Dynamics of H3K27me3 Modification on Plant Adaptation to Environmental Cues

Abstract

Given their sessile nature, plants have evolved sophisticated regulatory networks to confer developmental plasticity for adaptation to fluctuating environments. Epigenetic codes, like tri-methylation of histone H3 on Lys27 (H3K27me3), are evidenced to account for this evolutionary benefit. Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) and PRC1 implement and maintain the H3K27me3-mediated gene repression in most eukaryotic cells. Plants take advantage of this epigenetic machinery to reprogram gene expression in development and environmental adaption. Recent studies have uncovered a number of new players involved in the establishment, erasure, and regulation of H3K27me3 mark in plants, particularly highlighting new roles in plants’ responses to environmental cues. Here, we review current knowledge on PRC2-H3K27me3 dynamics occurring during plant growth and development, including its writers, erasers, and readers, as well as targeting mechanisms, and summarize the emerging roles of H3K27me3 mark in plant adaptation to environmental stresses.

Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 in Eukaryotes—An Evolutionary Perspective

“…Gene-limited distribution is also found in metabolic gene clusters that are organized in an operon-like manner [ 156 ]. In A. thaliana , H3K27me3 decorates approximately 20–30% of all protein-coding and miRNA genes [ 37 , 38 , 157 ] that are associated with plant development, hormone metabolism and response, but also with nutrient homeostasis [ 158 , 159 ], stress response ([ 160 , 161 ], reviewed in the works of [ 5 , 162 , 163 ]) or primary and secondary metabolism [ 156 , 161 ]. The potential for targeting is nevertheless more extensive, as 64% of protein-coding genes were identified as H3K27me3 targets when combining different timepoints of A. thaliana shoot apical meristem development during the transition to flowering [ 164 ].…”

“…CpG islands, hypomethylated CG-rich chromatin regions of 1–2 kb, are associated with PRC2 recruitment in mammals, where accessory subunits rather than transcription factors mediate the recruitment ([ 180 , 181 , 182 ], reviewed in the work of [ 71 ]). Transcription factor-bound PRE-like elements also contribute to PRC2 recruitment in A. thaliana (reviewed in the work of [ 5 ]). Following the identification of PRC2-recruiting cis elements in the promoters of the KNOX genes [ 183 ] and the LEC2 gene [ 184 ], PRE-like elements (including GAGA motif, W-box, RY motif, GCCGCC motif, telobox motif, and others) bound by transcription factors were shown to contribute to PRC2 recruitment genome-wide [ 185 ].…”

“…PRC2 requirement for morphotype specification in the diatom P. tricornutum suggests that its role in cell identity specification may be conserved also in unicellular species [ 103 ]. Emerging reports associate PRC2 function with environmental response in multicellular species [ 5 , 308 ] and also with responses to nutrition availability in diverse protists [ 103 ]. PRC2 function in dynamic environmental and metabolic responses may therefore be conserved, but further work is needed to determine the involvement of PRC2 subcomplexes and their mode of operation.…”

“…Among crucial modulators of chromatin structure are polycomb group (PcG) proteins, which form multi-subunit polycomb repressive complexes (PRCs) (reviewed in the work of [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]). Major PRCs are histone-modifying complexes that confer different and even counteracting enzymatic activities, which mediate gene repression.…”

Introgressions of Vitis rotundifolia Michx. to obtain grapevine genotypes with complex resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses

“…Diagnostics of the frost resistance of grape varieties plays an important role in breeding, because only if information about the degree of a trait assigned to a particular genotype is complete and accurate, it can be used as a source of a valuable trait in breeding (Kozma, 1998;Korbuly, 2000;Clark, Barchenger, 2015;Ivanisević et al, 2015;Gonçalves et al, 2016;Volynkin et al, 2020b, с). In modern research, scientists are searching for the ways of conducting express-diagnostics of the frost resistance degree based on correlations with morphological traits (Maltabar, Zhdamarova, 2012;Novikova, Naumova, 2018;Ilnitskaya et al, 2019;Volynkin et al, 2020d), or studying biochemical mechanisms of the resistance and adaptation of grape plants to environmental stress factors at the molecular level (Di Gaspero et al, 2007;Nenko et al, 2019;Ricciardi et al, 2021;Shen et al, 2021). The most complete and reliable information about the resistance of grape varieties to environmental stress factors can be obtained only as a result of combination of field and laboratory experiments (Korbuly et al, 2004;Read et al, 2004;Ulitin, Nudga, 2008;Zlenko et al, 2018).…”