Plant Cell Advance Online Publication
Published on January 16, 2004; 10.1105/tpc.017780
Received October 1, 2003
Accepted November 18, 2003
Extensive Maternal DNA Hypomethylation in the Endosperm of Zea mays
Massimiliano Lauria 1, Mary Rupe 2, Mei Guo 2, Erhard Kranz 3, Raul Pirona 4, Angelo Viotti 5, and Gertrud Lund 1*
1 Plant Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Plant Biology, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, DK-1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
2 Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Johnston, Iowa 50131-0552
3 Institut fur Allgemeine Botanik, Angewandte Molekularbiologie der Pflanzen II, Universität Hamburg, 22609 Hamburg, Germany
4 Istituto Sperimentale per la Cerealicoltura, Sezione di Bergamo, 24126 Bergamo, Italy
5 Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, 20133 Milan, Italy
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: gel{at}kvl.dk.
A PCR-based genomic scan has been undertaken to estimate the extent and ratio of maternally versus paternally methylated DNA regions in endosperm, embryo, and leaf of Zea mays (maize). Analysis of several inbred lines and their reciprocal crosses identified a large number of conserved, differentially methylated DNA regions (DMRs) that were specific to the endosperm. DMRs were hypomethylated at specific methylation-sensitive restriction sites upon maternal transmission, whereas upon paternal transmission, the methylation levels were similar to those observed in embryo and leaf. Maternal hypomethylation was extensive and offers a likely explanation for the 13% reduction in methyl-cytosine content of the endosperm compared with leaf tissue. DMRs showed identity to expressed genic regions, were observed early after fertilization, and maintained at a later stage of endosperm development. The implications of extensive maternal hypomethylation with respect to endosperm development and epigenetic reprogramming will be discussed.
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