Genome-wide in silico mapping of scaffold/matrix attachment regions in Arabidopsis suggests correlation of intragenic scaffold/matrix attachment regions with gene expression

Plant Physiol. 2004 Jun;135(2):715-22. doi: 10.1104/pp.103.037861.

Abstract

We carried out a genome-wide prediction of scaffold/matrix attachment regions (S/MARs) in Arabidopsis. Results indicate no uneven distribution on the chromosomal level but a clear underrepresentation of S/MARs inside genes. In cases where S/MARs were predicted within genes, these intragenic S/MARs were preferentially located within the 5'-half, most prominently within introns 1 and 2. Using Arabidopsis whole-genome expression data generated by the massively parallel signature sequencing methodology, we found a negative correlation between S/MAR-containing genes and transcriptional abundance. Expressed sequence tag data correlated the same way with S/MAR-containing genes. Thus, intragenic S/MARs show a negative correlation with transcription level. For various genes it has been shown experimentally that S/MARs can function as transcriptional regulators and that they have an implication in stabilizing expression levels within transgenic plants. On the basis of a genome-wide in silico S/MAR analysis, we found a significant correlation between the presence of intragenic S/MARs and transcriptional down-regulation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arabidopsis / genetics*
  • Expressed Sequence Tags
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant*
  • Genome, Plant*
  • Matrix Attachment Regions / genetics*
  • Physical Chromosome Mapping / methods*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics

Substances

  • Transcription Factors