
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  3. Koidou Venetia
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  4. Merkouropoulos Georgios
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Correspondence to Hilioti Zoe.

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Victoria, D., Aliki, K., Venetia, K. et al. Spatial and temporal expression of cytosine-5 DNA methyltransferase and DNA demethylase gene families of the Ricinus communis during seed development and drought stress. Plant Growth Regul 84, 81–94 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10725-017-0323-y

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