Assessment of molecular and epigenetic changes in the albinism of Agave angustifolia Haw

•Albino plants produce low levels of photosynthetic pigments and low expression of chlorophyll biosynthesis-related genes.•The green region of variegated accumulate more β-catorene and lutein than the control green plant.•High genetic similarity among the phenotypes suggests that albinism in these p...

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Published in:Plant science (Limerick) 2017-10, Vol.263, p.156-167
Main Authors: Us-Camas, Rosa, Castillo-Castro, Eduardo, Aguilar-Espinosa, Margarita, Limones-Briones, Verónica, Rivera-Madrid, Renata, Robert-Díaz, Manuel L., De-la-Peña, Clelia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agave
Agave - genetics
Agave - metabolism
Albinism
Biosynthetic Pathways
Carotenoids
Carotenoids - metabolism
Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll - metabolism
Chromatin - genetics
DNA Methylation
Epigenesis, Genetic
Histone acetylation
Histone Code
Histones - genetics
Phenotype
Photosynthesis
Pigmentation
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Summary:•Albino plants produce low levels of photosynthetic pigments and low expression of chlorophyll biosynthesis-related genes.•The green region of variegated accumulate more β-catorene and lutein than the control green plant.•High genetic similarity among the phenotypes suggests that albinism in these plants could have an epigenetic origin.•Albino plants promotes more euchromatin formation through the hyperacetylation of H3K9. Albinism in plants is a rare phenomenon that occurs in nature and is characterized by the total or partial loss of photosynthetic pigments. Although progress has been made in understanding the nature of this phenomenon, the precise causes and biological basis are still unexplored. Here, we study the genetic and epigenetic differences between green (G), variegated (V) and albino (A) A. angustifolia Haw. plantlets obtained by in vitro propagation in order to present new insights into albinism from a plant system that offers a unique set of biological phenotypic characteristics. Low transcript levels of genes involved in carotenoids and photosynthesis such as PSY, PDS, LCYƐ, rubS, PEPCase and LHCP suggest a disruption in these processes in albino plants. Due to a high level of genetic similarity being found between the three phenotypes, we analyzed global DNA methylation and different histone marks (H3K4me2, H3K36me2, H3K9ac, H3K9me2 and H3K27me3). Although no significant differences in global 5-methyl deoxicytidine were found, almost a 2–4.5-fold increase in H3K9ac was observed in albino plants in comparison with variegated or green plants, suggesting a change in chromatin compaction related to A. angustifolia albinism.
ISSN:0168-9452
1873-2259
DOI:10.1016/j.plantsci.2017.07.010