Title: Targeting mechanism of H3K27me3 demethylase REF6 and its role in transgenerational thermomemory in Arabidopsis

Biography:

Xian Deng has completed her PhD and Postdoctoral Studies at the age of 30 years from Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. She is the Associated Professor of Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. She has published more than 15 papers in reputed journals, such as PNAS, Cell Res, Curr Opin Plant Biol, Nat Sci Rev, Plant Physiol, Bio-protocol, etc.

Abstract

RELATIVE OF EARLY FLOWERING 6 (REF6/JMJ12), a Jumonji C (JmjC)-domain-containing H3K27me3 histone demethylase, finds its target loci in Arabidopsis genome by directly recognizing the CTCTGYTY motif via its zinc-finger (ZnF) domains (1, 2). REF6 tends to bind motifs located in active chromatin states and depleted for heterochromatic modifications. However, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Here, using biochemistry, structural biology, and high-throughput sequencing, we showed that REF6 binding affinity to specific regions is repelled by DNA methylation within CTCTGYTY motif. In addition, we also found that heat-induced HEAT SHOCK TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR A2 (HSFA2) directly activates REF6, which in turn derepresses HSFA2. REF6 and HSFA2 establish a heritable feedback loop which is involved in transgenerational thermomemory and stress adaptation.

Keywords: Arabidopsis, H3K27me3, Histone demethylase, DNA methylation, transgenerational thermomemory.