Institute of Plant Biology, CH-8008 Zurich, Switzerland.
Plant Signal Behav. 2010 Aug;5(8):995-8. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0009514. Epub 2010 Aug 1.
Plants exposed to stress pass the memory of exposure to stress to the progeny. Previously, we showed that the phenomenon of transgenerational memory of stress is of epigenetic nature and depends on the function of Dicer-like (DCL) 2 and DCL3 proteins. Here, we discuss a possible role of DNA methylation and function of small RNAs in establishing and maintaining transgenerational responses to stress. Our new data report that memory of stress is passed to the progeny predominantly through the female rather than male gamete. Possible evolutionary advantages of this mechanism are also discussed.
植物在受到压力时会将暴露于压力的记忆传递给后代。此前,我们表明,压力的跨代记忆现象具有表观遗传性质,并依赖于 Dicer-like(DCL)2 和 DCL3 蛋白的功能。在这里,我们讨论了 DNA 甲基化和小 RNA 功能在建立和维持对压力的跨代反应中的可能作用。我们的新数据报告表明,压力的记忆主要通过雌性而不是雄性配子传递给后代。还讨论了这种机制的可能进化优势。