The Plant Epigenome - Frontiers in Gene Regulation

表观遗传学(不是由于DNA序列的改变而导致的表型遗传改变)是最近认识到具有深远影响的一种关键的基因控制模式。它是由染色质(DNA和相关蛋白质)的修饰引起的，其作用水平高于正常的基因控制。染色质的变化如何引起基因表达的变化是动植物研究活动的一个主要领域。理解基因的表观遗传控制将阐明发育的基因控制、对干旱和高温等气候胁迫的反应以及与致病生物体的相互作用。几种植物的基因组现在已经被测序，因此研究这些生物在发育过程中或对环境的反应中发生的表观遗传变化是可行的。其目标是，作为国际合作的一部分，确定不同组织、不同发育阶段以及应对生物和非生物挑战的特定基因染色质上的表观遗传标记，并了解它们之间的差异，从而潜在地导致操纵这些基因表达的方法。这次研讨会将由NSF和英国和澳大利亚的科学资助机构联合主办，将聚集大约40名科学家，包括顶尖专家和职业生涯早期的科学家，参加一个论坛，讨论该领域的尖端研究和建立一个国际植物表观基因组联盟。将对国际上的“现状”进行审查，然后确定建立合作的“细节”。此外，职业生涯早期受邀者将有机会在会议结束后参观澳大利亚的大学和研究所，以促进这些国际合作目标。

Epigenetics (inherited changes in phenotype not due to changes in DNA sequence) is a critical mode of gene control recently realized to have far reaching effects. It is caused by modification of the chromatin (DNA plus associated proteins) and acts at a level above normal gene control. How changes in chromatin cause changes in gene expression is a major area of research activity in both animals and plants. Understanding epigenetic control of genes will elucidate gene control of development, response to climatic stresses such as drought and heat and interaction with disease causing organisms. Several plant genomes have now been sequenced so it is feasible to examine the epigenetic changes occurring during development or in response to the environment in these organisms. The goal is to determine, as part of an international collaboration, the epigenetic marks on chromatin at particular genes in different tissues, at different stages of development and in response to biotic and abiotic challenges and to see how they differ, potentially leading to ways of manipulating the expression of these genes. This workshop, to be jointly sponsored by NSF and science funding agencies in the UK and Australia, will bring together approximately 40 scientists, both leading experts and early career, to participate in a forum for discussion of cutting edge research in this area and the setting up of an international Plant Epigenome Consortium. The 'state-of-play' internationally will be reviewed and then the 'nuts and bolts' of setting up a collaboration will be worked out. In addition, early career stage invitees will have the opportunity to visit nniversities and institutes in Australia after the meeting to further these international collaborative goals.