Ectopic targeting of CG DNA methylation in Arabidopsis with the bacterial SssI methyltransferase

Wanlu Liu (), Javier Gallego-Bartolomé, Yuxing Zhou, Zhenhui Zhong, Ming Wang, Somsakul Pop Wongpalee, Jason Gardiner, Suhua Feng, Peggy Hsuanyu Kuo and Steven E. Jacobsen ()
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Wanlu Liu: Zhejiang University
Javier Gallego-Bartolomé: University of California at Los Angeles
Yuxing Zhou: Zhejiang University
Zhenhui Zhong: University of California at Los Angeles
Ming Wang: University of California at Los Angeles
Somsakul Pop Wongpalee: University of California at Los Angeles
Jason Gardiner: University of California at Los Angeles
Suhua Feng: University of California at Los Angeles
Peggy Hsuanyu Kuo: University of California at Los Angeles
Steven E. Jacobsen: University of California at Los Angeles

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract The ability to target epigenetic marks like DNA methylation to specific loci is important in both basic research and in crop plant engineering. However, heritability of targeted DNA methylation, how it impacts gene expression, and which epigenetic features are required for proper establishment are mostly unknown. Here, we show that targeting the CG-specific methyltransferase M.SssI with an artificial zinc finger protein can establish heritable CG methylation and silencing of a targeted locus in Arabidopsis. In addition, we observe highly heritable widespread ectopic CG methylation mainly over euchromatic regions. This hypermethylation shows little effect on transcription while it triggers a mild but significant reduction in the accumulation of H2A.Z and H3K27me3. Moreover, ectopic methylation occurs preferentially at less open chromatin that lacks positive histone marks. These results outline general principles of the heritability and interaction of CG methylation with other epigenomic features that should help guide future efforts to engineer epigenomes.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23346-y

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