Distribution and Associations of GATA Repeats in Rice Genome

Abstract

GATA repeats are associated with sex differentiation in man, buffalo, mouse and even in plants such as papaya. Human X-chromosome region Xp22 that escapes inactivation is ten-fold enriched in GATA repeats suggesting a role in preventing heterochromatinization. The close proximity of GATA repeats to matrix-associated regions (MARs) indicates a role in chromatin organization and function. Chromosome-wise distribution and density of GATA repeats, neighboring genes and Matrix associated regions were analyzed in rice. (GATA)3 and higher repeats were distributed non-randomly with the highest frequency on chromosome 11. About 60% of the repeats were found in intergenic regions flanked by regulatory genes involved in stress response or transposable elements. The GATA associated MAR sequences in rice had at least one or more of the consensus sequence to which GATA factors bind. The genomic milieu around GATA repeats suggests that their genomic contextmay determine their role in chromatin organization and gene regulation.