Science News Today
  • Biology
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Astronomy
  • Health and Medicine
  • Psychology
  • Earth Sciences
  • Archaeology
  • Technology
Science News Today
  • Biology
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Astronomy
  • Health and Medicine
  • Psychology
  • Earth Sciences
  • Archaeology
  • Technology
No Result
View All Result
Science News Today
No Result
View All Result
Home Biology

Plant Genomes Surprisingly Stable After Chromosome Shifts

by Muhammad Tuhin
January 30, 2025
Generated and analyzed CRISPR-SaCas9-induced Arabidopsis thaliana inversion lines. Credit: New Phytologist (2025). DOI: 10.1111/nph.20403

Generated and analyzed CRISPR-SaCas9-induced Arabidopsis thaliana inversion lines. Credit: New Phytologist (2025). DOI: 10.1111/nph.20403

0
SHARES

The epigenetic state of chromatin, gene activity, and chromosomal positioning are crucial factors in understanding the regulation of genes in any organism. A recent study by a team of researchers from the IPK Leibniz Institute (IPK) and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) has provided new insights into how chromosomal location can influence epigenetic stability and gene expression. Their findings, published in the journal New Phytologist, explore the interrelationship between these factors using chromosome engineering techniques.

You might also like

Bone-Eating Worms That Dined on Dinosaurs Still Feast Beneath the Sea

The Secret Cells That Let Pythons Devour Bones Without a Trace

AI Designs a Superbug Killer in Seconds and Signals a New Era of Medicine

Chromosomal Rearrangements and Their Impact on Epigenetics and Gene Expression

Chromosomal rearrangements, such as chromosome segment inversions, can have a profound impact on an organism’s genome. These inversions can alter the epigenetic landscape, a concept that encompasses chemical modifications to the DNA and histone proteins that regulate gene expression without changing the underlying genetic sequence. The study highlights the importance of understanding how these structural changes in chromosomes influence gene activity.

Chromosome inversions are not a new phenomenon in plant biology; they have been identified in many prominent crops such as rice, maize, and barley. These rearrangements often result from natural processes but may have significant implications for the stability and regulation of genes, affecting traits like yield, stress resistance, and growth.

Until recently, research on chromosomal inversions was limited to historical rearrangements that occurred naturally, making it challenging to explore their immediate genetic and epigenetic effects. However, the advent of CRISPR/Cas-based chromosome engineering has revolutionized the field. This innovative technology allows researchers to induce predefined chromosomal rearrangements with precision, providing the opportunity to analyze their genetic and epigenetic consequences in real-time.

Using CRISPR/Cas to Investigate Chromosomal Inversions

The research team utilized CRISPR/Cas technology to create chromosomal inversions of varying sizes in Arabidopsis thaliana, a widely used model plant species. Arabidopsis was chosen due to its well-understood genome and its importance in plant research. The researchers then compared the epigenetic state and gene expression in these engineered plants to those of wild-type plants (plants without induced inversions) to better understand the effects of chromosomal rearrangements.

In their experiments, the team focused on the epigenetic landscape of the chromatin and the activity of genes in the altered plants. They investigated how the induced chromosomal inversions might influence the chromatin structure, leading to changes in the patterns of DNA methylation, histone modifications, and gene expression.

Findings on Epigenetic Stability and Gene Expression

The results of the study were somewhat surprising. The researchers found that chromosomal inversions did not lead to significant changes in epigenetic marks or in the activity of most genes. The analyzed inverted chromosome segments and their neighboring regions exhibited minimal epigenetic changes compared to the wild-type plants.

According to Dr. Solmaz Khosravi, the first author of the study, “None of the studied inverted chromosome segments and their neighboring regions changed in epigenetic marks and gene expression, besides minor genome-wide effects.” Gene expression analysis showed that only 0.5–1% of genes exhibited differential expression after the chromosomal inversions were induced. This suggests that the plants were able to maintain a stable epigenetic state and gene activity despite the structural changes in their chromosomes.

These results challenge some previous assumptions about the sensitivity of the epigenome to chromosomal rearrangements. It has long been believed that such structural changes could lead to widespread epigenetic alterations, but the data from this study suggest that the plant genome is more robust than expected when it comes to maintaining stability after chromosomal inversions.

The Robustness of the Epigenome and Transcriptome

The study’s findings highlight the resilience of the epigenome and transcriptome, particularly in the context of CRISPR/Cas-induced chromosomal changes. According to Prof. Dr. Andreas Houben, head of the IPK’s research group on Chromosome Structure and Function, “The findings demonstrate the robustness of the epigenome and the transcriptome following CRISPR/Cas-induced chromosomal restructuring, at least in the following generations.” This resilience is important for the stability of plant genomes, especially in the context of crop breeding and genetic engineering.

The team’s results are groundbreaking, as they represent the first study in the plant scientific community to investigate the long-term effects of structural variations, like chromosomal inversions, on the epigenetic state of chromatin in subsequent generations. This opens new avenues for crop breeding and genetic manipulation without the risk of unforeseen epigenetic consequences.

