DNA甲基化调控植物花芽分化和成花表型研究进展

Advances in DNA methylation regulation of flower bud differentiation and flowering phenotypes in plants

摘要:

DNA甲基化是重要的表观遗传修饰，在植物生长发育的各个过程中发挥着重要的作用，尤其是对于植物花发育具有重要意义。目前已在多种园艺植物中发现，花发育过程中由于环境温度、光周期、内源激素变化等情况，存在DNA甲基化降低或升高的现象，其主要通过调节与花发育相关基因(如FT、FLC、AP1、MYB等)的表达来调控植物花芽分化、花性别分化、开花时间、花瓣颜色、花瓣数量以及花衰老等表型。而使用DNA甲基化抑制剂在花发育期间对其进行处理可以降低其DNA甲基化程度，从而改变植物开花时间、花芽分化进程和相关成花表型。本文首先总体介绍了DNA甲基化的调控模式和对植物生长发育的影响，之后综述了DNA甲基化抑制剂类型与作用机制，重点阐述了DNA甲基化调控在植物花芽分化、性别分化、开花进程和成花表型等方面的研究进展，为深入解析DNA甲基化调控植物花发育的分子机制提供了理论依据，并为农业生产实践提供了参考。

Abstract:

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic modification that plays a significant role in various processes of plant growth and development, particularly in flower development. Studies on multiple horticultural plants have revealed that during flower development, changes in environmental temperature, photoperiod, and endogenous phytohormones can lead to either a decrease or an increase in DNA methylation. This process primarily regulates phenotypes such as flower bud differentiation, flower sex differentiation, flowering time, petal color, petal number, and flower senescence by modulating the expression of flower development-related genes (e.g., FT, FLC, AP1, and MYB). Treatment with DNA methylation inhibitors during flower development can reduce the level of DNA methylation, thereby altering flowering time, flower bud differentiation processes, and related flowering phenotypes. This article first provides an overview of the regulatory mechanisms of DNA methylation and its effects on plant growth and development. It then reviews the types and mechanisms of DNA methylation inhibitors, with a focus on the research progress in DNA methylation regulation of flower bud differentiation, flower sex differentiation, flowering process, and flowering phenotypes. The findings offer insights for further unveiling the molecular roles of DNA methylation in plant flower development and its applications in agricultural production.