Domains Rearranged Methylase 2 maintains DNA methylation at large DNA hypomethylated shores and long-range chromatin interactions in rice.

DNA methylation plays an important role in gene regulation and genomic stability. However, large DNA hypomethylated regions known as DNA methylation valleys (DMVs) or canyons have also been suggested to serve unique regulatory functions, largely unknown in rice (Oryza sativa). Here, we describe the DMVs in rice seedlings, which were highly enriched with developmental and transcription regulatory genes. Further detailed analysis indicated that grand DMVs (gDMVs) might be derived from nuclear integrants of organelle DNA (NORGs). Furthermore, Domains Rearranged Methylase 2 (OsDRM2) maintained DNA methylation at short DMV (sDMV) shores. Epigenetic maps indicated that sDMVs were marked with H3K4me3 and/or H3K27me3, although the loss of DNA methylation had a negligible effect on histone modification within these regions. In addition, we constructed H3K27me3-associated interaction maps for homozygous T-DNA insertion mutant of the gene (osdrm2) and wild type (WT). From a global perspective, most (90%) compartments were stable between osdrm2 and WT plants. At a high resolution, we observed a dramatic loss of long-range chromatin loops in osdrm2, which suffered an extensive loss of non-CG (CHG and CHH, H = A, T, or C) methylation. From another viewpoint, the loss of non-CG methylation at sDMV shores in osdrm2 could disrupt H3K27me3-mediated chromatin interaction networks. Overall, our results demonstrated that DMVs are a key genomic feature in rice and are precisely regulated by epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation and histone modifications. OsDRM2 maintained DNA methylation at sDMV shores, while OsDRM2 deficiency strongly affected three-dimensional (3D) genome architectures.

Integrated 3D genome, epigenome and transcriptome analyses reveal transcriptional coordination of circadian rhythm in rice.

Photoperiods integrate with the circadian clock to coordinate gene expression rhythms and thus ensure plant fitness to the environment. Genome-wide characterization and comparison of rhythmic genes under different light conditions revealed delayed phase under constant darkness (DD) and reduced amplitude under constant light (LL) in rice. Interestingly, ChIP-seq and RNA-seq profiling of rhythmic genes exhibit synchronous circadian oscillation in H3K9ac modifications at their loci and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) expression at proximal loci. To investigate how gene expression rhythm is regulated in rice, we profiled the open chromatin regions and transcription factor (TF) footprints by time-series ATAC-seq. Although open chromatin regions did not show circadian change, a significant number of TFs were identified to rhythmically associate with chromatin and drive gene expression in a time-dependent manner. Further transcriptional regulatory networks mapping uncovered significant correlation between core clock genes and transcription factors involved in light/temperature signaling. In situ Hi-C of ZT8-specific expressed genes displayed highly connected chromatin association at the same time, whereas this ZT8 chromatin connection network dissociates at ZT20, suggesting the circadian control of gene expression by dynamic spatial chromatin conformation. These findings together implicate the existence of a synchronization mechanism between circadian H3K9ac modifications, chromatin association of TF and gene expression, and provides insights into circadian dynamics of spatial chromatin conformation that associate with gene expression rhythms.

Haplotype mapping of H3K27me3-associated chromatin interactions defines topological regulation of gene silencing in rice.

Histone modification H3K27me3 is an important chromatin mark that plays vital roles in repressing expression of developmental genes. Here, we construct high-resolution 3D genome maps using long-read chromatin interaction analysis by paired-end tag sequencing (ChIA-PET) and characterize H3K27me3-associated chromatin interactions in an elite rice hybrid, Shanyou 63. We find that many H3K27me3-marked regions may function as silencer-like regulatory elements. The silencer-like elements can come into proximity with distal target genes via forming chromatin loops in 3D space of the nuclei, regulating gene silencing and plant traits. Natural and induced deletion of silencers upregulate expression of distal connected genes. Furthermore, we identify extensive allele-specific chromatin loops. We find that genetic variations alter allelic chromatin topology, thus modulating allelic gene imprinting in rice hybrids. In conclusion, the characterization of silencer-like regulatory elements and haplotype-resolved chromatin interaction maps provide insights into the understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying allelic gene silencing and plant trait controlling.

Diurnal RNAPII-tethered chromatin interactions are associated with rhythmic gene expression in rice.

BACKGROUND: The daily cycling of plant physiological processes is speculated to arise from the coordinated rhythms of gene expression. However, the dynamics of diurnal 3D genome architecture and their potential functions underlying the rhythmic gene expression remain unclear. RESULTS: Here, we reveal the genome-wide rhythmic occupancy of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII), which precedes mRNA accumulation by approximately 2 h. Rhythmic RNAPII binding dynamically correlates with RNAPII-mediated chromatin architecture remodeling at the genomic level of chromatin interactions, spatial clusters, and chromatin connectivity maps, which are associated with the circadian rhythm of gene expression. Rhythmically expressed genes within the same peak phases of expression are preferentially tethered by RNAPII for coordinated transcription. RNAPII-associated chromatin spatial clusters (CSCs) show high plasticity during the circadian cycle, and rhythmically expressed genes in the morning phase and non-rhythmically expressed genes in the evening phase tend to be enriched in RNAPII-associated CSCs to orchestrate expression. Core circadian clock genes are associated with RNAPII-mediated highly connected chromatin connectivity networks in the morning in contrast to the scattered, sporadic spatial chromatin connectivity in the evening; this indicates that they are transcribed within physical proximity to each other during the AM circadian window and are located in discrete "transcriptional factory" foci in the evening, linking chromatin architecture to coordinated transcription outputs. CONCLUSION: Our findings uncover fundamental diurnal genome folding principles in plants and reveal a distinct higher-order chromosome organization that is crucial for coordinating diurnal dynamics of transcriptional regulation.

Chromatin loops associated with active genes and heterochromatin shape rice genome architecture for transcriptional regulation.

Insight into high-resolution three-dimensional genome organization and its effect on transcription remains largely elusive in plants. Here, using a long-read ChIA-PET approach, we map H3K4me3- and RNA polymerase II (RNAPII)-associated promoter-promoter interactions and H3K9me2-marked heterochromatin interactions at nucleotide/gene resolution in rice. The chromatin architecture is separated into different independent spatial interacting modules with distinct transcriptional potential and covers approximately 82% of the genome. Compared to inactive modules, active modules possess the majority of active loop genes with higher density and contribute to most of the transcriptional activity in rice. In addition, promoter-promoter interacting genes tend to be transcribed cooperatively. In contrast, the heterochromatin-mediated loops form relative stable structure domains in chromatin configuration. Furthermore, we examine the impact of genetic variation on chromatin interactions and transcription and identify a spatial correlation between the genetic regulation of eQTLs and e-traits. Thus, our results reveal hierarchical and modular 3D genome architecture for transcriptional regulation in rice.