@article{21158,
  abstract     = {Vernalization-regulated flowering is vital for wheat yield and geographical distribution, and the diversity of flowering time genes is essential for the breeding of climate-resilient varieties. Sugars have long been recognized in regulating flowering; however, the intrinsic connection between carbohydrate metabolism and vernalization response remains largely unexplored. Here, we identify a fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (FBA) encoding gene, HtL1/FBA10, as a modulator of heading time variation based on a genome-wide association study utilizing wheat core germplasm collections. Evolutionary analysis shows a decrease in the proportion of haplotype-2 of HtL1, which is linked to delayed flowering, in Chinese and American wheat varieties compared to landraces. Vernalization reduces HtL1/FBA10 phosphorylation levels and  increases  its O-GlcNAcylation, which in turn enhances its enzymatic activity and facilitates VERNALIZATION 1 (VRN1) transcription by regulating histone acetylation at the VRN1 locus. Our findings provide mechanistic insights into the interplay between glucose metabolism and the epigenetic regulation of vernalization in winter wheat.},
  author       = {Yang, Pengfang and Liu, Yangyang and Dong, Qi and Miao, Yuting and Zhang, Jianlong and Xu, Shujuan and Zhao, Hong and Niu, Yuda and Zhang, Xueyong and Xu, Yunyuan and Guo, Zifeng and Xing, Lijing and Chong, Kang},
  issn         = {2041-1723},
  journal      = {Nature Communications},
  publisher    = {Springer Nature},
  title        = {{O-GlcNAc and phosphorylation modifications on HtL1/FBA10 regulate wheat vernalization for flowering}},
  doi          = {10.1038/s41467-025-67734-0},
  volume       = {17},
  year         = {2026},
}

@article{19602,
  abstract     = {N4-methylcytosine (4mC) is an important DNA modification in prokaryotes, but its relevance and even its presence in eukaryotes have been mysterious. Here we show that spermatogenesis in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha involves two waves of extensive DNA methylation reprogramming. First, 5-methylcytosine (5mC) expands from transposons to the entire genome. Notably, the second wave installs 4mC throughout genic regions, covering over 50% of CG sites in sperm. 4mC requires a methyltransferase (MpDN4MT1a) that is specifically expressed during late spermiogenesis. Deletion of MpDN4MT1a alters the sperm transcriptome, causes sperm swimming and fertility defects, and impairs post-fertilization development. Our results reveal extensive 4mC in a eukaryote, identify a family of eukaryotic methyltransferases, and elucidate the biological functions of 4mC in reproductive development, thereby expanding the repertoire of functional eukaryotic DNA modifications.},
  author       = {Walker, James and Zhang, Jingyi and Liu, Yalin and Xu, Shujuan and Yu, Yiming and Vickers, Martin and Ouyang, Weizhi and Tálas, Judit and Dolan, Liam and Nakajima, Keiji and Feng, Xiaoqi},
  issn         = {1097-4172},
  journal      = {Cell},
  number       = {11},
  pages        = {2890--2906.e14},
  publisher    = {Elsevier},
  title        = {{Extensive N4 cytosine methylation is essential for Marchantia sperm function}},
  doi          = {10.1016/j.cell.2025.03.014},
  volume       = {188},
  year         = {2025},
}

@article{17285,
  abstract     = {Winter plants rely on vernalization, a crucial process for adapting to cold conditions and ensuring successful reproduction. However, understanding the role of histone modifications in guiding the vernalization process in winter wheat remains limited. In this study, we investigated the transcriptome and chromatin dynamics in the shoot apex throughout the life cycle of winter wheat in the field. Two core histone modifications, H3K27me3 and H3K36me3, exhibited opposite patterns on the key vernalization gene VERNALIZATION1 (VRN1), correlating with its induction during cold exposure. Moreover, the H3K36me3 level remained high at VRN1 after cold exposure, which may maintain its active state. Mutations in FERTILIZATION-INDEPENDENT ENDOSPERM (TaFIE) and SET DOMAIN GROUP 8/EARLY FLOWERING IN SHORT DAYS (TaSDG8/TaEFS), components of the writer complex for H3K27me3 and H3K36me3, respectively, affected flowering time. Intriguingly, VRN1 lost its high expression after the cold exposure memory in the absence of H3K36me3. During embryo development, VRN1 was silenced with the removal of active histone modifications in both winter and spring wheat, with selective restoration of H3K27me3 in winter wheat. The mutant of Tafie-cr-87, a component of H3K27me3 “writer” complex, did not influence the silence of VRN1 during embryo development, but rather attenuated the cold exposure requirement of winter wheat. Integrating gene expression with H3K27me3 and H3K36me3 patterns identified potential regulators of flowering. This study unveils distinct roles of H3K27me3 and H3K36me3 in controlling vernalization response, maintenance, and resetting in winter wheat.},
  author       = {Liu, Xuemei and Deng, Min and Shi, Bingxin and Zhu, Kehui and Chen, Jinchao and Xu, Shujuan and Bie, Xiaomin and Zhang, Xiansheng and Lin, Xuelei and Xiao, Jun},
  issn         = {1869-1889},
  journal      = {Science China Life Sciences},
  pages        = {2251--2266},
  publisher    = {Springer Nature},
  title        = {{Distinct roles of H3K27me3 and H3K36me3 in vernalization response, maintenance, and resetting in winter wheat}},
  doi          = {10.1007/s11427-024-2664-0},
  volume       = {67},
  year         = {2024},
}