| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2045998 | Current Opinion in Plant Biology | 2011 | 9 Pages |
Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance (TEI), which is the inheritance of expression states and thus traits that are not determined by the DNA sequence, is often postulated but the molecular mechanisms involved are only rarely verified. This especially applies to the heritability of environmentally induced traits, which have gained interest over the last years. Here we will discuss selected examples of epigenetic inheritance in plants and artificially divide them according to the occurrence of inter-generational resetting. The decision which epigenetic marks are reset and which ones are not is crucial for the understanding of TEI. We will consider examples of epialleles found in natural populations and epialleles induced by genetic and/or environmental factors used in experimental setups.
Research highlights► In plants, epigenetic variation (epialleles) can be inherited over generations. ► Epigenetic marks are often conferred by genetic elements directing DNA-methylation. ► Demonstration of environmentally induced epialleles requires mechanistic studies. ► Resetting of marks, for example histone modifications, can occur during reproduction. ► Unknown mechanisms distinguish marks that are inherited from those that are reset.
