DNA methylation: regulation of gene expression and applications in plant breeding
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33158/ASB.r244.v11.2025Keywords:
Methylation in plants, plant breeding, demethylation in plants, CRISPR/dCas9, plant growth, molecular biology, biochemical modificationsAbstract
DNA methylation is an essential epigenetic modification that influences the regulation of gene expression, genome stability, and plant adaptation to the environment. In plants, the most common forms of methylation occur in cytosines (5mC) and, more recently, also in adenines (6mA), both playing specific and complementary roles in the control of genes, transposable elements, and plant development. The mechanisms that control the addition, removal, and reading of these marks include methyltransferase proteins, glycosylases, and methylation recognition domains, which interact with transcriptional factors and histone modifiers. Methylation is involved in various biological processes such as cell differentiation, flowering, embryogenesis, seed dormancy, and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. The discovery of heritable epialleles and their application in plant breeding opens new possibilities for selection based on epigenetic traits. Epigenetic editing with CRISPR/dCas9 has emerged as a tool for inducing targeted modifications without altering the DNA sequence, offering alternatives for non-transgenic plant biotechnology. Furthermore, methylation contributes to the phenomenon of heterosis, revealing a functional role in hybrid superiority. However, challenges persist regarding the stability of these marks and the legal regulation of epigenetically edited cultivars. This work reviews recent advances, highlighting the integration of plant epigenetics with genetic, precision editing, and adaptive responses in cultivated plants.
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