Ecological and evolutionary plant epigenetics

作为选择和进化基础的遗传差异在所有生物体中都有很好的记录，而表观遗传多样性的作用比实验证明的更多是假设的。在植物科学中对表观遗传机制的基本见解使其看起来明显地解决了以下问题：(1)DNA序列以外的信息是否以及如何影响表型和适合度，(2)环境因素是否可以改变表观遗传特征并产生表观等位基因。拟议的协作研究项目由五名表观遗传学、生态学和生态基因组研究方面的欧洲专家开发。他们将联合起来，使用他们建立的方法，为表观遗传学在植物适应环境变化中的作用提供概念证明。与近亲繁殖物种拟南芥合作，拥有大量的遗传、表观遗传学和基因组信息，并在来自不同栖息地的许多材料中可用，将得到对近亲繁殖物种SCabiosa tonbaria的实验的补充，对其近亲繁殖物种的栖息地碎片化和近亲繁殖衰退的后果已有很好的记录。特征良好的植物材料将被分析表观遗传多样性，受到受控环境条件的影响，并在随后的世代中进行研究。表观遗传分析将包括对单个序列和整个基因组的DNA甲基化和染色质修饰。该项目有望更好地理解表观遗传变异作为植物适应的另一种机制的程度、意义和一般性。鉴于在不久的将来发生的重大环境变化，这可能有助于增加欧洲在这一领域的研究的权重。

Genetic differences as the basis for selection and evolution in all organisms is well documented, while the role of epigenetic diversity is more hypothesized than experimentally proven. The essential insights into epigenetic mechanisms gained in plant science let it appear obvious to address the questions, (1) whether and how information outside of the DNA sequence can influence phenotype and fitness and (2) if environmental factors can change epigenetic features and generate epialleles.The proposed Collaborative Research Project was developed by five European experts in epigenetic, ecological and ecogenomic research. They will join forces, using their established methodology, to deliver proof of concept for the role of epigenetics in plant adaptation to environmental change. Work with the inbreeding species Arabidopsis thaliana, with a plethora of genetic, epigenetic and genomic information and available in numerous accessions from different habitats, will be complemented by experiments with Scabiosa columbaria, an outbreeding species for which consequences of habitat fragmentation and inbreeding depression are well documented. Well characterized plant material will be analyzed for epigenetic diversity, subjected to controlled environmental conditions and studied in subsequent generations. Epigenetic analysis will comprise DNA methylation and chromatin modifications on individual sequences as well as whole genomes.The project is expected to result in a better understanding of the extent, significance and generality of epigenetic variation as an additional mechanism for plant adaptation. In the light of significant environmental changes in close future, it might help increasing the weight of European research in this field.