Epigenetic is the study of gene expression regulation without the change of DNA sequence. Nowadays, the epigenetics in plants largely involves covalent and noncovalent modifications on DNA, RNA, and histone proteins. The sophisticated epigenetic mechanisms beneath gene expression regulation shape the plant development and environmental response.
Plant epigenetics plays important roles on gene expression regulation and chromatin integrity to contribute to plant growth and environmental resilience. In recent years, there are significant advances on the understanding of plant epigenetics in depth. The novel insights on biological functions and molecular mechanisms of chromatin and RNA modifications, and non-coding RNA mediated transcription regulation have been accumulating in the model plant Arabidopsis and rice, as well as many other crop species. Particularly, various new identified epigenetic modifications have been reported, some of which are heritable across generations. Furthermore, progress on dissection of epigenetic mechanisms that control transposal elements activity makes profound contribution to plant evolution and domestication.
This collection is aiming to bring together original research articles, technical notes, and reviews on all aspects of plant epigenetics, including but not limited to molecular mechanisms of DNA methylation, histone modifications, non-coding RNAs, as well as the role of epigenetic mechanisms in plant development and response to environment. Studies on model plant species, agricultural and horticultural crops are all welcomed.
Dr. Jianjun Jiang is a professor at State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement and School of Life Sciences in Henan University, China. His lab focuses on epigenetic regulatory mechanisms in plants. Our current research involves DNA methylation and histone modifications in symbiotic nitrogen fixation in soybean. We also study the roles and mechanisms of environment induced DNA methylation and transposon activation, as well as their role in the evolution of legumes and their symbiosis with rhizobia. Here is the link of his lab page.
Dr Yuan Wang is a primary investigator at the Institute of Genetics and Development (IGDB). Her lab focuses on plant RNA biology and gene expression regulation. We are particularly interested in how RNA-mediated epigenetic regulation shapes cell fate specification during plant organ and tissue development, as well as how non-coding RNAs involve in soybean shoot and root communication and environmental resilience. Here is the link of her lab page.
