Role of histone H3 lysine 36 methylation in plant growth and development

Histone lysine methylation is an evolutionally conserved modification involved in determining chromatin states associated with gene activation or repression. Histone H3 can be methylated at lysine residues 4, 9, 27, 36, and 79. Further, lysine methylation can exist in three distinct states: monomethylated, dimethylated, and trimethylated. Methylation at different lysine residues and different methylation states at the same lysine residue differentially impact chromatin structure and transcription. We have characterized the histone H3 methyltransferases involved in methylation of lysine 36 in Arabidopsis and rice. The importance of lysine 36 methylation in plant growth and development will be addressed.

Contact

  Sally Assmann
  sma3@psu.edu