Chromatin Dynamics and Gene Regulation in Plant Systems
Summary
Chromatin in plants is a dynamic assembly of DNA and associated proteins whose organisation and chemical modifications underpin the precise control of gene activity. Nucleosomes—the basic structural units—can be repositioned or chemically decorated by the addition or removal of histone marks such as methylation and acetylation, thereby modulating accessibility of transcriptional machinery. DNA methylation and ATP-dependent remodelling complexes work in concert with non-histone architectural proteins, including high mobility group (HMG) factors, to establish and transmit regulatory states that shape development, environmental adaptation and stress memory. Advances in high-resolution mapping of chromatin states, coupled with functional assays in model and crop species, have revealed complex feedback loops linking epigenetic landscapes to hormone signalling, pathogen resistance and resource allocation. Such insights are critical for rational breeding of plants with enhanced resilience, yield stability and sustainable performance under changing climates.
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Chromatin Dynamics and Gene Regulation in Plant Systems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in chromatin dynamics and gene regulation in plant systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Chromatin: The complex of DNA and associated proteins that packages the genome and regulates gene accessibility.
Nucleosome: The fundamental unit of chromatin, comprising DNA wrapped around an octamer of histone proteins.
Histone modification: Covalent addition or removal of chemical groups (e.g. methyl, acetyl) on histone tails that influence chromatin structure and gene activity.
Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP): An experimental method to isolate DNA segments bound by specific proteins or bearing defined histone marks.
High mobility group (HMG) proteins: Non-histone architectural factors that bind DNA and alter chromatin topology, affecting transcriptional regulation.
Epigenetic modification: Stable yet reversible chemical changes to DNA or histones that regulate gene expression without altering the underlying DNA sequence.
References
- Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of the High-Mobility Group B (HMGB) Gene Family in Plant Response to Abiotic Stress in Tomato. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2024).
- A native chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) protocol for studying histone modifications in strawberry fruits. Plant Methods (2020).
- Overexpression of OsHMGB707, a High Mobility Group Protein, Enhances Rice Drought Tolerance by Promoting Stress-Related Gene Expression. Frontiers in Plant Science (2021).
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