植物印迹基因研究进展

印迹基因的表达受表观机制调控,依据其亲本来源在植物胚乳中表现为单等位基因表达的特殊模式。这些基因在调控胚及其附属结构的发育、控制种子的大小、生殖隔离以及防止无性生殖上发挥着关键作用。随着植物表观遗传学研究的不断深入,目前对于印迹基因的探索已逐渐成为表观遗传学研究的热点。文章介绍了关于印迹基因起源的亲本冲突学说,并以拟南芥的MEA、FIS2、FWA、MPC、PHE1,玉米的FIE1、FIE2等重要印迹基因为例,阐述了有关植物印迹基因的表达调控机制及最新研究进展。

Imprinted genes in plants

The expression of imprinted genes is regulated by epigenetic mechanism. In plant endosperm, the allele of imprinted genes is expressed in a pattern of parent-of-origin-dependent. The expression of imprinted genes plays essential roles in the development of embryos and their annexe structures, as well as seed size, reproductive barriers and apomixis. Along with the progress of plant epigenetic research, the exploration of imprinted genes is becoming hotspot in epigenetic research. This review focused on the parental conflict theory about the origin of imprinted genes, and the latest research advances in expression regulation mechanism of plant imprinted genes, using the examples of the important imprinted genes MEA, FIS2, FWA, MPC, and PHE1 in Arabidopsis, and FIEI and FIE2 in maize.