Potential Applications for Crop Breeding

One of the most significant implications of this study is the potential application of chromosome engineering in crop breeding. Traditional methods of breeding often rely on mutagenesis or the introduction of genetic modifications via transgenics, which can lead to unintended consequences such as gene silencing or disruption. The ability to generate chromosomal inversions with minimal epigenetic changes means that breeders could potentially improve crop traits—such as stress tolerance, disease resistance, and yield—without affecting the stability of the plant’s genome.

In particular, Prof. Dr. Holger Puchta, a researcher from KIT, emphasized the importance of these findings for the future of plant breeding. He noted, “Our results prove that inversions can be specifically generated in plants without causing further unwanted changes in the expression of genetic information.” This means that the precision and control offered by CRISPR/Cas technology can make chromosome engineering a powerful tool for precision breeding, allowing for targeted modifications to improve desirable traits in crops without introducing unwanted genetic or epigenetic changes.

Conclusion

The research team’s study has provided valuable insights into the stability of the epigenome and gene expression following chromosomal inversions induced by CRISPR/Cas technology. Despite the structural changes in the chromosomes, the plants maintained a stable epigenetic state and gene expression, demonstrating the resilience of the genome to such rearrangements. This finding has important implications for the future of genetic engineering and crop breeding, opening new possibilities for developing crops with improved traits while maintaining genetic stability.

As chromosome engineering continues to evolve, this study paves the way for further research into the epigenetic consequences of chromosomal rearrangements and the long-term effects on plant breeding. The ability to induce precise structural changes without unintended epigenetic consequences marks a significant step forward in the field of plant genetics and promises to have wide-reaching applications in improving agricultural productivity and sustainability.

Reference: Solmaz Khosravi et al, Epigenetic state and gene expression remain stable after CRISPR/Cas-mediated chromosomal inversions, New Phytologist (2025). DOI: 10.1111/nph.20403

TweetShareSharePinShare

Recommended For You

Bone worms (the red animals in this picture) were first discovered in the early 2000s, but these animals are believed to have evolved more than 100 million years ago. Adapted from Fujiwara et al. via Zookeys, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Biology

Bone-Eating Worms That Dined on Dinosaurs Still Feast Beneath the Sea

July 9, 2025
Biology

The Secret Cells That Let Pythons Devour Bones Without a Trace

July 9, 2025
a) Schematic of the genetic engineering strategy for the generation of the ChuA reporter strain used in this study. Credit: BioRxiv (2024). DOI: 10.1101/2024.12.05.626953
Biology

AI Designs a Superbug Killer in Seconds and Signals a New Era of Medicine

July 9, 2025
Sunflowers. Credit: iStock
Biology

These Plants Know What Time It Is—Without a Clock

July 9, 2025
Panicum maximum. Credit: iStock
Biology

Meet the Grass That Can Kill a Lion

July 9, 2025
3D models of Homo sapiens (top two images) and Homo neanderthalensis (bottom two images) crania for visual comparison. The human model was created from DICOM files of an anonymized volunteer patient from the Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences. The Neanderthal model is based on La Ferrassie 1 and was created by LB and TR. Credit: Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health (2025). DOI: 10.1093/emph/eoaf009
Biology

The Hidden Legacy of Neanderthals: Could Ancient DNA Be Causing Modern Headaches?

July 9, 2025
The robust skull of an extinct Chirodipterus australis lungfish. Credit: John Long, Flinders University
Biology

Ancient Fish Jaws Reveal Secrets of How Life Crawled Onto Land

July 9, 2025
An artist's reconstruction of the fossilized landscape, plants and animals found preserved in a remote bonebed in Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. In a paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers led by paleontologist Ben Kligman, a Peter Buck Postdoctoral Fellow at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, present the fossilized jawbone of a new pterosaur species and describe the sea gull-sized flying reptile along with hundreds of other fossils they unearthed from the site. These fossils, which date back to the late Triassic period around 209 million years ago, preserve a snapshot of a dynamic ecosystem where older groups of animals lived with evolutionary upstarts. The newly described pterosaur Eotephradactylus mcintireae is seen eating an ancient ray-finned fish alongside an early species of turtle and an early frog species, with the skeleton of an armored crocodile relative lying on the ground and a palm-like plant growing in the background. Credit: Brian Engh.
Biology

The Tiny Ash-Winged Dinosaur Cousin That Took Flight 209 Million Years Ago

July 8, 2025
Biology

Seeds That Sleep for Centuries—Then Suddenly Wake Up

July 8, 2025
Next Post
Credit: iStock

Vocalizations Reflect Personality Traits in Pallas' Long-Tongued Bats

The new fungus Gibellula attenboroughii on the orb-weaving cave spider. Credit: CABI

New Fungus Species Discovered in Northern Ireland

A polar bear still hunting on the sea ice of Hudson Bay, Manitoba, Canada. Credit: Jenny E. Ross

Greasy Fur Keeps Polar Bears Ice-Free

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Legal

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

© 2025 Science News Today. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Biology
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Astronomy
  • Health and Medicine
  • Psychology
  • Earth Sciences
  • Archaeology
  • Technology

© 2025 Science News Today. All rights reserved.

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.