R. K. Slotkin

The paper shows that plastid-encoded dsRNA can trigger cytoplasmic gene silencing of nuclear genes through phasiRNA production, enabling traits to function outside the plastid.

The paper shows that siRNA-guided ARGONAUTE proteins recruit RNA Polymerase V to initiate DNA methylation without preexisting methylation, challenging previous models of RdDM initiation.

This study identifies ELF6 and REF6 as JMJ histone demethylases in Arabidopsis that maintain H3K27me3 and H3K27me1 homeostasis, preventing epigenetic imprints and transposon activation during sexual reproduction.

The paper uses long-read cDNA sequencing to create a transcript-based annotation of transposable elements in Arabidopsis, improving TE analysis and testing hypotheses about TE regulation.

This study shows aphid feeding reduces DNA methylation in Arabidopsis, affecting gene expression and plant defense against aphids.

The paper analyzes microRNA dynamics during pollen development, showing a shift from regulating developmental genes to controlling transposable elements in mature pollen.

This study identifies that Arabidopsis Pol IV generates 21-22 nt siRNAs in sporophytic tissues, which participate in RNA-directed DNA methylation and may regulate gene transcript abundance.

This study identifies coordinated expression between highly expressed maize pollen genes and neighboring transposable elements, showing a link between transcript levels and pollen fitness.