Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 and links to RNA processes in Physcomitrella patens

Polycomb repressive complex 1 controls uterine decidualization

Uterine stromal cell decidualization is an essential part of the reproductive process. Decidual tissue development requires a highly regulated control of the extracellular tissue remodeling; however the mechanism of this regulation remains unknown. Through systematic expression studies, we detected that Cbx4/2, Rybp, and Ring1B [components of polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1)] are predominan...

KDM2B links the Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 (PRC1) to recognition of CpG islands

CpG islands (CGIs) are associated with most mammalian gene promoters. A subset of CGIs act as polycomb response elements (PREs) and are recognized by the polycomb silencing systems to regulate expression of genes involved in early development. How CGIs function mechanistically as nucleation sites for polycomb repressive complexes remains unknown. Here we discover that KDM2B (FBXL10) specificall...

RNA interference in the moss Physcomitrella patens.

The moss Physcomitrella patens performs efficient homologous recombination, which allows for the study of individual gene function by generating gene disruptions. Yet, if the gene of study is essential, gene disruptions cannot be isolated in the predominantly haploid P. patens. Additionally, disruption of a gene does not always generate observable phenotypes due to redundant functions from rela...

Huntingtin Facilitates Polycomb Repressive Complex

Physcomitrella patens

Arabidopsis and other species, this work has also begun to reveal the levels of evolutionary conservation within the flowering plants and even outside the plant kingdom. What does the future hold for Antirrhinum research? In addition to its continuing role as a genetic model for plant biology and development, several new experimental avenues are beginning to be explored with Antirrhinum. A majo...