Chromatin-Remodeling and Memory Factors. New Regulators of Plant Development

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Abstract
The establishment and heritable maintenance of specific epigenetic states that lead to differential gene expression are crucial for cell differentiation and de- velopment. Over the past few years, it has become apparent that epigenetic control of transcription is mediated through specific states of the chromatin structure. Therefore, changes in the chromatin struc- ture associated with activation and silencing of gene expression are of paramount importance during de- velopment. Here, we discuss recent findings on plant proteins involved in modifying, remodeling, or maintenance of chromatin structures. Many of the proteins affect normal development when their func- tion is lost. Cell differentiation and development are controlled through temporal and spatial activation and silencing of specific genes. Once established, cell type-specific pattern of gene expression must be stable over many cell generations and long after inductive developmen- tal signals have disappeared. Although chromatin as- sembly is still largely unexplored, genetic and bio- chemical studies in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), fruitfly (Drosophila melanogaster), and mammals have already revealed that changes in expression patterns require remodeling of the chromatin structure at pro- moters and other regulatory regions of DNA (for re- cent reviews, see Kingston and Narlikar, 1999; Aalfs