Viroid-induced DNA methylation in plants

Abstract: In eukaryotes, DNA methylation refers to the addition of a methyl group to the fifth atom in the six-atom ring of cytosine residues. At least in plants, DNA regions that become de novo methylated can be defined by homologous RNA molecules in a process termed RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM). RdDM was first discovered in viroid-infected plants. Viroids are pathogenic circular, non-coding, single-stranded RNA molecules. Members of the Pospiviroidae family replicate in the nucleus through double-stranded RNA intermediates, attracting the host RNA silencing machinery. The recruitment of this machinery results in the production of viroid-derived small RNAs (vd-sRNAs) that mediate RNA degradation and DNA methylation of cognate sequences. Here, we provide an overview of the cumulative data on the field of viroid-induced RdDM and discuss three possible scenarios concerning the mechanistic details of its establishment.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Viroid-induced DNA methylation in plants ; volume:4 ; number:6 ; year:2013 ; pages:557-565 ; Biomolecular concepts ; 4, Heft 6 (2013), 557-565

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Dalakouras, Athanasios ; Dadami, Elena ; Wassenegger, Michael

Further information

• DOI: 10.1515/bmc-2013-0030
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2409241618128.969633276487
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 22.02.20252026, 10:17 AM CET