Project information
Mechanisms underpinning epigenetic memory in plants (Anna Schulten)

Epigenetic DNA and histone modifications contribute to the establishment and maintenance of eukaryotic gene expression patterns. These uphold cell identity and control growth and development, also in response to environmental signals. In the context of climate change, it will become increasingly important to understand how epigenetic variation arises, because it acts as a determinant in gene-environment interactions. It is thus crucial to elucidate how epigenetic regulators shape the chromatin landscape to achieve context-dependent gene expression patterns and ensure their maintenance through cell division as an epigenetic memory mechanism. To address this question, my research group will focus on elucidating the mechanisms underpinning epigenetic memory using Arabidopsis thaliana as a plant model system. We will aim to understand how the activity of chromatin modifiers, particularly the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2), is modulated by abiotic environmental signals, giving rise to stable changes in chromatin status. We will also extend the research into non-canonical mechanisms of epigenetic inheritance mediated by prion-like memory elements.