Dickinson, Hugh, Costa, Liliana and Gutierrez-Marcos, José F. (2012) Epigenetic neofunctionalisation and regulatory gene evolution in grasses. Trends in Plant Science, Vol.17 (No.7). pp. 389-394. doi:10.1016/j.tplants.2012.04.002

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Abstract

During plant evolution, genome duplication and subsequent selection acting on new gene pairs has frequently resulted in partition of gene functions, or acquisition of new functions. This ‘sub- and neofunctionalisation’ (subF and neoF) is held to have driven the expansion of key gene classes. One such gene class in maize (Zea mays) includes a pair of Polycomb group (PcG) protein genes that, unlike their single Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) counterpart, are both parentally imprinted with only the maternal alleles being expressed in the seed endosperm. Surprisingly, this imprinting is regulated by different mechanisms in the two genes, resulting in different phasing of parent-specific expression. In this opinion article we propose that recruitment of different imprinting systems constitutes ‘epigenetic neoF’, and has enhanced maternal control over seed development, with a potential impact on the evolution of the large and persistent endosperms of cereal grains.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General)
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Life Sciences (2010- )
Journal or Publication Title:	Trends in Plant Science
Publisher:	Elsevier Ltd.
ISSN:	1360-1385
Official Date:	July 2012
Dates:	Date Event July 2012 Published
Volume:	Vol.17
Number:	No.7
Page Range:	pp. 389-394
DOI:	10.1016/j.tplants.2012.04.002
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access

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