GEPR: Epigenetic Regulation of Mutator Transposons in Maize

DNA序列是信息代代相传的主要手段。 然而，信息也可以通过DNA和蛋白质（如与DNA相关的组蛋白）的化学修饰来传播。 与一级DNA序列变化无关的遗传变异称为表观遗传变异。表观遗传变异之所以特别吸引人，是因为它涉及到既可遗传又可逆转的变化。对于这些变化如何发生以及为什么发生的规则，人们仍然知之甚少。 转座子，或“跳跃基因”，表现出非常容易识别的表观遗传变异程度，使其成为了解其原因和后果的理想模型。 在转座子中，玉米中的突变子元件已被证明是特别有用的。 使用一系列遗传资源，特别是携带单个活性Mutator转座子的玉米品系，已经可以诱导和繁殖各种不同的表观遗传状态。 该项目的目标是确定与这些状态中的每一个相关的分子。 将特别强调表观遗传状态随时间变化的方式，无论是在单个植物的发展过程中，还是在多代的过程中。这些数据是为了补充DNA和组蛋白修饰的全球分析，通过提供这些修饰的特定模式在一个明确定义的模型系统的背景下的功能评估。 更广泛的影响：对表观遗传信息被保留、储存、遗传和改变的方式的复杂理解对发展、生态学、人类疾病和进化理论等不同领域都有影响。 此外，由于Mutator系统是玉米中基因突变的主要手段，因此调节Mutator活性的能力将使整个玉米群体受益。 将通过网站（http：//www.example.com和http：//tinyurl.com/59fdwo）、《玉米通讯》和玉米合作库存中心免费提供与使用Mu killer有关的材料和信息。tinyurl.com/6xftvh 该项目将受益于参与项目种子，旨在暴露历史上代表性不足的高中学生研究环境的计划。 通过与伯克利高中的合作，该项目还将每年夏天接待两名学生作为实习生。 每个学生都将与主要研究人员密切合作解决特定问题，每个人都将在每个实地季节结束时展示他们的工作成果。

DNA sequence is the primary means by which information is propagated from generation to generation. However, information can also be propagated as chemical modifications of both DNA and proteins, such as histones, that are associated with DNA. Heritable variation not associated with changes in the primary DNA sequence is called epigenetic variation. What makes epigenetic variation particularly intriguing is that it involves changes that can be both heritable and reversible. The rules governing how and why those changes occur remain poorly understood. Transposons, or "jumping genes", exhibit an extraordinary degree of easily identifiable epigenetic variation, making them ideal models for understanding its causes and consequences. Among transposons, Mutator elements in maize have proved to be particularly useful. Using a series of genetic resources, particularly a maize line that carries a single active Mutator transposon, it has been possible to induce and propagate a wide variety of distinct epigenetic states. The goal of this project is to determine the molecular correlates to each of these states. Particular emphasis will be placed on the ways in which epigenetic states can change over time, either over the course of the development of an individual plant, or over the course of multiple generations. These data are meant to complement global analysis of DNA and histone modification by providing functional assessments of particular patterns of these modifications in the context of a well-defined model system. Broader Impacts: A sophisticated understanding of the means by which epigenetic information is retained, stored, inherited and altered has implications for fields as diverse as development, ecology, human disease and evolutionary theory. In addition, because the Mutator system is a primary means by which genes are mutated in maize, an ability to modulate Mutator activity will benefit the entire maize community. Material and information having to do with the use of Mu killer will be made freely available via web sites (http://tinyurl.com/6xftvh and http://tinyurl.com/59fdwo), the Maize Newsletter and the Maize Cooperation Stock Center. The project will benefit from participation in project SEED, a program designed to expose historically under-represented high school students to research environments. Through a collaboration with Berkeley High School, the project will also host two students as interns each summer. Each student will work in close collaboration with the primary investigator on a specific problem, and each will present the results of their work at the end of each field season.