Titolo della tesi: PRC2 role in plant cold response
Plants have evolved adaptive strategies to survive freezing temperatures during winter. Cold acclimation involves extensive reprogramming of gene expression dependent on CBF transcription factors that activate downstream cold-responsive (COR) genes. Recent evidence indicates that epigenetic mechanisms also regulate cold acclimation, but their roles are not fully understood. This thesis examined the involvement of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) in cold acclimation. Mutants lacking PRC2 components showed altered freezing tolerance phenotypes, suggesting PRC2 controls cold-regulated genes. Transcriptome analysis of clf mutant during cold treatment, revealed different cold stress response pathways by PRC2 regulated. Collectively, results indicate that PRC2 mediates genome-wide transcriptional regulation of cold-responsive genes. This thesis provides new insights into PRC2 versatile functions in plant adaptation to cold stress.