JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2023, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (6): 1-8.doi: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202302020

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Recent advances in molecular regulatory mechanisms of DNA methylation in plant tissue culture

GUO Ying(), YANG Ganggui(), WU Yuhan, HE Jie, HE Yujie, LIAO Haoran, XUE Liangjiao()   

  1. State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Poplar Germplasm Enhancement and Variety Improvement, College of Forestry and Grassland, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
  • Received:2023-02-18 Revised:2023-06-21 Online:2023-11-30 Published:2023-11-23

Abstract:

Exerting remarkable cell totipotence, plants are able to regenerate tissues/organs and even individuals from differentiated cells activated by wound stress and/or hormonal cues. Based on the theory of plant cell totipotency, techniques of plant tissue culture have been widely used in rapid propagation, germplasm conservation, and plant breeding as a type of conserved epigenetic modification. However, the understanding of how plant cells retain both differentiated status and developmental plasticity is still obscure, especially at the epigenetic level. DNA methylation is an evolutionarily conserved epigenetic modification that can intricately coordinate cell fate transition and pluripotency establishment during the plant regenerate process. In the work, the recent progress in the regulation of plant regeneration through DNA methylation was summarized, starting from the formation of callus and somatic embryogenesis during tissue culture. Firstly, the change patterns of DNA methylation in different plant regeneration processes were analyzed, showing that both explants type and regeneration phase had an effect on DNA methylation levels. The role of some DNA methyltransferase in plant regeneration was studied, such as DNA Methyltransferase1 (MET1), whose deletion can lead to increased WUS expression and promote shoot regeneration. RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) is the main molecular pathway responsible for de novo DNA methylation in all contexts and is believed to play an important role in plant regeneration. Meanwhile, we analyzed the molecular regulatory mechanisms of DNA methylation on the expression of regenerative genes, such as BBM (baby boom), WOX (wuschel-related homeobox), WIN (wound induced dedifferentiation), etc. Finally, we discussed the future research directions of DNA methylation in the field of plant regeneration. The combination of tissue culture and genetic engineering will provide opportunities for efficient reproduction and precise cultivation of agricultural and forestry crops. Further, the regeneration-related genes reported in this study will provide candidates for plant regeneration research of genetic and molecular mechanisms.

Key words: plant tissue culture, DNA methylation, callus, somatic embryogenesis

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