Chromatin dynamics and maintenance of plant genome integrity

Chromatin dynamics and nucleic acid metabolism are double-edged swords for maintaining genome integrity

In this review article, published in the journal Nature Plants, the Chromosome Dynamics team (IPS2) summarises our current knowledge of the influence of nucleic acid metabolism and chromatin dynamics on the maintenance of genome integrity.

There is growing interest in the mechanisms involved in detecting and repairing DNA damage in plants, but these are mainly studied in response to genotoxic treatments. All reviews available on the subject focus on the processes triggered in response to DNA damage, but very little on the origin of DNA lesions in physiological conditions, or on the impact of chromatin modifications on their repair. Yet the main source of DNA damage is the cellular activity by itself, and in particular the nucleic acid metabolism. Moreover, the organisation of chromatin strongly influences both the formation of DNA damage and its repair, notably by preferentially targeting repair activities on the coding regions of the genome. Overall, these are complex relationships that shape the distribution of mutations along the genome.

Processes associated with chromatin dynamics and RNA metabolism that are impacting genome stability in plants: The pathways involved in chromatin dynamics are shown at the top, those associated with RNA metabolism at the bottom. Processes that can induce DNA damage are shown on the left, those that contribute to maintaining genome integrity on the right. Figure created with Biorender.

06/06/2024