A TALE homeodomain transcription factors-binding protein recruits Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 to a subset of loci in rice shoot apical meristem [ChIP-seq]

In this work, we investigated the function of PAP1 (LOC_Os03g01840) in gene expression, H3K27 tri-methylation, and Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) binding by high-throughput approaches. The PAP1 loss-of-function results in defects of meristem development and gene expression similar to those of PRC2 and/or KNOX gene mutants and decreases of H3K27me3 and PRC2 binding at KNOX-binding genes in the meristem. PAP1-meidated PRC2 recruitment may contribute to H3K27me3 shifting from heterochromatin silencing to developmental gene repression during land plant evolution. Overall design: Examination of H3K27me3 modifications and EMF2b binding in wild type and pap1 mutant in rice.