Emerging roles of chromatin in the maintenance of genome organization and function in plants

Chromatin is not a uniform macromolecular entity; it contains different domains characterized by complex signatures of DNA and histone modifications. Such domains are organized both at a linear scale along the genome and spatially within the nucleus. We discuss recent discoveries regarding mechanisms that establish boundaries between chromatin states and nuclear territories. Chromatin organization is crucial for genome replication, transcriptional silencing, and DNA repair and recombination. The replication machinery is relevant for the maintenance of chromatin states, influencing DNA replication origin specification and accessibility. Current studies reinforce the idea of intimate crosstalk between chromatin features and processes involving DNA transactions.We thank members of the laboratory for discussions and E. Martinez-Salas for comments. Z.V. was the recipient of a Predoctoral Fellowship FPI from MINECO. This research was supported by grants BFU2012-34821 and BIO2013-50098-EXP from MINECO and BFU2015-68396-R from MINECO/FEDER, and by an institutional grant from Fundación Ramón Areces to the Centro de Biologia Molecular Severo Ochoa.Peer Reviewe

Emerging roles of chromatin in the maintenance of genome organization and function in plants

Abstract Chromatin is not a uniform macromolecular entity; it contains different domains characterized by complex signatures of DNA and histone modifications. Such domains are organized both at a linear scale along the genome and spatially within the nucleus. We discuss recent discoveries regarding mechanisms that establish boundaries between chromatin states and nuclear territories. Chromatin organization is crucial for genome replication, transcriptional silencing, and DNA repair and recombination. The replication machinery is relevant for the maintenance of chromatin states, influencing DNA replication origin specification and accessibility. Current studies reinforce the idea of intimate crosstalk between chromatin features and processes involving DNA transactions