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. 1993 Nov;135(3):881–894. doi: 10.1093/genetics/135.3.881

Paramutation, an Allelic Interaction, Is Associated with a Stable and Heritable Reduction of Transcription of the Maize B Regulatory Gene

G I Patterson 1, C J Thorpe 1, V L Chandler 1
PMCID: PMC1205727  PMID: 7507455

Abstract

The b gene of maize encodes a transcriptional activator of anthocyanin pigment biosynthetic genes. Certain b alleles undergo paramutation: a unidirectional, heritable alteration of one allele caused by the presence of another allele. B-I (intensely pigmented plant) is always changed to B' (weakly pigmented plant) in the B'/B-I heterozygote, such that all progeny receive the B' allele. The ``new'' B', which was B-I in the previous generation, is weakly pigmented and fully capable of changing another B-I allele into B'. It was not previously known whether paramutation is associated with altered b expression, altered B protein function or both. Our results show that B' acts in trans to suppress the transcription of B-I, with transcription remaining low in subsequent generations, even when the original B' allele segregates away. The products of B-I and B' are equally capable of activating the transcription of their target genes, indicating they are functionally equivalent. Genomic restriction maps, DNA sequence and methylation of B' and B-I were compared. Despite dramatic differences in phenotype and transcription of B' and B-I, no evidence for rearrangements, changes in sequence or changes in methylation was found. These results provide no support for models involving ``dominant negative'' proteins, gene conversion or transposable element interactions. We suggest that b paramutation involves a physical interaction between the alleles that suppresses transcription and promotes a change in chromatin structure that is heritable.

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Selected References

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