More data about this group.
Last database update for these data: 2008-10-14 - Data extracted on 2009-04-14 from the database.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Title | Identification of enzyme complexes involved in de novo DNA-methylation in living plant cells using Spectrally Assigned Localization Microscopy (SALM) |
| Participants | Michael Wassenegger (Leader) Mario Braun |
| Period | 2008 - 2009 |
| Description | In eukaryotic organisms, RNA-mediated heterochromatin formation is a powerful mechanism regulating many developmental processes and acting as a defence mechanism against foreign nucleic acids. At least in plants, heterochromatin formation is essentially initiated by DNA hypermethylation which in turn involves a sequence-specific de novo methylation process termed RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM). Only in plants, the function of most of the components associated with RdDM is well described rendering plants ideal model systems to study de novo DNA methylation. It is of broad interest to understand how DNA methylases are guided to their target sequences. However, to elucidate these dynamic processes it is essential to investigate living cells. We therefore aim at applying the 'Spectrally Assigned Localization Microscopy' (SALM) to monitor for the first time the in vivo formation of enzyme complexes involved in RdDM and their targeting. We wish to show the direction interaction of these complexes with the genomic DNA. At present, however, we do not know if the SALM technology will allow us to detect single enzyme complexes interacting with target regions along the chromosomes. |
| Plants | Nicotiana tabacum Nicotiana benthamiana |
| Fundings | University of Heidelberg, Frontier Project |