Plant Epigenetics. Annual Plant Reviews, Volume 19

Abstract

Recently there have been remarkable advances in our understanding of epigenetic mechanisms in plants. Given the rapid increase in publication of scientific papers involved in plant epigenetics, a book that provides comprehensive coverage of recent knowledge is earnestly desired by plant scientists. Plant Epigenetics edited by Peter Meyer is published just at the right moment. This book contains nine chapters authored by known researchers who have published several ‘hot’ papers in this field. Transgene silencing is one of the prominent issues in transgenic plants in order to keep reliable activity of transgenes. Chapter 1 describes the molecular mechanism of transgene silencing from various points of view. Based on recent arguments on the silencing effects, valuable strategies for the prevention of transgene silencing are proposed. RNA interference (RNAi) has provided a new paradigm for our functional understanding of biological processes since its discovery using Caenorhabditis elagans in 1998. Chapter 2 introduces the up-to-date model of pathways and protein machinery of RNAi. Recent information on RNAi-related proteins including double-stranded RNA-processing enzymes (DCLs), argonaute proteins/PAZ and PIWI domain proteins, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerases, is comprehensively supplied. Chapter 3 describes RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) that connects the two different events of RNAi and the well-known epigenetic regulation. The latter part of this book, Chapters 4–9, review rather topical issues in relation to plant epigenetics, i.e., heterochromatin, paramutation, genomic imprinting, nucleolar dominance, virus-induced gene silencing, and microRNAs, respectively. Each chapter compactly summarizes recent advancements in the individual fields. In Chapter 7, for example, the author provides a compact, yet informative overview of current knowledge and future challenges in the field of genomic imprinting in relation to DNA methylation and chromatin modification. Imprinting is not limited to mammals; in fact genomic imprinting was first described using maize in 1970. The other chapters will also inspire the reader by their concise but informative descriptions of the intricate interplay of DNA and RNA elements, chromatin structures, different patterns of post-translational modifications, and even the position of the gene loci in the chromosome and genome. Plant Epigenetics thoroughly covers this rapidly developing and expanding field in plant science. The chapters are well written and provide clear, concise and informative views on the individual fields in plant epigenetics. Both researchers and students will find this book a valuable source of state-of-the art information on plant epigenetics.