Germ cells are “immortal” as they can be indefinitely transmitted through generations. Establishment of germ cell immortality and identity requires extensive reprogramming of the chromatin state. Understanding this epigenetic reprogramming is crucial for the elucidation of germline biology. Conversely, germlines are essential for understanding epigenetics because they mediate inheritance and undergo large-scale epigenetic changes.
My lab established the Arabidopsis male germline, which consists of four cell types resulting from three sequential cell divisions, as a model system. We have developed cutting-edge techniques for isolating these cells and conducting epigenomic analyses. The remarkable tolerance of Arabidopsis for epigenetic perturbations, coupled with our ability to examine each germline cell type individually, has enabled precise and robust genetic investigations. In my presentation, I will share our latest discoveries using this system, as well as insights from our research on Marchantia male reproductive cells, shedding light on the scope, mechanism, and biological significance of plant germline epigenetic reprogramming.