Genomic
imprinting has evolved only in mammals and flowering plants and
it has been hypothesized that the function of genomic imprinting and
imprinted genes is to regulate the nutrient transfer from the mother to
the offspring. Consequently, imprinted genes should be seed size
regulators. Testing this hypothesis requires the genome wide
identification of imprinted genes. We are currently developing tools
that will allow us to identify imprinted genes on a genome wide scale.
Furthermore, we are interested to understand imprinting mechanisms at a
single gene level and made significant progress in understanding
imprinting at the PHERES1 locus in Arabidopsis.
Related Publications:
Villar, B.R., Erilova, A., Makarevich, G., Trösch, R., Köhler, C.
(2009) Control of PHERES1 imprinting in Arabidopsis by direct tandem
repeats. Mol. Plant, 2:654-660. (
Medline)
Makarevich, G., Villar, C.B.R., Erilova, A., Köhler, C. (2008)
Mechanism of PHERES1 imprinting in Arabidopsis. J. Cell Science, 121:
906-912. (
Medline)
Köhler, C, Makarevich, G. (2006) Epigenetic mechanisms governing seed
development in plants. EMBO Rep. 7:1223-1227. (
Medline)
Makarevich, G., Leroy, O., Akinci, U., Schubert, D., Clarenz, O.,
Goodrich, J., Grossniklaus, U., Köhler, C. (2006) Different Polycomb
group complexes regulate common target genes in Arabidopsis. EMBO Rep.
7:947-952. (
Medline)
Köhler, C., Page, D.R., Gagliardini, V., Grossniklaus, U. (2005) The
Arabidopsis MEDEA PcG protein controls expression of PHERES1 by
parental imprinting. Nature Gen., 37, 28-30. (
Medline)
Köhler, C., Hennig, L., Spillane, C., Pien, S., Gruissem, W.,
Grossniklaus, U. (2003). The Polycomb group protein MEDEA regulates
seed development by controlling expression of the MADS-box gene
PHERES1. Genes Dev., 17, 1540-1553. (
Medline)
Köhler, C., Hennig, L., Bouveret, R., Gheyselinck, J., Grossniklaus, U.
Gruissem, W. (2003). AtMSI1 is a component of an Arabidopsis PcG
complex and essential for seed development. EMBO J., 22, 4804-4814.
(Medline)
Köhler, C., Grossniklaus, U. (2002). Epigenetic inheritance of
expression states in plant development: the role of Polycomb group
proteins. Curr. Opin. Cell. Biol. 14, 773-779. (
Medline)