Polycomb Group Complexes Self-Regulate Imprinting of the Polycomb Group Gene MEDEA in Arabidopsis

SummaryFertilization in flowering plants initiates the development of the embryo and endosperm, which nurtures the embryo. A few genes subjected to imprinting are expressed in endosperm from their maternal allele, while their paternal allele remains silenced 1, 2 and 3. Imprinting of the FWA gene involves DNA methylation [4]. Mechanisms controlling imprinting of the Polycomb group (Pc-G) gene MEDEA (MEA) [5] are not yet fully understood 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. Here we report that MEA imprinting is regulated by histone methylation. This epigenetic chromatin modification is mediated by several Pc-G activities during the entire plant life cycle. We show that Pc-G complexes maintain MEA transcription silenced throughout vegetative life and male gametogenesis. In endosperm, the maternal allele of MEA encodes an essential component of a Pc-G complex, which maintains silencing of the paternal MEA allele. Hence, we conclude that a feedback loop controls MEA imprinting. This feedback loop ensures a complete maternal control of MEA expression from both parental alleles and might have provided a template for evolution of imprinting in plants.